NEWS

The Department of Consumer Affairs, on behalf of Governor Schwarzenegger is asking for board licensees to help emergency efforts in the fire disaster areas in Southern California. Your help will make a difference during this difficult time. If you are able to assist, please visit California Volunteers at http://www.californiavolunteers.org/disaster_prep.asp for more information. posted 10/25/07

SB 993 (Aanestad and Calderon), legislation which would authorize prescriptive authority for appropriately-trained psychologists, was held for further study and review in the Senate Committee on Business, Professions, and Economic Development on April 23, 2007. Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas, the Committee’s Chair, suggested that the Committee hold a hearing in Fall 2007 to discuss the issue of access to mental health services and the role of psychologists in solving the mental health crisis in California.  Click here for complete article

^{from California Psychological Association}

^{The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) is calling for the Veterans Administration to implement a new law designed to deal with the mental health care crisis facing American veterans. Kristi McCaskill, counseling advocacy coordinator for the Greensboro-based organization, presented the case for hiring counselors in testimony prepared for the health subcommittee of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs on Capitol Hill Thursday (Oct. 18). For the hearing titled “Health Care Profeessionals – Recruitment and Retention”, McCaskill cited a presidential task force study that estimated a fourth of all veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have suffered psychological injuries. However, she said, the study also found the number of licensed clinical psychologists serving service men and women has fallen 22 percent. This has left 1,839 VA psychologists available for 24.3 million veterans from previous wars plus the growing number from current conflicts. McCaskill said NBCC is ready to help establish “a mechanism to allow licensed counselors to serve veterans who not only have given of themselves to protect our country, but who now need our help.” “NBCC is prepared and capable of connecting licensed counselors with the VA so that together we can provide for the increasing mental health needs of veterans,” McCaskill said. But first, she said, the VA must create a formal job classification for counselors so they can be hired in compliance with federal employment requirements. A law authorizing VA employment of counselors passed last December but has never been implemented. More than 42,000 counselors in the United States hold NBCC certification. The voluntary credential signifies that the counselor has demonstrated mastery of the skills and knowledge needed at the highest levels of the profession.}

^{NASW has been working to secure student loan forgiveness legislation for social workers for many years. Thanks to grassroots member advocacy and the work of NASW lobbyists, a major victory has been scored in support for students and social workers nationwide: On September 7, 2007, Congress passed H.R. 2669, “The College Cost Reduction Act of 2007” which amounts to the most sweeping changes to federal student aid programs in more than a decade. The President is expected to sign it shortly. Most of the changes will take effect on October 1, 2007.  Click here for complete article}

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