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Cultural Considerations in Forensic Mental Health Assessment

Presented By Barry Rosenfeld, PhD, ABPP
Barry Rosenfeld, PhD, ABPP

10 hours | 10 CEs

This on-demand professional training program on Cultural Considerations in Forensic Assessment is presented by Barry Rosenfeld, PhD, ABPP. This badge-earning program can be shared digitally on platforms like LinkedIn or your resume and counts towards various certificates. Enroll to earn credit and share your new digital credentials with prospective employers and colleagues. This program counts as a foundational program in the certificates:

  1. Criminal Forensic Assessment Certificate
  2. Child Custody Evaluation Certificate
  3. Civil Forensic Assessment Certificate
  4. Juvenile Forensic Assessment Certificate
  5. Violence Risk Assessment Certificate

This program covers a range of issues related to the forensic assessment of individuals from diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. The last decade has witnessed a surge in awareness of the inherent challenges when applying forensic evaluation techniques to individuals from different cultures.

Indeed, the expectation that clinicians maintain adequate “cultural considerations” in both clinical practice and research has never been greater. This program incorporates the ever-growing research literature on culture and forensic Assessment and culminates in several guidelines for “best practices.”  The program begins with relevant background on the construct of “cultural co” and recent legal decisions that have addressed the importance of culturally appropriate Assessment techniques.

The program topics follow the timeline of a typical evaluation, with a review of issues and solutions that can be implemented prior to the evaluation begins, such as the role of pre-evaluation cultural research and adaptations to traditional procedures for eliciting consent. This is followed by a review of issues and recommendations for conducting the interview itself, including selection and training of translators, identifying culturally unique symptoms or behaviors, and interpretation of observed behaviors and reported symptoms. 

Finally, the program focuses on decision-making regarding psychological testing and the interpretation of test results. Relevant ethical issues related to cross-cultural forensic assessment are integrated throughout the program, as appropriate. Case vignettes are injected throughout the program to highlight relevant issues and techniques and elicit audience participation.

Intended Audience

This on-demand professional training program is intended for mental health and other allied professionals

Experience Level

This on-demand professional training program is appropriate for beginner, intermediate, and advanced level clinicians.

CE / CPD Credit

APA, ASWB, CPA, NBCC Click here for state and other regional board approvals.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this program you will be able to:

Describe the principles of cultural competence in psychological evaluations

Describe forms of cultural biases that can impact forensic consultation

Describe steps necessary before evaluating individuals of diverse cultural background

Describe how to train and utilize interpreters in forensic assessment

Describe assessment and interview data in culturally diverse settings

Describe appropriate and inappropriate psychological tests that can be used with individuals of particular cultural backgrounds.

Describe ethical standards for their cross-cultural assessment practice

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Presented By

Barry Rosenfeld, PhD, ABPP

Barry Rosenfeld is a Professor of Psychology and Adjunct Professor of Law at Fordham University. He is currently the President of the American Psychology-Law Society and past president of the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services. Dr. Rosenfeld has published more than 200 peer...

Curriculum

1. Introduction

2. Importance of Culture

3. Clinical Evaluation

4. Working with Translators

5. Approaches to Assessment

6. Assessment of Feigning

7. Violence Risk Assessment

8. Concluding Thoughts

Develop a Specialty Area of Practice

Transforming mental health professionals into experts

Expert Instructors

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CE Credit

Earn CE credit for meaningful professional training that will elevate your practice

Convenience & Flexibility

Learn at your own pace, from wherever you might be!

PAU

Earn Certificates

This is badge-earning course, which means it will help you earn a certificate that can be showcased on digital platforms like Linkedin.