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Email : infocenter@camft.org
Phone : (858) 292-2638
Dear Members,
As 2024 draws to a close, I’d like to reflect on the incredible milestones we’ve achieved together this year. From pivotal legislative advancements to community celebrations, your involvement has been the driving force behind our success.
We began the year on a high note with the monumental addition of MFTs as Medicare providers. Recognizing the complexity of this new law, our legal team worked tirelessly to create resources, webinars, and other tools for the Medicare Corner to empower you to navigate this transformative change with confidence.
We marked our 60-year anniversary this February, and gathered to celebrate this milestone at the Annual Conference in Los Angeles this May. Our keynote speakers, Elizabeth Smart and Dr. Derald Wing Sue, inspired attendees with their powerful workshops.
A highlight of the summer was our legal team’s impactful presence at the BBS Board meeting, successfully advocating for California’s adoption of the national licensing exam. While this is just the first step in a longer process, it reflects CAMFT’s reputation as a trusted voice with both the BBS and the Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards. I look forward to partnering closely with them as we navigate next steps, including any regulatory or legislative changes.
We also had notable success with our 2022-2024 strategic plan in areas of advocacy, brand awareness, and technology, and CAMFT is now ready to turn the page for our next chapter. I’m excited to share that earlier this month, the Board approved yet another ambitious 3-year strategic plan that focuses on professional success, technology integration, and advocacy and awareness. I often share the importance of a plan is what’s in it for you, our members. This plan includes goals to create a business resource hub with products and services members need. We will also help define the role of technology as we work to ensure tools are used ethically and effectively. CAMFT will also step up our advocacy work to increase the financial well-being for practitioners by addressing barriers that negatively impact MFTs income or expenses. The plan builds on the work of our current plan which will sunset effective December 31st, 2024. You can view the new plan here and look out for future webinars to learn more!
Looking ahead, 2025 promises more opportunities to engage. I’m excited to share the 2025-26 slate of candidates for CAMFT’s Board of Directors selected by CAMFT’s Nominating Committee! Click here to learn more about these members who were called to apply for leadership.
Additionally, CAMFT is posting a call to members to apply to fill a Board vancancy. Interested members can click here to learn more!
There will be many engagement points regarding CAMFT's Bylaws amendment process with plenty of opportunities for you to provide your thoughts on changes for consideration. In February, the Chapter Leadership Conference will take place in San Jose, and we look forward to meeting with representatives from each of our amazing chapters as we exchange new ideas, awards, and inspiration. Our Annual Conference will be held on May 2-3, 2025 in San Francisco. Be sure to save the date – we’ll have more information for you soon!
We end the year on a high note, with over 38,000 members entrusting CAMFT as an advocate and a resource for the profession. Our members are the heart of our organization, and I am deeply grateful for your continued support. May the coming year bring good health, joy, and success to you and your loved ones.
With care, Joy Alafia, MBA, CAE Executive Director
IN THIS NEWSLETTER YOU WILL FIND:
WEBINAR ON CALIFORNIA’S HEALTH CARE WORKER MINIMUM WAGE
California’s healthcare worker minimum wage law (SB 525) took effect on October 16, 2024. Healthcare workers employed by certain healthcare facilities will start to see their minimum wage gradually increase.
To help healthcare employers and workers better understand this law, we held a webinar with state regulators at the Labor Commissioner’s Office and Department of Health Care Access and Information to explain healthcare workers and facilities across the behavioral health sector will be impacted.
Click here to watch the webinar recording, and for more information and resources on the healthcare worker minimum wage.
DHCS REMINDS PROVIDERS THAT PATIENTS MAY NOT BE CHARGED FOR FORMS OR PROVIDING INFORMATION
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) reminds health care providers that they may not charge patients, including Medi-Cal members, a fee for filling out forms or providing information responsive to forms that support a claim or appeal regarding eligibility for a public benefit program. Healthcare providers, however, can charge patients up to 25 cents per page for paper copies of patient records or up to 50 cents per page for records copied from microfilm, plus a reasonable clerical fee.
