The Utah Department of Health and Human Services wants your feedback about how to help families thrive in Utah. The Maternal and Child Health Block Grant public comment period is now open. Public comments will be accepted until June 5, 2026. 

Take the survey today! Public comments will be accepted until June 5.

The survey will take about 10-15 minutes to finish. Your responses are confidential and will be kept private. We will not ask for your name, address, or other personal information. 
Thank you for sharing your ideas and feedback.


Utah Department of Health and Human Services

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to invite you to participate in a study titled “Work Conditions, Dignity, and Professional Well-being Across Settings: Sustainable Careers for US Psychotherapists.” (University of Iowa - IRB# 202601556). This study aims to explore the relationship between work conditions, workplace dignity, and professional well-being (including burnout, compassion satisfaction, and anticipated turnover). By identifying the specific conditions that drive workplace dignity across different service settings, we hope to inform systemic solutions to foster career sustainability and mitigate this workforce crisis.

Who can participate? You are eligible to participate if you meet the following criteria:
• You are 18 years of age or older.
• You are a psychotherapist currently practicing in the United States (e.g., clinical social worker, professional/mental health counselor, marriage and family therapist, or licensed psychologist).
• You are NOT currently a student/trainee.

What does participation involve?
• Completing a single, one-time online questionnaire, which will take approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
• Participation is completely voluntary, and your responses will remain entirely anonymous.

What are the benefits? Upon completion, you will receive a profile of your Professional Quality of Life (including burnout and compassion satisfaction levels) along with well-being resources. You will also have the option to voluntarily provide your email address to be entered into a compensation drawing for one of the $50 gift cards.

If you are interested in participating, please click the link below to review the informed consent document and access the survey:
https://uiowa.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0Gx1lIZHAYls1lc

Additionally, please feel free to share this survey link with any eligible colleagues who might be interested.
Thank you for your time, consideration, and the vital work you do. If you have any questions about this study, please feel free to contact me at yiheng-zhou@uiowa.edu or my dissertation chair Dr. Amanda Case at amanda-case@uiowa.edu.

Sincerely,
Yiheng Zhou
Principal Investigator
PhD Candidate, Counseling Psychology, University of Iowa

My name is Emily Zoorob and I'm a second-year medical student at Texas Tech's School of Medicine. I'm working with a team of researchers at Baylor College of Medicine on a survey project seeking to understand how discrimination experienced by mental healthcare professionals affects their mental health and their working conditions. The survey also asks questions about workplace factors built to help these individuals with situations where they may face discrimination. 

The study consists of an online survey that may take up to 15 minutes to complete. Participants may view a copy of their own responses upon completing the survey. However, if you choose to participate, no compensation will be given to you. To participate, you must be a mental health professional with certification who has at least some regular interaction with patients seeking mental health treatment. The survey is only available in English. All responses you provide are completely voluntary and anonymous.

If you have any additional questions or comments about this study, please contact Jacqueline Hirth, PhD, MPH at: Jacqueline.hirth@bcm.edu or Emily Zoorob at emily.zoorob@ttuhsc.edu.

Here is a link to the survey: https://redcap.research.bcm.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=A93379KX8CYYLXXR

My name is Emily Zoorob and I'm a second-year medical student at Texas Tech's School of Medicine. I'm working with a team of researchers at Baylor College of Medicine on a survey project seeking to understand how discrimination experienced by mental healthcare professionals affects their mental health and their working conditions. The survey also asks questions about workplace factors built to help these individuals with situations where they may face discrimination. 

The study consists of an online survey that may take up to 15 minutes to complete. Participants may view a copy of their own responses upon completing the survey. However, if you choose to participate, no compensation will be given to you. To participate, you must be a mental health professional with certification who has at least some regular interaction with patients seeking mental health treatment. The survey is only available in English. All responses you provide are completely voluntary and anonymous.

If you have any additional questions or comments about this study, please contact Jacqueline Hirth, PhD, MPH at: Jacqueline.hirth@bcm.edu or Emily Zoorob at emily.zoorob@ttuhsc.edu.

Here is a link to the survey: https://redcap.research.bcm.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=A93379KX8CYYLXXR

I am a third-year doctoral student at Old Dominion University. My research team and I are conducting a study on Leadership Behaviors and Awareness of Privilege and Oppression in Counseling Leaders.

You are eligible to participate if you meet the following criteria:

1. At least 18 years old
2. Have a master’s degree in a counseling field
3. Currently in a leadership position or role in a professional counseling organization at a university, state, regional, national, or international level

Leadership positions or roles include but are not limited to: President, Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Position-Elect, Past-Position, Committee Position, Emerging Leader, Doctoral Graduate Student Representative, Faculty Advisor

If you are eligible and interested, we request that you complete an anonymous Qualtrics survey, which includes informed consent, demographic questions, the Dynamic Leadership in Counseling Scale–Self-Report, and the Awareness of Privilege and Oppression Scale–2. The survey should take approximately 10-20 minutes. 

