Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners - Research Paper Example

Running Head: STATE CREDENTIALING BOARD Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners; A Professional Research Project Introduction As an up and coming Psychologist and counselor, professional mannerisms, charisma and decorum that behavioral health practitioners carry themselves with is of sheer importance to me and as such, I feel obliged to follow the professional bodies that license and set the code of ethics for my to be professional clout. In the state of Arizona there are a number of credentialing boards that concern themselves with counseling but of interest and the basis of discussion for the paper is the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. This Board previously met on the 1st Friday of the month from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm but has shifted to the 1st Thursday during the same hours. These meetings begin with the issues of disciplinary complaints and end with a review of application files at the end. Being a board that serves the interest of the Arizona public, information about it is easily accessible from many different sources. The board has a website that is a sub hoist of Arizona’s official website. The webpage has valuable details of the board. It details the contacts, distinct downloadable forms for different purposes related to the board, Licensure and its requirements, regulations and policy, actions against members, complaints, licensed members, board history and a public records request link. With this, it is possible to gather insurmountable information as per personal interests. It also has a printable meeting calendar schedule that is available online with a link to review the past miutes and agendas. This information is also available from public registries at the library, and from the licensed professionals of the board. Such openness shows that the board is fully professional, credible, diligent and accountable. It also allows the public and interested parties to learn more about it and to have a general overview of how it conducts its business. In fact, it also has a link to the auditor general’s audit of the board’s performance too. Planned Research It is important that anybody who plans to work closely with the board finds more information about it. Inasmuch as so much is available, there are the finer details that make one associate with the professional body more easily and hence have a better output. To understand the board better, I will carry out a research that will provide insight and exposure on the board for me. Firstly, from the website, I will make a point of downloading the rules and laws and substantive policy statements that are available to ensure that I have adequate background information on the board’s expectation on me. This will be helpful in ensuring I am abreast with the updates and the reciprocal rules from time to time. Most importantly though, I will learn about the licensure and gather from the hints on the licensing process. I will read through the downloaded material, news and webpage updates every three days. I will also make a point of attending every board meeting until I am licensed. This will expose me to what to expect when applying for the license. It will also be a platform to meet and share with other people in the same discipline. The exposure is also of interest since it diversifies my knowledge and increases my portfolio range. Experience watching the board could come in handy if some day I will seat on the board too. From the interactions and meetings, I will also create rapport with members of the board, observers and workers so as to learn more from them and also to have sources that I can make clarifications from incase need arises. I will also look for documents in the public domain that detail the rules and regulations of the discipline as stipulated both by law and by the statutes of the board, I will read through the causations of disciplinary action and any other material that is important. Lastly, If a chance is available, I will volunteer for the board at a junior capacity as this will give me firsthand acquaintance better than any other chance. From the volunteering, I will be better placed to meet people and learn from them. Board Overview The Board is the licensing body for behavioral health discipline in Arizona State. It meets in Phoenix Arizona once every month and is charged with the duty of licensing practitioners and disciplining licensed members after hearing complaints against them. As derived from the board’s mission statement, the board has over the years established and maintained a set of standards that should be met as qualifications and also regulated the performance of those professionals that are already licensed in counseling, social work, family therapy and marriage and substance abuse counseling. and to for It protects the public by regulating the practice of licensed behavioral health professionals, professionally, efficiently, courteously, and effectively in collaboration with the community so as to improve the services provided in Arizona. It also provides increased outreach to synthesize the public about it and encourage them to access the Board services. Board History, Scope and Mandate The Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners is a 1989 law establishment meant to certify behavioral health professionals. In 1990 November, the board issued its first certificates and10 years later by 2000 there were over 5800 professionals certified. By then, getting a licence was voluntary. Certification was however made mandatory on July 1, 2004.  The Board sits of eight members, four of them professionals and four of them members of the public. They are all gubernatorial appointments. They serve terms of three-years. It is further divided into four Credentialing Committees. Each is drawn from one of each of the areas of licensure. They are appointed to vet the applicants’ qualifications. The board also appoints one professional from each committee. The board also works closely with other agencies and boards for testing and accreditations. They offer licenses based on recommendations of these agencies and the examinations the agencies offer. The Board is under the Arizona Administrative Code for professions and occupations. The code is available in the office of secretary of state, on the board’s website and in all public Libraries. The board is governed by the Arizona Revised Statutes Title 32 on Professions and Occupations, Chapter 33 Behavioral Health Professionals. These laws and rules determine licensure and requirements for renewal as well as the process of laying complaint and the due disciplinary process followed when a licensed professional is in violation of the requirements of professional practice. The board’s decisions to license or to discipline individuals are all encompassed in the law that is provided in the above mentioned code. This of course (for licensure) is also determined by examining bodies and accrediting agencies. The agency also gives substantive policy to its disciplines though the policy is only advisory and not imposes neither additional requirements nor penalties on the licensed parties. Board Composition and Meetings The board is made up of eight professionals chosen by the governor. Among them is a Chairperson and a Secretary to the board. The board also has four subcommittees drawn from every of the four disciplines that the board regulates. These are the social work credentialing committee, substance abuse credentialing committee, counseling credentialing committee and the marriage and family therapy credentialing committee. These committees are made up of professionals from their distinct disciplines and are advisory to the board. The committees also have a chairperson and a secretary. They meet once a month with the social work, meeting on 2nd Friday of the month, the Substance abuse, every 3rd Friday of the month, Counseling meeting every fourth Friday of the month and the Family Therapy committee meeting every 2nd Wednesday of the month. The committees start their meetings at 9.00 am and finish at the thereabouts of 2.00 pm. First on the agenda are disciplinary issues then application file reviews. The agenda is posted on the bulletin and the website one week before the meetings. The main committee meets every 1st Thursday of the month beginning September 2010. Prior to then the board met every 1st Friday of the month. Licensing Process The board gives the applicants hints on the licensing process, there is a link online that allows one to review the information required of him. One provides personal, educational and professional information and recently, also prove of residency. Copies of fingerprints are also taken for identification purposes. Complaints Complaints are received when a complainant fills in a complaint form and forwards it to the investigation department which investigates the claims and brings its findings before the committee. The committee reviews the complaint, the response and investigation, then makes a recommendation to the board which calls for a meeting and delivers its ruling on the complaint. The board has the final authority. The board mainly investigates complaints regarding unprofessional practice. References Arizona Legislature, Joint Legislative Audit Committee, (1998) Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners: Sunrise Application, Phoenix; Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners Read More