Information Communication Technology and the Social Worker-Client Relationship: Lessons from Communication Theory (1 credit hour)
Program Summary: This course uses communication theory to explore the benefits and challenges of communication technology on the social worker-client relationship. The course examines the importance of resolving ethical issues related to ICT use, digital literacy, and social work practice. The following ethical issues are highlighted: boundaries, client well-being, professional competence, privacy, confidentiality, cultural competence, and social justice. Key factors for selecting communication tools are given.
This course is recommended for social workers and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice. This course is not recommended for NBCC ethics credit.
Course Reading: Information Communication Technology and the Social Worker-Client Relationship: Lessons from Communication Theory
Authors: Karen Randolph, Don Latham, Melissa Gross, Christopher Constantino
Publisher: Advances in Social Work
Course Objectives: To enhance professional practice, values, skills and knowledge by exploring information communication technology, the social worker-client relationship, and relevant ethical issues.
Learning Objectives: Describe the contributions of communication theories to the social worker-client relationship. Identify the benefits and challenges of communication technology on the social worker-client relationship. Give examples of ethical issues related to technology in social work practice. Describe an ethical dilemma related to the use of technology during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Review our pre-reading study guide.
G.M. Rydberg-Cox, MSW, LSCSW is the Continuing Education Director at Free State Social Work and responsible for the development of this course. She received her Masters of Social Work in 1996 from the Jane Addams School of Social Work at the University of Illinois-Chicago and she has over 20 years of experience. She has lived and worked as a social worker in Chicago, Boston, and Kansas City. She has practiced for many years in the area of hospital/medical social work. The reading materials for this course were developed by another organization.