Press Room

Since the SCOTUS decision that overturned Roe vs. Wade, clinicians and therapists are forced to evaluate how this decision impacts their practice. MAMFT wanted to provide Minnesota based MFTs with resources to help understand our responsibilities to our clients, and ways to help work effectively with others in this changing world. 

We developed the following presentation to help clarify our legal and ethical responsibilities to clients based on MN state statues.

Roe Vs. Wade presentation

In addition we are grateful to Eric Fawcett, MA and Tess Gittleman, MA, LMFT, who were willing to share their guidance on how to clinicians can ethically work with clients who may not share their beliefs in this increasingly complicated world. In the below video*, you will learn how to communicate through polarized topics, why it’s important to work with populations you may find to be antithetical, and learn skills for navigating appropriate and ethical referrals. 

You can find the video here.

Please check out our conference sponsorship page to learn more about the many sponsorship opportunities that are available!  This is a great opportunity to promote your business, your training, your service or product.  Read HERE for more information.

English Language Learner (ELL) testing accommodations for practitioners on the MFT licensure track was created in good faith that it would help to reduce barriers and increase resources for ELL MFTs. However, this resource became an added barrier to licensure for ELL MFTs. In order to use this resource, ELL MFTs had to pay $80 for 1 hour of extra testing time or $125 for 2 hours of extra testing time; these costs are in addition to the exam fee. The cost of this resource deterred ELL MFTs from using this resource, although it was made for them. 

In a MN Mental Health Providers of Color meeting in 2020, concerns were raised about the discriminatory practice of ELL MFTs testing accommodation fees. From this meeting, Lisa Xiong, MA, LMFT, RPT organized, increased others' awareness, and continued discussions around the discriminatory practice with other BIPOC clinicians across counseling disciplines, BIPOC MFTs, ELL MFTs, and White allies. A letter was written and signed by BIPOC clinicians from other counseling disciplines, BIPOC MFTs, ELL MFTs, and White allies. The letter was signed by over 100 people. This drew the attention of representative Hodan Hassan, who has a passion for helping to remove barriers for marginalized communities and received her support. This letter was sent to the MN Board of Marriage and Family Therapy and petitioned the board to remove ELL testing accommodation fees. On November 19, 2021, Lisa, BIPOC MFTs, ELL MFTs, and White allies were present for a MN Board of MFT public board meeting. Lisa and Michael Kinzer, MA, LMFT testified to the licensing board requesting the removal of ELL testing accommodations. At this meeting, John Seymour and other board members were interested in figuring out a solution to remove testing accommodations. 

On June 1, 2022 it was posted on the MN Board of MFT website (MN Board of MFT) that ELL testing accommodation fees were eliminated. The result of this would not have been possible without a community. Thank you to Lisa Xiong, Michael Kinzer, Representative Hassan, BIPOC clinicians from other counseling disciplines, BIPOC MFTs, ELL MFTs, and White allies for supporting this cause and making a difference in the MFT community! 

Do You Love the MN State Fair? Are You an EXTROVERT?

Join us for Mental Health Day at the Fair on Monday August 29th! 

We are looking for volunteers to work the MAMFT booth. You will get free tickets to the fair for the day. We are looking for people willing to talk to fair-goers about the importance of relational therapy, and share the benefits of seeing or becoming an MFT. Volunteers must attend a brief training before the day of the fair (virtual or in-person) and commit to working the booth for at least 2 hours on August 29th. 

If you are interested please contact Megan Oudekerk at executivedirector@mamft.net to sign up for a spot.

Prepping for the MFT National Exam?  TAMFT is offering many resources to help you prepare.  This is helpful for people from all states, including Minnesota.  Because we are a member of COAST, TAMFT is willing to offer a discount.  Please click on the flyer to take advantage of member pricing!

