The new old guard: Beliefs and values of members and nonmembers of societies for clinical social work

Opinions on educational and practice issues relating to clinical social work were solicited from three groups of professionally active, masters level social workers: (1) members of state societies for clinical social work N=43]; (2) nonmember clinical social workers N=38]; and (3) nonmember social workers who were not clinicans N=20]. Results indicate that members of state societies for clinical social work firmly endorse traditional social work values, but differ systematically in their opinions from masters level clinicians who are not members of state societies for clinical social work, and from nonclinicians with masters degrees. Implications for formal organizations in social work are discussed.