Social workers are increasingly using technology for service provision, communication, and publicity and the COVID pandemic has quickened the pace of technological adoption. At the same time, clients are engaging in more social media use and resource acquisition through technology. Technology provides amazing advances in access for our clients, yet also creates new ethical challenges and concerns around confidentiality, boundaries, and competency. This workshop will explore the evolution of the NASW code of ethics and increase your understanding of our ethical obligations surrounding technology by examining the latest ethical changes and analyzing ASWB’s technological practice standards. Through interactive activities, we will apply the code of ethics and practice standards to real-world scenarios impacted by technology. The workshop will help you maximize the positive aspects of technology while maintaining safety for your clients, your organization, and yourself.

OBJECTIVES

Participants will be able to

1. Increase understanding of the evolution of the NASW code of ethics with a special focus on technological advances and developments.
2. Increase knowledge of the NASW standards related to technology and social work practice.
3. Strengthen ability to apply NASW code of ethics regarding technology to current social work practice.
4. Increase critical thinking skills when confronting technological ethical dilemmas.
5. Increase social work knowledge of resources to support ethical decision making.

SCHEDULE:

1 – 2:00 pm

• Use of technology and comfort
  • Discussion; use of tech, concerns, challenges, benefits
  • Large group themes
• Evolution of ethics overview
  • Historical view
  • Current hot topics
  • Pros/cons of tech use
  • Review of 2018-2021 changes
• Ethical decision-making steps
  • Tools
  • Foundational principles in the code of ethics

2:00 – 3:00 pm

• Hands on work: Application of Ethical Code to Case Scenarios
  • Review each case example: give group time to consider
  • Large group review of answers

3:00 – 4:00 pm

• Practice Changes and Technology
  • Social media policies; key elements and examples
  • Technology and organizational culture
  • Online presence
  • Personal technological goals: what are your short, medium and long range goals? What do you need to get there?
• One commitment to change
• Adjourn

Presenter:

Katie VonDeLinde, MSW, LCSW is an energetic and passionate social worker who teaches, advocates, writes and thinks on issues of social work ethics, economic justice, intimate partner violence, and holistic, empowering social work. Ms. VonDeLinde has advocated for the rights of survivors of violence for over twenty years including as Assistant Director of a DV program in rural Iowa and as program director for an urban economic advocacy intimate partner violence program providing nationwide trainings to thousands of social workers and advocates on the intersection of economics and violence. Ms. VonDeLinde is an award-winning adjunct faculty member at the Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, co-directs KMCV consulting, LLC, and serves as an expert advisor to the Center for Survivor Agency and Justice.