Strategically Focused on Meeting FMHCA's 2021 Goals During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Based on our theoretical orientation Clinical Mental Health Counselors constantly conduct evaluations, collect data, develop treatment plans, collaboratively establish long-term and short-term goals for our clients, align-based evidence interventions with our established goals, and monitor the progress of our clients towards attaining the goals. New goals may be developed as our clients master their goals or if appropriate the counseling relationship is terminated. Similarly, annual goals and objectives were developed to achieve the vision and mission of the Florida Mental Health Counseling Association (FMHCA) by the FMHCAs President based on previous goals, policies, procedures, a SWOT Analysis, and survey results received from FMHCA’s members. As we enter another phase in our physical year, I am excited to take this time to celebrate our accomplishments and share with you where we are with accomplishing our annual goals and how we are realizing our goals.

Let the celebration began! Thank you FMHCAs members, Executive Office staff, and Board of Directors. Collectively we have made significant progress towards meeting our annual goals. This year our goals align with the following categories: Association Growth, Education/Training, Inter and Intra-Group/Relations, Board Efficiency, Legislative Activity, and Government Relations Strategic Planning

Our association is growing, and we are expanding the benefits of being a member of FMHCA. I am excited to announce that FMHCA added 300 new members to our organization between January 2021 and February 2021. Please join me in welcoming our new members. Our Regional Directors are contacting Counselor Education Programs to recruit students and RMHIs to become members. FMHCA’s Executive Office launched a membership campaign to recruit, retain, and reclaim members. Remember to renew your membership! Recruit at least one new member and receive a $15.00 credit to apply towards a webinar, conference, event, or your membership fee.

View FMHCA’s website to learn about and take advantage of the numerous Membership Perks and benefits of being a member of FMHCA. In collaboration with West Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors Association, FMHCA Members can register to attend the WVLPCA 2021 Virtual Spring Conference at a discounted rate. FMHCA’s members can utilize the Member Directory and Qualified Supervisor Directory on FMHCA’s website to search for and connect with fellow colleagues with diverse expertise. Student members and RMHCIs can use this feature to locate Qualified Supervisors based on the practitioner’s license. We developed an RMHI Licensure Exam Scholarship to assist RMHCIs who are taking their licensure exam. Please consider donating to the scholarship fund via FMHCA’s website. You can now follow us on Facebook, Linked-In, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. We encourage you to join FMHCA’s Facebook Group to network with informed professionals, gain resources and receive support.

Although COVID-19 altered the way we provide professional development. FMHCA expanded the opportunities to receive continuing education. Members can enhance their knowledge in cultural diversity, trauma, evidence-based practices, treatment & assessment, counseling children, adolescents & family, as well as the business aspect of providing Mental Health Counseling from the comfort of their office, home, or while commuting. With the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Education Committee and Executive Office swiftly transitioned the Annual Conference to a Virtual Summit. During the month of February 714 individuals throughout Florida and 1958 registrants, across the US, Canada, and Ireland attended a 20-day Virtual Summit. Over 1000 brochures were shared and read by viewers. Attendees were able to receive up to 150 CEUs, obtain new certifications, engage in interactive professional development sessions, and network with colleagues while earning their required CEU to renew their license. To continue to meet the diverse needs of FMHCAs members, On-Demand Webinars are available throughout the year allowing members to receive over 60 CEU’s. Regional Directors, Board members, and the Executive Office staff work closely with regional chapters to support and provide at least two events per year as permissible during the Pandemic.

FMHCA state chapter is intentional in its efforts to strengthen inter-group and intragroup relations with regional chapters, state chapters, and the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy & Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and other Mental Health organization. FMHCA Board members regularly attend 491 Board meetings and encourage all members to also attend the meetings to enhance their knowledge about adhering to competent and safe practices in Florida. FMHCA showed support for the South Carolina Clinical Mental Health Counselors Association by announcing its Virtual Conference that was held March 5th and 6th and West Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors Association’s Virtual Spring Conference scheduled to occur April 8th and 9th. Through FMHCA’s “Three in One Campaign” members are encouraged to learn about and receive the benefits of joining all three levels of AMHCA at the local, state, and national levels. Furthermore, other professional associations such as AAMFT, NASW, and the Florida State Board have shown support of FMHCA’s legislative Bill.

FMHCA’s Board of Directors works diligently to serve its members and meet the professional needs of Florida’s Licensed Mental Health Counselors. FMHCA’s Board of Directs meets monthly, collaborate with fellow Board members through the Board of Director’s Forum in between meetings to conduct the business of the Association. FMHCA has four Regional Directors who are tasked with conducting the affairs of the organization at the regional level in compliance with the Bylaws of the Association. The Regional Directors serve as FMHCA’s voice on the regional level concerning all the association’s activities for its membership including Chapter Relations and Chapter Formation, Membership, Education Programs, Conferences, Legislation, and Ethics. The Regional Directors serve on specific FMHCA committees and encourage members in their region to fully engage in the previously mentioned activities so that the entire state has its voice in the policies, procedures, and activities of FMHCA. Take the time to respond to the Regional Directors’ and Executive Office’s call to action and join a committee. We need your help in advancing the profession of clinical mental health counseling.

FMHCA is strategically focused on promoting legislation that recognizes and advances the profession of mental health counseling. On January 26, 2021, I was thrilled to receive the exciting news that SB 818 and HB941 was filed. The Senate bill by Senator Danny Burgess was conceptualized by FMHCA. FMHCA’s Government Relations Committee (GRC) worked collaboratively with our lobbyist, Corinne Mixon of Rutledge & Ecenia to draft a COVID-19 mental health Bill. The Bill sponsors were secured by FMHCAs lobbying team. The House bill was released by State Representative Sam Garrison. The GRC is reaching out to other professional associations and the State Board to support the Bill. However, we need your help with moving the Bill forward by signing up to become a member of the FMHCA’s 2021 “Legislative Days” delegation, attend a briefing, or listening to a recorded briefing, and then meet with legislators online to promote the Bill. The GRC will prepare you to meet with legislators by providing you with “talking points” and giving you a few tips for meeting with your legislators.

SB 818: Mental Health Professionals; For purposes of clinical experience requirements for licensure as a mental health counselor, deleting a requirement that a licensed mental health professional be on the premises when a registered intern is providing clinical services in a private practice setting authorizing courts to appoint mental health professionals licensed under ch. 491, F.S., as experts in criminal cases, etc.

A special thank you to the members who completed the members’ survey in December that helped to conduct a SWOT Analysis, receiving feedback from FMHCA’s general membership, and set the foundation for developing a 5-Year Strategic Plan. As you can see FMHCA is achieving the Presidency Goals and objectives set for 2021. However, we need you to continue to remain actively engaged in all aspects of our association’s activities. Continue to help us grow our membership by sharing the benefits of being a member of FMHCA. Sign up to join a committee. Join our Legislation Day delegation, participate in events held in your region, increase the awareness of mental illness, and reduce the stigma associated with mental illnesses, continue to attend webinars, network with your colleagues on social media, register for FMHCA’s 2022 Conference, submit an article for our “InSession Magazine” and stay safe by following CDC guidelines.

Written By: Deirdra Sanders-Burnett, Ph.D., LMHC FMHCA-President 2021