Liberty Behavioral Health

Credentialing Procedure

a. Application Requirements

Service contracts with the Sex Offender Management and Monitoring Program are made with group practices, agencies or independent practitioners, but the actual providers themselves must be individually credentialed by the SOMM program as qualified clinicians.

Providers must possess the minimum requirements and submit an application to the SOMM Main Office for credentialing. The application should contain the following materials (as applicable):

Verifications:

• Copy of all advanced degrees pertinent to the SOMM application.
• Copy of graduate transcript.
• Copy of current licenses and certifications.
• Copy of malpractice insurance for an amount equal to or greater than the minimum coverage required in Indiana.

Continuing Education Requirements:

• Providers must complete the designated minimum number of hours of Continuing Education each year in accordance with requirements of the provider's professional discipline and licensure.
• Providers must document a minimum of 40 hours of continuing education in the field of sexual abuse assessment and treatment methods every two years. At least 15 hours must be earned from accredited sex offender-specific workshops, conferences or seminars.
• Providers should maintain a list of pertinent books and research literature that have been read or consulted in the course of providing sex offender-specific services.

Clinical Skill Set:

• A sample treatment plan for a sex offender treated by the applicant.
• A written program description* demonstrating that the applicant is using recognized state-of-the art methods and techniques in providing sex offender-specific treatment. At a minimum, the program description should address the following treatment components as supported by the ATSA principles for the management of sexual abusers.
• Methodology and instruments used in evaluation and assessment.
• Cognitive therapy.
• Relapse prevention.
• Victim awareness and empathy.
• Social competence skills.
• Development of healthy relationships.
• Reunification.

References:

• Applicants must submit a minimum of three written references, who may also be contacted by telephone for verbal referencing verification.

b. Application Review and Approval Process

The SOMM Program Director or designee is responsible for reviewing each individual applicant's relevant education, training and experience, and the quality of the applicant's written program description and sample treatment plan.

If the applicant appears to meet the applicable requirements of the review, the Program Director will forward the application packet to the SOMM Credentialing Specialist for credentialing. The Program Director will designate that the applicant has met the minimum requirements corresponding to his/her level as a Full, Associate, or Apprentice level provider.

The Credentialing Specialist will then verify the applicant's credentials (i.e., professional degrees, licenses, malpractice coverage), conduct telephonic interviews with references, and verify criminal background checks.

Upon completion of a contract with Liberty Behavioral Health, the community provider will then be eligible to receive SOMM referrals.

c. Recredentialing Requirements

Once approved as an SOMM network provider, each provider is required to forward renewals of license/certification and insurance coverage as well as any significant changes in contact information (address, phone, etc.) to the SOMM main office. On an annual basis, providers should also submit continuing education documentation.