Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 14. Source pages: 13.
Tulane’s Dr. Michael Cunningham was interviewed earlier this year by The Root Magazine, about what to do when slavery lessons cause Black youngsters to feel uncomfortable in the classroom.
Cunningham is a Professor in the Tulane psychology department and also Associate Provost for the Center for Engaged Learning and Teaching, and the African and African Diaspora Studies Program. The online article addressed some of the concerns about the issues for children.
“One thing I would emphasize to the teachers is that when we talk about African- American history, emphasize that this is all of our history, and it is important for all of us to know—white and black,” Cunningham told the interviewer.
“One thing that probably needs to happen is that the school needs to recognize that they shouldn’t just talk about it during Black History Month … this is a part of our American history,” Cunningham was noted to say. The Root is an online magazine of African- American culture launched on in 2008.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 14. Source pages: 2.
It was another one of those months where I could find no one in government who was willing to talk to me on the record. Boards & Commissions blew off all my requests for an interview. And, while the public relations person at DHH was one of the nicest I’ve run into, ultimately the questions were ignored. The psychology board first said that a request was denied because it was “excessive” but then when I rewrote it, they said there was nothing to report. To top that off, I’d been asking for an interview for months and they gave me a “regret to inform you” letter. It looks like no way is their final answer.
I’m not surprised. However, I also believe that we are in a critical time in our society where leaders need to be open, honest, and non-defensive. It has been a central tenet in organizational psychology since some of the early writings, such as Rensis Likert and his New Ways of Managing Conflict, where he points to “open, candid, and unguarded” styles in leaders and groups as a predictor of effectiveness.
While ruminating about all the rejections, I began to catalogue reasons why leaders, and especially psychologist-leaders, should discipline themselves to be open.
1. Because APA ethics say so. “Psychologists establish relationships of trust with those with whom they work,” and “Psychologists seek to promote accuracy, honesty and truthfulness … ,” and “Psychologists respect and protect civil and human rights and the central importance of freedom of inquiry … .”
2. Answering questions promotes trust. Trust is the profound glue in social exchanges and human relationships, the proxy for “I will not cheat you.” It has deep psychological and evolutionary foundations. Trust is hard to build and easy to destroy. To refuse to answer a question indicates, even if it is not the case, that there is something to hide. Stephen Covey, in The Speed of Trust, says it is the one thing that changes everything else.
3. Openness and answering questions allows a check on group-think. Groups are vulnerable to confirmation bias and all sorts of other errors in judgment, and outsiders asking pointed questions allows for improved insight. If a group is truly open, they will invite the opportunity to have this double- check on their logic. Yes, it does take more time and some people ask questions just to be nags. But even given the drawbacks, better decisions are worth the trouble.
4. Inviting questions helps reduce self-deception, blind spots, and arrogance for those in power. An open exchange promotes a more egalitarian tone or climate, respect for others, and suggests shared power. When individuals in authority discipline themselves to hear dissent and remain open to criticism, it is an antidote for over- confidence and arrogance, which automatically happens when humans are placed in roles of power.
5. Being open fosters individual maturity. Being open to questions and feedback is also developmentally valuable for the individual. It pushes the person to deal with resulting emotions––the fears, insecurities, and suppressed themes that they typically avoid. This tension is like confession, it is good for the soul.
6. You get to feel good about yourself. Promoting and striving for openness, truth, and accountability allows you to feel morally superior. You can flaunt it to your friends, preach about the value of honesty, openness, and even cite evolutionary psychology.
You can quote the First Amendment, John Adams, and “Vox popui vox dei,” because sometimes the voice of the people really is the voice of God.
So, it’s comforting to be able to stand on a universal, transcendent value. As the classical scholar Edith Hamilton once wrote, right before the outbreak of WWII:
“When the world is storm-driven and the bad that happens and the worse that threatens are so urgent as to shut out everything else from view, then we need to know all the strong fortresses of the spirit which men have built through the ages.”
Openness, like truth, is one of those fortresses.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 14. Source pages: 14.
October 15–18 in Shreveport Louisiana Primary Care Assn to Hold Conference
The Louisiana Primary Care Association (LPCA) will hold its 31st Annual Continuing Education Conference on October 15-18, 2014 at the Shreveport Convention Center in Shreveport, LA. This year's theme is "Transforming Care: Moving from Vision to Reality."
Pre-conference training will be offered on “Louisiana Marketplace Workshop,” “Health Center Controlled Network (HCCN), and a post-conference training event will be offered, “Louisiana Governance Academy Training.”
LPCA provides training to improve health center operations for those in health care and non-profit environments.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 14. Source pages: 5.
In March 2014 the Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board, Chaired by Emily Bellaci, M.A., wrote to the Louisiana Ethics Administration asking for their opinion about accepting donations and gifts.
