Letter from the President
Greetings! MLPCA has been working for you this year!!! Since July’s changing of the guard, we have attended MCA Leadership in Madison, AMHCA National Conference in New Orleans, offered all four Supervision Workshops, and held a Legislative Training in Jackson on September 29, 2007. MCA Conference was AWESOME with informative content sessions, including MLPCA sponsored Nuts and Bolts of Private Practice and three hours of Ethics. We participated with MSCA in the MCA Legislative training with our lobbyist, Lee Ann Mayo from Capitol Resources, LLC.
We have numerous legislative issues to push in the upcoming Congressional Session. Tuesday, February 5, 2008 is Counselors Day at the Capitol. Please contact your legislator and show your support of your profession and your clients by being present that day!

We will be asking to change the language of the LPC practice statute in the following ways:
• § 73 30 3 (b) & (c): To define the practice of counseling/psychotherapy as part of the scope of practice of Licensed Professional Counselors;
• § 73 30 9: To require U. S. Citizenship or proper immigration work status and criminal record background checks for professional counselor licensure purposes;
• § 73 30 13: To revise the statutory reference to the professional counselor association - The American Counseling Association Code of Ethics;
• § 73 30 25 (g): To delete exemption (g) from professional licensure requirements - strengthening the Board’s ability to regulate the practice of counseling;
• § 73 30 29: To authorize the State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors to renew licenses on a biannual basis and to clarify continuing education requirements for licensees.

These changes are recommended by the MS State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors and a July 2007 PEER committee review. Please email me at DawnTGP@comcast.net if you would like further information on legislative issues affecting your clients and your ability to practice. Now is the time to make the investment in yourself, your clients, and your profession by becoming an advocate!

Enthusiastically,

Dawn M. Leach, LPC

Congratulations to these MLPCA members who were 2007 Award Recipients at MCA Convention in Philadelphia!

• Clinical Mental Health Counselor of the Year – Issac Boose
• Public Service Counselor of the Year – Hollis Hall
• New Counselor of the Year – Lindsey Joiner
• Research Award – Laura Simpson
• Licensed Professional Counselor of the Year – Lela Weems