February 25, 2019
Submitted By: Stephen A. Wanczyk-Karp, LMSW
Senator Abrams, Representative Steinberg, and Distinguished Members of the Public Health Committee,
On behalf of the National Association of Social Workers, Connecticut Chapter, which represents nearly 2500 members statewide we offer the following comments on AAC Licensure of Professional Counselor Associates and Marital and Family Therapist Associates.
Raised House Bill 7132 offers the public increased consumer protection and assurances of qualifications of those individual practitioners who practice as a licensed professional counselor or licensed marriage and family therapist. Current statute does not have a provision for a newly degreed mental health professional counselor or marriage and family therapist to be licensed, meaning the public is not adequately protected in the event of a non-licensed professional counselor or marriage and family therapist violating standards of practice. This bill rectifies that problem by requiring all professional mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists to be licensed, and ties such licensing into nationally recognized accrediting bodies.
In 2010 the legislature passed licensure for new master degree social workers (MSWs) who practice clinical social work. In 2014 the Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) program was initiated. Our experience with the LMSW has been most positive both in terms of public protection and assuring that all MSWs practicing clinical social work have passed a nationally recognized examination. HB 7132 will have similar positive effect for mental health professional counselors and marriage and family therapists.
NASW/CT supports licensure for all practitioners who are practicing clinical behavioral health. Consumers are only fully protected and qualification of practitioners only best assured through licensure. Connecticut lags behind many states in behavioral health licensing programs, which makes for weak governance over professional practice. The Public Health Committee’s continued strengthening of appropriate licensure requirements is a positive step forward.
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