1. Appointed to a Licensing Board? A New Member Orientation
Presenters: Mary Guth, MA, LPC-MH AASCB Treasurer Past Chair, South Dakota Board of Examiners for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists Owner, Counseling Services, Sioux Falls, SD Erik Oostenink, MA LMHC AASCB Secretary Chair, Iowa Board of Behavioral Science Supervisor for Behavioral Health Utilization Management at AmeriiHealth Caritas, Iowa

2. Agenda Introductions Brief History of AASCB Why are Boards Needed?
Introduction to Being a Board Member
Some Tips
Questions

3. Thanks! Veronica Skoranski Occupational Licensing Director
Wyoming Mental Health Professions
Licensing Board
William Pilger
Senior Assistant Attorney General
Wyoming Attorney General’s Office
Roxane L. Dufrene, Ph.D, CISM, LMFT, LPC-S-P, NCC
Associate Professor, University of New Orleans
Previous Member, Louisiana LPC Board of Examiners
Former Secretary, AASCB

4. DISCLAIMER: The following presentation is deliberately generalized and intended for educational purposes only. The presentation includes information which may differ from your state and/or board’s specific investigative and legal authority. Please confer with your state’s executive director and/or assigned prosecuting and advisory attorneys for assistance in addressing specific questions and issues you may have.

5. Introductions

6. American Association of State Counseling Boards (AASCB)
Established in 1986
Held first annual conference in 1987 ( this is our 30th anniversary conference!)
Mission:
Provides a forum for exchange of information among state boards
Aids in establishing compatible standards and procedures to simplify licensing process

7. AASCB Mission Continued
Represents opinions to other professional and governmental associations
Provides assistance in fulfilling statutory, professional, public and ethical obligations
Engages in research in matters related to the legal regulation of counseling

8. AASCB Membership Benefits
Newsletter
List Serve
Conference
National Voice
20/20 Vision for the Future of Counseling
License Portability
National Credential Registry (currently suspended)

9. 2017 Conference Highlights “Making Regulatory Music in the Big Easy”
Plenary Sessions
Model Practice Act Introduction
State Board Reports
Tele-practice Guidelines
Disciplinary Matters

10. More Highlights Concurrent Presentations
Licensing Boards Role in Distance Counseling
Processing Complaints and Disciplining Counselors
State Board Forum
Things that Counselors Did Not learn in Grad School
CACREP Furthers the Counseling Profession’s Recognition
Critical Issues Facing the Counseling Profession
Building a Collective Voice

11. Last But Not Least… Elections Networking Opportunities President-Elect
Secretary
Networking Opportunities

12. Boards are Created for a Purpose
Licensing and regulatory boards are created for the express purpose of protecting the public by regulating the profession. Boards and commissions perform this two-fold function by:
reviewing applications for licensure to ensure minimal professional competence and fitness for licensure
investigating allegations of misconduct on the part of licensees, and if necessary, conducting contested case hearings to determine whether there has been misconduct

13. Connections to Professional Associations
National Level State Level

14. Purpose of Board
The bottom line for a board or commission, when reviewing a license application, is whether the applicant, if licensed, puts the public at unacceptable risk.

15. Licensing Boards Wield all 3 Governmental Powers
Judicial role - interprets its practice act and rules, convenes contested case hearings, acts as fact finder at those hearings, issues Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, and, ultimately, issues final Orders in those hearings.

16. Other Governmental Powers
Legislative role - promulgates rules and regulations for the board, which have the effect of law once properly promulgated.
Executive governmental role - determines qualification for licensure and continued licensure, investigates complaints and prosecutes cases involving discipline of licensees, and enforces the practice act and board rules and regulations.
“The legislature makes, the executive executes, and the judiciary construes the law.”

17. Introduction to Being a Board Member
Congratulations on being recognized by your state as someone who is competent, ethical, and cares about the profession of counseling
Know your state’s licensing statute and the rules and regulations
Assist in organizing the board for maximum effectiveness (meetings, procedures, performance goals and requirements for members)

18. Being a Board Member Manage fiscal needs (fee schedule per statute)
Establish a public relations program to educate public and licensees about state regulations for the profession, and increasing their knowledge of the complaint process
Consistently analyze the impact of your board
Identify statutory or regularity changes needed to accomplish your board’s mission; take action

19. Characteristics of Effective Board Members
Strong ethical competence
Good communication skills
Good team decision-making skills
Understand the democratic process
Willing to devote the time

20. More Characteristics Works to find alternative solutions
Understands the ultimate responsibility…protect the public
Respects the vote of the majority
Doesn’t allow personal feelings toward others affect decisions

21. Helpful Tips The board speaks as one
All issues should be discussed by the entire board
Do not give an opinion for the whole board
Avoid any type of discussion about applications, advice, or possible interpretation outside of the board setting
“I would love to help, but I am prohibited from discussing board matters outside of the board meeting. Here is the contact information for the board”

22. More tips Review your state’s parliamentary procedures Robert’s Rules?
Speak up at meetings
Review the meeting packet prior to the meeting
Understand travel reimbursement policies

23. Helpful Resources American Association of State Counseling Boards
AASCB Listserv Register:
AASCB New Board Members Handbook (sent via after the conference)
Robert’s Rules of Order
Federation of Associations of Regulatory Boards
Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation

24. Questions?

25. Thanks for Your Attention… Enjoy the Conference!!!