Law and Ethics: Letters, Continuity of Care, and Telehealth: Ethical and Legal Responsibilities in Meeting the Evolving Needs of Clients

Presented by Alain Montgomery, CAMFT Staff Attorney

Includes 6 CE credits for LMFTs, LPCCs, LEPs and LCSWs. This event will be in-person only - no online options or recording. 

Please join us in person this year, at beautiful Michael's at Shoreline! We will offer a delicious luncheon buffet with drinks, coffee, and dessert, and the beautiful patio for eating and breaks. 

About the Program

This six (6)- hour law and ethics in-person presentation will delve into topics such as letter writing, telehealth, and preparing clients for the unexpected. Each of these topics is unique in and of itself and requires a clear and thorough understanding of the legal and ethical implications involved.  This presentation will be informative, helping participants formulate legally and ethically sound courses of action to successfully address each of these areas.

Educational Goals

1. Letter Writing: To provide participants with a fundamental understanding of the legal and ethical parameters around letter writing; explain guidelines that can help participants write letters that are clear, evidence-based, and clinically defensible; and, help participants understand when it is appropriate to write a letter and when it may not be appropriate.
2. Professional Wills: To provide participants with an understanding of what a professional will is and how it relates to facilitating continuity of care in the event of death, incapacity, or an unintended absence; help participants identify key components of a comprehensive professional will; and address matters of confidentiality using informed consent.
3. Telehealth: To provide participants with an understanding of how telehealth is used as a modality to provide mental health services; review the California specific regulations and guidance from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and summarize the ethical standards; address jurisdictional issues including practicing across state lines and provider/client location requirements; increase awareness of the legal, ethical, and clinical risks unique to telehealth; and support participants in integrating telehealth into their practice in a compliant and effective manner.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the workshop, participants will be able to:

Letter Writing

1. Identify key legal and ethical standards applicable to letter writing. 
2. Describe guidelines that ensure statements, attestations, or assertions made in a letter align with the MFT scope of practice and scope of competence. 
3. Apply ethical decision-making frameworks to determine when it is clinically appropriate to write a letter.
4. Evaluate potential outcomes associated with letter writing.

 
Professional Will

1. Define a professional will and explain how it can be used to facilitate continuity of care for clients.
2. Identify the ethical standard(s) related to professional wills.
3. List the essential components of a professional will.
4. Demonstrate how to incorporate professional will information into informed consent.

Telehealth

1. Identify California-specific telehealth regulations as prescribed by the California Board of Behavioral Science.
2. Summarize the ethical standards for telehealth practice.
3. Analyze jurisdictional and licensure issues relevant to interstate practice.
4. Describe the concept of license portability, including temporary practice laws and California regulatory developments, and explain how these impact providing telehealth services across state lines.
   
   

About the Presenter

Alain Lance Montgomery, Esq., is a member of the State Bar of California.  Alain received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley and a Juris Doctor degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law. Prior to joining the CAMFT legal department, Alain worked in public interest law as a legal advisor for the Superior Court of California where he helped self-represented parties navigate the complexities of small claims litigation.  As a member of the CAMFT legal department, Alain has served as part of the support staff for the CAMFT Ethics Committee and has represented the Association at various state regulatory board meetings.  After graduating from college and before attending law school, Alain worked as a ski instructor at Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort

TARGET AUDIENCE: LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, LEPs

If you miss any of the presentation, you will not be eligible for the CEUs. SCV-CAMFT is a CAMFT-approved Continuing Education Provider (CEPA 052466). This course meets the qualifications of 6 continuing education credit for LMFTs, LPCCs, LEPs and/or LCSWs. SCV-CAMFT maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.

The views expressed in presentations made at SCV-CAMFT membership meetings or other SCV-CAMFT events are those of the speaker and not, necessarily, of SCV-CAMFT. Presentations at SCV-CAMFT events do not constitute an endorsement of the vendor or speaker's views, products or services.

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