Bellaci wrote, “The LBAB is a self-funded Board and receives no money from the general fund. The Board has licensed a very small number of licensees compared to other health occupation regulatory Boards. Therefore the LBAB requests an Ethic’s Opinion seeking ethical clarification on the Board’s ability to accept private and public donations, grants, and gifts of money.”
She wrote that the Applied Behavior Analysis licensing act, Act 351, notes that the board may “Accept grants, donations, or gifts of money or services from public or private individuals or organizations or from any other sources to be utilized for the purposes of the Board.”
She gave examples for consideration, which included a $5,000 donation from the Louisiana Behavior Analyst Association that was made as a “start-up donation.” Bellaci questioned whether this should be considered a donation, gift, or loan, and how should it be reported. She said that future donations may occur, and asked, “Could this present an issue since the advocacy organization and Board may have different legislative agendas or different positions…?”
She also asked about how grants and donations should be reported and whether or not there is a dollar limit. She presented hypothetical situations, such as one where a private donation is received from a family that contracts for services with a Licensed Behavior Analyst, and then six months later files a complaint with the board about the practitioner.
The Ethics Board concluded that since the questions posed do not relate to issues under its jurisdiction, it declined to give an advisory opinion.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 14. Source pages: 14.
The Louisiana Group Psychotherapy Society will hold its Fall Institute on
November 1, at the Behavioral Wellness Center on North Boulevard, in Baton Rouge.
The Institute will feature Dr. John Pickering, who will present on Mindfulness.
Dr. John Pickering, clinical psychologist from Baton Rouge, and practitioner of Zen Buddhism and meditation for over 40 years, co-founded a small Zen meditation and study group with Dr. Gary Pettigrew that has now met weekly for nearly 20 years. He also helped create the Friday night (English speaking) meditation group at the Tam Bao Buddhist Temple. Dr. Pickering is in private practice in clinical psychology at Dawson Psychological Associates where he has “always incorporated what is now termed a mindfulness-informed therapeutic approach,” he explained to the Times in a previous interview.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 14. Source pages: 5.
The state psychology board sent email notices to licensed psychologists on September 29 that nominations were open for a board position beginning July 2015. The position is a five-year term, to replace the outgoing Chair, Dr. Rita Culross, who will complete her term next June.
Self-nominations forms are available from the board. This is the first time the psychology board will be conducting the election, which have been previously conducted by the Louisiana Psychological Association (LPA). The LPA Council voted to discontinue holding the election after clerical errors escalated to security concerns by one of the candidates, and three ballots had to be sent out to voters.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 14. Source pages: 14.
The Gulf Coast Applied Behavior Analysis Conference will be held November 13 through 15 at the Cook Hotel Conference Center on the Louisiana State University campus in Baton Rouge.
One of the keynote speakers for this year’s conference is Emma Hawkins, MSc, BA (Hon), PGCE, BCBA, CABAS, Associate Behavior Analyst and Director of Education at The Jigsaw CABAS School.
Hawkins will address, “The Whole is Greater than the Sum of its Parts: Creating Synergy by Applying Behavior Analysis to All Levels of the Organization.”
Other keynote speakers and symposia will be arranged for Friday, November 14, according to the notices.
Dr. Rich Mancil and Dr. Grant Gautreaux will present workshops, along with others, and up to 14 units of Continuing Education will be available to conference attendees.
A presentation by the Louisiana Applied Behavior Analyst board is planned to for this year as well. According the board’s minutes, the members will review a summary of events and updates on rules and the Act 481.
Online registration is now open. Call for Papers deadline has been extended and additional information can be found at the Louisiana Behavior Analysis Association website.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 14. Source pages: 6.
A Notice of Intent about “Provider Steering” was published in the September Louisiana Register with public hearing to be held on October 29.
The Department of Health and Hospitals, Bureau of Health Services Financing administers the Medicaid Program which provides health care coverage to eligible recipients through Medicaid contracted managed care entities and/or through Medicaid fee- for-service.
The department promulgated an Emergency Rule which adopted provisions prohibiting Medicaid providers and contracted managed care entities from engaging in provider steering in order to ensure the integrity of Medicaid recipients’ freedom of choice in choosing a particular health plan in which to enroll and, when eligible, the freedom of choice in deciding whether or not to receive care through Medicaid fee- for-service.
Definitions include: Provider Steering—unsolicited advice or mass- marketing directed at Medicaid recipients by health plans–including any of the entity’s employees, affiliated providers, agents, or contractors, that is intended to influence or can reasonably be concluded to influence the Medicaid recipient to enroll in, not enroll in, or disenroll from a particular health plan(s).
Provider—any Medicaid service provider contracted with a health plan and/or enrolled in the Medicaid Program.
