Pathways to Social Work Licensure: An Examination of Hawai'i's Licensed Social Workers.

Few research studies have examined social work practitioners and their licensure practices and pathways, or how policies affect licensure choices. Pathways to licensure, particularly the process of movement from graduation to licensure, along with the type of license, and the length of time a license is held were analyzed using administrative data from a state agency responsible for professional licensure administration and two schools of social work in the same state. The analysis prioritized the review of individuals who have held or do hold multiple licenses. Results indicated (a) that the majority of people who pursue licensure do so shortly after graduation; (b) that once licensed, graduates maintain their licenses for long periods of time; (c) that the majority of graduates do not pursue licensure; and (d) that policy contexts and opportunities for licensure at different levels affect licensure decision making. The analysis resulted in detailed information regarding the decisions graduates are making to pursue their licenses, the impact of policy on licensure pathways, the intersection of jurisdictional policy and license mobility, and the process of how social workers move through various levels of licensure.

Insights in Public Health: Ke A'o Mau: Strengthening Cultural Competency in Interdisciplinary Education.

In order to successfully address social determinants of health and to achieve social justice for kanaka and all the people of Hawai'i, we must broaden our understanding of and approach to healing/health through interdisciplinary, culturally-informed education. Strengthening cultural competence within an Interprofessional Education framework, has potential in meeting important challenges in patient and population health, including meeting the increased demand for culturally trained professionals, increasing access to providers, and reducing health inequities in kanaka (Native Hawaiians). We present a model of course design and delivery, Ke A'o Mau (Learning Preserved), intended to provide haumana (students) with a unique body of culturally-anchored and community-based knowledge, skills and values that facilitate work with kanaka. Ke A'o Mau was implemented in the 2017-2018 academic year at University of Hawai'i (UH) at Manoa and optimized the authenticity of cultural learning through the engagement of kumu loea (expert teachers) to instruct in their area of expertise. Design and delivery of the course began with the understanding and honoring of kanaka worldviews, knowledge, and practices. Appraisal of haumana learning showed strong evaluative scores, of knowledge development, skills training, and instructional materials. This course not only seeks to resolve critical challenges in patient and population health but also provides a model to support the UH Manoa strategic priority of "striving to be a foremost indigenous-serving institution."