ARTICLE: "Don't Allow Compassion Fatigue to Force a Professional Crash & Burn"  -Oncology Times

A wonderful reminder, as we head into the busy holiday season, and take a look back at 2017.

CLICK HERE to read more.

The American Counseling Association (ACA) 2017 Conference & Expo is being held March 16-19 at the Moscone West Convention Center, in San Francisco, CA.  Pre-conference Learning Institutes take place on March 15-16, to include 6-hour daytime and 3-hour evening educational events.

The Learning Institutes include 25 introductory level and 11 advanced level intensive learning events; selected by peer review.  Each event will be taught by well-qualified and highly rated instructors.

Attendees can earn up to 17.5 CEs during core conference days by choosing from more than 400+ education sessions organized into 36 tracks.  Earn up to 35.5 CEs by adding the Pre-conference Learning Institutes.

I will be attending the full conference and expo this year, including the Pre-conference Learning Institutes.  Yes, both 6-hour daytime and 3-hour evening events - each day.  It's sure to be a very full week!

Active WAPROCA Members will receive a post conference write-up, to include valuable tips and essential resources from the full 5-day/evening experience.

CLICK HERE for more information on the ACA 2017 Conference & Expo.

Bree Collaborative’s latest draft report and recommendations for Behavioral Health Integration is requesting feedback.

You can read the draft report here:
http://www.breecollaborative.org/…/Behavioral-Health-Integr…

You can take the feedback survey here:
www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZT5H7NP

The survey should take 5-10 minutes to complete. Comments must be received by 5pm on Friday, February 24th.

The Department of Health is recruiting for the Certified Counselors and Hypnotherapists Advisory Committee. Click the link below for more information, and recruitment notice. 

2017 Advisory Committee Meetings have been posted to the WAPROCA calendar. Click the link to view the updated schedule.

http://waproca.org/calendar

We wish you a very healthy, happy, and successful 2017!

Dear Stakeholders:

PLEASE NOTE:  Change in location!!  Due to audio/visual problems, we moved Monday’s Rap Back feedback forum to a different building and room on the Department of Health Campus.  The meeting will be in the Town Center 2 Building in room 145.  Driving directions are below.  Since space is more limited in the new room, we encourage you to consider attending via webinar.  If you haven’t already, please register for the webinar at:   https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6001531763908179202

The Department of Health (department), Division of Health Systems Quality Assurance (HSQA) is considering legislation to implement the Rap Back program in Washington State for all health care practitioners.

Rap Back is a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) program that would allow the Washington State Patrol (WSP) to maintain fingerprints on all health care practitioner licensees and to notify the department when a licensee has a change in their criminal history.  Currently, the department obtains fingerprint-based background checks only on those applicants who apply from out of state.  The fingerprints are destroyed once the FBI produces a report. 

HSQA is partnering with the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission on legislation to amend laws to allow the WSP and the department to participate in Rap Back and to expand electronic fingerprint-based background checks to all applicants either at initial licensure or at renewal.  WSP would maintain the fingerprints and notify the department when new criminal activity occurs. Given the highly mobile nature of our society, Rap Back will help us to protect the citizens of Washington from unsafe health care practitioners.

We want your input on this important initiative.  We are hosting an open forum so that you can learn more about Rap Back and so that we can answer your questions and gather your input.  Please join us:

Monday, July 25, 2016

3:30 pm to 5:00 pm

Department of Health

Town Center 2, Room 145

111 Israel Road SE

Tumwater, WA   98501

Driving Directions:  http://www.doh.wa.gov/AboutUs/OfficeHoursandLocations/TumwaterTownCenter

Kathy Schmitt

Deputy Director

Office of Health Professions and Facilities

Washington State Department of Health

111 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501

PO Box 47852 Olympia, WA  98504-7852

(360) 236-2985

Kathy.schmitt@doh.wa.gov

Public Health - Always Working for a Safer and Healthier Washington

   ACTION ALERT: UPDATE!   

CERTIFIED COUNSELORS & CERTIFIED ADVISERS

The initial Stakeholders Meeting was held on Thursday, 7/14/16, to review and discuss potential changes to the scope of practice for Certified Counselors and Certified Advisers.

The Washington Professional Counselors Association (WAPROCA) prepared a background statement to assist in the conversation, and followed up with a proposed recommendation - that no changes are required to the current law (RCW 18.19.200).

In an email update to those subscribed to the mental health related listservs, the WA State Department of Health states that they "...will not be proposing legislation for 2017 to update the scope of practice for certified counselors and certified advisers. Therefore, the second workshop for stakeholders has been cancelled."

Questions may be directed to WAPROCA (contact@waproca.org or (206) 289-0874), or to Kim-Boi Shadduck, Program Manager at the WA State Department of Health (kimboi.shadduck@doh.wa.gov or (360) 236-2912).

Active WAPROCA members may request a copy of both the background statement and proposed recommendation by emailing contact@waproca.org.

   ACTION ALERT: YOUR PARTICIPATION IS REQUESTED!   

CERTIFIED COUNSELORS & CERTIFIED ADVISERS

This is your opportunity to participate, share, and discuss important next steps in the scope of practice for Certified Counselors and Certified Advisers.

The WA State Department of Health recently sent an email to those subscribed to the mental health related listservs.

Stakeholders from various mental health professions and committees will be in attendance, including myself.

There are TWO (2) WAYS for you to participate:

1. Attend the FIRST stakeholder workshop on Thursday, July 14th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
   
   
2. Attend the SECOND stakeholder workshop on Thursday, July 21st, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
   

If you are unable to participate in-person, your feedback remains strongly encouraged and appreciated.  Feedback may be sent to contact@waproca.org

Thank you,

Tim Livingston
President
Washington Professional Counselors Assoc. (WAPROCA)

FROM: Kim-Boi Shadduck, Program Manager

Interested Parties,

The Department of Health is proposing legislation to update the scope of practice for certified counselors and certified advisers. The first workshop for stakeholders will be on Thursday July 14, in Tumwater at Town Center 3, Room 224, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The department is inviting stakeholders from the mental health professions to participate in discussions regarding the continued use of the current screening tool (GAF) for certified counselors and certified advisers. The primary task is to determine what, if anything, should be put in place of the GAF. These discussions will help guide department decision making regarding development of a possible legislative proposal for the 2017 legislative session. We apologize for the tight timelines, but your participation from all affected stakeholders remains important and will be greatly appreciated.

Driving Directions:

http://www.doh.wa.gov/AboutUs/OfficeHoursandLocations/TumwaterTownCenter

The department will host the second workshop for stakeholders

Date: July 21, 2016

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Location: Tumwater at Town Center 3, Room 265

If you have any questions, please contact me at kimboi.shadduck@doh.wa.gov or 360-236-2912.

Respectfully,

Kim-Boi Shadduck, MBA

Program Manager

Examining Board of Psychology

Certified Counselors, Certified Advisers, & Hypnotherapist Advisory Committee

Department of Health

Division of Health Systems Quality Assurance

Office of Health Professions and Facilities

P.O. Box 47852

Olympia, Washington 98504-7852

http://www.doh.wa.gov/AboutUs/ProgramsandServices/HealthSystemsQualityAssurance.aspx

Phone: 360-236-2912

Fax: 360-236-2901

kimboi.shadduck@doh.wa.gov

“Always Working for a Safer and Healthier Washington.”

Are you looking for additional coursework and continuing education opportunities?  In addition to the CE courses that WAPROCA offers, Cascadia Training is also a good source! 

Visit them online at:  http://www.cascadia-training.org/