Health Plan—any managed care organization (MCO), prepaid inpatient health plan (PIHP), prepaid ambulatory health plan (PAHP), or primary care case management (PCCM) entity contracted with the Medicaid Program
The Notice sets out sanctions and appeal processes.
A public hearing on this proposed Rule is scheduled for Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 173, Bienville Building, 628 North Fourth Street, Baton Rouge, LA.
At that time all interested persons will be given an opportunity to submit data, views or arguments either orally or in writing. The deadline for receipt of all written comments is 4:30 p.m. on the next business day following the public hearing.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 14. Source pages: 16.
November 5–7 in Lafayette School Psychologists to Hold 34th Annual Conference
The Louisiana School Psychological Association will hold its 34th Annual Conference in Lafayette on November 5 through 7, at the Lafayette Hilton. This year’s theme is “Advocate. Lead. Serve.”
Dr. Peg Dawson from New Hampshire will lead a full day workshop, “Smart but Scattered: Helping Children with Executive Dysfunction at Home and at School.”
Dawson is co-author of “Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary ‘Executive Skills” Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential.” She specializes in the assessment of children and adults with learning and attention disorders and among her contributions has served as president of the New Hampshire Association of School Psychologists, of the National Association of School Psychologists, and of the International School Psychology Association. She has received the National Association of School Psychologists’ Lifetime Achievement Award.
Among the three-day conference, presenters will provide several full day workshops.
Tulane’s Dr. Bonnie Nastasi will provide attendees a full day workshop on PrePare I. Dr. Nastasi is a Tulane professor who recently chair a number of programs at the American Psychological Association Convention, including, “Using Psychological Science to Promote and Protect Child Rights––Policy, Practice, and Research.”
In another full-day session, Dr. Frank Sansosti will present “Promoting the Educational Outcomes of Students with Higher Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders.”
Dr. Howie Knoff will cover “Behavioral Interventions for Challenging Students,” in a half-day session.
Dr. Wayne Stewart will present, “Hot Topics in Social Education and Section 504 Law.”
“An Overview of WISC-V and Q-interactive,” will be given by Dr. Anne- Marie Kimbell.
Dr. Constance Patterson from Tulane will provide a workshop on, “Strengths-based Assessment: Understanding the Whole Child.”
Dr. Nate von der Embse, will present on, “Basics of Professional Advocacy: Advancing School Psychology in Louisiana.”
Also included in this year’s program will be Dr. John Simoneaux, presenting on the topic of “Sexual Behavior in Children,” and Dr. Samuel MacMaster on, “Preventing Fetal Alcohol Exposure and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.”
Membership is included with full convention registration which is available online.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 14. Source pages: 6.
ICD Codes Change Oct 1 Former APA President Speaks to LPA Fall Training about Changes in Codes
The Louisiana Psych-
ological Association hosted Dr. Carol Goodheart, former President of the American Psychological Association and author of A Primer for ICD-10- CM-Users: Psychological and Behavioral Conditions, to help attendees prepare of the October 1 deadline for changes in coding procedures. The workshop was held September 26 at the New Orleans Marriot in Metairie.
While many insurers have already announced that they will no longer accept DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) codes for billing purposes, October 1 marks the shift in the United States from the ICD-9-CM to ICD-10- CM.
This is a big change, explained APA assistant executive director for practice research and policy, Dr. Lynn Bufka, in a January article in the Monitor, a national publication for psychologists. The DSM-IV and the ICD-9- CM had been modified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to match more closely the DSM. However, the ICD-10- CM, the global clinical and research standard for physical and mental health conditions, noted Dr. Goodheart, differs considerably from the old edition.
Above are members of the Louisiana Psychological Association council, (front to back) Drs. Paula Zeanah, Kim VanGeffen, Alicia Pellegrin, and Carolyn Weyand. Dr. Zeanah helped to host Dr. Carol Goodheart, former APA president, at the recent conference about ICD codes.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 14. Source pages: 6.
Dr. Rachal New President of LAMP Regional Assn Dr. K. Christopher Rachal from Houma has taken over as President of the Louisiana Academy of Medical Psychologists, according to state records. Dr. Rachal is Associate Professor of Psychology at Nicholls, and a licensed psychologist. Outgoing president is Dr. Cathy Castille. Dr. Donna Aucoin from Lafayette is the new secretary/ treasurer. Dr. Aucoin is a principle of Aucoin and Associates and a medical psychologist (MP).
The new regional group was formed in 2013. It provides required training for MPs as required by law.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 14. Source pages: 6.
The new Rules for psychologists’ continuing education became law last October 2013 and began to take effort for the reporting period starting July 1, 2014. Those with even-numbered licenses are now able to include new categories of education and “Continuing professional development (CPD) activities” as sources of education that apply to meeting the requirements for a license.