COAST EXAM PREP FLYER.pdf

On Tuesday the Governor held a ceremonial signing of the mental health bill at Children's Hospital in St. Paul. The Governor spoke to the importance of addressing the mental health needs, particularly of our youth. The event was kicked off by CEO of Children's Hospital, Dr. Gorelick, who shared the increased number of children and youth who are seeking help and treatment. Senator Draheim and Representative Fischer spoke about the importance of the bill and that it was a bipartisan effort. Sue Abderholden, NAMI Minnesota's executive director also spoke: "The mental health bill does two things. It builds on what we know works, and it addresses gaps in our mental health system using previous research and recommendations.  We know that mobile crisis services work. We know that providing culturally informed and responsive services work. We know that school linked and shelter linked programs work. We know that providing intensive services in foster homes work. We know that programs to intensively treat and support people experiencing their first psychotic episode work. All of these effective programs received additional funds in this bill expanding the number of people they can serve. The bill then addresses the gaps in our system using previous stakeholder recommendations. One of the biggest issues is that we don’t have enough people to do the work. We have many people who graduated but don’t become licensed – a major barrier being that they couldn’t find or afford to pay for supervision. This bill creates a grant program to address this barrier. We also know that children who don’t need hospitalization but need something. That something is funded in this bill – crisis residential services, again based on a previous report on the need for crisis services for children.  These provisions are excellent steps to begin to address this crisis. We are grateful to the legislature and the governor for their leadership and support. And we want to remind people that this is an important first step – but not the last step – in ensuring that children, youth, and adults are able to access the right care at the right time in the right place." There was great press coverage, KARE11, Star Tribune, Minnesota Reformer, Mankato Free Press, and WCCO. Sue was also interviewed on Friday night on Almanac, a public affairs show on TPT. The Star Tribune also did a story on how parents will be able to stay with their children in the units. In an MPR piece that was emailed out: Minnesota’s newest mental health law is being described as an important move to expand services and clear pathways for more providers. A bipartisan contingent of state lawmakers who ushered the plan through late in the legislative session gathered Tuesday to mark its passage as Gov. Walz held a ceremonial signing. The plan puts extra money toward services proven to work and tries new approaches, said Sue Abderholden of Minnesota’s chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. “We want to remind people that this is an important first step, not the last step in ensuring that children, youth and adults are able to access the right care at the right time and in the right place,” Abderholden said. Tens of millions of dollars will be put into mobile crisis services, culturally informed services, school-based programs, residential and inpatient treatment and intervention for people sliding into crisis. The law also reduces financial barriers for people entering mental health professions. NAM Minnesota is very proud of the work that went into this bill and thanks the Governor, legislators, DHS, providers and members of the Mental Health Legislative Network - along with everyone who called and emailed their legislators - for getting this bill passed.

MN FRONTLINE WORKER PROGRAM-

In order to see if you might qualify for this program and receive reimbursement for your service during the COVID-19 peacetime emergency,  please click HERE to read more about it.

MAMFT’s board is currently working on the ABCs for MFTs

A is for Advocacy- Advocating for our profession

B is for Branding- Creating a consistent message of who MAMFT is today

C is for Community- Providing spaces for members to connect with each other and learn together

Advocacy Update: Pay Parity!

Right now many insurance companies reimburse at a LOWER rate for relational therapy, than they do for individual therapy. And there are some specific insurance plans that do not cover relational therapy at all! MFTs deserve equal compensation for the challenging work we do in supporting couples, families, and other relational units. We are currently working to secure a legal team to help us in this important work of seeking pay parity for our work! 

Stay tuned for next steps, or contact Alex Iantaffi at president@mamft.net if you are interested in being a part of these efforts. 

Branding Update: Feedback Received!

Thank you to the members who responded to our survey about MAMFT’s brand! We received both positive and constructive feedback from over 25 members. We are using that feedback to help define our organization’s direction going forward. We will be refreshing some of our brand elements in the coming months. 

If you participated in the survey, you will be invited to participate in focus groups once we have developed drafts of the new brand elements. If you would like to participate in a focus group, please contact Leah Seeger at externalaffairs@mamft.net

Community Update: State Fair, Return of SOS and More Community Events Coming Soon!

MAMFT is going back to the State Fair! Last year we joined NAMI for Mental Health Day at the MN State Fair. We talked to people about the importance of seeing an MFT for relational issues, and promoted the therapist finder on MAMFT’s website. We are currently working to plan another great day at the fair. More information on dates for 2022 fair participation coming soon!

This fall we will be re-launching our Sessions on Saturday (SOS) programming. These events are designed to help connect current and prospective MFTs with each other at campuses across Minnesota. We plan to have events scheduled at the return of the school year this fall. 

We are also looking to develop events throughout the fall for MFTs to connect with each other for social and community support. If you want to host an event (watch party, group gathering, or other activity) please contact Leah Seeger at externalaffairs@mamft.net

We are excited to announce that we have hired Lucreshia Grant, MS as our new Administrative Coordinator.   

Lucreshia earned her Master's Degree from University of Wisconsin Stout.  She is currently working at the Relationship Therapy Center adn according to their website, "Simply put – no one cares more than Lucreshia."

Lucreshia loves to spend time with her family, especially her nephew Naeem.  She also loves being outdoors as much as possible.

WELCOME LUCRESHIA! 

Call for Nominations!

Nominations are now being accepted for open MAMFT Board positions for the election that will be held in Fall 2022. We are looking for committed members of MAMFT that would like to be more active in our association. All positions will begin January 2023. Click here for information on the positions.