USVI Public Records

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1 GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ROY L. SCHNEIDER HOSPITAL 9048 SUGAR ESTATE ST. THOMAS, V.I. 00802 October 23, 2025 The Honorable Ray Fonseca 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands Capitol Building, P O Box 1690 St. Thomas, United States, Virgin Islands 00802 340-693-3577 Dear Chairman Fonseca. Thank you for the opportunity to address the 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands with the goal of strengthening the health and human services framework of our territory, in order to ensure that all residents of the Virgin Islands benefit from effective regulation, professional integrity, and quality care across all health disciplines. This document serves as a response to your formal update on the current operations, challenges, and strategic priorities of the Virgin Islands Board of Psychology Examiners. Specifically, we are interested in learning more about the following areas: 1. The Board’s ongoing initiatives to uphold professional and ethical standards in the practice of psychology throughout the territory; 2. Current licensing, certification, and compliance procedures; 3. Any identified needs—whether administrative, financial, or legislative— that may enhance the Board’s efficiency and regulatory capacity; and 4. Plans for professional development, public education, and collaboration with other health or behavioral service agencies. 1. Ongoing initiative to uphold professional and ethical standards in the practice of psychology throughout the territory: 2 The United States Virgin Islands Board of Psychology is charged with safeguarding the citizens of the Virgin Islands from the dangers of unqualified and improper practice of psychology and to protect the citizens through regulation of the practice of psychology. The Board is a group of four licensed psychologists recommended by the Association of Virgin Islands Psychologists and one consumer member appointed by the Governor of the United States Virgin Islands. The Board’s purpose and functions include vetting and approving the licensing of qualified applicants, approving psychology associates, renewing and revoking professional licenses, reviewing continuing education programs and credits, promulgating regulations, interpreting the scope of practice and educating licensees. The Board is also required to work in conjunction with the University of the Virgin Islands Psychology Department curricula which prepares students for licensure. The Board’s mission is to focus on upholding professional and ethical standards in the field of psychology throughout the territory by effectively defining the practice of psychology—that is-- practicing psychology means rendering or offering to render supervision, consultation, evaluation or therapy services to individuals, groups or organizations for the purpose of diagnosing or treating behavioral, emotional or mental disorders). The Board also regularly reviews and updates regulations within the field of psychology to ensure that those practicing in the territory are held to the same standards as set forth within the professional as a whole. The Board receives, investigates, and adjudicates complaints against licensed practitioners, which allows individuals to file grievances, which serves to uphold the ethical standards of practice. 2. Current licensing, certification, and compliance procedures: Most recently, within the past three years, the Board has revamped the licensing processes to make it a more efficient and a less time-consuming process The Board created a website, www. USVIPsychologyboard.com that contains all of the needed information about the licensure requirements including how to get licensed in the USVI, renew a license, verify a license and file a complaint. One can also access Title 27, the Law governing the Board, the names of the officers of the Board and the Government Executives. The Board is in compliance with the guidelines and regulations of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Board of which the USVI Board of Examiners of Psychological Examiners is a member and is required to stay current with requirements for professional development. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) is recognized as the world leader in regulatory affairs for the education, credentialing and licensing of psychologists. The statute for the Board also provides for 3 legal representation and assistance with compliance through the Attorney General’s office of the Virgin Islands 3. Identified needs--whether administrative, financial, or legislative--that may enhance the Board’s efficiency and regulatory capacity. The USVI Board of Psychology Examiners currently does not have an administrative staff employed with the Board who can assist the Board with its regulatory duties. However, to help make the Board work more efficiently, it would be very beneficial if the board could hire an administrative person with funding from the legislature to assist the Board with executing its duties and responsibilities as required by the law. This administrative person would be responsible for assisting the board members with collecting and arranging data on new applications and existing licensed psychologists in the territory for the Board’s review and action; be responsible for organizing and sharing information about the board’s meetings and following up on unfinished business for the Board members. This administrative person would also send critical notifications and updates regarding the board’s business to all applicants and licensed psychologists. This administrative person will also assist the Board with keeping sensitive information and materials in an ultra-safe data storage file on a software platform. This person will also assist individuals with the application process for the new and renewal process and would also follow up with the attorney general’s office on all legal matters regarding the board’s business. Currently, this work is being done on a volunteer basis by Board members. This part-time position, if granted by the legislature, will require between $20,000 and $35,000 per year to help assist with the board’s administrative duties. 4. Plans for professional development, public education, and collaboration with other health or behavioral service agencies. The USVI Board of Examiners of Psychological Examiners is a member and is required to stay a current member of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) in order to stay current with requirements for professional and legal development for Psychology Boards. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards is the national organization recognized as the world leader in regulatory affairs for the education, credentialing and licensing of psychologists. The Board of the US Virgin Islands Psychological Examiners partners with the Association of Virgin Islands Psychologists and other organizations in mental health in presenting educational workshops open with continuing education options, to the Virgin Islands community, with a special invitation to health providers, including social 4 workers, licensed professional counselors, nurses and mental health workers in the territory. The Board also publishes in the local newspaper four times yearly advice to the citizens of the Virgin Islands regarding selecting a licensed psychologist for their needs and as such, provides a list of names of those licensed in the Territory in St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John to provide psychological services. Thus, since its inception in 1994, the mission of the Board of Psychology Examiners has been to ensure that the citizens of the US Virgin Islands are not subject to the consequences of unscrupulous and unqualified individuals or unprofessional conduct within the important and wide-reaching scope of psychological practice. Please do not hesitate if there are any questions or concerns regarding the duties and mission of the Board. Respectfully submitted by members of the Board, Ramona Moss, Ph.D., NCSP, Chair Lindsy Wagner, Psy.D. Vice-chair Nicolette Howells, Ph.D. Secretary Denese Marshall, Psy.D., Treasurer