Description:
National news outlets (e.g., CNN, Fox News, NPR) and law enforcement organizations (e.g., International Association of Chiefs of Police) have reported declines in morale alongside national shortages in candidates seeking careers in law enforcement, and similar trends have been reported for paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and firefighters. National polling data reflect a strong desire for police reform coupled with a high level of support for law enforcement among Americans. More than 90% of police departments require candidates to undergo some form of psychological evaluation in the hiring process (i.e., suitability evaluations).
As public safety and fire and rescue agencies scramble to fill vacancies, the role of mental health professionals in suitability evaluations is all the more pertinent, balancing the need for filling vacancies with the importance of screening out candidates who are not suitable for the demands of these high-stakes occupations. Mental health professionals also play a critical role when an officer or other first responder is removed from duty in the aftermath of a critical incident and required to undergo evaluation before being considered for return to active duty (i.e., fitness for duty evaluations).
This eight-hour workshop brings police chiefs and mental health professionals together with the goal of enhancing the competency of mental health professionals specializing in both suitability or fitness for duty evaluations. The workshop is also one of the requirements for NBFE’s new Certified Suitability and Fitness for Duty Evaluator (CSFDE) credential.*
* Individuals are free to attend this workshop regardless of whether they intend to pursue the CSFDE credential. This workshop partially (but not fully) fulfills the requirements for the CSFDE credential. To view additional requirements, click here. NBFE's Certified Forensic Mental Health Evaluator (CFMHE) credential is a pre-requisite for the CSFDE credential.
Schedule:
- 11 am-12:00 pm: Welcome and introduction from a Police Chief’s perspective
- 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm: Legal and ethical considerations for suitability and fitness for duty evaluations
- 12:45 pm-1 pm: Break 1
- 1 pm-2 pm: A Police Chief’s perspective on the importance of suitability and fitness for duty evaluations
- 2 pm-3:15 pm: Suitability and fitness for duty, part 1
- 3:14 pm-3:45 pm: 30 minute break
- 3:45 pm-4:45 pm: Suitability and fitness for duty, part 2
- 4:45 pm-5:45 pm: Fitness for duty evaluations
- 5:45 pm-6pm: 15 minute break
- 6-7 pm: Suitability evaluations
- 7 pm-8 pm: Expert panel of police chiefs and mental health professionals
Objectives:
- Summarize legal and ethical guidelines impacting suitability and fitness for duty evaluations.
- Articulate factors explaining the importance of and need for suitability and fitness for duty evaluations.
- Conduct suitability evaluations for public safety and fire and rescue agencies while adhering to best practice guidelines.
- Conduct fitness for duty evaluations for public safety and fire and rescue agencies while adhering to best practice guidelines.
About the Presenters and Panelists
Norman Hoffman, PhD, EdD, LMHC, LMFT, CFMHE, CCCE, CFBA, CFP (Presenter)
Dr. Norman Hoffman is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, and Founder and President of the National Board of Forensic Evaluators (NBFE). He is an experienced expert witness, forensic examiner, author, and jazz musician. Dr. Hoffman developed the Hoffman Organicity Test (HOT), which aids clinicians in differentiating between organic brain disorders, non-organic disorders, and psychotic disorders. Dr. Hoffman began his work with the Devereux Foundation in 1963, specializing as a music therapist for children. In 1969, he then completed a one-year clinical internship at the Menninger Memorial Hospital in Kansas. That experience led to his first book, Hear the Music! A New Approach to Mental Health. His work in the field of organic brain damage led to The Hoffman Organicity Test.
Aaron Norton, PhD, LMHC, LMFT, CFMHE, CFBA, CFP (Presenter)
Dr. Aaron Norton is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy serving as Executive Director of the National Board of Forensic Evaluators, Visiting Instructor at the University of South Florida's Department of Mental Health Law and Policy, Southern Regional Director for the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), AMHCA Ethics Committee Liaison, and Chair of the Government Relations Committee of Florida Mental Health Counselors Association. He has 20 years of clinical and forensic experience at Integrity Counseling, Inc., where he has worked extensively with law enforcement officers and other first responders. He was awarded Mental Health Counselor of the Year by the American Mental Health Counselors Association and Counselor Educator of the Year by the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association in 2016, Researcher of the Year by Florida Mental Health Counselors Association in 2020, and has been published in several social science journals and professional magazines in clinical mental health counseling.
Chief Manuel J. Marino (Presenter)
Chief Manuel J. Marino was appointed as the City of Port Orange Police Department's Chief of Police on October 25, 2021. Chief Marino is a 27-year law enforcement officer who began his career with the Hollywood, Florida Police Department in April 1995. After serving as a police officer, neighborhood team leader and field training officer, Chief Marino was promoted to Sergeant in 2003, Lieutenant in 2008, and became a member of the command staff with his promotion to Major in 2012. In March of 2018, Chief Marino was promoted to Assistant Chief of Police and assumed command of the Investigations and Support Services Bureau where he served until his appointment with the City of Port Orange.
