The New NASW-ASWB Technology Standards Practicing What We Preach?

1. The New NASW-ASWB Technology StandardsPracticing What We Preach? Dr. Darlene LynchBall State University Dr. Bob VernonIndiana University School of Social Work NASW-Indiana – 6 October 2006 http://hsmedia.biz

2. The NASW-ASWB Standards for Technology and Social Work Practice Intent of the Standards Development process How to access www.helpstartshere.org

3. Our own research… Our 2000 work Our current work Today, we’ll Cover the Standards Provide Examples Make Suggestions Share Data AcknowledgementsCathy George, Phil Suman, Mark Pfeiffer, and Peggy Pittman-Munke

4. Our own research… • Our data consist of: • 100 social services agency websites • Random sample, 13 replacements in 2005 • Analysis of each agency on 123 variables for: • Basic characteristics • Services offered • Links • Website Design and Sophistication • URL clarity • Accessibility

5. Just what technology are we talking about? Technology and social work practice, when used in these standards, is defined as:“Any electronically mediated activity used in the conduct of competent and ethical social work practice.” Technology and social work practice, when used in these standards, is defined as:“Any electronically mediated activity used in the conduct of competent and ethical social work practice.”

6. Standard I - Ethics and Values Social workers providing services via the telephone or other electronic means shall act ethically, ensure professional competence, protect clients, and uphold the values of the profession. Social workers providing services via the telephone or other electronic means shall act ethically, ensure professional competence, protect clients, and uphold the values of the profession.

7. 1.03 Informed Consent (e) Social workers who provide services via electronic media (such as computer, telephone, radio, and television) should inform recipients of the limitations and risks associated with such services. 1.07 Privacy and Confidentiality (l) Social workers should protect the confidentiality of clients' written and electronic records and other sensitive information. Social workers should take reasonable steps to ensure that clients' records are stored in a secure location and that clients' records are not available to others who are not authorized to have access. (m) Social workers should take precautions to ensure and maintain the confidentiality of information transmitted to other parties through the use of computers, electronic mail, facsimile machines, telephones and telephone answering machines, and other electronic or computer technology. Disclosure of identifying information should be avoided whenever possible. Standard I - Ethics and Values Primacy of the NASW Code of Ethics ASWB Model Social Work Practice Act ASWB – Model Social Work Practice Act Article III. Licensing Section 301. Unlawful Practice. Clinical Social Worker unless duly licensed as such. (e) The provision of social work services to an individual in this jurisdiction, through telephonic, electronic or other means, regardless of the location of the social worker, shall constitute the practice of social work and shall be subject to regulation. 304 (A)(5). Qualifications for Licensure by Examination as a Clinical Social Worker ASWB suggests that boards recognize the need for flexibility in obtaining the appropriate supervision requirements, including changing technology, geographic location, and issues associated with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). NASW Delegate Assembly policies Other NASW Practice Standards

8. Standard I - Ethics and Values Social workers providing services via the telephone or other electronic means shall act ethically, ensure professional competence, protect clients, and uphold the values of the profession. DATA: Few agency websites are linking to any codeNone in 2000, 5 in 2005 Fewer are providing mission statements 93 in 2000, 84 in 2005

9. Standard II - Access Social workers shall have access to technology and appropriate support systems to ensure competent practice, and shall take action to ensure client access to technology. Social workers shall have access to technology and appropriate support systems to ensure competent practice, and shall take action to ensure client access to technology.

10. Standard II - Access Client Access Worker access

11. Standard II - AccessTHE DARK SIDE OF THE FORCE Limiting Access… Family violence Predators, stalking and abuse Hate groups

12. Standard II - Access DATA: Amount of information is increasing21 page average in 2000, 28 pages 2005 Website complexity is increasingMajor increase in levels, p 0.01 Major reliance on pdf’s, other supports 9 in 2000, 63 in 2005 Social workers shall have access to technology and appropriate support systems to ensure competent practice, and shall take action to ensure client access to technology.

