Currently: 43°F
More than 150 students had the opportunity to meet with their local legislators and advocate on behalf of bills that affect social workers thanks to the social work department at Millersville University. April 16 was the National Association of Social Workers PA Chapter (NASW-PA) Legislative Advocacy Day. The NASW-PA held a conference at the capital in Harrisburg at 7:30 a.m.
This event was an interactive way for students to witness macro (community) social work first-hand,” said Brittany Parsons, social work graduate assistant. “Many students that attended the conference are in policy or macro social work classes, and the event complimented what they were learning in the classroom.”
“I went to advocate for practice protection in Pennsylvania,” said Ana Sackett, a junior majoring in social work. “It’s important to fight for this because it states that only licensed social workers can deliver clinical social work services. Social workers receive a bad name when unqualified individuals are taking the jobs of competent professionals.”
Pennsylvania does not currently have a practice protection program in place for social workers. According to the NASW-PA, practice protection is important for social workers. “Creation of practice protection for licensed social workers, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists and professional counselors would ensure that providers meet competency standards and adhere to ethical practice.”
The social work department at Millersville University paid the registration fee for 156 students, as well as provided transportation to 101 students. The Social Work Organization helped to facilitate and cover costs of the event.
For more information, contact Parsons at sowkgrad@millersville.edu or visit the NASW-PA website at www.nasw-pa.org/.
