Article archive / August 2020

Originally published: August 2020. Volume 11, No. 8. Source pages: 2.

Some years ago, Archimedes and I splurged on a backyard lap pool, and Covid-19 being what it is, the pool has turned out to be a great investment, helping us cope with the self–isolation required to avoid the Russian roulette for those over 60.

Less fortunate, however, are the various and sundry creatures that accidently wind up floundering and struggling to escape the watery death trap.

My Irish–Catholic father lived by and instilled the moral code that, "If you kill it, you have to eat it," for co-existing with other living creatures. So, with some mixture of altruism, concern for all life, and to avoid the idea of having to eat whatever dies in the pool, I spend 15 minutes a day rescuing various wildlife before I swim my hour of laps.

The most frequent victims are spiders. I’ve become an expert at liberating larger and larger plain, brown, garden-variety tree spiders that apparently fall or are blown from the trees surrounding the pool. At first they can spread their legs and actually walk across the surface of the water for a while. However, soon they have to resort to rolling themselves into a ball to continue to float. After that it’s pretty much curtains.

The first few times I rescued a balled-up spider it shocked the hell out of me because they unfold to about four times their size. With practice I've been able desensitize myself so that now I can airlift a spider the size of a silver dollar over to the side of the pool, the thing riding comfortably and peaceably on the back of my hand. I've even chauffeured a mother spider out of the pool, her back covered with tiny babies, which makes her look rather vicious if you are seeing this for the first time. Getting those tiny babies out is a time–consuming nightmare so it's efficient to free the mother before she sinks.

The grasshoppers are the most fun to save because they go jumping off your hand like they’ve been shot out of a cannon. The frogs are sweet and passive. The beetles are the bread & butter victims, the epitome of resilience and calm. Neither the bees nor the ants inspire much sympathy in me––the bees will sting you as you’re rescuing them––but it's better than finding them in your swimming suit during the workout.

Once a baby possum found its way into the leaf skimmer. Archimedes went straight to work to protect his woman. Striding confidently into the middle of the situation, he yelled "Stand back!" as he commenced to capture the thing with the leaf net, presumably imagining a danger for me similar to the Killer Rabbit. I was already "back," standing all the way on the other side of the pool. The baby possum would have had to swim across, somehow climb out––obviously the whole problem in the first place––and then decide to go after me, bent on revenge. I didn't point out the logic problem, being that I'm generally a fan of male protective instincts.

I've also encountered a suicidal lizard. Most lizards are goners by the time I find them but I once rescued a green-gray, striped lizard. It did an instant about-face and dove headfirst back into the pool. Once committed to a rescue, I seldom give up, so I fished the thing out again and walked it to a grassy area past the pool walkway. The lizard promptly scurried back and launched it self directly into the water again, sinking in a vertical, Christ- like position. I was left with no alternative at this point but to retrieve it a third time. So I walked the little lunatic across the yard, tossed it in the bushes, and pledged no more codependency in our relationship.

One other type of creature has a connection to the pool. Some days, as I'm swimming along, I turn to take a breath and catch a sideways glimpse of the sky. There, circling above me, are the vultures. They're checking to see if I am a floundering, struggling, dying animal. An eerie feeling––I'm thankful that they would have to kill me before they eat me.

Covid-19 and the backyard waters remind me of Ecclesiastes 9:11: "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all."

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Article archive / August 2020

Originally published: August 2020. Volume 11, No. 8. Source pages: 2.

Dr. Sam corrected our spelling of Mr. Alton Sterling's first name in the story on page 4. Dr. Burstein corrected a sentence in his review. Thanks for the assists and we regret any confusion caused.

Send your corrections to: psychologytimes@drjulienelson.com

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Article archive / August 2020

Originally published: August 2020. Volume 11, No. 8. Source pages: 4.

Previous law provided for the Early Childhood Care and Education Network, through which the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) manages and oversees publicly funded programs that provide early childhood care or education. It also established the Advisory Council on Early Childhood Care and Education, which provided input and guidance to BESE and the state Dept. of Education on such programs.

The previous law, which terminated on March 31, 2020, created the Early Childhood Care and Education Commission to study and make recommen- dations relative to early childhood care and education issues.

Act 180 re-creates the commission and requires it to collect data, consider research and current practices, determine a sustainable infrastructure, identify opportunities for collaboration, determine a time frame and necessary funding to achieve affordable access to quality care and education for all children from birth through age four, and make recommendations on the incorporation of family child care providers into the early childhood care and education network.

Also requires is the commission to produce reports for the governor, legislature, state superintendent of education, and BESE and to establish a task force to identify and recommend funding strategies. commission's plan.

