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~ Great feedback on our website via other Counseling professionals who find it.
~ A $100 donation to True Hope Counseling.
~ Lives that continually find hope and spiritual growth.
~ Continued office space, rent-free, from New Life Free Methodist Church.
~ The continued wait for not-for-profit approval.
~ For God to supplement our counselor's income as they live by faith each week.
~ The first Board of Director meeting takes place April 17.
~ Direction for our counselors as they search out possible certification as Professional Christian Counselors.
~ For search engines to continue picking up our website so that we may have the opportunity to share God's hope through the internet.
Happy Spring to everyone!
As we enter April we are still awaiting our not-for-profit status to be approved. The official IRS letter that we received that said we were officially in the proccess of being reviewed also stated that if we were denied we would hear within 20-30 days. It also went on to state that if we did something wrong on our application we would receive a phone call from a representative assigned to our file. We have received neither as of yet, so it's looking positive for our not-for-profit to come through. On the down side, it could be another 2 months before we get this approval.
As far as NY state licensure is concerned, NY state turned down my appeal. However, I do fall into the "Professional Pastoral Counselor" category which allows me to continue counseling within the state. This also applies to Chad and Nichole Post.
Lord willing, through the American Association of Christian Counselors we will be obtaining information in coming weeks on beceoming a Board Certified Christian Counselor which is a nationally recognized Certification that is being offered to counselors in similar positions (not recognized by the state due to having a private practice). Insurance companies are willing to test pilot a percentage of these Counselors in the coming year for third-party billing purposes. If they feel that they are as "professional" as state recognized counselors then Christian Counselors will be able to receive third party billings! All of this is still being developed but would be a huge break through for many Christian Counselor throughout our nation!
Thank you for your prayers and continued support!
Melissa
People are now able to support True Hope Counseling in a unique way! On our website we have a recommended reading list with several book titles. Each of these book titles has it's own separate link to Amazon.com. Once you order your book through Amazon, True Hope Counseling will recieve a percentage of the total order amount. Check out our list today and help support our ministry---all while buying something that can greatly benefit your own personal life! (Please note: you must access the book you are ordering via our website for this program to work correctly)
~ Received $500 for not-for-profit application fees.
~ Board of Directors established. God has provided some incredible people for our Board of Directors! Praise Him!
~ Positive feedback about the impact our ministry has had via phone calls and a couple of letters!
I am standing on the edge of a "defining moment" as far as True Hope Counseling goes. Two important packets went in the mail on Friday and should be hitting desks in 1.) the IRS and 2.) The licensure committee in Albany. The rulings on the contents of both packets are going to have a big impact on the world of True Hope, either way it goes.
The first packet is 30t pages of a not-for-profit application. It was actually ready last November, but we didn't have the funds to apply (good ole IRS---want $500 just for application fees!) Just as I had given up hope that I would be able to pursue not-for-profit status someone asked what was needed finiancially to send it in. When I told them, a week later there was a check for the full amount! Wow and praise God!!! God's timing I guess. Getting not-for-profit status would give many advantages....1.) tax exemption, 2.) the ability to give people tax-exempt receipts for any gifts, and 3.) the ability to apply for grants--something we are in great need of to grow our ministry and give employees salaries (who up to this point have worked on a faith basis only, being paid only as clients come and pay. Some months this has brought income done to as little as $25/month!)
The second packet is an appeal letter to Albany for my licensure as a counselor along with an information packet about True Hope Counseling. NY state has finally granted licensure to counselors, which is huge! It means that along with social workers, we will now get the same recoginition in places like court and with medical insurance companies! Up until now many times our testimony in court (for sexual abuse cases, custody battles, etc), had the potential, and in some cases has been, ruled "inadmissable" for the case. (True Hope Counseling has found favor with one particular area judge in Broome County who has always admitted our title of Professional Christian counselor, and therefore our testimony, as credible im court. This however, has not been our norm.) Along with the difficulty in court cases, we also have had to turn down people who would only be able to afford counseling if their insurance covered it.
In addition to the above issues, if at least one of us can become licensed that will qualify anyone in our Counseling ministry to uitilize third party billing (compare to a Physcian's Assistant being able to write prescriptions under the authority of an MD) All of this is why it is so vital for my licensure to go through so that I can add LPC to my name/title as Director!
The hitch is this---in order to get grandfathered into licensure a counselor needs 6 years in the field from obtaining a bachelor degree. I am lacking only 1/2 year for this!The second way towards licensure is to complete 3000 hours of counseling related work. I've done that. However, it isn't "valid" if it's been in your own private practice! During numerous phone calls to Albany they have repeatedly told me that I need to "sell my private practice and then re-obtain my 3000 hours to be licensed". No one has even wanted to hear an appeal to my situation---until now. One man on the licensing Board has agreed to hear my case. My written and edited--and re-edited and re-edited again letter--should have hit his desk Monday or Tuesday.
Both of these issues, not-for-profit status and licensure, not only impact those of us that work at True Hope Counseling but they also carry a great impact for our clients. Although I fimly believe it is God who gives us our credibility in the community, it will also be of great benefit to have the credentials that the rest of the system finds so necessary as we advocate for the wounded people who walk through our doors.
All of this is completely in God's hands. If He wants True Hope to be not-for-profit and if He wants me to be an LPC then He will move the hearts of the "kings" to make it so (Proverbs 21:1) I know what I want, but it's not about what I want, is it?Therefore, I am attempting to rest in the contentment that God will do what He desires to do and whatever He desires to do is for the best of True Hope Counseling.
I appreciate your prayers!
Serving Him,
Melissa