In an effort to make advocacy easy and accessible to all of our members, the Advocacy Committee Chair will be providing you all with a monthly call to action. This is a meaningful and impactful way for you to stay involved and advocate for important topics surrounding clinical social work in California. 

Update from Clinical Social Work Association regarding professional degree status for social workers 

Professional Degree Status for Clinical Social Workers in Danger
December 1, 2025

Some important changes are being proposed in the way that loans for MSW and DSW social work degrees are funded by the Federal government. Under current rules, students can borrow the full amount of the cost of the program they are attending. With new limits in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA; P.L. 119-21), federal loans for “graduate degrees,” which now includes degrees in social work, will be capped at $20,500 for each academic year or a total of $100,000 over a lifetime.

Changes were made by the Department of Education to the categorization of numerous previously designated “professional degrees” that are now designated as “graduate degrees.” Social work is one of the degrees that now falls in the “graduate degree” category and will only qualify for a lower level of Federal loan funding than “professional degrees.” Other degrees that are being classified as “graduate degrees” include accounting, architecture, audiology, business Masters, counseling and therapy, education, engineering Masters, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant, public health, speech and language pathology. Graduate programs for professional counselors and marriage and family therapists, while not mentioned by name, would also be seen as conferring graduate degrees. 

For more information, please visit https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/11/21/what-considered-professional-degree-explained/87396245007/.

This will impact the affordability of social work and other graduate degrees, by decreasing the Federal loan amounts students can qualify for, and will create a barrier to students being able to afford graduate social work education, including for clinical social work practice (it does not affect being licensed as a clinical social worker, as licensing is in the purview of the states). The irony of the exclusion of clinical social workers, counselors, and MFTs from having professional degrees, as we do now, is that it comes at a time when there is clearly a rapidly increasing need for mental health services.

Action Needed

Please send the following message to your members of Congress to educate them about the serious harm these decisions would have to educating clinical social workers and promoting access to behavioral health treatment at https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative for your representative and https://contactsenators.net/email-addresses for your senators.

Here is suggested language but you can use your own as well:

“I am a licensed clinical social worker, a constituent, and a member of the Clinical Social Work Association. I am writing to let you know about a potential threat to our citizens who need to access mental health treatment. The Department of Education is currently developing a plan to limit Federal loan funding to clinical social workers by claiming they are not “professional” degrees.

LCSWs have received a Masters Degree, have 4-5 years of training in supervised mental health treatment and have passed a national examination to become licensed. We are the largest group of mental health providers in the country, at over 400,000 currently (CSWA, 2025). Cutting funding and arbitrarily saying that clinical social work graduate degrees are not a professional degree is simply wrong and needs to be stopped. To see what the Department of Education is proposing, please go to https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-concludes-negotiated-rulemaking-session-implement-one-big-beautiful-bill-acts-loan-provisions.

If the new regulations go into effect, loan limitations for graduate social work education will prevent many students from attending school and receiving their Masters Degree and will prevent them from providing mental health care. The Department of Education will be voting on the final regulations under the Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand (AHEAD) Committee, scheduled to meet on December 8–12, 2025.

Thank you for your attention to this potentially harmful attempt to limit access to clinical social workers and to addressing the US mental health crisis. I would be happy to talk with you further.”

Reach out to the advocacy committee chair for additional guidance and support

Veronica Yakovenko, LCSW
Advocacy Chair
CSCSW
vytherapist@gmail.com

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL

We are excited to announce a Call for Proposals for the California Society for Clinical Social Work’s Half-Day Conference, taking place Saturday, March 14, 2026 from 8am -12pm — our first in-person conference since the COVID-19 pandemic! The conference will be in the Los Angeles district, exact location to be determined.

Conference Theme: From Isolation to Integration: Strengthening Clinical Social Work Through Connection
This theme reflects our shared journey back to in-person connection and collaboration, emphasizing how community, relationships, and dialogue can enrich and sustain clinical practice.

We invite proposals from licensed and associate clinical social workers as well as other clinical practitioners for presentations that explore the many ways we can strengthen the profession through community-building, cross-disciplinary collaboration, cultural humility, clinical innovation, or systems impact through an intersectional, anti-racist, culturally inclusive lens that centers a spectrum of abilities. 

