Counselors’ Association Urges Administrative Fix to Unblock Hires in State Agencies

Boston — The Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association asked the committee Wednesday to correct administrative job descriptions so licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs) and licensed supervised mental health counselors (LSMHCs) can be hired into state behavioral health positions.

Joe Weeks, executive director of the association, told the panel H2218 and S1380 would “unlock a highly trained and underutilized segment of the mental health workforce” by updating job classifications used across state agencies. He said the change is largely administrative and fiscally prudent because the clinicians are already licensed and prepared to provide therapy, crisis intervention and care coordination.

Weeks added that LMHCs are often bilingual and more likely to practice in underserved areas, and that the update would expand hiring pipelines for departments that serve children in foster care, youth in the juvenile system and families in crisis.

John Serpa and other association leaders joined the testimony to note Massachusetts already licenses these clinicians; the proposed bills change hiring specifications so agencies can recruit and bill for their services. The group asked the committee to report the bills favorably and to implement the change by the stated target date in the bill text.

No vote occurred at the hearing; chairs encouraged written follow‑up for any technical or fiscal questions.