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AVRASA (501c3) is an organization with a mission to educate, advocate and support Rehabilitation Counselors and social service professionals to provide comprehensive and integrated services to individuals with disabilities.
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BULLETIN: Rehabilitation Counselor Licensure in NY
There is an active bill in Albany in both the assembly and senate that seeks to create licensure for Rehabilitation Counselors in New York. There is a lot of activity and interest in supporting the bill thus including rehabilitation counselors on the list of 48 other professionals credential through the NY State Office of the Professions.
Rehabilitation Counselors are the ONLY professional counselors educated and trained specifically to serve the needs of individuals with disabilities. Licensure of Rehabilitation Counselors would ensure that people with disabilities and their families are PROTECTED from the problems that result from the fact that, without licensure, any untrained individual may use the title of "rehabilitation counselor".
Therefore, Rehabilitation counselor licensure is important to protect people with disabilities!!!
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) emphasizes the importance of providing individuals with disabilities with accessible and appropriate rehabilitation services. Several key sections of the ADA relate to improving opportunities for productive employment for people with disabilities. These opportunities should NEVER be compromised or lost through the use of rehabilitation personnel with inadequate or inappropriate qualifications and/or experience.
AVRASA in conjunction with NYRCA (www.nyrca.org) and NRA (www.nymetronra.org) advocates for and supports licensure of rehabilitation counselors so we may continue to educate, recruit and retain qualified rehabilitation counselors in New York State.
The purpose of the rehabilitation counselor licensure bill is to protect people with disabilities- This is Advocacy in Action!!! The current bill numbers - A967B (2012) for Assembly and S6092A (2012) for Senate are amended and recommitted to the higher education committee.
To view this and other bills go to the following web pages and insert bill info:
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2010 HEALTH CARE REFORM
CALLING ALL CRC'S: YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!!!
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Federal Legislation
In March 2010, Congress and the President enacted two bills: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Currently, much of the resulting activity is in rule making within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and in implementation within each of the 50 states. While some reform elements are already in effect, the majority of changes will be phased over the next 4 years, concluding with the opening of state health insurance exchanges for individuals and small business in 2014. Once operational, state exchanges will provide venues for qualifying individuals to "shop" for quality, comprehensive health insurance plans at competitive rates.
State Health Care Exchanges
While states have 3 years to implement their health care exchanges, the planning and development process has already begun. All of the 50 state legislatures will be meeting in 2011 to incorporate PPACA requirements into their own state law, as well as to create governance rules and funding for the new exchange. Even now, state governors, health insurance regulators, Medicaid directors, legislative study groups, and newly-formed state health care reform councils are developing the rules and processes that will determine which insurers will be certified to offer their products on the state's exchange.
The PPACA identified categories of "essential benefits" and other requirements that insurance companies will use to develop or modify insurance plans for consideration by each state. While details of these categories will be identified in part by the HHS, states will have room to make the final decisions as to which benefits will be essential for all plans and at different plan levels within their state exchanges. Accordingly, states are evaluating and determining which services and corresponding service providers should be covered.
CRCC Involvement: Impact to CRCs
During this critical planning and devlopment stage at the state level, CRCC will be proactively advocating for the inclusion of rehabilitation counseling services for people with disabilities, with CRCs being the individuals qualified to provide those services. CRCC's advocacy efforts here will be extensive and will require the assistance of many CRCs within their respective states.
| CRC Volunteers Needed!
This is a critical time for the voices of CRCs to be heard. CRCC urges all CRCs to consider volunteering any amount of time, large or small. Experience working with legislators or regulators is not necessary - CRCC will provide information, guidance, and support for all volunteers. All interested CRCs should complete a very brief online questionnaire. This is not a firm commitment nor does it commit a CRC to any particular activity. It simply includes their name on an initial list that will help CRCC organize its efforts in each state during the coming months.
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| Click on the image to become a volunteer!!! |
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AVRASA is on the move for 2012!!
2011 proved to be an exceptional year for AVRASA and the field of
Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling in Substance Abuse.
However, we still have a lot of work to do!!!
We have already begun planning General Meetings, Events,
Mini-Trainings and the Annual AVRASA Conference!
*** EARLY BIRD MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNT ***
Fill out and submit your 2012 Membership Application before
December 31st, 2011, and receive a 10% Discount!!!
Exciting things are happening in 2012, including advocacy efforts for advancements in our profession and Licensure in Rehabilitation Counseling in the State of NY, so don't miss out!!
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*** Make sure you check out other amazing meetings, events and conferences under our "AVRASA Recommended Events" tab ***
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| ** Don't forget to check out our Events and Meetings pages for upcoming events. |
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