Teaching Note—Preparing Social Workers for the Digital Future of Social Work Practice. (18th August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mishna, Faye; Sanders, Jane E.; Sewell, Karen M.; Milne, Elizabeth
• Is Part Of: Journal of social work education. Volume 57(2021)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 19
• Page End: 26
• Publication Date: 2021-08-18
• Subjects: Social work education -- Periodicals; Social work education -- United States -- Periodicals; 361.305
• DOI: 10.1080/10437797.2021.1912676
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-7797

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic prompted an abrupt shift in the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in practice. The pre-pandemic use of informal ICT was already ubiquitous in social work practice. The purpose of this teaching note is to highlight that social work education must prepare students for practice using ICT during COVID-19 and beyond. Incorporated are findings from an international study on informal ICT use before COVID-19, which confirmed its ubiquity in social work, underscoring the need to educate and prepare social workers to use ICTs. Six knowledge areas important for social work education related to ICT use are discussed: integrating theoretical foundations; ethical considerations; confidentially and documentation; access and equity; risk assessment and management; and supervision and policy.