The Medical Board of California published an article which provides more information on patients' access to medical records.
ATTEND BBS BOARD MEETINGS
CAMFT encourages all members to attend BBS Board and Committee meetings to better understand upcoming changes to your licensure path, supervision requirements, workforce development, etc. Virtual attendance is also an option. The next BBS meeting will take place on November 14 -15 in Sacramento. To see webcast info and more, Click here.
WHAT THE CALENDAR YEAR 2025 PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE FINAL RULE MEANS FOR MEDICARE PROVIDERS
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the Calendar Year 2025 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule on November 1, 2024. Here are the highlights:
For more information on the CY 2025 PFS Final Rule visit, click here
SUBSCRIBE TO THE BBS NEWSLETTER The BBS Newsletter is your go-to source for the latest updates, announcements, and insights directly from the Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Sign up for either General information updates covering topics like licensing, exams, renewals, legislation, and agenda notices, or opt for Enforcement Actions to stay informed about fines and citations. You can subscribe to one or both newsletters here.
BECOME A RED CROSS MENTAL HEALTH VOLUNTEER
Mental Health Professionals (MHP) who desire to serve their communities in times of disaster or crisis are urged to join their local American Red Cross Chapter. With its effective infrastructure and resources, the Red Cross is at the forefront of disaster response education and training. The Red Cross actively recruits, trains, and deploys mental health professionals to provide support services to disaster survivors and workers across the stages of preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.
The American Red Cross Disaster Cycle Services (DCS) is client-facing throughout the entire disaster cycle of preparedness, response, and recovery. DCS response provides relief when disasters strike for those affected by residential fires, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, transportation accidents, terrorist attacks, mudslides, and other man-made and natural disasters 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (over 70,000 disasters in the US each year). All American Red Cross assistance is free. Disaster Cycle Services activities include casework, health services, mental health, logistics, sheltering, feeding, communications, governmental liaison, community partners, etc. Disaster Action Teams (DAT) are the staff and volunteers who actually respond to the event. Red Cross Disaster Mental Health (DMH) volunteers support DAT activities and may be deployed with the Team.
Red Cross DMH volunteers often experience great collegiality and satisfaction in being able to use their mental health skills in service to the public. The Red Cross is a pioneer in emphasizing the importance of self-care and caring for its own, so DMH volunteers have a prominent role in supporting the mental health resiliency of volunteers and staff who respond to disasters.
Red Cross DMH volunteers in California are mental health professionals including Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Associate Marriage and Family Therapists, graduate level Marriage and Family Therapist Trainees, and Retired Marriage and Family Therapists.
While personnel in mental health disciplines who do not meet the current eligibility requirements cannot participate in Red Cross Disaster Mental Health activity, they are encouraged to serve as volunteer providers of other client-oriented Red Cross services such as client casework services and recovery, working in shelters, and mass feeding. These vital disaster services require excellent people skills and working in close collaboration with disaster health and mental health service systems.
To become an American Red Cross volunteer:
For more educational resources on crisis response, click here.
Our Nominating Committee has chosen the slate of candidates to run for the Board of Directors. Click here to view the candidates and read their statements.
OUR BYLAWS ARE BEING REVIEWED. TAKE THE SURVEY!
Our Bylaws Committee continues to review CAMFT’s Bylaws, ensuring our Bylaws reflect the needs of our community. As members, your input matter. Please help steer our committee’s efforts by sharing your insights on pre-licensed voting rights, agency memberships, board composition, and more. Click here to take the quick survey.
LOOKING FOR RESEARCH TO SUPPORT YOUR WORK?
Did you know that as a CAMFT member, you have unlimited, 24/7 access to EBSCOhost’s Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection? This database contains thousands of academic journals, book reviews, and magazines focused on behavioral sciences.
