Benefits of the Social Work Licensure Compact:
Broadband expansion and Telehealth
National involvement in the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) and the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) led to significant increases in telehealth services, improving mental health outcomes for participating states. Recent studies show Telehealth therapy is on par with face-to-face psychotherapy services, and that 59% of Americans stated they would use Telehealth for mental healthcare.
Texas can replicate this success with the Social Work Licensure Compact (SWLC), especially given recent investments in broadband infrastructure. Under HB 9 (88), Texas invested $1.5 billion in broadband accessibility. This investment was bolstered by a federal investment of $3.3 billion through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program (BEAD) and $5.4 million allocated for growth through the Capital Projects Fund.
These expansions target minority and at-risk communities where social workers are needed most. Programs like Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT), which offers telehealth services to youth during mental health crises, demonstrate the effectiveness of such initiatives. Texas has the opportunity to increase Telehealth access through the Social Work Licensure Compact (SWLC) by increasing the number of telehealth providers, ensuring underserved Texans receive the care they need.
Take action today! Reach out to your legislators and urge them to support the SWLC to enhance mental health care access for all Texans. Check out our SWLC resources on our website for more information on the compact.