Being in this study is optional. If you want to participate, click this link to start the survey:https://tinyurl.com/CounselingLeadershipStudy

We would also appreciate your assistance in disseminating this email and/ or the attached flyer to other leaders in your organization.

The Institutional Review Board at Old Dominion University has approved this study (IRB Protocol #2301538-1). Please contact the principal investigator, Dr. Jeffry Moe, at jmoe@odu.edu with questions about this study. If you have questions or concerns about your rights as a research participant, you can contact the ODU Social & Behavioral Human Subjects Research Exempt Committee Chair, Dr. Randy Gainey, at rgainey@odu.edu or 757-683-4794, or the Old Dominion University Division of Research and Economic Development, at 757-683-3460.

Thank you for your assistance and time,

Catalina Kraft, M.A., NCC, Resident in Counseling (VA)

Doctoral Student | Old Dominion University

ckraf001@odu.edu

 

Peighton Corley, M.S.Ed., Resident in Counseling (VA)

Doctoral Student | Old Dominion University

pcorl002@odu.edu

 

Jeffry Moe, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, CCMH

Faculty Member | Old Dominion University

jmoe@odu.edu

--

Catalina Kraft, M.A., NCC (she/ her/ hers)

Doctoral Student | Graduate Assistant | Resident in Counseling (VA)

Department of Counseling & Human Services

Old Dominion University | Norfolk, VA 23529

My name is Kayla Kemp and I am a doctoral candidate at the University of Iowa’s Counselor Education and Supervision program. You are invited to participate in my research study titled The Experience of Leadership: A Phenomenological Analysis on the Leadership Experiences of Masters-level Counseling Students. The purpose of the study is to explore the counseling-related leadership experiences of master’s-level students who are involved with their state-level counseling associations. Through this study, I hope to learn more about how leadership is experienced by counseling graduate students and why they elected to get involved in counseling-related leadership roles during their time in graduate school. The study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Iowa.

You are eligible for this study if you are currently enrolled in a master’s-level CACREP-accredited counseling program and are involved with a state-level counseling association in a role beyond membership, meaning you hold a position or title that allows you to influence association-level decisions. You are also eligible if you graduated from a master’s-level CACREP-accredited counseling program within the last year and were involved with a state-level counseling association in a role beyond membership during your training.

This study will be conducted through a one-on-one interview between the researcher and participant. During the interview, you will be asked to share about your leadership experience with your state-level counseling association, including your role, duties, and motivations for pursuing the leadership role. The interviews may last 45 to 90 minutes. Participants who complete the initial interview will be sent a $40 Visa e-gift card, and those who also complete a follow-up checkpoint with the researcher will be eligible for an additional $10 Visa e-gift card.

If you are interested in participating, please click the link below and complete the questionnaire. If you meet the study criteria, the researcher will follow up with you shortly. If you know of anyone who fits this criterion and is interested in this study, please feel free to forward them this email.

Link to study participation questionnaire: https://uiowa.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cxdvaLzFMX2S6k6

For additional information about this study, please contact Kayla Kemp at kayla-kemp@uiowa.edu or Dr. Laura Gallo at laura-gallo@uiowa.edu.

Thank you,
Kayla Kemp, MA, tLMHC (she, her)

Dear Healthcare Professional Community,

The Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) is dedicated to ensuring public safety while also supporting the well-being of licensed professionals in our state. A significant aspect of this commitment involves addressing Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) within the healthcare professional (HCP) community. 

As you know, SUDs can affect a substantial percentage of healthcare professionals, often presenting unique challenges and fears about seeking to help due to potential impacts on their licenses and careers. DOPL has a multifaceted, supportive approach to this issue, emphasizing both public protection and providing pathways to recovery for professionals. 

We would like to launch a new five-part article series titled "Improving Substance Use Disorder Prevention and Monitoring: A Collaborative Approach in the Division of Professional Licensing." The first article in the series introduces DOPL's programs involved with SUDs, including Investigations, Licensing, Enforcement, the Utah Controlled Substance Database (CSD) and the Utah Professionals Health Program (UPHP), as well as highlights the formation of our new SUD & Prevention Workgroup. 

The goal of this series is to:

• Increase understanding of DOPL's processes related to SUDs.
• Break down the stigma surrounding SUDs.
• Encourage professionals to seek assistance to reduce negative impacts on their licenses.  

We believe this series would be highly valuable and relevant to your members, offering crucial information and fostering a more supportive environment for HCPs. We would be grateful if you would consider featuring this series, starting with the attached introductory article, in your upcoming newsletter or on your website.

