Originally published: . Volume 8, No. 3. Source pages: 16.
Tulane Hosts Dr. Howard Stevenson March 9 in N.O.
Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and The Institute of Mental Hygiene, will present the Barbara Lemann Lectureship on Thursday, March 9 at the Bowers Auditorium, in New Orleans.
Howard C. Stevenson, PhD, the Constance Clayton Professor of Urban Education & Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, will speak. Dr. Stevenson is Professor and former Chair of the Applied Psychology and Human Development Division in the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 8, No. 3. Source pages: 4.
Legislative Session April 10 to June 8 HB31 to Expand Options for Retired School Psychologists
The regular session of the legislature will open April 10 and bills are beginning to be filled. About 60 bills have been pre-filed so far, but only one directly relates to psychology matters.
House Bill 31 by Representative Frank Hoffmann authorizes retirees of the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) to return to work as a school psychologist in a critical shortage area without reduction of retirement benefits.
The purpose of the measure is to authorize the reemployment of school psychologists in critical shortage areas, noted the author. "Critical shortage" means any situation where there exists a shortage of certified school psychologists.
Present law generally provides that a retiree of TRSL may not return to work in a position covered by the system and continue to receive his benefit check while reemployed.
According to the digest, present law provides procedures for establishing that a "critical shortage area" exists for purposes of present law. The proposed law retains present law and requires such certification procedures before a retiree may be reemployed as a school psychologist pursuant to proposed law.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 8, No. 3. Source pages: 4.
Social Work Board Updating Rules on Electronic Practice, Sexual Intimacy, Cont Ed
The Board of Social Work Examiners is holding a public hearing to accept feedback on its proposed Rules changes, after receiving significant comments. A public hearing on proposed substantive changes will be held by the board on March 17, 2017, at 1 p.m. at the office of the Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners.
The board published a Notice of Intent to amend its rules in the May 20, 2016, edition of the Louisiana Register. According to the February Register, the May notice solicited views, arguments, information, written comments and testimony. As a result the board proposes to amend numerous sections of the proposed Rules.
The substantive changes include areas of practice, including the following: “Sexual Intimacy or Contact with a Client, Supervisee or Student. A social worker shall not engage in or request sexual intimacy or contact as defined in §113.B.5, with a client, a client's spouse or former spouse, any member of the client's immediate family or with any person with whom the client has a sexual relationship. The prohibition of this rule extends to supervisees and students during such times and under such circumstances where the social worker is in a supervisory or teaching relationship. This rule also expressly prohibits social workers from engaging in any behavior which a reasonable person would find sexually stimulating, seductive or sexually demeaning when such behavior is either directed toward or exhibited in the presence of any person with whom sexual contact is otherwise prohibited by this rule.”
New Rule includes new definitions for: “Electronic Social Work Practice―use of computers (including the internet, social media, on line chat, text, and email) and other electronic means (such as smartphones, landline telephones and video technology) to:1. provide information to the public; 2. deliver social work services to clients; 3. communicate with clients; 4. manage confidential information and case records; 5. store and access information about clients; and 6. arrange payment for professional services.”
The Board is also proposing changes to Continuing Education.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 8, No. 3. Source pages: 4.
The state Medical Board published changes to the Rules governing the use of telemedicine and patients who are located in Louisiana. These Rules are LAC 46:XLV .408 and Chapter 75, “Physician Licensure and Practice; Telemedicine.”
The amendments, published in the February Louisiana Register included the following:
“§408. Telemedicine Permit Qualifications, Procedure, Issuance, Expiration and Renewal A. Requirement for Permit/Qualifications. A physician who does not possess a Louisiana medical license shall not engage in the practice of medicine in this state via telemedicine, as defined in Chapter 75 of these rules, unless he or she holds a telemedicine permit issued by the board. A telemedicine permit is a limited license that provides lawful authority to a physician who does not hold a current, unrestricted Louisiana medical license to practice telemedicine with respect to patients located in this state.” And the Rules lists that the permit shall be made in a form approved by the board, and the location is that of the applicant.