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Article archive / July 2020

Originally published: July 2020. Volume 11, No. 7. Source pages: 1.

On June 25 Gov. John Bel Edwards extended Phase Two of reopening in Louisiana for another 28 days, as new COVID- 19 cases and hospitalizations increased across the state.

“We have watched with concern as cases continue to rise in Louisiana, which is why we are pausing the state in Phase Two for now. Data from the last three days makes it crystal clear that Louisiana is not ready to move to Phase Three just yet,” Gov. Edwards said.

More than 3,000 Louisianans have died from complications of COVID-19, and over 65,000 confirmed cases. Louisiana has also pushed to increase testing, exceeding its goal of 200,000 tests for the month of June already.

"… None of us wants to go back to a time of greater restrictions, which is why it is incredibly important that all Louisianans take the necessary mitigation measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the state," said the Gov. Edwards, "including wearing cloth masks or face coverings when they are in public, staying home if you are sick or experiencing symptoms, keeping six feet of social distance and washing their hands frequently.”

Gov. Edwards (Courtesy photo)

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Article archive / July 2020

Originally published: July 2020. Volume 11, No. 7. Source pages: 2.

by Julie Nelson Reporting on police psychology in this month's issue, and the excellent work psychologists do to help police and communities build competence, causes me to think about how we can better bring these talents to others.

While President Trump's Executive Order on safe policing seems to be a good start, he framed the problem in a way that suggested he is unfamiliar with the whole array of interventions that police psychologists can offer, the multiple levels of the social system. As examples, Dr. Susan Tucker and Dr. Mkay Bonner both work at multiple levels in their communities, and their interventions are hard to understand even for trained professionals much less the lay public. Organized psychology has done very little to educate the public, so I give the President a pass. The responsibility is ours.

The recent tragic events and ensuing chaos have me brooding again about psychology's contribution, or lack of it more accurately, and what we can do to help our community's problem-solving in matters that are in our wheelhouse. #1. First, we should try and work at the highest level of abstraction that we can. Einstein said, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." Staying at the highest look-out point on the mountainside helps avoid a host of issues. At the very least, we could stay out of Red vs Blue politics and other subgroups, like the medical–pharmaceutical–hospital industrial complex. If the public is going to trust us, and listen to us, as Scott Lilienfeld suggests, we have to stick to science, and only science.

#2. Related to #1, we must refuse to participate in any binomial thinking and the bias it causes. One of the important things psychologists can do is to help others understand that social conflicts and problems are multivariate not univariate. Binomial thinking leads to poor problem definitions, faulty solutions, and often polarized behavior. If we can help others embrace the complexity of human behavior, we'll be a step closer to real understanding. As Poul Anderson said, "I have yet to see any problem, however complicated, which, when looked at in the right way, did not become still more complicated."

#3. After we have confirmed that we are scientifically honest and thinking at the highest level of the system, we can create theoretically and empirically sound positions and share this information with others. Information is one of the best and least expensive system interventions.

However, communicating our message is organized psychology's biggest challenge and may be our most serious failing. We just cannot seem to lose the jargon, clutter, and psychobabble. Novelist Doris Lessing said, “It is one of the paradoxes of our time that ideas capable of transforming our societies, full of insights about how the human animal actually behaves and thinks, are often presented in unreadable language.”

If we can clarify our messages, then maybe we can find ways to overcome our reluctance to step up to the public microphone. In Leading Change, John Kotter points out we must communicate much more than we think we need to––100 times or even 1000 times as much.

If we can somehow get #1 and #2 right, then communication just might empower psychology to help make things a little better.

[Julie Nelson is a licensed psychologist, journalist, organizational consultant, and publisher of the Times. She also holds other positions in the community. However, her opinions here are those of her own, and do not represent any group or association. She and the Times receive no compensation other than paid advertising. Email her at drj@drjulienelson.com, ––she welcomes feedback.]

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Article archive / July 2020

Originally published: July 2020. Volume 11, No. 7. Source pages: 3.

In June, Gov. Edwards declared June 19, 2020, as Juneteenth Observance Day in Louisiana to celebrate the day in 1865 when the last remaining enslaved African Americans were freed. "On Juneteenth, we celebrate the end of slavery in America and we honor the history and contributions of African Americans in our country. Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom and justice and it is a reminder of the strength and resolve of African Americans throughout history," Gov. Edwards said. "Honoring Juneteenth gives us all an opportunity to develop a greater and deeper understanding and appreciation of the experiences of African Americans. As we take time to reflect on June- teenth today, may we all recommit ourselves to the on- going fight for equity and justice." In 2003, the state Legislature recognized in statute, the third Saturday in June as Juneteenth Day, the oldest African American holiday, throughout Louisiana.

