To: Virginia Board of Counseling

Refer: Alesha Perkins/Perkins Medical Services, LLC

Petition--391

I am a Qualified Mental Health Professionals-A, recipient of Alesha Perkins/Perkins Medical Services, LLC, CEU classes. I hope the board will amend the regulation to allow qualified trainers/business to provide classes to QMHP-A, C. There is a great deal of CEU for counselors and social workers but not for QMHP. As the board knows, QMHP may only render some psychological services but only practice within their lawful scope of employment.  Alesha Perkins/Perkins Medical Services, LLC render CEU that are helpful to QMHP i.e., ethnic training, cultural competence, integrated care, CPR training, first-aid training, etc. Since I have been taking my 8 CEU classes with this company, I have become a better employee as well as servicing my mental health clients in the community. I have increased my communication skills with the care physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers to coordinate patient care. I want to fight for Alesha Perkins/Perkins Medical Services, LLC to continue to provide CEU classes. QMHP-A needs to take at least 8 hours of continuing educational credits to maintain the credential. I am asking the Virginia Board of Counseling to make Alesha Perkins/Perkins Medical Services, LLC, an “approved entity”.

Thanks in advance.

Community Mental Health-QMHP