As part of its conferences, the Wisconsin School Social Workers Association (WSSWA) has long delivered education and training that benefit its members. Unfortunately, it was not possible for social workers to get Continuing Education (CE) credits for their social worker certifications directly from WSSWA because WSSWA was not listed as one of the entities that could provide CE credits in the governing Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) administrative rule.
WSSWA leadership decided it wanted its name added to the DSPS administrative rule so it could directly provide CE credits. This rule change first needed to be approved by the social worker governing boards, and then the Governor and Legislature.
WSSWA leaders and Jack O’Meara appeared before the social worker boards. After a number of meetings and back-and-forth sharing information, the boards agreed to propose the change. The “Statement of Scope” describing the rule change was sent to Governor Evers. He approved it.
After public hearings, the rule was sent to the Legislature for review. O’Meara Public Affairs (OPA) monitored this review. The rule continued through the complicated “Chapter 227 Process,” by which it was reviewed by legislative standing committees and finally the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR).
Legislators ultimately did not object to the rule, so the rule change is going into effect. Social workers will soon be able to get CE credits for attending WSSWA conference presentations!
This is an example of advocacy that started at the agency level, rather than with the Legislature or the Governor. It eventually did need to be approved by the Governor and legislators, but it didn’t start in either of those places. Advocacy can take many different forms and shapes, and it can start and end in various places. And it’s not always about legislation. This was an administrative rule.
The key is getting the outcome the client wants. In this case, that was accomplished.
