The Public Policy Platform of the California Counseling Association reflects the Association's work in fulfilling its human service counseling and to develop commitment.
The platform expresses the postures of the membership on governmental issues of concern to the counseling, mental health, and student personnel and counseling, mental health, and student personnel and components: social, program, and professional.

Social Component

CCA will work toward the inclusion in legislation and in policy implementation of requirements that level clients be provided with counseling and guidance assistance from appropriately credentialed or licensed counselors. Additionally, CAM will introduce and support legislation that:

1. enhances human development through incorporation of the "prevention" concept;
   
   
2. reaffirms CCA's support of equal and fair opportunities for all persons and requires statements of compliance by recipients of Federal and/or State funds so that all, regardless of race, ethnic origin, health capacity, sex, or affectional/sexual orientation, will receive full and appropriate services;
   
   
3. requires statement of compliance regarding removal of all physical, institutional, and program barriers to persons with handicapping conditions.

Program Component

CCA will support legislation and advocate for other public policy that promotes maximum human development and ensures access to program services for all clients. Also, CCA will introduce and support legislation that:

1. provides for comprehensive, life-long vocational and career counseling and guidance programs and services when preparation for work is the primary policy objective;
   
   
2. assures that all children and youth are provided with comprehensive, long-term counseling and guidance services by appropriately credentialed or licensed counselors;
   
   
3. provides appropriate educational, counseling and guidance, and other benefits for qualified veterans and their beneficiaries;
   
   
4. provides cost-effective community counseling services by appropriately credentialed or licensed counselors;
   
   
5. encourages the business, labor, and industrial communities to share cooperatively in funding youth training programs (including apprenticeships);
   
   
6. provides comprehensive counseling assistance by appropriately credentialed or licensed counselors to the older adult, including those in career change, alternative life-styles, or pre-retirement, and those who are home-bound, institutionalized, or chronically ill;
   
   
7. provides financial assistance and counseling programs for all postsecondary students, including low-income, minority, the gifted, and those with health limitations;
   
   
8. provides for programs to enhance marriage, family, and child counseling and to develop family life and parenting skills;
   
   
9. reviews and amends as appropriate existing legislation or related policies to reflect needed funding and resources for counselors and guidance personnel charged with carrying out specific program objectives.

Professional Component

CCA provides and advocates for professional standards for mental health, student personnel, and other counseling practitioners to ensure a high level of quality services delivered to clients. In addition, CCA will advocate for legislation and other public policy that:

1. defines counseling as a profession through comprehensive descriptions of standards, functions, clientele, preparation criteria, quality control, and credentialing or licensing processes;
   
   
2. establishes reciprocity of credentialing or licensing among State bodies, accredited counselor education programs, and National and State counseling registries.

As continuing education is important to maintain professional skills, political involvement is important to maintain counseling programs and services. Thousands of bills must be reviewed to assess their impact on our professions and on CCA's purpose and mission. Legislators must be educated as to the effects bills will have on their constituents. Testimony must be presented at legislative hearings. Legislation can be enacted which will erode the quantity and quality of counseling services for clients if counselors fail to be involved in the legislative process. To maintain CCA's Public Policy and Legislative Committee, to maintain CCA's Legislative Counsel, to maintain viable networks among the members so legislators are educated when counseling bills are voted on, requires substantial financial support, as does maintaining membership in statewide coalitions concerned with education, mental health, and agency finance.

CCA members are asked to contribute $10.00 annually to CC's Legislative Fund This will help insure CCA's ability to carry out an organized program of public policy advocacy The PPLC will issue periodic reports of its activity, including CCA's "Legislative Scorecard," as well as reports on other political items of interest at the State Capitol.

CCA DIVISIONS

California Career Development Association
California Rehabilitation Counseling Association
California School Counselor association
California Association for Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development
California Association for Multi-Cultural Counseling
California Association for Religious Values in Counseling
California Association for Adult Development and Aging
California Association for Counselor Education and Supervision

AFFILIATED ASSOCIATIONS

CCA Black Caucus
CCA Hispanic Caucus
CCA Women's Caucus
California Community College Counselors Association
California Adult and Continuing Education Counseling Association