Section 216-RICR-40-05-7.3 - DefinitionsA. Wherever used in these rules and regulations the following terms shall be construed as follows: 1. "Act" means R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-39.1, entitled, "License Procedure for Social Workers."2. "ASWB" means the Association of Social Work Boards.3. "Board" means the Board of Social Work Examiners within the Department, established pursuant to the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-39.1-6.4. "Clinical social work practice" means the professional application of social work theories, methods and values in the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of cognitive, affective and behavioral disorders arising from physical, environmental or emotional conditions. Clinical social work services shall include, but shall not be limited to, diagnosis, assessment, evaluation, psychotherapy and counseling for individuals, couples, families and groups, client-centered advocacy, consultation and supervision.a. The practice of case work, group work and community organization services under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker or the practice of basic data gathering and the formulation and implementation of plans to achieve specific goals related to specific life issues for groups or for individuals, or the assessment, evaluation and counseling of individuals or groups other than for a specific mental illness or the conduct of a psychosocial evaluation, excluding the diagnosis and treatment of a mental illness, such as may be performed by bachelor's level social workers in a nursing care facility or similar setting, shall not be considered to be the practice of clinical social work for the purposes of this Part.b. Clinical social work services shall not include psychological testing and nothing in this Part shall be construed as permitting social workers to practice psychology.5. "Contact hours" means hours acquired through attendance or participation at programs that provide for direct interaction between faculty and participants and may include lectures, symposia, live teleconferences, or workshops.6. "Continuing education hours" means actual hours earned in continuing education courses, seminars, and workshops.7. "Department" means the Rhode Island Department of Health.8. "Director" means the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health.9. "Experience" means three thousand (3,000) hours of post-master's practice of clinical social work during a twenty-four (24) month to seventy-two (72) month period of time immediately preceding the date of application for licensure. One thousand five hundred (1,500) hours must consist of providing clinical social work services directly to clients.a. If performed in Rhode Island, said experience shall be completed while the person is licensed in Rhode Island as a clinical social worker or while performing clinical social work services in a statutorily exempt setting (e.g., a state employee).10. "NASW" means the National Association of Social Workers.11. "Non-contact hours" means Internet courses, correspondence courses, tapes, or other continuing education programs that do not provide for direct interaction between faculty and the participant.12. "Patient", as used in this Part, shall have the same meaning as "client."13. "Supervision" means face-to-face contact with a licensed independent clinical social worker for the purpose of apprising the supervisor of the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of each client; receiving oversight and guidance from the supervisor in the delivery of clinical social work services to each client; and being evaluated by the supervisor. This contact must consist of:a. A minimum of two (2) hours of supervision every two (2) weeks; andb. A minimum of one (1) hour of supervision per twenty (20) hours of direct contact with clients whether or not the number of hours of supervision required for a two (2) week period have been met; andc. One-to-one contact with the supervisor at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the time with group supervision of no more than ten (10) supervisees during the balance of the time; andd. Supervision by an individual other than the applicant's parents; spouse; former spouse; siblings; children; employees; or anyone sharing the same household or any romantic, domestic, or familial relationship; ande. Supervisors shall be responsible for ensuring that supervisees are appropriately licensed in clinical social work or are otherwise exempt from licensure.216 R.I. Code R. § 216-RICR-40-05-7.3
Amended effective 3/23/2023