The Washington State Society for Clinical Social Work was established in 1973 to promote and advance specialization of clinical practice within the social work profession. It is an organization of clinical social workers practicing in a variety of settings, including mental health clinics, family service agencies, hospitals and medical clinics and private practices. The WSSCSW offers its members continuing educational opportunities, legislative advocacy including lobbying, network and professional growth opportunities and special programs for new professionals.
The WSSCSW is a nonprofit tax-exempt professional organization (501(c)6) with a Board of Directors composed of officers elected by the membership and chairpersons of the various committees. It is affiliated with the Clinical Social Work Association, which represents clinical social workers on the national level, and actively works with them to represent local as well as national concerns.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide clinical training and support, legislative advocacy on mental health and social service concerns, protection of clients' rights, and economic vitality for clinical social workers. The organization recognizes the enduring impact of racial oppression. WSSCSW is committed to anti-racist practices and in taking active steps to identify and eliminate the enduring and insidious legacy of colonialism, white supremacy, and systems oppression more broadly both inside and outside the organization.
What We Do
The WSSCSW's objectives include the following:
- To establish and maintain high standards of professional education and provide advance training in clinical social work practice, teaching, administration and research.
- To provide educational opportunities, training and information that meet the needs of members.
- To establish and maintain the highest standards of professional ethics and conduct by members.
- To promote the highest standards of clinical social work practice and adhere to the Code of Ethics of the Clinical Social Work Association.
- To promote culturally competent and culturally sensitive clinical practice to address issues of race, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability, immigrant status, and age in order to be effectively meet clients’ or patients’ needs.
- To inform and educate the public about the specialized skills of clinical social workers.
- To protect the rights of clinical social workers to provide independent mental health diagnosis and treatment.
- To protect client and patient rights.
- To recruit and retain clinical social workers from diverse groups/populations.
- To understand and recognize the impact of political, socioeconomic and environmental factors in the lives of vulnerable and oppressed populations who encounter discrimination and exclusion because of race, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability, immigrant status, and age.
- To collaborate with other professionals on national, state and local levels to promote our common interests and goals and to establish and maintain liaison with appropriate legislative bodies.
- To promote and recognize scholarship, achievement, and professional distinction for the advancement of clinical social work.
