I. CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order with a quorum of the Board members at 10:10 am in the Hudson Conference Room, 6th floor, 124 Halsey Street, Newark, New Jersey by by the Board’s Chair, Ms. Doreen Bobby, MSW, LCSW.

II. ROLL CALL

Present:

Doreen J. Bobby, MSW, LCSW, (Chair)
Louise A. Murray, Ph.D., LSW,
Lorna Hines-Cunningham, MS, LCSW
Wanetta Williams, BSW, CSW
Leonard Altamura, DSW, LCSW
Paul J. St. Onge, Esq.
Kathleen Ellis

Absent:

Maxine Lisboa, MSW, LSW Henry Acosta, MSW, LSW (Vice-Chair)

Also attending:

J. Michael Walker, Executive Director
Jodi C. Krugman, Deputy Attorney General
Theresa Brundage, Administrative Staff
Lucy Chalet, Administrative Staff

Announcement of Quorum

The Chair announced that a quorum was present.

The Chair also announced that in accordance with Chapter 231 of P.L. 1975, more commonly referred to as the Sunshine Law, adequate notice of this meeting was provided by mailing to the Office of the Secretary of State, The Newark Star Ledger, The Trenton Times, The Bergen Record and The Courier Post.

III. REVIEW OF MINUTES

Review of July 22 Minutes The minutes were accepted as prepared.

IV. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Executive Director, J. Michael Walker, informed the Board about the Division’s plans to hire outside agency to answer direct calls to the Boards and they will be trained to answer common questions asked by the licensees and consumers. Dr. Walker also informed the Board that the half-cycle for licensing will begin on September 1, 2009 and the fees will be adjusted as well as the requirements for continuing education. Questions were raised as to what to require concerning the numbers of CE hours. Upon motion made by Dr. Murray, seconded by Ms. Kathleen Ellis the Board voted to require half of the number (rounded up in the case of partial hours) required for the full cycle and to waive the requirement for those licensed in after June 1, 2010 because finding appropriate CE courses would be very difficult. Voting in favor of the motion: all.

1- Memo from Mary Jean Weston regarding CEU qualifications for LCSW Supervisors particularly concerning N.J.A.C. 13:44G-8.1 (a) 4 which reads, in part, “clinical supervision shall be rendered by an LCSW . . . who has completed at least 20 continuing education credits of post-graduate course-work related to supervision. So far 7 courses have been approved by the Board. There is some apparent dispute as to whether or not the courses can be limited to the 7 that have so far been approved. DAG Krugman informed the Board, however, that the Attorney General has not offered an opinion that the Board’s regulation is unenforceable as written.

2- Letter From Debra L. Wentz, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies, Inc. (NJAMHA) sent letter requesting clarification about what constitutes qualifying clinical experience for Youth Case Management (YCM) and integrated Case Management Services (ICMS) providers who are working toward LCSW license. The question centers around whether clinical experience is limited to psychotherapy only or if other clinical experience also qualifies. DAG Jodi Krugman suggested that the Board assign this matter to a regulatory committee formed from Board members. Dr. Leonard Altamura, Ms. Lorna Hines-Cunningham, Dr. Louise Murray and Ms. Doreen Bobby volunteered for this committee. Executive Director Walker, DAG Krugman and regulatory analyst Charles Manning will also meet with this committee.

V. REVIEW OF CLINICAL SUPERVISORS’ CREDENTIALS

1- Patricia Smith, LCSW, requesting the Board’s authorization to provide clinical supervision to LSW-NJ based on her out of state experience. DAG Krugman informed the Board that Ms. Smith was licensed in NJ as an LCSW in July, 2009. Executive Director to the New Jersey’s Chapter of the National Association of Social workers (NASW) Walter Kalman, Jr. informed the Board that New York and New Jersey Boards have the same examination and have also the and very similar requirements for licensure. Upon motion made by Dr. Altamura, seconded by Dr. Murray, the board voted to allow her to supervise based on her New York experience. Voting in favor of the motion: all.

VI. VOTE ON CANDIDATES PROPOSED FOR CERTIFICATION/LICENSURE

A motion was made by Ms. Lorna Hines-Cunningham and seconded by Dr. Murray to approve the following candidates as qualified in their category based on a review of their application documents and in accordance with the Statute and Regulations and subject to renew in the cases of pending criminal history background checks. All in favor of the motion.