With this powerful tool, you can search, view, and print full-text articles–not just summaries or abstracts -- keeping you informed and up-to-date on the latest trends and data in your field.
Your CAMFT member login is required to access the EBSCOhost Publishing Databases. Get started here!
WE HAVE A CLINICAL DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE BOARD POSITION VACANCY!
We have a spot on the Board of Directors. Click here to learn more and apply.
THREE NEW LAW & ETHICS WEBINARS NOW AVAILABLE ON OUR LEARNING LIBARARY!
Are you in need of Law & Ethics CE credits? Good news – we have three new recordings of recent L&E webinars, now available in our On-Demand Learning Library!
Upcoming Webinar: Why Should I Care about the CAMFT Code of Ethics?
Join us Friday, February 21, 2025 at 9am for a three-hour workshop with Mike Griffin, JD: Why Should I Care About the CAMFT Code of Ethics? We’ll learn a broad overview of the ethical standards found in Part I of the CAMFT Code of Ethics and the procedures expressed in Part II of the Code which govern the actions taken when an ethics complaint is filed.
The workshop will discuss examples of alleged ethical violations that are reported to the Ethics Committee and offer suggestions to therapists regarding ethical practice.
Vignettes will be utilized, as appropriate, to illustrate examples of scenarios which often lead to complaints, and to suggest practices which may be helpful to therapists in avoiding ethical problems.
Attendees at this workshop may earn a total of three hours of continuing education (CEU) credit, as required by the Board of Behavioral Sciences for licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed professional clinical counselors.
Topics to be discussed
Learning Objectives
Attendees at this workshop will be able to:
SUPERVISION WORKSHOP SERIES
We are thrilled to introduce five NEW Supervision Workshops, totaling 12 CEs! Discover them all in our On-Demand Learning Library.
Don’t forget that the BBS requires supervisors to complete a minimum of six (6) hours of continuing professional development in supervision during each renewal period.
*Reminder: Supervisors may apply their CAMFT supervisor course training hours to their overall CE requirements with one exception. A course taken on law and ethics designed specifically to meet supervisor training requirements CANNOT also be accepted toward meeting the six-hour law and ethics course required of all licensees each renewal period. A single course will not fulfill both requirements.
JOIN A LOCAL CAMFT CHAPTER
CAMFT has 24 chapters throughout the state that offer local programs and networking opportunities for MFTs. You can find your local chapter here. Be sure to ask how they support pre-licensees!
PRE-LICENSE JOB SITES AND JOB OPENINGS
Use your membership login and password to get access to this directory that showcases job sites throughout California that pay Associate Marriage and Family Therapists and provide supervision for hours. Log in to view.
LOOKING FOR SUPERVISION?
Check out the directory of CAMFT Certified Supervisors! Our CAMFT Certified Supervisors have gone above and beyond the BBS requirements for supervision to complete the advanced training. Find a CAMFT Certified Supervisor.
EAST BAY, MARIN COUNTY, AND SANTA CLARA VALLEY CHAPTER VOLUNTEERS SHINE AT THE FALL SYMPOSIUM
Board members and volunteers from the East Bay, Marin County, and Santa Cara Valley Chapters were hosts at the CAMFT Fall Symposium in San Jose on Friday, November 1. They greeted symposium attendees and shared pertinent local information about their Chapters, the community, and local restaurants and entertainment. Throughout the day, they also engaged symposium attendees in conversations and activities, while offering treats and giveaways.
The Chapter hosts shared that this was a wonderful opportunity to introduce their chapters, its programs, and member benefits to the attendees.
A huge thank you to hosts Khea Gumbs and Tanya Jacobs (East Bay Chapter), Elizabeth Clark (Marin County Chapter), and Liliana Ramos, Marté Matthews, Erin Rosenblum, Kusum Punjabi, Ursula Jorgensen, Rachel Costella, and Kassie Butterworth (Santa Clara Valley Chapter) for their time.
