Board Highlights September 2020

The following notes highlight discussion and action from the September 12-13, 2020 CAMFT Board of Directors meeting, held virtually.

CAMFT’s Responses to Social Crises:

The Executive Director reviewed the ways in which CAMFT has responded to current social issues that have greatly impacted the association.

Notable accomplishments regarding CAMFT’s responses to COVID-19 include the following:

• Maintaining member benefits (including legal consultations) while transitioning staff to fulltime remote work;
• Providing accurate and up-to-date information to members about COVID-19 federal, state and local protocols, business impacts, and licensing and insurance issues, through CAMFT’s COVID-19 resources page;
• Successfully stewarding CAMFT’s resources by achieving a positive surplus, when many associations are struggling with deficit budgets;
• Transitioning to virtual education, with nearly 7,500 registrations and 3,000 Live attendees to seven workshops on COVID-19 through our Lunch & Learn webinar series, and a record number of participants in CAMFT’s first Virtual Experience conference.

In response to civil unrest after the murder of George Floyd, CAMFT published a Statement on Anti-racism, conducted a webinar on Black Minds Matter, and included several workshops on Anti-racism at the Virtual Experience. These resources and others are available on the Anti-racism Educational Resources for Therapists and Clients page on the CAMFT website.

Financial Report:

The Board reviewed CAMFT’s finances. CAMFT’s financial position is strong at this time, with CAMFT’s revenue (minus expenses) at $568,792. In addition, CAMFT added nearly $1 million in assets to reserves.

Strategic Priorities Update:

The Board was updated on CAMFT’s progress on CAMFT priorities, including scope of practice, social policy, and helping chapters. The Board approved the development of social policy statements on the following topics:

• Black Lives Matter;
• Domestic Violence;
• Decriminalizing Drug Use;
• Immigration/Family Separation and Containment;
• Gender Inequality.

Additional Proceedings:

The Virtual Experience, an online version of the Annual Conference, has been a remarkable success, with over 1,800 registrants. This is more than double the best-attended live CAMFT Annual Conference ever. Registration for the Virtual Experience will be open through October 21, 2020, and content will be accessible for a month after registration closes.

CAMFT achieved a victory with AB 2257, which includes a business-to-business exemption to the AB 5 independent contractor law. This bill, which became effective immediately due to its urgency, should allow many LMFTs to go back to their previous independent contractor status. An article reviewing this new law and its implications will be available in the coming weeks. Please call CAMFT attorneys if you have questions about how this law might apply to you.

The Board approved a dues price for Emeritus membership, set at $40 per year. Current Emeritus members will soon receive a notice about this.

The next Board meeting will be held on December 5-6, 2020. This meeting will also be held virtually.