§ 5-39.1-2. Definitions. As used in this chapter:

(1) "Board" means the state board of social work examiners for licensure of social workers.

(2) "Clinical social work practice" means the professional application of social-work theories, methods, and values in the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of cognitive, affective, and behavioral disorders arising from physical, environmental, or emotional conditions. Clinical social-work services include, but are not limited to, diagnosis; assessment; evaluation; psychotherapy and counseling for individuals, couples, families, and groups; client-centered advocacy; consultation; and supervision. Clinical social-work services do not include psychological testing, and nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit social workers to practice psychology.

(3) "Continuing education hours" means actual hours earned in continuing education courses, seminars, and workshops.

(4) "Department" means the Rhode Island department of health.

(5) "Director" means the director of the Rhode Island department of health.

(6) "Division" means the division of professional regulation in the Rhode Island department of health.

(7)(i) "Experience" means three thousand (3,000) hours of post-master's practice of clinical social work during a twenty-four (24) to seventy-two (72) month period of time immediately preceding the date of application for licensure.

(ii) One thousand five hundred (1,500) hours must consist of providing clinical social-work services directly to clients.

(8) "Supervision" means face-to-face contact with a licensed independent clinical social worker for the purpose of apprising the supervisor of the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of each client; receiving oversight and guidance from the supervisor in the delivery of clinical social-work services to each client; and being evaluated by the supervisor. This contact must consist of:

(i) A minimum of two (2) hours of supervision every two (2) weeks;

(ii) A minimum of one hour of supervision per twenty (20) hours of direct contact with clients, whether or not the number of hours of supervision required for a two-week (2) period have been met;

(iii) One-to-one contact with the supervisor at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the time with group supervision of no more than ten (10) supervisees during the balance of the time; and

(iv) Supervision by an individual other than the applicant's parents, spouse, former spouse, siblings, children, employees, or anyone sharing the same household or any romantic, domestic, or familial relationship.

History of Section. (P.L. 1994, ch. 77, § 2; P.L. 1994, ch. 102, § 2.)