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 Sussex Room, on the 6th floor, Wednesday, August 27, 2008 in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act.

III. 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 Present 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 Absent
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.

IV. Review of Minutes

The Public Session minutes of July 30, 2008 were reviewed. A motion was made by Mr. Acosta, and seconded by Dr. Altamura approving the minutes as amended. The vote was unanimous.

V. Public Comment

There was no comment offered by attending members of the public sector.

VI. Executive Director’s Report

Matters of Board office administration were discussed with members by Executive Director Kay McCormack.

VII. Review of Clinical Supervisors’ Credentials

Based on the recommendations to approve all out-of-state supervisors based on a review of their credentials, the motion to accept all candidates reviewed was moved by unanimous consent. The names of the LCSW license candidates who were supervised by the approved clinicians will be added to the list of clinical licensees approved for this month.

Supervisors

Dorothy Nollman, CSW-PR-NY
Carol Greiff Langstein, LACSW-NY
Steven M. Simon, LCSW-CT
Patricia A. Murney, LCSw-NY
Ellen L. Cox, LCSW-NY
Mia R. Mor, LCSW-R-NY
Phillip Thompson, Ph.D.,LICSW-DC

VIII. Vote on Candidates Proposed for Licensure and Certification

A motion was made by Ms. Bobby and seconded by Ms. Ellis 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.

IX. Continuing Education (CE)

A. Vote on recommendations-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

There were no problematic CE sponsor applications presented for discussion.

C. CE Correspondence

1. I/M/O Suzanne Cohen-the reinstatement of her LCSW license (expired August 2006)-The Board again reviewed a volume of CE content descriptions and proofs of credit completion submitted by Ms. Cohen to support her eligibility for license reinstatement. Based on a review of all materials as itemized by Ms. Cohen, a motion was made by Mr. Acosta and Dr. Altamura to uphold the Board’s original denial of these submissions as not satisfying the criteria to reinstate Ms. Cohen’s license for what now begins the 2008-2010 cycle in addition to the outstanding credits due from the previous 2006-2008 renewal. Ms. Cohen is assessed as owing a balance of 20 Clinical CE credits including 5 in Ethics for the September 2006 cycle, plus 40 CE credits for the September 2008 renewal which include 20 in Clinical content and 5 in Ethics. DAG Krugman will communicate the Board’s final determination to Ms. Cohen.

2./3. The evaluation of the thesis content developed by Dr. William Reynolds, I/M/O his LCSW license reinstatement, and the professional coursework developed by Dr. Kathleen Pottick, LCSW, toward her 2008 renewal is postponed to the September 23, 2008 agenda.

4. Michael A. Manna and Associates, P.C. appealed the Board’s denial of CE content on nursing care environment options as not directly related to social work practice. The Board affirms its original decision to deny their presentation as not CE credit-worthy.

5. The Board considered a request from Joyce A. Rowe, CSW for an extension to complete her CE credits. Ms. Rowe cited employment obligations and family health issues as conflicts. The Board unanimously agreed to grant Ms. Rowe a 60-day extension, thru December 1, 2008, to obtain the required 20 CE credit hours she needs to renew for the 2008-2010 cycle. The Board will, however, grant the renewal for Ms. Rowe’s CSW immediately upon payment of her level fee.

X. D. CE Audit-Failure to Document CE Compliance I/M/O a complaint response-this topic is moved to the Executive Session agenda on advice of Council.

XI. Correspondence

1. The Board reviewed as informational an article from NASW’s New Jersey Chapter August 2008 FOCUS on Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) as an alternate therapeutic modality. The process includes a collaborative effort between a licensed mental health professional and a qualified equine specialist working with people and horses to address specific physical and mental health goals.

2. Patricia A. Smith, MSW, who seeks to reinstate her lapsed New Jersey LSW after an absence of more than 5 years, has asked the Board to waive the “masters” exam requirement. Ms. Smith provided a detailed affidavit that, since 2002 she has worked full –time as a New York Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the New York State Psychiatric Institute, in addition to maintaining a private part-time clinical practice in New York since 1994. Based on this information, the Board unanimously agreed to permit Ms. Smith to reinstate her New Jersey LSW for the 2008-2010 cycle without the re-examination component, while fulfilling all other required elements of the reinstatement process.

XII. Legislation

On Board viewed as informational the status of pending proposals A2735/S1951-which prohibits employment and licensing background checks to go back further than 7 years under certain circumstances, to which the Board commented in opposition and; A2858/S1815-which requires legal action against certain licensed persons to be brought within 2 years-to which the Board also expressed opposition

XIII. Public session concluded at 11:15 A.M. whereupon the Board unanimously agreed to enter Executive session, following the lunch break, to address scheduled agenda topics.

XIV. The Board re-entered Public Session at 2:30 P.M. when it unanimously agreed to adjourn the day’s meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________
Kay K. McCormack
Executive Director

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