We all have seen the now horrific images of Maui, a magical place where so many people have visited and others call home. The series of wildfires that broke out earlier this month have caused widespread damage and killed at least 115 people, leaving 850 others missing in the town of Lāhainā. Members of the art therapy community in Maui shared with us their harrowing stories and experiences, as well as the resilient spirit of the community. They also asked that we share these resources in hopes that you will donate directly to support their recovery efforts.

Shared Interest Groups, or SIGs, were created to help art therapists find community at conference – and year-round. SIGs are led by AATA members to create connection and a space for art therapists to support each other. Please join a SIG according to your interests and based on how you personally identify. Register for AATA2023 today!

♦ Students

The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) awarded initial accreditation to the Art Therapy master’s programs at the Dominican University of California in San Rafael, California, and Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. The CAAHEP Board approved the accreditation recommendations by the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE) for the art therapy graduate program on July 19, 2023.

On August 10, Florida art therapists and AATA’s manager of advocacy and public affairs, Tyler Kirby, met with the Florida’s Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling to update them and retain their support in the coming legislative year. David Gussak, PhD, ATR-BC, AATA Board Secretary Raquel Farrell-Kirk, MS, ATR-BC, Joseph Scarce, Ph.D. ATR-BC, Tracy Navarro, LMHC, ATR-BC, and Christina Hencken, ATR-P, shared their experiences as art therapists in Florida and the importance of art therapy licensure.

As many art therapists can tell you, advocacy can be a long process, but it doesn’t have to feel like a trudge. Advocacy is a great way to bring art therapists together! Especially now that so much of the world has gone online, getting together with your fellow art therapists to work together toward a shared goal and to exercise your first amendment rights to petition the government is not only productive and a substantial part of protecting the future of the profession, but a great way to spend time with the art therapy community.

If you would like to get involved in your chapter or state’s local advocacy efforts, please contact your state chapter and/or Tyler Kirby at TKirby@arttherapy.org regarding any ongoing advocacy efforts or to get one up and running.

Help move the American Art Therapy Association forward by taking on a leadership role! Your active and committed leadership will help shape the future of our organization as it continues to grow. AATA is currently accepting nominations for AATA members to serve two-year terms (2024-2025) in the following positions:
♦ President-Elect   
♦ Secretary   
♦ Director (3)   
♦ Nominating Committee    

All Candidate Applications and Nomination Forms must be submitted by August 29 at 11:59PM ET. Nominate an individual or yourself below. For any questions either check out our Frequently Asked Questions or contact info@arttherapy.org.  

The Art Therapy and Climate Action special issue aims to examine how art therapists are responding to the devastation that climate change is having on the individuals, groups, and communities that they work with and the environment that encompasses their practice. Manuscript deadline August 31, 2023. 

AATA has begun the hiring process for an Editor in Chief of Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association to start January 1, 2025. The Journal is a peer-reviewed, scholarly publication that has a readership comprised of educators, practitioners, and students. Its mission is to inform the readership of research, recent innovations, and critical issues related to art therapy. Stay tuned for the full position description and requirements in an upcoming issue of Art Therapy Today. Interested parties are encouraged to direct any questions to journal@arttherapy.org

♦  Creative & Expressive Arts Therapist I- Art Therapist, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Art Therapist will conduct individual and group therapy as assigned using a C & E Arts Therapist specialty as part of the multidisciplinary team. This is an amazing opportunity to work with an award-winning hospital and enrich the lives of children each day. 

Want to post or apply for art therapy jobs? Visit AATA's Career Center, the one-stop shop to help art therapists at all levels find new opportunities! For questions about the Career Center, email adamante@arttherapy.org.

Featuring AATA Member Shereen Bar-or Becerra
[Source: Forbes]

[Source: Pasadena Now]

[Source: LaJolla.com]

[Source: Reuters]

[Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch]

• Since launch in July 2022, 988 has received almost 5 million contacts, of which nearly 1 million are from the Veteran’s Crisis Line — a part of 988 — with the rest consisting of 2.6 million calls, over 740,000 chats, and more than 600,000 texts.
• National answer rates increased alongside surges in outreach volume.
• In-state answer rates vary widely across states — from 55 to 98% — which may reflect state investments in crisis services, as well as length of investment.
• State-level momentum for 988 telecom fees is gaining traction, with legislation in place in six states and two additional states expected to follow suit.
• 988 metrics are available online through Lifeline and sometimes through state or local dashboards, but these data are limited.