State of Social Work

October 2011 Janlee Wong, MSW Executive Director NASW California Chapter www.naswca.org

Workshop Goals and Objectives

Understand the Broad View of Social Work
The Profession: Who are we? Professional Issues

Connect Contemporary Issues to Social Work Practice

Historical Perspective Policy Issues

Where to Find Out More

NASWCAS MISSION
The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs of those who are vulnerable, oppressed and living in poverty.

CA Marriage Family Therapy Assoc.

To advance marriage and family therapy as an art, a science and a mental health profession. To serve and represent the common professional and business interests of marriage and family therapists. To set and maintain professional standards for marriage and family therapists. To advocate and work to achieve public and private policies for the advancement of family life.

CA Psychological Association
The California Psychological Association supports the psychologists of California in their efforts to promote the health and well-being of all citizens through volunteer association members and professional staff who: Educate the public about when and how to access psychological services as well as provide referrals when requested Provide leadership to the profession through legislative advocacy and regulatory oversight, marketing, and media outreach Create opportunities for continuing education, networking and mutual support among psychologists of all areas of specialty Offer professional practice consultation by providing information on clinical, legal, and ethical issues to help psychologists better serve the public Promote research, education, and training in psychology

CA Psychiatric Association
The California Psychiatric Association (CPA) was founded in 1961 and is responsible for carrying out legislative, regulatory, judicial, educational, advocacy, and public affairs activities on behalf of organized psychiatry in California. CPA hires legislative advocates to work with the California legislature, State regulatory agencies, and administrative agencies to ensure that patients with psychiatric disorders will have access to high quality medically necessary treatment. CPA's legislative activities have included obtaining parity for mental illness, advocating for better regulation of managed care activities, and lobbying against inappropriate expansion of scope of practice for inadequately qualified mental health disciplines. CPA also works with the California Medical Association, patient and family advocacy groups, and other State organizations on issues of mutual concern and interest.

Social Workers, Unique & Different Systems, Person in Environment Approach Policy Stressed in Social Work Education Social Action, Social Justice in Social Works Ethics

Workforce CA LCSWs
Age 44 plus 63%; White: 70%; Hispanic 13%; black 4% Nearly 20% identified their practice setting as a hospital/medical center, followed by private solo Practice. 13% employed in a social service agency, while 10% employed in a behavioral health clinic/outpatient facility, and 10% employed in a health clinic/outpatient facility. 38% non profit, 28% government, 25% for profit 4% mental health, 13% Health, 10% Child Welfare/Fam (n=225, 2004 survey data, Center for Workforce Studies)

The Professions Issues

The ethnic and racial diversity of the American population is not reflected in the social work profession. The profession has not attracted social workers of color, consistent with the population's demographics. Yet services, to be effective, must recognize and address the needs of diverse populations and cultures.

The Professions Issues

A significant sector of the social work labor force will age out at a time when baby boomers reach retirement and the United States experience an increased population of older Americans requiring social services. How will the profession meet these needs with a reduced labor force? Workforce planning strategies must address recruitment and retention of a new generation of professional social workers.

The Professions Issues

Increasingly complex cases are being managed by professional social workers at a time of decreased community resources and support for clients. This type of work requires a high degree of skill and professional training. Workforce strategies must address professional training issues - not just academics and competencies, but also economic factors that could hinder potential students from pursuing careers in social work

Social Work Is A Great Profession Master's prepared social workers identified a high level of satisfaction with both their jobs and their professional preparation. Planners can capitalize on this when considering recruitment and retention of the next generation of social workers.

