Advocacy

Move Forward Counseling Advocacy

Move Forward Counseling is partnering with Legislators, organizations, and businesses across PA to advocate for the passing of legislation that will help mental health professionals meet the demand for high-quality therapy for Pennsylvanians. Access to, and education on, mental health support is critical to ending the stigma and helping people connect with professional care.

Interstate Counseling Compact

The Counseling Compact

2/24/25 Update:

New HB 688 was reported into the new House Professional Licensure Committee by Rep. O’Mara. Learn more. The bill is for PA to join the National Counseling Compact. (Formerly HB 554)

5/29/24 Update:

New HB 2300 was introduced to the House on May 20, 2024, and was subsequently referred to the House Professional Licensure Committee. View House Bill 2300, which was introduced by Representative O’MARA and has support from representatives HANBIDGE, SANCHEZ, HOHENSTEIN, MADDEN, SAPPEY, ISAACSON, CIRESI, HILL-EVANS, FIEDLER, STURLA, D. WILLIAMS, KHAN, OTTEN, HOWARD, BOYD AND SHUSTERMAN,

PA IN THE COUNSELING COMPACT — UPDATE (12/12/23):

PA’s Interstate Counseling Compact law (which would allow us to join the Compact) is being held up at the federal level due to the interpretation of federal law regarding FBI background checks in occupational licensing compacts. Read on for more information.
CURRENTLY IN PA: PA Rep. Jen O’Mara’s office needs co-sponsors for her Legislative Package to Join the National Counseling Compact & Changes to Behavioral Specialists (former HB2852). PA Sen. Lisa Boscola is also seeking co-sponsors for similar legislation, which is outlined in her co-sponsor memo, “Authorizing PA to Join the National Counseling Compact,” which would reintroduce SB1348 from the 2021-22 legislative session. Sen. Judith Schwank is currently her co-prime sponsor.
THE SHARE ACT: Recently, two members of the House of Representatives at the federal level (i.e., Congress) introduced an amendment to the law that provides for FBI background checks in professional licensing. The amendment is called the “SHARE Act,” its passage will clarify the law and increase accessibility for licensure compacts to be implemented in all states. Pennsylvania is one of the states negatively impacted by the FBI background checks issue, which means all occupational licensure compacts in our state cannot operate, even if they were signed into law (such as the nursing compact and the physical therapy compact).
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR PA? Our contacts in the legislature have shared that no additional compacts will move through the PA General Assembly until the background checks issue is resolved — even the recently introduced Social Work compact. Thus, the Interstate Counseling Compact was introduced, but there will likely be no movement on that bill until the SHARE Act passes. Please read the attached brief on the SHARE Act, developed by the Council for State Governments (the organization coordinating the Interstate Counseling Compact).
WHAT’S NEXT? All advocacy activities should be directed at the Federal level, specifically in the House’s and Senate’s education committees. I encourage you to reach out to your federal legislators from your state and district who serve on those committees and ask that they support the SHARE Act so it can make its way to the full Congress floor for voting. Also, consider reaching out to Dr. Lynn Linde, ACA’s chief of professional practice, at llinde@counseling.org to urge ACA to provide a letter of support for the SHARE Act and to develop advocacy initiatives for ACA members to engage in.

View the SHARE Act Policy Brief.

What is the Counseling Compact?

The Counseling Compact is an interstate compact, or a contract among states, allowing professional counselors licensed and residing in a compact member state to practice in other compact member states without needing multiple licenses.

The Counseling Compact website: https://counselingcompact.org/
Map of compact members https://counselingcompact.org/map/.

Please pass this on and share it with your colleagues and friends. Could you ask for their support?

Social Worker Educational Enrollment and Training Program

Rep Kristine C. Howard’s House Bill 2272 (HB 2272) concerns masters-level social work degrees. It is an act to establish the Social Worker Educational Enrollment and Training Program and provide for authorization of internships, award of internships, and funding of the SWEET Program.

One of the greatest issues facing Pennsylvania is the lack of access to mental health treatment. Rep. Howard previously endeavored to address this shortage by giving support to the underappreciated behavioral health specialty of social work through HB 1349, which she introduced earlier this session.

Social workers aid in the treatment and prevention of mental illness, and these licensed professionals are instrumental in assessing, diagnosing, and treating psychosocial disabilities and impairments, which often include mental and emotional disorders, developmental disabilities, and addiction. They help individuals address the psychological, emotional, social, or behavioral challenges involved in their day-to-day lives and offer services and support to those in need.

Unfortunately, obstacles such as budget cuts, low wages, and high caseloads often lead to burnout among social workers, making it challenging to prepare a sufficient workforce to meet the growing demand. A 2015 study concluded that the continued growth of social worker supply would be unable to keep pace with anticipated demand by 2030, with Pennsylvania projected to have a shortage of 5,000 social workers by then.

Given the importance of social work, a staff shortage will have an immense impact, as more and more people will end up waiting indefinitely as their untreated issues fester. The Social Worker Educational Enrollment and Training (SWEET) Program will provide stipends to graduate students completing internships as a requisite of an accredited Master of Social Work program, allowing more students to pursue this important work. View HB 2272.

Mental Health Awareness and Model Curriculum

Representative Ismail Smith-Wade-El is looking for co-sponsorship for this legislation.

