Article archive / August 1, 2013
Originally published: . Volume 4, No. 12. Source pages: 1, 2.
Governor Jindal announced the appointments to the newly created Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board on July 19. According to the press release, five members from across the state will be serving. All five are appointed to serve as a behavior analyst, and were nominated by the Louisiana Behavior Analysis Association.
They are:
Emily Bellaci, M.A., BCBA, of Metairie. Bellaci is the Director of Within Reach Center for Autism in Metairie.
Cassie Bradford, BCBA, of Baton Rouge. Bradford is the owner of the Behavioral Intervention Group in Baton Rouge.
Ellen Brocato, MS, BCBA, of Alexandria. Brocato is an ABA School Consultant in Alexandria.
Kathy Chovanec, MA, LPC, LMFT, BCBA, of Lake Charles. Chovanec owns a private practice for behavior analysis and mental health in Lake Charles.
Jennifer Longwell, BCBA, of New Orleans. Longwell is a behavioral analyst at Tulane Hospital in New Orleans.
Also, Marc Zimmermann, PhD, MP, who currently serves as Vice Chair on the state psychology board, will serve as an Ex Officio member on the Behavior Analyst Board, as directed by the legislation that created the board. He will be a non-voting member and was elected by the psychology board to fill the role.
Ms. Kelly Parker is currently serving as the new board’s Executive Director.
The new board, the Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board or LBAB, will hold its first meeting August 6, at the Psychology board’s office in Baton Rouge.
According to the agenda for the first meeting, the board members will nominate the 2013-2014 Chair and Vice Chair, and establish Committees and assignments.
The agenda notes that the members will discuss the Memorandum of Understanding with the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. This is one of the first tasks of the new board will have to do, Ex. Director Parker indicated in a previous interview. The Memorandum, called an MOU, will set out the ways the two boards will follow the law regarding sharing resources. “The execution of the MOU is a priority,” Parker explained.
The document is also helpful because it outlines each party’s responsibilities and expectations regarding sharing of resources, finances and the regulation of dually licensed individuals."
The new board will also adopt a budget for they coming year, and discuss contracts and rules. Among other matters, the agenda notes that the group will discuss a Notice for the Behavior Analyst Practice Act, website, application process, Jurisprudence Exam, and LaBAA Polices and Procedures.
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