(February 1999)
As Currents goes to press, the long-awaited Social Work Licensing bill is about to be introduced into the State Assembly and Senate Higher Education Committees for the 1999 Legislative session. The bill, which is now part of an umbrella bill encompassing several mental health professions, will be introduced by its prime sponsors, Assemblymember Ed Sullivan and Senator Kenneth LaValle. This is an important step in the legislative process, and it is expected that the bill will be presented on the floors of both houses just after the passage of the State budget in April, if not before.
The New York City and New York State Chapters of NASW as well as other members of the New York State Social Work Licensing Coalition (the NYS Society of Clinical Social Work, NYS Social Work Education Association, NYS Association of Deans of Schools of Social Work, and the Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care) are mobilizing their membership to campaign for passage. Support is also being sought from unions, agencies that employ social workers, and other professional organizations. As a measure of the importance of this NASW priority, the two NASW Chapters have jointly hired Albany attorney Lois Phillips to lobby on licensing and other professional issues. Ms. Phillips was instrumental in passage of a licensing bill for physical therapists. (The Chapters have also jointly hired New York-based lobbyist Cynthia Dames to promote the Chapter's social action agenda with the State Legislature).
It is crucial that the profession unites in showing support for this bill. NASW members should write to their State Senators and Assemblymembers (call the League of Women Voters, 212 677-5050 if you're not sure who your legislators are) and to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (932 LOB, Albany, NY 12248) and Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno (909 LOB, Albany, NY 12247) to urge passage of the legislation. Use the model letter that follows, or write your own letter of support, but do it immediately. While a groundswell of support is not a guarantee that we will achieve licensing this year, a lackluster response from social workers will do little to convince legislators that social work licensing is a must.
New York State law currently provides title protection for MSW practitioners, using the title "Certified Social Worker." Certification does not restrict the practice of social work, nor use of the title "social worker". This places the public at risk from unqualified or unethical practitioners, who hold themselves out as "social workers" without the education and training required for a BSW or MSW practitioner.
Social workers often work with the most vulnerable populations including: victims of child abuse and neglect, victims of domestic violence, welfare recipients, people with mental illness and developmental disabilities, the chronically and acutely ill, the frail elderly, rape victims, and others who may not be able to advocate for themselves and are in great need of competent, professional help. Licensing social work, defining a scope of practice, and restricting the use of the social work title to those who have been professionally educated and trained in the field will offer better services and protections to vulnerable populations with whom social workers interact.
Thank you very much for your time. Can I count on you to support this bill in the current session?