June 2015
In This Issue
Greetings!
The Relationship of Identity to How can we learn from the racial discrimination in our country's troubled past to better resolve the discrimination of ethnic and racial minorities today? In this issue, we
the Organizational
examine racial identity through a Puerto Rican perspective, shedding new light on the
Development of FLECHAS:
ways that we as Americans have perceived racial matters from past to present. Some
Perceptions of Race ...
solutions to inequality may be found at the intersection of Puerto Rican history and the struggles faced by descendants of African American slaves. Next, Reuben VaismanTzachor, who will be presenting at our Executive Summit August 6-8, guides us through the psychological assessment protocol for individuals seeking asylum in federal immigration courts. As matters of immigration become more urgent and complex, it is increasingly important that forensic psychologists know the tools for deciding the validity of asylum-seekers' claims of persecution. Reuben VaismanTzachor considers the legal, ethical, and scientific aspects of this matter and leaves us with specific suggestions immigration officers can put into use today.
ES23 Announcement
Psychological Assessment Protocol...for Asylum Applications in Federal Immigration Courts Certified Forensic Consultant, CFC Certified Medical Investigator
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Free Continuing Education (CE) To take CE's you will need your: ID: In this issue we here from Dr. Reuben Vaismen-Tzachor in Psychological Assessment
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Protocol for Asylum Applications in Federal Immigration Courts. He will also be presenting at ES23. His 1st presentation on August 8th will be Psychological Impact of Betrayal and will explore the dimensions of betrayal, the responses of those betrayed, and ways to bring about resolution to the victims.
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Next he will present Psychological Evaluations for Immigration Courts. ES 23 will be here soon! Don't miss your chance to register. This years Executive Conference will be held at the campus of UC Santa Barbara, on
Maintenance and Membership Fee Discount Receive 10% discount
August 6-8, 2015.
towards yearly maintenance If you have questions, please contact us at 800.205.9165. Thank you for your
and membership when you
contribution and dedication.
sign up for automatic dues.
Please visit http://certfa.org/es23/
Simply call us to sign up at: 800-205-9165
for ES23 registration.
Certified Forensic Consultant training @ ES23 ACFEI's Certified Forensic Consultant seminar taught by Dr. Paul Friedman will
Referral Refer a member and receive $25.00 Member Bucks OR
count for 6 Minimum Continuing Legal Education credits from the State Bar of
Refer 3 member and receive a
California at ACFEI's 23rd Executive
one year Free Renewal of your
Summit at the University of California in Santa Barbara. Participants attending the seminar and passing the exam will be eligible for the Certified Forensic Consultant, CFC certification and receive 6
membership
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hours of Minimum Continuing Legal Education credits. ACFEI is working with
The American College of
the State Bar of California to have the
Forensic Examiners Institute is
exam count for MCLE credit after conference and be available all year for CFC
always looking to help their
applicants. Register for the Executive Summit today! If you want to only attend the
members find qualified help in
CFC seminar, test for the credential, and receive MCLE credits, contact Judy Simpson
building their practice or
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business. Send the editor a description of the professional
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you are seeking to hire and ACFEI will put the announcement in its newsletter. Please specify if
Articles
you prefer your potential hires to hold CCI, CFC, or any other certifications. Email the editor at
The Relationship of Identity to the Organizational Development of FLECHAS: Perceptions of Race from a Puerto Rican Perspective
editor@acfei.com.
New Members All new members of ACFEI and certifications issued by ACFEI can be viewed HERE. Thanks for joining, and welcome
By:
Raul Avila In this article, Raul Avila explores the relationship of identity to the organizational development of Feast of Loiza in Connecticut in Honor of Saint James the Apostle (FLECHAS) and perceptions of race from a Puerto Rican perspective.
to The Forensic Examiner.
Looking for Submissions As always we are looking for regular content for The Forensic
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Examiner. If there is anything you would like to submit please contact us.
About the Author Raul A. Avila is a native New Havener born of Puerto Rican parents. His academic credentials include a Bachelors degree from the University of Bridgeport, a Masters degree in Public Administration and Counseling from the University of New Haven, and a CAGS (Certificate of Advance Graduate Studies) from Cambridge College.
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He is also currently pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Education also at Cambridge College. Raul has worked the majority of his professional career in New Haven and Meriden, CT. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor practicing psychotherapy in a private group practice, Alternative Therapy LLC, A Professional Counseling Service. Raul also holds National Certification (NCC) to the NBCC Board of Certified Counselors, as well as certification to the American Psychotherpay Association as a Board Certified Professional Counselor. He is also a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist
American Association of Integrative Medicine
through the Wellness Institute in Seattle, Washington.
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Psychological Assessment Protocol
American Psychotherapy Association
for Asylum Applications in Federal Immigration Courts By:
Reuben Vaisman-Tzachor, Ph.D., FACFEI, DABPS, FAPA The unique challenge posed to immigration authorities by asylum applications creates a demand for psychological evaluations to provide accurate assessment of asylum seekers and their claims of persecution. The psychological evaluation in asylum cases requires forensic psychology experts to become familiar with the terms and
American Board for Certification in Homeland Security
Members in the News
procedures used to adjudicate asylum applications, to understand the legal dilemmas faced by immigration authorities, and to know the standards governing the evidence provided by experts in federal courts. The protocol for psychological evaluations in asylum applications provides the court with evidence that demonstrates the validity of persecution claims made by asylum applicants and justification for the veracity of asylum seekers' claims, based on professional psychological assessment. It calls for forensic psychology experts to maintain unbiased perspectives and avoid ethical pitfalls, as well as develop a study that considers the questions relevant to the dilemma faced by immigration authorities for each unique case. Careful selection of tools and procedures will guarantee valid information is collected, and the outcomes of evaluations and opinions that develop must be recorded in written reports, which offer clear recommendations for immigration authorities to consider.
