ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES-CAMFT

Mon 4/10/2006 2:51 PM
Family Constellations Workshop for 4/29/06 is cancelled
The workshop on Family Constellations previously advertised for April 29th will not take place as Professor J. Edward Lynch has been selected to attend advanced training in Germany at that time.

The May 27 and June 24 Family Constellations will meet as scheduled.

Emphasis in the Constellation work of May 27th will be Compassionate Listening: A path to healing wounds suffered and inflicted.

June 24th will emphasize Mourning, the crucial healing movement in Family Constellations

Mon 4/10/2006 2:53 PM
Seeking APRN and Licensed Psychotherapist for New London area
The Vauxhall Professional Practice, located parallel to the border of New London, is looking for two people. We need an APRN to prescribe, and one licensed psychotherapist to conduct family, individual, and possibly couple therapy. We're seeking skilled practitioners, wanting to keep the quality of our services top-notch. Please email omray@yahoo.com with the subject, "Licensed Position inquiry". Please spread the word and don't hesitate to contact us.

Thu 4/6/2006 1:03 PM
As you know, our bill, H.B. 5549, AN ACT CONCERNING CERTIFICATION OF MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPISTS EMPLOYED IN SCHOOLS is moving through the General Assembly and it is gaining momentum. There has been a change in the next step in the process of getting it passed. (for those of you who have taken the time to contact members of the Appropriations Committee, please know that your efforts were not in vain, the bill will still go before your legislator, just not as soon as we first thought).

What this legislation will do is replace the outdated language in the Connecticut Department of Education's state certification laws prohibiting licensed MFTs from being hired by school systems. In the process of becoming law it must make it through the committee process and that's where we need your help.

Your legislator, Representative Stone, is on the Public Health Committee and we urgently need you to call or send an e-mail urging support. We are expecting a vote as soon as Monday or Tuesday (the 10th or 11th), so please take a couple of minutes and call or e-mail your legislator before Monday in support of this important legislation (some talking points to help you are included below).

Wed 4/5/2006 12:55 PM
Our bill, H.B. 5549, AN ACT CONCERNING CERTIFICATION OF MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPISTS EMPLOYED IN SCHOOLS is gaining momentum. The next step in the process of getting it passed is the Appropriations Committee. This legislation will replace the outdated language in the Connecticut Department of Education's state certification laws prohibiting licensed MFTs from being hired by school systems.

Talking Points

1) Be sure to identify yourself as a constituent.

2) Tell your legislator that you are calling/e-mailing and asking for their support of: H.B. 5549, AN ACT CONCERNING CERTIFICATION OF MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPISTS EMPLOYED IN SCHOOLS

3) Why support this legislation:
- Marital and family therapists (MFTs) have been certified by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health since 1983 and licensed for a decade. MFTs provide services in all settings where other allied mental health providers practice, and are respected members of multidisciplinary treatment teams. We want to update Connecticut Department of Education regulations to include MFTs as certified providers in school systems.

- MFTs currently function actively in schools as valued, although only as contracted, members of multidisciplinary special education teams in many school systems across the state. Connecticut children and the educators responsible for them deserve to have the most competent and qualified professionals from among the FULL talent pool.

4) If you call and cannot talk to your legislator, be sure to leave a message with their staff person.

Wed 3/29/2006 8:02 PM
The Children's Center of Hamden presents: ATTACHMENT AND BONDING: Effective Interventions for Developing Healthy Connections With Jennifer Wilke-Deaton, MA, LPA

FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2006 from 8:30-4:30 at: The Children's Center of Hamden
1400 Whitney Ave. Hamden, CT 06517 The cost is $95 and includes breakfast and lunch.

CEU's are available for LMFT's, LCSW's, and LPC's
To register or for more information, call Marguerite Laudano at 203-248-2116 x233. Registration Deadline is April 1st, but has been extended. Don't miss out on this great opportunity!

The Connecticut Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
A Division of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

Tue 3/21/2006 2:17 PM
LEGISLATIVE ALERT March 20, 2006

HB 5549 AN ACT CONCERNING CERTIFICATION OF MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPISTS EMPLOYED IN SCHOOLS.

HB 5549 will appear on the House calendar ready for action by the end of this week. It is not quite clear whether or not this proposal may have to be sent to another committee of the General Assembly. Regardless! Time is of the essence!

Please take a minute to help support this important legislation. We have a letter template on the CAMFT Legislative Action Network website here. Simply follow the link, click on "write your legislators" under the Certification Issue, fill in your address, then edit the letter or send it as is to your legislators.

