§467E-1 Definitions. As used in this chapter:

"Department" means the department of commerce and consumer affairs.

"Director" means the director of commerce and consumer affairs.

"Exempt government employee" means an employee in a social worker position with any federal, state, or county government agency.

"Practice of social work" [Definition effective until June 30, 2004. For definition effective July 1, 2004, see below.] means applying the formal knowledge base, theoretical concepts, specific functional skills, and essential social values that are used to effect change in human behavior, emotional responses, and social conditions, and helping individuals, couples, families, groups, and community organizations enhance or restore their capacities for personal and social functioning and preventing and controlling social problems. Social work practice is the professional application of social work values, principles, and techniques in the following areas:

(1) Information, resource identification and development, and referral services;

(2) Preparation and evaluation of psychosocial assessments and development of social work service plans;

(3) Case management, coordination, and monitoring of social work service plans in the areas of personal, social, or economic resources, conditions, or problems;

(4) Administration, development, implementation, and evaluation of social work programs and policies;

(5) Treatment and prevention of psychosocial dysfunction, disability, or impairment, including emotional and mental disorders;

(6) Social work consultation;

(7) Research through the formal organization and methodology of data collection and the analysis and evaluation of social work data practice; or

(8) Clinical diagnosis or psychotherapy, or both, only if the practitioner is a licensed social worker who initially and trienially registers with the department and is granted permission to use the designation "C.S.W." or "clinical social worker" after providing proof of current certification by:

(A) The National Association of Social Workers as a qualified clinical social worker or diplomate in clinical social work; or

(B) The American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work as a board certified diplomate.

"Practice of social work" [Definition effective July 1, 2004. For definition effective until June 30, 2004, see above.] means applying the formal knowledge base, theoretical concepts, specific functional skills, and essential social values that are used to effect change in human behavior, emotional responses, and social conditions, and helping individuals, couples, families, groups, and community organizations enhance or restore their capacities for personal and social functioning while preventing and controlling social problems. Social work practice is the professional application of social work values, principles, ethics, and techniques in the following areas:

(1) Information, resource identification, referral services, mediation services, advocacy services, and education of individuals, groups, couples, and families;

(2) Preparation and evaluation of assessments and development and implementation of social work service plans;

(3) Case management, coordination, casework intervention, and monitoring of social work service plans in the areas of personal, social, or economic resources, conditions, or problems;

(4) Administration and development of social service programs, policies, community organization, planning, implementation, and involvement in the evaluation of social systems and social policies;

(5) Social work consultation and resource development;

(6) Research through the formal design and methodology of data collection and the analysis and evaluation of data, social work programs, social systems, and social policies;

(7) Psychosocial assessment, diagnostic impressions, treatment of individuals, couples, families, and groups, prevention of psychosocial dysfunction, disability, or impairment, including emotional, mental, and behavioral disorders, and evaluation of practice effectiveness; and

(8) Clinical diagnosis or psychotherapy, or both, provided by a licensed clinical social worker.

"Social worker" or "licensed social worker" [Definition effective until June 30, 2004. For definition effective July 1, 2004, see below.] means a person who:

(1) Uses the title of "social worker";

(2) Has met the licensing requirements set forth in this chapter; and

(3) Who engages in the practice of social work as defined in this section.

"Social worker" [Definition effective July 1, 2004. For definition effective until June 30, 2004, see above.] or "S.W." means a person who has been issued a license as a licensed bachelor social worker, licensed social worker, or licensed clinical social worker to practice within the scope of practice as provided in this chapter. [L 1994, c 251, pt of §2; am L 2001, c 229, §§2, 5; am L 2002, c 16, §29 and c 167, §§6, 17]

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