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FROM THE PROGRAM CHAIR
Etta Gluckstein Saxe, Ph.D.
As part of the discussion/debate over possible further regulation of the
psychology profession through competency evaluation at the time of
licensing renewal, MSPP will be offering information in the area of
“competency” at its meeting of May 1, 2005. For those interested in
understanding what this is about and how it is similar to and different
from MCE, an abstract of the presentation is offered below. Details of
time, place, etc., appear on the front page of this
News under Calendar, and further
information about Ms. Brim is available at www.mspp.net
Our speaker will be Melanie B. Brim, B.S., M.H.A., Director, Bureau of
Health Professions, Michigan Department of Community Health. Ms Brim will
be presenting general information on “competency” frameworks/models for
regulating the professions, with emphasis on a pilot project underway in
the Department of Community Health in Michigan. This initiative covers
four of twenty professions whose Boards are under her direction. Ms. Brim
is meeting with members of these professions for input from the
professionals to be regulated . Part of the meeting will be set aside for
discussion to garner our input. Ms. Brim is circulating six questions to
which she is seeking answers from the professionals to be impacted by this
regulatory initiative. She would appreciate input sent directly to her.
The six questions and her address and e-mail address can be found on
www.mspp.net and below. All psychologists are urged to participate. It is
not necessary to wait for the meeting before sending input.
All psychologists/other interested
professionals ARE INVITED TO JOIN US
at this meeting.
This meeting offers us an unusual opportunity to participate in developing
the future of our profession.
While most of these questions suggest that competency will be implemented,
we note that question #4 also suggests an interest in feedback about the
desirability of or need for further regulation of psychology, whether in
the form of demonstration of “competency,” MCE, or any other alternative.
When I spoke with Ms. Brim, she made it clear to me that the inclusion of
psychology in this pilot project came at the request of individuals from
the psychology profession, not by initiative of the Department of
Community Health, and that psychologists must turn to each other for
resolution of differences of opinion about this inclusion.
Continuing Competency Questions for
Psychologists
1) What is the definition of “competency” from a psychologist’s
perspective?
2) As a psychologist, how do you know if someone is competent in his or
her particular field of
psychology?
3) Why is there a need for continuing competency in the field of
psychology?
4) Should continuing competency be mandatory for fully licensed and
limited psychologists?
5) What key areas should be covered in continuing competency?
6) What’s the best approach to do continuing competency?
Replies may be sent to: Melanie Brim, Director,
Bureau of Health Professions, Department of Community Health, P.O. Box
30670, Lansing , MI 48909; PHONE (517) 373-8068; FAX (517) 241-3082;
EMAIL
mbbrim@michigan.gov
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