Mission Statement
Protecting the citizens of Oregon through the licensing and regulation of Social Workers.
History of the Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers
The Oregon State Board of Licensed Social Workers (BLSW) was created in 1979 by legislature and is authorized by ORS 675.510 - 675.600 to regulated social work in Oregon.
The Board is statutorily responsible to protect the citizens of Oregon through the regulation of social workers. This is accomplished by setting policy, establishing standards of practice and ethical conduct, establishing standards for certification, registration and licensure, including renewals, and monitoring continuing education requirements.
The Board is comprised of seven board members, appointed by the Governor, and confirmed by the Senate. Three of the seven members must be Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), one of the seven must be a Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA), Registered Baccalaureate Social Worker (RBSW), or Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), and three of the seven members must be members of the public and not be licensed social workers.
Currently, the Board licenses and regulates over 10,000 social workers. The Boards licensure program covers the clinical CSWA certificate and the clinical LCSW license, the non-clinical LMSW license, and the non-clinical RBSW certificate of registration.
The Boards compliance program covers cases alleging the unlicensed practice of clinical social work and violations of the professional standards for social workers. The Board's responsibilities and functions are administered by eight staff and overseen by an Executive Director. For more information about Board staff, please visit our Contact Us page.
Meet the Oregon BLSW Board Members
Licensed Board Members:
Amy Ashton-Williams, LCSW - Board Chair
Location: Umatilla County
Term Number: First
Term Dates: 07/01/2022 - 06/30/2026
Mollie Janssen, LCSW - Vice Board Chair
Location: Washington County
Term Number: Second
Term Dates: 06/30/2023 - 06/30/2027
Eli Kinsley, LCSW
Location: Marion County
Term Number: First
Term Dates: 06/22/2026 - 06/30/2027
Olivia Bormann, CSWA
Location: Multnomah County
Term Number: First
Term Dates: 05/01/2025 - 06/30/2027
Public Board Members:
Nicole Pantley
County: Umatilla County
Term Number: First
Term Dates: 07/01/2025 - 06/30/2029
Troy Costales
County: Marion County
Term Number: First
Term Dates: 11/20/2025 - 06/30/2029
Shyra Merila-Simmons
County: Clatsop County
Term Number: First
Term Dates: 07/01/2026 - 06/30/2027