There are numerous studies and reports which show student mental health is among the highest-ranking challenges facing educators across Pennsylvania. Students who have reported poor mental health, such as feelings of sadness, depression and/or a sense of hopelessness have increased even before the challenges they faced during the COVID pandemic. Research also suggests that poor mental health among students leads to more self-destructive behavior like drug and alcohol abuse, violence and poor academic performance.

Rep Smith-Wade-El’s legislation would require schools to provide information regarding mental health disorders and education for students in grades K-12 to parents, guardians and key school personnel. The info will be compiled in conjunction with the Dept. of Education and the Dept. of Health and will be age appropriate for the student’s grade.

Additionally, the legislation would establish a Mental Health Education Advisory Committee to make recommendations on mental health issues, awareness and education. The committee would be comprised of members from specialized health organizations, school and teachers’ associations, parent-teacher organizations and students enrolled in youth advocacy and student council groups.

Current law, under the Pennsylvania School Code, Article XIV, School Health Services requires various health care training and information on several conditions for students, such as asthma, tuberculosis and diabetes, but there are no current model curriculum or information pertaining to student mental health.

This bill will allow us to give all students who are part of our Pennsylvania communities the means to recognize their mental health and address their needs, to know they are not alone and there are resources to help them thrive, continue their education without disruption, and pursue their paths of success.

Rep Smith-Wade-El is currently looking for co-sponsorship for this legislation.

Tiered Licensure for LPCs

Update from March 28, 2024 -The Bill was signed into Law! Welcome LAPCs!

In an amazing win for the Counseling profession, Governor Josh Shapiro signed HB 1564 into law on March 28th, 2024. The Pennsylvania legislature came together for this landmark decision in as a direct response to the ever-growing need for qualified mental health professionals in the commonwealth. Master-level clinicians can soon apply to be a Licensed Professional Counseling Associate (LPCA) through the Pennsylvania State Licensing Board!

What We Know So Far

The PA State Licensing Board (PALS) is working on the details. The application for the LPCA so far requires a Master level clinicians to fill out an application, a $75 application fee, Child Abuse CE, Criminal history Check, Databank Report, Educational Transcripts, Letter of Good Standing (LOGS), Resume of Supervisor(s), and a Supervision Plan. We anticipate the board to start accepting applications within the next few months.

View or download the application or go to the state licensing board website:

At the top hit the link that says “application checklist”.
Under Board select “Social Workers, Marriage and Family Counselors, and Professional Counselors”.
Under Licensing type select “Associate Professional Counselor”.

For more information, please contact the PA State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors at (717) 783-1389.

Update from February 5, 2024

HB 1564 was amended and voted out of the Senate Professional Licensure Committee yesterday, with Senator Aument (and all others except for one) voting yes! See more about HB 1564.

Update from Pennsylvania Counseling Association (PCA) Government Relations Committee (December 2023)

“The PCA held a Town Hall on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. The PCA is working with Highmark and the legislature to achieve a short-term solution to the incident-to-billing issue. As of December 12th, Highmark has not communicated regarding an agreement to honor a safe harbor executive action. Thus, the PA Administration has not issued the safe harbor. We realize this may be disappointing; however, we will continue to wait for Highmark to agree to a solution. Please trust our PCA leadership continues to work diligently on this issue.

We hope it’s comforting (and exciting) to hear that the long-term solution to the incident-to-billing issue of being granted a licensed associate professional counselor license is closer than ever to becoming a reality. This week, the House’s Professional Licensure committee unanimously voted the bill (HB 1564) out of committee and onto the House floor. The Senate’s Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee will hopefully do the same when they vote on their bill version (SB1019). The fact that we have made tiered licensure happen so quickly (within a month!) is unprecedented – we’re so proud of this work!

Please encourage your circles to use the advocacy letter template here to write your elected legislators and ask for their support of the bill during their respective chamber’s vote.

Locate your elected legislators here. Thanks for your continued support of PCA and the Government Relations Committee!”

-Madeleine (Maddie) Stevens (she/her) Ph.D., LPC (PA), LPCC (OH), NCC

Pennsylvania Counseling Association

The Pennsylvania Counseling Association (PCA) represents and advocates for all professionals and professionals in training at the regional, state, and national level as one of the largest state branches of the American Counseling Association with over 500 members, eight divisions, and three regional chapters.

Dr. Madeleine Stevens

Dr. Madeleine Stevens is the PCA Government Relations Committee (GRC) Chair and is now she focuses on the importance of legislative advocacy to strengthen the services that PA Counselors provide, with a call for PA Counselors to join the PCA. Write to Dr. Stevens or visit the PCA website to learn more and how to join.

“The Interstate Counseling Compact will enhance PA counselors’ licensure portability while also increasing access to care for clients. The PA Counseling Association supports legislation that promotes a strong, unified counseling profession, and we’re eager for PA counselors to join us!“

Dr. Madeleine (Maddie) Stevens (she/her), Ph.D., LPC (Ohio), NCC, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Counselor Education and School Psychology, Duquesne University

Dr. Matthew Nice

Dr. Matthew Nice is the President of the Pennsylvania Counseling Association. Write to Dr. Nice or visit the PCA to learn more about how to join PCA.

“The Pennsylvania Counseling Association supports the Interstate Counseling Compact, which ensures reciprocity across state lines for practicing counselors across Pennsylvania. Please join us on these initiatives!”

Matthew L Nice (he/him), Ph.D, LPC, NCC, ACS, President- Pennsylvania Counseling Association, Assistant Professor- Indiana University of Pennsylvania