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Fall 2013 MeCA Newsletter | High School Counselor Week
Graduate Education in Counseling: Husson University | UMaine | USM
Fall 2013 MeCA Newsletter | High School Counselor Week
Graduate Education in Counseling: Husson University | UMaine | USM
April 14 & 15, 2014
There are many issues facing the counseling profession in Maine and across the country. Dr. Kaplan will highlight both the challenges and the strengths with a fresh look at our identity as Professional Counselors in Schools, Mental Health, Admissions, and the Community. He will also introduce us to the newly revised ethical guidelines scheduled for final approval in March, 2014. These guidelines address issues such as social media, ethical decision making, end-of-life issues, etc. We are hoping you will be able to attend.
The Conference Committee of the Maine Counseling Association is now accepting workshop proposals. If you have an idea for a session you wish to present, then please complete the enclosed form and return it to Martin Gallant.
Ethical Issues in Clinical Supervision
Contact Chandler Bay Resources for more information.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Portland, ME
September 19-20, 2013
Freeport, ME
This CDF live classes will be offered in Central Maine this coming year
Click here to learn more information or to register.
LD95-Resolve, To Create the Task Force on Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children(Passed as amended by both House and Senate, May 2)
LD164-An Act To Provide MaineCare Reimbursement for Pastoral Counselors(Last Senate action March 7, placed in Legislative Files)
LD338-Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services To Amend Its Rules Governing the Use of Certain Antipsychotic Drugs by Children Enrolled in MaineCare(Passed by both House and Senate as amended, May 1)
LD487-Resolve, To Establish MaineCare Eligibility for Young Adults Who Were Formerly in Foster Care(Assigned a second reading in the Senate, May 2)
LD528-An Act To Require Parental Consent for a School To Conduct Mental Health or Behavioral Screening on a Student(Last Senate action April, placed in Legislative Files)
LD539-An Act to Ensure Parity in the Ability To Counsel Patients(Last Senate action April, placed in Legislative Files)
LD609-An Act To Increase Suicide Awareness and Prevention in Maine Public Schools(Passed and signed by Governor, April 25, 2013-MeCA provided testimony)
LD750-An Act To Make the Completion of an Internship a Requirement for High School Graduation(Public hearing was April 18)
LD802-An Act To Encourage Alternative Forms of Treatment for Opiate or Opioid Addiction by Prohibiting MaineCare Coverage for Medication-assisted Treatment for Addiction(No public hearing set to date)
LD843-An Act To Promote the Financial Literacy of High School Students(Voted on in committee with a divided report, May 1)
LD908-An Act To Limit MaineCare Reimbursement for Suboxone and Methadone Treatment(No public hearing set to date)
New Bills as of March 8, 2013
LD951-An Act To Repeal the 2-year Limit on Methadone and Suboxone Treatments under MaineCare(No public hearings or work sessions have been set)
LD958-An Act To Establish a Database To Prevent Individuals Involuntarily Admitted or Committed to a Mental Health Institution from Being Issued Concealed Handgun Permits(Voted on in committee as Ought Not To Pass, May 2)
LD962-An Act To Increase Access to Higher Education(Voted on in committee, April 11, with divided report)
LD963–An Act To Expand Access to Early Postsecondary Education(Public hearing was April 19)
LD1029-Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services To Amend Its Rules Pertaining to a Request for Mental Health Records(Public hearing was May 7)
LD1165-An Act To Improve the Safety of Workers Who Provide Direct Mental Health and Social Services(Public hearing was May 7)
LD1166-An Act Regarding Records Retention by Mental Health Practitioners(Public hearing was May 7)
LD1213-An Act To Reduce Costs and Increase Access to Methadone Treatment(No public hearings or work sessions have been set)
LD1233-An Act Regarding Cyberbullying(No public hearings or work sessions have been set)
LD1238-An Act To Improve Professional Training for Licensed Mental Health Clinicians(Voted on in committee as Ought To Pass, April 26)
LD1261-An Act To Improve Access for Maine Students to Postsecondary Education(Public hearing was April 29, and work session was May 9)
Please click here for more information
Dear MeCA Members
We have all been impacted by the terrible event that occurred in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14th, 2012. But none have been more affected than the familes and first responders of Newtown. Our hearts and prayers go out to them. We additionally hold and cherish our colleagues in this profession who are healing themselves but are also providing support for the grieving.
Deb Del Vecchio-Scully, Executive Director of the Connecticut Counseling Association, and Bob Schmidt, LCP, who is resident of Newton have informed us of a fund created through the CCA and NewTown Lion's Club that is intended to help provide counseling for the families and first responders of this tragedy. You can find all of the information below. Please feel free to distribute to your colleagues at your school or agency.
John Yasenchak, President, Maine Counseling Association
Hamden, CT (January 2, 2013)—The Connecticut Counseling Association (CCA), a branch of the American Counseling Association, and the Newtown Lions Club Foundation have partnered to provide counseling services to the families and first responders affected by the December 14 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT.
The Newtown Lions Club Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, is partnering with CCA as well as other organizations to assist the families of the victims, first responders, and others in the community. The assistance will be in the form of no-cost mental health counseling provided through CCA and collecting donations.
The counseling services provided by CCA members who are licensed professional counselors (LPCs) will cover co-pays, deductibles and the gap for uninsured and underinsured. Those who need to access the fund should contact CCA and Newtown Lion Club member Bob Schmidt, LPC (Counselor.bob@hotmail.com) who is coordinating the program.
Tax-deductible donations can be made to the Newtown Lions Club Foundation Fund to benefit the Victims and First Responders of the Sandy Hook Elementary School Tragedy. You can contribute by clicking here or sending a donation via US mail to:
c/o Newtown Lions Club Foundation
P.O Box 218, Newtown CT 06470
Please feel free to email Dennis Lin at yung-wei.lin@umit.maine.edu. Also let him know of links to include on the Resource Links page.
MeCA is a state branch of the