The new Rules note, “A. For the reporting periods that begin July 2014 and July 2015, each psychologist is required to complete 30 hours or credits of continuing professional development within the biennial reporting period. The CPD credits must conform to the percentage distribution requirements listed below in Subsection C. For the reporting periods that begin July 2016 and July 2017 and henceforth, 40 credits of continuing professional development will be required in the biennial reporting period and the hours must conform to the distribution listed below in Subsection C.”
There does not appear to be directions about percentages, but the Rules indicate that the psychologist must obtain his or her units from “at least two of the nine categories listed…” These nine are peer consultation, practice outcome monitoring, professional activities, conferences/conventions, academic courses, instruction, publications, traditional continuing education, and self-directed learning.
The October 2013 Rule change also removed the exemption for those with Emeritus status. Prior to the October 2013 change, the wording included a listing under §811. Extensions/ Exemptions that noted: “D. Licensees approved by the board for emeritus status are exempted from the continuing education requirements.”
This exemption no longer appears in the current Louisiana Administrative Code (LAC) rules on Exemptions. Also, there does not appear to be a grandfathering clause. It is not clear when those with Emeritus status will have to begin their educational requirements or when they will report them.
At its February 2014 meeting members of the Louisiana Board of Examiners of Psychologists discussed the issue. “Dr. Culross moved to keep the qualifications for emeritus alone as is (sic) but require CE via rule promulgation.” The Board discussed the motion and it passed by roll call with no opposition, noted the minutes.
The Times has requested an interview with the board to clarify this and other regulatory issues and decisions but the requests have been declined.
Emeritus psychologists should contact the board if they have questions.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 14. Source pages: 7.
This past June members of the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) met with the Louisiana Commission on Addictive Disorders (LCAD) to discuss and encourage greater involvement of commission members on the Louisiana Behavioral Health Advisory Committee (LBHAC). Dr. Rochelle Head-Dunham, Assistant Secretary of the OBH, led the discussion.
Representatives of the OBH Headquarters on the LBHAC included Chair of the LBHAC Mark Thomas, NAMI Liaison Melanie Robert, HMP Psychologist Dr. Kashunda Williams, and HMP Deputy Assistant Secretary Karen Stubbs.
Other attendees from the OBH were Chief Psychologist Dr. Susan Austin, OHB Program Manager Carol Foret, OBH Director of Adult Residential Services Quinetta Womack, and OBH Director of Regional Services Kenneth Sauier.
Other attendees, in person or by teleconference, included commission member Dr. Susan Tucker, Freddie Landry, Tom Lief, and Anthony Wick.
Dr. Head-Dunham shared the importance of increasing the involvement of LCAD members and other individuals representing the addictive disorders community on the LBHAC.
According to the minutes, topics included: how the LBHAC assists the OBH in managing the entire spectrum of behavioral health needs, the structure of the LBHAC and whether or not LCAD members could be a part of its different committees, and how LCAD members could better communicate with the LBHAC.
Also discussed was the potential of creating a sub-committee of the Program and Services Committee. This sub-committee’s focus would specifically be for youth and addiction. Recognition of the gaps in advocacy within the LBHAC in terms of substance abuse was one of the many topics discussed.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 14. Source pages: 7.
The August agenda of the medical board noted that the group is working on changes to Telemedicine. According to the agenda, “Act 442 of the 2012 Legislative Session, which amended R.S. 37:1271 of the Medical Practice Act, necessitates various changes to the Board’s existing Telemedicine Rules. Preliminary suggestions were presented to the Board during its July 2014 meeting for consideration and discussion. Since that time staff has been working with counsel towards finalizing such suggestions, with the thought of distributing a draft in advance of or at the meeting,” noted the agenda.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 14. Source pages: 7.
1,000 attend Packed House Attends LCA Convention in September
The Louisiana Counseling Association hosted Dr. Samual Gladding at this year’s annual convention last month held in New Orleans. Gladding is the chair of Counseling at Wake Forest and author.
He presented to the over 1,000 participants about the topic of “Some Fun and Funny Facts about Wellness: How Humor Adds to Your Health.” He is the author of over 41 books on Counseling, including Group Work: A Counseling Specialty, Counseling: A Comprehensive Profession, and Becoming a Counselor: the Light, the Bright; and the Serious.
“This was an excellent conference,” said Rashunda Reed Miller, “that was filled with laughter among attendees and colleagues throughout the sessions.” Miller is Archivist for the association. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist. Miller works at St. Mary’s Academy in New Orleans East providing mental health counseling to middle school girls and their families.
The Louisiana Counseling Association turned out for Keynote Speaker, Dr. Samuel Gladding, Wake Forest College professor and the author of over 41 books. (Photos by Rashunda Miller) Mike Cusask receives a door prize from Cindy Escandell at last month’s LCA Convention.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.