Virginia Requirements for the LCSW and LMSW; "Mysteries Solved"

QMHP- ???? QMHP is a designation that was initially created by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS).   The Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS-also known as Medicaid) defined services delivered by a QMHP as reimbursable.   The licensing part of the DBHDS required contractors to maintain documentation in the personal files of each QMPH that documented the employee met the requirements.   DMAS conducted an audit and found that such documentation was lacking in many situations.   This led to a collaborative effort by DMAS, DBHDS and the Department of Health Professions (DHP) to have legislation passed that required all persons with the designation of QMHP to be registered with the Board of Counseling (one of 23 health regulatory boards in the DHP). The Board of Counseling (BOC) drafted proposed regulations.   As part of that process, they filed an Agency Background Statement that stated the purpose of the reg...

 BOARD APPROVED SUPERVISOR REGISTRY- CONTACT INFORMATION    In the 2023 Virginia General Assembly session The Virginia Health Care Foundation was the primary initiator of a bill that would require the Virginia Board of Social Work to maintain a list of Board Approved Supervisors that included  contact information.   Previously there was no contact information provided.  This bill becomes effective July 1, 2023.  Below is the text of the bill.  Number 8 and 9 are the new parts of the law. https://legiscan.com/VA/text/HB2231/2023 CHAPTER 489 An Act to amend and reenact § 54.1-3705  of the Code of Virginia, relating to Board of Social Work; powers and duties. [H 2231] Approved March 24, 2023   Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 1. That § 54.1-3705  of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows: § 54.1-3705 . Specific powers and duties of the Board. In addition to the powers granted in § 54.1-2400 , the Boa...

It occurred to me back in May that the list of Board-Approved Supervisors on the Virginia Board of Social Work (VBSW) website was public information. So, I sent a Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Board asking for a copy of the entire list of Board-Approved Supervisors.  The list is stored electronically so I asked for an electronic copy.  They sent it to  me.  The VBSW is a public body.  That is important because the Virginia FOIA states:  By enacting this chapter, the General Assembly  ensures the people of the Commonwealth ready access to public records in the custody of a public body  or its officers and employees, and free entry to meetings of public bodies wherein the business of the people is being conducted. The affairs of government are not intended to be conducted in an atmosphere of secrecy since at all times the public is to be the beneficiary of any action taken at any level of government. Unless a public body ...

  Hopefully, if you graduated from a CSWE-approved MSW program with a clinical track then the concept of boundaries is very familiar to you.   When I was chair of the discipline committee of the Virginia Board of Social Work (VBSW)  the vast majority of the complaints about LCSWs were about some type of boundary violation.   Usually, a sexual boundary violation or what might be called gross mismanagement of your countertransference feelings.   Over my 45 years of Clinical Social Work practice, I have presented continuing education workshops on Social Work Ethics many times.   I ask the participants this question: “Which of you think that it is OK to have sex with your clients?”   I think you can guess how many folks raise their hands.   Zero.   So, how is it that when MSWs graduate and begin clinical social work practice  100% of them know they should not have sexual activity with their clients BUT then sexual boundary violations become ...

  MSWs seeking information about the requirements for social work licensure in Virginia are often told "Just send an email to the Virginia Board of Social Work (VBSW) or to call the Board.   You can do that if you want to.  However this is one of the "mysteries" about the process.  Remember my post about "The Context of Licensure."  The context is a legal process.  A key legal element is called "Due Process."  In this context  it means everyone must be treated the same.  Everyone is equal. The Board can't give one person or group of persons information that gives them an advantage over another person or group of persons. The process must be "fair."   So, when you call or email the Board everyone must get the same information.  The "Gold Standard" is the Social Work law  Chapter 37 of Title 54-1 of the Code of Virginia , Social Work   and the  Regulations Governing  The Practice Of Social Work  18 V...

    Approved Supervisor for LCSW The Virginia Board of Social Work (VBSW) has established requirements in the regulations for LCSWs to become an  approved supervisor (See below). B. Requirements for supervisors. 1. The supervisor shall hold an active, unrestricted license as a licensed clinical social worker in the jurisdiction in which the clinical services are being rendered with at least two years of post-licensure clinical social work experience. The board may consider supervisors with commensurate qualifications if the applicant can demonstrate an undue burden due to geography or disability or if supervision was obtained in another United States jurisdiction. 2. The supervisor shall have received professional training in supervision, consisting of a three credit-hour graduate course in supervision or at least 14 hours of continuing education offered by a provider approved under  18VAC140-20-105 . The graduate course or hours of continuing education in supervisio...