Chief Marino holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Administration from Barry University, and a Master of Arts in Administrative Leadership from the University of Oklahoma. In 2010, Chief Marino graduated from the 240th Session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. While at the FBI National Academy, Chief Marino also earned a Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia. In 2015, Chief Marino graduated from the 61st Session of the Police Executive Research Forum's Senior Management Institute for Police in Boston, Massachusetts.
Throughout his career, Chief Marino has been the fortunate recipient of many internal and external awards, commendations, and letters of recognition. Among those are the Hollywood Police Department's Officer of the Year, Florida Retail Federation's State of Florida Officer of the Year and Florida Junior Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Young Police Officer.
Chief Marino is a member of the FBI National Academy Associates, International Association of Chiefs of Police, Police Executive Research Forum, Florida Police Chiefs Association, FBINAA Florida Chapter and the Volusia/Flagler Chiefs of Police Association.
Stephen K. Aldrich (Presenter)
Chief of Police (Retired)
City of Holly Hill, Florida
Chief Stephen K. Aldrich (Ret.) proudly served the citizens of Holly Hill, Florida for nearly 30 years. Beginning his career as police officer with the City of Holly Hill shortly after graduating from Daytona Beach Community College's Basic Law Enforcement Academy in 1991. Serving as a Patrol Officer then progressing quickly into a multi-agency Narcotic Unit as an Investigator. Promoting to the rank of Sergeant in 1998, he supervised the city's Criminal Investigation Division before transitioning to take on the challenge of starting the city's first Special Response Team. Promoted to the rank of Captain in 2008, he was responsible for all the daily operations of the Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division and Special Response Team. After obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration, from Columbia Southern University, he was promoted to serve as the Chief of Police for the City of Holly Hill. A position he held for seven years prior to retiring. He continues to be an active member of the FBI National Academy Association (238th Session) and continues to serve the citizens of Florida as an Auxiliary Florida Highway Patrol Trooper.
Dr. Brian Sheble, LCPC, LPC, CCMHC, CFMHE, CCCE, CCTP-II, C-PD, CDMDTP (Presenter)
Dr. Brian Sheble is a School Psychologist, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who currently provides expert witness, consulting, assessment, counseling, and advocacy services for children, adolescents, and adults in his private practice, Growth Mindset Assessment and Counseling, LLC, located in Creve Coeur, MO. Brian earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Dr. Sheble has also received an Educational Specialist in School Psychology from the University of Missouri-St Louis, a Graduate Certificate in Educational Administration from the University of Southern Illinois at Edwardsville, a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling from Lindenwood University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Education also from Lindenwood University. He is the current President of the Missouri Mental Health Counselors Association, Treasurer-Elect for the Missouri Association of School Psychologists, and was previously an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Dr. Sheble is on the editorial review board for the Journal of Mental Health Counseling and Psychology in the Schools. Dr. Sheble is a National Certified School Psychologist, National Certified Counselor, Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Certified Forensic Mental Health Evaluator, Certified Personality Disorders Treatment Professional, Certified Clinical Trauma Therapist-Level Two, and Certified Child Custody Evaluator. Dr. Sheble is licensed as a School Psychologist in Illinois, Missouri, and Arizona. Brian has also been a court-appointed counselor and licensed mental health evaluator in Missouri and Alaska. Dr. Sheble is also licensed as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Missouri, Alaska, and Georgia and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois.
Darwin P. Crosland, MC-MHC, LCMHC, CFMHE (Presenter)
Mr. Darwin P. Crosland is a highly skilled mental health professional with over 40 years of experience in the fields of behavioral sciences. He earned his associate of science degree from Snow College in Ephraim, Utah. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW) with minors in Human Development and Child Development from Utah State University, Logan, Utah. He earned his Master of Counseling / Mental Health Counseling from the University of Phoenix in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has worked as a mental health professional in Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, and Wyoming.
He started his career being trained at Provo Utah in theology and was as a clergyman providing marriage counseling in Nova Scotia Canada. Upon returning to the United States, he began his formal secular education. Upon earning his undergraduate BSW, he became a Child Protective Services Investigator. At the conclusion of earning his graduate degree he has worked at Oxbow Jail, implementing the Correctional Addiction Treatment Services (CATS) program. He also worked extensively with sex offenders at Utah State Prison. He also worked at Wyoming State Prison with inmates in general population.
He has earned certifications in treatment of adult sex offenders, adolescent sex offenders, as well as certifications in working with perpetrators and victims of domestic violence. He is nationally certified as a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Mental Health Specialist.
He was an adjunct professor at Eagle Gate College in Salt Lake City, Utah, teaching Human Development through the Life Span to Nursing students. He has been a guest lecturer at Trinidad State Jr. College in Trinidad, Colorado preparing nurses to effectively manage psychotic patients.
He is currently working at Clearfield Job Corps Center as a Center Mental Health Consultant and Substance Abuse Treatment Supervisor. He is the Founder and CEO of his own company, Crosland Forensics, Inc, located in Syracuse, Utah. He is trained as a Utah Designated Examiner.