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Were you in the news? Send ACFEI a press release or publication of your involvement in a forensic related event to the editor@acfei.com.
Recertification Policies Recertification policies are being strengthened for all American College of Forensic Examiners Institute certifications. All new and current certifications and renewals will be for a three (3)
year period. In compliance with
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third-party accreditation, the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute requires certification holders to remain in
About the Author
good standing by being current
Reuben Vaisman-Tzachor, Phd, FACFEI, DABPS, FAPA Reuben Vaisman-Tzachor, was born in Israel. He obtained his doctorate in clinical psychology from Alliant International University, California School of Professional Psychology in Los Angeles. He is currently an adjunct professor of clinical and forensic psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Los Angeles. He is a Fellow of the American College of Forensic Examiners International, a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychological Specialties, a Fellow of the American Psychotherapy Association, and is certified in Homeland Security Level III. He has conducted numerous studies and published on a diverse number of topics ranging from human-animal interaction, to psychological evaluations in federal immigration courts to
with maintenance fees or membership dues, submitting the required 30 continuing education units every three years for recertification, and upholding the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute's code of conduct. If you have any questions please feel free to contact our Registrar via email or by phone at: Jeff Thornsberry MA, Ed. S Director of Education 417-823-2528 Jeff.Thornsberry@ACFEI.com
psychological profiles of terrorists, to name but a few. He currently owns and directs the Counseling Center of Santa Monica-A Psychological Corporation, which is a private practice organization in Santa Monica, California. Reuben will be a Presenter at the Executive Summit 23 (ES23) August 6-8, 2015
ACFEI Offers NBCC Clock Hours!
At UC Santa Barbara, CA
American College of Forensic
www.theexecutivesummit.net
Examiners Institute (ACFEI) is excited to announce we are now able to offer NBCC (National
Featured Certifications Certified Forensic Consultant, CFC
Board of Certified Counselors) credit to our members to meet their licensing and re-certification needs. We will be offering courses totaling over 60 clock hours of NBCC credit. This a great opportunity for our members in the mental health field to obtain needed NBCC clock hours. This opportunity is available to ACFEI members. ACFEI is an NBCC-Approved
The Certified Forensic Consultant, CFC program will help prepare the forensic professional with the necessary knowledge and information to successfully testify in court in a professional manner. In the courtroom environment, experts in various fields are asked to provide testimony and evidence on differing professional topics. Forensic consultants will be assessed on knowledge and competency in areas relating to consultation services, litigation processes, general legal principles, witness' payment, the discovery process, the deposition, and the trial.
Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCCapproved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements. The ACEP solely is responsible for all aspects of the program. For a fee of $5.00 per clockcredit hour our members will now
Certified Medical Investigator
have the opportunity to not only receive the ACFEI credit for approved CE courses completed but they can also obtain a certificate of completion for NBCC clock hours of credit. By simply going on to the CE online catalog, members will see
The Certified Medical Investigator 速, CMI program helps prepare professionals to be competent and confident medical investigators. With five distinct levels, the CMI program was developed to provide those in the forensic specialties with a base of knowledge that prepares them for the intricacies of the legal process that follow identifying and securing a piece of evidence.
Certified Instructor's Spotlight
a new tab labeled NBCCApproved CE'S. Our members then know that those courses will be qualified to meet the NBCC standards for clock hours of Continuing Education Credit. Once they complete the course the CE assessment and course evaluation the member will receive a certificate of
Greg M. Vecchi Ph.D.,CHS-V, CFC Conducts training in Jacksonville
completion noting the number of NBCC clock hours received for the course completion. We look forward to offering more of these types of continuing
Dr. Vecchi a Certified Instructor traveled to Jacksonville Florida to conduct a training for applicants for certification. After the training attendees took the certification exam with 21 students passing the certification exam and becoming certified members. This is an example of the type of possibilities for members with the knowledge, skills, and determination to become a
education opportunities to our members in the future and if you wish to author an article for NBCC credit, contact us as well. Educationally, Jeff Thornsberry MA, Ed. S
Certified Instructor for their organization.
Director of Education
Certified Instructors earn a percentage from the
Jeff.Thornsberry@ACFEI.com
417-823-2528
fee's from those that they recruit and provide training for. Certified Instructors must be at least a Diplomate within the organization, have passed and maintained the certification they intend to instruct, and must take and pass the Certified Instructor Certification.
Disclaimer The American College of Forensic Examiners Institute, and/or The Forensic Examiner does not endorse, guarantee or warrant the credentials, work, or opinions of any individual member. The opinions and views expressed by the authors,
Do you want to further your career by becoming an Instructor for your association? Contact: Jeff Thornsberry Director of Education for the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute. Phone: 417-823-2528 Jeff.Thornsberry@ACFEI.com
publishers, or presenters are their sole separate views and opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute and/or The Forensic Examiner, nor does the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute and/or The Forensic Examiner adopt such opinions or views as its own. The American College of Forensic Examiner Institute and/or The Forensic Examiner does not assume any responsibility or liability with respect to the opinions, views, and factual statements of such authors, publishers, or presenters, nor with respect to any actions,
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email at judy@acfei.com. To contribute to our E-Newsletter contact our editor at editor@acfei.com. Sincerely, ACFEI Team