AMTA Welcomes New Government Relations Specialist

In 2005,  AMTA and CBMT launched the State Recognition Operational Plan, designed as a proactive effort to address the changing climate of state regulation on the profession.  As this initiative has led to a flurry of efforts and legislation across the nation, with 43 active state task forces and 13 pieces of music therapy legislation in 2015, AMTA has hired some much-needed assistance. Maria Hricko Fay, LSW, LCAT, MT-BC and Fellow of the Association for Music and Imagery, has recently joined the AMTA team in a part-time consultant position of Government Relations Specialist.  Maria has served on the Mid-Atlantic Region Executive Board for 4 years, as Government Relations Chair working closely with AMTA and CBMT on the State Recognition Operational Plan.  As Government Relations Chair for MAR, Maria participated on nearly every state task force call in the region, supporting, managing and coordinating the regions state task forces, as well as disseminating important advocacy information regarding both national and state activity to regional members. A Master’s Degree in Social Work is where Maria was introduced to the impact that social policy has on clients' access to services. Maria will be working very closely with Judy Simpson, AMTA Director of Government Relations, and Dena Register and Kimberly Sena Moore, CBMT Regulatory Affairs staff.  She will be responding to many government relations emails, arranging and participating in conference calls, assisting with and attending Hill Days and Advocacy Trainings, and representing the profession through a variety of state and national advocacy events.

A warm welcome to Maria from the AMTA Board, staff, and members!

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