History

In the early 1970’s twenty-two social workers met for an organizational meeting which led to the development of KSCSW. The driving force behind this was Avril Reeb and Bill Jett who gathered a cohort to help the organization grow. This included Helen Herring, Gwen Goldberg, Pat Wellons, Richard Welsh, and Lane Veltkamp. The purpose of this organization was to “develop and promote high standards for the profession, to ensure consumer protection, to regulate the profession and advocate for people with mental health issues.” The first goal was to get a licensure law passed. After three attempts, in 1974 a licensure law for BSW, MSW and LCSW (KRS.335) passed. In 1975 a licensure board was established to regulate practice of clinical social workers. In 1976 Avril Reeb, LCSW helped to write and lead the national organization, NFCSW, to pass a model licensing bill for all states.

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KSCSW returned to the Kentucky legislature in 1976 to amend KRS.335 to gain privilege for clients seen by LCSW’s. Prior to this only psychologists and psychiatrists had the right to confidentiality.

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In 1977 KSCSW members Gwen Goldberg and Avril Reeb representing the State of Kentucky Licensing Board hosted a meeting in Louisville with the other State Boards to form the AASSWB and develop a national license exam which became the basic standard of competence.

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By 1981 KSCSW had 86 members. Throughout the 80’s we offered conferences which brought to Lexington experts such as Irving Yalom and John Briere. In 1984, the administrative regulations (KAR 201) of the licensing bill (KRS 335) were amended to create the present supervisor contract system for social workers training for independent practice.

The challenges of the late 80’s through the mid 90’s were:

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1. Getting the State to include LCSW’s under the Kentucky Kare and the Kentucky Care Selection Plans which replaced Blue Cross/Blue Shield as the providers for state/local and school board employees.
    

2. Professional territorial boundaries with other mental health providers were seeking exclusive right to do marriage and family therapy.
    

3. Defeating an attempt to amend KRS 335 to define our scope of practice to “non medical diagnosis”
    

4. Successful amendment in 1992 to KRS 422A.0507 (Rules of Evidence) to include LCSW as “Psychotherapist”. Kentucky Social Work Board of Examiners Vice Chair, Avril Reeb, led this effort with Bill Jett (KSCSW past president) and Sally Rhoads (KSCSW Past President). Dr. Robert Lawson, UK Professor of Law was the architect of this very important legislation and was allowed to present the case for our inclusion as psychotherapist.
    

5. In 1994 the third party payment bill passed so that consumers’ insurance paid for mental health insurance, Sally Rhoads (KSCSW) and Dr. Sheila Schuster (Kentucky Mental Health Coalition), with assistance from Avril Reeb led the successful drive for vendorship.
    

6. With the approval of the 2000 Mental Health Parity, approved insurers now provide benefits for the treatment of mental illness and disorders. Due to the extreme opposition from insurance companies this was a difficult battle. Again KSCSW’s Sally Rhoads and the Mental Health Coalition’s Dr. Sheila Schuster led this battle. Molly Klauss’ last minute pleas to a legislator gave us victory.