R 271545Z AUG 12

ALCOAST 389/12
COMDTNOTE 1750
SUBJ: CREDENTIALING AND PRIVILEGING OF FAMILY ADVOCACY SPECIALISTS
A. COAST GUARD FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAM, COMDTINST 1750.7 (SERIES)
B. COAST GUARD MEDICAL MANUAL, COMDTINST M6000.1 (SERIES)
1. This policy change facilitates the credentialing and privileging
of qualified Family Advocacy Specialists (FASs). By credentialing and
privileging FASs the CG will gain a valuable additional resource for
accomplishing individualized assessments and treatment planning.
Also, credentialed and privileged FASs will increase the capacity of
the CG to provide direct Family Advocacy Program (FAP) services.
2. Ref (A) requires that all cases of child maltreatment and domestic
violence be clinically assessed. The person completing the assessment
is required to have certain credentials, experience, and a mental
healthcare provider license. In the past this function has been met
by use of providers external to the CG, either through a purchase of
care arrangement or through the Military Healthcare System. Within
the Work-Life program, there are many FASs who possess the
qualifications to perform these assessments. However, there has been
no credentialing and privileging system in place for the CG to
leverage this internal resource.
3. Effective immediately any FASs who meet the criteria described
below are eligible to be privileged as mental healthcare providers.
Within the context of the FAP, a mental healthcare provider is a FAS
who meets the following requirements:
   A. Minimum of a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling or
allied mental health field such as social work or psychology,
marriage and family therapy, or rehabilitative counseling from an
accreditated institution. Acceptable accreditating organizations
include: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
(Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy
Education), American Psychological Association (Commission on
Accreditation), Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related
Educational Programs, Council on Rehabilitation Education (Commission
on Standards and Accreditation), Council on Social Work Education
(Commission on Accreditation), and, until 31 December 2014, a
recognized regional accreditating organization.
   B. 3,000 hours of supervised clinical practice and 100 hours of
face-to-face clinical supervision, or, until 31 December 2014, meets
experience and supervision criteria as required for current license.
   C. An unrestricted license issued by any state, territory,
possession, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico in mental health
counseling at the clinical or the higher or highest level available
in jurisdictions that have tiered licensing schemes. Examples:
Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family
Therapist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Licensed Clinical
Mental Health Counselor.
   D. The passage of one of the following exams: National Clinical
Mental Health Counseling Examination, Clinical Level Association of
Social Work Boards Examination for the Licensed Clinical Social
Worker, National Counselor Examination for Licensure and
Certification, the National Counselor Examination, or, until 31
December 2014, passage of another nationally recognized mental health
counseling examination. This requirement is waived for persons
currently occupying a FAS position who have a qualifying license.
4. Interested personnel who meet requirements and currently occupy a
FAS position are encouraged to submit the following required
documentation to Commandant (CG-1122):
   A. Resume, signed and dated. Resume should include:
      (1) Home address, phone number and email address,
      (2) Professional education,
      (3) Professional license(s),
      (4) The number of hours of supervised clinical experience,
      (5) The number of face-to-face hours of clinical supervision,
      (6) Contact information for supervisors who provided the
supervision,
      (7) The name of the qualifying test taken for licensure, and
      (8) Work history with references.
   B. A copy of the qualifying degree.
   C. A copy of the current/and past license(s).
   D. Signed copies of these 2 forms: Verification Conditions and
Release of Information, Form CG-6041, and Attestation, Form CG-6040.
These forms are available at http://www.uscg.mil/forms/.
5. Documentation described above should be sent, preferably via fax
or as email attachments, to USCG Headquarters, Commandant (CG-1122),
Attention Credentialing Verification Office, 2100 2nd Street SW Stop
7902, Washington DC 20593-7902. COMDT (CG-1122) POC is Ms. Maryann
Millet at (202) 475-5175 or fax 301-229-3298 or
maryann.millett(at)uscg.mil.
6. Privileges may include the following as core privileges:
consultation, differential diagnosis and treatment planning for all
disorders defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental
Disorders, and other conditions such as domestic violence that are
not attributable to a mental disorder, related treatment planning,
and related individual and group treatment.
7. Meeting these credentialing and privileging requirements is
optional for current occupants of FAS positions. Effective 1
September 2012, all new hires into FAS positions will be required to
meet these requirements as a condition of employment.
8. FAP services will continue to be provided in the same manner as
they are currently offered where there is no FAS who is credentialed
and privileged.
9. Ref (A) and Chapter 13 of Ref (B) will be revised to incorporate
requirements contained in this message.
10. POC for the CG FAP is Mr. John Reibling, COMDT (CG-1112) at
john.s.reibling(at)uscg.mil or 202 475-5161.
11. RADM M. K. Dollymore, Director of Health, Safety and Work-Life,
sends.
12. Internet release authorized.