We've all heard the overused expression: "When one door closes another door opens!" I know, I've used it regularly myself. With so much change and loss in my life these days, I'd always felt comfort when I heard it. Then recently, I heard someone comment that doors are made to open and close and you can decide. I'm not sure that I agree, but it got me thinking.
Last time I wrote here, I was announcing my retirement and that I had decided NOT to renew my LCSW-BACS. I am resident in France now with a ten year Titre de Sejour and Columbus Street sold on July 15 of 2022. Maintaining my credentials was just one more thing that tied me to the states.
With both of my parents passing and COVID travel stresses; I'd decided to make my life as easy and stress free as possible.
When I "closed the door" to maintaining my credentials and licensure, I'd forgotten that once you "let go" and are a non-credentialed person; you are no longer able to call yourself a "social worker" in the State of Louisiana. I'd asked about a "retired status" at the time and was told that the Board was working on that.
As a former LCSW-BACS who devoted much to the profession, it seems discounting and unfair to have worked so hard for all those years and contributed so much, for there to not be something to recognize us in our retirement years.
I mention this here for all of you young social workers out there.
This may not seem like an important, looming issue, but I want you to at least be aware of this issue as you get closer to retirement age and have your own decisions to make.
I have no regrets about my decision. I have no plans to be practicing in any way. It just seems that there should be some recognition and structure to address this issue for us.
I am wondering what I should do with this blog? I guess I can talk about social work. I guess I can write about social work. But, I can't say "I am a social worker," in Louisiana.
Any ideas or suggestions for me?
Life goes on!