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Board narrows licensing objectives, agrees to weave DEIA into website and licensure goals
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Summary
At a strategic planning session the Board of Behavioral Sciences endorsed staff objectives to improve online tools and streamline licensure pathways and directed staff to weave diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) considerations into objectives and action plans.
The Board of Behavioral Sciences continued a strategic planning session focused on licensing objectives, directing staff to improve online tools and to integrate diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility across objective language.
Board members and staff debated specific wording for objective 2.1 — whether to 'develop and enhance online tools and guidance' or to 'improve website tools and resources' — and agreed the aim is to make guidance clearer and easier to use for applicants and registrants. Staff noted required ADA accessibility for state websites and recommended including prominent FAQs, clearer guidance documents and potentially chat‑style navigation aids to help applicants understand the pathway to licensure.
Why it matters: Board members said improving navigation and guidance can shorten time to licensure and increase the pool of qualified therapists serving Californians. Members emphasized that this work must not compromise consumer protections and that DEIA considerations (multiple languages, readable fonts, accessibility) be integrated where appropriate so the improvements are meaningful rather than performative.
Board members asked staff to retain explicit references to staffing efficiencies — cross‑training and temporary staff — in objectives intended to reduce application processing times. On fees, the board agreed to assess application charges for equity, transparency and fiscal solvency as part of the licensing goal area.
"Improve website tools and resources to support applicants and registrants" will be reworded in the draft strategic plan to highlight navigational guidance and publicly posted guidance documents, with staff returning a revised text for final approval. The board asked staff to present an action plan with measurable steps (FAQs added, materials translated, accessibility checks) and timelines as the strategic plan advances toward adoption.
The board will review the revised objectives at the next meeting and expects staff to present proposed tasks and metrics as part of the plan's implementation tracker.
