The Arizona Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

Supporting Arizona’s Marriage and Family Therapists

Caring for Arizona’s Families

A Division of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION

LEGISLATIVE ACTION OR LICENSURE?  BE READY!

The Arizona Licensure Coalition, which officially represents the Arizona Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and statewide Social Workers, Counselors, and Substance Abuse Counselors, met with the "Alliance" on October 15, 2005.  Debra Rinaudo, Executive Director of the Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, was also present.  Representing AzAMFT were Dan Wright, Frances Bernfeld and myself.  The Alliance is a group of people who are and have been unhappy with the Board of Behavioral Health Examiners.  They have gotten the attention of some legislators.  They have been unhappy with "grandfathering" into licensure, the state-to-state reciprocity process, and the relationship interface between professionals and the Board.

At the meeting on October 15th, the Coalition did an excellent job of listening and engaging the Alliance representatives in a positive way.  Tim Hoffman from the Arizona Counselor's Association, who led the Coalition through the licensure process, did a great job of facilitating.  The Coalition laid out the long arduous process that ultimately led to licensure and underlined the risks of re-opening licensure legislation.

From the Coalition's perspective, there is room within the current rules change process to address the issues of the Alliance's concerns.  At meeting's end, most participants seemed to agree that working together within the change process already available is better than opening up the law to legislative change.  So it appears that this has the potential to go well, but some Alliance supporters not present at the meeting may still want to push legislation.  If this goes in a negative risky direction, we may well need your help.

Preparation is better than operating in crisis mode.  Do some research to find out who are your two state representatives and your state senator for your legislative district.  With a little patience (you will need some, don't try to do this when you are stressed), go to www.azleg.state.az.us where you will find the Arizona State Legislature link.  Click on this and you will come to the Legislature's website.  From there you can find your Legislative District # using a map search with your home address and zip code.  Then go back to the front page and find rosters for the House and Senate, and find your representatives by referencing your District #.  There you will find contact information, committee assignments, photos, etc.

- Alan Asher, Arizona Division President

For additional legislative information contact Dan Wright at (602) 392-3853 or dwrightphx@aol.com