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Article archive / July 2020

Originally published: July 2020. Volume 11, No. 7. Source pages: 3.

Trump Issues Ex Order on Safe Policing with Emphasis on Hiring, Training, and Community

On June 16, President Trump issued an Executive Order with guidelines for improving safe policing in communities.

In the Order, he directed agencies to assess their current practices. Specifically, state and local law enforcement agencies are to constantly assess and improve their practices and policies to ensure transparent, safe, and accountable delivery of law enforcement services to their communities. Independent credentialing bodies can accelerate these assessments, enhance citizen confidence in law enforcement practices, and allow for the identification and correction of internal deficiencies before those deficiencies result in injury to the public or to law enforcement officers, the President noted.

The President also banned chokeholds, stating that the State or local law enforcement agency’s use-of-force policies prohibit the use of chokeholds — a physical maneuver that restricts an individual’s ability to breathe for the purposes of incapacitation — except in those situations where the use of deadly force is allowed by law."

The Attorney General is to create a database to coordinate the sharing of information between and among Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies concerning instances of excessive use of force related to law enforcement matters, accounting for applicable privacy and due process rights.

In section 4 on "Mental Health, Homelessness, and Addiction," the President indicated several areas reforms. These included the following:

The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services as appropriate, is to identify and develop opportunities to train law enforcement officers with respect to encounters with individuals suffering from impaired mental health, homelessness, and addiction; to increase the capacity of social workers working directly with law enforcement agencies; and to provide guidance regarding the development and implementation of co-responder programs, which involve social workers or other mental health professionals working alongside law enforcement officers so that they arrive and address situations together.

The Attorney General is to propose new legislation to enhance the tools and resources available to improve law enforcement practices and build community engagement.

This includes recommendations to enhance current grant programs to improve law enforcement practices and build community engagement, including through:

(i) assisting State and local law enforcement agencies with implementing the credentialing process described in section 2 of this order, the reporting described in section 3 of this order, and the co responder and community-support models described in section 4 of this order;

(ii) training and technical assistance required to adopt and implement improved use– of-force policies and procedures, including scenario- driven de-escalation techniques;

(iii) retention of high-performing law enforcement officers and recruitment of law enforcement officers who are likely to be high-performing;

(iv) confidential access to mental health services for law enforcement officers; and

(v) programs aimed at developing or improving relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve, including through community outreach and listening sessions, and supporting non profit organizations that focus on improving stressed relationships between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.

The Executive Order can be found at https://www.whitehouse.gov/pre sidential-actions/executive- order-safe-policing-safe- communities/

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Article archive / July 2020

Originally published: July 2020. Volume 11, No. 7. Source pages: 4.

The Louisiana Supreme Court ruled in May that the psychological pre-employment evaluation of Blaine Salamoni must be turned over to attorneys for the family of Alton Sterling.

Salamoni was one of the two officers involved in the 2016 death of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge. Mr. Sterling was fatally shot on July 5, 2016 outside the Triple S Foodmart on N. Foster Drive in Baton Rouge.

In a report by Joe Gyan, Jr. of the Advocate, Salamoni's attorney said that the ruling by the state Supreme Court does not mean that the psychological evaluation will be put before the jury. Attorneys for Sterling‘s family disagreed, and said that the information is very relevant, reported the Advocate.

Last summer District Judge Michael Caldwell ordered the city to release the evaluation which had been used in the police department's hiring process.

Salamoni’s attorneys argued that the information was part of medical privacy but the Sterling family attorneys disagreed and said that it was a hiring tool.

Salamoni’s attorneys appealed Caldwell's ruling but the First Circuit denied the appeal.

While the Supreme Court modified Caldwell's ruling slightly–so that the psychological evaluation could not be released to the public–they supported the release of the information to the attorneys.

The Advocate report notes that the Sterling family lawsuit is set for March of next year.

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Article archive / July 2020

Originally published: July 2020. Volume 11, No. 7. Source pages: 4.

Dr. Nicholas A. Cummings, PhD, who many regard as a visionary and trail-blazer in professional psychology, passed away on June 9, 2020. He was almost 96. His wife of 74 years, Dorothy, his two children, Dr. Janet Cummings and Andrew Cummings, two grandchildren, Mary and Kent, and two recently born great grand children survive him.

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Article archive / July 2020

Originally published: July 2020. Volume 11, No. 7. Source pages: 6.

On June 23, Gov. Edwards announced his appointments to several Louisiana boards and commissions.

