NASW is providing leadership and advocacy concerning the disparities in the social work licensing exams developed by ASWB.\u00a0 On February 3rd, they released a strong statement against the exams, and in it they address the impact of this position on their support of the Interstate Compact Legislation and their commitment to efforts about licensing going forward.<\/p>\n
Our School of Social Work at the University of Maine is supportive of this position and continues to participate in efforts to address these problems and harm that has been caused to social workers of color, older adult social workers and social workers who have a language other than English as their first language.<\/p>\n
If you are interested in joining the related advocacy work, please contact Christopher McLaughlin, for more information at the email cmclaughlin.naswme@socialworkers.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n NASW Supports Efforts to Promote Diversity within the Profession by opposing Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Social Work Exams<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n February 3, 2023<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) declares opposition to ASWB social work licensing exams after reviewing ASWB data showing significant disparities in pass rates for prospective social workers of color, older adults, and those who speak English as a second language. NASW is prepared to oppose the Social Work Interstate Compact Legislation being developed by the Council of State Governments (CSG) if the bill is not substantially improved, including the removal of provisions which codify the ASWB exams. NASW is eager to work with CSG to develop multi-state social work practice legislation.<\/em><\/p>\n \u202fIn an August 2022\u00a0<\/em>statement<\/em><\/a> after the release of the ASWB data, NASW committed to working closely with its partners to propose innovative solutions that reduce harm and increase diverse representation at all levels of social work practice. These efforts will initially target removal of non-independent social work practice exams which may be biased, and support efforts to strengthen competency measures. NASW looks forward to working with its partners to implement these strategic initiatives and to promoting the diversity and well-being of the social work profession, and the health and well-being of the populations social workers serve.<\/em><\/p>\n Please see the Equity Stewardship Team’s Plans for Phase Two of our work toward racial justice and equity at the School of Social Work:\u00a0 Proposed Action Steps Toward Racial Justice and Equity Phase Two<\/a><\/p>\n Thank you to three members of the Equity Stewardship Team:\u00a0 Athena Witham, Moriah Geer and Casey Faulkingham each gave hours of their time to our work toward greater racial justice and equity at the School of Social Work.\u00a0 These three key members of the Stewardship Team had to leave the committee due to other obligations after providing months of service to the School community.\u00a0 Thank you Athena, Moriah and Casey<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Social justice is a cornerstone of the social work profession and taken very seriously at the Nico Chin, our consultant from Up With Community, has completed her Landscape Mapping of Information Regarding Recent News on ASWB Licensing Pass Rates<\/strong><\/p>\n In response to the Association of Social Work Board\u2019s recent release of social work licensing exam pass rate data<\/a> on August 5, 2022, we are sharing the following statements from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and the National Association of Deans and Directors (NADD) which represents Schools of Social Work across the United States and Canada.\u00a0 On September 8, 2022, CSWE announced that it had removed the ASWB licensing pass rates<\/a> from the 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) for Schools of Social Work, and on October 5, CSWE contacted the Maine State Board of Social Work Licensure to recommend that the Board suspend the use of the ASWB exam until a thorough analysis of the data has been completed by ASWB, and recommendations have been offered to correct for inequities.<\/p>\n The University of Maine School of Social Work is in broad agreement with the statements from these respected social work organizations, and we share their concern and sense of urgency in addressing the substantial racial, language and age disparities in the social work exam.\u00a0\u00a0 We are closely following the action steps recommended by NADD for our state, and we will be considering and guided by NADD\u2019s future work and recommendations regarding additional steps to be taken.<\/p>\n To Read More<\/a><\/p>\n The School of Social Work will be holding four listening sessions to discuss Nico\u2019s memo, the This is the zoom link for all four sessions: Faculty, staff, alumni and field instructors are invited to join either or both of the following Friday, September 9 from 10:00 to 11:00 am<\/strong> Students are invited to join either or both of the following two listening sessions:<\/p>\n Friday, September 16 from noon to 1:00 pm<\/strong> <\/p>\n The School of Social Work began its \u201cLandscape Mapping\u201d with Nico Chin of Up with Community<\/a> early in the 2022 Spring Semester.<\/p>\n A Stewardship Team of faculty, alumni, field instructors and students will work closely with Nico to steward the School and its many constituencies and stake holders through this process.<\/p>\n The Stewardship Team, developed in December 2021, is composed of the following members:<\/p>\n Athena Witham (student) Previous work<\/strong><\/p>\n Fall 2021 Community DEI Update<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0Spring 2021 Town Hall Summary<\/a><\/p>\n Do you have an event or training related to DEI that you would like to promote on this page? Please send us the inform via this form:<\/em><\/p>\n
\nProposed Action Steps Toward Racial Justice and Equity Phase Two<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nSocial Justice and Equity at the School of Social Work<\/h2>\n
\nUMaine School of Social Work. In 2021, we pledged a renewed commitment to diversity,
\nequity and inclusion (DEI) at the School.<\/p>\n
\nthe School of Social Work and has provided the Equity Stewardship Team with a memo of her
\nrecommendations.<\/p>\n
\n
\nCommunity Engagement: Trainings, Discussions and More<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nEquity Stewardship Team\u2019s response and suggested next steps, and to gather reactions and
\nthoughts from those attending.<\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/maine.zoom.us\/j\/85376472491?pwd=Mkt0RkFYdEpGcko1TytyT1FJL3hGZz09<\/a><\/p>\n
\ntwo listening sessions:<\/p>\n
\nWednesday, September 14 from 4:00 to 5:00 pm<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nSaturday, October 1 from 10:00 to 11:00 am<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nMoriah Geer (alumna, Field Instructor)
\nCasey Faulkingham (alumna, Field Instructor)
\nNancy Kelly (part-time faculty, Field Instructor)
\nAnn Hartman (alumna, part-time faculty, Field Instructor
\nLeah Maxwell (Field Director, alumna)
\nLen Kaye (Professor)
\nElizabeth Armstrong (Assistant Professor)
\nSandy Butler (Director, Professor)<\/p>\n
\n