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October is National Bullying Prevention Month!September 23, 2013
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Program Book for 57th Professional Growth Conference
Pre-Register to Save on Nov. 20-23 Event

 

The Pre-Registration Program Book is NOW available for the 57th Annual Professional Growth Conference; more than 170 approved programs are listed alphabetically, by topic for your convenience. Don't miss out; pre-register before rates increase. Attend quality programs, network with colleagues, join conference festivities, and register for luncheons as well as pre- and post-conference workshops. School counselors interested in attending the conference are encouraged to use the template "Reasons to Register" letter to help garner support from your supervisor or school principal/superintendent. All professional counselors are invited to join TCA November, 20-23 at the San Antonio Convention Center and Grand Hyatt Hotel for the complete four-day event. For more information, including hotel discounts, visit: www.txca.org/SanAntonio.
null TCA to Unveil
New Website

New Look and Feel this November

 

The first week of November, TCA will officially unveil a newly designed association website! The updated design will be simplified for users, and will also contain a number of new graphic and text display features. Because a comprehensive infrastructure update is necessary to implement the design, a moratorium on new information posted to the website will take place from September 30 through October 31. Please note, the moratorium will not affect information submitted via website forms including: all conference registrations, membership join and renewals, webinar registrations, updates to membership profiles, and submissions for conference programs. CEU workshops held by our Chapters and Divisions during this time will not appear online, and instead will be publicized in subsequent issues of the eMembership Update. If you experience any website errors from 9/30 to 10/31, please contact [email protected].
null Join the National Health Service Corps
2014 Application Cycle Now Open

 

The 2014 application cycle for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is open; Eligibility Requirements and an Applicant Checklist are available online. Additionally, all current NHSC sites are required to submit a 2014 recertification application. Both application cycles will close on November 1, 2013 at 7:30pm ET. To apply, new sites must create a Site Administrator Account in the BCRS Program Portal for Site Administrators. Once created, the site will select "Apply for a New NHSC Site" on the landing page. Sites will then complete a series of questions to confirm eligibility. Site administrators may enter a Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) score for their site application; however the designation is not required. (Sites with HPSA scores of 14 and above are strongly encouraged to apply.) NHSC site program requirements are available on the NHSC Site Reference Guide. Additional information can be obtained by calling the Customer Care Center at (800)221-9393, 8am-8pm ET, Monday-Friday.
null Use HHSC's "IMPROVE"(Interactive Medicaid Provider Voice)"
System Gives New Voice to Providers

 

The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has implemented a new system titled "IMPROVE (Interactive Medicaid Provider Voice)" to better collect provider input on enhancements to the Texas Medicaid system. IMPROVE allows providers to pinpoint systemic issues within Medicaid and suggest solutions. It leverages the knowledge and experiences of front-line Medicaid providers in order to improve Medicaid policies and procedures, and to ultimately improve access to care for Medicaid patients. Speak Up! Send your concerns about the Texas Medicaid system to HHSC today! Have your national provider identifier (NPI) number ready, and visit www.improvetxmedicaid.com to get started.
null Guide Helps Access Home & Community Services in Texas
HHSC Materials Help Inform Clients and the Public

 

Do families of children with disabilities ask you for help finding home/community-based services for their children? Do you know adults with disabilities who need support to get/keep a job, live independently, or transition from a public school special education program? Do you know people who are elderly and want at-home services/supports rather than nursing home care? Use HHSC's new guide "Home and Community Based Services: Which Programs Do What?" to talk with individuals and families about home and community-based services that may be available to them through Texas Medicaid. The guide provides information about six programs sometimes called "Medicaid waivers" or "waiver services." Download it in English and Spanish.
null Sunset Review Begins for HHSC
Two-Year Reauthorization Process Started

 

The Sunset review process is designed to evaluate state agencies to make sure that their functions are needed and that they operate efficiently. The two-year, 2015 sunset schedule for Texas includes HHSC, DADS, DARS, DFPS, DSHS, the Interagency Task Force for Children wth Special Needs, and the Texas Healthcare Information Council. Sunset staff will examine these agencies and look for potential improvements. The commission will report its finding to the Legislature, which may decide to make changes to an agency mission, operations or structure. Agencies have already completed the first step, providing a self-evaluation report, available on the HHSC website. Public hearings and input also will be an important part of the process. TCA will keep you informed of important hearings as they are scheduled.
"8 Keys to Veteran Success on Campus"
Join Initiative from VA, Education Departments

 

The Departments of Education and Veterans Affairs have released the " 8 Keys to Success" to share best practices with educational institutions to help aid Veterans in affording and completing college degrees, certificates, industry-recognized credentials, or professional licensure. Is your school  on the list? If not, learn more about how to sign-on by emailing Marc Cole, Department of Education, at [email protected] or call (202)453-6358. Educators are encouraged to send their success stories and best practices to [email protected].
Understanding the Affordable Care Act
Free Education Events in Houston

 

The Network of Behavioral Health Providers (NBHP) and Mental Health America of Greater Houston (MHA-H) invite you to join two community education events related to the Affordable Care Act Initiative. The first program, held Thursday, October 3, is titled "The Affordable Care Act: Understanding and Implementing Its Requirements" and will address critical first steps in preparing, becoming Medicaid certified and billing for services, adopting a certified electronic health record and, developing outcome-based evaluation. The second program, held Thursday, October 17, is titled "Integrated Health Care: From Concept to Practice" and will address integrated health care models and practices, agency experiences building integrated health care partnerships, and evaluating integrated health care. Both programs will be held from 1:00 to 4:30 pm at the Montrose Center, 401 Branard Street (1st Floor), Houston, TX 77006; registration for both opens at 12:30pm. The events are free, but registration is required. To register, email [email protected].
null RFA: Evaluators Wanted for Mental Health Grants
Hogg Making Directory of Evaluation Professionals

 

The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health is developing a directory of evaluation professionals for grant programs in the field of mental health. The directory will be utilized to identify and select potential evaluators when future grant evaluation opportunities arise. Specifically, the foundation seeks professionals with evaluation experience relevant to the current grant initiatives including: enhancing services for mental health consumers and their families; integrated health care; reducing seclusion and restraint; the improvement of children's mental health, including transition-age youth; the development of the mental health workforce; and strengthening public policy through support of non-profit advocacy and public policy work. Hogg will host an informational teleconference about the RFA from 10 - 11am CT on Friday, October 4, 2013; register in advance of the teleconference. Hogg has listed complete details for the RFA online as well as more information on current grant initiatives.
TCA Quick Links
  
  
  
  
 
 
FINAL TCA LOGOTexas Counseling Association
1204 San Antonio St.
Austin, TX 78701
512.472.3403
800.580.8144
www.txca.org