The Social Work Reinvestment Initiative (SWRI)
Minnesota Chapter Plan
Introduction
The Intent of the NASW National and State Social Work Reinvestment Initiative (SWRI)
Last year NASW announced a major initiative designed to unify and advance the social work profession at both the state and national levels. The Social Work Reinvestment Initiative is an integrated action plan that addresses several of the key goals identified by the 2005 Social Work Congress and builds on NASW’s Social Work Public Education Campaign and recent findings by its national WorkforceCenter.
As explained by national NASW Executive Director, Elizabeth Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH, “The goal is to get government, employers, and others to fully recognize the importance of social work and to persuade them to assist us in recruiting, retraining, and retraining professional social workers.” Work on the initiative will begin at the state level and may include components such as obtaining additional funds for social work education, greater support for research, strengthening policies and regulations to improve social work practice, and advocacy for social work education loan forgiveness.
Process utilized to develop the Minnesota Social Work Reinvestment (SWRI) Plan
The Minnesota Chapter SWRI Plan was created through the collaborative efforts of the NASW-MN Board of Directors and its executive director. The chapter began work on the plan at the Annual Leadership Meeting in Washington, DC in April, 2007. The conference was attended by Alan Ingram, chapter executive director, and Marcie Jeffries, chapter vice-president who, together, developed the first draft during a three hour workshop.
The first draft was presented at the chapter board meeting in May, 2007 and again at the June executive committee. The board, at its July orientation meeting for new board members, commissioned an ad hoc committee to amend the plan in accordance with the board’s previous discussions. The final draft was approved by the board at its January, 2008 meeting.
SWRI Invested Individuals and Groups:
NASW-MN Membership and Marketing Committee
Anne Gearity, Chair
Paula Haraldson, Co-Chair
Ken House, Treasurer
Jen Edwards, Geographic Unit Rep
Anne Bomstad Miller,
Laura Boisen, President
Marcie Jefferys, Vice President
NASW-MN Continuing Education Committee (SPICE)
Connie Aligada, Chair
Rosemary Martin
Heather McMoore
Jackie Narjes
Claire Garcia
Judy Dawley
Abby Windmeier
NASW-MN Executive Committee
Laura Boisen
Anne Geartiy
Marcie Jefferys
Ken House
Megan Morrissey
Sara Benson
Nate Rauschendorfer
MN Coalition of Licensing Social Workers
Pam Berkwitz, Chair
Sarah Anderson, MN Society for Clinical Social Work
George Baboila, Alan Ingram, NASW, MN Chapter
Karen Frees, MN Association of Home Care Social Workers
Randy Herman, MN Conference on Social Work Education
Julie Porath, MN School Social Workers Association
Rosemary Martin, Past Chair and Advisor
State Data Profile of Social Work Labor Force
Licensure
Minnesota has four levels of social work licensure:
- Licensed Social Worker (LSW) for BSW level graduates
- Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) for recent MSW graduates
- Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) for advanced generalists who may practice independently
- Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) for clinicians who may practice independently.
Distribution oflicensees across license categories:
LSW5,125
LGSW1,269
LISW 718
LICSW3,260
Total 10,372(this total has remained substantially the same since licenses were first issued in 1990)
Licensed Social Workers Per County, AlphabeticalCOUNTY / Population in 2005 / Licensed Social Workers
Aitkin / 17032 / 12
Anoka / 327532 / 286
Becker / 32245 / 48
Beltrami / 42783 / 107
Benton / 38619 / 55
Big Stone / 5591 / 6
Blue Earth / 59703 / 109
Brown / 26973 / 46
Carlton / 34174 / 62
