Below is contact info and email addresses. Also, a template of a letter/email that you can use and fill in your own information relevant to your situation. PLEASE ASK ALL OF YOUR MHC FRIENDS/FAMILY TO SEND A LETTER/EMAIL. If you're more comfortable calling, then do that! I really believe that if they receive enough correspondence, they will start taking this seriously.

Address:

Name of Contact Person(Susan Naccarato, Director or Douglas Lentivech, Deputy Commissioner)State Education Department, Office of the Professions

89 Washington Ave

Albany, NY 12234

Email: opunit5@nysed.gov and/or opdpls@nysed.gov

Phone:

(518) 474-3817 (For Susan Naccarato, the Director of Division of Professional Licensing Services Press 1 then ext. 340)
518-486-1765 for Douglas Lentivech, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Professions

Fax: (518) 486-2981 or (518) 486-2981

Facebook: www.facebook.com/NYSProfessions

Tag: NYSProfessions

Your Address

Your City, State, ZIP Code

(Your email address, if sending via email)

Date

Name of Contact Person (Susan Naccarato, Director or Douglas Lentivech, Deputy Commissioner)

State Education Department, Office of the Professions

89 Washington Ave

Albany, NY 12234

Dear Name of Contact Person (Susan Naccarato or Douglas Lentivech):

Introduce yourself (My name is B. R. and I just graduated with my Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Queens College, CUNY in May. I am in the process of applying for my Limited Permit to practice Mental Health Counseling in the state of New York).

Indicate when you submitted your paperwork and if/when you received any correspondence from the state (I completed Form 1 – Application for Licensure and fee on May 24, 2019. Form 5 – Application for Limited permit and fee was submitted on May 16, 2019. Form 2 – Certificate of Professional Education was mailed out June 20, 2019 and my official transcript was mailed out on June 10. 2019. On June 18^th, I received an email response from the MHPBD office stating the following: “There is a 6-8 week process for scanning, logging, and reviewing mail that is received by the Department.”)

Politely and concisely list your concerns and what actions you’d like the state to take (I am aware that the office is working diligently to process all paperwork. However, I feel the need to voice my concerns regarding the delays. As I’m sure you are aware, Mental Health Counselors work with vulnerable populations. When we have to wait months to obtain permit/licensure, it does not benefit the clients. In my case, I was offered a position at the site where I interned, but I had to “terminate” with my clients once the semester ended and then either ask my clients (some children) to wait for me or refer them to another counselor. Several of my clients have voiced that this process of waiting months for my permit to practice is “unfair.” I have to agree with this statement. In addition, it is unfair to ask our employers to wait months for their employees to begin working. That is practically unheard of in any other job field, but seems even more unethical and unprofessional in our line of work. What I’d hope to see going forward is the “understaffing” and “paperwork processing delays” issues at the Mental Health Practitioners’ office (at the State Office of Professions) be taken seriously and addressed accordingly.

Thank them and provide your contact info.

Best,

B.R.

Pre-licensed mental health counselor