Article archive / July 1, 2014

Originally published: July 1, 2014. Volume 5, No. 11. Source pages: 1, 4.

In a brief review of facts and a short comment by Dr. Rita Culross, members of the Louisiana Board of Ethics found nothing in their Code that applied to the questions posed to them by the state psychology board regarding Dr. Constance Patterson’s qualifications to serve.

During the short discussion, the investigating attorney said, “She has no conflict of interest,” referring to Patterson and her previous work as a consultant to the psychology board, and the applicable law under the Ethics Administration.

The investigator’s comment occurred in the context of the discussion about the sort of conflict described by

the psychology board, and that this was not the type of conflict the Ethics Board decided on, so no conflict of interest was noted.

After their review of the facts and brief discussion among the Ethics Board members, they offered Dr. Culross an opportunity to comment. She said, “The difficulty that we have is that there is some [unclear] by the individual about whether there is an ethical violation, whether they can participate …”

“But the other issue under our rules we can’t take any disciplinary action unless there are four of the five board members voting in the affirmative on it. And

unfortunately there are cases in which one board member already must recuse themselves,” she said, “because they’ve worked with the individual, they were a trainer of the individual, etc. So we foresee that we could be put in a position where we don’t have four board members who can vote.”

Chair M. Blake Monrose, the Ethics Board Chair from Lafayette, said he understood the issue about people on a board recusing themselves. “We sometimes have to deal with that same problem on our board,” he said. But, he explained that those issues do not involve the Ethics Board.

He said, “These questions you’re asking don’t involve us.”

“Why did you bring this to us?” Vice Chair Julie Blewer of Shreveport asked Culross, who commented about concerns regarding having enough members to vote on disciplinary issues if Patterson recused herself.

In their draft opinion, the Ethics Board outlined the two areas of their laws which could apply, R.S. 42:1112A, which prohibits a public servant from participating in a transaction involving his government entity in which he has a substantial economic interest. The board did not find this to apply to Patterson.

Also, the Ethics Board’s draft opinion cites La R.S. 42:1120.4. This section of the law provides an exception for appointed members of a board or commission to recuse themselves from voting and debate, on matters that violate section 1112 of the Code.

The psychology licensing law directs the board to follow the La. Administrative Procedures Act, which allows for recusals.

The meeting took place on June 20 at the State Ethics Administration in Baton Rouge. Also attending was Dr. Joe Comaty. Comaty is a candidate for the current position on the board, coming in with 77 votes to Patterson’s 116 in the recent election. Patterson did not attend the Ethics meeting.

Dr. John Fanning, then president of the Louisiana Psychological Association also attended, but did not comment. It was not necessary because Patterson did not have a conflict of interest, he told the Times.

The complaint that Patterson has a conflict of interest appears to have first originated in a letter that Dr. Joe Comaty sent to the Louisiana Boards and Commissions in January, 2014. In this letter, Comaty said that Patterson had a direct conflict of interest. He also listed other complaints about the security of ballots, voting, and some concerns about political liaisons and statements. He restated his views again in another letter to Boards and Commissions on April 28.

Executive Director Kelly Parker obtained the January letter and forwarded it to Dr. Culross. During the first part of the year, the board was concerned about election security, writing to the state psychological association, who conducted the election, about their concerns. Then in May, they called an emergency meeting and voted to request an advisory opinion from the state Ethics Board.

The psychology board has said a number of times that they have no interest in the outcome of the election. In a June 30 communication to licensed psychologists, Parker wrote, “ […] Please note, the Board has no vested interest in the outcome of the election. However, we

want to ensure that the integrity of our Board is not compromised. […]”

The Times asked several past board Chairs about recusal problems. Dr. Janet Matthews said, “We operated with four members for much of one year when I was on the Board due to a resignation. We never had a situation where we had insufficient members to make a decision due to recusal so I don't know what would have happened in that case. I know we asked about a one year person (or slightly less than a year) and were told that would not happen.”

Past Chair, Dr. Roy Allen, said about his five- year tenure, “During my time on the board, complaint investigations ended by a vote for either dismissal, minor remedial measures, or

rarely, a consent decree. We did not have a disciplinary hearing while I was on the board. If there was any occasion when a board member recused for the vote on a disciplinary matter, I don't recall it. The board functioned for one stretch of eight months with four members and we did not have a problem resolving any issues."