Proposal Guidelines:

• Presentations may include lectures, workshops, case discussions, or panel sessions (limit 3 participants)
  

• Sessions will be approximately 45-60 minutes in length
  

• All proposals must be submitted via Formstack by September 30, 2025
  

Admission to the conference will be free for presenters and we are aiming (if the budget allows) for an honorarium.

We’re excited to welcome your ideas and energy as we come together to celebrate and advance the field of clinical social work. Please share this call with colleagues who might be interested in submitting.

If you’re interested in sponsorship or exhibitor opportunities, or if you have any questions, please email us at info@clinicalsocialworksociety.org for more information. Please share this announcement with any potential speakers who may be interested in submitting a proposal.

Warm regards,

The CSCSW Board of Directors

In an effort to make advocacy easy and accessible to all of our members, the Advocacy Committee Chair will be providing you all with a monthly call to action. This is a meaningful and impactful way for you to stay involved and advocate for important topics surrounding clinical social work in California.

2024 Mental Health Parity Rule has been rescinded by the Trump administration. Additionally, new rules are no longer available for public comment, making it difficult for all of us to voice our opinions. This rule would have resolved many of the issues that LCSWs have with reimbursement, coverage, long wait times for reimbursements, among other things.

What can you do? Reach out to your members of Congress.

Clinical Social Work Association has the following template available to make contacting your congress members more easily accessible.

“I am a licensed clinical social worker, a constituent, and a member of the Clinical Social Work Association. I am writing to ask you to oppose the intent of the Trump Administration to stop the 2024 Rule for the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Parity Act. For 16 years this Act has languished because passing meaningful rules has been opposed by insurers and the corporations that have become the groups that control our health care system. Please give our citizens the access to the mental health and addiction services they need by pushing for the passage of the 2024 MHPAEA Rule.”

Reach out to the advocacy committee chair for additional guidance and support

Veronica Yakovenko, LCSW
Advocacy Chair  
CSCSW

vytherapist@gmail.com

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES IMMIGRATION SERVICES FUNDING PRIMARY GRANTEE CONTACT LIST

As many of you know, recent ICE enforcement actions have deeply affected students, families, community members, co workers, and community partners across California—especially in Los Angeles and San Diego areas. This does cause significant distress and uncertainty for those we serve, including trauma, loss, fear, and disruptions in their lives.

To help you support your clients, families, peers, and others during this challenging time, we have compiled key local resources for legal aid, mental health support, “Know Your Rights” education, rapid-response assistance, and guidance on protecting client confidentiality specific to our roles as clinicians, therapists and social workers.

Therapist’s Ethical & Legal Responsibility to Protect Client Confidentiality

Your clients’ safety depends greatly on maintaining confidentiality, especially in contexts involving immigration enforcement. As licensed clinicians in California, you are required by law and ethical codes to protect client privacy, including:

• California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA)
  This law protects medical and mental health information from unauthorized disclosure.

• California Evidence Code § 1014 and § 1017
  Provide privilege protections for confidential communications between therapist and client.

• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
  Federal protections regarding client health information apply to many clinical settings.
  

Resources for further reference and guidance:

• California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS): bbs.ca.gov

• National Association of Social Workers (NASW) California Chapter:naswca.org — Ethical guidelines and updates on confidentiality and immigration.

• Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) — guidance on confidentiality in immigrant contexts: ilrc.org/confidentiality 

Los Angeles Area Resources

• Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA)
  Legal services, “Know Your Rights” education, and community support for undocumented individuals.
  Website:chirla.org
  Phone: (213) 353-1333

• Bet Tzedek Legal Services
  Free trauma-informed legal clinics, including immigration and housing support.
  Website:bettzedek.org
  Phone: (323) 939-0506

• Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Southern California
  Multilingual legal advocacy for immigration, workers’ rights, and domestic violence cases.
  Website:advancingjustice-la.org
  Phone: (213) 241-1500

• Los Angeles Unified School District: resources for students and their families. If you or your family need assistance regarding immigration, health, wellness, or housing, please call LAUSD's Family Hotline at (213) 443-1300. https://www.lausd.org/weareone

Bay Area Resources (San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and surrounding areas)

• Bay Area Legal Aid & CARECEN
  Free immigration legal services, including DACA, asylum, and removal defense.
  Bay Area Legal Aid:baylegal.org | (800) 551-5554
  CARECEN:carecencal.org | (415) 821-1000