The Rules lists the definition: “Telemedicine―the practice of health care delivery, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, and transfer of medical data by a physician using interactive telecommunication technology that enables a physician and a patient at two locations separated by distance to interact via two-way video and audio transmissions simultaneously. Neither an electronic mail message between a physician and a patient, or a true consultation constitutes telemedicine for the purposes of this Part. A physician practicing by telemedicine may utilize interactive audio without the requirement of video if, after access and review of the patient’s medical records, the physician determines that he or she is able to meet the same standard of care as if the healthcare services were provided in person.”
And also, “Standard of Care. The practice of medicine by telemedicine, including the issuance of any prescription via electronic means shall be held to the same prevailing and usually accepted standards of medical practice as those in traditional (face-to-face) settings. An online, electronic or written mail message does not satisfy the standards of appropriate care.”
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 8, No. 3. Source pages: 6.
Medicaid Enrollment Increases to 400K+
In a February 16 press release the state government officials say that Medicaid Expansion enrollment in Louisiana has reached 400,635 new members enrolled. Based on a recent Gallup report, the uninsured rate in Louisiana has decreased by nearly half to 12.5 percent in 2016, down from 21.7 percent in 2013, note the officials.
“Louisiana is ranked in the top 10 list of states with the largest reductions in uninsured rates,” said Governor John Bel Edwards. “The primary goal for Medicaid expansion was to ensure that more Louisiana residents had access to health care coverage and access to health care services. This report is conclusive proof that expansion is working.”
Medicaid expansion has reduced Louisiana’s number of uninsured residents, and has offered 400,635 newly covered adults the opportunity to seek care from a primary care physician instead of in an emergency room, according to the announcement.
Statistics compiled by the Louisiana Department of Health show that more than 58,700 adults have now received at least one preventive or primary care service after getting coverage under expansion.
To track enrollment and preventive data, the Department of Health has developed a dashboard tool on its Healthy Louisiana website, http://ldh.la.gov/healthyladashboard /. The dashboard shows total enrollment, enrollment by parish, by age and gender, and lives impacted by expansion and access to health care.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 8, No. 3. Source pages: 6.
At the December meeting of the state psychology board, Dr. Jesse Lambert reported that there was a coding error or error in reporting for “almost every report that was audited,” in the new continuing professional development program. Dr. Lambert reviewed about one half of the CE reports selected for auditing. He said the errors did not necessary affect fulfilling CE requirements for the licensee.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 8, No. 3. Source pages: 6.
Gov. Edwards announced that Marvel selected Louisiana for production of Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger television series, and started filming in New Orleans in February. Marvel is a part of the Walt Disney Company.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 8, No. 3. Source pages: 10.
Former and current clinical assistants from the Neuropsychology Center of Louisiana (NCLA) presented work at the International Neuropsychology Society that met in New Orleans, February 1 through 4. The theme of the 45th annual meeting was “Binding the Past & Present to Enhance the Future.”
Traci Oliver, PsyD, presented “Systematic desensitization in a young adult with pelizaeus- merzbacher disease,” with colleagues A. Amari and K. Slifer. Dr. Oliver completed an internship at John's Hopkins/Kennedy Krieger last year and is now a post-doc in Pediatric Neuropsychology at St. Jude's in Memphis. She previously was an assistant at the NCLA.
Julia Hussey, B.S., doctoral student in Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas under Daniel Allen, Ph.D., presented, “Meaningful recovery via long-term integrated care: a case study on west nile encephalitis.” Coauthor is Dr. Darylne Nemeth.
Kortney Wooten, B.S., a current Clinical and Research Assistant at The Neuropsychology Center of Louisiana, presented “Addressing the Sustained Attentional Problems of ADHD Ultra-rapid Metabolizers.” Coauthor is Dr. Darylne Nemeth.
LaJae Coleman, B.S., a current Clinical and Research Assistant at The Neuropsychology Center of Louisiana, presented and coauthored with Dr. Darylne Nemeth, Kortney Wooten, and presented, “Prenatal Opioid Abuse (POA) Causes Children’s Learning/Attentional Problems.”
Dr. Nemeth explained to the Times that mentoring young scientists is an important aspect of the work at the Center.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 8, No. 3. Source pages: 10.
