Licensed and pre-licensed professionals are invited to join us for a review of a new law that may affect clinical practice related to emotional support animal letters from mental health practitioners. AB 468, which went into effect in January 2022, seeks to curb emotional support animal fraud. We will be joined by Wallis Brozman of Canine Companions – one of the bill’s sponsors – on April 7, 2022 from 12-1PM PT, to review the law and its impacts on clinical practice. 1 Law & Ethics CEU will be provided. Registration is required.
This policy update workshop will address:
- A review of AB 468 and why it was initially introduced
- Differences between a specially trained service animal and an emotional support animal (ESA)
- Impacts of the law on social workers, particularly in clinical settings
- Process under the new law for writing letters confirming the need for emotional support animals
- Ethical considerations for social workers
Fees:
- Members: Free
- Nonmembers: $10
About the Speaker:
Wallis Brozman, Communications and Advocacy Coordinator, Canine Companions
Wallis Brozman (she/her) works for Canine Companions as the head storyteller and copy editor for the organization. She also leads advocacy initiatives for Canine Companions that impact the lives of all service dog users nationwide. Wallis is a subject matter expert on service dog access and fraud and presents nationally on the issue of public access and the impact of service dog fraud, and worked collaboratively with the California Assembly and Guide Dogs for the Blind to create and successfully pass CA AB 468 in 2021. With a movement disorder affecting her laryngeal and skeletal muscles as well as an auditory processing disorder, Wallis is a wheelchair user and primarily communicates in American Sign Language. Wallis graduated with a BA in Sociology and Disability from Gallaudet University—the 4-year university for the Deaf and hard of hearing. She lives in Santa Rosa, California with her wife Rachel, and her third Canine Companions service dog, Renata.
Please contact Alex Brown at abrown.naswca@socialworkers.org or (916) 252 – 2958 for any questions.
