1/26/2018
UPDATE 1/30/2018:Per the NASW's website has been updated to state that this issue will likely not move forward in the legislature!
THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO VOICED THEIR OPINIONS ON THIS MATTER!
For those of you of you that haven’t heard the Arizona House introduced HB 2406. This bill serves to deregulate many professions that fall under the oversight of the Board of Behavioral Health examiners. This bill would eliminate the need for professional licensure for the following practitioners: Social Workers, Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists, and Substance Abuse Technicians, Licensed Associate Substance Counselors and Independent Substance Abuse Counselors
Simply put, the proposal is ridiculous.
This bill potentially threatens the legitimacy
of those in the above listed helping professions. Moreover, if passed, it would
negatively impact client’s ability to receive behavioral health services and
have them billed through their insurance companies (Arizona
Counselors Association , 2018) .
This bill’s nefarious purpose will only impact
the mental health and well being of many of Arizona’s diverse populations. This
proposal would ensure that veterans, those suffering from addiction, families
and married people in need (and many others) would be on their own for mental
health services previously supported by their insurance.
The fact that this bill was even conceived by
legislators, let alone introduced, is a slap in the face to Arizona citizens
from ALL backgrounds, cultures, and walks of life.
Odds are that 87% of us will visit a behavioral health professional, in the guise of a counselor, social worker or therapist at
some point in our lives. Statistically speaking that means you are likely to
have been helped, or receive the help of at least one of these professionals
who deserve fully recognized credentials for their technical training. If this
bill continues to move forward I urge anyone and everyone reading this to rally
on the side of your friends, and loved ones.
Voice your opinion to
your local Arizona state representative!*
Feel free to circulate this
post or the included links in order to spread the word.
*There is a link within
the NASW resource below that can help you to locate your AZ State
representative, if you are unsure who that person is, or how to reach them.
 |
| *taken from azleg.gov |
Resources and related links
Arizona Counselors Association . (2018, January
22). HB 2406 - Elimination of Licensing of AZ Counselors. Retrieved January 26,
2018, from AZCA: http://www.azca.org/aws/AZCA/pt/sd/news_article/150859/_PARENT/layout_details/false
National Association of Social Workers. (2018).
Legislative Alert. Retrieved January 26, 2018, from NASW: http://cqrcengage.com/socialworkers-az/home?0
AZ Legislature Page for HB 2406 - https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/70208?SessionId=119