Carver / 85782 / 75
Cass / 30329 / 31
Chippewa / 12966 / 20
Chisago / 49961 / 43
Clay / 53569 / 111
Clearwater / 8351 / 6
Cook / 5478 / 8
Cottonwood / 11786 / 19
Crow Wing / 63280 / 100
Dakota / 392401 / 462
Dodge / 20041 / 9
Douglas / 36543 / 51
Faribault / 15580 / 24
Fillmore / 21885 / 14
Freeborn / 32256 / 45
Goodhue / 46573 / 53
Grant / 6204 / 4
Hennepin / 1161381 / 2590
Houston / 20061 / 13
Hubbard / 19538 / 18
Isanti / 37669 / 43
Itasca / 45558 / 58
Jackson / 11100 / 15
Kanabec / 16229 / 11
Kandiyohi / 42232 / 124
Kittson / 4994 / 3
Koochiching / 14195 / 5
Lac qui Parle / 7971 / 11
Lake / 11472 / 7
Lake of the Woods / 4489 / 4
Le Sueur / 27297 / 18
Lincoln / 6132 / 9
Lyon / 25745 / 52
Mahnomen / 5155 / 2
Marshall / 9905 / 16
Martin / 21194 / 30
McLeod / 37157 / 37
Meeker / 24035 / 28
Mille Lacs / 25202 / 49
Morrison / 34027 / 49
Mower / 39476 / 54
Murray / 8936 / 9
Nicollet / 31523 / 89
Nobles / 20556 / 17
Norman / 7137 / 4
Olmsted / 140058 / 362
Otter Tail / 59892 / 114
Pennington / 13798 / 16
Pine / 28391 / 25
Pipestone / 9499 / 11
Polk / 31404 / 55
Pope / 11572 / 15
Ramsey / 516019 / 1356
RedLake / 4266 / 7
Redwood / 16364 / 15
Renville / 16912 / 39
Rice / 62093 / 68
Rock / 9421 / 16
Roseau / 16781 / 26
Scott / 118308 / 90
Sherburne / 81205 / 91
Sibley / 15625 / 8
St. Louis / 200541 / 360
Stearns / 144250 / 332
Steele / 35825 / 49
Stevens / 10084 / 7
Swift / 11831 / 12
Todd / 25128 / 24
Traverse / 3955 / 2
Wabasha / 22974 / 19
Wadena / 13976 / 27
Waseca / 19839 / 29
Washington / 226766 / 177
Watonwan / 11557 / 12
Wilkin / 7058 / 11
Winona / 50834 / 99
Wright / 112538 / 105
Yellow Medicine / 10729 / 19
TOTAL / 5257496 / 8769
Social Work Education Programs
Name of Accredited Program / Location / BSW enrollees / BSW grads / MSW enrollees / MSW grads / PhD enrollees / PhD gradsAugsburgCollege / Minneapolis / 59 / 15 / 104 / 40
BemidjiStateUniversity / Bemidji / 100 / 25
BethelUniversity / St. Paul / 75 / 25
College of Saint Benedict/St. Johns / St. Joseph / 42 / 11
College of St. Catherine/St. Thomas / St. Paul / 120 / 60 / 127 / 100
ConcordiaCollege at Moorhead / Moorhead / 69 / 21
MetropolitanStateUniversity / St. Paul / 150 / 84
Minnesota State University-Moorhead / Moorhead / 100 / 57
Minnesota State University-Mankato / Mankato / 120 / 60 / 60 / 32
St. CloudStateUniversity / St. Cloud / 160 / 80 / 40 / 32
SaintOlafCollege / Northfield / 33 / 17
Southwestern University / Marshall / 50 / 25
The College of Saint Scholastica / Duluth / 100 / 25
University of MinnesotaDuluth / Duluth / 230 / 40
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities / St. Paul / 250 / 100 / 23 / 7
WinonaStateUniversity / Winona / 220 / 70
Large Social Work Employers
Unfortunately, at this time we have not been able to find a comprehensive survey that lists how many social workers are employedby particular employers. As we discover more specific information, it will be added to this plan. The following agencies or settings employ fairly large numbers of social workers:
Veterans Administration, Lutheran Social Services, Catholic Charities, County and State employees, Minneapolis Family and Children Services, Children’s Home Society and Family Services, Minneapolis and St. Paul Jewish Family Services, Mental Health Resources, MN public schools, nursing homes and home health agencies, public and private hospitals and clinics, community mental health centers, community corrections, the Wilder Founation, Volunteers of America, Professional Association of Treatment Homes, Family Alternatives, Family Focus.
Requirementsto Employ Social Workers
Social workers are required by federal and state law and regulations, as well as by many accrediting bodiesfor hospitals, clinics, family service agencies, etc. The chapter has not yet attempted to catalogue all of the regulatory permutations. As we collect this information, it will be added to the plan.