Based on the board’s statics, about six percent of complaints eventually rise to the level of a disciplinary affirmation, with 94 percent being dismissed or handled in some other manner. Disciplinary actions to remove or suspend a license require at least four affirmative votes.

Dr. Culross and Executive Director Ms. Parker had declined requests to be interviewed by the Times.

Psychology board chair, Dr. Rita Culross (front) and Ethics board member, Jean Ingrassia from Gonzales, listen to issues at the recent meeting of Ethics Board.

Above: Dr. Rita Culross waiting to comment about the psychology board’s Request for Advisory Opinion regarding Dr. Conni Patterson’s suitability to serve on the board.

Dr. Joe Comaty and Dr. Culross wait for meeting to begin. Dr. Comaty, a candidate hoping to serve on the board, first brought concerns about Patterson. The board says they have no interest in the outcome of the election.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / July 1, 2014

Originally published: July 1, 2014. Volume 5, No. 11. Source pages: 14.

[Editor’s Note: One of our photographers, Dr. Tom Stigall, went down to the sea by way of the bayous recently, and returned with these photos. Photos and text below are Tom’s.]

“All photos were made in south Louisiana (south of Houma) where there are endless bayous and marshes. The landscape of the marshland and beyond, where rain clouds can be seen in the distance was taken in Cocodrie. Similarly, the photo of the elevated red building was taken from the site of the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMC) in Cocodrie. The photos of trees were taken along LA Highway 57, a stretch of about 25 miles between Cocodrie and Houma. The photo of the boat was a found still life along the way.

“We also visited an unusual sculpture garden in the area, close to Chauvin… lots of angels and other figures juxtaposed in odd ways.”

“Everything in south Louisiana is somehow connected to water!”

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / July 1, 2014

Originally published: July 1, 2014. Volume 5, No. 11. Source pages: 1, 5.

At the regular meeting of the state psychology board last Friday, June 27, Dr. Tom Hannie asked the members to explain the basis for a comment they made during a presentation to the La. Psychological Association in June. At the presentation, the Chair, Dr. Rita Culross, told attendees and presented a slide, that, “Contrary to recent rumors, disciplinary panels can only be made up of Board members – the Governor CANNOT appoint a replacement.”

The Times had interviewed Hannie for a news and analysis article last month and quoted him to say that appointing a substitute was “A piece of cake.”

On Friday Dr. Hannie asked the board members to reconcile their statement, with sections of the law that appear to contradict their public statement made to the psychologists in their June presentation.

He described to the members portions of the law that indicate that the governor makes temporary appointments when needed, and asked for an explanation. However, Hannie said that all they would tell him was that they could not disclose to him the reason for the statement, or why their statements appear to run counter to the law.

After the Friday meeting the Times asked Dr. Hannie what had happened. He said, “I asked them basically, why that statement was put up on the board. I would like an explanation of why they said that.”

He asked them to explain and they said, “ ‘Well, we can’t do that and we’ve checked several times, over time, four or five times, and we can’t do that.’ ”

The Times asked if the board members explained why?

“Attorney-client privilege,” Hannie noted. “That’s what they said. I asked them if they could show me where in the law it says that, and they said, ‘No. Because of attorney-client privilege.’ No matter how I asked them or what I asked them, eventually it got back to that,” Hannie said.

“I asked them to show me where in the law, that the governor can’t appoint someone, and they said they can’t give that information, because of attorney-client privilege.”

“At some point, Phil [Dr. Phil Griffin] said it had to be four regular board members. But that doesn’t explain why you can’t appoint somebody,” Hannie said.

Dr. Hannie also told the Times that he asked them what happened now if two members had to recuse themselves. “They said they would be in trouble, and they have it on their list to look into that the situation.”

The Times had interviewed Dr. Hannie for a news and analysis article last month and quoted him in the article regarding the ease of replacing a person who had recused themselves, if needed. The news article outlined the issues that have surfaced and the involvement of the psychology board in regarding the recent election. The psychology board submitted a request to the Board of Ethics, voicing issues that

reflected part of a series of complaints by the second-place candidate, Dr. Joe Comaty, including matters of recusals.

According to R.S. 37: 2359, the licensing law for psychology, and the section on disciplinary actions, “Proceedings for disciplinary action or for the denial or withholding of a license under the authority of this Section shall be conducted in compliance with the Louisiana Administrative Procedure Act, R.S. 49:950 et seq.”

According to the Procedure Act, the section on recusals (R.S. 49:960B) notes, “Upon the disqualification of a member of an agency, the governor immediately shall appoint a member pro tem to sit in place of the disqualified member in that proceeding.

