Article archive / September 2017
Originally published: . Volume 8, No. 9. Source pages: 6.
Psychology Board Issues Two Opinions Supporting Requests of Specialists’ Practice
In June the Psychology Board reviewed information and requests by the Licensed Specialist in School Psychology Committee and voted favorably on two Opinions. The minutes, approved July 28 list the Opinions:
Opinion #21 Regarding the provision of educational services to students in Postsecondary Education. Colleges and universities provide accommodations for enrolled students with identified disabilities as required through the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The institution supports these undergraduate and graduate students with services such as educational testing, review of formal evaluations, identification and implementation of appropriate accommodations, consultation with faculty, and skill development. An individual with an earned LSSP is qualified to provide educational and psychological assessment and recommendations related to school performance and educational needs. It is the opinion of the board that provision of school psychology services within a college or university disabilities center is within the scope of practice for an LSSP as stated in ACT No. 136. Licensees should understand that the services provided within a college or university disabilities center would remain within the scope of practice stated in ACT No. 136.
Opinion #22 Provision of school psychology services through Early Steps Early Steps is a program administered by the Louisiana Department of Health for infants and toddlers (aged 0-3) with delays in cognitive, motor, vision, hearing, communication, social- emotional and adaptive behaviors. The Department of Health implements early intervention for eligible children and their families as required by the United States Department of Education (34 CFR Part 303). The IDEA – Part C regulations include psychological services to eligible children within a multidisciplinary assessment and intervention framework. Professional staff are employed or contracted by the Department of Health to fulfill assessment and intervention needs of referred children.
Psychological services as described in § 303.13 are consistent with the qualifications of an LSSP, and include
“(i) Administering psychological and developmental tests and other assessment procedures; (ii) Interpreting assessment results; (iii) Obtaining, integrating, and interpreting information about child behavior and child and family conditions related to learning, mental health, and development; and (iv) Planning and managing a program of psychological services, including psychological counseling for children and parents, family counseling, consultation on child development, parent training, and education programs.”
Historically, in Louisiana, Early Steps was administered through the State Department of Education and fully staffed by appropriately certified professional school system employees at the district level. Multidisciplinary teams for the Early Steps program typically include certified school psychologists, licensed social workers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapist, and other related disciplines. While the administration of the Early Steps program has moved to a different agency, there have not been significant changes to services provided to children and families. It is the opinion of the board that an individual with an earned LSSP is qualified to provide school psychology services through the Early Steps program. The LSSP has the requisite training and professional practice history working within a multidisciplinary team format in the preparation of comprehensive integrated psychoeducational evaluation reports as well as service planning and implementation for individuals from birth through age 21. The licensee should understand that the scope of practice in providing these services remains consistent with ACT No. 136.
Members of the psychology board at a previous meeting. Out-going Chair, Dr. Darla Burnett (L), Dr. Jesse Lambert, and Dr. Koren Boggs. The board is struggling with budget problems. In other business, they recently issued two Opinions supporting the work of the subcommittee for Specialists in School Psychology.
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