University of Louisiana Lafayette Researchers Present at Society for Personality & Social Psychology
Members of the Sexual Violence Research Lab recently traveled to San Antonio, Texas, to present research at the annual convention of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology.
Recent masters graduate Sara Gibson presented her work in a poster presentation, titled, “A content analysis of reactions to an acquaintance rape vignette.”
Associate Professor of Psychology, Dr. Amy Brown and current undergraduate lab member Melanie Schanke also presented a poster on their work, “Alcohol intoxication and willingness to intervene in hypothetical sexual assault scenarios.”
The Sexual Violence Research Lab at UL Lafayette is led by Dr. Brown and their research follows two primary lines of investigation:
The researchers study the social perception of sexual violence. They explore the “willingness to provide sympathy and support to victims and judgments of responsibility toward victims and perpetrators in hypothetical vignettes.” The researchers want to better understand the issues related to research indicating that men judge victims more harshly, that victims are judged more harshly if they had been drinking or if rape involved little force on the part of the perpetrator.
The other line of research explores the willingness to engage in and prior experience with prosocial intervention in the context of sexual violence. “We have worked on creating new measures of bystander attitudes and have investigated the impact of gender and perceived peer norms on bystander attitudes and behaviors. Current studies are investigating the impact of alcohol intoxication on bystanders by surveying drinkers in bars.”
Dr. Brown earned her undergraduate from Centenary and her PhD from Miami University.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 8, No. 3. Source pages: 10.
Dr. Anna Kelley presented “Coparenting: Broadening the Focus to Multiperson Systems Approach,” for the Grand Rounds Lecture, February 24, at Tulane University School of Medicine. Kelley is with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. The training activity was approved for AMA PRA. Dr. Kelley, a postdoctoral fellow, specializes in infant and early childhood mental healt.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Psychology Times, March 2017 – Page 11 Who’s Writing What? The Practical Guide to Cognitive Rehabilitation: Overcoming Cognitive Neurological Impairments
Kimberly S. Hutchinson, PhD, and Lawrence S. Dilks, PhD Lash & Associates Publishing/Training, 2015
Cognitive Rehabilitation of Executive Functions
Lawrence S. Dilks, PhD, and Kimberly S. Hutchinson, PhD Lash & Associates Publishing/Training, 2016
Two neuropsychologists and experts in rehabilitation, Dr. Kimberly Hutchinson and Dr. Lawrence Dilks, have created a line of books and educational tools that are practical, flexible, and informative aids for those working to help individuals with neurological injuries or impairments.
The Practical Guide to Cognitive Rehabilitation: Overcoming Cognitive Neurological Impairments, and Cognitive Rehabilitation of Executive Functions are two of their texts and workbooks, published by Lash & Associates, a specialty publisher who helps experts reach survivors, veterans, families, educators and caregivers, together with clinicians and therapists, so to support the most useful ways to aid in recovery.
The books are “… born of necessity,” write Hutchinson and Dilks, who note that they were faced “… with providing cognitive rehabilitation to both an inpatient and an outpatient setting. Additionally, patients, clients and families require explanations of the purpose and logic of the ongoing interventions and would frequently interrupt treatment to request information,” they write. “Many inpatient consumers obtained services for only a brief period of time, typically two to three weeks. The interventions were intense and commercially prepared products were rapidly extinguished as well as prohibitively expensive.”
Kimberly S. Hutchinson, PhD is a clinical and neuropsychologist with Counseling Services in Lake Charles, Louisiana and Physical Rehabilitation Services at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital. She graduated from Barry University, Villanova University, and Fielding Graduate University. She has taught at Barry and completed a fellowship in Neurocognitive Rehabilitation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital. Hutchinson is a member of the free-standing Lake Charles Research Group and has a research interest in rehabilitation.
Dr. Larry Dilks is a clinical neuropsychologist in private practice with Counseling Services in Lake Charles and serves as the head of the Department of Neuropsychology with the Physical Rehabilitation Service at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital. He is a graduate of Truman State University, Kansas State at Pittsburg and the University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Dilks served four years as an Army Clinical Psychologist and has taught at Northwestern and McNeese State Universities. For the last 37 years he has focused on helping individuals overcome psychological and cognitive impairments, always with the goal of helping the individual maintain as much independence as possible.
