Why do social workers need technology?

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) released technology ethical standards of practice in 2005. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE, 2010) includes a statement in their accreditation guidelines of educational policy 1.2, stating “additional factors include new knowledge, technology, and ideas that may have a bearing on contemporary and future social work education and practice”  and educational policy 2.1.10,  “Practice knowledge includes identifying, analyzing, and implementing evidence-based interventions designed to achieve client goals; using research and technological advances”  (pp. 2, 6-7). The support of technological integration by an accrediting and licensing body is significant in the preparation of social work curriculum. There has been little or no current literature on implementation of technological evidenced based interventions in social work curriculum or how students should integrate technology into practice helping vulnerable populations. How social workers may help bridge this digital divide in education and practice is the focus of this blog. I hope to post helpful information at least three times a week.

CSWE. (2008, October). Educational policy and accreditation standards. Retrieved from http://www.cswe.org/File.aspx?id=14115

NASW. (2001, June 23). NASW standards for cultural competence in social work practice. Retrieved from http://www.naswdc.org/practice/standards/NAswculturalstandards.pdf