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Special Column: Professional Advocacy Agent
Fall 2019 Dr Amanda DeDiego
Interviewed by Derron Hilts Leadership & Professional Advocacy Committee Member Sigma Upsilon Chapter Syracuse University
It was a a a a a a a a privilege to interview Dr Amanda DeDiego
NCC an an an Assistant Professor in in in the School of of of Counseling Leadership Advocacy and Design at the University
of of Wyoming Having served in in in in in in multiple leadership positions in in in in in in in the Wyoming Counseling Association (WCA) including Secretary and and President and and currently Treasurer Dr DeDiego
continues to to demonstrate her commitment
to to service and advocacy in in in the counseling profession Dr DeDiego’s advocacy began with
the the simple desire to to serve others by striving
to to to ensure her her community’s needs were
being met She stated “I’d like to to to say that I I beautifully chose the moment to to get involved in in [legislative] advocacy but it was really just that that that people needed help and that that that led me to get more involved I think that that that that can be contributed to my my my counselor identity in in in in in that that my my my actions
are in in in the best interest of of my my my community ” Dr DeDiego
recognizes common barriers often experienced by professional counselors and their clients suggesting that her involvement in in in in legislative advocacy has been crucial
to to to invoke systemic change towards client welfare As a a a a a a a a a a practitioner and and and educator she saw her clients and and and students’ struggles and and and felt responsible to to nd nd nd systemic ways to to address
Dr Amanda DeDiego
these needs for others who confront the the the same challenges Through her her involvement in in WCA Dr DeDiego
and her her her colleagues have collaborated with
other professional organizations in in in Wyoming to coordinate events and advocate for for public policy that enacts positive change for for historically disenfranchised children and families Most recently her collaborative e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e orts led to the passing of House Bill 0211: Mental Health and Substance Use Coverage Parity which provides treatment coverage coverage equal to medical/surgical coverage coverage Dr DeDiego
emphasized that a a a a a a a a a united approach with
other helping professions
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