The AAMFT Blog

AAMFT Statement and Support Resources for Mass Shootings

On behalf of the AAMFT Board of Directors and staff, we add our voices of support to those affected by the shooting in Uvalde, Texas that took the lives of 19 children and two adults simply attending and teaching at elementary school in their small Latino community. We must stand together and demonstrate compassion and empathy during times that can overwhelm and challenge our fundamental values. 

When tragedies occur, even if we are not directly affected, there is a systemic impact that can affect anyone. In the coming days, we know that many of our members and their clients will be struggling with processing these events or explaining the news of recent weeks to their children. As shootings sadly continue throughout the United States with few preventative measures, a new traumatic event may prompt mental health support to be deployed in places where violence has already impacted communities. We once again must put forward our skills as relational therapists to help those who are impacted by these threats to our sense of safety, recognizing both the immediate and long-term adverse effects that events like these have.

Just ten days ago, another shooting targeted and took the lives of ten Black residents of Buffalo, New York. This racist act of domestic terrorism traumatizes not only this community with life-threatening violence, but Black communities everywhere with white supremacist ideology adverse to their livelihood and well-being.

Marriage and family therapists are uniquely positioned to understand and recognize the systemic effect that oppression, inequity, and overt and covert racism have on individuals in marginalized communities and have a role in fostering healing and growth. Therefore, AAMFT stands in support of our members dedicated to advancing the fundamental rights, health, safety, and well-being of all individuals, relationships, and communities. As an organization, we will continue to advocate against societal inequalities and seek solutions in our clinical, research, community, and policy work to ensure that change is occurring.

As we have shared far too many times before, the resources below have been created by member MFTs or compiled by AAMFT to help support this process.

• Disastershock – How to Cope with the Emotional Stress of a Major Disaster
• Supporting Children Through Their Grief Journey
• How the Death of a Child Can Impact a Marriage
• Racial Justice Resources for MFTs
• Tips for Parenting During Times of Crisis

To share a resource with our community of MFTs, please contact us.

Advocating for MFTs as Medicare Providers: Spring 2022

In recent weeks, many members may have noticed an increase in communications from AAMFT encouraging MFTs to contact their Members of Congress and post on social media in support of legislation that would allow MFTs and MHCs to finally become Medicare-eligible providers. During the week of May 16^th, AAMFT will be engaging in the third Virtual Action Week since February to provide a coordinated effort for MFTs and their friends, family and allies to contact their Members of Congress to support the Mental Health Access Improvement Act (S. 828 and H.R. 432). AAMFT is participating in this Virtual Action Week campaign with other associations who are also members of the Medicare Mental Health Workforce Coalition, the coalition that advocates for passage of this important legislation. 

Members might be wondering why AAMFT and other organizations are engaging in this advocacy push. The answer is that Congress is now focusing on the ongoing behavioral health crisis. There is now some momentum for legislation to add MFTs as Medicare providers: 

• Support: As of May 12, the House version of the Mental Health Access Improvement Act (R. 432) has 74 Members of Congress who are cosponsoring this legislation while the Senate version of this bill (S. 828) has 26 cosponsors. This is a strong level of support. 

• Inclusion in President’s Budget: On March 28, President Biden released his budget for Fiscal Year 2023, which included a recommendation to Congress to include MFTs and MHCs as Medicare-eligible providers. This is a significant development, as the inclusion of this request in President Biden’s budget makes it more likely that some Members of Congress will agree to cosponsor the Mental Health Access Improvement Act. It is also the first time a president’s budget has recommended that Congress add LMFTs as Medicare providers.

• Senate Action: Last fall, the Senate Finance Committee, the committee with jurisdiction over Medicare, solicited comments from stakeholders on legislative proposals that will improve access to healthcare services for Americans with mental health and substance use disorders. AAMFT and many other organizations responded to this request by advocating for the inclusion of MFTs and MHCs as Medicare providers. In March, the Finance Committee released a report summarizing the major findings from these responses and outlining a case for the federal government to address this mental health crisis. This report stated that MFTs and MHCs make up 61% of the total rural mental health workforce yet are not recognized as eligible Medicare providers. The Finance Committee is expected to release a comprehensive behavioral health legislative package for consideration by Congress this summer.
   

In light of this current effort to address national behavioral health challenges through legislation, we urge members to post on social media and email your Members of Congress in support of including MFTs and counselors as Medicare-eligible providers! AAMFT has also created a special grassroots message that friends and family of AAMFT members can use to send to their Members of Congress to advocate for this important information. These efforts increase the likelihood that other Members of Congress will agree to cosponsor the MFTs in Medicare legislation.    

Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions.