Dear Members,
I want to begin this letter by expressing my heartfelt support for all those affected by the recent wildfires. These fires have devastated lives, including the lives of many in our MFT Community. I know that this has been a difficult time for many MFTs, some of whom have been directly impacted and many of whom are supporting their clients navigate a path through this tragedy.
I’ve been saying the word ‘community’ a lot lately. That word holds so much meaning. For me, it describes the bonds that transcend geographic boundaries. Community is that thread that connects us. In the face of all the devastation, neighborhoods destroyed, lives forever changed, it is our MFT community that will help pull us through.
We all have a role to play. MFTs are first responders, helping those impacted in the community at-large navigate a path toward healing. CAMFT continues to translate our care into action. We created a wildfires resource page for ways you can donate or offer support to those in need. Last week, we hosted a meeting with Chapter leaders, where volunteers shared actions that can be taken at a local level, as well as how to help manage fatigue and uplift one-another. On February 12th, we invite all MFTs, regardless of CAMFT membership, to attend a free webinar titled, Providing Disaster Mental Health Response in Aftermath of SoCal Firestorms. Thank you to all of our volunteers and staff who quickly responded to the call for action to support. This is a crisis of unfathomable proportions. It’s going to take work, time and yes, community to rebuild and recover.
On the national front, we are facing confusion and concern surrounding the recent White House Executive Orders, and what impact they may have on patient care here in California. The flurry of orders released, and in some instances rescinded, has been chaotic. These orders are focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, immigration, federal government programs, LGBTQ+ communities among others, and may have a broad impact on MFTs and the patients we serve.
We recognize that we are in the early stages of a long period of immense change and challenge. In the short term, we have issued a statement in response to these executive orders. We are actively working with other associations and our policy experts to assess the impact of these federal directives in conjunction with the State’s response, so that we can continue to provide clarity and act with intention in the long term. We remain committed to our Vision, Mission, and Values, our 2025-2027 Strategic Priorities, and our social policy statements which state unequivocally that CAMFT is against discrimination and advocates for unbiased social structures that support mental and emotional health and well-being.
While we continue to address these pressing matters, I'm also happy to share a bit of positive news: last week’s annual Advocacy Day in Sacramento was a resounding success! It was an honor to roll up my sleeves alongside fellow CAMFT members to sit down with legislators and educate legislators on MFTs scope of practice and barriers that are impacting the profession. Together, our volunteers met with over half of the total California state legislative offices in just one day! This is community in action! I also had the privilege of presenting Assemblymember Matt Haney with the CAMFT State Legislator of the Year award! We are grateful for his unwavering commitment to expanding access to mental health care for all Californians.
In the coming weeks, we’ll also be holding our annual election to welcome several new Board Members to the table. Be sure to review their candidate statements before casting your vote! Election ballots will be sent out soon, and if you’d like to receive yours electronically, there’s still time to sign up to go green. Please be sure to vote by the deadline of March 13.
Finally, I’m thrilled to share details about this year’s Annual Conference—just three months away! I look forward to connecting with many of you from across the state as we convene, in community, in San Francisco on May 2-3. With inspiring keynote sessions, engaging workshops, and even a morning yoga session, this is an event you won’t want to miss. Be sure to register by February 19th to take advantage of our early registration discount. I look forward to seeing you there!
With care,
Joy Alafia, MBA, CAE
Executive Director