• Asian Law Caucus
  Legal assistance focused on Asian American and Pacific Islander immigrant communities.
  Website:asianlawcaucus.org
  Phone: (415) 896-1701

• Catholic Charities and Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach
  Immigration legal support including deportation defense and asylum.
  Catholic Charities SF: (415) 972-1200
  API Legal Outreach: (415) 567-6255

• Bay Area Rapid Response Networks
  Hotlines for urgent community response:
  Alameda County: (510) 241-4011
  San Francisco: (415) 524-0900
  Contra Costa: (925) 229-6829

San Diego Area Resources

• Border Angels
  Outreach, legal support, rights education, and day labor assistance.
  Website:borderangels.org
  Phone: (619) 233-5800

• San Diego County Safe-Haven Policies
  Information on local law enforcement policies limiting ICE cooperation.
  San Diego Sheriff:sdcounty.ca.gov

Additional Supports Across California

• Know Your Rights Materials
  California Teachers Association provides multilingual “Know Your Rights” cards and posters ideal for schools and clinics: CTA Home Is Here Resources

• Immigrants Rising Wellness Groups
  Peer support and clinician-led groups for undocumented individuals coping with stress and trauma:
  immigrantsrising.org

• Trauma-Informed Legal and Mental Health Support
  Programs at Bet Tzedek and ICWC Law integrate mental health support with legal services to support healing and safety.

• Attached is the CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES IMMIGRATION SERVICES FUNDING PRIMARY GRANTEE CONTACT LIST STATE FISCAL YEAR 2023-24

Advocacy: How You Can Help Create Change

Supporting clients also means advocating for fair and humane immigration policies at local, state, and federal levels. Here’s how you and your clients can get involved:

• Find Your Representatives
  Use the official government tool to find your U.S. Senators and House Representatives based on your ZIP code: 

• • house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative 

  • senate.gov/senators/contact 

• Contact Your Representatives
  Write or call your elected officials to express concerns about immigration enforcement practices and support policies that protect immigrant families and communities.

• Support Local & State Legislation
  Stay informed about bills affecting immigrants and share this information with your clients and community.

• Join or Support Advocacy Groups
  Partner with organizations like CHIRLA, Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), and local immigrant rights coalitions to amplify your voice.

• Engage in Community Action
  Attend town halls, public comment sessions, and peaceful demonstrations to advocate for change. 

How You Can Help

• Protect client confidentiality with extra care during this sensitive time.

• Distribute “Know Your Rights” materials in your practice and community.

• Keep local rapid-response hotline numbers accessible for clients and colleagues.

• Encourage self-care and share coping strategies with your clients experiencing fear and trauma.

• Stay connected with local immigrant advocacy and support organizations to learn about training and community events.

• Advocate for policies that promote safety, dignity, and justice for immigrant communities.
  

Thank you for the vital work you do every day to support vulnerable communities. If you have any questions or need additional resources, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

In solidarity, 

Briana Fair, LCSW, CSCW President 
Diversity Equity and Transformation Committee 
Communications Committee 

Saturday, May 10, 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM @ ONLINE ZOOM WEBINAR Cost: FREE

CLICK HERE FOR THE RECORDING

Get Informed About Becoming a Licensed Social Worker in California!

Direct from the source: Join us on May 10, 2025, for a 2-hour live event where you’ll learn everything you need to know about becoming a licensed social worker in California! The staff of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) will present a comprehensive overview of the licensing process, including how to register as an Associate Social Worker (ASW), steps for earning supervised experience, and information about the exams required for licensure. They will also provide updates on recent changes to coursework requirements. This is a great opportunity to get the answers you need directly from the experts at BBS!

We are thrilled to highlight the 2025 recipients of the Jannette Alexander Foundation Scholarships. The Jannette Alexander Foundation for Clinical Social Work Education is a subsidiary non-profit education foundation of the California Society for Clinical Social Work. Each year, the Foundation awards $1000 scholarships to graduating MSW students who demonstrate excellence in clinical studies and practice. Congratulations to these inspiring 2025 students who have already made wonderful contributions to the field of social work! We are so excited to follow your continued success and contributions.

