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The MCEA Public Safety Non-Custody Employees Chapter #67 has created a Psychology Task Force to work on Psychology Salary Inequities. The Chapter 67 DOC Psychology Task Force is made up of a steering committee of MCEA and Chapter 67 members who recognize that an immediate crisis exists in the provision of proactive mental health services to the prison population.
Scope of the Problem: It is estimated that approximately 15 % of inmates have serious mental health problems. Additionally, many other inmates experience situational problems that impact adversely on their ability to cope with incarceration. Family problems, medical problems, death of love ones, threats from gangs, ingestion of alcohol and drugs, and questionable decision making are resulting in an increasing number of referrals and requests to the DOC Psychology Departments. Psychologists and Psychology Associates are called upon to determine if threats of self-harm, self-injurious behavior, and disruptive behavior are due to genuine mental illness or are manipulative behaviors. Plans are developed to treat the genuinely mentally ill and to reduce behavioral problems. Additionally, for offenders with violent crimes, risk assessments are done to determine suitability for lesser security. Lastly, for the mentally ill who are getting released, Psychology Departments assist in aftercare planning.
Critical Shortage of Staff: In the past twenty years, the risks, responsibilities, workloads, and liability of Psychologists and Psychology Associates have increased dramatically. Unfortunately, Public Safety/DOC management has repeatedly failed to recognize the important role that Psychologists and Psychology Associates play in managing the inmate population, and have not provided adequate compensation to these mental health professionals. The last salary upgrade for master level Psychology Associates was in 1989. The last salary upgrade for doctorate level Psychologists was in the mid 1990s. By comparison, during the past twenty years, bachelor level Case Managers and master level Social Workers have received two salary upgrades. The current pay grades are as follows:
Grade Case Manager Social Worker Psych. Associate Psychologist
14 I
15 I I II
16 II II
17 Advanced/Super
18 Licensed
As a result of years of inadequate compensation, some Psychology Associates and Psychologists have left to become Hearing Officers and Administrators, others are now considering becoming Case Managers, and some are planning on leaving state service. Additionally, due to low starting salaries for Psychology Associates and Psychologists, hiring new staff has become increasingly problematic. The situation has reached crisis proportions. To their credit, management has finally submitted an upgrade proposal to DBM, that includes salary upgrades for Psychology, as well as, an additional upgrade for masters level Psychology Associates who have received licensure as Professional Counselors. Unfortunately, all upgrades are now frozen due to the state’s revenue problems and, as a result, management is being forced to consider the possibility of privatizing vital mental health services.
Task Force Plan: In response to the current crisis, the task force plans to do a DOC Psychology Career Plan Analysis to determine the immediate and future plans of Psychologists and Psychology Associates currently working in the Division of Correction. We plan to meet with Public Safety Secretary Maynard and provide him with documentation to support our efforts to obtain our upgrade by Fiscal Year 2009. Additionally, we plan to contact our Wardens and legislators, and will ask them to support our efforts. Lastly, due to the lack of parity in salaries we will file a grievance requesting increased compensation.
Survey Results: The task force is pleased to report that a majority of DOC Psychology Staff completed their career plan survey. The results, however, were even worst then expected with 85% of respondents planning to leave or retire from their psychology positions in the next five years. The complete DOC Psychology Career Plan Analysis Report with recommendations is downloadable below. Also available for download are the Task Force letters to Public Safety Secretary Maynard, Governor O'Malley, and key legislators. Additionally, the Twenty YearComparison presentation provided at the Town Hall Meeting with the Washington County Delegation isavailable for download as well.
Please Join Us: We need your help! Please join MCEA and become a part of the solution. We welcome Psychologists, Psychology Associates, and other interested staff to join our task force.
Remember, it takes two, MCEA and you. |
