An Emerging Theory to Guide Clinical Social Workers Seeking Change in Regulation of Clinical Social Work

Authors

  • Dianna Cooper-Bolinskey Cpaella University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18060/22622

Keywords:

Advocacy, Barriers to Change, Changing Legislation, Clinical Social Work, Grounded Theory, Jurisdictional Regulation

Abstract

U.S. regulation of social work began in the 1940s. By the mid-1990s, all jurisdictions within the United States regulated the profession through licensure. One purpose of licensure is to protect the public and the profession; however, legislation defining social work varies vastly among jurisdictions. The variation exists not only between jurisdictions, but also within licensure categories. The disparity within clinical social work continues without resolve. This qualitative study explored the barriers encountered and solutions used in three states as they secured laws allowing licensed clinical social workers to independently provide mental health services. Grounded theory research, based on information from 12 historians, is used to develop a theory to aid advocates in jurisdictions not yet achieving fully independent practice of clinical social work. The emerging theory offers a complex-systems approach to using a strategic framework to overcome barriers when attempting policy change. The primary purpose of the research is to develop strategies that aid in securing changes in clinical social work regulation. The emerging theory may serve a broader purpose by supporting the Association of Social Work Board’s (ASWB) goal of practice mobility and license portability. As advocates in various jurisdictions attempt to align regulations with the Model Social Work Practice Act from ASWB, they may experience barriers. This emerging theory could guide efforts to change clinical social work regulation.

References

Association of Social Work Boards [ASWB]. (2015a). Total number of social workers (October 1, 2015 Data File). Culpeper, VA: Author.

ASWB. (2015b). Model Social Work Practice Act. Culpepper, VA: Author.

ASWB. (2016). Services. Retrieved from http://members.aswb.org/services/

ASWB. (2017). Social work practice mobility. Retrieved from http://movingsocialwork.org/

ASWB. (2018a). Compare license information. Retrieved from http://aswbsocialworkregulations.org/licenseReportBuilder.jsp

ASWB. (2018b). Number of jurisdictions in each license category (September 24, 2018 Data File). Culpeper, VA: Author.

ASWB. (2018c). Total number of social workers (September 28, 2018 Data File). Culpeper, VA: Author.

ASWB. (2019). Social work practice mobility. Retrieved from www.movingsocialwork.org

Bibus, A., & Boutte-Queen, N. (2011). Regulating social work: A primer on licensing practice. Chicago, IL: Lyceum Books, Inc.

Biggerstaff, M. A. (1995). Licensing, regulation, and certification. In R. L. Edwards & J. G. Hopps (Eds.), Encyclopedia of social work. Washington, DC: NASW Press.

Clark, E. J. (2013). National Association of Social Workers. In T. Mizrahi et al. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of social work. Washington, DC: NASW Press and New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.260

Collins, D., Coleman, H., & Miller, P. (2002). Regulation of social work: A confusing landscape. Canadian Social Work Review, 19(2), 205-225.

Cooper-Bolinskey, D. (2017). Identifying problems and solutions in changing state legislation regarding licensed clinical social workers providing private independent mental health services (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global (order number 10693691).

Cooper-Bolinskey, D., & Blower, C. (2016). Pursuing legislative authority for clinical social workers to provide private independent mental health services in the United States: What is the status and what are the issues? Journal of Sociology and Social Work, 4(1), 26-34. doi: https://doi.org/10.15640/jssw.v4n1a4

Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (2015). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Council on Social Work Education. (2018). Curricular guide for licensing and regulation: 2015 EPAS curricular guide resource series. Alexandria, VA: Council on Social Work Education.

Dyeson, T. (2004). Social work licensure: A brief history and description. Home Health Care Management & Practice, 16, 408-411.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1084822304264657

Epple, D. (2007). Inter and intra professional social work differences: Social work’s challenge. Clinical Social Work Journal, 35(4), 267-276.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-007-0098-0

Groshong, L. (2009). Clinical social work practice and regulation: An overview. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, Inc.

Marks, A. T., & Knox, K. S. (2015). Social work regulation and licensing. In K. Corcoran & A. R. Roberts (Eds.), Social workers’ desk reference (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

McNutt, J. G. (2013). Social work practice: History and evolution. In T. Mizrahi et al. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of social work. Washington, DC: NASW Press and New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.620

National Association of Social Workers. (2016). Mental health. Retrieved from http://www.naswdc.org/pressroom/features/issue/mental.asp

NVivo. (2017). NVivo Pro 11 for Windows. Retrieved from http://www.qsrinternational.com/nvivo/nvivo-products/nvivo-11-for-windows/nvivo-pro

Randall, A. D., & DeAngelis, D. (2013). Licensing. In T. Mizrahi et al. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of social work. Washington, DC: NASW Press and New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.225

Stuart, P. H. (2013). Social work profession: History. In T. Mizrahi et al. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of social work. Washington, DC: NASW Press and New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.623

U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2018). National provider identifier registry file from December 11, 2018 [downloadable]. Retrieved from http://download.cms.gov/nppes/NPI_Files.html

Weismiller, T., & Whitaker, T. (2013). Social work profession: Workforce. In T. Mizrahi et al. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of social work. Washington, DC: NASW Press and New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.624

Downloads

Published

2020-01-22