The Oklahoma Counseling Institute

04/01/2026

Tennessee board saved!

Great news today from Tennessee! The TN Health Committee met yesterday afternoon and adopted an amendment to SB 2227/HB 2539 writing the LPC and MFT board out of the legislation. The original legislation would have eliminated the board and housed its function under a Department of Health commission. This would not have been possible without the Tennessee Counseling Association's amazing advocacy work!

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4s6NIpq

03/31/2026

Supreme Court rules against banning conversion therapy

The American Counseling Association (ACA) is profoundly disappointed in today's ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Colorado's ban on conversion therapy. Despite the ruling, the evidence remains clear: conversion therapy is harmful, discredited, and unsupported by science, and its risks to client well-being are well documented. ACA, SAIGE and other leading mental health organizations remain committed to ethical, evidence-based, and affirming care, and will continue to oppose practices that violate these standards of care.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4bUJdbE

03/31/2026

Whaaaaat!?!?!

03/30/2026

New ACA Ethics, Oklahoma Legislation, Summer Super Summit, and more!

03/29/2026

Bill would increase reimbursement rates!

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Chris C***s (D-Del.) introduced bipartisan legislation to support mental health providers and strengthen access to mental health care services. The Mental Health Access and Provider Support Act would increase Medicare reimbursement...

03/29/2026

Cychlorphin is in Oklahoma and has been linked at at least one overdose death.

03/28/2026

Oklahoma Senate Advances Bill to Extend Foster Care to the Age of 21

The Oklahoma Senate has unanimously approved Senate Bill 1806, a measure led by Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton that would extend foster care services for eligible young adults to extend to the age of 21. The bill directs the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to create a voluntary program aimed at helping young people transition more successfully from foster care into adulthood.

To qualify for the extended services, they must not be receiving care from a parent or legal guardian and must be involved in activities that support self-sufficiency. These include finishing high school, enrolling in college or career technology programs, taking part in employment-readiness efforts, working at least 80 hours per month, or being unable to participate because of a medical condition. The bill now moves to the Oklahoma House for further consideration.

To learn more about this bill and others in the Oklahoma legislature, go to the Oklahoma Counseling Institute's legislation tracker at https://www.oklahomacounselinginstitute.org/legislation

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03/28/2026

Oklahoma Senate Advances Maternal Health Model to Improve Care for Mothers and Babies

The Oklahoma Senate has unanimously approved Senate Bill 1565, authored by Senator Brenda Stanley, establishing a framework for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to receive federal grant funding to improve maternal health outcomes. The legislation introduces the Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) Model into Oklahoma’s Medicaid program, a care approach developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to support comprehensive, whole-person care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.

The bill focuses on expanding access to coordinated healthcare services that address both physical and mental health needs. This includes enhanced nutrition support for pregnant and postpartum women, helping improve birth outcomes and long-term wellbeing for both mothers and infants.

Oklahoma is one of 14 states selected to receive this federal grant, which does not require state funding. Senate Bill 1565 now moves to the Oklahoma House of Representatives for further consideration.

To learn more about this bill and others in the Oklahoma legislature, go to the Oklahoma Counseling Institute's legislation tracker at https://www.oklahomacounselinginstitute.org/legislation

03/27/2026

New ACA Ethics!

: The ACA Code of Ethics Revision Task Force invites the counseling community to offer public comments on the draft 2026 ACA Code of Ethics. Share your feedback by April 24, 2026.

More info: https://manifold.counseling.org/projects/aca-code-of-ethics

03/26/2026

Support for sober living!

Oklahoma City Council has approved a plan to expand sober living support, aiming to help thousands battling opioid addiction, especially those experiencing homelessness.

03/26/2026

Yay Catholic Charities!

As the state continues to face a shortage of affordable housing, Catholic Charities is stepping up by adding 12 new studio-style units named Caritas Casitas in Stockyards City.

These homes are the first of its kind in Oklahoma.

The units were shipped from Las Vegas company Boxabl with a seamless unpacking process said Catholic Charities Project Manager David Hernandez.

“We unfold an arm. One house, probably in four hours, five hours. It’s pretty fast,” added Hernandez.

Learn more about the affordable housing project in the comments below.