Attorney-client privilege typically binds the attorney, not the client, the Times legal consultant explained. Public meetings and open records laws direct all decisions to be available to the public, other than those that fall under specific exceptions. In this case, it is not clear what the exception would be. Dr.Culross and Ms.Parker declined to be interviewed by the Times.

Dr. Tom Hannie (above) asked the psychology board to explain a statement they made at a recent presentation, but they said it was protected under attorney- client privilege.

Dr. Rita Culross spoke at Louisiana Psychological Association. She said the governor could not appoint a replacement. Sections of the law say that he can. However the board later refused to explain the rationale behind their views and statement.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / July 1, 2014

Originally published: July 1, 2014. Volume 5, No. 11. Source pages: 15.

The Louisiana State University Psychology Department Alumni Reunion Brunch is still open for those wishing to sign up, said organizers last week. The get together will honor those in the doctoral classes of the 1970s and 1980s and also the retiring Department Chair and Professor Dr. Robert Mathews. The event is to be held on Saturday, July 26, at The Club at Union Square (LSU Faculty Club), from 10 am to 2 pm.

Interested LSU doctoral classes alumni can visit the Psychology Department website for more information at www.lsu.edu/psychology. Look on the left hand menu for “Reunion 2014.”

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / July 1, 2014

Originally published: July 1, 2014. Volume 5, No. 11. Source pages: 1, 8, 9.

Clinical psychologist, United Nations representative and author/lecturer, Dr. Judy Kuriansky led participants through some of the experiential exercises she has used in her global efforts when she addressed a group of Louisiana psychologists last month in Metairie.

Kuriansky, a New York clinician, popular television and radio personality and trauma expert who has worked with children and adults all over the world, presented highlights of what she has learned in a keynote speech and training workshop at the Louisiana Psychological Association (LPA) convention on June 20. She guided participants in practicing a variety of activities she has developed, typically used with youngsters, to help reduce stress and build resilience after experiencing trauma and natural disasters.

The activities are part of her toolbox of techniques said Kuriansky, and ones she has used with children in a variety of cultural settings, including after earthquakes in Haiti and China and the tsunami in Japan, and for children living in the traumatic environment of severe poverty in Africa. Kuriansky showed videos about her work and led the LPA workshop participants in role-play and physical expression.

Along with training fellow psychologists, Kuriansky is also actively promoting the goals of mental health and well-being across the globe, she told the Times. “One of the most satisfying, exciting and challenging projects in my 40-year-long career,” she explained, “is to be advocating about mental health and well-being at the United Nations at this time when the governments of the world are deciding about the new global agenda for the next 15 years, from 2015 to 2030."

"Many UN mission representatives I have spoken with realized for the first time the importance of including mental health and wellbeing in the efforts to eradicate poverty, end disease, and achieve gender equality," she said. "It was so significant that 17 countries around the world spoke out at the United Nations negotiations sessions about the importance of mental health and well-being, which had never happened before."

Kuriansky spoke to the Times about the growing numbers of countries beginning to

understand the value of mental health. Her initiative has led to a “Friends of Mental Health and Wellbeing” group convened by the Ambassador of Palau, she explained. Meetings have been attended by countries representing every part of the world, including Greece and Cyprus, Vietnam and the Philippines, Jordan and Qatar, Trinidad and Tobago, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, Afghanistan and African countries like Angola, Benin and Burkina Faso.

In her recent LPA workshop, attended by psychologists from all over the state of Louisiana, Kuriansky covered theory and

techniques that therapists can apply with children and adults in different types of crisis, such as natural disasters and living in dire circumstances.

Reminding the group about the connections between the

physical body and emotional stress, Kuriansky described concepts of coping and resilience, and how she integrates psychological principles for stress reduction with engagement in arts, drawing, music, body movement, role-playing and other gold standard methods as well as creative new techniques she developed over many years and in many countries.

While simple, the activities have a solid theoretical foundation, she explained, and can be applied widely in various settings and with diverse populations, with profound psychological impact. The activities included self-introductions with an adjective, meant to build self- esteem; a tug-of-war revealing assertiveness; a 3- part affirmation to encourage feeling safe; and drawing a bridge between a trauma and a happy scene to facilitate post-traumatic healing.

Kuriansky's strong belief is that psychosocial methods and approaches must be part of the agenda for all countries to achieve what is now being called “sustainable development” on social, economic and environmental levels.