13. Standard III – Cultural Competencies and Vulnerable Populations Social workers shall select and develop appropriate online methods, skills, and techniques that are attuned to their clients’ cultural, bicultural, or marginalized experiences in their environments. In striving for cultural competence, social workers shall have the skills to work with a wide range of people who are culturally different or who may be considered a member of a vulnerable population, such as people with disabilities and racial, ethnic, and sexual minority status, and those whose primary language may not be English. Social workers shall select and develop appropriate online methods, skills, and techniques that are attuned to their clients’ cultural, bicultural, or marginalized experiences in their environments. In striving for cultural competence, social workers shall have the skills to work with a wide range of people who are culturally different or who may be considered a member of a vulnerable population, such as people with disabilities and racial, ethnic, and sexual minority status, and those whose primary language may not be English.

14. Standard III – Cultural Competencies and Vulnerable Populations Race, ethnicity, nationality issues Language Family systems Artistic expressions

15. Standard III – Cultural Competencies and Vulnerable Populations The ever flashing gizmo Literacy People with disabilities Thieves, frauds and phishing

16. Standard III – Cultural Competencies and Vulnerable Populations DATA: Reading ability is worse: “Flesch – Reading Ease”43% 2000, 29% 2005 Literacy is worse: “Flesch-Kincaid – Grade Level”8.8th grade 2000 11.7th grade 2005 Multiple languages are improving (?) 6 websites in 2000 13 websites in 2005 Disability access is dramatically improving! 21 passed “Bobby/508” in 2000, 96 passed in 2005 Social workers shall select and develop appropriate online methods, skills, and techniques that are attuned to their clients’ cultural, bicultural, or marginalized experiences in their environments. In striving for cultural competence, social workers shall have the skills to work with a wide range of people who are culturally different or who may be considered a member of a vulnerable population, such as people with disabilities and racial, ethnic, and sexual minority status, and those whose primary language may not be English.

17. Standard IV – Technical Competencies Social workers shall be responsible for becoming proficient in the technological skills and tools required for competent and ethical practice and for seeking appropriate training and consultation to stay current with emerging technologies. Social workers shall be responsible for becoming proficient in the technological skills and tools required for competent and ethical practice and for seeking appropriate training and consultation to stay current with emerging technologies.

18. Standard IV – Technical Competencies Workers must master all relevant technologies Period. Social work and informatics? How to download, install plugins, debug

19. Standard IV – Technical Competencies Keep current with emerging technologies Artificial intelligence interventionsWikis, Blogs, Instant Messaging, Text Messaging, PodcastingGeographic Information Systems (GIS) Remote sensing And Heaven knows what’s next!

20. Standard IV – Technical Competencies DATA: No Artificial Intelligence, remote sensing, wikis, blogs or podcasting yet… Major jump in GIS data basesnone in 2000, 20 in 2005 Social workers shall be responsible for becoming proficient in the technological skills and tools required for competent and ethical practice and for seeking appropriate training and consultation to stay current with emerging technologies.

21. Standard V – Regulatory Competencies Social workers who use telephonic or other electronic means to provide services shall abide by all regulation of their professional practice with the understanding that their practice may be subject to regulation in both the jurisdiction in which the client receives services as well as the jurisdiction in which the social worker provides services. Social workers who use telephonic or other electronic means to provide services shall abide by all regulation of their professional practice with the understanding that their practice may be subject to regulation in both the jurisdiction in which the client receives services as well as the jurisdiction in which the social worker provides services.

22. Standard V – Regulatory Competencies The worker must contact all regulatory boards and legally comply with what what is required…

23. Standard V – Regulatory Competencies • Association of Social Work Boards • Contact the regulators • Awareness of licensure and certification laws • Accreditation

24. Standard V – Regulatory Competencies • DATA: • Slight improvements • Links to regulatory boardsNone in 2000, 18 in 2005 • Links to accreditors19 in 2000, 23 in 2005 • Agency Affiliations 50 in 2000, 73 in 2005 Social workers who use telephonic or other electronic means to provide services shall abide by all regulation of their professional practice with the understanding that their practice may be subject to regulation in both the jurisdiction in which the client receives services as well as the jurisdiction in which the social worker provides services.

