2005 Minnesota Statutes - 148D.010 — Definitions.

     148D.010 Definitions. 


    Subdivision 1.    Scope.  For the purpose of this 
 chapter, the terms in this section have the meanings given. 


    Subd. 2.    Applicant.  "Applicant" means a person who 
 submits an application to the board for a new license, a license 
 renewal, a change in license, an inactive license, reactivation 
 of a license, or a voluntary termination. 


    Subd. 3.    Application.  "Application" means an 
 application to the board for a new license, a license renewal, a 
 change in license, an inactive license, reactivation of a 
 license, or voluntary termination. 


    Subd. 4.    Board.  "Board" means the Board of Social 
 Work created under section 148D.025. 


    Subd. 5.    Client.  "Client" means an individual, 
 couple, family, group, community, or organization that receives 
 or has received social work services as described in subdivision 
 9. 


    Subd. 6.    Clinical practice.  "Clinical practice" 
 means applying professional social work knowledge, skills, and 
 values in the differential diagnosis and treatment of 
 psychosocial function, disability, or impairment, including 
 addictions and emotional, mental, and behavioral disorders.  
 Treatment includes a plan based on a differential diagnosis.  
 Treatment may include, but is not limited to, the provision of 
 psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups.  
 Clinical social workers may also provide the services described 
 in subdivision 9. 


    Subd. 7.    Intern.  "Intern" means a student in field 
 placement working under the supervision or direction of a social 
 worker. 


    Subd. 8.    Person-in-environment perspective.  
 "Person-in-environment perspective" means viewing human 
 behavior, development, and function in the context of one or 
 more of the following:  the environment, social functioning, 
 mental health, and physical health. 


    Subd. 9.    Practice of social work.  "Practice of 
 social work" means working to maintain, restore, or improve 
 behavioral, cognitive, emotional, mental, or social functioning 
 of clients, in a manner that applies accepted professional 
 social work knowledge, skills, and values, including the 
 person-in-environment perspective, by providing in person or 
 through telephone, video conferencing, or electronic means one 
 or more of the social work services described in clauses (1) to 
 (3).  Social work services may address conditions that impair or 
 limit behavioral, cognitive, emotional, mental, or social 
 functioning.  Such conditions include, but are not limited to, 
 the following:  abuse and neglect of children or vulnerable 
 adults, addictions, developmental disorders, disabilities, 
 discrimination, illness, injuries, poverty, and trauma.  Social 
 work services include: 


    (1) providing assessment and intervention through direct 
 contact with clients, developing a plan based on information 
 from an assessment, and providing services which include, but 
 are not limited to, assessment, case management, client-centered 
 advocacy, client education, consultation, counseling, crisis 
 intervention, and referral; 


    (2) providing for the direct or indirect benefit of clients 
 through administrative, educational, policy, or research 
 services including, but not limited to: 


    (i) advocating for policies, programs, or services to 
 improve the well-being of clients; 


    (ii) conducting research related to social work services; 


    (iii) developing and administering programs which provide 
 social work services; 


    (iv) engaging in community organization to address social 
 problems through planned collective action; 


    (v) supervising individuals who provide social work 
 services to clients; 


    (vi) supervising social workers in order to comply with the 
 supervised practice requirements specified in sections 148D.100 
 to 148D.125; and 


    (vii) teaching professional social work knowledge, skills, 
 and values to students; and 


    (3) engaging in clinical practice. 


    Subd. 10.    Professional name.  "Professional name" 
 means the name a licensed social worker uses in making 
 representations of the social worker's professional status to 
 the public and which has been designated to the board in writing 
 pursuant to section 148D.090. 


    Subd. 11.    Professional social work knowledge, skills, 
 and values.  "Professional social work knowledge, skills, and 
 values" means the knowledge, skills, and values taught in 
 programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the 
 Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work, or a similar 
 accreditation body designated by the board.  Professional social 
 work knowledge, skills, and values include, but are not limited 
 to, principles of person-in-environment and the values, 
 principles, and standards described in the Code of Ethics of the 
 National Association of Social Workers. 


    Subd. 12.    Sexual conduct.  "Sexual conduct" means any 
 physical contact or conduct that may be reasonably interpreted 
 as sexual, or any oral, written, electronic, or other 
 communication that suggests engaging in physical contact or 
 conduct that may be reasonably interpreted as sexual. 


    Subd. 13.    Social worker.  "Social worker" means an 
 individual who: 


    (1) is licensed as a social worker; or 


    (2) has obtained a social work degree from a program 
 accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the Canadian 
 Association of Schools of Social Work, or a similar 
 accreditation body designated by the board and engages in the 
 practice of social work. 


    Subd. 14.    Student.  "Student" means an individual who 
 is taught professional social work knowledge, skills, and values 
 in a program that has been accredited by the Council on Social 
 Work Education, the Canadian Association of Schools of Social 
 Work, or a similar accreditation body designated by the board. 


    Subd. 15.    Supervisee.  "Supervisee" means an 
 individual provided evaluation and supervision or direction by a 
 social worker. 


    Subd. 16.    Supervision.  "Supervision" means a 
 professional relationship between a supervisor and a social 
 worker in which the supervisor provides evaluation and direction 
 of the services provided by the social worker to promote 
 competent and ethical services to clients through the continuing 
 development of the social worker's knowledge and application of 
 accepted professional social work knowledge, skills, and values. 


    HIST: 2005 c 147 art 1 s 7