2007 Minnesota Statutes

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.
History: 2005 c 147 art 1 s 7