Explore the Current Issues pages of the American Counseling Association's (ACA) Web site, provided in this unit's studies. Read about the various federal policy issues that the ACA is currently working toward changing. Then, to complete your post:

• Select and describe one issue of interest. Identify public policies on the local, state, and national levels that affect the quality and accessibility of mental health services.
• Describe advocacy processes needed to address institutional and social barriers that impede access, equity, and success for clients.
• Search the internet to determine who else might be advocating toward or against this specific policy and list these organizations.
• Discuss why they may or may not be advocating in the same manner as clinical mental health counselors.
• Explain why it is important to support counselor advocacy and influence public policy and government relations on local, state, and national levels to enhance equity, increase funding, and promote programs that affect the practice of clinical mental health counseling.