LCSW APPLICATIONS:

COMPLETED CRIMINAL HISTORY:

Darlene C. Burke
Kerri Carns
Donna Coyle
Tatiana Larina
Sandra S. Maddock
Joyce M. Mermini
Anne Marie Hinrichs
Ai McShane
Abimbola O. Omisore
Rachel H. Polan
Tracey L. Post
Stephanie M. Puerta
Randolph D. Sconiers
David M. Smyth
Dawn M. Thomas
Lauren Zehner
Carol A. Zeik

PENDING CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CHECK:

Jeffrey C. Amendo
Christine M. Donnelly
Nancy R. Hamrick
Lauren R. Henry
Jennifer L. Klotzkin
Maureen Martin
Peter B. McCaffrey
Bernadette L. Purcell
Anjelica Schirripa
Kelly A. Smith
Lisa A. Smith

LSW APPLICATIONS:

CRIMINAL HISTORY COMPLETED

Nancy N. Azevedo
Lauren D. Bagnell
Jennifer A. Baldassarre
Elina M. Birbilis
Denis A. Brown
Colleen M. Cavanagh
Lori Cratazola
Erin Daly
Hillary N. D’Angelo
Cathy A. Demanovich
Karron A. Doers
Yeshaya Y. Fishman
Danielle Flocco
Allison M. Gahr
Jennifer M. Heller
Jennifer E. Horton
Latesha Jenkins
Samantha Jones
Caitlin M. Kane
Fennel E. Kpolie
Dana A. Lewisohn
Michelle L. McAdam
Sean X. McNally
Meghan E. Madru
Evita M. Mendiola
Julie C. Messenger
Laura K. Moffett
Erin L. Myer
Brenda E. Nikelsberg
Rochelle L. Nuss
Karla A. Occhipinti
Jenna L. Pavlisko
Andrea b. Pfeiffer
Joanne Rios
Annette Sacci
Kimberly N. Salas
Ramona Salazar
Jessica R. Schedl
Rebecca G. Schochet
Edward Sherman
Jeryl D. Skinner
Jenna W. Strauss
Barbara A. Thompson
Jody K. Touboul
Paula M. Towle
Sherry L. Van Fossan
Connie E. Viana-Garray
Matthew R. Wolfskehl

CRIMINAL HISTORY PENDING

Joshua E. Altman
Katherine K. Anderson
Miryam L. Arjona
Liliya Borodkin
William D. Cabin
Rachel D. Coogan
Lumishka Cooper-Turnbull
Alissa S. Deakin
Lisa M. Dolmatz
Tracy O. Flowers
James P. Fuddy
Lydia R. Gardner
Pamela M. Gessert
Nicole A. Hayes
Monica Ianeli
Nicole A. Hayes
Monica Ianeli
Nicole Jabbar
Ricardo Janvier
Sarah Kerr
Dale E. Mooney
Diana C. Obst
Carrie A. Schear
Erin E. Sheehan
Talia Sinsi
Basia J. Sparone
Steven A. Wesson
Corey T. Wilson
Jessica B. Wishkoff

CSW APPLICATIONS:

CRIMINAL HISTORY COMPLETED

Yomaira Carrero
Cassandra L. D’Urso
Rosemary Grace
Heather S. Green
Sara B. Jenkins
Lori A. Kelly
Vasiliki P. Kounelias
Jessica R. Letizia
Rose M. Lewis
Raven S. Rudolph
Luke Shields

Lisa N. Smith
Alyssa L. Sommer
Suzanne S. Steele
Maurice J. Tobin
Alithia B. Tolbert
Veronica Velez
Nerlene Vincent-Paul

CRIMINAL HISTORY PENDING

Jessenia Alston
Allison B. Brown
Shontae S.Davis
Shawntel L. Gray
Dorothy M. King
Veronica M. Klapmuts
Brianne M. Lermond
Erin K. Mangan
Kimberly C. Morague-Artis
Monique S. Morris
Patricia H. Severino
Tiffany M. Summersett
James F. Walsh
Jenna Wendolowski

VII. CONTINUING EDUCATION

A. Vote on Recommendation.

VIII. CORRESPONDENCE

1- Dr. Nora Smith, Associate Professor, Monmouth University School of Social Work, release of ASWB examination results of Monmouth University’s School of Social Work graduates for both LSW and LCSW candidates by the Board. Upon motion by Dr. Murray, seconded by Ms. Lorna Hines-Cunningham, to suggest that Monmouth University direct this request to the ASWB as the Board is not able to compile the information requested. Voting in favor of the motion: all.

2- John Salerno, LCSW, Ph.D., Dr. Salerno’s wrote requesting an opinion from the Board concerning whether or not biofeedback falls within the scope of practice of an LCSW. Upon motion made by Dr. Altamura, seconded by Ms. Ellis, the Board voted to inform Dr. Salerno that biofeedback is within the scope of practice of an LCSW, if the LCSW has the requisite training. Voting in favor of the motion: all.

IX 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, and Mary Jean Weston, LCSW from (NASW) association also, Ms. Maureen Braun Scalera from Family International Services, and Ellen Keren, LSW.

Walter Kalman, Jr., MSW, LSW, Executive Director of the New Jersey’s Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) spoke about the requirements in New York for licensure and the variation of how licensing is handled. Mr. Kalman also spoke about CE and the difficulties in the approval process for course work.

X. MEETING DATES FOR 2009

09/23/2009- Hudson Conference Room, 6th FL
10/28/2009- Hudson Conference Room, 6th FL
11/18/2009- Hudson Conference Room, 6th FL
12/16/2009- Hudson Conference Room, 6th FL

XI. ADJOURNMENT

Public session concluded at 11:20 am. The Board re-entered public session at 3:35 to adjourn the meeting by unanimous consent.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________ Doreen J. Bobby, MSW, LCSW
Chair