Alfred R. Tuminello Jr. of Baton Rouge was reappointed to the Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board. Tuminello is the director of the McNeese Autism Program and was nominated by the Louisiana Behavior Analysis Association.

Angela B. Murray of Rayne was appointed to the Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board. Murray is the clinical director of the Therapy Center of Acadiana and was nominated by the Louisiana Behavior Analysis Association.

On June 12, Gov. Edwards appointed Tewabetch Negatu Ph.D. of Baton Rouge to the Louisiana Commission on HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis C Education, Prevention, and Treatment. Negatu is a community specialist and will represent the Office of the Governor.

Tewabetch Negatu, Ph.D. was also appointed to the Governor’s Council on Homelessness.

The Governor appointed Amber J. Boykin to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Disability Affairs.

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Article archive / July 2020

Originally published: July 2020. Volume 11, No. 7. Source pages: 7.

Act 122 adds an issue to the Children's Code, considerations of child abuse reporting regarding pregnancy of young girls.

The current language begins "… Notwithstanding any claim of privileged communication, any mandatory reporter who has cause to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare is endangered as a result of abuse or neglect or that abuse or neglect was a contributing factor in a child's death shall report in accordance with Article 610."

Act 122 adds new language, "(b) For purposes of this Article, the pregnancy of a child under the age of thirteen years shall constitute cause to consider whether the child has been abused."

The requirement became effective upon the Governor's signing.

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Article archive / July 2020

Originally published: July 2020. Volume 11, No. 7. Source pages: 8.

House Bill 361 amends the Civil Code

to offer a legal option to interdiction for adults with disabilities. The measure called the Dustin Gary Act was signed by the governor last month and aims to recognize a less restrictive decision- making process for adults with disabilities who need assistance with decisions of daily living.

In the new law "Adult" means an individual with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 who has attained eighteen years of age or who is an emancipated minor.

The new law defines "supported decisionmaking" as "a process of supporting and accommodating an adult to enable the adult to make life decisions, including decisions related to where the adult wants to live, the services, supports, and medical care the adult wants to receive, with whom the adult wants to live, and where the adult wants to work, without impeding the self-determination of the adult."

An adult may voluntarily, without undue influence or coercion, enter into a supported decisionmaking agreement with a supporter under which the adult authorizes the supporter to … " aid them in decisions.

According to the new law, a supporter shall do all of the following: (1) Support the will and preference of the adult and not the supporter's opinion of the adult's best interests. (2) Act honestly, diligently, and in good faith. (3) Act within the scope set forth in the adult's supported decisionmaking agreement. (4) Avoid conflicts of interest.

A supporter is prohibited from doing all of the following: (1) Exerting undue influence upon the adult.

(2) Obtaining, without the consent of the adult, information relating to the adult acquired for a purpose other than assisting the adult in making a specific decision authorized by the supported decisionmaking agreement. (3) Acting outside the scope of authority provided in the supported decisionmaking agreement.

A supported decisionmaking agreement terminates for a variety of reasons.

The adult subject of the supported decisionmaking agreement revokes the agreement under R.S. 13:4261.206.

The named supporter can revoke his participation in writing without naming successor supporters.

A court of competent jurisdiction may determine that the adult does not have capacity to execute or consent to a supported decisionmaking agreement.

A court of competent jurisdiction may determine that a supporter has used the supported decisionmaking agreement to commit financial exploitation, abuse, or neglect of the adult.

A court of competent jurisdiction may appoint a temporary or permanent guardian for the person or property of the adult, unless the court's order of appointment does all of the following: (a) Expressly modifies but continues the supported decisionmaking agreement. (b) Limits the powers and duties of the guardian.

The adult may sign a valid durable power of attorney, except to the extent that the power of attorney expressly continues, in whole or in part, the supported decisionmaking agreement.

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Article archive / July 2020

Originally published: July 2020. Volume 11, No. 7. Source pages: 8.

The Governor signed House Bill 338 by

Representative Duplessis into law adding certain information to consideration of the parole committees for offenders. Act 103 adds "the physical, mental, or psychiatric condition of the offender when such information is available," to existing language.

The effort amends laws under criminal procedures regarding reports to the parole committee.

The updated language is, "Whenever the committee orders a parole hearing to be held, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall secure a report with respect to the personality of the offender, his social history, his adjustment to authority, the physical, mental, or psychiatric condition of the offender when such information is available, and his prison record, and may include any recommendation with reference to the release of the offender on parole."

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Article archive / July 2020

Originally published: July 2020. Volume 11, No. 7. Source pages: 8.

