Hello SCCA Members!
When I became SCCA President in 2022 I established the “Advocacy In Action Team” with the goal of professional advocacy for SC counseling professionals and the clients we serve. 2022 - 2023 was a year of finding our bearings, building meaningful relationships, and learning to navigate the maze of state-level advocacy. 2023-2024 was a year of action! As many of you know the 2024 SC Legislative Session has come to a close and throughout this year SCCA’s Advocacy In Action Team has been working overtime to meet our goals and advance the counseling profession in SC. There have been hits and there have been misses:
THE HITS
SC IS THE 35TH STATE TO ENTER THE COUNSELING COMPACT!
Our biggest accomplishment this year is SC’s entry to the Counseling Compact! Moving senate bill S 610 was our top priority in this legislative session. At times, it seemed an impossible feat, but it’s due to the work of many that we were able to push forward including: SCCMHCA, ACA, The Council of State Governments, The Compact Commission, SLED, LLR, Senators Cromer, Shealy, Climer and their incredible staff, and LCI Chairman Bill Sandifer who came through for us when it really mattered despite the controversy.
SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Senator Katrina Shealy has been an incredible mental health advocate in our state legislature. Her commitment to expanding access and ensuring a standard of competent and trained clinicians is unmatched. S 408 cleared the legislature and requires continuing education on suicide prevention for those on the front lines. SCCA will continue to support the efforts of those Representatives and Senators who promote mental health care.
SCCA’S FIRST EVER MENTAL HEALTH HILL DAY!
Thank you to everyone who attended our first-ever Hill Day on March 6, 2024, who came out in the rain and showed up for our fellow clinicians and our clients. On-the-ground advocacy makes a huge difference and your efforts were not in vain! We are also eternally grateful to the Palmetto State Teachers Association for partnering with us, hosting us, and showing us what advocacy can do for SC!
THE MISSES
GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE BAN SAILS THROUGH THE SC LEGISLATURE
H 4624 sailed through our state legislature despite all the medical and mental health evidence that this bill does not support SC youth or their families. In the initial Senate medical affairs sub-committee hearing, 49 individuals testified and only one of them was in support of this bill - an Alabama lawyer who does not even reside or practice in SC. Early iterations of this bill aimed to punish and even criminalize SC counselors and school counselors who work with students struggling with gender identity. To date, there are ZERO documented cases of gender transition surgery on a minor in SC. The earliest iteration of this bill aimed to ban care for anyone under the age of 26. In SC the age of medical consent is 16. To put this in context with other legislation passed in this same legislative session: In SC an 18-year-old can purchase and carry a firearm, but they are not trusted to make medical and mental health care decisions.
While the final version of this bill did roll back certain restrictions, it was not a win for anyone. In the words of Senator Brad Hutto, “The changes made a bad bill only a little less bad.”
More Info: South Carolina Senate approves ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors | AP News
FREEDOM CAUCUS KILLS COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH BILL
There is a group of 15 legislators in the House of Representatives who call themselves “The Freedom Caucus.” This is the same group of legislators who attempted to repeal professional licensure for mental health providers, and who voted against the Counseling Compact. They pride themselves on being “rogue disruptors.” Many of these individuals are freshman members with limited influence. However, on the final day of the legislative session, they effectively killed a bill that would create the Executive Office of Public Health (S 915) and ease access for many South Carolinians who receive state aid. This bill would’ve impacted the Department of Mental Health and Medicaid, many argue in a positive way. This bill had bipartisan support and has been a passion project for seasoned Senator Harvey Peeler for over a decade.
The Freedom Caucus branded this bill “the Health Care Czar,” setting a precedent for dangerous and radical ideation to permeate our state government and impede important work that our elected officials do every day.
1 lawmaker stops South Carolina health care consolidation bill that had overwhelming support https://www.yahoo.com/news/1-lawmaker-stops-south-carolina-231732450.html
REVISITING OUR 2024 GOALS
Medicaid Advocacy - Addressing Unfair Auditing Practices for Behavioral Health Providers
SCCA’s Advocacy Chair and other team members met with staff from the Director of SC DHHS’ office on January 16th to discuss challenges practitioners are facing with SC Medicaid and auditing practices. SC DHHS was very receptive to the concerns expressed and identified solutions to move forward. SC DHHS has requested a representative to be a part of conversations moving forward in the role of behavioral healthcare consultant and we have nominated Advocacy In Action Team Member Beth Wilson for this role - Thank you Beth!!
Military Advocacy - Increasing TRICARE Providers and LPC Presence in VA Settings
With the legislative session now closed we will continue work on this goal. SCCA has been in touch with the Department of Defense to address the lack of LPCs employed by VA Clinics.
SCCA is also joining ACA in federal advocacy for HR 733 Vet Centers for Mental Health Act - Advocacy Team Chair Chandler Cox spoke with Congressmen Jeff Duncan and Tim Scott on this important legislative effort. Show your support here: American Counseling Association (votervoice.net)
Extending Student Loan Forgiveness to Counselors
SCCA is joining ACA in federal advocacy for S 462 the Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act. Show your support here: Take Action - Engage and Amplify Your Voice (counseling.org)
Best Practices for Counseling During Custody Issues
Providing counseling treatment to a minor whose parents are engaged in litigation is the most common scenario in which counselors receive complaints against their license. SCCA is dedicated to providing quality training to SC Counselors, and for this reason, we will be hosting a special virtual CE on July 16, 2024 at 12:00 PM - co-hosted by a Family Law Attorney and an LPC, this workshop will provide guidance and information on this important topic. Registration will be open soon!
SCCA is also in talks with other family law offices and guardian ad litems to provide additional training.
Our Advocacy In Action Team continues to expand, and we are grateful for each and every team member! Although we’ve accomplished a lot this year, we hope this is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter in SCCA’s story.
Yours In Service,
Chandler Cox M.Ed., LPC
SCCA Immediate Past-President
SCCA Advocacy In Action Team Chair
2023 - 2024 Advocacy In Action Team
Chandler Cox
Rhonda Billingsly
Amanda Brown
Catreace Brown-Baker
Jennifer Geddes-Hall
Michelle Harrison
Fredric Mau
Sarah Olma
Christie Rogers-Larke
David Schary
Aubrey Sejuit
Beth Wilson
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