Clinical social work: present role and future challenge

Master's level students, new workers and agency and academic faculty are challenged to maintain social work practice standards and retain traditional values and identifications in a climate of diminishing resources for social work services. Pressure for third party reimbursement, accelerated demands for self-directed and autonomous clinical social work practice in new systems of care characterize this climate. This paper addresses issues and dilemmas attendant to these changes for which we seek solutions. Some suggestions are offered. Some issues are posed as questions since answers are evolving and outcomes are uncertain.