News

Policy enforcement initiative beginnings When the initiative began in 2016, the Board of Directors established a five-year time frame to allow member boards that were not following policy to make needed changes. The primary reason for the initiative was outlined in a letter from ASWB to boards: “Enforcing appropriate use of the exams helps maintain […]

Over the past several months, ASWB staff have reviewed proposed initiatives and provided information to members on a variety of issues not related to COVID-19. Staff uses data compiled in the Laws and Regulations database and conducts additional research when needed to assist with member requests. The Model Social Work Practice Act informs ASWB’s review […]

Among the benefits of ASWB’s Board Member Exchange meetings is the opportunity for member board members to share successes and challenges with one another and gain new perspectives. The September 2020 virtual BMX produced an exchange between two members who are geographically distant but close together in concerns. John Shalett, chair of the Louisiana State […]

The idea seems simple enough: Walking gives one time away from the rushed pace of life and allows the mind to consider ideas and alternatives that may not have been previously considered. It can calm us physically and emotionally and, maybe most importantly, get us into nature. But I think the most important part of […]

Further complicating these discussions are the legal issues around what license is required and which board has authority over the person/licensee. Substance over form carries the day in resolving some of the issues, and regulatory boards are encouraged to exercise their authority when deemed appropriate. Consider the following. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory […]

At its August meeting, the ASWB Board of Directors approved a member board’s waiver request for Clinical exam candidates to sit for the exam after 18 months of supervised experience. The approval was consistent with earlier decisions the Board has made for other waiver requests related to the Clinical exam category. With this approval, the […]

Like everything else in 2020, ASWB’s Annual Meeting of the Delegate Assembly has adapted to the times. Instead of delegates, alternates, staff, and consultants gathering in Scottsdale, Arizona, as planned, the delegate assembly will convene online several days earlier. The draft agenda, reviewed by the Board of Directors this month, covers the week of November […]

Like many other ASWB member boards, the social work regulators in these two jurisdictions have worked with emergency legal provisions related to electronic practice, licensing out-of-state social workers, and continuing education—all while figuring out how to work and meet when gathering in person is impossible. The lessons learned may mean long-term changes for the regulation […]

The willingness of legislatures across the United States to enact laws that help licensed military spouses is a positive sign for ASWB members as they work to implement the 2019–2021 Strategic Framework goal of facilitating mobility through licensure by endorsement. The trend toward reducing barriers for military spouses has been the result of nearly a […]

Building on successes in 2019—which included training 25 new item writers and facilitating committee approval of 43 percent more items than the previous year—the department has new initiatives for ensuring item quality. To accomplish these tasks and help with ongoing work, ASWB recently hired three social workers with long experience in exam development. Item bank […]