Her work is reflected in the book she co-edited with Louisiana neuropsychologist Dr. Darlyne Nemeth, Living in an Environmentally Traumatized World: Healing Ourselves and Our Planet, and also in their upcoming two-volume set on Ecopsychology: the Intersection of Psychology and Environmental Protection.

Kuriansky has also worked closely with Nemeth, to develop and conduct Anniversary Wellness Workshops after Hurricane Katrina.

“The most important part of what I’m doing is making sure that psychology, mental health, and well-being is on the global agenda,” Kuriansky explained, “which means that it gets written into the goals that the governments of the world are setting right now about what they will do to achieve the best situation for all people in the world.”

“Those goals have never specifically included mental health and well-being from a psychosocial point of view,” she told the Times.

Since the age of 8, Kuriansky has declared her wish to “make the world better,” her mother reminds her. It’s a dream advanced by her role as a United Nations representative for the International Association of Applied Psychology and the

World Council of Psychotherapy, and as Chair of the Psychology Coalition at the UN. She is also a board member and Director of Psychosocial Programs for U.S. Doctors for Africa and a trustee of the New York City peace museum.

Kuriansky has also forged a varied career in psychology, as a pioneer of sex therapy and also of radio call-in advice shows. An award-winning journalist, she has hosted a variety of talk shows and specials and has been a feature reporter and contributor on television (e.g., CBS- TV, WABC-TV News and CNN) and a columnist for print media worldwide (e.g., from the New York Daily News to the Singapore Straits Times and China Trends Health Magazine), covering issues in mental health, lifestyles, and psychological aspects of economic and political trends.

As a professor at Columbia University Teachers College and Beijing Health Sciences Center who has lectured around the world, Kuriansky finds common ground between the communication required for successful interpersonal as well as international relationships. This is evident in the subject matter of her many books, ranging from The Complete Idiot’s Guide to A Healthy Relationship to Beyond Bullets and Bombs: Grassroots peace building between Israelis and Palestinians.

Kuriansky is passionate about her on-going efforts to bring simple, psychologically sound techniques to countries where mental health is needed but where the need goes unrecognized, and also to combat any stigma that accompanies it. She notes the importance for so many people worldwide, struggling to recover emotionally from trauma and

natural disasters, and to survive––and thrive––while facing difficult social, financial, and environmental conditions.

“It is not just about ending poverty,” she said, “which is the #1 goal countries are taking on, as well as eradicating diseases like HIV-AIDS, protecting the oceans, insuring peace and achieving gender equality, but also about promoting mental health and wellbeing which is interwoven into all these important goals.”

“These goals for a sustainable world are all only achievable when you take into account the psychology of people’s emotions and motivations,” Kuriansky said. “That’s the message I have been bringing into awareness at the United Nations. I’m hopeful that the nations of the world will now pay deserved attention to the mental health and wellbeing of people. Psychologists have an important role to play in making this a far better world."

Dr. Judy Kuriansky (Center), New York clinical psychologist and representative to the UN on mental health issues, leads Chelsie Songy (L) and Emily Cefalu in an assertiveness activity.

(Photo by Traci Oliver)

Dr. Darlyne Nemeth (L) and Dr. Judy Kuriansky at a recent convention where Kuriansky spoke about her global efforts to bring mental to the agendas of countries, worldwide.

Dr. Judy Kuriansky (L) with Dr. Kim VanGeffen at the recent conference. Kuriansky is involved in helping countries understand the need for mental health and well-being.

(Photo courtesy Traci Oliver)

Dr. Judy Kuriansky led psychologists from around the state in experiential exercises she uses with children in the US and many other countries. Above are some of the attendees at her workshop for Louisiana Psychological Association convention held last month.

(Photo by and courtesy of Traci Oliver)

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / July 1, 2014

Originally published: July 1, 2014. Volume 5, No. 11. Source pages: 15.

The La Counseling Assn will hold it annual conference at the InterContinental Hotel, 444 ST Charles Ave., in New Orleans, in September. Pre-conference workshops will begin on September 20 and the convention will proceed on the 21 through 23. For more information go to http://www.lacounseling.org/lca/Conference.asp.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / July 1, 2014

Originally published: July 1, 2014. Volume 5, No. 11. Source pages: 2.

The recent actions of the state psychology board (see front page stories) should concern anyone licensed under them.

