Iowa Behavioral Health Professionals Board 9/24/2024 Meeting Notes

The following are notes from Courtney Ackerson, IMHCA Executive Director. Notes are from attending the Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals meeting. These notes are not official from the DIAL or the licensure board in any way. Any feedback regarding the accuracy of these notes can be submitted to [email protected] for adjustments. IMHCA feels that the Iowa Behavioral Health Professionals Board meeting information is pertinent to our practice and to our members thought their purpose is the protection of the public. These notes contain helpful tips, rule clarification, and updates.

Notes 9/24/2024 – Iowa Behavioral Health Professionals Board

Open Session
I. Call Meeting to Order (9 a.m.)

o A. Roll Call — Staff: Tony Alden (board administrator), Katrina Phillip and one additional representative from the attorney general, bureau chief board operations for the board, Doug Bartels (Chief Health Professionals Investigator). Board: Aaron Culley (present), Jillyn Kaufman (present), Echo Kent (present), Amy Mooney (present), Lora Keipper (Absent), Laura Fuller (Present), Maria Valdovinos (Present), Nolan Byrnes (absent).

 Guests: Dr. Cooper (Iowa Psychologist), Dave (Iowa Psychologist, IPA president), Courtney Ackerson (IMHCA executive director), Jennifer Becker (observer), and Carolina (waiver request)

 Quorum is present.

o B. Introductions

o C. Announcements – None

II. Opportunity for Public Comment –

o Question from Dr. Cooper about where the advisory committees are in the process of being developed. Tony replied that he is accepting nominations and there is no formal process for that. – At the end of the public meeting, Tony made sure that Courtney had an email from him about these advisory groups. She noted that the email was forwarded to him with four names. Courtney will call for LMFTs as well and get those to Tony.

III. Discussion & Vote on Meeting Minutes

o A. Jul. 30, 2024 — regular meeting

 Corrections made in EPPP part 2 references and a few typos under one of the waivers.

o B. Aug. 21, 2024 — special meeting

o Aaron asked if the minutes could be approved with corrections. Tony noted that they could. Corrections were made on the documents. Approved with corrections. All in favor, no opposed and no abstained

IV. Discussion & Vote — Proposed bylaw amendment regarding exam policy (Association of State & Provincial Psychology Boards)

o Item moved to after public comment.

o Reviewed the positions of the Iowa Psychological Association.

o Frequently Asked Questions about the EPPP

o Texas board of licensure has written to the Association for State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB). The board has reviewed this letter.

o Motion to support the request for an amendment to the rule as other states have done. All in favor, but Echo Kent abstained.

V. Rulemaking or Guidance Related to Board Rules

Petition(s) for Rule Waiver — The Board will review and vote on requests for waiver of administrative rules. Looking for hardship, equal rights of others not impacted by waiver, is it mandated by law, is there a public health and safety issue?

A. Lydia Villarreal — IAC 645 – 31.6(2), Content-equivalent program

• Went to Virginia to do a practicum experience. There was an explanation of what this entailed to the board. There is a narrative, but no validation of this work or a course to accompany this work. Additionally there was no psychopathology course.
• Echo noted that the practicum course is different than the actual practicum experience and both are required.
• Has there been a scenario where the IBBS has seen this and approved this waiver (Aaron)? Echo noted that the IBBS rarely ruled different from CCE, but also when they did, they had a course description or additional information about the educational experience to consider.
• She will have to do an practicum class and internship before her education can be considered in licensing.
• Echo moved to deny. Aaron seconded. All voted in favor. No one opposed or abstained.

B. Patricia Guy — IAC 645 – 280.5(1), educational qualifications

• Bachelors degree in SW. Western Illinois university. Board of trustees. No CSWE accreditation and no social work degree. Course work in counseling and related fields – education included. Bachelors level SW a license is not required.
  Undue hardship: Difficult to find hardship when she can still be hired in the social work field because a license is not required.
• Mandates by law: Is there a law that prohibits this waiver? Code mandates the degree is in the field. This is the reason to deny.
• Equal protection of the public: Laura did not see how her education background would lend to social work. Tony noted that this was the first time there is a degree that is not in line with social services or social work.
• Aaron made motion to deny, Laura Fuller seconded. All in favor. No opposed and no abstained.

C. Charlie Saunders — IAC 645 – 31.7(2)”d”, request for alternate supervisor

• No longer needs the waiver.

D. Carolina Isleib — IAC 645 – 280.6(3), supervision plan requirement

• Started supervision in 2022 for LISW. Graduate work was done in same place she started working after graduation. This was the first time the supervisor was assigned anyone as a supervisee and a supervision plan was not submitted. Letter was submitted from the supervisor and supervisee for review.
• Clarified that all documentation is present at the end of supervision.
• Echo asked if there was a verbal plan or a plan written that was a part of agency paperwork. Carolina answered that there was not an agency form, but identified the coverage of supervision. No goals were set.
• Agency is new and process was not established, but now is in place.
• Previous board decisions have voted against this waiver. Aaron was concerned about the consistency of their decisions and also in setting a precedent for this decision and lack of process in place for supervision plans.
• Undue hardship: Tony noted that there has been an undue hardship found, but Echo noted that she was able to practice. Carolina noted that the hardship is the difference in income between provisional license and fully licensed status.
• Equal protection: Not founded. Not be afforded through other means. Consensus.
• Motion to deny Aaron, Echo seconded. All in favor, none opposed or abstained. Motion carried.

E. Desiree Dread — IAC 645-31.3(1)”c”, exam requirements – NCMHC waiver

• If you took your NCE before we changed the rules, you would be grandfathered in. April 20th the rule was put in place. Historically was approved by Tony if they were able to grandfathered, but Tony didn’t want to go ahead and do that with the formulation of the new board. He wanted permission from the board.
• Two motions – one for approval of this waiver. One for allowing Tony to make these approvals for grandfathering in. Both motions approved. All in favor, no opposition, no abstain.

Break at 10:10 AM and then the board will go into closed session.

 

Closed Session
VI. Items for Review and Discussion — Pursuant to Iowa code section 21.5(1)(a) to review or discuss records which are required or authorized by state or federal law to be kept confidential; Iowa code section 21.5(1)(d) to discuss whether to initiate licensee disciplinary investigations or proceedings; Iowa code section 21.5(1)(f) to discuss the decision to be rendered in a contested case conducted according to the provisions of chapter 17A.
o A. Closed Session Minutes (21.5(1)(a))
o B. Complaints & Investigative Reports (21.5(1)(d))
o C. Notice of Hearing, Statement of Charges (21.5(1)(d))
o D. Combined Statement of Charges, Settlement Agreement & Final Order / Settlement Agreements & Final Orders / Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Final Order (21.5(1)(f))
o E. Deliberations of Contested Case Hearing(s) (21.5(1)(f))
Open Session
• VII. Action, if any, on Closed Session Agenda — The board will vote in open session about decisions made during closed session.
o A. Closed Session Minutes (21.5(1)(a))
o B. Complaints & Investigative Reports (21.5(1)(d))
o C. Notice of Hearing, Statement of Charges (21.5(d))
o D. Combined Statement of Charges, Settlement Agreement & Final Order / Settlement Agreements & Final Orders / Findings & Fact, Conclusions of Law and Final Order (21.5(1)(f))
o E. Deliberations of Contested Case Hearing(s) (21.5(1)(f))

VIII. Adjournment