25. Standard VI – Identification and Verification Social workers who use electronic means to provide services shall represent themselves to the public with accuracy and make efforts to verify client identity and contact information. Social workers who use electronic means to provide services shall represent themselves to the public with accuracy and make efforts to verify client identity and contact information.

26. Standard VI – Identification and Verification • The worker and the agency! • Full name • Credentials • Licensure information • Physical location – NOT THE P.O. Box! • Professional phone numbers Don’t think folks are really doing this? Don’t think folks are really doing this?

27. Standard VI – Identification and Verification • DATA: • Getting better! • Executive information51 in 2000, 76 in 2005 • Professional staff information39 in 2000, 51 in 2005 • Website footer information is increasingMajor increase in information, p 0.01 Social workers who use electronic means to provide services shall represent themselves to the public with accuracy and make efforts to verify client identity and contact information.

28. Standard VII – Privacy, Confidentiality, Documentation, and Security Social workers shall protect client privacy when using technology in their practice and document all services, taking special safeguards to protect client information in the electronic record. Social workers shall protect client privacy when using technology in their practice and document all services, taking special safeguards to protect client information in the electronic record.

29. put the cat out! Standard VII – Privacy, Confidentiality, Documentation, and Security • Be aware of privacy risks and protect the client… • Tarasoff, anybody? • HIPAA Do you need k$p1&a5Mg ? Do you needENCRYPTION ? Document! PASSWORD! CHANGE THAT !qwerty06! Disable the computer when you

30. Standard VII – Privacy, Confidentiality, Documentation, and Security Social workers shall protect client privacy when using technology in their practice and document all services, taking special safeguards to protect client information in the electronic record. DATA: 2005: 18 referenced HIPAA 28 had a privacy policy

31. Standard VIII – Risk Management Social workers providing services through the use of the telephone or other electronic means shall ensure high quality practices and procedures that are legally sound and ethical to protect clients and safeguard against litigation. Social workers providing services through the use of the telephone or other electronic means shall ensure high quality practices and procedures that are legally sound and ethical to protect clients and safeguard against litigation.

32. Standard VIII – Risk Management Privacy Statement Communications protocols Recovery and backup Add disclaimers NOTICE: This transmission may contain information from records protected by Federal Confidentiality Rules and or HIPAA laws.  The federal rule prohibits you from making further disclosure of this information unless it is expressly permitted by the written consent of the person to whom it pertains or as otherwise permitted by CFR 42 part 2.  Federal Rules restrict any use of this information to criminally investigateor prosecute any alcohol or drug abuse patient. Further the contents may contain Protected Health Information regarding a person and that information is protected by the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA) laws.  You must act in accordance with these laws or be subject to civil and criminal prosecution. If you received this information in error, please contact the sender and destroy the information immediately. • Know when you should say “NO” • To the boss… • To the client…

33. Standard VIII – Risk Management DATA: Passworded websites are increasing 2 in 2000, 12 in 2005 23 had a security policy 2005 only NO websites had a technology failure protocol2005 only Social workers providing services through the use of the telephone or other electronic means shall ensure high quality practices and procedures that are legally sound and ethical to protect clients and safeguard against litigation.

34. Standard IX – Practice Competencies Advocacy and social action Community practice Administrative practice Clinical competencies Research Supervision

35. Standard IX – Practice CompetenciesAdvocacy and Social Action Social workers shall use technology to inform and mobilize communities about policies that will benefit individuals and groups and seek to provide tools, opportunities, and information so that clients are able to advocate directly for their own interests. Social workers shall use technology to inform and mobilize communities about policies that will benefit individuals and groups and seek to provide tools, opportunities, and information so that clients are able to advocate directly for their own interests.

