National Association of Social Workers CALIFORNIANEWS www.naswca.org October 2010 • Volume 37, Number 2 Fingerprint Requirement for Licensees and Registrants Reprinted from the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) website s a result of the adoption of new not exist in the DOJ’s criminal offender regulations, all licensees and record identification database, must Aregistrants who have previously comply. Please keep your address of not submitted fingerprints as a condition record updated so that you receive the of licensure or registration for the BBS, notification. or for whom fingerprints do not exist in My license is currently on inactive the DOJ’s criminal offender record iden- status. Do I still need to comply? tification database, must do so prior to Why Engage in Social Yes. Even if your license is on inac- their next renewal date occurring on or tive status, you must submit fingerprints after October 31, 2009. Failure to com- and Political Action? before your next expiration date occur- ply with this requirement can result in By Clark Williams, MSW ring on or after October 31, 2009. disciplinary action or the issuance of a fine of up to $5,000. I remember getting fingerprinted using he ethical standards the ten-print fingerprint card method How do I determine when I of our profession, with my initial application to the BBS, need to get this done? as stated in the do I still have to get fingerprinted T The expiration date on your license again using the Live Scan method? NASW Code of Ethics, says that all or registration will determine when you social workers should engage in social Yes. If you completed fingerprints for need to comply. For example, if you and political action and to “be aware the BBS using the ten-print fingerprint have an expiration date of March 31, of the impact of the political arena on card method with your initial applica- 2010, you need to submit fingerprints by practice and advocate for changes in tion, you will have to fingerprint again March 31, 2010 since this is your first policy and legislation to improve social for the BBS using the Live Scan elec- expiration date after October 31, 2009. conditions in order to meet basic human tronic submission method in order to If your expiration date is October 31, needs and promote social justice.” establish a record in the DOJ’s criminal 2009, you must submit fingerprints by In an effort to highlight the critical offender record identification database. October 31, 2009. The language of the role that social workers play in develop- For more answers to common ques- regulation specifically refers to renewal ing and advocating for effective safety tions and to download these two forms dates on or after October 31, 2009. net programs, NASW established the (Licensee/Registrant Request for Live The BBS is sending out a courtesy theme of the 2010 Social Work Month Scan Submission Form, Instructions for notification to all individuals who need as “Social Workers Inspire Commu- Completing Request for Live Scan Sub- to comply approximately 90 days in nity Action.” Across California, social mission Form), visit www.bbs.ca.gov/ advance of your expiration date (see workers have been showcased for their licensees/licensee_fingerprint_require- question five). Remember, only those dedication and expertise in improv- ment.shtml. After reading all of the licensees or registrants, who have not ing community life through advocacy information provided on the BBS web- previously submitted fingerprint sub- and activism. Now, more than ever, it’s site, additional questions can be e-mailed mitted, or for whom fingerprints do to [email protected]. / Conintued on page 4 In This Issue Feature Article ....................................... 4 Call for Nominations .............................. 9 NASW Announcements ......................... 5 Priority Legislation ............................... 10 President’s Message ............................. 2 Licensure Classes ................................. 6 Voter Guide ......................................... 12 Executive Director’s Message ................ 3 Online Classes ...................................... 8 Region Activities ................................. 16 2 October 2010 Vol. 37, No. 2 NASW California News www.naswca.org FROM THE PRESIDENT more. This legislation deserves your consideration and hopefully your sup- The Dream Act: port. It would allow children brought Past Reality, Present Struggle, Future here by their undocumented parents a pathway to full employment and citizen- in Question—Where Are You? ship. Many of us know young adults By Mary Kay Oliveri, MSW, LCSW, Diplomate in Clinical Social Work who have successfully completed BSW, MSW and PhD programs in social work, er real name is not the Statue speech or the ability to practice any reli- yet, they cannot legally be employed in of Liberty; her real name gion or none at all. You know, that set their field. The Dream Act is a small, is “The Mother of Exiles.” of “inalienable rights” learned about in H but important, step toward social jus- We are a country largely