Implementation of the 2008 EPAS
Note: These documents are not mandated. They are offered only as examples and are intended to serve as a resource.
Advanced Practice and the 2008 EPAS
The 2008 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) outlines 10 core competencies that are common to all of social work practice. Advanced practice “incorporates all of the core competencies augmented by knowledge and practice behaviors specific to a concentration" (M2.2, p.8).
The 2008 EPAS was passed with the understanding that CSWE would work with the education community to create resources for programs in the development of knowledge and practice behaviors specific to competencies for advanced practice. Some of these resources are now available. Other resources are currently in development and will be posted as they are finalized. The statuses of known projects are listed below. For more information about any of these projects, please contact Jessica Holmes.
Note: These documents are not mandated. They are offered only as examples and are intended to serve as a resource.
Available Guides
- Trauma
The trauma-informed social work practice guide was developed by a task force of 40 practitioners and faculty members under the leadership of co-chairs Virginia Strand (Fordham University) and Robert Abramovitz (Hunter College). The final guide, Advanced Social Work Practice in Trauma (PDF) was published in fall 2012.
- Clinical Social Work
The clinical social work project was led by University of Houston, Saint Catherine University/University of Saint Thomas, and Smith College. The group held its first meeting in August 2009; programs with a clinical social work concentration were invited to participate in the process. A final product, Advanced Practice in Clinical Social Work (PDF), is now available.
- Gerontology
The gerontology project is being led by the CSWE Gero-Ed Center. The final product, Advanced Gero Social Work Practice Guide (PDF), is now complete and includes course and evaluation resources.
- Military Social Work
Cosponsored by the University of Southern California School of Social Work's Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families, this guide (PDF) defines the specialized knowledge and skills that social work practitioners need to effectively serve military personnel, veterans, and their families, as well as noncombatant uniformed service members.
- Prevention of Substance Use Disorders
The prevention project is now complete, and the final product, Advanced Practice in the Prevention of Substance Use Disorders (PDF), is available online. A print copy also can be requested by sending an e-mail to Jessica Holmes.