Posted on February 28, 2013 by SARAH MURPHY Over 300 social service providers signed a letter to New York State officials, providing policy recommendations regarding controversial social work policies. A brief excerpt is below or you can read the full letter and list of supporters here. We, the undersigned organizations, write to urge comprehensive action this year to address the many problems arising from the licensure of social workers and other mental health professionals. Specifically, we support: Governor Cuomo’s proposed permanent extension of the unlicensed practice exemption, with an amendment to include the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Legislation replacing the corporate practice prohibition that makes it a felony for organizations to employ licensed social workers and other licensed mental health professionals without statutory authorization, as well as the corporate practice waiver program, with an exemption from the corporate practice ban for these professions Legislation narrowing the restricted scopes of practice for social work and other mental health professions to clarify those activities that may be performed without a license and to preserve the jobs of unlicensed professionals and para-professionals across the human services sector. Download the full letter here.
