Election News and Dr. Burns' New Video  

Dear Former MMHCA Members:

As a former member we believe you should be kept up to date on what is happening at MMHCA

We are pleased to share an important new video created by Dr. Stephanie Burns, candidate for member at large on the DeBoer group's slate for the current election.

Membership Matters: Why Every LPC Needs Their State Counseling Association

Election Update

The Court Ordered Election Ballots will be emailed to current Members this Thursday, 5/22/2025. If you join by Wednesday May 21, you can still vote.

In reviewing campaign materials from the opposing slate, we noticed something striking: many of their "goals" are initiatives the DeBoer Group has already implemented over the past 18 months.

REALITY CHECK: GOALS vs. ACCOMPLISHMENTS

What the Blundo group is Promising vs. What the DeBoer group is Already Delivering

On Advocacy

They Say: "Continued advocacy on your behalf" and rehire the lobbyist.

The Reality: The DeBoer Group already holds weekly meetings with our two lobbyists from Acuitas, provides monthly legislative reports at public board meetings, and has established working relationships with NASW-Michigan, MDHHS and insurance companies to address pressing issues like insurance claw-backs. Acuitas was our lobbyist during our scope of practice fight in 2019 and has remained our lobbyist since then - funded the last 18 months by membership dues paid to the DeBoer group. Our lobbyists attend Counseling Compact Commissioner meetings with us, and Acuitas is monitoring the progress of the LLPC bill.

On Interprofessional Collaboration

They Say: "Working with other Mental Health Professions"

The Reality: The DeBoer Group has already established an active partnership with NASW-Michigan, the state’s largest mental health professional organization. We hold biweekly collaborative meetings with NASW-MI. We have also gathered a coalition of over 10 healthcare professional organizations to work together to limit claw-backs in MI. We have an important partnership with MDHHS and work with insurance companies to benefit LPCs.

On Fair Compensation

They Say: "Advocating for counselors to receive fair compensation"

The Reality: The DeBoer Group is already actively addressing insurance clawbacks through coalition-building, working directly with Medicaid leadership on reimbursement issues, a partnership with MDHHS, and providing monthly Medicare billing support through Q&A sessions with Dr. Elizabeth Teklinski.

On Professional Development

They Say: "Programming on the Counseling Compact" and "programs to meet licensing requirements"

The Reality: The DeBoer Group has already delivered specialized workshops for practice owners and job candidates, established free monthly supervisor and therapist consultation groups for members, and planned on-demand low cost Implicit Bias training. Our board members and lobbyists regularly attend National Counseling Compact Commission meetings and provide updates to members. We have created several informational presentations on the Counseling Compact to educate Michigan Counselors and presented at the recent Building Bridges statewide counseling conference. We are also dedicated to networking with each other through in-person regional get-togethers, such as those held in Lansing and Marshall.

They say: “Restoring MMHCA’s status as an Approved Provider with NBCC”

The Reality: We hold the NBCC approved provider status, which never lapsed and is active. 

Why Start Over When Progress Is Already Underway?

The DeBoer Group isn't making promises about what we might do someday - we're already doing the work today. 

The question isn't whether these initiatives should happen - we agree they should. The question is whether MMHCA should continue the progress already underway or start over with promises about future action.

We believe Michigan counselors deserve leadership that delivers results, not just intentions. 

We hope you'll consider rejoining us in the future!

Our slate of candidates for the election:

LINK to past year's accomplishments (May 2025).

"The Power of 501C6 Organizations: Why it matters to MI LPCs" another important video created by Dr. Stephanie Burns.

If you have questions please email us at MMHCABOARD@MMHCANOW.ORG.

In Service,

MMHCA’s Board of Directors

Christopher DeBoer, President

Krystin Sankey, Treasurer

Carol Berger, Secretary

Dr. Joy Creel, Member at Large

Dr. Larry Pfaff, Member at Large

Lauri Rowe, Member at Large

Dr. Elizabeth Teklinski, Chair of Education & Outreach

Links you may find useful:

Our website MMHCANOW.org

LINK to past year's accomplishments (May 2025)

LINK to the Counseling Compact website

"Answers to Michigan Counselors’ Questions about the Counseling Compact."

📌 Listen to the Audio Version: [Click here]

📌 Download the Written Report: [Click here]

LINK to our 1/30/25 Compact report

LINK to a 17 minute overview of the Compact by Chris DeBoer

LINK to 58 min video about vertical integration in Mental Health by Chris DeBoer

LINK to MMHCA’s LinkedIn group.

LINK to MMHCA's YouTube channel

LINK to MMHCA's FaceBook page. Please follow us!