Historically, Social Work is Societys Safety Net

Celebrating Our Legacy

Social Workers helped implement:
Civil Rights Unemployment Insurance Disability Pay Social Security and Workers Compensation Humane treatment for people with mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance abuse problems Medicaid and Medicare to give people who are poor, disabled and elderly people access to health care Prevention and reporting programs for child abuse and neglect Special education programs

Today: Social Programs under Attack

Fundamental Shift Political Shift Cutbacks in service funding

Fundamental Shift
Civil War: Establishes authority Federal govt over states Late 19th Century: rise of big business, unregulated markets 1930s Great Depression: Large scale govt social intervention, increased regulation 1960s: War on Poverty, govt financing of healthcare 1980s-90s: Retrenchment, movement to deregulation 2000s: Over deregulation leads to market implosion Today: Attacks on big govt, power shift to big business

Political Shift
1930s 1960s: Democrats use govt to address social ills Republicans, Democrats and big business uses govt to rebuild after the great depression and World War War, Cold War, War on Poverty increases govt spending With big business rebuilt, and rise of the middle class, Republicans push smaller govt & ending social programs Terror war fuels big business, financial collapse fuels new populism and xenophobia Rise of the Tea Party

Tea Party Social Movement

White, male, married, Over 45, more conservative, more Republican 73% disapprove of engaging with Muslim countries, 88% approve of the controversial immigration law recently enacted in Arizona, 82% do not believe that gay and lesbian couples should have the legal right to marry, and that about 52% believed that "lesbians and gays have too much political power University of Washington

Social Issues Recession = Budget Cuts = Prog Cuts

Cutbacks in service funding

SSI/SSP: ($845/1,407). No State COLA Calworks: ($694) Cuts employment, child care, exempt parents with young children from work, 48/60 maximum, 50% grant cuts for review and work failures IHSS: Maximum state wage share from $12.10 to $10.10 (court stayed); cut domestic svcs, some categories; cost share, fingerprinting

Cutbacks in service funding

CWS: $80m cut, 10% rate cut (foster care, group homes, SED) Community clinic, Medi-Cal cuts, Developmental Centers/Regional Centers; AIDS/HIV; Domestic Viol; ADHC Trigger cuts: By Dec 2011 if California doesnt meet
$4 billion revenue target 2011-12 fiscal year, state will impose $2.5 billion in added cuts to K-12 schools, higher education, public safety and social services.

Social Work Under Attack

Cuts in social work jobs Flat salaries, attacks on pension plans Tuition increases makes recoupment over 20 years Stipend students unable to payback Few social workers in management, policy positions Deprofessionalization, Encroachment, Supervision issues, no title protection Unclear image

Social Work Fights Back

Resisting Budget Cuts NASW Advocacy for social work jobs in fields with resources:
Military, veterans social work Healthcare healthcare reform care homes and managers Corrections (rehabilitation) Mental health Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63)

NASW alliances and coalitions (labor, other)

Social Work Fights Back

Opposing tuition increases, high salaries for university administrators Support development of more scholarships Stipend Programs: Relaxation of payback rules NASW Advocacy with licensing board
Separate and distinct profession than MFT and Counselors Adoption of the national clinical social work exam Resisting over regulation and mandates Appointment of social worker on the Board of Behavioral Sciences

Social Work Fighting Back

Support National Network of Social Work Managers California Institute of Mental Health (CIMH) managers training program NASW California Chapters Lobby Days program
April 15 & 16, 2012 Sacramento Radisson Hotel and CA State Capitol

NASW California Chapter and National PACE (Political Action for Candidate Endorsement) One MSW in state legislature, several considering 2012 election run

Congressional Social Work Caucus

Rep. Linda T. Sanchez (D) Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D) Rep. Fortney Pete Stark (D) Rep. Maxine Waters (D) Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D) Rep. Susan A. Davis (D) Rep. Bob Filner (D) Rep. Michael Honda (D) Rep. Darrell Issa (R) Rep. Barbara Lee (9) Rep. Laura Richardson (D)

Outside Exercise (voluntary)

Get a group together to visit a Congresspersons district office Ask your representative to join the Congressional Social Work Caucus More Info: http://socialworkcaucustowns.house.gov/ Reps. Mike Thompson, George Miller, John Garamendi, Wally Herger, Nancy Pelosi, Tom Lantos, Ellen Tausher, Zoe Lofgren, Lynn Woolsey