They claim they “have no vested interest” in the election and the appointment, but their determination to make a mountain out of a mole-hill about Dr. Conni Patterson says the opposite. And so does the chit-chat I witnessed between the chair and Dr. Comaty at the Ethics Board meeting. Does the term “boundaries” mean anything?

The board has taken up complaints about Dr. Patterson’s qualifications, made by Dr. Comaty, her political competitor, and who wrote to Boards & Commissions that Patterson has some sort of “direct conflict of interest,” with what is extremely thin logic.

They’ve honed in on the issue of recusals, for the first time in history. Now the issue is to be that Patterson will be an “obstacle” to the “integrity” of the board, because she will have to recuse herself. Recusal is what one does to avoid an ethical problem.

The board holds an emergency meeting and crafts a letter that looks more like they are throwing anything up against the wall to see what sticks. They run it up the flagpole all the way to the Ethics Board. The Ethics board members, while being respectful, basically dismissed it as nonsense. That was the body language. It looked like they were thinking, “What?”

The psychology board also continues to ignore their own statistics and a fair estimate that Patterson might recuse herself one, maybe two times. Only six percent of complaints even reach a board vote of this type. Other chairs and boards have been able to get their jobs done, but now, for some reason, the situation is dire.

Last month the board made a public statement contradicting Dr. Tom Hannie (not a good move on their part) and the Times, to the

psychologists at the state convention. Hannie went over to the board meeting Friday and asked them to explain the contradiction, showing them the laws that backed him up.

They refused to explain anything. They claimed they couldn’t say anything because of attorney-client privilege. They aren’t attorneys! They aren’t covered by attorney-client privilege. The rationale, or substance of their decisions is supposed to be public. But magically, it is now private and protected. Of course, they also refuse to be interviewed by the Times. Does the term “transparency” mean anything?

So, here we are with a board that is defensive, keeping secrets, and doing whatever it wants to do without being accountable. Sounds familiar.

LAMP has maintained three or more positions, a majority vote, on the psychology board since Act 251 despite the fact that MPs represent only about 5 percent of psychologists. They do this in order to protect their interests. Why is the board fighting so hard to disqualify Patterson? If she is appointed LAMP will lose its majority on the board, for the first time since Act 251 was passed.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / July 1, 2014

Originally published: July 1, 2014. Volume 5, No. 11. Source pages: 15.

The 12th Annual Mental Health Summer Symposium, sponsored by Professional Training Resources (PTR), will be held July 16–18 in Lafayette, Louisiana at the Hotel Acadiana. Highlights for this year’s conference include McNeese’s Dr. Dena Matzenbacher, Teri Theaux, LPC, and Dr. Bryon Simoneaux and owner and director, Dr. John Simoneaux. The popular training activity fills up every year, so for information contact PTR at 318-443-0845 or 888-229-8128, or go to their website.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / July 1, 2014

Originally published: July 1, 2014. Volume 5, No. 11. Source pages: 5.

“A corrosive culture has led to personnel problems across the Department that are seriously impacting morale and by extension, the timeliness of health care,” a new White House report released Friday said. The report was written by Rob Nabors, the president's deputy chief of staff.

“The problems inherent within an agency with an extensive field structure are exacerbated by poor management and communication structures, distrust between some VA employees and management, a history of retaliation toward employees raising issues, and a lack of accountability across all grade levels,” wrote the author.

He also wrote, “There is a tendency to transfer problems rather than solve problems,” the report found. “This is in part due to the difficulty of hiring and firing in the federal government.”

The VA is the largest employer of psychologists in the country.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / July 1, 2014

Originally published: July 1, 2014. Volume 5, No. 11. Source pages: 15.

Pennington Biomedical will host the 3rd annual Parkinson's Conference on Saturday, July 19, 2014.The conference will also feature several exhibitors offering information pertinent to patients with Parkinson's disease and their families. Registrants are encouraged to sign up in advance of the event. The conference will be held at Pennington Biomedical Research Center located at 6400 Perkins Road in Baton Rouge in the C.B. Pennington Jr. Building. Preregistration is required. For more information please visit www.pbrc.edu/parkinsons.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / July 1, 2014

Originally published: July 1, 2014. Volume 5, No. 11. Source pages: 6, 18.

The Behavior Analyst Board has published two proposed Rules in this months Louisiana Register. One has to do with license renewals. The other has to do with supervision of assistant behavioral analysts.