CAMFT'S ATTORNEYS PRESENT AT THE SIERRA FOOTHILLS AND SOUTHWEST RIVERSIDE COUNTY CHAPTERS
CAMFT Staff attorney Luke Martin, Esq, MBA presented “How to Avoid Being Sued! - Staying Out of Legal Trouble with Client, Employees, and 3rd Party Organizations” at the beautiful Wilson Creek Winery & Vineyards in Temecula. Over 70 members from the Southwest Riverside County Chapter attended the presentation on Friday, October 11, 2024, and shared how much they enjoyed and appreciated the topic and speaker.
On Saturday, October 12, CAMFT Staff attorney Mike Griffin, Esq, LCSW presented “Legal and Ethical issues involving Telehealth; and the Treatment of Minors” to members of the Sierra Foothills Chapter. The event at the Canyon View Community Center was the second in-person training the Chapter hosted this year. The 6- hour training included real-life examples and one of the attendees mentioned that they have participated in many telehealth courses before, but they learned the most from this one.
GET CONNECTED
CAMFT chapters offer exciting events in yourlocal area that can enrich your practice with relevant continuing education workshops and networking opportunities click here to find your local chapter.
CAMFT MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND CHAPTERS' EVENTS Click here for a listing of events by Chapter/Region.
WELCOME NEW CEPA PROVIDERS
IT'S EASY TO BECOME A CAMFT-APPROVED PROVIDER Have you ever thought about sharing your knowledge and skill while supplementing your income? Now is the perfect time to become a CAMFT-Approved Continuing Education Provider! APPLY TODAY!
Apply before 12/31/24 and use the code CEPACHEER when calling in your payment to get 25% off the Initial Application Fee. Get the details.
LET CERTIFIED SUPERVISOR CANDIDATES KNOW THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO BE A CONSULTANT
The Directory lets those interested in becoming a Certified Supervisor know who is willing to be a consultant.
It’s easy! Simply log in and navigate to the area under Certified Supervisor Program. Click on “Willing to be a Consultant for a Certified Supervisor Applicant.” Candidates can sort the list by those who are willing, so it may increase your visibility!
NEW RESOURCE AVAILABLE FOR THE CAMFT CERTIFIED SUPERVISOR PROGRAM!
To better serve you and maintain the CAMFT Certified Supervisor Program’s (CSP) Creed to go “Above and Beyond,” the CSP Committee is now using a set of questions to review the topics and score the Case Summary.
For a helpful cheat sheet to guide your Case Summary writing, CLICK HERE.
Please remember that Consultants must review and approve the Case Summary before the Verification of Completion application goes to the Committee.
NEW UPDATES TO THE CAMFT CERTIFIED SUPERVISOR PROGRAM!
Certified Supervisor Logo
The Certified Supervisor Program now has a logo! You can use this brand-new logo on your professional advertising and informational materials including business cards, letterhead, brochures, and website. To use the logo, please download this form by clicking here, sign and send it to csp@camft.org.
Add Your Photo
The Directory of CAMFT Certified Supervisors now comes with your picture! When Supervisees are looking for a Supervisor, we recommend they reach out to a CAMFT Certified Supervisor and direct them to this Directory. If you’d like to add your photo to your record, simply Log-In to your Dashboard, and click on the area for your photo, and upload your headshot! This is a GREAT way to personalize your listing!
Supervision, How to Make it a Treat and Not a Trick (2 CEs)
Challenges in Supervision (2 CEs)
Relationship-Based Supervision Through the Lens of Attachment (2.5 CEs)
Guidance for Supervisors (2.5 CEs)
Taking the Supervisory Relationship to the Next Level: Clinical Supervision in the Changing World (3 CEs)
DISPLAY AD ORDERS FOR THE MARCH/APRIL 2025 EDITION EDITION OF THE THERAPIST Place your display ad order by January 15, 2025. More Information.
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