Professional Issues

Social Work Fighting for Title Protection

NASW 3 efforts in past ten years, blocked by counties Successes: dual county job titles, state social workers Incremental approach: AB 671 CWS Supervisors

What You Can Do (voluntary)

Organize a small group to lobby for title protection County welfare, social services, childrens services directors County Board of Supervisors representative County social services advisory board Union representatives

Group Exercise List the arguments for title protection

Licensing Issues
New Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) Shift to new exam scheme
Pass a law and ethics course within the first year of registration Failure to pass requires taking a law and ethics course and reexam After hours and coursework requirements completed, take the clinical exam (slated to be the Assoc. Of Social Work Boards ASWB exam)

Continuing Competency

Recent Policy Issues Dream Act Non professional administration of medication Minors Consent for administration of vaccines

NASW Federal
Social Work Reinvestment Act Introduced by social workers: Cong. EdolphusTownes, Senator Barbara Mikulski The Need Is Obvious Aging Mental Health Poverty Healthcare Veterans
2007 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. 34

Social Work Reinvestment Act

Barriers to social workers meeting the need
College debt, low salaries, safety concerns, image Need for social work research on effective interventions Need for community based programs of excellence Need for workplace improvements such as lighter caseloads Need for more training &education finance

2007 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved.

35

Social Work Reinvestment Initiative Goal

Secure federal and state investments in professional social work to enhance societal well-being.

State Level Reinvestment Efforts

Loan forgiveness Enhancing licensing and legal regulation
Title protection Multi-level licensing Reimbursement Scope of practice Privileged communication Authority to diagnose

Enhanced pay for professional social workers Use of research to improve practice and development of practice-based research agendas

SWRI Tactics v. Big Money Lobbying Communicate Collaborate Advocate Partner Host Plan

Possible SWRI Tools

Recruit
Legislative Advocacy Public Education Workforce Development
-Briefings -Testimony - Caucus -Student Survey -School Outreach -Labor Force Projections -Research

Retain
-Reimbursement Bills/Provisions -Title Protection - Advertising - News Stories -Research -Employer Best Practices

Retrain
-Education Bills -Training Bills -Career Tools -Publications -Trend Analysis -Career Advice

Reactivate
-Elections -Mobilization -SWR Act -Endorsements -Materials -Conferences -Presentations

Potential SWRI Friends & Foes

State Legislators Unions Schools of Social Work Allied Professions State Licensing Agency/Board Consumers/Advocates Public Agencies Private Agencies Hospitals Governors Office State Department Heads Issue-Based Coalitions Professors, Field Instructors Medical Society Clinical Society National MH Associations Sister SW Organizations Schools of Public Health Business Community

NASW Resource for Policy Work

Social Work Speaks 64 policy statements on 18 subject areas ranging from Adolescents to Violence Text and supplemental reading for policy classes Lobbying and advocacy Research and Legal action Based on social work values, NASW Code of Ethics Adopted and revised by the NASW Delegate Assembly

NASW Advocacy Resources

Washington DC Lobbyists California Lobbyist:
Rebecca Gonzales, Chapter Director Leg and Political Affairs Policy social work interns

www.naswca.org
Bill tracking through legisweb LEG ALERT: Letter, email, fax, phone campaigns to legislators through Capwiz

National Public Education Campaign

California Public Education Program

Advertising:
Gallerias, bus stops, billboards, BART, radio (Spanish),

Public Service Announcements (PSA) www.naswca.org

Video competition

References
www.socialworkers.org www.naswca.org www.cbp.org www.helpstartshere.org www.bbs.ca.gov www.cswe.org http://www.bls.gov/home.htm http://calswec.berkeley.edu/ http://workforce.socialworkers.org/planning.asp http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_Party_movement#Membership_a nd_demographics

ONLINE Evaulation
Help us meet BBS Requirements for CEUs http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ceuworkshop

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