Both sets of notices have a deadline for comments from the public by noon on July 10. Interested persons may submit written comments to Kelly Parker, Executive Director, 8706 Jefferson Highway, Suite B, Baton Rouge, LA 70809.

In the first notice, the proposed rules note, “A licensed behavior analyst shall renew their current license every year by December 31 beginning in December 2014. The renewal period shall open in October and will close December 31 annually. The licensed behavior analyst must submit the required renewal forms, renewal fee and proof of fulfillment of all continuing education requirements as approved by the board.”

“A state certified assistant behavior analyst shall renew their current license every year by December 31 beginning in December 2014. The renewal period shall open in October and will close December 31 annually. The state certified assistant behavior analyst must submit the required renewal forms, renewal fee and proof of fulfillment of all continuing education requirements as approved by the board.

“A licensed behavior analyst shall renew the registration of all registered line

technicians under their supervision every year by December 31 beginning December 2014. The renewal period shall open in October and will close December 31 annually. The licensed behavior analyst in conjunction with the registered line technicians must complete the proper renewal forms accompanied with the renewal fee as determined by the board.

“The board may grant requests for renewal extensions or exemptions on a case-by-case basis,” notes the rule.

The proposed new rules for Supervision of Behavior Analysts (LAC 46:VIII.Chapter 5) establishe the requirements for supervision of state certified assistant behavior analysts. This Rule outlines the supervising licensed behavior analysts responsibilities and those of the state certified assistant behavior analyst. Below are excerpts of the proposed Rule.

A. A state certified assistant behavior analyst [hereinafter referred to as "SCABA"] shall assist a licensed behavior analyst [hereinafter referred to as "LBA"] in the delivery of applied behavior analysis in compliance with all state and federal statutes, regulations, and Rules. B. The SCABA may only perform services under the direct supervision of a LBA as set forth in this Rule. C. Supervision shall be an interactive process between the LBA and SCABA. It shall be more than peer review or co-signature. D. There shall be a written supervisory agreement between the LBA and the SCABA that shall address: 1. the domains of competency within which services may be provided by the SCABA; and 2. the nature and frequency of the supervision of the practice of the LBA by the LBA. E. A copy of the written supervisory agreement must be maintained by the LBA and the SCABA and made available to the board upon request.

A. The manner of supervision shall depend on the treatment setting, patient/client caseload, and the competency of the SCABA. At a minimum, for full-time SCABAS, working at least 30 hours per week, a face-to-face supervisory meeting shall occur not less than once every four weeks, with each supervisory session lasting no less than one hour for full-time SCABAS. The qualifying supervision activities may include: 1. Direct, real-time observation of the SCABA implementing behavior analytic assessment and intervention procedures with clients in natural environments and/or training others to implement them, with feedback from the supervising LBA. 2. One-to-one real-time interactions between the supervising LBA and the SCABA to review and discuss assessment procedures, assessment outcomes, possible intervention procedures and materials, data collection procedures, intervention outcome data, modifications of intervention procedures, published research, ethical and professional standards and guidelines, professional development needs and opportunities, and relevant laws, regulations, and policies. B. More frequent supervisory activities may be necessary as determined by the LBA or SCABA dependent on the level of expertise displayed by the SCABA, the practice setting, and/or the complexity of the patient/client caseload. These additional supervisory activities, however, do not qualify towards the once per month requirements. The non-qualifying additional supervision activities may include, but are not limited to: 1. real-time interactions between a supervising LBA and a group of SCABAS to review and discuss assessment and treatment plans and procedures, client assessment and progress data and reports, published research, ethical and professional standards and guidelines, professional development needs and opportunities, and relevant laws, regulations, and policies; 2. informal interactions between supervising LBAs and SCABAs via telephone, electronic mail, and other written communication. C. Supervision requirements for part-time practice, less than 30 hours per week, may be modified at the discretion of the board upon approval of the submitted plan. Additional modifications of the format, frequency, or duration of supervision may be submitted for approval by the board.

A. Qualifying supervision shall ensure that the quality of the services provided by the SCABA to his employer and to consumers is in accordance with accepted standards, including the Guidelines for Responsible Conduct for Behavior Analysts and Professional Disciplinary and Ethical Standards for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board or other nation credentialing bodies as approved by the board. B. Qualifying supervision shall guide the professional development of the SCABA in ways that improve the practitioner's knowledge and skills. C. The LBA or the supervisor's alternate LBA designee must be available for immediate consultation with the assistant behavior analyst. The supervisor need not be physically present or on the premises at all times. D. The LBA is ultimately responsible and accountable for client care and outcomes under his clinical supervision. The supervising LBA shall: 1. be licensed by the board as a LBA; 2. not be under restriction or discipline from any licensing board or jurisdiction; 3. not have more than 10 full-time-equivalent SCABAs under his/her supervision at one time without prior approval by the board; 4. provide at least one hour of face-to- face, direct supervision per month per each SCABA. 5. be responsible for all referrals of the patient/client.

