The Meeting was called to order at 10:05 A.M. by Board Vice-Chair, Henry Acosta, MSW, LSW. The meeting of the State Board of Social Work Examiners was held at 124 Halsey Street in the Hudson Room, on the 6th floor, Wednesday, July 30, 2008 in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act.

Roll Call

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

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

Review of Minutes

The Public Session minutes of June 24, 2008 were reviewed and minor corrections were noted. A motion was made by Ms. Ellis, and seconded by Ms. Lisboa approving the minutes as amended. The vote was unanimous.

Public Comment

Today’s session was attended by representatives from New Jersey’s Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Executive Director Walter X. Kalman, Jr., MSW, LSW, Assistant Executive Director Mary Jean Weston, MSW, LCSW and Chapter liason to the Board Dr. Dawn Hall Apgar, Ph.D., LSW. Also attending her first session as an observer was Ms. Petrucci E. Davis, MSW, LCSW.

Walter Kalman questioned certain aspects of the application process in order that the Chapter might better advise students/applicants who contact the Association for assistance regarding licensing/certification. The Chapter has offered to assist Board staff in fielding generic questions and relaying mailing information for level applications as well as instruction for exam candidates who are required to start the process by applying to the Board for authorization to schedule their exam through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB).

Executive Director’s Report

At the request of several Board members during the June 24, 2008 meeting, Kay McCormack requested guidance from the Director’s office and from the Divisions Ethics Officer Robert Campanelli on whether Board members were permitted to participate in an agenda meeting via telephone. The Director’s office responds that, while not advisable on a regular basis, telephonic participation is permitted when necessary to ensure the quoram required to take Board action on a vote. It is important to note that members must identify their participation throughout the duration of a discussion on any topic where they eventually will offer their vote.

On regulatory matters, Mrs. McCormack advised of proposed amendments to A, No789 which states that the license/certificate issued by a professional or occupational Board which expires while the individual is an active member of the Armed Forces of the US shall be deemed to remain in force during the period which the licensee or registrant in an active member for up to 120 days after his/her return from active service. Further, within the 120 day period, any late renewal fee, reinstatement fee or reinstatement requirement shall be waived by the professional/occupational board.

The Executive Director commented on the apparent increased success of the online renewal process since its initial appearance during the previous August 2006 renewal.

Regulations

The Division of Consumer Affairs’ Regulatory Analyst Charles Manning confirmed that the Board did not receive any comment to the proposed readoption with amendments of New Jersey’s Social Workers’ Licensing Act-N.J.A.C. 13:44G from members of the profession or the public sector through the close of public comment on July 4, 2008. Therefore, a motion was made by Ms. Ellis and seconded by Ms. Lisboa to approve the adoption with amendments of N.J.A.C. 13:44G-the Social Workers’ Licensing Act. The vote was unanimous.

Review of Clinical Supervisors’ Credentials

Based on the recommendations of Ms. Hines-Cunningham and Dr. Altamura, to approve all out-of-state supervisors based on a review of their credentials, the motion to approve was made by Ms. Ellis and seconded by Ms. Hines-Cunningham. The vote was unanimous. The names of the LCSW license candidates who were supervised by these clinicians will be added to the list of approved clinical licensees for this month.

Supervisor’s

Geraldine Matthews, LCSW-NY
Nancy M. Tricamo, LCSW-NY
M.KimSaraasohn,LCSW-NY
JodiA.Karp,LCSW-NY
Laura A. A.Lombardi, LCSW-NY
Kathryn Lousie Ragsdale, LCSW-MO
Saraswathi Muniratham, LCSW-NY
Clarence Boyd, LCSW-NC
Joyce K. Neier, LCSW-NY

IX. Vote on Candidates Proposed for Licensure and Certification

A motion was made by Ms. Ellis 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)

Vote on recommendations-A motion to approve as recommended was made by Ms. Lisboa and seconded by Dr. Altamura. 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.

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.

C. CE Correspondence

1. The New Jersey Alliance for Children, Youth and Families entered an appeal to the Board’s previous denial of CE credit for “You Don’t Know Me Until You Know Me.” Despite their declaration that approximately thirty minutes was devoted to questions and answers raised during the hour-long presentation, the Board unanimously affirmed its initial denial for CE credit.

Correspondence

The New Jersey Department of Personnel, the Division of State Human Resource Management in Trenton questioned whether a Masters degree in Public Health would provide the appropriate educational background for a State position titled Medical Social Work Consultant I. The job description for this position was submitted with the State’s request that the Board offer an opinion on the Masters in Public Health as equivalent to the Masters in Social Work and whether it qualifies as an alternative preparation.

Based on the identified scope of services which are to be provided by an employee in this title and, in conjunction with the coursework reflected in the Masters in Public Health, the Board has determined that the degrees are not equivalent and further, that the Masters in Public Health would not adequately prepare one to provide the described services.

NJM (New Jersey Manufacturers) Insurance Group sought the Board’s opinion on whether “biofeedback” and/or “micro current therapy” fell within the scope of a New Jersey LCSW . Specifically, NJM asks whether, using these modalities, “an LCSW is permitted to treat persons for pain management of musculoskeletal conditions, such as neck and back strains/sprains or, to treat persons for pain associated with a medical diagnosis, such as a migraine headache.” In response, the Board advises that the described modalities do not fall outside the scope of a New Jersey LCSW, if the individual is appropriately trained and experienced in these specialties and if the purpose is, to quote NJM’s query, to guide and coach the client on “how to consciously apply techniques such as deep breathing and muscle relaxation to help control the psysiological states being monitored.”

The option for Board members to participate by telephone in monthly Board meeting was discussed during the Executive Director’s report.

FYI-Notice of Filed Consent Order(s)

-Christine Robertello, MSW, LCSW-Ms. Robertello signed an Order with the Board for violating N.J.A.C. 13:44G-10.7 in having pursued a personal relationship with a male client during and immediately after their period of therapy.

The Public Session concluded at 11:55 A.M.

The Board re-entered Public Session at 3:15 P.M. and by unanimous consent, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________
Kay K. McCormack
Executive Director

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