ReinvestmentIssue Areas
ISSUE #1
Define Issue:Practice Improvement
- Includes diversification of workforce for underserved populations, increased availability of qualified and affordable practice supervision, and long distance continuing education in a variety of formats
Data Available/Needed to build case:
- Identification of underserved populations and obstacles to the distribution of an appropriately diverse and qualified workforce
- Data expressing needs of social workers regarding training supervision and other workplace conditions
Favorable conditions supporting the issue being addressed (key legislative support, public backing):
- Legislature has already asked the MN Board of Social Work (BOSW) for a report on workforce issues for underserved populations.
- MN Department of Human Services (DHS) has already called for better training and supervision of maters level mental health professionals.
Unfavorable conditions/impediments to addressing the issue:
- While clinical licensing standards have been enacted effective in 2011, funding will be required to support practice supervision in both public and private agencies.
- Distance options for continuing education will require “up-front” investment in access to technology and development of training content and formats not currently in possession of the chapter.
Estimated Time Frame for accomplishment (1-3 years or longer): At least three years
People/partnership/consultant resources required:
- Schools of Social Work
- Internet-based Training Consultant
- Cooperation with Other Social Work Practice Organizations
- Mental Health Legislative Network (MHLN)
Financial resources required (budgetary, grant, PACE): Unknown at this time
Key external resources – legislators/regulatory boards/other associations: Legislature, DHS, MHLN
Priority Ranking:1
Tasks/Timeline
Define Task / By whom? / By when? / NotesAdminister survey of chapter members and other social workers in Minnesota / Membership and Marketing Committee (M & M) Intern / Winter 2008 / Survey has been designed and will be distributed in Jan/Feb.
Preliminary poll of CE attendees has been distributed and results will be presented at January meeting of chapter board.
Analysis of member/nonmember survey and integration with other available data / M & M Intern / Spring 2008
Chapter decides which practice improvement options to develop / M & M and chapter board / July/September 2008
Resources budgeted and directed to develop distance CE and supervisor trainings / Chapter Board / July/Sept 2008
Distance CE trainings produced and made available to social workers throughout MN / Chapter Board, relevant committees and staff / July 2009
Supervisor trainings produced and made available to social workers throughout MN / Chapter Board, relevant committees and staff / January 2009
List of qualified supervisors are posted on-line / BOSW / July 2009 / Coalition of Licensed Social Workers in MN is already lobbying BOSW to do this
Report on underserved populations and workforce issues are presented to the MN legislature / BOSW / Dec 2008
Explore strategies for improving practice diversity by ethnicity, geography, and practice mode / Chapter Board, BOSW, and Licensing Coalition / Ongoing
ReinvestmentIssue Areas
ISSUE #2
Define Issue: Title protection and Repeal of Public Employee Licensing Exemption
Data Available/Needed to build case:
1)Data showing that professionally trained/educated social workers are more effective than others working in social positions without professional social work training/education
2)Number of exempt social workers without professional training (i.e. scope of the issue)
3)Examples of poor practice by non social workers
4)Examples of mislabeling in the media or other public discourse
Favorable conditions supporting the issue being addressed (key legislative support, public backing):
1)Board of Social Work is committed to repeal of public agency exemption from licensure requirements
(BOSW has relevant data)
2)Growing resentment by professionally trained social workers of others using social work title
3)Some managers in exempt settings would like to professionalize their workforce
4) Growing realization that fixing the inappropriate use of social work title means that licensure exemption must be repealed
Unfavorable conditions/impediments to addressing the issue:
1)Rigid/entrenched merit system (county civil service)
2)Public social service managers resistant to interference in personnel issues
3)Concern re increased cost of hiring professionally trained and/or licensed social workers
4)Unions may resist on behalf of members without social work training but who value having the title currently
Estimated Time Frame for accomplishment (1-3 years or longer): At least 3 years
People/partnership/consultant resources required:
- Support of licensing coalition
- Schools of social work
- Some support from public agencies (e.g., managers with MSW’s)
- Relevant state agencies
Financial resources required (budgetary, grant, PACE):Unknown
Key external resources – legislators/regulatory boards/other associations:
- Legislative author(s)
- Consumer advocacy groups (e.g., NAMI)
- Board of Social Work and staff
- Allies among county managers and union members
Priority Ranking: 2
Tasks/Timeline
Define Task / By whom? / By when? / NotesContinue to be represented on licensing board task force and licensing coalition / Chapter ED and Board / Ongoing