The complete proposed Rule is available in the June La Register.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / July 1, 2014

Originally published: July 1, 2014. Volume 5, No. 11. Source pages: 16, 17.

I had the honor of meeting W.C. “Dub” Shoemaker at the Press Convention last month. He and others on a panel spoke to attendees at the joint Mississippi– Louisiana Press convention in Biloxi on the topic, “Freedom Summer – 50 years later.”

“Freedom Summer” is the name given to 10 weeks in the summer of 1964, depicted in the movie Mississippi Burning. Dub called this the Pearl Harbor of the Civil Rights era. He covered the events as a reporter for the Jackson Daily News.

Fifty years ago in Philadelphia, Mississippi, near Meridian and not far from Jackson, three Civil Rights volunteers were murdered by members of the Ku Klux Klan. Two young white men and one African-American man had come from New York to register Blacks to vote. In a planned attack and aided by members of the local sheriff’s office, the men were killed and their bodies hidden.

Dub told the audience he put the Civil Rights era in with the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and Industrial Revolution, as far as significance in our country’s history.

Only after the presentation did it dawn on me the timeline connecting the Freedom Summer and what my family of origin called “The Klan Wars.”

It was not 1964, but February 1961, when my father snuck into the trees

surrounding a Klan organizing event in Red River Parish. The Klan had marched from Shreveport to rally members in a field not too far from Coushatta and the next day my father published his front- page editorial, “Against the Fall of Night.”

The editorial was a bold shot across the bow. He wrote that the Klan was a subversive group, that its members operate “in the shadow of darkness,” that they were capable of murder, and that there was no vacuum in the law for the Klan to fill in the parish. He wrote for them to “… get the Hell out of Red River Parish.”

Letters poured in both supporting and condemning the editorial and him. He lost advertisers. One wrote in his ad, “Please forgive Gordon, he knows not what he did.” And, “… if the Klan does something I don’t like, I hope I have the sense enough not to antagonize them.”

The Citizen received a letter from the National Imperial Wizard of the “Invisible Empire: Original Ku Klux Klan,” who wrote, “… your statements were made only from the fact that you are dominated with the eternal hatred that comes from Communists, the NAACP, and the ADL ….” And, “No amount of smears, slander, and misrepresentation by all these groups, plus your own little nonsensical epithets, will stop the Klan in her ride for Americanism, Christianity, and the right to be free men.”

A local reader addressed his envelope to “Know All Nelson,” and asked, “Where

do you get the right to tell an organization ‘to get the Hell out of Red River Parish?’ Better make it good.”

Another wrote, “Your big mouth will be the means of your hide winding up in a tan yard and some woman will be toting it around made into a big hand bag.”

But support was just as strong. “It was wonderful and expresses our sentiments exactly. Just wish there were more like you ….” And another, “It was brilliant and brave….”

The editorial was taken up and reprinted around the state and elsewhere, more letters coming in. “Dear Sir, In main editorial of B. Rouge State Times about mid-week I read with Joy of your article & a few quotes therein. To me, yours is first, & B.R. second to come out boldly against K.K.K.”

An editorial in the Lafourche Comet, said, “He minced no words in telling subscribers of his dislike for any man who hid under a bedsheet while attempting to subvert the laws of the state and the country,” and the Comet’s editorial reprinted in the Opelousas Daily World.

Ronnie Hicks, the then assistant director of the La. Press Association wrote, “It is the editor with guts who has made the community newspaper of this country the most powerful voice in

the life of its citizens.” […] “It made me awfully damn proud to read that editorial…”

He even got a letter from J. Edgar Hoover.

The editorial and later reporting of news, polarized the community and aggravated the Klan. Crosses were burned, including one on our yard. Threatening calls and letters were on-going. The Klan’s night rides continued. My father wrote his brother that the joke on the street was, “Who would be the newspaper’s publisher after Gordon?” The FBI sent two agents down and our family was put under guard. Eventually the Citizen’s front door was shot out.

