In the area where I live, hundreds of children and families  are provided services through residents in counseling and social work each week. Residents have completed a bachelors degree in human services, a master's degree in counseling or social work, and a hands-on practicum AND internship before filing for supervision, and it takes years of supervision to become fully licensed. Residents are highly qualified practitioners, just as medical residents are highly qualified to provide lifesaving work every day under the guidance of an attending physician. This change in the regulations would greatly reduce the treatment capacity for our locality and prevent many, many children and families from accessing services. Please DO NOT approve the proposed changes to provider qualifications for psychiatric services as outlined in Chapter II, pages 15-16 to eliminate the ability of residents in counseling and supervisees in social work to see clients in outpatient counseling settings.