Carolyn A. Romano, assistant professor of practice, testifies at the Massachusetts State House. Photo courtesy of the Massachusetts chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
Carolyn A. Romano, assistant professor of practice at the md传媒国产剧 College School of Social Work, testified at the Massachusetts State House earlier this month, arguing in favor of a bill that would make it easier for social workers to practice across state lines.聽
Romano, a licensed clinical social worker who provides psychotherapy to adolescents and families at the Counseling Collaborative in Lexington and Sudbury, Massachusetts, was given three minutes to lay out the benefits of the , a multi-state agreement that would allow licensed social workers to practice across member states without needing to obtain additional licenses.
Advocates of the agreement, developed by the Council of State Governments in partnership with the Department of Defense and the Association of Social Work Boards, say that it would expand access to social work services, make it easier for social workers to move and keep practicing, and promote high professional standards across states.
As of June, 28 states have passed legislation to adopt the Social Work Licensure Compact. The Compact is still in its implementation phase, however, and multi-state licenses are not yet being issued.聽
Once operational, social workers in member states who meet eligibility requirements will be able to apply for a multi-state license, allowing them to practice in other member states assuming they comply with the laws and regulations of the state where their client lives.
Romano said that current licensure laws in Massachusetts prevent her from treating clients once they leave the state, disrupting care for youth, college students, and other people unable to be seen when they need support the most. By joining the compact, she said, Massachusetts would align policy with research, preserve therapeutic relationships, and expand access to care, as all other New England states have already done.
鈥淭he clinical challenges of our clients don鈥檛 evaporate when they cross the state line,鈥� Romano told the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, 鈥渁nd neither should our ability to support them.鈥�
“鈥淭he clinical challenges of our clients don鈥檛 evaporate when they cross the state line, and neither should our ability to support them.鈥� ”
She argued that Massachusetts licensing laws disrupt the therapist鈥揷lient bond whenever clients travel out of state for school, work, or family obligations, shattering trust and undermining the therapeutic alliance that many studies show is central to healing.
College students from Massachusetts who attend school out of state cannot legally continue therapy with her, even by telehealth. Parents traveling to care for an ailing loved one or professionals on weekly business trips face the same disruption.
Romano highlighted the challenges of the current system with a telling example: a University of New Hampshire student who, desperate to continue therapy, drove back across the Massachusetts border to sit in a parking lot and log into sessions.
鈥淪he would drive across the border, sit in a parking lot of a store, and we would do therapy,鈥� Romano said in an interview following her testimony. 鈥淎nd that just seems an excessive burden on the client.鈥�
Beyond ensuring continuous care for her clients, the compact would reduce Romano鈥檚 administrative burdens as a clinician.聽With the compact, Romano would keep her Massachusetts license but would also be able to practice in other states without managing multiple licenses and renewals.
鈥淪ocial work is political. The laws in place directly affect how we can practice. And this is a tangible example of how your licensure restricts you to serving only in-state clients unless you obtain licenses in other states,鈥� she said.
The Joint Committee has 60 days from the date of the hearing to make a decision on the bill, formally 聽in the House and 聽in the Senate. A favorable report would send the bill forward in the legislative process; an unfavorable or 鈥渟tay鈥� decision could stall it indefinitely.
Romano closed her testimony by urging the committee to support the bill. 鈥淭he Social Work Licensure Compact prioritizes research-supported mental health services for the residents of Massachusetts and for those visiting from compact member states,鈥� she said. 鈥淥n behalf of my clients and their families, I respectfully ask that you please report favorably about this bill from your committee.鈥