I. The Meeting was called to order at 10:15 A.M. by Board Chair, Doreen Bobby, MSW, LCSW.

II. The meeting of the State Board of Social Work Examiners was held at 124 Halsey Street in the Hudson Room, the 6th floor, on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act.

III. Roll Call

Henry Acosta, MSW, LSW, Vice-Chair Professional Member Absent
Leonard Altamura, DSW, LCSW Professional Member Present
Doreen J. Bobby, MSW, LCSW, Chair Professional Member Present
Kathleen Ellis Public Member Present
Maxine Lisboa, MSW, LSW Professional Member Present
Louise A. Murray, DSW, LSW Professional Member Present
Paul J. St. Onge, Esq. Public Member Present
Wanetta V. Williams, BSW, CSW Professional Member Present
Lorna Hines-Cunningham, MS, LCSW Government Member Present

The minutes reflect the 10:45 A.M. arrival of Dr. Leonard Altamura.

Also present were Executive Director Kay K. McCormack, DAG Jodi Krugman and Board staff Theresa Brundage.

IV. Review of Minutes

The Public Session minutes of April 30, 2008 were reviewed and a motion was made by Ms. Ellis, and seconded by Ms. Lisboa approving the minutes as presented. The vote was unanimous.

V. Executive Director’s Report

-Following in a discussion about the unexpected cancellation of the May 27th Board meeting, when a quoram could not be attained, several members urged Mrs. McCormack to seek guidance from the Director’s office and the Division’s Ethics officer as to members’ occasional telephonic participation during an agenda meeting. The Board is hopeful that this information can be provided on July 30, 2008.

-Ms. McCormack distributed biographical summaries provided by the Attorney Generals office for two recent appointees of interest to the Board. David Szuchman, Esq. has assumed leadership of the State’s Division of Consumer Affairs effective immediately. Current Acting Director, since September 2007, Larry DeMarzo will continue in his capacity to oversee the professional licensing boards.

-Former DCA Director Kimberly Ricketts has been named as the Commissioner of the State’s Department of Children and Families to replace Eileen Crummy, who was Acting Commissioner since March 2008.

-Ms. McCormack summarized the credential renewal process which began on June 9, 2008 with distribution of the My License directive that was mailed on June 3, 2008 to all New Jersey active-status social workers. Social workers are urged to transact an online renewal, however, the option to request a paper renewal form can be accessed via the Division’s automated phone process. The approval notices for all initial credentials have been revised as of May 2008 to require the full level fees for the 2008-2010 cycle which then generates a document viable for the balance of this cycle through August 31, 2010. Information included on the renewal advises of the newly adopted CE revision which now requires 3 CE credits, of the total credit requirement, to be in content related to Social and Cultural Competence effective September 2008.

-The Board approves and welcomes the formal applications for membership in the Association of Social Work Boards which were submitted by the Canadian provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador.

VI. Public Comment

-Walter X. Kalman, Jr., MSW, LSW, Executive Director of the New Jersey Chapter of the NASW (National Association of Social Work) was present during Public Session along with Assistant Director Mary Jean Weston, MSW, LCSW and Association liason to the Board, Dr. Dawn Hall Apgar, Ph.D., LSW.

Walter Kalman sought clarification on several aspects of the on-line renewal process in order to assist Association members who are directing their questions to the Chapter office.

-Mary Jean Weston described the Chapter’s proposal to hire and train licensed social work professionals to evaluate CE content and presenters credentials, following in the Board’s model, to fill the anticipated void which will be created when the pending revision to N.J.A.C. 13:44G-6.7 is adopted. The revision will direct New Jersey’s social workers to seek CE courses from sponsors that have been approved by any one of the currently established professional social work entities, such as the ASWB, the NASW National or State chapter or, when sponsored directly under the auspices of a Council on Social Work Education-approved school of Social Work as referenced in N.J.A.C. 13:44G-6.4.

VII. Regulations

-The Board viewed as informational the proposed readoption with amendments: N.J.A.C. 13:44G-Per Diem Compensation for Members of Professional and Occupational Boards.

-Deadline for the Public Comment period is July 4, 2008 on the proposed readoption with amendments for New Jerseys Social Workers’ Licensing Act-N.J.A.C. 13:44G-. Review of any public comments received will occur on July 30, 2008.

VIII. Review of Clinical Supervisors’ Credentials

A motion to approve all clinical supervisors as recommended by Dr. Murray’s review was offered by Ms. Bobby and seconded by Ms. Ellis. The vote was unanimous. Supervisors

Annette May, LCSW-NY

Ellen L. Cox, LCSW-NY

William Messina, LCSW-NY

Marie Serrano, LCSW-NY

Sharon Rothstein, LCSW-NY

IX. Vote on Candidates Proposed for Licensure and Certification

A motion was made by Dr. Altamura and seconded by Ms. Williams approving those candidates listed (attached) as qualified in their category based on a review of their application documents and in accordance with the Statute and Regulations. The vote was unanimous.

X. Continuing Education (CE)

A. Vote on recommendations-Motion to approve as recommended by Ms. Ellis and seconded by Ms. Lisboa. The Board voted unanimously to approve all programs as recommeded by content review. These presentations will be reflected in the monthly update of Board-approved CEs which is available at the Board’s website and by hardcopy from the Board office. The vote was unanimous.

B. Problematic CE Presentations

Problematic CE presentations were discussed and decisions regarding their credit eligibility are noted. Those found acceptable by the Board will be added to the monthly listing of approved CE sources. The sponsors of those denied will be notified of the basis of the denials pursuant to regulation while several will be asked to submit additional information for future review.

