MVCA April 1999 Newsletter

PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Dr. Mary Ann Jones

Greetings! My year as president is more than half over. The MVCA has sponsored two successful full-day workshops, and we are planning a third to be held in May, so be on the lookout for the flyer! We have recruited more members and are in the final stages of awarding the Wray Reiger scholarship. Many things are happening in our field, both on the state and national levels. it is sometimes difficult to keep up with all the changes. That is why it is important to join MVCA and become an active participant. For those of you who are already members, pass on the information about MVCA to you colleagues and encourage them to join our organization.

We have just completed February, African American History Month, and March, which is Woman's History Month. These commemorations surely emphasize the role of multiculturalism in our society. Sometimes I get complacent as a counselor, especially when it comes to the issue of multiculturalism. I'm reminded of what my old professors taught; i.e., if we, as counselors truly demonstrate the core conditions of counseling, there would be little need for the multicultural focus. That belief never rang true to me and, at the time, I was not sure why! Or I was sure, and either too timid or too lazy to challenge that concept.

But can there be any doubt of the continuing need to address the issues of multicultural counseling and, indeed, the issue of multicultural education when we have incidents on our national conscience such as that which occurred in Jasper, Texas? When we have radio disc jockeys saying insensitive things on the air about race, bigotry, and discrimination and justifying violence to be funny? When, internationally, the Serbs and the Albanians are committing senseless acts of terrorism and "ethnic cleansing?" When Rwandans are killing and kidnapping tourists and Ugandans?

Closer to home than that, can we doubt the ever-continuing need for the focus on multicultural issues when, daily, we confront women who continue to be abused and killed because a mate is discontent? When we counsel little girls who believe they are worth something only if they can attract and/or appease some man or produce a child as an expression of undying devotion? I think not! Recognizing the necessity to keep the focus on multicultural issues is the least we can do!

So when we begin to question the necessity for the "special month" designations, let us recall how these months are needed, if only to increase awareness of the ongoing problems we see every day!


FROM THE EDITOR
Jane Shirley

In this issue, I have chosen to address the petition and letter that members of the Ohio Mental Health Counselors Association (OMHCA) received about a month ago. The letter sounded very official and requested that we petition the Ohio Counseling Association (OCA) for action concerning revision of OMHCA by-laws, specifically election of OMHCA officers. Investigation of this matter has revealed that OCA has not authorized this petition, and the upcoming OCA newsletter will present a statement to that effect. In addition, I have learned that OCA president-elect, Don Bubenzer and Executive Director Joe Saunders, whose names were used in the letter, have indicated that they had no knowledge of the petition. In this writer's opinion, the petition and accompanying letter were a self-serving effort on the part of its originator or originators to discredit the current OMHCA leadership. It is further my opinion that this kind of behavior on the part of those who call themselves mental health professionals is deplorable. With all the obstacles we face in establishing credibility as providers of mental health services, it is imperative that all professional counselors work together to ensure competency and integrity in the profession.

In my efforts to learn the true purview of OMHCA, I conducted a telephone interview with Lucinda Boright, OMHCA president. She first became president when former president, Sharon Ybarra moved to California. As specified by OMHCA bylaws, she, as president-elect completed the unexpired term of the president. She is now serving her own term as president, as she agreed to do when she was voted president-elect.

OMHCA is a chapter of the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), just as OCA is a chapter of the American Counseling Association (ACA), and MVCA is a chapter of OCA. Chapters take their direction from the parent organization. As an AMHCA chapter, OMHCA takes its direction from AMHCA, and is not a chapter of OCA, but is instead a division. As a division, OMHCA is not under the auspices of OCA, and its by-laws are separate from OCA by-laws, and are instead aligned with AMHCA by-laws. At this time, OMHCA bylaws are being reviewed in Columbus by a legal representative to ensure compliance with AMHCA. OMHCA elections are about to take place, and the upcoming OMHCA newsletter will present two candidates for president-elect, just as this newsletter presents two candidates for MVCA president-elect. It is noted that one of the OMHCA candidates for president-elect, Kathleen Addison, dropped out of the race after printing of the ballot in order to assume another responsibility within OMHCA.

The mission of OMHCA is to further professionalism among mental health counselors. Past efforts have centered on legislative issues. This effort continues. In addition, OMHCA sponsors workshops for members that award CEUs that apply for licensure renewal. Workshops focus on ethical issues and treatment issues and modalities. The OMHCA spring conference will be held in Chillicothe, Ohio, on May 7 and 8, 1999.

Letters to the editor can be sent to me, Jane Shirley, at the Preble County Counseling Center, 225 North Barron Street, Eaton, Ohio 45320, or FAXed to 937/456-5939.


LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Kriss Haren

This article looks briefly at four national issues and five state issues that are of interest to counselors.

On the national scene, the major managed care bills left unresolved last legislative session were reintroduced. These include the Democrat-sponsored Senate Bill 6/House Bill 358 known as the Patient's Bill of Rights. ACA supports these bills as being the most comprehensive in dealing with the problematic efforts of current managed care practices.

President Clinton has requested $12 million for a new program to create emergency response teams for schools in case of a crisis; the School Emergency Response to Violence (SERV). It is similar conceptually to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and would provide for both short- and long-term mental health needs for school children, staff, and other community members exposed to violence in the school setting. It contains provisions for security personnel and other unspecified support services to prepare appropriately for and respond to crises. Another budget request would increase the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant from $275.4 million to $359 million.

