Legislative News
BREAKING NEWS: Art Therapy Licensure is Official Law in Tennessee
April 22, 2021
We are thrilled to announce that Governor Bill Lee signed SB 101 on April 20, 2021, officially enacting the Professional Art Therapist License in Tennessee! The law will take effect July 1st, 2021. AATA congrats the Tennessee Art Therapy Association (TATA) and Tennessee’s art therapists! Tennessee is the 19th state to recognize art therapy through licensure or title protection, and the 11th to enact a specialized art therapy license.
Tennessee Art Therapy Licensure Bill Passes! Now Awaits Governor’s Signature
April 8, 2021
We are thrilled to announce that the art therapy licensure bill (HB 183) passed the Tennessee House of Representatives on April 5, 2021! The bill, having passed the Senate in March, was delivered to Governor Bill Lee on April 7th. According to Tennessee procedures, the Governor has 10 days (excluding Sundays) to sign or veto legislation, or it becomes law without a signature. We expect action by April 19, 2021. We are looking forward to sharing more updates soon!
SURVEY: Reexamining the Impact of Coronavirus on the Art Therapy Profession
April 6, 2021
In May 2020, art therapists shared their experiences during the pandemic in the American Art Therapy Association’s (AATA) Coronavirus Impact Survey. Our report told the story of art therapists standing on the frontlines of the pandemic while coping with tremendous challenges. Now, a year into the pandemic, we are launching a follow-up survey to assess how art therapists are doing. While our last survey focused on the entire art therapy community (including students and educators), this survey is focused on clinicians’ work with clients.
Mississippi Art Therapists Successfully Organized to Defeat Bill to Repeal Art Therapy and Other Licenses
March 11, 2021
The American Art Therapy Association is pleased to announce that Mississippi House Bill 1315, which would have repealed the license for art therapists as well as several other occupations, died in committee on March 2nd, 2021.
2021 Art Therapy Licensing Bill Updates in Tennessee, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania
March 11, 2021
As state legislatures continue to focus on responding to the coronavirus pandemic, several art therapy licensing bills are advancing as a way to address the mental health crisis that has accompanied the virus. Read on for updates on legislation in Tennessee, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania in the 2021 legislative sessions!
AATA Sends Letter to Biden Administration Outlining Mental Health Priorities
February 11, 2021
This week, AATA sent a letter to President Joe Biden outlining our mental health priorities. In it, we also urged President Biden to address mental health issues as part of his plans to combat the Coronavirus pandemic.
Dept. of Education Art Therapy Project Grants FAQ
February 11, 2021
We want to share with you a recent notice by the Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education inviting applications for new awards for FY 2021 for the Assistance for Arts Education (AAE) Program. The agency identifies Art Therapy as a program priority—so we encourage you and your colleagues to consider applying. This is an excellent opportunity to support the work of art therapists making an impact every day in our schools!
Vote with Mental Health in Mind — 2020 AATA Guide
October 19, 2020
As mental health professionals, art therapists are closely connected with the needs of the communities they serve, especially now during the Coronavirus pandemic. Election Day is an opportunity to be a champion for your clients—and an advocate for mental health and the values that are core to our profession.
Art Therapy is Particularly Effective in Times of Crisis
September 24, 2020
In the survey, we asked respondents: “As an art therapist, how would you describe to someone unfamiliar with the profession why art therapy is uniquely suited to support mental health during this pandemic?” The survey takers explained that art therapy is particularly effective during times of crisis, especially in coping with isolation, changes in circumstance, trauma, and grief.
Virginia Governor Announced Appointments to the Advisory Board on Art Therapy
September 10, 2020
On August 28, 2020, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced appointments to the Advisory Board on Art Therapy — the first step to implementing the art therapy license, which took effect on July 1st, 2020. The AATA congratulates each appointee for this accomplishment and thanks them for their service to the art therapy profession.