He has held several titles throughout his career, Clinical Director, Chief HIPAA Compliance Officer, Center Director, Chief Financial Officer and others. His favorite title is dad. He has four adult girls, Anna, Grace, Faith, and Hope, who are his pride and joy. He has been married to the love of his life, Sue, for 37 years.
Dr. Kim Soban, PhD, LCMHC, CFMHE (Panelist)
Dr. Soban served as a High Point Police Officer for 15 years from 1983-1998. During her tenure at HPPD she worked as a patrol officer and was then assigned to special investigations where she specialized in the investigation of child and sexual abuse cases. In 1990, Dr. Soban was assigned as a detective in Homicide Division where she served for 8 years. Other duties included being a field training officer and serving as a hostage negotiator for 9 years. Dr. Soban taught criminal investigations in the BLET program and served as a member of the critical incident team that worked with officers involved in critical incidents.
In 2001, Dr. Soban was hired as the Director of Psychological Services at High Point University until 2009 when she was named the Clinical Director at Mental Health Associates of the Triad. Currently she supervises clinical therapists in outpatient services and oversees Destiny House, a psych-social rehabilitation program for severally and persistently mentally ill clients and court services.
Dr. Soban serves as a consultant for mental health and drug court. Dr. Soban is a certified forensic mental health evaluator and provides capacity to proceed evaluations for the courts. Dr. Soban also serves as the mental health consultant for the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department and the High Point Police Department. These duties include providing training for the peer support teams and mental health consultation for the negotiating/swat teams. Dr. Soban also evaluates officers involved in critical incidents to determine if a fitness for duty is necessary for them to return to work.
Tim Strickland, LPC, CFMHE, MAC, SAP, CPCS, CCS (Panelist)
My name is Tim Strickland. I grew up in Glennville, Georgia, and now reside in Statesboro, Georgia. I graduated from Georgia Southern University with a Masters Degree in Education Counseling in 1998 and have worked in the field of counseling for over 20 years. I have extensive experience working with both adolescents and adults with mental health and substance abuse issues. I am a Georgia Licensed Professional Counselor. I am a Georgia approved Clinical Evaluator and Treatment Provider for the DUI Intervention Program regulated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. I have certifications in Relapse Prevention, Clinical Supervision, Forensic Mental Health Evaluations, and I am an Anger Management Specialist. I assist individuals in meeting requirements to get their driver licenses reinstated after multiple DUI's on their record or to meet adjudicated services for probated sentences. I am also certified by the Federal Department of Transportation to provide substance abuse services to employees that are in DOT Safety Sensitive Positions who may have tested positive for alcohol and/or drugs. As a Substance Abuse Professional, I serve as the initial point of contact to establish parameters of change necessary for an individual to safely return to duty via initial assessment and follow up sessions that are required by employers and the Federal government. Our Outpatient facilities offer affordable and quality programming to assist clients in addressing maladaptive behaviors associated with numerous mental health and substance abuse issues. In 2013, I was fortunate to be honored as Georgia's Licensed Professional Counselor Association’s Counselor of the Year for the development and oversight of a Long Term Residential Treatment facility and extensive work done with an Outpatient population to bring about positive changes in men and women who suffer from addiction in the Bulloch County area as a Treatment Provider for Bulloch Recovery Resources. I have brought my energy, insight, and professionalism to the forefront and established Creative Counseling Solutions, LLC (CCS).
We have the tools to meet all your RECOVERY needs is not just a slogan that is catchy and pertinent to counseling. Literally, Creative Counseling Solutions, LLC, can assist individuals with a multitude of needs in almost every aspect of the levels of care outlined by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, at an affordable cost! Whether it is to meet the conditions of a probated sentence, get driver licenses reinstated, or to profoundly change the direction of someone's life who has found themselves desperate for change in either in the Mental Health or Substance Abuse arena, we have a plan for you! I purposefully set the private fees for services to be in line with what most people would pay for a co-pay or deductible if they were insured AND have a sliding fee scale to assist those who are struggling financially. If it's time to steer your car in another direction, let us help with a road map of strategies that have been proven with our Evidenced-Based curriculum and years of experience on the highways of life offered through our counseling services. The Joint Commision recently awarded Creative Counseling Solutions, LLC-dba New Day Counseling the Behavioral Healthcare and Human Services Accreditation and we are a licensed outpatient treatment facility for the state of Georgia for Level and Level II services.
Cost
- $200 for NBFE members (i.e., CFMHEs and CFMHE applicants/candidates) and, for members of our partnering organizations please see Professional Partners for current listing)
- $250 for Non-members
Continuing Education Information
ACEP No. 6189
Florida CE Broker Tracking # 20-940331
CE Broker Provider #50-15823
The National Board of Forensic Evaluators (NBFE) has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6189. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. NBFE is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.
NBFE is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. NBFE maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
NBFE is recognized and endorsed by the American Mental Health Counselors Association.
This workshop has been approved for 8 hours of continuing education (7 general hours, and 1 hour ethics/professional boundaries) with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, & Mental Health Counseling and the Florida Board of Psychology, CE Broker Tracking # 20-940331 (CE Broker Provider #50-15823).
Click here for NBFE Cancellation/Refund Policy.
