Dr. Tom Black of Darsey, Black and Associates in Hinesville was recently named Forensic Mental Health Evaluator of the Year by the National Board of Forensic Evaluators (NBFE).

Black is also with Atlantic Counseling Services in Savannah.

According to a press release from the NBFE, Black has demonstrated exemplary contributions to the field of forensic mental health evaluation by:

- Developing and presenting the Testing for Forensic Populations series, a workshop designed to enhance the competency of licensed mental health professionals who wish to administer, score and interpret psychological tests for forensic practice, and assisting with partnership agreement with Psychological Assessment Resources for Level C Certification status for graduates of the workshop

- Growing and managing a thriving, successful private practice in forensic mental health evaluation that provides employment opportunities for numerous mental health professionals

- Successfully advocating for appropriately-trained licensed professional counselors (LPCs) in Georgia to maintain the right to administer and interpret psychological tests and to diagnose mental disorders in partnership with the Fair Access Coalition for Testing with regard to Senate Bill 319

- Contributing numerous volunteer hours writing and developing policy as Chair of NBFE’s Policy CommitteeVolunteering to train mental health professionals in the administration and interpretation of psychological tests commonly used in forensic evaluation at no cost to NBFE

This is the first year this award has been given. It will be conferred annually to a certified forensic mental health evaluator each year in recognition of evaluator’s exemplary contributions to the specialty field of forensic mental health evaluation.