Oklahomans for Information AND ACTION in Social Work ASWB

3700 North Classen Boulevard,Oklahoma City OK 73118

27 January, 2023

Description

Are social workers perpetuating the same harm we seek to heal? Are we practicing racism, ageism, and ableism in our own profession? Our licensing exam board (ASWB) and licensing exam (LMSW) have been discriminating against who can become a licensed social worker. After being pressured by outside influencers, the ASWB (Association of Social Work Boards) released first-time pass rates of the ASWB clinical licensure exam based on race. They are as follows: Black (45%), Indigenous (63%), Latine/Hispanic (65%), and White (84%)—a difference of nearly 20-40% for White test-takers. The test also discriminates against older and differently-abled social workers. With this going on in our own profession we must ask ourselves, are we the profession that we claim to be and, most importantly, who our communities need us to be. We are organizing and mobilizing efforts in Oklahoma to make changes here in our state. Oklahoma’s incarceration rates, education system, LGBTQ relations, policy practices, domestic violence rates, trauma scores, historical trauma, and so much more can not afford us to have crucial members of our team unable to practice their skills and what they went to school to do to their full extent. We are asking you to get involved. One way is to meet us at the board meeting to show an united front against this test. Here is a national petition that we encourage everyone to sign.