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JUST EMAIL THE VIRGINIA BOARD OF SOCIAL WORK

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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 VAC 140-20-10 et seq.    When you call or email the Board and you ask some question and the staff member gives you an answer, that does not mean what the staff member told you in the answer is something you can count on being the correct answer.  WHAT?   Below is a paragraph that appears at the bottom of every email sent out from the VBSW:
ANY AND ALL STATEMENTS PROVIDED HEREIN SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS AN OFFICIAL POLICY, POSITION, OPINION, OR STATEMENT OF THE VIRGINIA BOARDS OF COUNSELING, PSYCHOLOGY OR SOCIAL WORK. BOARD STAFF CANNOT AND DO NOT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE. BOARD STAFF PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO THE PUBLIC BY PROVIDING REFERENCE TO SOCIAL WORK STATUTES AND REGULATIONS; HOWEVER, ANY SUCH ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY BOARD STAFF SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE FOR ANY PARTICULAR SITUATION, NOR SHALL ANY SUCH ASSISTANCE BE CONSTRUED TO COMMUNICATE ALL APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING ANY PARTICULAR SITUATION OR OCCUPATION. PLEASE CONSULT AN ATTORNEY REGARDING ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS RELATED TO STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS, INCLUDING THE INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE VIRGINIA BOARDS OF COUNSELING, PSYCHOLOGY OR SOCIAL WORK.  UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL THE BOARDS OF COUNSELING, PSYCHOLOGY OR SOCIAL WORK, ITS MEMBERS, OFFICERS, AGENTS, OR EMPLOYEES BE LIABLE FOR ANY ACTIONS TAKEN OR OMISSIONS MADE IN RELIANCE ON ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS EMAIL
To me this says "Don't believe anything I just told you." Everyone knows that the above was written by an attorney. Most likely by a Virginia Assistant Attorney General that provides counsel to the Department of Health Professions.  This kind of statement is part of what motivates me to write my blog, to offer clinical social work supervision and to offer consultation.


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