Virginia Regulatory Town Hall View Comments

Department of Health Professions

Multiple Boards

Guidance Document Change: Consistent with the established position of the NASW, the Board considers “conversion therapy” or “sexual orientation change efforts” to be services that have the potential to be a danger to clients, especially minors. Thus, under regulations governing practitioners licensed or registered by the Board, practicing conversion therapy/sexual orientation change efforts with minors could result in a finding of misconduct and disciplinary action against the licensee or registrant.

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5/10/19 4:29 pm

Commenter: Amanda Morris

Project parental rights and religious freedom. Reject this proposal

Parents are closest to their child’s challenges and they are in the best position to identify solutions and to make healthcare decisions involving the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of their child.
Under Virginia law, parents have the fundamental right to make decisions regarding the upbringing, education and care of their children.
A ban would deny families the religious freedom to seek counseling aligned with their faith.
Because the proposed definition and ban cover all communication between a social worker and the client, there is a serious risk that children and families will lose the right to client self determination in setting care goals (a core principle of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics)

CommentID: 72087