Addressing the Need for Increased Supervision Opportunities of Licensed Clinical Social Workers in Northeastern and Rural Minnesota

Abstract

New licensing standards for clinical social workers in Minnesota, including an increase in required supervision hours, took effect in August of 2011. At present, there is a shortage of clinical social workers able to provide supervision, particularly in rural communities. The shortage of clinical supervisors is a nationally and internationally recognized concern. The aim of the study was to identify if there are barriers preventing clinical social workers from becoming supervisors, and if there are resources, which may further increase supervision opportunities in the Northeastern and rural areas of Miimesota. The study utilized an exploratory mixed methods approach. This included a survey with a random sampling technique to gather data from clinical level social workers in the Northeastern and rural areas of Minnesota. Interviews with clinical social workers were also conducted to further investigate the meaning of the survey results and range of opinion on barriers to clinical supervision opportunities. The results provided key stakeholders in clinical supervision with specific information to advocate for systematic change that could increase supervision opportunities in underserved areas. This includes the use of telemental health as a venue for providing supervision, generating on-line resources for and about supervision, and finally creating learning cultures for supervision within mental health systems. The recommendations not only benefit Minnesota, they also could be useful to other states and countries with similar clinical supervision standards and demands for an increase of supervision opportunities in rural areas.