JAF Scholarship Award Recipients - 2025

April 2025 Monthly Call to Action- Social Work Compact Update

In an effort to make advocacy easy and accessible to all of our members, the Advocacy Committee Chair will be providing you all with a monthly call to action. This is a meaningful and impactful way for you to stay involved and advocate for important topics surrounding clinical social work in California.

As of recent legislative developments in California, Assembly Bill 427 (AB 427) has been introduced with the goal of joining the Social Work Compact, a multi-state agreement that allows social workers to practice across state lines with a single license. This compact is designed to ease the process for social workers seeking to work in multiple states without needing to navigate the often cumbersome process of obtaining individual licenses in each state.

Currently, seven states have enacted the Social Work Compact, but it’s important to note that even though these states are part of the agreement, individual clinicians cannot yet apply for a multistate license. The compact is still in its early phases.

Please read the text of AB 427 and write to your local representative to express your thoughts on the compact

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB427

Additionally, CSCSW would like to know your thoughts on the Social Work Compact, please complete this short survey to help us better support you.

https://bit.ly/SWCompact

Reach out to the advocacy committee chair for additional guidance and support

Veronica Yakovenko, LCSW    
Advocacy Chair CSCSW vytherapist@gmail.com

In an effort to make advocacy easy and accessible to all of our members, the Advocacy Committee Chair will be providing you all with a monthly call to action. This is a meaningful and impactful way for you to stay involved and advocate for important topics surrounding clinical social work in California.

An update on Medicare’s coverage of Telemental Health, from Clinical Social Work Association:

Possible Congressional Actions

All of the options below have been proposed by different members of Congress.

• Congress could extend telemental health through a stand-alone bill. This seems very unlikely.
• Congress could attach telemental health to other bills that are moving. The most likely one would be the Congressional Resolution, which will be needed to pass a budget to keep the government running as of March 14. This is a possibility.
• Congress will address continuing coverage of telemental health after the March 31 deadline but there will be a delay of a few weeks, which may cover the time when there was no coverage. This is a possibility.
• Congress will do nothing and there be no Medicare coverage of telemental health. This is unlikely.

LEGISLATIVE ALERT

Now is a good time to let your members of Congress know that you want a prompt continuation of telemental health in Medicare. Here is a template you can use to send them: “I am a licensed clinical social worker, a member of the Clinical Social Work Association, and a constituent. It will be very harmful to vulnerable patients with serious mental health and substance use problems if they cannot continue to work with me using telemental health. Many patients who were unable to get help in person have done very well using this delivery system. I urge you to extend Medicare telemental health coverage permanently as soon as possible.” Send your messages to your senators and representatives at https://www.congress.gov/contact-us.

Reach out to the advocacy committee chair for additional guidance and support

Veronica Yakovenko, LCSW  
Advocacy Chair  
CSCSW  
vytherapist@gmail.com

The California Society for Clinical Social Work (CSCSW) acknowledges the introduction of AB 427 – Social Workers (also known as the Social Work Compact) to California legislators in February 2025. As an organization committed to advancing and promoting the profession and practice of clinical social work, CSCSW remains dedicated to educating both our members and the broader clinical social work community about the Social Work Compact. Through emails, social media outreach, and advocacy meetings, we will continue to share relevant information and facilitate discussions on the compact’s progress, as well as its potential benefits and challenges.

CSCSW upholds its core goals of advocating for all of our members and the profession before the legislature and regulatory agencies, maintaining ethical and professional standards, and providing educational opportunities that meet the needs of our diverse membership. We recognize that various social work organizations hold differing positions on this issue. Rather than endorsing or opposing the compact, CSCSW will use its platform to ensure that clinical social workers have access to comprehensive and balanced information. We acknowledge that while the compact may offer benefits to some, it may also present challenges for others, including both clinical social workers and clients.

Our priority is to foster an informed and engaged professional community, empowering our members to make decisions based on a thorough understanding of this legislation’s implications.

We also want to hear from our members! Your input is essential in shaping our advocacy efforts. To better understand the needs and perspectives of our members regarding this issue, we will disseminate a survey to inform our Advocacy Committee’s work regarding the Social Work Compact in the coming weeks. For more information about the advocacy committee please reach out to Veronica Y at vytherapist@gmail.com

You can stay up to date with the compact as it moves through legislation here: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB427. 

CSCSW remains committed to promoting ongoing education and dialogue on this and other critical issues impacting the field of clinical social work.