I received a letter saying that I need to get finger printed and pay two different law enforcement agencies for the prints and processing. They say this is for public safety, but when I look in the paper every morning I never see mayhem committed by Ca. Licensed Marriage Family Therapists. Because Mental Health has been so hit by the state budget crisis, I am working only one day per week, I resent having to pay for this unnecessay finger printing. It can be quite expensive. Are there any CAMFT members out there who have received this letter and would be willing to call CAMFT to see what this is about? I called Pat Wiggins office, they said it came out of the Board of Behavioral Sciences.
It feels like big brother and also like a way to bring some money into law enforcement. I have been finger printed many times for various jobs, so I know there's no problem with a criminal charge associated with my finger prints.
Barrie
StormDancer
12-02-2009, 02:20 PM
I can understand why persons providing health services (i.e. MFT's and IHSS workers) should be required to undergo a background check and fingerprinting. However, I think it is criminal to require someone to pay money to keep their job. I have no problem being required to submit to fingerprinting, but not having to pay for it. Charging a fee for getting someone a job is legal but how is it legal to require someone already working to pay to keep his/her job?
-AnnaLisa
I received a letter saying that I need to get finger printed and pay two different law enforcement agencies for the prints and processing. They say this is for public safety, but when I look in the paper every morning I never see mayhem committed by Ca. Licensed Marriage Family Therapists. Because Mental Health has been so hit by the state budget crisis, I am working only one day per week, I resent having to pay for this unnecessay finger printing. It can be quite expensive. Are there any CAMFT members out there who have received this letter and would be willing to call CAMFT to see what this is about? I called Pat Wiggins office, they said it came out of the Board of Behavioral Sciences.
It feels like big brother and also like a way to bring some money into law enforcement. I have been finger printed many times for various jobs, so I know there's no problem with a criminal charge associated with my finger prints.
Barrie
Barrie
12-02-2009, 02:32 PM
The finger printing is to keep my state license. My current job doesn't require it. Earlier this year I was finger printed twice, once to volunteer at the Council on the Aging, and once to voluteer for Jewish Family Services. I didn't have to pay for either of these. I really want to connect with other MFT's who belong to CAMFT to see what CAMFT's position is on this.
Barrie
Shandi
12-03-2009, 07:23 AM
Since you've been fingerprinted twice this year, I wonder if either of those agencies would be willing to share your prints so you don't have to pay to have them done again. It's done with x-rays between medical professionals,
but maybe that's to prevent excess radiation exposure, rather than alleviating the need for us to pay for more x-rays.
I hope you get some viable support on this from CAMFT.
The finger printing is to keep my state license. My current job doesn't require it. Earlier this year I was finger printed twice, once to volunteer at the Council on the Aging, and once to voluteer for Jewish Family Services. I didn't have to pay for either of these. I really want to connect with other MFT's who belong to CAMFT to see what CAMFT's position is on this.
Barrie
earthling
12-04-2009, 12:00 PM
Hi Barrie,
I checked the CAMFT newsletter. They follow (i.e. support) the BBS regulations. They direct questions to the BBS page. Here is the link to the BBS information page:
BBS - Fingerprint Requirement for Licensees and Registrants (https://bbs.ca.gov/licensees/licensee_fingerprint_requirement.shtml)
I am also told by someone who has been Live Scanned numerous times for various purposes, that by submitting fingerprints through Live-Scan to a particular agency (in this case BBS), that agency is enabled to receive a rap-back, meaning your rap sheet (if any) is sent back to them, now and in the future. That way the BBS would receive an alert in the future if a licensee were to have an arrest or a conviction, or whatever goes on a rap sheet. And that rap-back alert system, targeted to one particular agency, is another reason why your fingerprints cannot be transferred between agencies, besides the confidentiality issue. Actually, despite the cost to us the licensees, that sounds like a good idea to me, from the perspective of protection of the public, which is the point of the BBS. It is a good thing for them to have an up-to-date digitized system and streamlined coordination with law enforcement, which is what Live Scan provides. I guess, like our licensing fees, we have to just consider it "the cost of doing business." At least it is only a one-time expense. And just on a quick google, it looks like it only costs $20 at Sebastopol PD... Although on another page it looks like there may also be background-check charges of maybe $32.
It might be worth checking to see if, from any of your previous fingerprintings, your fingerprints might already be in the DOJ's criminal offender record identification database. Look at the BBS info page above for the email address to send questions.
I do sympathize with your plight. Similarly, I will have to comply as well, even though my MFT license is Inactive!
All the best, hope this helps.