Personnel security investigators and adjudicators require assistance to address cases involving mental health concerns (Dickerhoof, Wortman, Osborn, and Smith, 2017; Senholzi, Langham, Smith, and Shechter, 2016). Staff psychologists at DoD's Consolidated Adjudication Facility (DoD CAF) are available to consult with adjudicators, but investigators do not have an equivalent resource. Furthermore, CAF psychologists do not perform psychological assessments; instead, adjudicators request these assessments through community clinicians when needed. Because these clinicians are rarely trained in the nexus between mental health and national security they often fail to provide necessary information, causing delays in the clearance process. Another procedural problem involves the collection of mental health information from the subjects treatment provider. This has long been protocol for investigators, but the treatment provider experiences a conflict of interest and often has concerns about what can or should be shared. Given this, obtaining mental health opinions from treatment providers can be time-consuming and confusing for investigators and providers alike. To address these points, prior Defense Personnel and Security Research Center (PERSEREC) studies recommended an independent cadre of clinicians trained to assess judgment, reliability, and trustworthiness on behalf of the Federal Government. To continue this initiative, PERSEREC engaged SMEs to determine the pre-selection qualifications and recommended skill standards needed to operate in this role. Additionally, PERSEREC explored training program implementation strategies and assessed interest and concerns from other Departments and Agencies (D and As) regarding shared use of this service. Results indicate that a clinician cadre should be initially developed for clearances adjudicated at DoD CAF. Once established, the cadre can be offered to other D and As who could also benefit from it.
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