For the purposes of this Article, the following words and phrases are defined to mean:
(a) Board shall mean the Guam Board of Social Work. (b) Practice of Baccalaureate 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 bio-psycho-social functioning of
individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations, and
communities. Baccalaureate Social Work is basic generalist practice that includes assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, case management, information and referral, counseling, supervision, consultation, education, advocacy, community organization, and the development, implementation, and administration of policies, programs, and activities.

(c) Practice of 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 bio-psycho-social functioning of individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Master’s Social Work practice includes the

85

COL 6/21/2023

10 Guam Code Ann. HEALTH AND SAFETY
CH. 12 MEDICAL PRACTICES

application of specialized knowledge and advanced practice skills in the areas of assessment, treatment planning, implementation and evaluation, case management, information and referral, supervision, consultation, education, advocacy, community organization, and the development, implementation, and administration of policies, programs, and activities. Under supervision as provided in this Act, the practice of Master’s Social Work may include the practices reserved to Clinical Social Workers.

(d) Practice of Clinical Social Work is a specialty within the practice of Master’s Social Work, and requires the application of social work theory, knowledge, methods, ethics, and the professional use of self to restore or enhance social, psychosocial, or bio-psycho-social functioning of individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The practice of Clinical Social Work requires the application of specialized clinical knowledge and advanced clinical skills in the areas of assessment; diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, conditions, and addictions; and evaluation. Treatment methods include the provision of individual, marital, couple, family and group counseling and psychotherapy. The practice of Clinical Social Work may include private practice and the provision of clinical supervision.

(e) Social work practice means the professional application of social work values, principles, ethics and techniques in the following areas:

(1) information, resource identification, referral services, mediation services, advocacy services and education of individuals, groups, couples and families;

(2) preparation and evaluation of assessments and development and implementation of social work service plans;

(3) case management, coordination, casework intervention and monitoring of social work service plans in the areas of personal, social or economic resources,

86

COL 6/21/2023

10 Guam Code Ann. HEALTH AND SAFETY
CH. 12 MEDICAL PRACTICES

conditions, or problems;

(4) administration and development of social service programs, policies, community organization, planning, implementation, and involvement in the evaluation of social systems and social policies;

(5) social work consultation and resource development;

(6) research through the formal design and methodology of data collection and the analysis and evaluation of data, social work programs, social systems and social policies;

(7) psychosocial assessment, diagnostic impressions, treatment of individuals, couples, families, and groups, prevention of psychosocial dysfunction, disability or impairment, including emotional, mental and behavioral disorders, and evaluation of practice effectiveness; and

(8) clinical diagnosis or psychotherapy, or both, provided by a licensed clinical social worker. Social worker or S. W. means a person who has been issued a license as a Licensed Bachelor Social Worker, Licensed Master’s Social Worker, or Licensed Clinical Social Worker to practice within the scope of practice as provided in this Article.

(f) Director shall mean the Director of Public Health and
Social Services.

(g) Exemption shall mean not required to obtain licensure in order to practice social work as of the date of the passage of this law.

(h) Exception shall mean able to obtain a social work license through waiving certain requirements as stated in this law.

2022 NOTE: Subsection designations added for (g) and (h) to correct manifest error in formatting, pursuant to the authority granted by 1 Guam Code Ann. § 1606.

2015 NOTE: Subsection designations (a) through (f) were added to adhere

87

COL 6/21/2023

10 Guam Code Ann. HEALTH AND SAFETY
CH. 12 MEDICAL PRACTICES

to the Compiler’s alpha-numeric scheme pursuant to 1 Guam Code Ann. § 1606.