Welcome to the Social Work Homepage
The Colorado State Board of Social Work Examiners regulates licensed social workers and clinical social workers in the State of Colorado. Board activities include the review of licensure applications, complaints, and enforcement of disciplinary actions against violators of the Mental Health Practice Act or Board Rule. The Board is made up of seven members,three public and four professionals, who meet six times per year.
Program Information
- Program/Board Members
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Reina Sbarbaro-Gordon, Program Director
State Board of Social Work Examiners
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, CO 80202Phone: 303-894-7800 | Fax: 303-894-7764 | Email: dora_mentalhealthboard@state.co.us
Board Members:
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Casey Patterson
Public Member | Term Expires: June 30, 2026 -
Laura Schwartz, LCSW, Chair
Professional Member |Term Expires: June 30, 2024 -
Lorraine Bockman, LCSW, Vice-Chair
Professional Member | Term Expires: June 30, 2026 -
Joshua Jones
Public Member | Term Expires: June 30, 2024 -
Renee Long
Public Member | Term Expires: June 30, 2026 -
Rodrigo Morendez, LCSW
Professional Member | Term Expires: June 30, 2025 -
Jennifer Silva, LCSW
Professional Member | Term Expires: June 30, 2025
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- Public Notices
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REQUESTING WRITTEN STAKEHOLDER COMMENTS
Implementation of Colorado Senate Bills 23-188 and 23-265What is this about?
The following Boards and Programs within the Division of Professions and Occupations are requesting written comments regarding the implementation of Colorado Senate Bills 23-188 (CONCERNING A PROHIBITION ON A REGULATOR IMPOSING DISCIPLINE AGAINST A PERSON BASED ON CERTAIN ACTIVITIES INVOLVING MARIJUANA) and 23-265 (CONCERNING A PROHIBITION ON A REGULATOR IMPOSING DISCIPLINE AGAINST A PERSON BASED ON CERTAIN ACTIVITIES INVOLVING MARIJUANA), and the proposed repeal of the Board and Program rules that are no longer necessary after the codification of these regulations into law.
Each of the listed Boards and Programs will hold a Permanent Rulemaking Hearing on the dates listed to determine whether to repeal the rules on a permanent basis to implement the law. Please submit written comments as soon as possible. The Boards and Programs will continue to accept written comments until the Permanent Rulemaking Hearings where stakeholders will be given a final opportunity to testify before the Board and/or the Director or Director's designee. Please visit the Board and Program websites under the "Public Notices" tab for the most current information, including webinar registration information, written comments (SB23-188 and SB23-265), and the draft rules.
Emergency and Permanent Rulemaking Hearing - September 16, 2022
The State Board of Social Work Examiners will hold an Emergency and Permanent Rulemaking Hearing to allow stakeholders a final opportunity to provide testimony before the Board considers adopting multiple proposed new and revised rules to implement Colorado Senate Bill 22-116 (Concerning the ability of an individual to obtain an occupational credential through the occupational credential portability program); Colorado House Bill 22-1284 (Concerning updates to state surprise billing laws to facilitate the implementation of surprise billing protections, and aligning state law with the federal "No Surprises Act"); Executive Order D 2022-032 (Directing State Agencies to Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care in Colorado); and Executive Order D 2022-034 (Protecting Colorado’s Workforce and Expanding Licensing Opportunities). The Board will consider all proposed rules on a permanent basis, and in addition, will consider emergency adoption of the new rules implementing the Executive Orders to comply with the Governor’s 90-day reporting requirements.
- Friday, September 16, 2022, at 9:00 A.M. (MDT)
- Effective Date (Permanent Rules): November 14, 2022
- SB22-116 Joint Stakeholder Meeting: June 10, 2022
- EO D 2022-032 Joint Stakeholder Meeting: July 22, 2022
- EO D 2022-034 Joint Stakeholder Meeting: July 29, 2022
- HB22-1284 Joint Stakeholder Meeting: August 12, 2022
Permanent Rulemaking Hearing - September 17, 2021
The State Board of Social Work Examiners held a Permanent Rulemaking Hearing on September 17, 2021, that allowed stakeholders a final opportunity to provide feedback before the Board considered adopting revisions to Rule 1.8(B), to implement Colorado Senate Bill 21-077 (Concerning the elimination of verification of an individual's lawful presence in the United States as a requirement for individual credentialing).
