154C.1 - DEFINITIONS.
154C.1 DEFINITIONS.
As used in this chapter unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Board" means the board of social work established in
chapter 147.
2. "Licensee" means a person licensed to practice social
work.
3. "Practice of social work" means the professional activity
of licensees which is directed at enhancing or restoring people's
capacity for social functioning, whether impaired by environmental,
emotional, or physical factors, with particular attention to the
person-in-situation configuration. The social work profession
represents a body of knowledge requiring progressively more
sophisticated analytic and intervention skills, and includes the
application of psychosocial theory methods to individuals, couples,
families, groups, and communities. The practice of social work does
not include the making of a medical diagnosis, or the treatment of
conditions or disorders of biological etiology except treatment of
conditions or disorders which involve psychosocial aspects and
conditions. The practice of social work for each of the categories
of social work licensure includes the following:
a. Bachelor social workers provide psychosocial assessment
and intervention through direct contact with clients or referral of
clients to other qualified resources for assistance, including but
not limited to performance of social histories, problem
identification, establishment of goals and monitoring of progress,
interviewing techniques, counseling, social work administration,
supervision, evaluation, interdisciplinary consultation and
collaboration, and research of service delivery including development
and implementation of organizational policies and procedures in
program management.
b. Master social workers are qualified to perform the
practice of bachelor social workers and provide psychosocial
assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, including but not limited to
performance of psychosocial histories, problem identification and
evaluation of symptoms and behavior, assessment of psychosocial and
behavioral strengths and weaknesses, effects of the environment on
behavior, psychosocial therapy with individuals, couples, families,
and groups, establishment of treatment goals and monitoring progress,
differential treatment planning, and interdisciplinary consultation
and collaboration.
c. Independent social workers are qualified to perform the
practice of master social workers as a private practice.
4. "Private practice" means social work practice conducted
only by an independent social worker who is either self-employed or a
member of a partnership or of a group practice providing diagnosis
and treatment of mental and emotional disorders or conditions.
5. "Supervision" means the direction of social work practice
in face-to-face sessions. Section History: Recent Form
84 Acts, ch 1075, § 1; 96 Acts, ch 1035, § 5; 2007 Acts, ch 10,
§147
Referred to in § 154C.6