The Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work is a dynamic group that offers its members multiple ways to become involved. Most of the work of the PSCSW is accomplished through committees. These committees are always interested in involving new members. Belonging to a committee can require a very small time commitment, or a more a significant one, according to the member's preference and availability. Below are some examples of the Society's committees/projects and their recent work.
Education Committee
The Education Committee is a very important part of the Society; it is responsible for planning and putting on multiple educational programs each year for our membership and other interested social work professionals. We meet once a month on Wednesday evenings in the city, and our programs are generally held on Saturday mornings. Committee members have considerable influence over programming direction and we value both new and seasoned professionals' input. The committee is a good spot for people who would like to be visible and to network within the larger clinical social work community, as well as for those who are more comfortable doing behind the scenes work. While we take our educational mission seriously, we have fun doing so. The committee is warm and friendly, our meetings are lively and we always welcome new members.
Coffee & Conversations Committee
Coffee and Conversations are informal Continuing Education events (free for members) that provide a forum for sharing, learning and networking among members and potential members of PSCSW and offer continuing education hours for a $10 fee. This committee generates speaker ideas and plans the series that takes place in members' homes, generally on Friday evenings for 2 hours.
Ethics Committee
The Ethics Committee provides a forum for members to explore ethical dilemmas brought to their attention by PSCSW members. In addition, the committee reviews complaints concerning unethical practices involving a member of PSCSW through the use of an ad hoc committee with procedures that have been designed to insure thoroughness and even-handedness. Findings and a recommendation are reported to the Executive Committee for action. Throughout this process, the identities of the member and the complainant remain confidential.
Legislative/Licensure Committee
This committee serves multiple purposes. We review Bills that get introduced into the House and Senate and provide feedback to our lobbyist in Harrisburg. We keep our membership informed of these bills and other legislative matters via our Newsletter and group e-mail list. We encourage our members to write letters to their Senators and Congressmen regarding specific legislative matters that affect clinical social workers.
This committee has also been the main PSCSW presence before the state legislature and state regulatory review bodies as we have moved through the LSW and LCSW licensing process. We have been the leader in coordinating multiple social work groups in Pennsylvania around the issues of licensure, vendorship and social work regulations.
The committee is also responsible with the Executive Committee for hiring lobbyists and deciding the relative importance of lobbying at any given time. We welcome all members' interest and time. We meet as needed and attend meetings in Harrisburg at the Social Work Coalition and legislator's offices as needed.
Downloads:
- Click here to link to the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee works to attract new members and to welcome those who have recently joined. We meet quarterly but are often active with telephone and e-mail communication. We attend educational events to be available to answer questions about membership, call new members to welcome them, and review membership applications. We sponsor an annual brunch for new members. The committee has begun an initiative to enhance membership in Allentown, Harrisburg/Lancaster and Bucks County regions of PA.
New Professional Development Committee
The New Professional Development Committee of PSCSW maintains and develops supportive services for graduate students and transitional members. Members of the committee oversee a mentoring program; a clinical supervision referral list; a licensing prep course; and an awards program for graduating MSW students. Students from all the area MSW programs serve on the committee, and our members visit second year classes during the school year to encourage student membership in PSCSW. In addition, we feed ideas to the other committees about the needs of new social work professionals.
Newsletter Committee
Our Newsletter is published three times per year. We are always looking for members who can contribute articles as well as ideas for articles for publication.
Nominating Committee
This committee is responsible for generating a slate of nominees when new officers and Board members are being elected.
Private Practice Committee
The Private Practice Committee serves several functions. We work to improve the visibility of our member's practices, and make our member's practices more accessible to consumers through our newsletter and website. We develop programming that enriches our member's ability to practice from a clinical as well as an administrative perspective. We provide information about insurance issues and regulation changes to our members, and will provide an annual update to our members with regard to various insurance carriers.