Continued Competency Implementation Plan
for Mental Health Professionals

Mr. Richard Morales, Division of Registrations Health Services Section Director, of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies has created a plan for the development and implementation of Colorado’s new Mental Health professional Continuing Competency standards. SACC representation and input has been requested in the appropriate phases. The following are excerpts from Richard Morales' plan notification:

As you may recall, HB09-1086 created the Continued Competency requirement for 4 mental health professional groups (LMFT, LPC, LCSW and Addiction Counselors). The development of the Continued Competency model will be done in three phases as described below.

Phase One:
The first phase will consist of research and development of a draft model. Program staff are in the process of reviewing various models and have initially identified four that appear to meet the intent and purpose of HB09-1086. The intent is to provide the workgroup and committee members with a model that allows them to devote their time and energy into the substance of the model rather than the form.

Phase Two:
Form a workgroup consisting of two professional board/advisory members from each of the four boards/program. The purpose of this workgroup is gain a general consensus among the four boards/program regarding the form and basic substance of the draft model. This will be important so that the basic structure (forms, processes, conversion tables, basic premises) is consistent between the boards/program. This will help mitigate drastic variances where no substantial value is gained. When the workgroup determines that a general consensus has been reached, Phase Three will begin.

Phase Three:
Form a committee comprised of several different stakeholders: 2 professional board members, 2 representatives from the respective associations, 2 representatives from the employer community, 1 representative from the academic community and 2 board staff members.

The group is comprised of stakeholders who participated in the creation of the bill and have an expressed interest in how the Continued Competency Program will impact their constituency. During Phase Three, the committee will review the draft model and provide feedback and recommendations that craft the final model. The hope is that the work completed in Phase One and Two will allow the committee to focus on substantive issues that strengthen the model and account for nuances within a particular profession.

Board Adoption/Rule-Making:
Once Phase Three is complete, the final version of the Continued Competency model will be drafted by board staff and presented to each board for adoption. It is anticipated that rule making will need to be scheduled concurrent or shortly after the adoption of the model.

Outreach to Profession:
Board staff will work with committee members to coordinate cost effective strategies to educate and inform practitioners about the Continued Competency Program and its requirements. It is anticipated that the following outreach methods will include, but not be limited to email updates (from DORA, professional associations and academic networks)postings on respective websites and through various presentations and meetings including FY11 legislative outreach.

Continued Competency Effective Date:
By statute, the Continued Competency Program begins on January 1, 2011. The effective date will coincide with the first quarter of a renewal period (mental health license renewal is required every other odd numbered year) which runs from January 1, 2011 through June 30, 2011. It is anticipated that Boards may choose pro-rate the required professional development units for that renewal period.

TIMELINE:
Phase/Step	Phase/Step
Phase One	Draft model to be developed September-December, 2009.
Phase Two	3 meetings to be held in January, February and March, 2010.
Phase Three	3 meetings to be held in April, May and June, 2010.
Board Adoption/Rule Making	July-October, 2010
Outreach to Profession	November-December, 2010
Continued Competency Effective Date	January 1, 2011

We must keep in mind the importance of this effort and note that it has a repeal date of July 1, 2014. This means that there will be only one full cycle in which the Continued Competency Program will operate before it is reviewed by legislature.

Database Selection:
DORA will be working through an RFP process to select a vendor to provide a software solution into which professionals will record Continued Competency information. It is anticipated that professionals will be able to record their plan and document professional development activities to track online using the software solution but not have any personal identifiers of individual professionals. This would provide valuable information and encourage professionals to accurately rate themselves without the fear of such information being misused.

For input or questions, please contact SACC at (303) 763-7198, PO Box 9384 Denver, CO 80209.

Implementation Factors:
There are many factors that may either promote or obstruct the success of the Continued Competency Program. The intent of this section is to relate those factors so the workgroup and committee may grant them consideration as the process proceeds.

Success Factors:

HB09-1086 was initiated and promoted by the professional associations of the mental health providers that this bill affects.
The implementation design provides stakeholders with a meaningful opportunity to help craft the Continued Competency model that will impact their constituency.
There are existing Continuing Competency models that provide a framework, research, examples and best practices for the workgroup and committees to consider rather that starting from scratch.
The mental health boards have the same board staff and program director which promotes consistency in implementation, administration and communication.
The Continued Competency Program is supported by DORA.
The intent of the program is professional development. In other words, the primary focus of the Continued Competency Program is one of enrichment rather than remediation.