The 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) expires this year. A debate about how to re-authorize this statute will allow the opportunity to increase federal funding for school counseling services. ACA has joined the coalition to lobby for such an increase.

In Ohio, House Bill 1 passed appropriating $12 million to create the Ohio Reads volunteer tutoring program.

House Bill 53, which would require insurance coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatment, is being scrutinized by the House Insurance Committee. There is strong opposition from business and insurance groups.

House Bill 71, formulated by the Coalition for Fair Responsibility in response to Morgan v. Fairfield Community Counseling Center, is expected to pass with little opposition.

House Bill 52, introduced by Jacobson, R-Dayton, and House Bill 4 deal with imposing liability on managed care health insurers for the content and timeliness of health care decisions. Senate Bill 28 is similar in nature.

House Bill 15, introduced by Mottley, R-West Carrollton, would create a task force to investigate consumer access to health care coverage.

For more information on national issues, contact Heidi Zarnoch Holland at the ACA Office of Public Policy and Information: 703/823-9800, ext. 352, or hholland@counseling.org.


REPORT OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Two candidates are presented for your consideration for the office of president-elect. Both are familiar to MVCA members, and both have made significant contributions to our organization. They are Amy Eiler and Holly Welther.

Amy L. Eiler, MS, LPCC, has been in private practice in Centerville, Ohio, since 1996. She graduated from Wright State University with a Master of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling in 1992 and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Capital University in 1990. Before entering private practice, she was employed by Paradigm Mental Health Services, Inc., Professional In-home Therapy Services, Inc., and served practicums and internship at the Women's Recovery Center. Other employment included 18 years at General Motors Truck and Bus Division working in personnel. As a General Motors representative, she served on the advisory board of Born Free, a prenatal substance abuse program. Amy is a member of ACA, OCA, AMHCA, OMHCA, MVCA, and Chi Sigma Iota. She has served on MVCA Executive Council since 1994, and was president in 1996-97. She has been a volunteer with the American Red Cross Disaster Response Team since 1996 and helped form and coordinate the Disaster Mental Health Team for the Dayton Chapter. She has volunteered with the Southwest Ohio Critical Incident Management Team since 1998 and has been an alternate member of the Executive Council since 1998 until she was elected team treasurer in 1999. She is a team member of the SCIRT program dealing with trauma situations in schools. Amy sees counselor identity and unification as major issues, and advocates for the promotion of our profession.

Holly Welther, MRC, LPCC, is currently employed as Director of Acute Services at the Preble Counseling Center in Eaton, Ohio. She has been a counselor since 1979, having earned her Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling from Wright State University. She has served on the MVCA Executive Council for six years, having held offices of Member-at-large, Secretary, President-elect, and President. She is our current Past-president. She served for five years as the OCA liaison to the Ohio Counselor and Social Worker Board. Previous experience included serving as a clinical supervisor at Womanline, Dayton. Holly is a member of ACA, OCA, OACES, and MVCA. Major issues that she wishes to address include counselor recognition, third-party reimbursement, and political activism. She believes that we must continue to educate the public and insurance companies as to the training and competency of professional counselors, and stresses the importance of counselor involvement in the political process.

A ballot is included in this newsletter. Please take time to vote for one of these highly qualified candidates.


ANNOUNCEMENTS

CONGRATULATIONS VIVIENNE! Our own Vivienne Himmell was named the Wright State University Distinguished Social Work Alumnus for 1998. This award is given to an outstanding WSU alumnus who exemplifies dedication, hard work, and excellence. Vivienne was chosen because of her work as a clinical social worker and her reputation throughout the community as an advocate for those with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. Vivienne earned her B.A. in social work in 1972 and her M.A. in Counseling and Mental Health in 1977. She has worked for the Montgomery County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MRDD), retiring last February after 25 years of service. She served as a mentor to many WSU students who worked with her in practicums and internships. She has served in a variety of community organizations, is a past-president of the Social Workers Guild, and member of the Professional Association for Retardation, and MVCA Executive Council. She received the Harold F. Hilty Humanitarian Award from United Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation Services and the Erin Ritchey Award from the Brighter Tomorrow Foundation.

MVCA WORKSHOP! Our next workshop will be held on Thursday, May 27 at Wright State University. The presenter will be Dr. Fred Peterson, PsyD, whose topic will be Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. The Wray

Reiger scholoarship will be presented. Six CEUS will be awarded. Dr. Peterson's workshops fill up quickly, so watch for the flyer and registration form! Call Kriss Haren at 937/223-3446 for more information.

OMHCA WORKSHOP! The OMHCA Spring Conference will be held Friday evening, May 7 and Saturday, May 8, 1999 at the Comfort Inn in Chillicothe, Ohio. Topics are Psychotropic Medications and Non-violent Crisis Intervention. Luncheon speaker will be Hugh Wirtz, Executive Director of the Ohio Council of Behavioral Healthcare Providers (OCBHP), developmental organization of the Morgan Coalition. He will present latest developments in the Morgan v. Fairfield case, mental health parity legislation, and outline background and history of OCBHP. Attenders will earn 13 CEUs and national certification for crisis intervention. To register, call Terri Little at 740/592-9787.


OCA MEMBERSHIP

OCA members are professional counselors in Ohio working in a variety of settings, including schools, agencies, corrections facilities, and private practice. OCA dues support efforts to advance the counseling profession. By joining OCA, you also become a member of a local chapter, such as MVCA. Members receive OCA newsletters and information on training events plus reduced fees for MVCA workshops. Membership starts the date you join. A membership application is attached to this newsletter. If you are not yet a member, why not join now?