A Message from Nicki A Covey, MS, NCC, LPC
PAMHCA President
Welcome to a new PAMHCA term (July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011).
As the new PAMHCA President beginning July 1, 2010, I would like to introduce myself to you. I became involved in PAMHCA in May 2006 when the chapter was reactivated by Mary Ann Baron. I was in the home stretch, my final year, as a graduate student at Shippensburg University when I decided to become active in a professional organization. I realized and experienced a sense of local, state, national and global responsibility to help fellow Mental Health Counselors and other helping professionals to be successful in the mental health profession. I recognized Mental Health Counselors to be very dedicated to consumers however counselors also need professional organizations for (1) legislative advocacy, (2) a network of peers, (3) and as a source of current resources for best practices in the profession, (4) professional development and educational opportunities and other resources. I chose to actively participate in an organization that helps the helpers.
I have served in a variety of PAMHCA roles including Treasurer, Membership and Ethics Chairperson, Networking Meeting Coordinator and Public Policy & Legislative Chairperson. Additionally, I work as a part-time outpatient therapist and I also work full-time in a residential program for individuals with serious mental illness. After four years of service in PAMHCA and nearly ten years in the mental health field, I am so pleased to take on the role of PAMHCA President and to assist in serving colleagues who provide such valuable services to consumers across the state of Pennsylvania and to help support graduates students who represent the future of the mental health profession.
My vision and goals for PAMHCA this year are based, in part, on the strategic planning session held in April 2010:
1. To have the PAMHCA board and membership develop a definition of MH Counselors to enhance our identity as an organization.
2. To build membership including providing additional benefits needed by MH Counselors.
3. To continue with networking meetings (2 active meetings) and my hope is to have at least 4 active meetings by the end of this term. In addition, PAMHCA will network with other professional organizations for joint activities (e.g. May Mental Health Day/week), workshops, conferences, etc.
4. To “get on board” with the Recovery “Movement” that is happening with mental health services in Pennsylvania. This includes providing Recovery resources on our website, in the newsletter, in email blasts, etc. This would also mean getting some input from Consumers, from PMHCA (Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers Association – http://www.pmhca.org/). We could also get feedback/information from Recovery International (http://www.lowselfhelpsystems.org/index.asp) – a self-help support system developed by Abraham Low. …and any other Recovery resources and research that we can share with PAMHCA members.
5. To continue to maintain our website with up to date research, evidenced based practices, resources on recovery, trainings, workshops, networking meetings, etc. To accomplish these goals, I will need your support and/or your time. If you have a similar vision of the profession and are interested in assisting PAMHCA with these tasks (or other tasks such as newsletter, website, membership, legislative advocacy, etc.) then please feel free to contact me at President@pamhca.org or call me at (717) 385-4472.
Again, welcome to the Pennsylvania Mental Health Counselors Association and I am hopeful that we will have a wonderful year fulfilling our mission: To enhance the profession of mental health counseling through licensing, advocacy, education and professional development in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Nicki A Covey, MS, NCC, LPC
PAMHCA President
President@pamhca.org
PAMHCA Election Results
June 13, 2010
Dear PAMHCA Members,
It gives me great pleasure to announce the new slate of officers of the Pennsylvania Mental Health Counselors Association for 2010-2011.
Thanks and congratulations to all,
Mary Ann Baron, MGPGP, LPC, NCC
Chair, Nominations & Elections Committee
Jack Smith MS, LPC, NCC
Member at Large/Nominations & Elections Committee
Past President: Mary Ann Baron, MGPGP, LPC, NCC
President: Nicki A. Covey, MS, NCC, LPC
President-Elect: Minna Davis, MA, LPC
Secretary: Neva Pryor, MS
Treasurer: Jackie McKee, MS, LPC, NCC
Member at Large: Frank Hadden, JD, MEd
Member at Large: Jack Smith, MS, LPC, NCC
