Americans for Autism Advocacy Calls on Michigan Legislature and Governor Whitmer to Pass the Counseling Compact

On the build up of a policy roundtable on professional licensing sponsored by the highly respected Mackinac Center for Public Policy in April, Michigan has still not considered joining its neighboring states in the Counseling Compact. 

Michigan’s Legislature has not filed any legislation during the 2023-2024 Legislative Session that would join their neighbors in Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin into The Counseling Compact.  As of February 28, 2024, a total of over 30 states have  the compact that would allow Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC’s) that hold an active license to practice in other states.  Once fully enacted by 35 states, The Counseling Compact would increase mental health access to Michiganders by allowing providers licensed in Michigan, Ohio, and other states to provide telehealth services.

Although Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-Michigan) is proposing over $9 million in the state’s budget to make mental health crisis lines more accessible, the lack of action by Michigan lawmakers and the Governor to expand mental health access is appalling.  Michiganders do not like falling behind their neighbors in Ohio in anything from the football field to basic mental health access.  The inaction of Michigan’s Madam Governor and the state’s lawmakers means more Michiganders’ lives are at risk.

The highly respected Mackinac Center for Public Policy will be holding a policy roundtable in Lansing, Michigan on April 17th to discuss professional licensure reform in The Wolverine State.   In advance of the April 17th roundtable, Americans for Autism Advocacy calls on Governor Whitmer to implore the legislative leaders to introduce the Counseling Compact before the end of the 2023-2024 session.