ADVOCACY WORKS
Kansas Chapter has been hard at work to ensure pandemic-related supports for social workers and our clients. We have worked hard to be your voice at the table regarding the following licensing regulatory changes.
Proposed Regulatory Licensing Changes
Join NASW-KS and receive timely emails on the progress of these regulatory changes.
1) Clinical Supervision Through Electronic Options
Good News:
Active Discussion in the process by BSRB regarding allowing supervision conducted through face-to-face either in person or, if confidentiality is technologically protected, by video conferencing and in emergent situations with telephonic means.
2) Telephonic Services
Kansas Chapter has heard from many social workers impacted barriers related to digital access and serve clients without videoconferencing technology. KS Chapter Board of Directors presented testimony at the last two BSRB Board meetings to allow telephonic (audio) services.
Good News:
BSRB is currently discussing regulatory changes to allow telephonic service during student practicums and within the LSCSW training plan. Licensing Boards across the nation and insurance companies including Medicare/Medicaid have allowed flexibility for electronic means including telephonic services during this pandemic.
3) Current barriers for graduate-level social work students
Kansas requires MSW students to complete 350 in-person client hours to obtain a clinical level social work license (Article 63 – Social Workers, 65-6306). Many graduate students are having difficulty completing their required 350 in-person hours due to COVID-19. Kansas Chapter has been working with BSRB and the Governor's office regarding this regulatory barrier as our nation and state faces a mental health crisis. Our social work graduates are so critical to meeting those needs. We have been advocating to remove the 350 in-person hour requirement and to allow televideo and telephonic services to count as direct client contact during the MSW student practicum.
Good News:
BSRB is currently discussing moving forward with changes to include services through electronic methods.
Successful COVID-19 Related Advocacy Efforts
Teletherapy Counting Toward the 1,500 hours of Direct Clinical Contact for LSCSW
KS Chapter has been a strong voice advocating that teletherapy should count toward the required 1,500 hours of direct client contact. Upon reviewing the Kansas Telemedicine Act, BSRB did issue guidance that client contact via tele-video electronic devices may be used toward the accrual of the 1,500-hour requirement.
YOUR VOICE MATTERS
Having a social work association in Kansas matters!