Write a letter or email related to legislative advocacy. Examples (not exhaustive) include: ; legislative actions that provide
reimbursement for counselors’ services; states join the Counseling Compact; Medicaid reimbursement;
promote counselors’ rights to practice within the limits of their training (e.g., counselors’ rights to use
assessment instruments or diagnose); increase the number of counselors serving in the VA; advocacy for
safety measures in schools; addiction counselor burnout etc.
To create a thoughtful and well-informed letter/email, you will need to engage in research on the subject
and include information in your letter/email with correct referencing of resources (you must cite at least
three professional references of research in the body of your letter). You may not use a standard letter
that an organization has prepared (this is plagiarism). This letter/email must be in your own words
although you can use template letters to inform your letter.
Inform Your Letter
Please explore websites for the professional associations specific to your concentration to become aware
of the need for various legislative actions. Most websites include a “governmental relations,” “advocacy,”
“how to get involved” tab to learn about their advocacy initiatives. Reflect on a population or cause that
you are passionate about/for, as opposed to writing on the first opportunity you find.
Any student may begin with American Counseling Association (ACA) or one of its 19 divisions as a
starting place, but review several national and state association websites as well:
• [Michigan] Counseling Association
• American School Counselors Association (ASCA)
o [Michigan] School Counselors Association
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
• The Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)
o [michigan] Certification Board for Addiction Professionals
• Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
• Chi Sigma Iota International (CSI)
• American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA)
o [Michigan] Mental Health Counselors Association

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