The Oklahoma Counseling Institute

03/25/2026

The Department of Child Safety and Wellbeing is coming

Senate Health and Human Services Chair Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, secured Senate approval today for transformative legislation to establish the Department of Child Safety and Well-being.

Senate Bill 1570 transfers all powers, duties, and functions of the Child Welfare Services Division of the Department of Human Services, the Office of Juvenile Affairs, and the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth under the purview of the new department by July 1, 2027.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3O1gav1

03/25/2026

The Oklahoma Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved legislation from Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, to require the state to utilize GPS technology to protect victims of domestic violence in egregious abuse cases.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4bKfP82

03/25/2026

: The Tennessee General Assembly is considering SB 2227/HB 2539 which would consolidate the LPC/MFT licensure board under the Department of Health. The Tennessee Counseling Association held their day on the hill last week and is leading the charge on trying to get the LPC/MFT board removed from the bill.

We are monitoring this issue as both House and Senate committees meet today to address the bill, and we are hopeful for good news. Stay tuned for more updates.

03/24/2026

Tennessee almost loses its board

A proposed bill in Tennessee discussed removing Tennessee’s Counseling licensure board. Along with other Counseling organizations, we have been advocating against the bill.

We are pleased to announce that Tennessee lawmakers have listened, and they are revising the bill to preserve the licensure board! The revision is expected to be complete tomorrow.

We extend a sincere thank you to the organizations and Counselors who have advocated with us. Your advocacy makes a difference.

Updates will be published on our Voter Voice blog at https://www.votervoice.net/NBCCGrassroots/home.

03/23/2026

Interview with the Oklahoma Representative who confronted OBBHL last year and, who some felt, threatened the board's existence.

The Oklahoma Counseling Institute provides continuing education for Oklahoma LPCs, LMFTs, LADCs, and LCSWs

03/23/2026

Upcoming trainings and Interview with Oklahoma Representative who confronted the OBBHL last year.

03/21/2026

There are many behavioral health care deserts in Oklahoma

Millions of Americans live in behavioral health care deserts—facing barriers like provider shortages & long wait times. SAMHSA's latest advisory highlights community-driven solutions to improve and expand access to life saving services ➡️ https://www.samhsa.gov/resource/ebp/advisory-expanding-behavioral-health-teams-care-deserts

03/21/2026

Food for kids!

State House lawmakers passed a bill aimed at helping low-income children access food during the summer months, advancing the measure to the Senate for consideration.

House Bill 3638, authored by Rep. Emily Gise, R-Oklahoma City, would require the state to participate in the federal Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children program beginning in 2027.

The program provides grocery benefits to families when school meals are not available.

Learn more about the program in the comments below.

03/21/2026

The VA is losing mental health therapists.

The VA lost about 700 social workers and 500 psychologists and psychiatrists over the course of 2025 — a significant change for an agency that was adding mental health staffers nearly every month leading up to Trump’s return to office.

Read our full investigation: https://propub.li/41lIECE

03/20/2026

Where do you think Oklahoma stands?

What do Americans consider immoral?

People in the U.S. express morally permissive views on a range of issues.

Dive deeper into our U.S. morality report: https://pewrsr.ch/3NsSXlg

03/19/2026

Advancing Bills Addressing Behavioral Health, Criminal Justice, and Public Safety are advancing in the Oklahoma Legislature. https://www.oklahomacounselinginstitute.org/seven-bills-affecting-behavioral-health-practice-advance-in-oklahoma-legislature

03/18/2026

Allowing expert testimony in human trafficking cases. Who knew this wasn’t already a thing?

Senator Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, secured unanimous Senate approval Tuesday for legislation to allow expert testimony to be admissible as evidence in human trafficking cases.

Senate Bill 1810 permits expert testimony to be admitted in court when evidence of human trafficking is presented, a practice already allowed for domestic violence cases. In their testimony, experts may offer insights on how human trafficking affects the beliefs, behavior, and perceptions of the victim.

Read more: https://bit.ly/419gCu2