This petition is written to express our STRONG support for the Interstate Social Work Compact Bill. As constituents who value the critical role that social workers play in our communities, we believe that enacting this legislation will significantly benefit both social workers and the individuals they serve.

THE PROBLEM: If someone sees a therapist, chances are high that therapist is a clinical social worker. And if you need that therapist but happen to be out of Delaware, they cannot operate under their DE license to help you. Their license ONLY allows them to see clients who are physically present in the state they are licensed in. This means you lose access to your therapist if you:

• Travel outside DE for work,
• Go to school out of state,
• Go away for vacation
• Move
• A military family stationed out of DE
• A short day trip to Philadelphia

This also means that if are looking for a therapist and there isn't one available in the state, you are stuck. There is more need post-pandemic for social workers and not enough of them in Delaware!

SOLUTION: The Interstate Social Work Compact aims to enhance the mobility of licensed social workers across state lines. It will facilitate access to care among member states and reduce barriers to license portability. This compact is a powerful tool that keeps us up to date with a more mobile post-pandemic society and in line with similar professions who already have similar bills enacted. 

Key Benefits of the Social Work Compact:

1. License Portability: Social workers holding an interstate compact license in their home state will be authorized to practice in all member states.
2. Increased Access to Services: The compact will remove barriers for out of state social workers to help Delawareans where the need is high.
3. Provide Services when Clients Travel: Continue care of our clients when they are working out of state, away for school, military families stationed out of state, on vacation, etc.
4. Reduce Multiple License Burden: So many DE social workers end up needing to pay for and maintain multiple licenses in different states with PA, MD, and NJ just minutes away. 

Our Request: We urge all key decision makers and stake holders (state senators, representatives, NASW-DE) to support the Social Work Compact Bill and work toward its enactment in Delaware. By doing so, you will contribute to a more efficient and effective system for social work licensure, ultimately improving access to vital services for our communities.

Action Steps:

1. Review the Model Bill: Familiarize yourself with the model language of the compact bill, ensuring consistency with the proposed framework. The bill can be found here: https://swcompact.org/
2. Advocate for Passage: Champion the bill within the Delaware and emphasizing its benefits for social workers and the public.
3. Educate Colleagues: Encourage fellow legislators to understand the importance of this legislation and its positive impact on our state.

Conclusion: As representatives entrusted with the well-being of our constituents, we believe that supporting the Interstate Social Work Compact Bill aligns with our commitment to accessible and high-quality social services. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your active support.