XI. Clinical License Eligibility-N.J.A.C. 13:44G-4.1

-The Board considered an affidavit submitted by LCSW applicant, Josephine Gottesman, Esq. in which Ms. Gottesman documents the professional supervision she received, while a New York CSW, between June 1979 and June 1981. During that 24-month period, Ms. Gottesman attests to having provided approximately 4,000 hours of face-to-face clinical services, under supervision, to children and adults with additional hours completed in a New York Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Institute commencing in September 1981. Ms. Gottesman notes that her New York supervisors were licensed at that time in New York as CSWs. Ms. Gottesman has no more recent experience to support her clinical license eligibility at this time.

Following a discussion of the information provided by Ms. Gottesman in her affidavit, a motion was made by Dr. Murray and seconded by Ms. Bobby denying clinical license status to Ms. Gottesman at this time but approving her instead for the LSW level credential. The vote was unanimous. The National ASWB “clinical” level exam which Ms. Gottesman passed in February 2008 will be accepted to support her LSW license eligibility. The score may be “banked” as the qualifying exam component for the future should Ms. Gottesman seek the clinical license with additional supervised experience she may have the opportunity to acquire going forward with her New Jersey LSW.

XII. Correspondence

The issue of establishing the clinical license eligibility of Barbara Jellinek, MSW, LSW as documented by her former clinical supervisor, Mary Speiser, MSW, LCSW has been resolved.

XIII. 2008-2010 Cycle Renewal Credits

Darlene Kane, Budget Officer for the DCA, discussed the fiscal analysis that was conducted for the Board and which supports the issuance of a credit to all active status New Jersey social work professionals as they renew their credential for the upcoming 2008-2010 cycle. Based on revenue and expenditure trends and the current number of active licensees, it is anticipated that collecting the full renewal fees for this cycle would result in a surplus of revenue. As the professional boards are required by law not to raise more revenue than what is needed to support board operations, the DCA has proceeded with the issuance of credits for renewals at all three levels. LCSWs will pay $40.00, thus realizing a credit of $120.00 from the original $160.00 renewal fee; LSWs will pay $30.00 showing a $90.00 credit from the original $120 renewal fee; and CSWs will pay $20.00 in lieu of the full $70.00 renewal fee for a $50.00 credit. It is appropriate to issue renewal credits in this situation rather than to propose a regulatory fee decrease since the DCA anticipates the need to collect the full fees in the future renewals.

XIV. FYI-Professional Trends

The Board viewed as informational a resolution allegedly proposed by the AMA (American Medical Association) which seeks to restrict use of the titles “Doctor, Resident and Residency”-Resolution 303. The title “Doctor”, in a medical setting, should apply only to physicians licensed to practice medicine, dentists and podiatrists… The concern here is for social work professionals who have earned the DSW or Ph.D. in Social Work and are, therefore, also recognized as “Doctor” in a professional setting. From the National Provider Handbook, Magellan Health Services, Inc. published its Professional Provider Selection Criteria categories, revised in June 2007, which specifies repayment only for services provided by professionals “licensed for independent-practice” and, those documenting “2 years-and 3,000 hours of clinical practice, post masters degree experience” which exceeds the clinical requirement of LSWs as they acquire their clinical license eligibility. The Board makes no comment on either topic but notes each as informational.

XV. Notice of Public Discipline

-The following New Jersey social workers signed Public Orders with this Board acknowledging their following violation(s) of the Licensing Act.

-Henry A. Rowlette, Jr., MSW, LCSW-misrepresenting himself to the public as a New Jersey Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) and/or a New Jersey Certified Professional Counselor. Mr. Rowlette will also revise his professional advertisement to identify only his current LCSW license credential including his MSW, which is the highest degree he has obtained that is directly related to his social work license credential.

-Nicholas M. Pierdomenico, MSW-for his unlicensed provision of clinical services at Hampton Behavioral Health Center in Westhampton, NJ, a non-exempt setting, prior to making application to this Board for an LSW license.

-Arthur P. Dash, MSW-for his unlicensed provision of clinical services at Seabrook House in Seabrook, NJ, a non-exempt setting, prior to making application to this Board for an LSW license.

XVI. Legislation

On the Board’s behalf, Board Chair Doreen Bobby reviewed and offered the following comments to several legislative proposals, prior to the established comment deadlines. After review, the membership affirmed three of the comments drafted by Ms. Bobby. The fourth was ultimately revised.

-A2735-Prohibits employment and licensing background checks to go back further than seven years under certain circumstances. The Board affirms its opposition to this proposal since, as frequently exhibited in cases of sexual predators against children and adolescents, the rate of recidivision is high and, unrestricted access to background information would appear more protective of the consumer.

-S1741-Requires psychologists to video record sessions conducted with children alleged to be abused or neglected. The Board affirms its position in favor of this proposal as protective of both the alleged victim and the treating mental health professional.

-S1805-Permits removal of State board, commission or independent authority member for failure to attend three consecutive meetings thereof without good cause. The Board affirms its position in favor of this proposal as a necessary measure to ensure the quoram which is required to conduct business.

The fourth proposal was discussed and, by majority vote, the approval is withdrawn. The membership declares its opposition to S1815 (A2858) which requires legal action against certain licensed persons to be brought within two years. The Board opposes setting a definitive deadline as this may interfere with ancillary services often engaged by the Board in its investigative process, as with the Enforcement Bureau/Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecution. A motion to approve the comments as noted was made by Dr. Murray, seconded by Dr. Altamura. The vote was unanimous.

XVII. The Board unanimously agreed to conclude Public Session at 12:10 P.M. whereupon the Board entered Executive Session to attend to agenda matters.

XVIII. The Board reentered Public Session at 3:00P.M. to adjourn the day’s meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________
Kay K. McCormack
Executive Director

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