NorCATA Social Media Comment Policy 

NorCATA welcomes an open, honest, and respectful dialogue on issues impacting the profession of art therapy. Our goal is to share ideas and information with as many individuals as possible and our policy is to accept the majority of comments made to our channel. 

We welcome new ideas and constructive criticism. We can't respond to every comment, but know that we will read all of them.
Comments that do not support a productive dialogue will be deleted, including:

• Hate speech,
• Profanity, obscenity or vulgarity,
• Nudity in profile pictures,
• Defamation to a person or people,
• Name calling and/or personal attacks,
• Comments that are factually inaccurate,
• Comments whose main purpose are to sell a product,
• Comments that infringe on copyrights,
• Spam comments, such as the same comment posted repeatedly on a profile,
• Other comments that the NorCATA Social Media team deems inappropriate.

Repeated violations of the NorCATA comment policy may cause the author to be blocked from the NorCATA’s social media profiles.

We understand that social media is a 24/7 medium; however, our moderation capabilities are not. We may not see every inappropriate comment right away, and we are trusting in our community to ignore personal attacks and negative speech. Please feel free to notify NorCATA of comments that violate this policy by sending an email to publicrelations@norcata.org

Any content, views, opinions and/or responses to questions uploaded, expressed or submitted by the sponsors, advertisers or users of Facebook, including on its “walls,” web pages, message boards and groups or otherwise communicated through it, other than the content provided by NorCATA, are solely the views, opinions and responsibility of the people submitting them and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of NorCATA. NorCATA is not responsible for content that third parties publish, post, upload, distribute, disseminate or otherwise transmit via Facebook. This includes the views, opinions and content of our employees unless they are expressly authorized to act on NorCATA’s behalf.

NorCATA takes no responsibility whatsoever for third-party information posted on this site or on others’ websites posted here. Links are not an endorsement. NorCATA is not responsible for the content of any website it doesn’t operate. NorCATA specifically disclaims adoption or incorporation by reference of such information as its own.

NorCATA does not warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of the information available on this Facebook page. Nothing contained in or provided through this page is intended to constitute advice or to serve as a substitute for advice. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk.

Continuing Education

All workshops and conferences sponsored by NorCATA are accepted for continuing education by the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB). NorCATA has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No.  6832). Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  NorCATA is solely responsible for all aspects of our programs. NorCATA has also been approved by the California Association for Marriage & Family Therapists (CAMFT) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider (CEPA 57985).  All courses are approved for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs.  
It is each participant's responsibility to determine whether her or his licensing or credentialing body will accept the continuing education units earned at NorCATA's workshops and conferences.  NorCATA continuing education is defined as the number of actual clock hours spent in direct participation in a structured educational format as a learner. ​

Policy Statement of Ethics and Clinically Sound Standards of Practice

Continuing Education courses offered by NorCATA will endeavor to promote the welfare of clients through sound decision-making and ethically sound practices. Course content will promote and respect the rights of those persons seeking assistance, and make reasonable efforts to ensure that their services are used properly. All conference/program presenters are asked to adhere to the CAMFT, AATA, ATCB and NBCC Codes of Ethics regarding the protection of privileged confidential client information.  When case studies are presented or used as examples, presenters cannot disclose confidential information that reasonably could lead to the identification of a client or other person or organization with whom they have a confidential relationship unless they have obtained the prior consent of the person or organization.
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AATA Non-Discrimination and Non-Violence Statement (8/25/17)

AATA is committed to non-discrimination and social justice and repudiates the racism and violent acts that have occurred in our nation. While the AATA values the right of free speech and recognizes the power and importance of peaceful protest, we firmly reject hate speech, condemn incitement, and denounce violence in any form. We encourage our members, as qualified mental health providers, to serve as a resource to their communities, particularly those affected by recent events, civil unrest and a climate of divisiveness. 

As a chapter of the AATA, the Northern California art Therapy Association (NorCATA) commits to serving as a local resource of support for members and the wider community following any events that may pose threatening circumstances. 

Additional resources:

• The AATA’s Chapter Emergency Trauma Recovery Guide: Providing Art Therapy Services Following Natural and Man-made Disasters that was created to offer support in the event of terrorism and other disasters. This includes a special Trauma Recovery-Art Therapy Program Fund to support a victimized community.
• Citizenship & Social Justice – Curriculum for White Americans to Educate Themselves on Race and Racism–from Ferguson to Charleston
• The Human Rights Campaign – What to Do If You’ve Been The Victim of a Hate Crime
• Southern Poverty Law Center – Ten Ways to Fight Hate: A Community Response Guide
• American Civil Liberties Union – Speech on Campus
• Anti-Defamation League (ADL) - the courage to speak out against anti-Semitism and bigotry, discrimination and injustice
• Counseling Today – Addressing clients’ prejudices in counseling​

Grievance Policy

NorCATA strives for exceptional quality in educational offerings, and wants to provide satisfaction with your learning experience. All attendees will be given opportunities to provide feedback including a post-workshop evaluation.  The board carefully reviews and uses participant feedback to continually improve overall program quality. If you would like to share a suggestion or a concern, please direct your feedback to programs@norcata.org.  We look forward to achieving a suitable response to your inquiry.

When NorCATA’s Program Director(s) receive a written formal complaint from a participant or potential participant expressing a concern, they will respond with an acknowledgement within one week. The Program Director(s) will then consult with NorCATA’s President and other Board Members as needed in order to follow up with a reasonable, ethical and timely written response. Generally, these matters can be addressed and resolved within a week.

Policy Statement on Diversity

NorCATA has a tradition of respecting the dignity and rights of the individual and encourages its Board and Members to be responsive to community and global concerns and to act with a sense of responsibility to self and others. We are committed to respect for individual differences and diversity in our selection of instructors, content and organizational operations. We expect that all instructors engage in respectful explorations of issues regarding diversity and multiculturalism and continue to develop a commitment to social justice in developing educational content. Program proposals will be reviewed with this awareness in mind and only those that meet these criteria will be selected. All NorCATA offerings are expected to adhere to CAMFT, AATA, ATCB and NBCC policies and guidelines on diversity.​

Nondiscrimination Statement

NorCATA does not and shall not discriminate, or allow discrimination against any person because of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion or creed, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, military status, physical disability, medical condition, or special needs, in any of its activities or operations. Following the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), NorCATA is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone.