OFFICIAL BOARD MINUTES FOR JULY 24, 2006

 

 

Members Present:                     Kay Lindgren, President

Rebecca Grandpre, Vice President

                                                Steven Lindquist, Secretary/Treasurer

Ginger Johnson, Member

Mel Harrington, Member

Bill Costner, Lay Member

 

Members Absent:                     None

 

Others Present:                         Carol Tellinghuisen, Executive Secretary

Jill Lesselyoung, Executive Assistant

                                                Kirsten Jasper, Office of Legal Services/DSS

                                                Christine Knapp, Board Liaison SD NASW

                        Thomas Stanton, Attorney  (12:59PM-2:00PM)

                        John Wheeler, Court Reporter (12:59PM-1:15PM)

           

The meeting was held at the Golden Hills Resort, 900 Miner’s Ave., Lead, SD.  President Lindgren called the meeting to order at 9:10AM MST.  Lindgren called for corrections or additions to the agenda.

 

Corrections or additions to the agenda:  Continuing education approvals, discuss rule 20:59:01:10:03. No reimbursement before expiration of license, FARB, San Antonio, TX, 2/07/06, supervisory training tapes, board training, move NASW to follow rules hearing, and complaint #234.

 

Approval of the minutes from April 20, 2006:  Lindquist moved and Johnson seconded to approve the minutes from April 20, 2006.  Motion carried by unanimous vote.

 

FY Financial Update:  Lesselyoung reported as of May 31, 2006:  Revenue year to date of $48,950.50, expenses year to date of $63,075.48 and cash on hand of $38,042.20.   The Board reviewed and discussed the financial report.  Knapp exited the meeting at 9:20AM.

 

Complaints/Investigations Update:  Harrington moved and Johnson seconded to enter executive session at 9:22AM to discuss complaints/investigations.  Motion carried by unanimous vote.  Harrington moved and Johnson seconded to exit executive session at 9:30AM.  Motion carried by unanimous vote.  Knapp re-entered the meeting at 9:32AM.

 

 

Complaints/Investigations:

 

#231:  Lindquist recommended the complaint be dismissed due to insufficient evidence.  Harrington moved and Costner seconded to dismiss.  Motion carried by unanimous vote with Lindquist abstaining.

 

#232:  Lindquist recommended dismissal due to insufficient evidence.  Harrington moved and Johnson seconded to dismiss.  Motion carried by unanimous vote with Lindquist abstaining.

 

#233:  Harrington recommended dismissal due to insufficient evidence.  Johnson moved and Costner seconded to dismiss.  Motion carried by unanimous vote with Harrington abstaining.

 

#234:  Harrington reported still pending. 

 

CSW-PIP Contract and Applicant Approvals:  Johnson moved and Lindquist seconded to enter executive session at 9:36AM to discuss CSW-PIP contract and applicant approvals.  Motion carried by unanimous vote.  Knapp exited and Grandpre joined the meeting at 9:37AM.  Johnson moved and Lindquist seconded to exit executive session.  Motion carried by unanimous vote.  Knapp rejoined the meeting at 9:45AM.

 

Hendrickson, Paula:  Lindquist moved and Harrington seconded to approve supervision beginning May 3, 2006.  Motion carried by unanimous vote.

 

Middleton, Nancy:  Lindquist moved and Harrington seconded to approve supervision beginning June 19, 2006.  Motion carried by unanimous vote.

 

Daniels, Hope:  Lindquist moved and Harrington seconded to approve supervision beginning May 31, 2006.  Motion carried by unanimous vote.

 

GreyEyes, Karen:  Lindquist moved and Harrington seconded to approve supervision beginning May 31, 2006.  Motion carried by unanimous vote.

 

CSW-PIP Applicant Approvals: 

 

Guymon, Michael:  Grandpre moved and Johnson seconded to approve for licensure.  Motion carried by unanimous vote.

 

Conrad, Melissa:  Johnson moved and Lindquist seconded to approve for licensure.  Motion carried by unanimous vote.

 

Wilson, Carly:  Lindquist moved and Costner seconded to approve for licensure.  Motion carried by unanimous vote.

   

SWA Letter outlining concerns:  The Board received a letter of concern regarding the supervision requirements of a social work associate and the requirements of the social worker by equivalency.  Following discussion, the Board directed the Board office to send a correspondence to the licensee clarifying South Dakota requirements.

 

Mini Board Member Training & discussion of complaint procedure:  Jasper explained the open meeting laws to the Board and encouraged all members to consult with legal counsel or the Board office if they have any procedural questions or concerns.  Jasper advised the current Board office has a great deal of knowledge and encouraged members to use that.  Jasper clarified that Board members and association members can have conflicting positions as the function of the Board is protection of the public and an association is promotion of the profession.   The Board questioned correct procedure for inquires from the public.  Tellinghuisen explained that the Board office asks that inquiries come in writing and then if necessary are sent to legal counsel for review and advice, especially since the Board office is currently receiving numerous questions of a legal nature.  Many legal questions are to be answered by the licensee’s own legal counsel. The Board discussed the current complaint process and concerns on timeframes for investigations and resolutions.  Tellinghuisen suggested that the Board set a brief meeting the third Tuesday of every other month at 11:00MT, 12:00CT to dismiss any resolved complaints, providing a majority of the Board is able to attend.   Jasper reviewed and clarified the current complaint process with the Board.  Following discussion, the Board agreed to make several revisions to the complaint forms.  Jasper will make the necessary revisions and forward to the Board office.

 

Continuing Education approvals:  A licensee was requesting approval for computer classes for continuing education.  Following discussion, Lindquist moved and Grandpre seconded to deny the request.  Motion carried by unanimous vote.

 

Discussion of rule 20:59:01:10:03:  No reimbursement before expiration of license.  The Board discussed for possible revision in the future, but agreed to leave as is for now.

 

Supervisor Training Tapes:  ASWB has a workshop on tape covering supervision of social workers, which is available for loan.  The Board may consider establishing continuing education credit for using the tapes.  Stanton and Wheeler entered the meeting at 12:59PM.

 

The Rules Hearing convened at 1:00PM MST.  Stanton called the public meeting to order. Stanton asked if any member of the public were present to give a statement and if the Board office had received anything in writing relating to the proposed rules.  Tellinghuisen advised the Board office had received one request for a copy of the rules, which was sent out.  There were no members of the public present to give a statement.  Stanton then called for a motion to close the hearing.  Lindquist moved and Harrington seconded to close the hearing.  Motion carried by unanimous vote.  Johnson moved and Grandpre seconded to adopt the rule revisions as presented.  Motion carried by unanimous vote.  The Rules Hearing concluded at 1:14PM.  The official court reporter’s transcript and a summary of the public hearing will be presented to the Board office upon completion.  Wheeler exited the meeting at 1:15PM.

 

NASW Suggestions:  Tellinghuisen advised that Attorney Stanton will advise the Board in areas where Jasper has a conflict.  NASW is requesting title protection for social workers.   Stanton reviewed the suggested NASW changes.  He advised the Board would have a difficult time trying to require that all state employees be licensed.  It was suggested that NASW discuss with social services and ask them to refer to their workers as child protection workers and not social workers.  Johnson advised some of them are referred to as human service workers.  Knapp questioned where NASW could go for title protection and questioned the Board if they were the entity to make that happen.  Lindgren advised that the Board could only report to the States Attorney if someone is using the social work title without a license.  Stanton advised Knapp that NASW could pursue legislation relating to title protection if they would like.  The Board discussed the request by NASW to eliminate the social worker by equivalency.  It was agreed that the Board would not pursue legislation, but NASW could pursue legislation if they would like.  The Board and NASW agree that the SWA level of licensure is protection of the public as it gives the Board authority over licensees that would otherwise be working without licensure, and provides for continuing education.

 

Denial of licensure:  Jasper advised that when a request for supervision is denied, the applicant has a right to appeal.  Lindquist moved and Johnson seconded to add an appeal clause to the standard denial of supervision request letter.  Motion carried by unanimous vote.

 

ASWB Report-Lindgren/Tellinghuisen:  Lindgren and Tellinghuisen briefed the Board on their educational experiences at the ASWB convention held in Portland, OR. in October.

 

ASWB Annual Meeting, November 10-12, Baltimore, MD:  Lindgren advised she would rather someone attend the FARB convention February 2-4, 2007 in San Antonio, TX.  She had reviewed both agendas and felt FARB presented more beneficial educational opportunities.  The Board will address at a future meeting.

 

Schedule Next Meeting:  The Board agreed to meet briefly the 3rd Tuesday of every other month if warranted by complaints or pressing Board business.  The next meeting to address complaints is set for September 19, 2006 at 11:00AM MT, 12:00PM CT.  If there are not any complaints or any pressing Board business that needs to be addressed, the Board will set another meeting date.  Lindgren called for a motion to adjourn.  Lindquist moved and Costner seconded to adjourn.  Motion carried by unanimous vote.  The meeting was adjourned at 2:45PM MST.  

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Steven Lindquist, CSW-PIP

Secretary/Treasurer