Implications for Field Education

Increase in standards for the clinical license (LICSW) and other licensing levels

Take effect on August 1, 2011 Affect all students, supervisors

(especially those who provide post-graduate supervision for licensure) and licensees

Revisions due to pressures both within and without the social work profession, on both state and national level

From within the profession:Clinical coursework requirementsExpanded knowledge base

Professional counselors 2005 efforts for licensure

Consumer dissatisfaction DHS and federal audits Legislative study Comparison with other professions Governor’s Mental Health Initiative

“Clinical practice” means applying professional social work knowledge, skills, and values in the differential diagnosis and treatment of psychosocial function, disability, or impairment, including addictions and emotional, mental and behavioral disorders. Treatment includes a plan based on a differential diagnosis. Treatment may include but is not limited to the provision of psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups. Clinical social workers may also provide services described in [SUBD. 12]

1. 108 clock hours (30%) in differential diagnosis and biopsychosocial development and psychopathology across the lifespan

2. 36 clock hours (10%) in assessment-based clinical treatment planning with measurable goals

3. 108 clock hours (30%) in clinical intervention methods informed by research and current standards of practice

4. 18 clock hours (5%) in evaluation methodologies5. 72 clock hours (20%) in social work ethics and

values including cultural context, diversity and social policy

6. 18 clock hours (5%) in culturally specific clinical assessment and intervention.

Clinical knowledge areas must be completed through either/or:

1.CSWE MSW graduate degree program2.Post-graduate coursework3.Up to 90 CE hours

Note: These apply only to individuals applying for the new LICSW on or after 8/1/11. All current students will fall under these new standards.

LISW changed from 75 to 100 hours over 4000

practice hoursOf the 100 hours, 50 must be individualMay be in-person, by telephone or via eye-

to-eye media (no email) LGSW Non-Clinical Practice

changed from 75 to 100 hours over 4000 non-clinical practice hours

Of the 100 hours, 50 must be individualMay be in-person, by telephone or via eye-

to-eye media (no email)

LGSW and LISW Clinical Practice Increased to 200 hours over 4000 practice

hours of clinical practiceOf the 200 hours, 100 must be individualMay be in-person, by telephone or via eye-

to-eye media (no email)Of the 4000 total clinical practice hours, at

least 1800 must be “direct clinical contact” in order to apply for the LICSW license

For all Licensees: Required CE hours increases from 30 to 40 per

24 month renewal cycle Consultation with an experienced supervisor

can count toward 10 hours of independent study

For Licensing Supervisors only: At least 6 of 40 CE hours must be in practice of

supervision For LICSW only:

At least 24 of 40 hours must be in clinical content

Enhance the Board of Social Work’s public protection mission

Maintains clinical social workers’ parity with other mental health providers

Promotes consumer access to clinical social workers

Ensures standards for third party insurance reimbursement

Narrows definition of role of clinical social workers

More difficult for post-graduate MSWs to get required supervision – time, cost and finding qualified supervisors

May see decline in students entering advanced generalist or macro programs social workers as students move into clinical concentrations to ensure jobs upon graduation

Rural and out-state social workers may have more difficulty finding training and supervision

Clinical Knowledge Content Areas FP (F)

FP(AS)

PDPA(F)

PDPA(AS)

1. Differential diagnosis and biopsychosocial assessment including normative development and psychopathology across the life span (108 clock hours required)

175.5

115.5

120 60

1. Assessment-based clinical treatment planning with measurable goals (36 clock hours required)

75.5 60.5 27 12

1. Clinical intervention methods (108 clock hours required)

168 108 75 15

1. Evaluation methodologies (18 clock hours required)

48.75

45 22.25

18.5

1. Social work ethics and values, including cultural context, diversity and social policy (72 clock hours required)

170 105 80 72

1. Culturally specific clinical assessment and intervention (18 clock hours required)

26 18.5 15 7.5

Early proposals included requirement of minimum number of hours in a clinical internship, but this was not included in final bill

Despite this, field instructors play a critical role in helping students integrate the clinical course material into their work with clients – particularly in those settings that are not thought of as traditional clinical social work settings (non-psychotherapy settings).

Learning agendas, learning tasks, supervision discussions

Other ideas? Suggestions? More discussion in small groups