Please find the introductory article attached for your review. We are open to discussing how this collaboration can best serve your association and its members.

Sincerely, 

Connie Kitchens, PhD - Public Heath Policy Manager, Utah Controlled Substance Database

Connie joined the Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Professional Licensing in fall 2021.  She has many years of experience in public health, with much of it being tied to substance abuse prevention.   She taught Public Health full-time as an assistant professor at two colleges. Dr. Kitchens has been the leader for many grants and programs throughout her career and currently has three grants that help fund projects with the Controlled Substance Database and Public Health consulting.

Kelli Jacobsen, MSW, LCSW - Program Manager, Utah Professionals Health Program

Kelli joined UPHP as the program manager in 2020. She earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Oklahoma in 2003 and has primarily worked with adults with substance use disorders in various clinical settings. Kelli’s prior experience includes working as a therapist and program director for an outpatient mental health and substance abuse clinic in Oklahoma, as a therapist at the University of Utah, Assessment and Referral Services, and in private practice. In her current role, Kelli oversees the daily operations of UPHP, manages program development, and provides clinical direction alongside the medical director. She integrates her clinical background and dedication to destigmatizing substance use disorders in her work with healthcare professionals. Outside of work, Kelli enjoys spending time with her family and engaging in outdoor activities like skiing, mountain biking, and adventuring in the mountains and desert.

My name is Jessica Stovall. I am a PhD candidate in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. I am conducting a quantitative study to examine supervisee perception of power dynamics within individual and triadic clinical supervision as a potential predictor of supervisee nondisclosure. This study may help inform counselor and clinical supervisors in training professional counselors.

If you are a master’s level counseling student or a provisionally licensed counselor actively under clinical supervision, please consider contributing to my study. Participants can complete the survey linked below to contribute to my study. Responses will be confidential and will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Thank you for considering volunteering your valuable time to this study.

I appreciate is you would also consider announcing this study to others who may qualify.

Survey Link: https://qualtricsxm7s5zdxynl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6lNIkK9T4txK9QW

We’re a research team from Old Dominion University, and we’re diving into an exciting research project exploring cultural awareness and the perception of advocacy needs among counseling professionals. Your insights could make a meaningful impact! 

You are eligible to participate if you meet the following criteria:

1. Are at least 18 years old

2. Identify as at least one of the following:

   1. Master’s level counseling practicum student

   2. Master’s level counseling internship student

   3. Licensure-seeking counselor

   4. Licensed counselor 

   5. Counselor educator 

If you are eligible and interested, we request that you complete an anonymous Qualtrics survey which includes informed consent, demographic questions, and the advocacy needs assessment. The survey should take approximately 20-30 minutes. 

Here is the link for the survey: https://tinyurl.com/CounselingAdvocacyNeeds

We would also appreciate your assistance in disseminating this email and/ or the attached flyer to master’s students, counselors, and counselor educators in your program. 

The Institutional Review Board at Old Dominion University has approved this study (IRB Protocol #2262133-1). For general questions about this research study, please contact the faculty supervisor, Dr. Jeffry Moe at jmoe@odu.edu.  If you have any questions about your rights as a participant, please contact Dr. John Baaki, the Chair of the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies (DCEPS) Human Subjects Review Committee at Old Dominion University, at jbaaki@odu.edu or 757-683-5491.

My name is Norma L. Day-Vines, and I am professor in the School of Education at Johns Hopkins University. I am conducting a research study on counselor trainees’ identity management in relation to discussing social and cultural issues in therapy. I am inviting you to participate in a survey study.

The goal of the study is to improve training for future mental healthcare professionals by better understanding the relationship between their social attitudes and broaching behavior. If you complete the survey, you will have a chance to win a $25 gift card after completing the survey.

The survey should take no more than fifteen minutes. Participation in this study is voluntary and your identity as a participant will remain anonymous during and after the study. The data will contain no information that can personally identify respondents. Results will only be reported on group levels and solely used for research purposes.
Once you click on the survey link, you will be redirected to an information page. Please read it through carefully. After the information page, an informed consent statement will be presented to respondents. I kindly request that you read it thoroughly and contact me in the case you have any questions or concerns.

Only school or clinical mental health counselors (in training) who have completed or are currently completing internship can participate.

Please contact me at norma.dayvines@jhu.edu if you have any questions.

If you are interested in participating, follow this link to the Survey:
Take the Survey

Or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser:
https://jhuedu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3lqGIWZe0YUAK7I?Q_DL=2qNE8b0qqVQeoj5_3lqGIWZe0YUAK7I_CGC_uBam5CkU15EIsW0&Q_CHL=email

Thank you for your participation,
Dr. Norma L. Day-Vines