Social workers support Bill 461

by Krystal Paco

Guam - Coming up in the near future is a public hearing on legislation that would create the Guam Social Work Practice Act, or Bill 461. The National Association of Social Workers are showing their support for the measure.

According to executive director of the Guam Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers Marlene Ongesii, Guam is the last jurisdiction to have a social work licensure and hopes the measure to unify the profession of social work not only on island but in the territory. "The basic premise of it is delivering consumer protection and that's basically what we want to ensure that those who are in the practicing field of social work do have the basic minimal skills to call them social workers or be in the field capacity as a social worker," she said.

The bill promotes, preserves and protects the public health, safety and welfare by and through effective control and regulation of the practice of social work, which includes licensure. The group held a wave late this afternoon in support of the bill ahead of Wednesday's public hearing starting at 6pm at the Legislative Public Hearing Room.