|
|
| Massachusetts Adolescent Sexual Offender Coalition Requirements and Procedures for Credentialing as a Specialist in the Massachusetts Adolescent Sexual Abuser Coalition Legal Disclaimer In an effort to enhance the quality of sex abuser-specific assessment and treatment being carried out by professionals within the Commonwealth, the Massachusetts Adolescent Sexual Abuser Coalition (MASOC) has developed the credentialing criteria and process that is detailed below. Credentialing is neither a license to practice nor a measure of the competency of the credentialed professional. Credentialing provides only an objective statement about the number of hours of training, supervision and direct abuser-specific assessment and/or treatment that the credentialed professional has completed. MASOC is not responsible for the quality of work provided by MASOC credentialed practitioners. General Information In recognition of the varied roles of professionals in the abuser-specific field MASOC offers three (3) types of credentialing. Full credentialing acknowledges that the recipient has completed sufficient hours in both assessment and treatment areas to provide services in either or both of these areas independently. Assessment credentialing acknowledges that the recipient has completed sufficient hours in sex abuser-specific assessment to provide specialized assessments independently. S/he has not completed the required hours in treatment to provide sex abuser-specific treatment unless supervised by a practitioner who meets MASOC credentialing standards. Treatment credentialing acknowledges that the recipient has completed sufficient hours in sex abuser-specific treatment to provide specialized treatment services independently. S/he has not completed sufficient assessment hours to provide abuser-specific assessment services unless supervised by a practitioner who meets MASOC credentialing standards. While not a requirement, MASOC recommends continued participation in peer supervision by all credentialed practitioners. Requirements Full Credentialing Full credentialing allows the practitioner to provide all levels of sex abuser- specific services including assessment, individual, group or family treatment, supervision, and training. Degree Requirements: Must have an advanced degree (Masters level or higher) in a clinical or clinically related field (e.g., psychology, psychiatry, social work, counseling, psychiatric nursing, counseling psychology) and a current license to practice within the Commonwealth. Hours of Practice: Must have acquired a minimum of two hundred and fifty (250) hours of sex abuser- specific assessment experience and one thousand seven hundred and fifty (1750) hours of sex abuser specific treatment experience in the seven years prior to applying for credentialing. One hundred and fifty (150) of the one thousand seven hundred and fifty (1750) hours in direct service experience must be in adolescent abuser-specific group treatment and the remainder may be in individual, family or other sex abuser- specific treatment modality. Five hundred (500) of the one thousand seven hundred and fifty (1750) hours may be in cognitive/behavioral work with other sexual abusing and/or with other collateral populations (e.g., adult sexual abusers, substance abusers, firesetters, batterers). Sex Abuser Specific Trainings: Must have attended seventy five (75) hours of sex abuser specific training, twenty five (25) of which are in assessment, over the seven (7) years prior to applying for credentialing. Supervision: Must have received fifty (50) hours of supervision by a practitioner who meets MASOC credentialing standards over a four (4) year period prior to applying for credentialing. Submission of Collateral Documentation: Assessment Only Credentialing This credentialing option is available to practitioners who provide abuser-specific evaluations, but whose treatment hours do not meet full or treatment credentialing standards. This credential will allow a practitioner to continue to provide assessment services independently, but will not allow him/her to provide treatment services unless s/he either receives full or treatment credentialing or practices under the supervision of a practitioner who meets MASOC credentialing standards. Degree Requirements: Must have an advanced degree (Masters level or higher) in a clinical or clinically related field (e.g., psychology, psychiatry, social work, counseling, psychiatric nursing, counseling psychology) and have a current license to practice within the Commonwealth. Hours of Practice: Must have acquired a minimum of five hundred (500) hours of sex abuser specific assessment experience, two hundred and fifty (250) of which must be with juvenile abusers. Two hundred and fifty (250) hours may be with other sex abuser populations (e.g., adults, children). Sex Abuser Specific Trainings: Must have attended seventy five (75) hours of sex abuser specific training, twenty five (25) of which are in assessment, over the seven (7) years prior to applying for credentialing. Supervision: Must have received fifty (50) hours of supervision by a practitioner who meets MASOC credentialing standards over a four (4) year period prior to applying for credentialing. Submission of Collateral Documentation: Treatment Only Credentialing This credentialing option is available to practitioners who provide abuser-specific treatment, but whose assessment hours do not meet full or assessment only credentialing standards. This credential will allow a practitioner to continue to provide treatment services independently, but will not allow him/her to provide assessment services unless s/he either receives full or assessment credentialing or practices under the supervision of a practitioner who meets MASOC credentialing standards. Degree Requirements: Must have an advanced degree (Masters level or higher) in a clinical or clinically related field (e.g., psychology, psychiatry, social work, counseling, psychiatric nursing, counseling psychology) and a current license to practice within the Commonwealth. Hours of Practice: Must have acquired a minimum of one thousand seven hundred and fifty (1750) hours of sex abuser-specific treatment experience, one hundred and fifty (150) hours of which must be with juvenile abusers in group settings. Five hundred (500) of the one thousand seven hundred and fifty (1750) hours may in cognitive behavioral treatment modalities with other sexual abusing and/or other collateral populations (e.g.,adult sexual abusers, batterers, firesetters, substance abusers). Sex Abuser Specific Trainings: Must have attended seventy five (75) hours of sex abuser specific training, twenty five (25) of which are in treatment areas, over the seven (7) years prior to applying for credentialing. Supervision: Must have received fifty (50) hours of supervision by a practitioner who meets MASOC credentialing standards over a four (4) year period prior to applying for credentialing. Submission of Collateral Documentation: Renewal Credentials are valid for three years. At the time of renewal, the applicant must submit evidence of having completed continuing education requirements. Those requirements are as follows: Forty-five (45) continuing education hours over a three (3 ) year period prior to renewal. Thirty (30) hours of the required forty-five (45) must be in sex abuser-specific areas. The remainder may be in collateral areas (child abuse, family therapy, etc). Reciprocity Pracitioners who have received a credential to practice in another state/ country may apply to receive reciprocal MASOC credentialing. These applications will be reviewed by committee on a case by case basis. Applicants applying for reciprocity may apply under either the regular or the grandfather provisions of MASOC's credentialing standards. Fee Structure Fees for credentialing cover the costs of administration and liability insurance.
|
|
Table of Contents | In the News | Information about MATSA Meetings | Conferences and Training Opportunities | MASOC/MATSA Annual Conference : Call for papers | Sex Offender Court Cases and Decisions | Links to Interesting Web Sites | Employment Listings | Full Text of Massachusetts Sex Offender Law and Analysis | Email addresses for MATSA, ATSA, and Others | Professional Media Resource: MATSA Media Contact List | MASOC standards for sex offender clinicians | MATSA Board of Directors |
