Social Work Month Recognized Locally and State Wide

SOCIAL WORK MONTH

March is Social Work Month, and the 2023 theme is Social Work Breaks Barriers.  The theme “Social Work Breaks Barriers” resonates because social workers are on the frontlines helping our nation overcome myriad challenges, including economic inequality, reproductive rights, racism, and natural disasters worsened by global warming.  We continue to break barriers by advocating for equal rights for all, debt relief, and improving health care delivery.

During Social work Month, NASW-Michigan has spearheaded efforts to raise public awareness about how social workers continue to break barriers in all communities, and how the contributions of this essential profession improve our state. This year, we have had several proclamations at the state and local levels naming March as Social Work Month.

Thank you to Rep. Carrie Rheingans for introducing the resolution to name March as Social Work Month in the state of Michigan! And thank you to Rep. Betsy Coffia for introducing the resolution to name this week as School Social Work Week.

We have also received proclamations from Ann Arbor, the City of Lansing, Washtenaw County, and Oakland County!

MEDICAID WORK REQUIREMENTS

Rep. Julie Rogers has introduced legislation to repeal the Michigan Medicaid work requirements. It was discussed at the House Health Policy Committee yesterday, and was sent back to the full House for a second reading. You can follow the progress of the bill on our website.

LGBTQ+ RIGHTS EXPANDED 

People within Michigan’s LGBTQ+ community will now be better protected against discrimination. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an expansion of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act into law Thursday. The expansion prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender or identity or expression in employment, public accommodations and public services, educational facilities, housing and real estate. The expansion passed the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives earlier in March.

NATIONAL POLICY ALERT

The bipartisan Improving Access to Mental Health Act (S 838/HR 1638) has been introduced in the US House and Senate! Urge your members of Congress to support the Improving Access to Mental Health Act to reduce barriers to care. Click here to act now!

LICENSING UPDATE

NASW-Michigan staff continue to have meetings with legislators and LARA staff. Here are some other states moving forward with licensing changes:

Illinois

Last year, the Illinois General Assembly advanced Senate Bill 1632 (SB1632) which removed the licensing exam for BSWs and general MSWs. This created a pathway for MSWs to become Licensed Social Workers while collecting the required supervision hours for becoming a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). This would allow these individuals to legally be called social workers while giving IDFPR better oversight of these currently unregulated professionals. It also created a much needed path for macro-level social workers to legally be called a social worker and become licensed as a social worker in Illinois, a title they have earned and are entitled to carry.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island’s social worker licensing has two tiers: licensed clinical social workers, and licensed independent clinical social workers. Licensees at both levels must meet multiple qualifications, including completion of a master’s or doctorate social work degree at a qualifying higher education institution. The bill establishes that, for the next three years, only licensees at the higher level — licensed independent clinical social workers — be subject to the requirement of a standardized test, and encourages the Board of Social Work Examiners to consider offering that test in languages other than English as well as other accommodations for those who are not native English speakers or other alternatives that might not include the standardized test. 

Connecticut 

Connecticut is moving forward with HR 6837, which lowers the licensure fee for renewal, makes the license renewal every two-years and temporarily suspends the master exam for the LMSW. They are also moving SB 2 that calls for a 2-year license renewal and lowers the licensure application fee. 

New Jersey 

New Jersey has introduced legislation in support of the Interstate Licensure Compact, which would create a legal contract between two or more states/territories enabling practitioners (in this case, social workers) to practice in each other’s jurisdiction, once practitioners demonstrate they meet the compact requirements.