April 19, 2023
The RPC’s Workforce Development program was honored to host U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski and Illinois State Senator Paul Faraci on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at the East Central Illinois workNet Center in Champaign.
Joined by Workforce Development Director Dr. Justin Arnold, Workforce Development Program Manager Toriana Rhone, RPC CEO Dalitso Sulamoyo, and Champaign County Executive Steve Summers, the meeting focused on an overview of the “One Stop” — the program’s career services, community partners, and job training — as well as the RPC’s service area, our work with area employers, and the program’s goal to reduce poverty through support and connection to employment and education.
Learn more about our Workforce Development services by clicking here, and visit East Central Illinois workNet by clicking here.
I am a social worker in Champaign and a constituent. I am writing to request that you oppose HB 2365 for the following reasons:
Currently, no other mental health professional group in Illinois is having their licensing requirements questioned or diminished in a similar manner.
This legislation proposes changes to social work licensure standards before consulting with other social work stakeholders in the profession including social work faculty, private practitioners, veteran social workers, physical health groups and organizations representing social workers of color, and specialty practices before being given an opportunity to jointly participate in a process of review, analysis and deliberation.
(LCSWs across the state when asked about this legislation had no idea this change was even proposed).
We are concerned about lowering the professional standards for clinical social workers and protecting clients and the public.
If expanding the Behavior Health/Mental Health workforce is the major goal, why are only LCSWs under consideration and not other Behavioral Health/Mental Health professions?
Other ways of expanding the BH/MH workforce in Illinois, including the number of LCSWs, should be thoroughly considered including mentoring and recruitment, higher pay rates at non-profits and governmental agencies, and scholarships with a focus on attracting individuals of color into the field.
Objective indicators of competency, ethical decision making, knowledge of laws and policies and judgment are needed for individuals who possess the LCSW license, not a diminution of standards. I am concerned that the bill lowers the standards for the LCSW license and of the social work profession and the proposed, but not thoroughly considered alternative, is the only alternative offered.