(1) For the purposes of this part
4, social work practice means the professional application of social work theory
and methods by a person who has completed a master's degree in social work or a
doctoral degree in social work or a bachelor's degree in social work from an
accredited social work program, for the purpose of prevention, assessment,
diagnosis, and intervention with individual, family, group, organizational, and
societal problems, including substance use disorders and domestic violence, based
on the promotion of biopsychosocial developmental processes, person-in-environment transactions, and empowerment of the client system. Social work
theory and methods are based on known accepted principles that are taught in
professional schools of social work in colleges or universities accredited by the
Council on Social Work Education.
(2) Professional social work practice may include, but is not limited to:
(a) Assessment;
(b) Differential diagnosis;
(c) Treatment planning and evaluation;
(d) Measurement of psychosocial functioning;
(e) Crisis intervention, outreach, short- and long-term treatment;
(f) Therapeutic, individual, marital, and family interventions;
(g) Client education;
(h) Case management;
(i) Mediation;
(j) Advocacy;
(k) Discharge, referral, and continuity of care planning and implementation;
(l) Consultation;
(m) Supervision;
(n) Research;
(o) Management and administration;
(p) Program evaluation and education;
(q) Social group work;
(r) Community organization and development;
(s) Social policy analysis and development;
(t) Psychotherapy;
(u) Consultation, supervision, and teaching in higher education; and
(v) Counseling.
(3) Social work practice may take place in a public or private agency or
institutional, educational, or independent setting.
(4) Social work practice is directly based upon an advanced educational
program that teaches the practitioner to analyze, intervene, and evaluate in ways
that are highly differentiated, discriminating, and self-critical. A practitioner must
be able to synthesize and apply a broad range of knowledge as well as practice
with a high degree of autonomy and skill. A practitioner must be able to refine and
advance the quality of his or her practice as well as that of the larger social work
profession. These advanced competencies must be appropriately integrated and
reflected in all aspects of a social work practice, including the ability to:
(a) Apply critical thinking skills within professional contexts, including
synthesizing and applying appropriate theories and knowledge to practice
interventions;
(b) Practice within the values and ethics of the social work profession and
with an understanding of, and respect for, the positive value of diversity;
(c) Demonstrate the professional use of self;
(d) Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination
and the strategies and skills of change that advance social and economic justice;
(e) Understand and interpret the history of the social work profession and its
current structure and issues;
(f) Apply the knowledge and skills of a generalist social work perspective to
practice with systems of all sizes;
(g) Apply the knowledge and skills of advanced social work practice in an
area of concentration;
(h) Critically analyze and apply knowledge of biopsychosocial variables that
affect an individual's development and behavior and use theoretical frameworks to
understand the interactions among and between individuals and social systems;
(i) Analyze the impact of social policies on client systems, workers, and
agencies and demonstrate skills for influencing policy formulation and change;
(j) Evaluate relevant research studies and apply findings to practice, and
demonstrate skills in quantitative research design, data analysis, and knowledge
dissemination;
(k) Conduct empirical evaluations of their own practice interventions and
those of other relevant systems; and
(l) Use communication skills differentially with a variety of client
populations, colleagues, and members of the community.
(5) Social work practice includes the clinical supervision by a licensed
clinical social worker of a person working toward certification as a certified
addiction technician or a certified addiction specialist pursuant to section 12-245-804 (3.5), if the licensed clinical social worker has met the education requirements
for a licensed addiction counselor, or the equivalent, as specified in rules
promulgated by the state board of human services pursuant to section 27-80-108
(1)(e.5) or 27-50-107 (3)(e)(II), as applicable.