Ariel Cohen, MA, LMFT

CAMFT Facebook Page Legislative Updates
June, July, August 2018

8/14/18

CAMFT Executive Director Nabil El-Ghoroury had the privilege to speak to Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom about the importance of #mentalhealth in our state.

7/11/18

CAMFT Partners with Give an Hour to Help Children and Families at the U.S. Border

The parent-child separation at the U.S.- Mexico border has devastated many refugee and immigrant families and alarmed many mental health professionals. CAMFT has partnered with the Give an Hour organization to harness the skills and generosity of California LMFTs who are willing to to provide free mental health services to children and families affected by the humanitarian crisis at the U.S. border.

Give an Hour is specifically looking for Spanish-speaking, licensed mental health professionals to join their network of volunteer providers. Click here to learn more: https://giveanhour.org/humanitarian-crisis-support/

7/10/18

While MFTs are eligible for entry level positions at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), there are still challenges to overcome. The recently released rules make it nearly impossible for most California MFTs to become supervisors (which requires a Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education degree or passing the Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards licensure exam).

The Appropriations Committee Report accompanying the Senate bill that funds the VA for the next fiscal year "directed" the VA to both (1) seek a separate classification in the Federal workforce for MFTs and (2) create a staffing plan to hire more MFTs within the Department. This report does not quite have the force of law, but there is a strong chance the VA may "accommodate" the funding for this bill per the direction by the Appropriations Committee. CAMFT is working to have the House accept this language. #VetsNeedMFTs

6/20/18

UPDATE: Trump signed an executive order to stop the separation of undocumented immigrant families at the U.S. borders. While CAMFT is pleased to see the Administration take this initial step forward to keep parents and children together through the immigration/deportation process, we will be monitoring the issue for possible implications of this executive order. https://bit.ly/2I7MEM9

6/20/18

CAMFT's support to #KeepFamiliesTogether hits the PR newswire: https://www.prnewswire.com/…/california-association-of-marr…

Ariel maintains a full-time practice at Teen Therapy Center in Woodland Hills, CA. He works with children, teens, and families, with an emphasis on supporting the special needs community. He can be contacted at 818.674.9834 or ariel@teentherapycenter.com.