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Social Work Speaks Abstracts

Technology and Social Work

Access to computer-driven decision support and expert systems is becoming increasingly available to practitioners, which raises ethical issues surrounding their use. In particular, maintaining confidentiality with the use of technology raises new ethical issues and dilemmas for professional social workers. Social work professionals must inform their clients about the process, associated risks, benefits, and rights and responsibilities when technology is used in practice. Technology competence is becoming integral to competent and responsible professional practice. Thus, it is imperative that the social work profession immediately develop a set of competencies for the use of technology in social work practice, based in direct practice, management, social work education, and research, and that NASW members actively seek opportunities for ongoing education and training in technology use. Training should include legal, ethical, and competency-based standards concerning the risks and benefits to clients and to the profession. It is equally important that NASW take a lead role in using various technologies, such as e-mail, the World Wide Web, and distance learning opportunities to improve members services, fulfill its mission, and achieve its goals.