As professionals we are called to advocate for our profession. Advocacy competencies in the counseling profession include: Client/Student Empowerment, Client Student/Advocacy, Community Collaboration, Systems Advocacy, Public Information, and Social/Political Advocacy (Lewis, Arnold, House, & Toporek (2009). A summary of each competency is outlined the Advocacy and Competency document in the Learn section. Addiction counseling advocacy occurs through professional organizations such as counseling organizations like ACA, AACC, SAMSHA, NAADAC, and through professional private organizations, such as the Hazeldon Betty Ford Center.
While advocacy efforts continue to promote the counseling professions and client needs in addictions, mental illness, and comorbidity, further advocacy and reform is needed. Regarding advocacy, we the counselors and professionals became change agents for our professions and our client populations by getting involved with professional organizations and initiatives. In this forum, we will learn about some of these organizations, advocacy needs and trends, and how we can get involved professionally to promote change and progress.
For our final discussion, we will assess the advocacy needs for addictions and co-occurring disorders. Professional organizations are one avenue of advocacy as a professional. These organizations help keep us informed of current initiatives and bills in legislature on a national level. State and regional chapters keep us informed on a more localized level. Our local organization chapters, local government, and communities help us to stay informed of needs on local levels. Advocacy and awareness are key reasons to have active membership in professional organizations and on various levels (international, national, state, regional and local).
Organizations may be non-professional or professional. A well-known example of a non-professional organization with membership on all levels Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) (Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. [AAWSI], 2019a). AA has membership worldwide, as well as events on all levels for members. AA clearly states it is not a professional organization, does not diagnose or treat medical problems, maintain records or case studies, offer religious services, or address prevention, advocacy or legislation (AAWSI, 2019b).
Professional organizations have a membership body of counseling professionals and the organization aims to advance the knowledge, professionalism, and service of the profession among its membership. These organizations offer advocacy, professional development, publications, peer networking, resources, discounts and much more to members.
In your thread, respond to the following:
Review 3 of the professional organizations alphabetically listed below. Links to the advocacy descriptions pages are included but further research may be needed within the website.
American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) (Links to an external site.)
American Counseling Association (ACA) (Links to an external site.)
American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) (Links to an external site.)
Association of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) (Links to an external site.)
Hazeldon Betty Ford Center (Links to an external site.)
National Association of Addiction and Drug (NAADAC (Links to an external site.))
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Association (SAMHSA) (Links to an external site.)
What current initiative do you find to be the most important issue for today and why? Include scholarly research supporting your position.
Considering the course content, Small Discussion Groups, Group Wiki Project, and scholarly research, what is a current issue you would like to see advocated and changed in the addiction professions? Why? Include scholarly research supporting your position.
How might you get involved as a change agent for addiction and mental health as a professional?
The post As professionals we are called to advocate for our profession. Advocacy competencies appeared first on PapersSpot.
