| Advisory Opinion request from Shawanda M. Woods-Smith, Director of Psychology Services, with the La. Dept. of Health, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, at Pinecrest Supports Services Center in Pineville. |
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Shawanda Woods-Smith is currently employed by the Louisiana Department of Health ("LDH"), Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, as the Director of Psychology Services at Pinecrest Supports Services Center ("Pinecrest") in Pineville. Her duties include the supervision of unlicensed Doctoral Level Psychology Postdoctoral Fellows and Masters Level Trained Associates to a Psychiatrist. In this role, Ms. Woods-Smith provides assessment, therapy, and support to individuals residing in Pinecrest, which is a state intermediate care facility. Individuals supported at Pinecrest must have a diagnosis of intellectual and/or developmental disability, in addition to medical, behavioral, and psychiatric conditions.
Ms. Woods-Smith intends to open a private psychology practice under the name CenterPoint Therapy Group, with the intent to offer outpatient therapy and psychological assessments in the form of individual and group sessions and psychoeducational workshops. The areas of focus would include family conflict, work stress, anxiety, depression, women's issues, health concerns, cultural awareness, and emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Her practice would not be a Medicaid provider. Additionally, Ms. Woods-Smith would not be working with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
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La. R.S. 42:1111C(1)(a): No public servant shall receive any thing of economic value for any service, the subject matter of which is devoted substantially to the responsibilities, programs, or operations of the agency of the public servant and in which the public servant has participated.
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Adopt the proposed advisory opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
David Bordelon |
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