Written by Shelley Berven
As clinical social workers with a plethora of professional organizations to consider joining, it is worth a brief review of the connection between CSWA and MSCSW and of how our focus differs from NASW.
NASW is an important organization that represents all professional social work organizations, with mental health as a specialty practice section within its broader focus. MSCSW collaborates closely with NASW through funding Jenny Arneson’s work as our shared legislative consultant with the MN Coalition of Licensed Social Workers.
CSWA focuses on representing licensed clinical social workers, students, and emeritus members on national legislative and professional issues. CSWA supports statewide efforts through state affiliate members such as MSCSW. CSWA represents the needs of licensed clinical social workers on a national level that complements the work done by state societies like MSCSW.
CSWA’s board and staff stay up-to-date on national legislation impacting clinical social workers and promote the quality of clinical social work across the country, such as the extensive development of Core Competencies for clinical social workers. Lobbying for the passage of a national social work licensure compact, currently passed in 31 different states, including Minnesota, has been a significant achievement, owing significantly to CSWA’s efforts.
History of the Clinical Social Work Association (CSWA).
1971: The National Federation of Societies for Clinical Social Work was founded as a national advocacy body for clinical social workers.
1974: The Federation began its national advocacy efforts through various state societies.
May 2006: The Federation transitioned to the Clinical Social Work Association, becoming an individual membership association offering more efficient services directly to individual members.
History of the Minnesota Society for Clinical Social Work (MSCSW)-abbreviated.
December 29, 1978: MSCSW was incorporated.
1979: Coalition for Social Work Licensure was formed to advocate for social work licensure
1984-1986: MSCSW members Ellen Luepker and Clay Sankey join the MN Task Force on Sexual Exploitation of Clients by Psychotherapists and Counselors as special consultants to study the problem of professional sexual boundary violations and make recommendations to the legislature for prevention and intervention.
1987: The Minnesota Legislature passed the Social Work Practice Act bill.
1978-2026: MSCSW Mission Statement: “The Minnesota Society for Clinical Social Work is a group of professionals who together advance the practice of clinical social work through professional development, endorsing ethical practice standards, and through legislative and community advocacy on behalf of our clients.”
Numerous past and current MSCSW members have contributed significantly to, and continue to contribute to, the many additional successes of MSCSW and have been involved in CSWA’s efforts as well.
You may not know it, but many of the above-mentioned successes were ones that the Clinical Social Work Association (CSWA) played a role in achieving. You also may not know that individual membership by LCSWs in CSWA is what makes the work that went into these efforts possible at the national level.
For these reasons, you are encouraged to consider joining our national organization, the Clinical Social Work Association (CSWA). As a member of our Society, you receive a discount to join the national group, a bargain at $100.00.
To further clarify, joining CSWA as an individual member provides benefits at the national level, just as MSCSW receives at the state level, such as:
National Advocacy – CSWA’s lobbying team meets regularly with members of Congress, addresses bills and rules proposed by Congress and CMS that impact LCSWs and clients we serve, and works with other disciplines through the Mental Health Liaison Group. CSWA gets invited to briefings, writes policy statements, and consults with many elected and appointed officials.
Webinars on practice and regulatory issues – this includes not just high-quality Continuing Education events, but events such as a presentation on November 15 about the Licensure Compact, addressing many pressing questions!
Free consultation with our Director of Policy and Practice, Laura Groshong, LICSW. Almost every day, Laura consults with members on complicated practice issues such as Medicare, Medicaid, telemental health, insurance questions, technology, supervision, private practice, and much more.
In short, your individual Membership is crucial to the continued success of CSWA.
Individual memberships are the basis for everything CSWA does for clinical social workers. Clinical social workers need educational support and direct advocacy at the state and national levels. Become part of the three-way partnership between you, CSWA, and MSCSW to keep clinical social work strong and thriving.
Join CSWA at www.clinicalsocialworkassociation.org/membership
Below is a group photo from the CSWA Summit in Austin
