The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and three other social work organizations today released new Standards for Technology in Social Work Practice.
The standards were created after two years of discussion and research.
Here are some commonly asked questions about them:
Q: Who worked on this project with NASW?
A: The standards were created by NASW, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) and the Clinical Social Work Association.
Q: What was the process for creating the standards?
A: Representatives were chosen from each organization to develop uniform standards. The Task Force for Technology Standards in Social Work Practice conducted an extensive literature review in technology, reviewed technology standards developed by other professionals, and reviewed relevant licensing regulations in various jurisdictions. Multiple drafts were prepared and discussed. A 30-day public comment period was held during the summer of 2016 and a large volume of responses were received. A Sub-Task Advisory Group was established to review the draft standards and provide comments.
Q: What is the format of the standards?
A: The new technology standards include four sections: Provision of Information to the Public; Designing and Delivering Services; Gathering, Managing, and Storing Information; and Social Work Education and Supervision. There are a total of 55 standards, a glossary and list of resources.
Q: How should social workers utilize the standards?
A: The technology standards address social workers technology concerns in diverse settings and can be used throughout the social work community.