Together Hutchinson and Dilks have collaborated on a line of texts and learning tools that provides visual and cognitive activities and essential training exercises for clinicians and for those who are recovering from brain injury and related cognitive disabilities.
In The Practical Guide to Cognitive Rehabilitation: Overcoming Cognitive Neurological Impairments authors Hutchinson and Dilks provide a versatile program that can be easily adapted to different patient needs, settings and treatment goals.
In its 200 plus pages, and in a user friendly, practical format, the authors lay out activities that can be used to support the individual and different settings.
The workbook can be used by both individuals and caregivers, as well as clinicians and therapists, with exercises chosen to conform to and accommodate specific treatment efforts. The text is organized in a straightforward and easily understood rationale, with each section including explanations and then activities and worksheets of visual and cognitive exercises.
Practical Guide is divided into chapters on: 1) orientation, 2) attention and concentration, 3) processing speed, 4) memory, 5) executive functions, 6) language redevelopment, 7) visual perception, 8) anxiety and depression, and concluding with 9) extra activities.
“Out of necessity (some would suggest desperation),” the authors write that they began to develop cognitive rehabilitation worksheets based on the “available research surrounding brain injury, special education, developmental disorders and neuroscience.”
They explain that research directly related to outcomes for cognitive interventions is mixed and limited in scope and their hope is that this will improve in the future. Nevertheless, “The authors have discovered progress is most rapid and rapport at their best under the following circumstances: the therapist uses distributive practice, offers liberal verbal reinforcement, modifies activities as appropriate, focuses on practical outcomes, is personally involved, has a relationship with the family and is transparent in interventions.” They encourage, “Be creative and never give up.”
“Not all exercises will be appropriate for every client; therefore, pick and choose the exercises that best address the specific needs of the person you are working with,” the authors write.
Practical Guide includes activities for approximately two weeks, which is the average length of stay on a rehabilitation unit. The tasks included are specifically designed for intervention, not as assessment tools and should not be used for diagnostics. “Don't hesitate to modify a task if it benefits the consumer,” the authors encourage.
Cognitive Rehabilitation of Executive Functions by Lawrence S. Dilks, Ph.D. and Kimberly S. Hutchinson, Ph.D.
Another contribution to their growing list of publications for Lash, Drs. Hutchinson and Dilks have also developed a two-book set for interventions for executive functioning. Written for clinicians, Cognitive Rehabilitation of Executive Functions features practical intervention exercises involving the reconstruction of executive functions of the brain.
Using functional approaches, the authors address areas in the text. Chapter 1: Introduction, 2) attention and concentration, 3) processing speed, 4) categorization, 5) sequencing, 6) awareness and neglect, 7) working memory, 8) reasoning and judgment, 9) humor, 10) appropriate use of language, 11) planning ability, 12) impulse control and socially appropriate behavior, 13) problem- solving, 14) stress management, 15) anger management. These chapters are followed by extra exercises, a glossary, resources, and bibliography.
Each chapter begins with an overview, followed with a description of the area of functioning addressed. Exercises that can be performed by a paraprofessional or family member are included.
“Every exercise only takes a few minutes to complete and can be arranged to supplement other forms of intervention. All of the exercises have been developed and proven through years of practical application with inpatient and outpatient clients in rehabilitation,” write the authors.
One of the most popular items in the line of products by Drs. Dilks and Hutchinson is their “Tip Card.”
The Tip Card for Executive Functions After Brain Injury, is a short, direct educational method that can assist family members, caregivers, and others in working with individuals who have experienced brain injury. The Tip Card helps caregivers to understand the role of executive functions, understand how the executive functions influence the emotions, behaviors and thoughts of the person with a brain injury, and also helps to provide strategies on managing the emotions, behaviors, and thoughts of a person with a brain injury.
Executive Functions control activities such as managing emotions, attention, concentration, categorization, planning, sequencing, problem solving, impulse control, reasoning, and judgment, explain the authors.