Act 275 provides that licensing boards shall waive any fee charged for an initial license or examination to any individual who is otherwise qualified to receive a license and meets certain requirements:

Receives public assistance including, but not limited to the following: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Medicaid. Disability insurance. Public housing. Earns less than two hundred percent of the current federal poverty

The new law also directs that licensing boards shall provide payment plans in lieu of full license and examination fee payments for initial applications and examinations to all individuals who apply, except for an individual who applies for a certificate of license who would otherwise be unqualified pursuant to this Title. Total fees paid by payment plans shall not exceed the amount an individual paying the full examination and licensing fee would otherwise pay. An individual who is in good standing with the licensing board and has been provided a payment plan shall have twelve months from the date of the first scheduled payment to pay the account in full. The provisions of this Section shall apply only to licensing boards that directly administer their own examinations.

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Article archive / July 2020

Originally published: July 2020. Volume 11, No. 7. Source pages: 9.

From the Minutes Selected Items from May Minutes of the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (LSBEP)

COMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS 5. Legislative Oversight Committee – Update on AdHoc Legislative Collaborative Committee (ALCC) – Ms. Monic reported that the ALCC has met approximately four times, spending the majority of time on the registration of unlicensed assistants, but with progress on the definition of the practice of psychology. Dr. Gormanous stated he is optimistic and sees the group moving in a good direction and making progress. Mr. McNeely agreed that the group is moving in a good direction. Dr. Kim VanGeffen, a member of the ALCC added that the committee has been working very hard. Ms. Monic summarized the reason for the discussion item was to make the LSBEP aware that although not previously identified, there were concerns related to the registration of assistants as it relates to an LSSP who is working under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. Ms. Monic reported that as a result, the LSSP Committee of the LSBEP was notified and a meeting was called to discuss the matter on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 […] 6. Liaison to Professional Organizations and Boards – Dr. Gormanous reported that there had been some questions related to ASPPB’s involvement with university education and training. Dr. Gormanous reported that it is his understanding that a taskforce has been or will be formed with a goal to find some degree of consistency on how to deal with the common issues that serve as barriers to licensure in the face of COVID-19. Dr. Gormanous suggested that LSBEP could be involved on the front end of this initiative should a board member or administrator want to participate on the taskforce. Dr. Henke expressed her interest. Dr. Gormanous agreed to look into the process of being approved to serve on the taskforce. 7. (NEW) Public and Professional Outreach Committee – Dr. Henke reported her attention has shifted to the Weekly Wednesday Update, but she intends to make a point of focusing on the LSBEP Newsletter once the response to the COVID19 emergency settles down. 10. Complaints Committee – a. Complaint Status Report – Mr. Owens presented his Compliance Report for the period 03/07/20 – 04/03/20 as follows: Total number of Requests for Investigations received since last meeting: 0; Total number of Board initiated investigations since last meeting: 1; Total number of Open Active investigations: 15 (4 against non-licensees); 9 are Formal Complaints; 2 from FY17-18; 4 from FY18-19 3 from FY19-20; 4 are still under review by Complaints Coordinator Total number of cases closed as of the April 3, 2020 meeting: 1 Disciplinary Actions: 0; Applications w/ Arrest Info: 0

DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS 2. Policy and Procedures – Draft Revisions incorporating Compliance Officer – The Board reviewed and discussed changes to Policy and Procedures related to job description and duties of the Compliance Officer position. Dr. Gormanous moved in favor of adopting the revisions as discussed. The Board discussed the motion. The motion passed by roll call vote as follows: In favor: (5) Boggs, Henke, Gormanous, Gibson, McNeely; Against: 0; Abstained: 0; Absent: (1) Moore 5. Technology Proposal: CERTEMY – Ms. Monic reported that she and Mr. McNeely met with this company, following the April 3, 2020 Board Meeting where the board discussed moving into the current century with regard to technology fillable forms, electronic submission of documents and online applications. Following the review of the proposal that CERTEMY offered, the Board requested that CERTEMY be present at their next regularly scheduled meeting to address questions and concerns related to security of data, company experience. 7. 2020 Legislative Review – a. SB458- Luneau – LSBEP Housekeeping Legislation – The Board discussed the newly identified issue of how an LSSP would be identified or exempted when considering the statutory provisions for registering assistants to psychologists. Taking into consideration the recommendation of the LSSP Committee and in order to facilitate and provide guidance to the ALCC, the board agreed that it would be appropriate for the ALCC to consider an exemption in some form for an LSSP who is currently licensed (having undergone a background check and vetted credentials) and providing the same services which they are qualified to offer in a school system.

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