NASW-NYS In the News: Requiring Licensed Social Workers

By Capital Tonight Staff
Friday, March 18, 2016 at 05:23 PM EDT

It wasn’t until 2004 that you had to be licensed to be a social worker in New York State. At the time, several state agencies that deal with social work told the state they would need more time to adjust their workforce. So lawmakers gave them a six-year extension. After those six years, the agencies said they needed even more time, so lawmakers gave them another three years. Then they gave them another three years. And in the governor’s budget proposal and the Assembly’s one-house budget bill this year, they are recommending an additional five years from now to get into compliance. Advocates are calling on lawmakers to reject the extension, saying these agencies have had long enough to adjust. Ron Bunce is the Executive Director of the New York State chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and Karin Carreau is a policy consultant for the group.