populated every grade school in the country. tice. You will find other links on the by those who move into it. Early on These principles are a collective of website to further your knowledge this was a country shared by nomadic beliefs about social justice, equal access around related struggles in the debate tribes migrating the great land expanses and the inherent value of an individu- on immigration. based upon seasonal changes and fluc- al’s participation in deciding about the Take time to take charge, gather tuations in habitability, food, shelter, important things in their own lives. This information, and answer the question safety or, yes, even then, war. Settlers is a good thing, since these principles are about where you are in the immigration and immigrants took hold, joined and fairly well-aligned with the values and debate. / expanded the population of this land. ethics of social work practice. And, Giving rise to cities, asphalt highways, social workers are active participants agriculture, industry, social successes at all levels of the social systems that CALIFORNIA and social failures. Over time, complex have emerged around the human prob- CHAPTER LEADERSHIP organizations, institutions, governmen- lems and potentials of this nation. So Board of Directors Officers 2010-2011 tal structures, principles of justice, laws, where are we as individuals and as an PRESIDENT legal codes and agents of social control organization on this debate about immi- Mary Kay Oliveri, MSW, LCSW have evolved. The binding force of this gration? We are right in the middle of evolving human cacophony has been it all, as individual citizens, as a profes- FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Christine Ford, LCSW a set of principles like the freedom of sion, and as a national organization that advocates for and provides essential ser- TREASURER Emily Nicholls, LCSW vices to immigrants, citizens or not. There is an apparent groundswell of SECRETARY Jennifer Tan, MSW concern about the number of immi- grants—legal and particularly illegal—in VP LEGISLATIVE & POLITICAL AFFAIRS our state and in our nation. Interesting, Shaaron Gilson, LCSW, DCSW since at the most fundamental level, we VP MEMBERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL SERVICES are all either migrants or immigrants Julie Griffin, MSW with many stories, partially true and VICE PRESIDENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT imagined, of how we or our ancestors Edward Davila, MSW arrived on these shores. STUDENT DIRECTOR NORTH There is important legislation in play Diana Traub across our nation. At the same time we STUDENT DIRECTOR SOUTH are building fences to keep people out of Jen Haller land they have moved across for longer Give me your tired, your poor, than most of us have lived, there is a NASW California News (ISSN-1042-279X) is piece of national legislation that could published monthly except bimonthly in Septem- Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, ber and November/December by the National go a long way in bringing fairness to Association of Social Workers, California Chapter The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. what has been an intractable situation. at 1016 23rd Street, Sacramento, CA 95816. The Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, If you have not heard of the Dream Act opinions expressed are those of the authors and not those of NASW California News or NASW I lift my lamp beside the golden door! or if you have heard of it but would like California Chapter. Periodicals postage paid at to know more, go to www.socialwork- Sacramento, CA. Postmaster send address changes From the poem inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, to National Association of Social Workers, atten- ers.org/practice/intl/2010/dreamact.asp tion: Membership Services, 750 First Street, NE, “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus. on the national NASW website and learn Washington, DC 20002. Vol. 37, No. 2 NASW California News www.naswca.org October 2010 3 FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Social work isn’t on the leading Are We Practitioners or edge of economic growth, but Professionals? rather trails behind picking up those By Janlee Wong, MSW left behind by the economy. t a recent California Board of no. While the focus of the exchange was we’d definitely need three licenses. If we Behavioral Sciences (BBS) meet- on what the three service providers do were licensing just by common service Aing, a heated debate transpired or are, there is a greater context which provision, says psychotherapy, then one as to whether the practice/profession of is if we are all the same, why do we have license might do. licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), three licenses? But let’s set that aside for We probably will remain separate marriage family therapists (MFT) and a moment. licenses since the organization of a licens- licensed professional clinical counselors Arguably, the scientific analysis (say ing statute is based on training, education (LPCC) is the same or not.