Greetings All!
I hope this message finds you well!
I want to provide an update from the KY Board of Social Work. We have been aggressively working to provide some regulatory relief for licensees related to the current pandemic.
Pursuant to 61.823, specifically section five (5), I called an emergency meeting on 3.19.20 at 11:30 AM.
As some of you may know, the Governor released an Executive Order 2020-243 yesterday entitled State of Emergency Relating to Social Distancing. In response, we promulgated a memo and that memo has been signed by myself and J. Michael Brown, Secretary of the Executive Cabinet.
Attached you will find the memo. A summation is below:
All deadlines related to the review of applications for completion or acceptance shall be suspended until the state of emergency is lifted.
Expiration dates of all currently held licenses under these sections shall be suspended until the state of emergency is lifted.
Until the state of emergency is lifted, and in order to meet the mandates of social distancing, “treating clinical social worker” for purposes of providing telehealth services under the provisions of this statute, shall include CSWs that are under board-approved supervision of an LCSW. This expanded definition will only apply until the state of emergency is lifted.
NOTE: Please note that practitioners MUST ensure that they have the requisite skill to engage in telehealth.
4. The requirement that supervision occur face-to-face is suspended. Supervision, as required by the administrative regulation, may occur electronically as defined in 201 KAR 23:070 Section 1(2). This expanded definition will only apply until the state of emergency is lifted.
The 240-day limit of temporary permits is suspended until the state of emergency is lifted.
The requirement that the three-hour training course on supervisory practice required for LCSW supervisors during each licensure period is suspended in that the deadline to complete such a course is suspended until the state of emergency is lifted. The requirement that the course be in person is also suspended until the state of emergency is lifted and the course may occur through electronic media or technology, including distance learning or teleconference courses, as long as the content remains the same as the previously approved training course, until the state of emergency is lifted.
The requirement that a CSW be engaging in direct client care while engaging in supervision is suspended until the state of emergency is lifted. CSWs will be allowed to receive supervision whether or not seeing clients directly during the state of emergency.
The requirement that electronic supervision be limited to 50% of all supervision hours, and only occur after the first 25 hours of supervision, is suspended until the state of emergency is lifted. Any excess electronic supervision hours acquired during the state of emergency will not be counted toward the restriction of electronic hours.
Deadlines for obtaining continuing education course credits are hereby suspended until the state of emergency is lifted.
Any continuing education course approved to occur in-person may occur using electronic media or technology, including distance learning, online or teleconference courses, so long as the content remains the same as previously approved.
Any deadlines for the approval or renewal of continuing education programs due from providers and sponsors are suspended until the state of emergency is lifted.
Any deadlines related to the scheduling of hearings before the board are suspended until the state of emergency is lifted.
YOU CAN NOW MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROVISIONS, AS SET FORTH ABOVE.
Please know that we, as a Board, certainly want to ensure that licensees have the flexibility to provide adept practice to clients. As well, we have a mandate to ensure PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC. We hope that these provisions are helpful.
The work that you are doing is extremely important. Go forth, provide great services, and remember: SOCIAL WORK WAS BUILT FOR THIS!
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please let me know. Jay
Jay Miller, PhD
Chair, KY Board of Social Work