The Klan Wars in Red River parish continued for a while and then just ended, not with a bang, but a sputter. Somewhere along the way the Klan took all their files, flags, and icons south to Natchitoches Parish and set up shop in Campti. Years later my father told me that many of the members resigned after he threatened to put their names in the paper. Most were businessmen and depended on the African-American community’s patronage.

Was it a good thing or a bad thing that my father published that editorial and polarized the community, kicking over the beehive?

After Dub Shoemaker’s presentation last month, I looked at the letters my father received after his 1961 editorial. This time, one in particular stood out.

The editor-publisher of the Deer Creek Pilot wrote telling my father the editorial was a “darn good job” and important.

Then he wrote, “Luckily, we do not and have not had any such activity here. For that matter, I know of no place in the state where the Klan is active in any way.”

The Pilot is the newspaper in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, and only 125 miles from where the Civil Rights workers were killed three years later.

When the 200 FBI agents sent by J. Edgar Hoover combed through 10 Mississippi counties, searching for those three missing volunteers, they uncovered the bodies of eight other murdered Black men.

The Coushatta Citizen won the Community Service award for that work, and a national second place for journalism excellence.

My father was certainly no paragon, he was as flawed as the rest of us, maybe more so. But he understood the nature of secrecy and what it can do, and I think he’d seen some things growing up in Mississippi that impacted him.

It’s just part of history now, more than half a century past. Many these days may not even understand the role of the small town publishers of weekly newspapers.

But to my mind, from all these years later and the luxury of a perspective that my father did not have, it seems it was a fine example of when to kick over the beehive.

Have a great 4th of July.

The front door of the Coushatta Citizen was eventually shot out. During the 60s the FBI put the Nelson family under guard.

Newspaper clippings with entire 1961 Editorial, “Against the Fall of Night” by Gordon Nelson. The editorial served to polarize the community and bring the activities of the Klan to the public’s awareness. Three years later, the killings near Meridian Mississippi brought the nation’s awareness to the issues of racial violence in the south. Dub Shoemaker, Mississippi Press Assn Hall of Fame member, and reporter during that period, calls it one of the four most significant times in US history.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / July 1, 2014

Originally published: July 1, 2014. Volume 5, No. 11. Source pages: 6.

According to a notice from the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psych- ologists, the board will create an Advisory Committee for the new Licensed Specialist in School Psychology. The credential was created by the passage of Act 136 which was signed by Governor Jindal.

The board is accepting self-nominations for the committee now, and the deadline for these nominations is July 15.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / July 1, 2014

Originally published: July 1, 2014. Volume 5, No. 11. Source pages: 6.

Two candidates for president of the American Psychological Association attended the state psychological association convention last month. Both briefly addressed the group and spent time meeting Louisiana psychologists.

Dr. Jessica Daniels is an associate professor of psychology in the department of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. She is the director of training in psychology and associate director of the Leadership Education in Adolescent Health Training Program.

If elected, Daniels will help focus on integrated psychological science and practice in multidisciplinary and multi-professional activities, and building common ground with other health professions and psychological science, she noted in regard to her candidacy.

Dr. Antonio Puente has been a clinical psychologist at a teaching psychiatric hospital and a professor of neuroanatomy at a medical school before he became a professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He has authored and edited eight books, 78 book chapters and 102 journal articles in English, Spanish and Russian. He noted that his research focus has largely been on the interface between culture and clinical neuropsychology. He has been the only psychologist to serve on the 17 member CPT editorial panel.

Puente stated his view that in this time of significant healthcare change, “psychology is in the best position to lead, and that with integration, advocacy and vision, psychology can demonstrate its true contribution and value.

Both complete statements can be found at:

http://www.apa.org/monitor/2014/05/candidates.aspx

Jessica Daniel, PhD Antonio Puente, PhD

(courtesy photos)

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / July 1, 2014

Originally published: July 1, 2014. Volume 5, No. 11. Source pages: 6.

The U.S. District Court in Lafayette ordered pharmaceutical firms Takeda and Eli Lilly to pay total of $9 billion in punitive damages based on conclusions that the firms may have covered up the cancer risks of the diabetes drug Actos.

U.S. District Judge Rebecca Doherty heard the case. The jury awarded $6 billion against Takeda and $3 billion against Eli Lilly. In addition, Allen was awarded $1.475 million in compensatory damages.

Kenneth D. Greisman, senior vice president and general counsel of Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A. Inc., said the verdict would be appealed, according to several reports.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.