Margot Aronson

The legislative picture across our country and in Congress is dramatically different with the recent election cycle.

New faces could mean significant changes in the leadership and/or makeup of the DC Council committees we monitor and interact with. These are primarily the Committee on Health, which deals with a range of health and mental health issues, and has oversight of the Board of Social Work, and the Committee on Human Services, which monitors Child & Family Services, disability services, and youth affairs. Watch for updates on the listserv and in the next News & Views.

No LICSW on the DC Board of Social Work

Velva Spriggs, LISW, is the current Chair of the DC Board of Social Work; she serves with Danielle Nelson, LGSW, and Seleya Moore, the consumer member. Velva is an excellent Chair, but the difficulties of managing the responsibilities of a five-member Board with only three members should be self-evident, especially given that the largest category of licensees by far – LICSWs – are not represented.

Licensed bachelor-level social workers are not represented on the Board at present, but this is not surprising, as their overall number is small and few reside in the District, a requirement for serving. However, there are several thousand LICSWs, and many reside here. What about you?

GWSCSW members who have served say that the experience was challenging and very, very rewarding. The website of the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments has the information you’ll need about how to apply. Please DO!

CEU and License Renewal Notes

All our DC licenses will come up for renewal on July 31, 2019. For this renewal, the 40 hours of Continuing Education Units must include 6 hours of Ethics (face-to-face) and 2 hours of LGBTQ training. Only 12 hours of the total 40 can be online.

And here’s an FYI: The best place to check on current license and supervision expectations and requirements is the Board’s website (https://dchealth.dc.gov/service/social-work-licensing). If you have a question, you can call the Board: Mavis Azariah Armattoe, 202/442/4782, or email mavis.Azariah@dc.gov

When there’s confusion, sometimes Adele Natter and I can help clarify; we represent GWSCSW and CSWA at the Board’s monthly Open Session (10 AM on the 4th Monday of each month). We maintain a mutually collegial relationship, sharing information with the Board and Michael Francum of NASW-DC Metro, who also attends when he is able. Open Session generally lasts about an hour and a half, depending upon the concerns raised; once adjourned, the Board begins its Executive Session. The public is welcome at the Open Session, and if you decide to attend, you’re more than welcome to join us for coffee and a danish after.

Margot Aronson, LICSW, chairs the GWSCSW L&A committee for DC. A past GWSCSW president, she has also served as newsletter editor and director of Legislation & Advocacy. Margot currently advocates on mental health and LCSW practice issues for us all at the national level as the Clinical Social Work Association Deputy Director for Policy and Practice.