- Notice, Draft Rule, SB21-077, and Written Comments
- SB21-077 Joint Stakeholder Meeting (recording): July 26, 2021
- Effective Date: November 14, 2021
Permanent Rulemaking Hearing - March 19, 2021
The State Board of Social Work Examiners will hold a VIRTUAL Permanent Rulemaking Hearing to allow stakeholders a final opportunity to provide feedback before the Board considers adopting revisions to Rule 1.6 to implement Colorado House Bill 19-1129 (Prohibiting mental health care providers from engaging in conversion therapy with a patient under eighteen years of age); and revisions to Rules 1.12, 1.23, and Appendix A to correct language in the rules that conflict with portions of the statutes in Colorado House Bill 20-1326 (Concerning an expansion of an individual's ability to practice an occupation in Colorado through creation of an occupational credential portability program) and Colorado Senate Bill (Concerning required disclosures to patients regarding formal actions based on sexual misconduct).
- Legislative Updates
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- 2023 New Legislation
- HB 23-1003: School Mental Health Assessment
- HB 23-1031: Mental Health Professional Reporting Exemption
- HB23-1071: Licensed Psychologist Psychotropic Medication Prescribing
- SB 23-004: Employment of School Mental Health Professionals
- SB23-102: Rule Review Bill
- SB23-170: Extreme Risk Protection Order Petitions
- SB23-265: SB 23-265: Prohibit Professional Discipline for Marijuana
- SB 23-286: Access to Government Records
- 2022 New Legislation
- HB22-1041: Privacy Protections For Protected Persons
- HB22-1098: Department Of Regulatory Agencies Barriers To Practice Regulated Professions
- HB22-1165 Rule Review Bill
- HB22-1240 Mandatory Reporters
- HB22-1256 Modifications To Civil Involuntary Commitment
- HB22-1267 Culturally Relevant Training Health Professionals
- HB22-1270 Change Term Name-based Criminal History Record Check
- HB22-1278: Behavioral Health Administration
- HB22-1291: Sunrise Review Professions Occupations
- HB22-1299: License Registration Fee Relief For Mental Health Professionals
- HB22-1307: Mental Health Professionals Technical Changes
- HB22-1326: Fentanyl Accountability And Prevention
- SB22-013: Boards and Commissions
- SB22-076: Complaint Occupational License Official Acts
- SB22-116: Increase Occupational Credential Portability
- SB22-140 Expansion Of Experiential Learning Opportunities
- SB22-143: Update Common Provision Term Regulator Title 12
- SB22-162: Administration Organization Act Modernization
- SB22-174: Sunset Review Hearing Criteria
- SB22-181 Behavioral Health-care Workforce
- SB22-226: Programs To Support Health-care Workforce
- 2021 New Legislation
- HB21-1022: Surrogacy Agreements
- HB21-1119: Suicide Prevention, Intervention, & Postvention
- HB 21-1123: CAPS Check for Substantiated Cases of Mistreatment of an At-Risk Adult
- HB21-1169: Prohibit Discrimination Organ Transplant Recipient
- HB21-1198: Healthcare Billing Requirements for Indigent Patients
- HB21-1021: Peer Support Professionals Behavioral Health
- HB21-1068: Insurance Coverage Mental Health Wellness Exam
- HB21-1085: Secure Transportation Behavioral Health Crisis
- HB21-1130: Expand Transition Specialist Program
- HB21-1232: Standardized Health Benefit Plan Colorado Option
- HB21-1300: Health-care Provider Liens for Injured Persons
- SB21-056 Expand Cannabis-based Medicine At Schools
- SB21-077: Remove Lawful Presence Verification Credentialing
- SB21-097: Sunset Medical Transparency Act
- SB21-271: Misdemeanor Reform
- 2020 New Legislation
- 2023 New Legislation
- Meeting Minutes