Santa Maria wishes to express their strong opposition to the rule change adopted on Friday, October 9 during the joint meeting of the Texas Behavioral Health Council and the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners. This ruling changed a section of the state’s code of conduct that establishes when a social worker may refuse to serve someone. With the change, language was removed prohibiting social workers from refusing to serve clients solely due to their disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. The rule change effectively removes protections in place to both individuals with disabilities and to individuals from the LGBTQ community. Governor Gregg Abbot’s office recommended the change. Santa Maria does not and will not discriminate in our services to any population seeking services for treatment. We believe that this rule change will further reinforce the stigma of behavioral health services and discourage people with disabilities, LGTBQ communities and other vulnerable populations from seeking and receiving treatment. We believe that this ruling be reversed.
Click HERE to read the letter from the Network of Behavioral Healthcare Providers for more information.