MFTs have been certified by the Connecticut Department of Public Health since 1983 and licensed for over a decade. Education requirements of MFTs are rigorous, requiring a specialized Master's Degree program in marriage and family therapy.

q MFTs are already involved in the public school system through contracted non- profit agencies, like youth service bureaus.

q This bill is not a mandate to hire MFTs; it simply allows administrators to hire from among the full pool of mental health professionals.

q Most importantly, research confirms that effective treatment of school-age children requires the support and involvement of their families. MFTs are uniquely trained to bring families together with larger systems.

As the bill moves along in the legislative process we will keep you updated and let you know about other opportunities for you to help pass this important legislation. However, your first step should be to reach out to your legislator, letting them know who you are and that you support this legislation and ask that they support it when it comes before them for discussion or a vote.

After you have written your messages, please forward this alert to your friends, family, and colleagues in Connecticut so they to can help.

Mon 3/20/2006 2:02 PM
Dear CAMFT Members:

As you may know, our legislative effort to open up job opportunities for MFTs in school systems made good progress last year, but ultimately did not have enough support to become law. This is a new year and we're determined to succeed.

This year we have a new tool -- the CAMFT Legislative Action Network, an e-mail system to keep our members informed of important legislation and events to ensure that our voices are heard in the halls of the Capitol.

The new Legislative Action Network will make the process of contacting your senators and reps a quick and seamless process. Click on the blue "link" in your e-mail message, fill in your contact information and you can send a prepared e-mail to your representative; you may also personalize the e-mail.

I know everyone is very busy but this legislation means potential job opportunities for our members. There is a very small window of opportunity to let our voices be heard. Additionally, over the next few weeks the Connecticut General Assembly will consider a variety of legislation that has the potential to grow and strengthen the profession of marriage and family therapy here in Connecticut.

As professionals we need to know when decisions are being made that will directly affect our profession, our marketability and our clients. Thank you and we look forward to working with you in the coming weeks and months to make the profession of marriage and family therapy even stronger.

Sincerely,

Jane Lobdell, CAMFT President & Ralph Cohen & Kathie Laundy, Advocacy Committee Co-Chairs

Tue 3/14/2006 4:20 PM
The Southern Connecticut Consortium for Staff Development has been hosting training workshops for the past 15 years. Sponsoring agencies include: Catholic Family Services FSW, The Child Guidance Center of Greater Bridgeport, The Mid-Fairfield Child Guidance Center of Norwalk, Fairfield Counseling Services, and Stratford Community Services

This year's presentation Will feature Salman Akhtar, MD and his topic will be The Trauma of Dislocation, Cultural Change and Psychotherapy.
Date: Friday April 28, 2006 Time: 8:30-3:30 Place: Norwalk Inn

About Dr. Akhtar: Salman Akhtar is a professor of psychiatry at Jefferson Medical Medical College and training and supervising analyst at the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia. He is the author Broken Structures (1992), Quest for Answers (1995), Inner Torment (1999), Immigration and Identity (1999), New Clinical Realms (2003), and Objects of Our Desire (2005). His more than 250 scientific publications also include 21 edited books. Widely sought as a speaker and a winner of many prestigious awards Dr. Akhtar is a Scholar-in-Residence at the Inter-Act Theatre Company in Philadelphia and has published six volumes of poetry.

The cost for the program is $110.00 and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. 6 CEUs are available through the CT Society for Social Work, applicable for social workers, marriage and family therapists and counselors with a full day registration. To register please send a check along with your name address and phone number to: Child Guidance of Center of Greater Bridgeport, Attn: Nancy Zeldes, Coordinator, Staff Development 148 Beach Road Fairfield, Ct 06824 03-255-2631

Mon 3/13/2006 8:38 PM
Paula Levy, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist/ Divorce Mediator, and Vicki Volper, Attorney/Divorce mediator, are presenting two seminars regarding the divorce process.

BAD MARRIAGE-GOOD DIVORCE will assist individuals in selecting the divorce process that is right for them. The seminars are free and open to therapists and/or their clients who are interested in learning more about divorce options.
Dates: Friday, March 24 at 12 noon or Saturday, April 1 at 10:00 am. Location: The Center for Change, 40 Cross Street, Suite 240, Norwalk, CT

To register for the seminar or to request an information packet please call Paula Levy, LMFT at 203-761-9587.