SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – “Missouri’s professional counselors rely on citizen lobbyists, so it’s important for students to find their professional voice early in their career,” said Dr. Christine Arnzen, clinical mental health counseling program coordinator for Evangel University
Thirty-six counseling program graduate students from Evangel traveled to Jefferson City for the first annual Missouri Mental Health Counseling Association’s Student Legislative Day earlier this spring.
MMHCA is an association dedicated to supporting the needs of Missouri’s mental health counselors through legislative efforts, trainings and resources.
The day trip to Jefferson City included sessions with state legislators, committee meetings and observations of the legislative process.
Graduate students had the opportunity to advocate for issues pertinent to Missouri’s professional counselors, including a non-discrimination bill allowing licensed professional counselors to have the same job prospects as other mental health professionals.
“I am so thankful for the chance to learn about the practice of advocating and the legislative process from my professors and other professionals in the field,” said Megan Poe, counseling program graduate student. “It is definitely something I will be able to use in the future.”
For more information about the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Evangel University, contact Christine Arnzen at 417-865-2815 ext. 8618 or at arnzenc@evangel.edu.
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