PRA Appoints 2015-2017 Certification Commission for Psychiatric Rehabilitation
McLean, VA (PRWEB) February 17, 2015 -- The Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (PRA) is pleased to announce its newly appointed 2015-2017 Certification Commission Officers as well as three new members, Veronica Nyamali of Lagos, Nigeria, Diane Johnson from Iowa, and Heidi Eastman from Pennsylvania. The new members will each serve four-year terms (2015-2019) on the Commission. In addition, the Certification Commission and the PRA Board of Directors thank Diane Brewer, CPRP of Kentucky for her exceptional service and leadership as Commission Chair for the past two years. The Commission looks forward to Diane's continued involvement as she completes her final year with the Commission as Past-Chair.
The Commission brings together top professionals from the psychiatric rehabilitation field, whose passion and commitment to the recovery workforce guides the standard-setting of PRA’s credentialing programs. Through these credentials, PRA advances the psychiatric rehabilitation field, increases cooperation between like-minded organizations and professions, and provides a means to establish and enforce an ethical workforce. The Certification Commission, on behalf of PRA, is the exclusive credentialing body of the CPRP designation and administers the certification exam to advance the availability and practice of quality psychiatric rehabilitation services. Beginning in 2016, the Commission will begin offering a new credential, the certified Child and Family Resiliency Practitioner (CFRP). Along with the full Commission, the 2015-2017 officers will continue to provide top-notch governance, coordination, planning, and operation of the certification programs, as well as promote the welfare of people in recovery by establishing professional standards for those engaged in providing psychiatric rehabilitation services.
"The PRA Certification Commission is eager to support the growth of the Commission in response to the new Certified Child and Family Resiliency Practitioner (CFRP) credential,” said Carlos Pratt, PhD, CPRP, Certification Commission Chair. “During the next two years, we will also continue to maintain the high standards of the Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) credential."
The professional credentials available through PRA signify the current competence of an individual to provide psychiatric rehabilitation services, and provide avenues for psychiatric rehabilitation practitioners from a wide variety of educational backgrounds to become certified. The Certification Commission’s role is essential to assisting and encouraging all persons engaged in the profession of psychiatric rehabilitation to achieve and maintain the highest professional standards.
“Being a part of the Certification Commission has provided me with the knowledge and understanding of the credibility and value of these credentials,” said Jodi Smith, CPRP, Certification Commission Chair-Elect. “The multiple layers involved in the development of a sound and defensible professional credential, coupled with the ongoing management of the credentialing program, are tasks not to be taken lightly. The level of professionalism and commitment among the Commission members is of the highest caliber, and having the opportunity to collaborate with these individuals is truly an honor.”
The Certification Commission
Chair: Carlos Pratt, CPRP [New Jersey]
Chair-Elect: Jodi Smith, CPRP [Idaho]
Treasurer: Ron Christensen, CPRP [Iowa]
Secretary: Phil Floyd, CPRP [Virginia]
Members-at-Large
Charles Beal, CPRP [Idaho]
Diane Brewer, CPRP [Kentucky]
Veronica Carey, CPRP [Pennsylvania]
Heidi Eastman, CPRP [Pennsylvania]
Scott Heller, CPRP [Pennsylvania]
Diane Johnson [Iowa]
Steve LaMaster, CPRP [Massachusetts]
Melissa McCarthy, CPRP [Ohio]
Veronica Nyamali, CPRP [Lagos, Nigeria]
John Painter, CPRP [Maine]
Al Rowlett, CPRP [California]
Ru Tauro, CPRP [Ontario, Canada]
Jennifer Thorson, CPRP [Arizona]
Ex-Officio Appointees
Dori Hutchinson, PsyD, CPRP [Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (PRA)]
Tom Gibson, PRA CEO
About the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (PRA): As the nonprofit organization focused on growing and training the recovery workforce, the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, is the preeminent association for the development, support, and dissemination of information about the practice of psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery. PRA believes that the practice of psychiatric rehabilitation leads to recovery, and thus is committed to the growth of psychiatric rehabilitation in both quantity and quality, and to the universal availability of state-of-the-art psychiatric rehabilitation services for all individuals with mental illness who seek such services. For more information, visit http://www.psychrehabassociation.org.
Elizabeth Johnson, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, http://www.psychrehabassociation.org/, +1 (703) 442-2078, [email protected]
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