Section 3902 - Definitions As used in this chapter:
(1) "Advanced practice" means the specialized professional application of social work theory, knowledge, methods, principles, values, and ethics, and the professional use of self to community and organizational systems, meaning systemic and macrocosm issues, and other indirect, nonclinical services. "Advanced practice" includes activities such as community organization and development; social planning and policy development; administration of social work policies, programs, and activities; outcome evaluation; client education; research; nonclinical supervision of employees; nonclinical consultation; nonclinical assessment and referral; mediation; expert testimony; and advocacy.(2) "Another jurisdiction" means another state of the United States, the District of Columbia, a territory of the United States, or a country outside of the United States or its territories.(3) "Applicant" means an individual seeking licensure under this chapter.(4) "Baccalaureate social work" is the entry level of social work and means the application of social work theory, knowledge, methods, ethics, and the professional use of self to restore or enhance social, psychosocial, or biopsychosocial functioning of individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations, and communities. "Baccalaureate social work" is generalist practice.(5) "Baccalaureate social worker" means an individual licensed to practice baccalaureate social work.(6) "Board" means the Board of Social Work Examiners.(7) "Case management" means a method to plan, provide, evaluate, and monitor services from a variety of resources on behalf of and in collaboration with a client. (8) "Client" means an individual, couple, family, group, organization, or community that seeks or receives social work services from a social worker or an organization whether those services are free or for a fee.(9) "Clinical supervisor" means a licensed clinical social worker who has met the qualifications as determined by the Board.(10) "Consultation" means an advisory professional relationship between a social worker and other professionals, with the social worker ethically maintaining responsibility for all judgments and decisions regarding service to a client.(11) "Conversion therapy" means any practice or treatment that seeks to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, as "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" are defined in § 710 of Title 19, including any effort to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender. "Conversion therapy" does not mean any of the following: a. Counseling that provides assistance to an individual who is seeking to undergo a gender transition or who is in the process of undergoing gender transition.b. Counseling that provides an individual with acceptance, support, and understanding without seeking to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity.c. Counseling that facilitates an individual's coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, including counseling in the form of sexual orientation-neutral interventions or gender identity-neutral interventions provided for the purpose of preventing or addressing unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, without seeking to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity.(12) "Counseling" means a method, in addition to psychotherapy, advocacy, research, and consultation, used by social workers to assist individuals, couples, families, and groups in learning how to solve problems and make decisions about personal, health, social, educational, vocational, financial, and other interpersonal concerns.(13) "Division" means the Division of Professional Regulation.(14) "Excessive use or abuse of drugs" means the use of narcotics, controlled substances, or illegal drugs without a prescription from a licensed physician or other professional licensed to prescribe, or the abuse of alcoholic beverages such that it impairs an individual's ability to perform social work.(15) "Generalist practice" means a professional problem process that includes engagement, assessment, treatment planning, intervention, and evaluation. Methods of generalist practice include case management, information and referral, counseling, consultation, education, advocacy, community organization, research, and the development, implementation, and administrations of policies, programs, or activities.(16) "Good standing" means meeting the standards of § 3907(a) of this title. (17) "Licensed clinical social work" means the specialty within the practice of master's social work, that requires the application of specialized clinical knowledge and advanced clinical skills of social work theory, knowledge, methods, and ethics, as applied to a clinical, therapeutic relationship which may include the person-in-environment perspective, to the assessment, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of biopsychosocial dysfunction, disability, and impairment, including mental and emotional disorders, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse. "Licensed clinical social work" includes the provision of individual, marital, couple, family and group counseling, and psychotherapy, as they are related to clinical, therapeutic relationship. "Licensed clinical social work" also includes private practice and supervision. "Licensed clinical social work" does not include the administration of psychological tests, which are reserved exclusively for use by licensed psychologists under Chapter 35 of this title.(18) "Licensed clinical social worker" means an individual licensed to practice licensed clinical social work.(19) "Licensee" means an individual licensed under this chapter.(20) "Master's social work" means the application of social work theory, knowledge, methods, ethics, and the professional use of self to restore or enhance social, psychosocial, or biopsychosocial functioning of individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations, and communities. "Master's social work" is the application of generalist practice, specialized knowledge, and advanced practice skills.(21) "Master's social worker" means an individual licensed to practice master's social work.(22) "Person-in-environment perspective" means observing human behavior, development, and function in the context of the environment, social functioning, mental health, physical health, or any combination thereof.(23) "Social work" means baccalaureate social work, master's social work, and licensed clinical social work, collectively or, if context demands, individually.(24) "Social worker" means baccalaureate social worker, master's social worker, and licensed clinical social worker, collectively or, if context demands, individually.(25) "Substantially related" means the nature of the criminal conduct for which the individual was convicted has a direct bearing on the fitness or ability to perform 1 or more of the duties or responsibilities necessarily related to social work.(26) "Supervision" means the professional relationship between a clinical supervisor and a social worker that provides evaluation and direction over the services that the social worker provides and promotes continued development of the social worker's knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide social work services in an ethical and competent manner.Amended by Laws 2023, ch. 438,s 1, eff. 9/26/2024.Amended by Laws 2021 , ch. 52, s 19, eff. 7/1/2021.Amended by Laws 2019 , ch. 261, s 15, eff. 7/17/2020.Amended by Laws 2017 , ch. 340, s 11, eff. 7/23/2018.Amended by Laws 2017 , ch. 263, s 3, eff. 6/11/2019.Amended by Laws 2015 , ch. 80, s 20, eff. 1/1/2016.63 Del. Laws, c. 462, §2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 143, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 106, §§ 1, 2; 74 Del. Laws, c. 262, §88; 77 Del. Laws, c. 224, §§ 2, 3.;