FINCHER AWARDED BY STATE ASSOCIATION

February 27, 2010

(Laura Gwinn, Herald-Citizen Staff)

NASHVILLE -- State Representative Henry Fincher was recently named Legislator of the Year by the Tennessee Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Association for the work he's done for the group at the state level. "I am humbled and honored by their choosing to deem me the Legislator of the Year," he said. "I've worked hard for them and I try to work hard for any constituent that has an issue and I really appreciate their kindness." The award banquet was held Friday to honor Fincher.

"The president-elect of the association is Richard Gillespie who lives in Cookeville," Fincher said. "Last year, he came to me with their main legislative agenda, which is to get state recognition, a job classification within state government for marriage and family therapists. They didn't have their own separate identity under the state employee structure, so I brought a bill, and Charlotte Burks sponsored it in the senate, and we passed the law and got them the classification they needed and wanted. "This was a major goal for them because it helped them with various insurance certifications and it advanced the recognition of their field." According to Fincher, the association's work includes helping kids of sexual or physical abuse, families who are dealing with various traumas such as divorce and death.

"They approach it from more of the relationships of the family and the developmental needs within that family," he continued. "They have a great perspective on things and it was my pleasure to help." For more information about the Tennessee Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, visit their Web site at www.tnamft.org/index.html.