Near-Graduation excitement

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Goobernut

LCSW
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This is nothing thought provoking, but... I'm submitting all my paperwork for the LMSW licensure. I'm so excited this is almost done. After I get a job this summer, then I'll immediately turn around and submit paperwork for the LCSW.

I spent all day Friday at a Social Work in healthcare statewide conference (and got to do a mini presentation!!!) and really enjoyed hearing what ppl are doing all over state to integrate mental and physical health. I realized how spoiled I've been by my school experience ha! Really gotta keep my 10 year plan in mind. Since the medical world is still fee-for-service and not outcome based, they still really want LCSW for primary care work -- to help fund the position through billing.

So yeah, just excited for finishing, curious how the next couple of years will go to work myself into the spot I want to be.

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That is exciting! It will be exciting for us as well; now we'll have a regular poster (hopefully) who can shed light on things from the world of the working professionals :p
 
Ah yes, the elusive working professional! I have maybe two good job leads, so maybe one will pan out? I can hope :)
 
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Are either of these jobs in primary care social work (correct title?)? I just reread your email from a while back again and I am still very very interested.
 
No, unfortunately not. But they are excellent ways to get me to my license. One is as a therapist at a residential treatment facility. That would give me tons of experience in substance abuse, and since its a residential, there is lots of focus on "whole person" health. The other is as a therapist with a CMHC, which would also give me additional time to hone my clinical skills, which is what I think takes integrated mental health to the next level.

I am not sure what they are calling it ha! Right now my instructor goes by "integrated behavioral health clinician." The professional meetings I go to once a month are called "social work in primary care." It's a small subsection of health social work to be sure. In the VA they are called PACT, but every PACT is integrated to different levels. Some PACTs just call the social worker for case management, while other PACT actually perform as an inter-professional team.

If you are still curious about it, I can give you more links. SAMHSA has a whole section on integrated care and the various models. I really think this is where we as social workers shine, because 1. Our generalist background 2. Our ability to Bill medicare. Most integrated models use mid-level mental health practitioners in the office with primary care docs, as a model of front-line care. We provide short-term treatment if needed, and refer out to specialists (PhD's or PsyDs) if needed. Or other specialized mid-levels depending on needs. The only place I've seen a Psychologist used for integrated (disclaimer: in my state, in my limited experience) was in a specialty children's clinic, which seemed appropriate :). I've read online that Psychologists are used for integrated care much more heavily in other states and systems, but again, I think the SW lobby is strong in my metro area lol.
 
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Yeah, those would be great places to work towards your license, which I suppose would be a necessity for a position in integrated care if part of the allure is being able to bill medicare. I would definitely appreciate some more links if you could provide them, I'm very interested in the subject and wouldn't mind learning more about it. Thanks Goobernut!
 
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