In the near future, I plan to offer a companion bill to House Bill 554, which will authorize the Commonwealth to join the Social Work Licensure Compact.

Across the Commonwealth, especially in rural areas, a shortage of mental health professionals and a growing demand for services present a major challenge. Currently, social workers must obtain separate licenses for each state in which they practice—a labor-intensive and time-consuming process that further limits access to vital care.

To help meet these growing challenges, I plan to introduce legislation that would authorize our Commonwealth to join the multi-state Social Work Licensure Compact. This legislation would allow social workers with, or eligible for, an active Pennsylvania license to apply for a multi-state license. Additionally, by joining the Social Work Licensure Compact, Pennsylvania social workers could serve clients across state lines and make greater use of tele-health technology. These steps would help alleviate the current workforce shortage, open new employment opportunities for licensees, and improve access to care for Pennsylvanian
 
Currently, 22 states have already joined the compact.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation in order to support our social workers and improve continuity of care.