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We learned that Florida law restricts the use of the title of “social worker” as outlined in Florida LAW: 491.016 Social work; use of title. (Links to an external site.) To be a ‘social worker‘ in the State of Florida, a person is required to possess a “bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work from a social work program accredited by or from an institution that is an active candidate for accreditation as a social work program by the Council on Social Work Education.”

There is another way to attain the use of this title – as you could complete an equivalent degree at a university or college outside of the United States or Canada. There are other exceptions as well. If you were working in the state prior to July 1, 2008, and you used this title in your employment, you can continue to call yourself a ‘social worker.’ Or, if you are working in a long-term care facility licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration and working under administrative supervision you are allowed to use this title too.

This is the primary reason it is important for you to attend a college or university that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This is also an example of using voluntary accreditation standards to establish policy. FIU is accredited by the CSWE.

CSWE (Links to an external site.)is our accrediting body and you should be familiar with this organization and what they require. FIU follows these guidelines since we are accredited. This provides a guide to you to see what is required of FIU to provide to you – as well as to identify what you should be learning during your studies.

Please review the CSWE Competencies. (Links to an external site.)

(Links to an external site.)There are nine (9) competencies at this time as established in the 2015 standards. Please review these standards

In other words, for micro, mezzo, and macro practice social workers should follow the four-steps in the social work process of engage, assess, intervene and evaluate.

When I first learned social work standards many years ago, the emphasis was on assessing the client before intervening. In other words, don’t just start doing “stuff” but base your actions on the assessment. Later, the importance of evaluation was emphasized. The logic was that you should be able to determine the effectiveness of your interventions, so evaluation was key. More recently we have started to appreciate the importance of the first step of engagement is vital.

Since this course is on policy practice, let us examine Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice.

Social workers understand that human rights and social justice, as well as social welfare and services, are mediated by policy and its implementation at the federal, state, and local levels. Social workers understand the history and current structures of social policies and services, the role of policy in service delivery, and the role of practice in policy development. Social workers understand their role in policy development and implementation within their practice settings at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels and they actively engage in policy practice to effect change within those settings. Social workers recognize and understand the historical, social, cultural, economic, organizational, environmental, and global influences that affect social policy. They are also knowledgeable about policy formulation, analysis, implementation, and evaluation.

Social workers:

1. Identify social policy at the local, state, and federal level that impacts well-being, service delivery, and access to social services;
2. assess how social welfare and economic policies impact the delivery of and access to social services;
3. apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.

Please review the CSWE competencies for your own knowledge. This allows you to see what is expected of you, and what you should be learning to be an effective social worker.

Please comment on Competency 5 and policy practice. What are your thoughts, opinions and what can you do to achieve these competencies? Please share your thoughts, as well as respond to your colleagues on this discussion board.