DALLAS TWP. — Students in the social welfare policy class at Misericordia University recently traveled to Harrisburg to participate in the National Association of Social Workers Pennsylvania Legislative Education and Advocacy Day.
The students, accompanied by David Hage, director of field education at Misericordia University, met with state Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20, Lehman Township) and attended a Pennsylvania Senate legislative session.
The students were among more than 700 social work students and professionals from across the state who gathered to advocate for legislation relevant to the social work profession.
Among the pieces of legislation they discussed was Senate Bill 65, which would forgive student loans of commonwealth residents who use their degrees to work in child welfare. Proponents say the bill will help address recruitment and retention of social workers and ensure that competent, qualified workers continue protecting Pennsylvania’s children.
They also addressed the need for Senate Bill 530, which would amend the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act to create practice protection and update the scope of practice for clinical social workers.
The Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors is the only regulated board that does not have legal practice protection in place. The bill proposes basic practice protection to ensure individuals who provide clinical social work services are regulated in some way by the government. If passed, Pennsylvania would join every other state in the nation, except Montana, in establishing a method of protection for state citizens in the receipt of mental health services.
