.In Oct., 2020 the Texas Behavioral Health Council, which oversees the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners, at the suggestion of the Governor of Texas changed its CODE OF CONDUCT to no longer prohibit social workers from turning away clients on the basis of disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.
ADAPT of Texas sent out the following press release:
ADAPT of Texas Calls for Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners to Resign
ADAPT of Texas is disgusted by the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners (TSBSWE) total capitulation to Governor Abbott’s demand that the Board change its code of conduct to allow social workers to discriminate by refusing to serve people based on disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. ADAPT calls on the Board to resign.
“What the hell is good is a social worker if they can just say ‘I don’t serve your kind’?” asked Heiwa Salovitz.
Social workers help people with disabilities with many aspects of their lives, especially when people first become disabled or experience some transition in their lives related to their disabilities. They help people apply for benefits and services, they help with hospitalizations and discharges from institutions, with finding housing, with protective services, with behavioral health (such as addiction rehabilitation, counseling), with obtaining food assistance, with re-entry after an injury related to military service, and so much more. In many instances they serve as gatekeepers to and from these vital services.
“The fact that the Texas Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers is against this move, shows the absurdity of this maneuver” said Nancy Crowther, ADAPT Organizer and social work degree holder. “They might as well stick a knife in the heart of the profession” she added.
“If this is the caliber of people examining and licensing social workers in Texas, they should all resign” said ADAPT member Stephanie Thomas.
While people with differing gender identities and sexual orientation are not necessarily people with disabilities, ADAPT of Texas thinks their inclusion in this license to discriminate is equally appalling. When you need a social worker in your life you are almost always at a vulnerable point in your life and to have Social Workers licensed to ban you based on labels is terrible policy. Has Texas really sunk this low? I hope not” said Jennifer McPhail. “This Board needs to go.”
~ ~ ~
Epilogue: The State Board of Social Work Examiners met on Monday, October 19th in response to the outrage brought on when they voted to accept the Governor’s request to exclude protections of persons with disabilities and the LGMBQ community. Social workers themselves were outraged and spoke out against the change. The fury and outrage filled the public participation capacity (500) of the ZOOM aired public meeting. After a closed-door session, the verdict was revised to reverse the position and decline the recommendation of the governor. ONWARD IN POWER!
by Nancy Crowther