I. The Meeting was called to order at 10:20 A.M. by Board Vice-Chair, Henry Acosta, MSW, LSW.

II. The meeting of the State Board of Social Work Examiners was held at 124 Halsey Street, the 6th floor, on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act. The following attendance was recorded for these minutes:

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 Absent
Kathleen Ellis Public Member Present
Maxine Lisboa, MSW, LSW Professional Member Absent
Louise A. Murray, DSW, LSW Professional Member Present
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. Board Chair, Doreen Bobby, was present for today’s meeting between the hours of 1:00P.M. and 3:00P.M. Only Ms. Bobby has recused herself from all participation in both the A.M. and P.M. inquiries held today, as well as from the discussion in the matter being investigated due to Ms. Bobby’s professional relationship with the two social workers involved.

With unanimous consent, the Board immediately entered Executive Session at 10:25 A.M. in order to prepare with DAG Jodi Krugman for the first of two investigative inquiries held in the same matter, the morning session scheduled for 10:30 A.M. Public Session reopened at 1:00 P.M. to resume Public agenda matters. Other than noting the attendance of Board Chair, Doreen Bobby, for this portion of today’s Public session, there are no changes to the attendance as previously reflected when Public session opened.

IV. Review of Minutes

The Public Session minutes from February 26, 2008 were reviewed and unanimously approved as presented.

V. Public Comment

-There was no formal comment offered by the sole member of the public sector in attendance.

Dr. Dawn Hall Apgar, Ph.D., LSW, representing the New Jersey Chapter of the NASW (the National Association of Social Workers).

VI. Executive Director’s Report

-General office management matters were discussed by Executive Kay K. McCormack. Notice of the Spring Education Meeting planned by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) in Whitefish, Montana during May 15-18, 2008 was discussed although New Jersey will again be unable to send a representative from the Board due to State budget constraints.

VII. Regulations

Regulatory Analyst Charles Manning reported on the approval of the proposed regulation which will add three continuing education credits in Cultural Competence to the CE requirements for all of the three credential levels during each biennial cycle. It is expected that the proposal will be published in the New Jersey Register on April 21, 2008 for the comment period.

VIII. Review of Clinical Supervisors’ Credentials

A motion to approve ten of the eleven clinical supervisors whose CVs were reviewed was made by Dr. Murray and Ms. Bobby. The vote was unanimous.

Supervisors

Sharon G. Rose, LCSW-MD

Steven Block, LCSW-NY

Gary Shrader, LCSW-NY

Michele Rowland, LCSW-VT

Debra Presti, LCSW-NY

Joseph Cautilli, Ph.D., LPC/Licensed Psychologist-PA

Ann D. Roberts, LCSW-NY

Bernadette Ryan, LCSW-PA

Eileen M. Curley, RN-PA

Karen Dunn, CSW-R-NY

IX. Vote on Candidates Proposed for Licensure and Certification

A motion was made by Mr. Acosta and seconded by Ms. Bobby 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-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.

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.

C. CE Correspondence

1. Shireen B. Meistrich, MSW, LSW questioned whether, as an LSW, she is permitted to participate in what she describes as a “collaborative law” effort to assist the parties in a divorce to resolve their issues with minimal conflict and preserve the integrity of the participants. Ms. Meistrich explains that her role as a “divorce coach” relies on her skills in communication, conflict resolution, emotional management and focused interventions and does not meet the traditional definition of therapy and is, therefore, “not bound by confidentiality”.

Based on Ms. Meistrich’s definition of the scope of a collaborative law “coach”, this service appears not to be clinical and, therefore, would not require the direct clinical oversite which Ms. Meistrich, as an LSW, must otherwise ensure when providing traditonal clinical services, according to N.J.A.C. 13:44G-8.1.

2. Dr. Howard L. Helfman, Ed.D., MSW, LSW refutes what the Board cites as its basis for denying of his clinical license eligibility, that his most recent direct clinical experience was approximately twenty-one years ago. Since the Board will not retract its denial, Dr. Helfman is withdrawing his clinical license application at this time.

XI. Board Discussion

Following a discussion by the Board with DAG Jodi Krugman on the regulatory process required to reinstate a lapsed/suspended certification after a period of five years or more, according to N.J.A.C. 13:44G-7.3, the Board adopts the policy to waive the back cycle fees attached to a certificate reinstatement, consistent with the LSW/LCSW 5 plus years reinstatement processes.

XII. The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

The Board reviewed as informational the 2007 licensing exam pass/fail rates for New Jersey candidates in comparison with North American candidates in the same exam categories.

XIII. The review of “expert witness” credentials is moved to Executive Session.

XIV. The Board unanimously agreed to conclude Public Session at 1:25 P.M.

XV. The Board, unanimously agreed to reenter Public Session at 4:55 P.M. to adjourn today’s meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________
Kay K. McCormack
Executive Director

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