President Obama Signs Bill to Add More Mental Health Providers for Veterans
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- October 20, 2016 |
- General |
In 2006, a law was enacted to permit the VA to hire LMFTs. However, the job specifications required LMFT applicants to have graduated from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). Many of the California marriage and family therapy programs preceded the establishment of COAMFTE and are, instead, part of regionally accredited institutions. This was an insurmountable employment barrier for 95% of California’s LMFTs qualified to treat our nation’s veterans.
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--President Obama recently signed the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill into law. This new law removed barriers to employment for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) to work for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This important legislation will significantly improve the availability of qualified clinicians who can treat veterans seeking mental health services. Read More.