36. Standard IX – Practice CompetenciesAdvocacy and Social Action Legislation and bill tracking Lobby groups and organizations Advocacy Resources Techniques

37. Standard IX – Practice CompetenciesAdvocacy and Social Action Social workers shall use technology to inform and mobilize communities about policies that will benefit individuals and groups and seek to provide tools, opportunities, and information so that clients are able to advocate directly for their own interests. DATA: Some improvement10 in 2000, 15 in 2005

38. Standard IX – Practice CompetenciesCommunity Practice Social workers shall advocate for the adoption and use of relevant technologies that will enhance the well­being of communities.

39. Standard IX – Practice CompetenciesCommunity Practice Community Networks Geographic Information Systems Information and Referral Agency networks!Central Indiana Community Network (CICN) Virtual communities too!

40. Standard IX – Practice CompetenciesCommunity Practice DATA: Improvement in local links15 in 2000, 46 in 2005 Better popular education24 in 2000, 41 in 2005 Social workers shall advocate for the adoption and use of relevant technologies that will enhance the well­being of communities.

41. Standard IX – Practice CompetenciesAdministrative Practice Social workers shall keep themselves informed about technology that will advance quality program operations and service delivery, invest in and maintain such systems, and establish policies to ensure access, appropriate security, and privacy in agency information systems. Social workers shall keep themselves informed about technology that will advance quality program operations and service delivery, invest in and maintain such systems, and establish policies to ensure access, appropriate security, and privacy in agency information systems.

42. Standard IX – Practice CompetenciesAdministrative Practice Access, permissions, use policies Public relations, newsletters, website Marketing, volunteers and fundraising Grants, funder reports, outcomes, accreditations Acquisition and training on hardware and software

43. Standard IX – Practice CompetenciesAdministrative Practice DATA: Applying for services online increased9 in 2000, 50 in 2005 Third-party mediated donations increased 12 in 2000, 28 in 2005 Job postings increased 25 in 2000, 53 in 2005 Newsletters increased 20 in 2000, 51 in 2005 Social workers shall keep themselves informed about technology that will advance quality program operations and service delivery, invest in and maintain such systems, and establish policies to ensure access, appropriate security, and privacy in agency information systems.

44. Standard IX – Practice CompetenciesClinical Competencies Social workers shall strive to become and remain knowledgeable about the dynamics of onlinerelationships, the advantages and drawbacks of non face-to-face interactions, and the ways in which technology based social work practice can be safely and appropriately conducted. Social workers shall strive to become and remain knowledgeable about the dynamics of onlinerelationships, the advantages and drawbacks of non face-to-face interactions, and the ways in which technology based social work practice can be safely and appropriately conducted.

45. Standard IX – Practice CompetenciesClinical Competencies Electronic communications skills Online contracting skills Online assessment skills Online interventions skills Online group skills Online termination skills

46. Standard IX – Practice CompetenciesClinical Competencies Social workers shall strive to become and remain knowledgeable about the dynamics of onlinerelationships, the advantages and drawbacks of non face-to-face interactions, and the ways in which technology based social work practice can be safely and appropriately conducted. DATA: 2005: Only one agency was engaged in offering e-therapy

47. Standard IX – Practice CompetenciesResearch Social workers conducting, evaluating, disseminating, or implementing research using technological approaches shall do so in a manner that ensures ethical credibility and ensures the informed consent of the participant. Social workers conducting, evaluating, disseminating, or implementing research using technological approaches shall do so in a manner that ensures ethical credibility and ensures the informed consent of the participant.

48. Standard IX – Practice CompetenciesResearch Use or duplicate the “IRB process” Gathering data and permission

49. Standard IX – Practice CompetenciesResearch Social workers conducting, evaluating, disseminating, or implementing research using technological approaches shall do so in a manner that ensures ethical credibility and ensures the informed consent of the participant. DATA: 2005: Only two websites used survey features Circulating reports slightly increased27 in 2000, 31 in 2005

50. Standard IX – Practice CompetenciesSupervision When using or providing supervision and consultation by technological means, social work supervisors and supervisees shall follow the standards that would be applied to a face­to-face supervisory relationship and shall be competent in the technologies used. When using or providing supervision and consultation by technological means, social work supervisors and supervisees shall follow the standards that would be applied to a face­to-face supervisory relationship and shall be competent in the technologies used.