ACTION MUST BE TAKEN NOW!

The HB 3331 passed the committee and is now out to the entire Texas Legislature for vote.

It may not seem like much of an issue, but it is the idea that certain people can be exempt from the testing for licensing, which discredits the profession of the social worker.

Here are some comments from the LinkedIn discussion:

George Anderson, MSW, BCD, CEAP • I previously served as Vice Chair of the California Board of Behavioral Science. We enchanted as issue in which many faculty failed the exam. With worked with NASW and the Society for Clinical Social Work to teach anyone interested in the content needed to pass the exam. Rather than exempting the faculty from the need to pass the exam, why not teach them how to succeed in passing the exam.

Rachel Lebowitz LMSW • NO NO NO! I don’t think you should be hired to teach social work if you haven’t passed the social work license! That is a horrible idea! I agree with George Anderson! Teaching those who can’t pass, shows social work value. As is, our profession is looked down on enough! Now we want to parade around saying our teachers don’t have to pass the exam? Think about how this will affect the progress we have made as a profession. I only see the negative here. We talk so much about support, educate, empowerment and that is how we should be reacting to those teachers who are having a hard time passing the test. Would we ever say to a client, “Hey, you are having a hard time with your parenting skills? That’s ok! Don’t worry about parenting classes you’ll figure it out!” NO!

Stacey Cook • Ah a big NO! We have become the elite profession we are by putting specific standards in place to demonstrate that social work is a “practice” and an evidence based one at that – one that is much more than tree hugging and friendly visitors. I’m not sure that not requiring professors to take the exam is going to help to continue to professionalize the business of social work.

Sarah Jo Twitchell, PhD, LISW-S • How can teachers be expected to guide students in passing their license exams if they’ve been unable to pass them themselves? As an LISW-S teaching as an adjunct faculty at the college level, I say absolutely no.

Judith Barr • No, why would that be a consideration? Privilege is a misused/misguided dynamic. Social workers/teachers have no excuse/reason to be exempt from any license requirements. Who would even suggest such a thing and why?

M. Shaffield • I also think this is absolutely absurd – who wants to go into practice learning from professors who themselves are not licensed social workers!

Kerry L. Tuttle, LCSW • I think it is absurd to exempt one who is teaching others to become social workers from taking the exam that would qualify them as a social worker. How could someone teach something they aren’t even qualified to be?? Social workers struggle to be taken seriously as professionals and appropriately compensated for their services. This bill simply works against the profession.

After reading these opinions, how can you not take action on this issue?

Contact your State Representative and tell them to vote against HB 3331!

If you don’t know who represents you, see the link below to find out:

Who Represents Me?

Find out who you need to contact and send them an email or fax to let them know how detrimental this Bill would be to the profession of social workers!

Send something today!

This is a sample of a letter that I have mailed to the Human Services Committee, it is merely a suggestion for consideration for you to send to your representatives. Please take pride in your profession and send something to your State Representative. Our profession can not experience this set back!

SAMPLE LETTER TO STATE REP

In service of the profession of Social Workers,

Sonya G. Adams, LMSW