Judy Ratliff and Wayne Martin, Co-Chairs, VA Legislation and Advocacy Committee

Supervision

The Virginia Health Care Foundation has a program called Boost 200.  It is a new initiative that will pay for licensure-required supervision for motivated Master's-prepared social workers to help them become LCSW in VA.  For more information, please go to https://www.vhcf.org/boost 200/

The Virginia Telemental Health Initiative (VTMHI) is a pilot program to expand access to timely and appropriate telemental health services to low-income, un-and under-assured patients by collaborating with pre-licensed behavioral and mental health professionals.  To help expedite licensure, VTMHI will match the latter with supervisors to achieve needed client contact hours while providing pro-bono support in free and charitable clinics.  For more information, please go to https://ehealthvirginia.org/vifrginiatelementalhealth/

Foundational Competencies in Older Adult Mental Health Certificate Program

The E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Disparities in Aging, in partnership with CATCH-ON, the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program based at Rush, and the Rush Center for Excellence in Aging has developed an online educational program that provides  basic knowledge that every mental health clinician needs to work effectively with older adults.  It is a 14 hour certificate program that can serve as a first step in developing competency in older adult mental health.  Please contact aging@rush.edu for details.

Petition for Rulemaking

Below, please find information on rulemaking by Joe Lynch, the Legislative and Advocacy Chair for the Virginia Society for Clinical Social Workers (VSCSW).

1. Interstate Social Work Compact: Attached and also you can see it at this hyperlink:  https://compacts.csg.org/compact-updates/social-work/
2. Petition for Rule-Making: Attached and you can see it at this hyperlink: https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewPetition.cfm?petitionId=371
3. Estimated Economic Impact on MSW supervisees
4. Letter to Jaime Hoyle requesting Administrative Change
5. NASW notice to CareDash and Better Help
6. Message to VSCSW and GWSCSW 
7. Assessment of the Capacity of Virginia’s Licensed Behavioral Health Workforce: Attached and also at this hyperlink: https://www.vhcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BH-Assessment-Final-1.11.2022.pdf
8. VBSW-approved supervisor list 
9. Psychology letter re: Emotional Support animals 
10. VSCSW and GWSCSW Legislative Committee Meeting Agenda 8-9-22
11. Grant opportunities for MSWs under supervision, to receive funds to pay for supervision toward LCSW

Judy Ratliff, Co-Chair, jratliff.lcsw@gmail.com  | Wayne Martin, Co-Chair, wamnoles@aol.com