Fall 2009 issue
NEW YORK STATE TASK FORCE ON OCCUPATIONAL REGULATION (NYSTF)
AND NEW YORK STATE GROUP OF EIGHT (G8)
Donna W. Polen, LCAT, MT-BC
The voting members of the NYSTF, appointed by the MAR Executive Board, are: Mary E. Boyle, EdD, LCAT, MT-BC; Beth R. McLaughlin, MS, LCAT, MT-BC; Donna W. Polen, LCAT, MT-BC, Chair; Evelyn C. Selesky, MA, LCAT, MT-BC; Madelaine Ventre, MS, FAMI, LCAT, MT-BC. Ex-officio members, without the right to vote, are: Carol Ann Blank, MMT, MT-BC, MAR Government Relations Chair; Judy Simpson, MHP, MT-BC, AMTA Director of Government Relations; Deborah Benkovitz, LSW, MSW, MT-BC, MAR President.
The voting members of the G8, with 2 representatives each from AMTA, CBMT, MAR and NYSTF are:
AMTA: Paul Nolan, MCAT, MT-BC, LPC; Judy Simpson, MHP, MT-BC
CBMT: Nancy Hadsell, PhD, MT-BC; Dena Register, PhD, MT-BC
MAR: Mary E. Boyle, EdD, LCAT, MT-BC; Carol Ann Blank, MMT, MT-BC
NYSTF: Beth R. McLaughlin, MS, LCAT, MT-BC; Donna W. Polen, LCAT, MT-BC, Chair.
The NYSTF continues to monitor the implementation of the NYS Mental Health Practitioners law that provides for the licensing of creative arts therapists (LCAT). Currently, legislation to address some of the “unintended consequences” of the licensure law is moving through the Assembly and Senate. The stated summary of the bill is as follows:
“Grants an exemption from licensing requirements for certain social work and mental health professionals employed by certain not-for-profit corporations, education corporations and business corporations if such corporations register with the education department; extends the expiration of provisions of law establishing licensing for social workers and mental health practitioners; directs the commissioner of education to convene working groups to study such provisions of law.”
You can access the legislation through either the Assembly or Senate at the following links:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A08897
http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=S05921
NYSTF Chair Donna Polen attended a meeting of the Mental Health Practitioners Board on October 9th in Albany. In addition to the opportunity to hear the most current activity of the Board and the Office of the Professions (which will be reported in detail through email correspondence from the task force as well as at their concurrent session scheduled for Sunday, November 15 from 8:00-9:00 a.m.), this was a chance to dialogue with David Hamilton, Executive Secretary of the Board, as well as others representing some of the other CAT organizations. Stay tuned to hear more about future collaborations!
In addition, NYSTF is monitoring the status of LCATs being denied as approved providers within the NYC DOH 9/11 Benefit Fund, and working to rectify this inappropriate exclusion. Together with related CAT organizations and the support and technical assistance of Judy Simpson, AMTA Director of Government Relations, a letter has been sent to the director of the Fund. We hope to have a status update on this situation to share at our presentation in San Diego.
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