AATA News
It’s Black, Indigenous, People of Color Mental Health Month
July2, 2020
July is known as Minority Mental Health Month and, more recently, people have been using the more inclusive term, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month. As Mental Health America puts it, “The continued use of ‘minority or marginalized’ sets up BIPOC communities in terms of their quantity instead of their quality and removes their personhood…The word ‘minority’ also emphasizes the power differential between ‘majority’ and ‘minority’ groups and can make BIPOC feel as though ‘minority’ is synonymous with inferiority.”
A Newly Revised and More Flexible Conference Refund Policy is Now in Place
July 2, 2020 | Susan Boxer Kappel
During these challenging times of Coronavirus, we understand the apprehension about making plans to attend a conference which may require air travel and a hotel stay—and is still four months away. As previously communicated, in response to the feedback we are receiving from our members, we are developing plans to ensure that everyone will have an opportunity to participate in the AATA 2020 Conference in some shape or form, be it in person or virtually.
Art Therapy Licensure is Official Law in Washington, DC
July 2, 2020
The AATA is thrilled to announce that licensure of art therapists in the District of Columbia is now official law! The art therapy licensure legislation passed congressional review, the final step of the legislative process, and was assigned Law Number L23-0115 on June 24, 2020. With the Virginia license recently enacted in May of 2020, art therapy licensure is now the law throughout the entire DMV (District – Maryland – Virginia) area.
Today’s the Last Day — Submit Your Nominations for Volunteer Officers and Directors of the Board
June 18, 2020 | Gioia Chilton
We need leadership that is ready to tackle systemic racism, a global pandemic, and other, as yet unknown, challenges we will be facing in the coming years. Complete your Candidate Applications and Nomination Forms today, June 18, 2020 by midnight EDT.
First Licensure Applications Approved in New Jersey as Authority Transfers Boards
June 18, 2020
During the final meeting of the Art Therapy Advisory Committee on June 16th the first set of licensure applications (approx. 15-20) were approved! However, after a four-year journey of implementing the art therapy license enacted in 2016, the way forward in the application process is once again uncertain as authority to process applications transitions from the current Advisory Committee of the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners to a new State Board of Creative Arts Therapies, effective June 19, 2020.
The Healing Quilt: A Project to Benefit the Pearlie Roberson Scholarship Fund
June 17, 2020 | Multicultural Committee
Coming soon! AATA’s Multicultural Committee is launching a digital art project for which we encourage art therapy professionals, students, local chapters, and graduate and undergraduate programs to contribute a digital copy of an artwork for our project, The Healing Quilt.
Now More Than Ever We Need Collective Healing: AATA’s 2020 Conference Plans
June 9, 2020 | Susan Boxer Kappel
The recent events following the killing of George Floyd have yet again opened a deep wound of racial injustice in our country. We are all mourning and grasping at ways to contribute to solutions. As a community of art therapists, we have been at the frontlines of helping clients and communities to cope with Mr. Floyd’s horrific death, while at the same time still reeling from the death and separation caused by Covid-19.
Statement by the American Art Therapy Association on the Death of George Floyd
May 28, 2020
As mental health professionals, art therapists see the dreadful effects of racism in our communities every day. This week, our nation witnessed via bystander video the exceptionally horrific death of George Floyd. A police officer pinned Mr. Floyd down to the ground with his knee, applying his full body weight to his neck for four more minutes after he had stopped moving. Mr. Floyd’s last words were, “I can’t breathe.”
Join us for Hill Day at Home: Advocate for Mental Health
May 21, 2020
Join the National Council for Behavioral Health and the American Art Therapy Association for Hill Day at Home, June 23-24, 2020! The event includes a full day of sessions and workshops on behavioral health policy followed by a series of advocacy events you can participate in from home.
Art Therapy Programs at Nazareth College and Springfiel College Receive Initial CAAHEP Accreditation
May 21, 2020
AATA is pleased to announce that two art therapy master’s programs received initial accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) this spring. The CAAHEP Board approved the accreditation recommendation by the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE) for the Master of Science in Creative Arts Therapy, Art Therapy Specialization program at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York in March and the Art Therapy/Counseling program at Springfield College in Springfield Massachusetts in May, 2020.