The authors write: “The brain works in a unified way that allows us to take in information, process it, and act in a purposeful fashion. Purposeful behavior allows us to live safely in our environment, accomplish goals, and succeed to the best of our ability. Although the brain works in a unified way, it is controlled by complex systems. Executive functions are a major system involved in controlling brain function. Executive functions organize and prioritize actions and behaviors. When injury to the brain includes damage to executive functions, the ability to do things like plan, organize, make decisions, focus attention, and manage emotions may no longer function the way it did before the injury. Fortunately, there are ways to recover functions and work around behaviors that occur as a result of brain injury.”
Drs. Hutchinson and Dilks are both active participants in the Lake Charles Research Group, a free- standing group of independent, diverse researchers. Members of the group conduct research in their practices and present an array of work around the state and region, including national conferences.
The group was started about 17 years ago, and Dr. Dilks, one of the organizers, said, “It’s made up of different people every year. It’s a number of local psychologists, interns, post-doctoral fellows, practicum students, and then pretty much anybody else who’s just interested in publishing journal articles and doing presentations at conferences.”
The group presents research regularly, and has presented at APA Division for Rehabilitation Psychology, the National Association of Neuropsychology, Southwestern Psychological Association, LaMar Educational Research Conference, the Summer Symposium, and many others.
Dr. Dilks and Dr. Hutchinson have collaborated on topics such as, “Analysis of Clock Drawings in Cognitively Impaired Adults,” “Apathy in Alzheimer’s Disease: Associated with Executive Dysfunction?” and “A Study of Bilateral and Unilateral Left Hemianopsias: A Neuropsychological Perspective,” and “Are Brain Injuries Identified and Conceptualized in Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents?”
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Governor Edwards called a special session for February 13 through 22 to address operating expenses for Fiscal Year 2016–2017, using funds from the Rainy Day supply and paring down expenditures by over $300 million. Following the session, the Governor then laid out his Executive Budget for 2017- 2018 in a February 23 press release.
In keeping with his commitment to honest budgeting, said the announcement, Gov. Edwards’ budget proposal does not include one-time money for recurring expenses or fund sweeps, includes input from every agency across state government, and spends only funds the state is projected to take in over the next fiscal year. The budget is balanced by recognizing $440 million less revenue for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2017.
“Since day one, I have committed to open and honest budgeting that does not rely on the gimmicks of the past to hide the state’s financial problems,” said Gov. Edwards. “This is not the budget proposal I want to present and should serve as a starting point for the legislature. For the second year in a row, my budget plan contains no one-time money to pay for recurring expenses and no fund sweeps. The budget I am submitting only spends money the state is projected to have for the next fiscal year, meaning that many state services that I, and the people of Louisiana, consider to be important are not yet funded. Our work during the next regular session will be critical as we structurally reform the state’s budgeting practices. In doing that, we will ensure that our state brings in a sufficient amount of revenue to fund our priorities and put Louisiana on a path to prosperity."
In the February special session, legislators produced budgeting that included the following reductions.
Office of Juvenile Justice by ($4,467,000) Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority by ($733,158) Florida Parishes Human Services Authority by ($607,315) Capital Area Human Services District by ($1,378,282) Metropolitan Human Services District by ($380,787) Medical Vendor Administration by ($3,915,741) Medical Vendor Payments by ($117,266,064) Office of the Secretary by ($442,533) South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority by ($806,368) Northeast Delta Human Services Authority by ($353,334) Office of Aging and Adult Services by ($459,811) Louisiana Emergency Response Network by ($27,625) Acadiana Area Human Services District by ($670,729) Office of Public Health by ($367,027) Office of Behavioral Health by ($2,874,339) Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities by ($742,501) Imperial Calcasieu Human Services Authority by ($321,261) Central Louisiana Human Services District by ($802,656) Northwest Louisiana Human Services District by ($461,427)
The note was added, “Provided, however, that the reductions to the Medical Vendor Payments program shall not reduce the payments for waiver services and Applied Behavioral Analysis rates.”
Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 was passed to make available $99 million from the Budget Stabilization Fund (also called the Rainy Day Fund) due to the forecast that FY 2016–2017 budget was in the red by $340.5 million. It was determined, noted the authors of SCR2, that FY 2015–2016 ended with a deficit of $313.8 million. The Rainy Day Fund has $358,982,171 balance as of July 2016, wrote the authors of SCR2. The legislature is allowed to use one-third of the balance, as a maximum.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 8, No. 3. Source pages: 15.
Louisiana Connects Education Leaders, Non-Profit Partners in January Redesign Summit
The Louisiana Department of Education is taking steps to improve the state's persistently struggling schools in accordance with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Officials hosted a first-of-its-kind School Redesign Summit in New Orleans in January. More than 350 educators and 150 representatives from nearly 50 partner organizations attended to exchange ideas and plan for action, according to government officals in a recent news release.
Louisiana has reduced the number of D and F- rated schools in recent years, benefitting thousands of students who otherwise would have been assigned to a struggling school. But there remain schools in the state whose challenges are significant, according to state officials. Under ESSA, school systems are required to develop plans to improve student achievement in low performing schools, and the state is charged with reviewing the plans and selecting the school systems with the strongest, evidence-based strategies to receive competitive grants.
One of the possible partners that may be involved is the Health & Education Alliance of Louisiana (formerly the Childhood and Family Learning Foundation). The Alliance addresses physical health, mental health and social barriers to success in education and consists of nurses and psychologists, school social worker, school nurse, a designated school leadership representative, and other disciplines as the need arises. Dr. Deborah Palmer-Seal, a member of the Alliance and a clinical psychologist, presented on the Whole Child, CDC model last year to a convention of psychologists in the state.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
A Senate Resolution put forth by Senator Fred Mills, SR 10, asks boards under the Louisiana Department of Health to identify funds from their cash that can be transferred into the state general funds. The measure states that everyone “should step up and willingly do their part to help” in the financial crisis.
The Resolution notes, that there are twenty-five health profession licensing boards statutorily placed within the Louisiana Department of Health and that “these boards have been created by the legislature to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the patients that utilize the services of the individuals licensed by the boards…” The boards have been given the authority to impose fees and fines, notes the Resolution.
WHEREAS, based on information requested from the office of the Louisiana legislative auditor, it appears that many of the licensing boards are operating with substantial cash and cash equivalent fund balances, amassing considerable reserves in their individual board bank accounts
“WHEREAS, during a financial crisis everyone should step up and willingly do their part to help, and as a statutorily created entity placed within a state government agency, the twenty-five health profession licensing boards should be no different.”
The Resolution directs the commissioner of administration to develop a template for collection of data to include expenses, income from fees, revenue from income, the amount generated from fines and penalties, liabilities, restrictions and other information, and “develop a plan and make recommendations on the mechanism and amounts of a fund transfer from the licensing boards to the state treasury and shall submit such plan to the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare no later than May 15, 2017.
The boards affected include the Louisiana Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority, Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board, Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners, Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners, and many others.
Boards appear to have varying financial stability, with the psychology board being over budget in legal fees, according to some sources, and the social work board having had at one time in the past, almost one million dollars in reserve funds.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 8, No. 3. Source pages: 15.
The committee of the Licensed Specialists in School Psychology (LSSP) is scheduled to hold a meeting March 7, at 1:30 pm at the offices of the Louisiana Board of Examiners of Psychologists, in Baton Rouge.
In December the committee requested Opinions from the psychology board. According to a memo by the LSSP the committee members requested clarification regarding provision of services through Early Steps to those in postsecondary educational settings.
Early Steps is a service agency that provides a variety of assistance including psychological and special educational needs, explained the LSSP. “These services are provided through DH, with professional staff being hired by the agency or contracted by the agency to service referred or identified children.”
The Committee also explained, that undergraduate and graduate students may access support services through the offices of disability services or educational testing services. These services are often provided at no fee or a reduced fee.
The committee members noted that “School psychologists are qualified to provide educational and psychological assessment and recommendations related to school performance and educational needs,” and requested the board’s Opinion about the definition of “school agency” as stated in Act 136. The matter was to have been discussed at the February meeting of the LSBEP but minutes are not posted.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.