Board discussion re specific strategies, tasks/steps / Chapter ED and Board / Spring 2008
Joint announcement of 2009 Legislative Campaign / Chapter Board, BOSW, and Licensing Coalition / July 2008
Member updates/information, e.g. featured presentation at Annual Conference, web page, Newsbytes / Chapter Board, BOSW and Licensing Coalition / Ongoing
Mobilization of membership in Chapter and among Coalition organizations / SPAN and Licensing Coalition / Fall 2008 / And during 2009 Legislative Session
Direct Lobbying of title protection and public exemption repeal bill / Staff of chapter, coalition and BOSW / Close of 2009 Legislative Session
ReinvestmentIssue Areas
ISSUE #3
Define Issue: Student Loan Forgiveness (BSW & MSW)
Data Available/Needed to build case:
1) Cost of education/loan load vs. entry level wages (especially compared to other professions)
2) Social work labor shortage, especially in critical areas (professionals of color, rural areas, and child welfare and aging)
3) Relationship to state’s overall economic development goals, especially workforce
4) Demographic and economic state trends data relevant to social work (e.g., increasing poverty rates, racial disparities, rapidly aging population, including increasing longevity of most frail population)
5) Evidence that social work is effective in addressing critical state issues, especially related to cost-effectiveness
Favorable conditions supporting the issue being addressed (key legislative support, public backing):
1)Democrats controlling state house and senate for the first time in several years
2)More accredited social work programs in the state
3)Minnesota’s positive tradition of commitment to addressing social needs
4) Retirement of social workers creating demand for new workers
Unfavorable conditions/impediments to addressing the issue:
1)Republican governor running for VP who has sworn not to raise taxes
2)Increasing supply of social workers may potentially depress wages
3) State budget still constrained, unlikely to improve without a tax increase
Estimated Time Frame for accomplishment (1-3 years or longer): Three years at least
People/partnership/consultant resources required:
- Need coalition of supporters to accomplish
- Student associations
- Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
- MCSWE
- DHS
- BOSW
Financial resources required (budgetary, grant, PACE):Unknown at this time
Key external resources – legislators/regulatory boards/other associations:
- Key legislators/champions
- Key state agencies, i.e. those who would benefit from an expanded/better trained social work workforce
- Key non profit agencies (see above)
Priority Ranking: 3
Tasks/Timeline
Define Task / By whom? / By when? / NotesNASW Board Discussion / Chapter Board and Staff / July 2008 Board Retreat
Present to coalitional partners / Staff and chapter’s reps to Licensing Coalition / July 2009 / To obtain feedback from other stakeholders like coalition organizations and educators (MCSWE)
Member updates/information, e.g. featured presentation at Annual Conferences / Staff and chapter leadership / Ongoing
ReinvestmentIssue Areas
ISSUE #4
Define Issue:Unified Professional Identity
Recognize growing fragmentation among social workers in different practice areas (direct service, community practice, administration, policy/advocacy, research, etc.). Profession needs to identify common values and principles that will allow NASW to represent social workers who have a unified professional identity.
Data Available/Needed to build case:Anecdotal information that suggests confusion and alienation among social workers in different practice groups that appears to interfere with NASW member recruitment and retention.
Favorable conditions supporting the issue being addressed (key legislative support, public backing):
- Growing awareness by chapter leaders of the issues
- “Wingspread” conference produced hope for unity between social work practice and educator communities
Unfavorable conditions/impediments to addressing the issue:
- Many social workers have a strong identity with specialty organizations (e.g., Clinical Society, MN Nursing Home
SW Assoc., MN School SW Assoc., MCSWE, Assoc. of Macro Practice SW (AMPSW))
Estimated Time Frame for accomplishment (1-3 years or longer): At least two years
People/partnership/consultant resources required:Schools of Social Work and other social work associations in MN
Financial resources required (budgetary, grant, PACE):Unknown at this time
Key external resources – legislators/regulatory boards/other associations:Coalition of Licensed Social Workers in MN
Priority Ranking: 4
Tasks/Timeline
Define Task / By whom? / By when? / NotesInitiate focus groups to identify common ground among practice specialty groups / M & M Committee / Spring 2009
Promote joint programming to model collaboration among specialty groups / Chapter board, committees, and Licensing Coalition / Ongoing
Generate membership benefits that appeal to social workers in diverse practice areas / Chapter board, committees, and Licensing Coalition / Ongoing
Identify and market chapter benefits and resources that appeal to social workers in diverse practice areas and encourage positive and unified professional identity / Chapter board, committees, and Licensing Coalition / Ongoing