JUNE 2020
TCA Professional Growth Conference, Nov 11-13, 2020
Early bird registration is open until the end of the month! Earn 20+ CEs.

Plans are underway for TCA’s Annual Professional Growth Conference in Dallas. We are planning for a great face-to-face event but making contingency plans should we need to convert to a virtual event, with final decisions being made this summer.  

Face-to-face or virtual, TCA will make sure you have the opportunity to earn all the CEs available at PGC! 

This year's exciting keynote speakers are Ajita Robinson and Cyndi Doyle.

Responding to Racial Injustice

In these challenging times, Professional Counselors have the tools to help communities embrace vulnerability, act courageously, build bridges, and transform anger into action. TCA’s statement on the events leading up to the massive public outcry to address racial injustice include some very specific action steps. TCA joins the American Counseling Association and our divisions ( Texas Counselors for Social Justice and the Texas Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development) in speaking out on these important issues. 


Town Hall on Racial Trauma and the Violent and Negligent Policing of Black Americans June 19, 2020 10:00 AM - 12:00 pm CST

In response to recent and continued police violence toward Black Americans, Counselors for Social Justice and co-sponsors ACA, AMCD, SAIGE, ASGW, NECA, ACCA, AARC, ACES, IAMFC, ARCA, IAAOC, the American Counseling Association Foundation, ASERVIC, MGCA, ACAC and ACA North Atlantic, Midwest, Southern and Western Regions are holding a Town Hall event to allow ACA chapters, divisions and members share how they are addressing this violence, call one another to action, and discuss how to advocate at the individual, community and larger societal levels, remember and celebrate Juneteenth and hold an open forum for people to speak and be heard.

June 16
BHEC Meeting (more info below)

June 24-27
TCA June Meetings

June 30
Early Bird Pricing Ends for the 64th Annual Professional Growth Conference

July 1

August 1

November 11-13
Condolences

Janie Bramlett, long time TCA member and volunteer passed away this month in Bluff Dale, Texas. Thank you for your years of hard work and dedication to the counseling profession!
New TCA Membership Certificates Accessible Online
We're Going Green! Download your current TCA member certificate through your member profile.

To help lessen our carbon footprint, printed TCA membership certificates will no longer be mailed upon renewal.

To locate your membership certificate:
  1. Log into your TCA profile
  2. Find the "Member Information" tab on the left side of the page
  3. Click on "Membership Certificate"
  4. Right-click the certificate image to save to your desktop for future use or to print a copy for your records

A link to your certificate will also be included in the confirmation email you will receive upon renewal
Monday, June 15 is Voter Registration Deadline for Run-Off Elections

The runoff election ( view ballot) for both the republican and democratic primaries is July 14. These elections were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Early voting starts June 29. Voters cannot cross parties after voting in the primary elections, but if you didn't vote in the March primary you can still vote in the primary runoffs.

REMINDER: Rise in Scam Attempts

Be careful when receiving phone calls and emails. If you receive a call or email from a government agency demanding you pay any fines or fees, don’t reply immediately. Take time to research. Call the published number for that agency first to ensure the demand is legitimate.

Social engineering is the act of tricking someone into divulging information or taking action, usually through technology by taking advantage of a potential victim’s natural tendencies and emotional reactions. Social engineering techniques come in many forms, but one of the most common ways to manipulate a person is via phishing email or a phone call. A malicious hacker could pose as one of your email contacts and ask for your personal information. Or an email aligning to your interests that seemingly comes from a store you frequent could allow a hacker access to your bank account. See an example of simple social engineering.

TCA is here to help.

Take advantage of LegalCare, for FREE unlimited telephone consultations with an attorney for both professional and personal issues. Find the access code in your TCA Member's Area.
Nominate Award-Winning Professional Counselors
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Know a c ounselor doing outstanding work or an advocate of the profession? Nominate them today.

TCA's Professional Awards recognize hard work in all aspects of the professional counseling field. Award winners are recognized annually at our Professional Growth Conference in November.

Know Your TCA Benefits: TCA's Find a Counselor Database
Help potential clients find you. Make sure your information is up to date.

TCA hosts a public database of our members on our website. If you're opted in, members of the public can use our database to connect with you.

Licensing Updates
Check the TCA COVID-19 web page for important policy changes and resources.
Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council Virtual Meeting, June 16

At its virtual meeting on June 16, 2020, BHEC will consider final adoption of the rules governing its operations. TCA signed onto comments submitted by the Behavioral Health Coalition and also submitted independent comments. BHEC is the umbrella administrative agency housing the licensing boards for all behavioral health professionals. It will become fully operational on September 1, 2020. At this meeting, BHEC will also consider rule changes proposed by each of the member boards, including the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, to align with the transfer of administrative duties from the boards to BHEC. TCA also testified and requested numerous changes to the TSBEPC rule changes at its meeting on May 15, 2020. Following BHEC’s review, the licensing board rules will be reviewed again by the Governor’s office and then send to the Texas Register for public comment.  

Telehealth

TCA and its allies have been advocating with the Governor and other state agencies to extend the executive order on Telehealth. Several insurance companies have indicated they intend to end reimbursements for telephonic services and reimbursement for telehealth at the same rate as face to face. TCA recommends contacting the insurance providers you work with to encourage them to extend this essential benefit.  Letters to the Governor using personal stories on why his executive order should be extended will also be helpful.  
CSOT Adopts Emergency Rule Regarding Online Continuing Education for License Renewal

In response to COVID-19, the Council on Sex Offender Treatment convened an emergency meeting and adopted emergency amendment to Council Rules found in Title 22 of the Texas Administrative Code, §810.4 that removes from paragraph (7) the six-hour limit on the number of online continuing education hours a licensee may accrue toward renewal requirements during a renewal period.

HHSC Project Update: Provider Management and Enrollment System (PMES)

Following discussions between HHSC and CNSI regarding the contract, HHSC and CNSI agreed to terminate their contract by mutual agreement, ending the vendor’s involvement in the PMES modernization project.
HHSC remains committed to PMES goals. The agency will continue to streamline and simplify the Texas Medicaid provider application. There will be a phased in approach to implement enhancements to the provider enrollment and screening processes.

Enhancements include:
  • Adding pharmacy, long-term care, and long-term services and supports provider types
  • Improving enrollment processing error rates and processing times
  • Reducing dependency on the Texas Provider Identification number

Stakeholders can expect more updates as the project progresses. Email questions to Stephen Preece.
School Counselor Resources
Check the TCA COVID-19 web page for important policy changes and resources.
Free Webinar from ACT: Closing the Chasm on the Digital Divide

Join industry experts and delve into the complexities of the Digital Divide to address inequalities while providing insights, opportunities, and emerging solutions and best practices that can be employed to address the critical digital access our students need to succeed in education and beyond.

Remote School Counseling Resource from TEA

The Texas Education Agency has released some guidance on how to maintain your school counseling programs remotely.   

The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, 5th Edition
SPECIAL PRICE OF JUST $25 FOR TCA MEMBERS

Make sure your school counseling and counselor educator programs align with Texas law!

The Texas Model is now the standard in Texas (HB 18). Make sure your school counseling program aligns with best practices, SBEC standards, and Texas law! Ordering is quick and easy. Discounts available for bulk purchases.
DISCLAIMER ABOUT PAID ADVERTISEMENTS: Any reference to a product, service, activity, or program in this electronic communication does not imply endorsement by the Texas Counseling Association.
Texas Counseling Association | www.txca.org