Ethical Standards for Social Workers Use of Technology

Course overview

Course Description: This course is based upon material published in the Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics and is available online using the weblink provided. Abstract: Social workers are making increased use of technology to deliver services to clients, communicate with clients, gather information about clients, communicate with and about colleagues, and educate students and practitioners. The advent of technology including the Internet, text (SMS), email, video, social media and networking, cloud storage, and other forms of digital communication and software has introduced novel and unprecedented ethical challenges. Very recently, these dramatic changes in the ways that social workers use technology have led to major efforts to develop new ethical standards in the profession. These efforts have occurred in three distinct, albeit related, domains: (1) practice standards, (2) regulatory and licensing standards, and (3) code of ethics standards. This article provides a synthesis of emerging ethical standards and consensus thinking related to social workers use of technology. It is essential that todays social workers be thoroughly familiar with these significant developments to ensure that their practice complies with prevailing ethical standards This course on ethical standards for the use of technology is designed for social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, nurses, and substance abuse counselors who do clinical work. In addition, this course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop their knowledge of the ethical use of technology. Author: Reamer Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding the ethical standards for social workers use of technology. Specifically, a professional will: Identify the 3 domains in which new ethical standards for the use of technology have developed. Describe ethical standards in the practice of social work. Describe ethical standards as they relate to licensing in social work Describe ethical standards that have changed in the code of ethics. Citation: Reamer, F.G. (2018). Ethical standards for social workers use of technology: Emerging consensus. Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 15(2)