Technology in Social Work

1
Technology in Social Work
2
Technology Social Work

• Society is committed to information technology,
  spending millions of dollars
• Social Work has role in recognizing dealing
  with effects and disadvantages of Information
  Technology
• Shaping Technology with the values of Social Work

3
Technology Social Work

• Human Service organizations will use technology,
  whether social workers seize the initiative or
  not. The issue is whether computerization
  promotes practice and serves and helps clients
• Technocrats vs bureaucrats

4
Technology Social Work

• Helping professions can increase knowledge base
• Computerization helps to strengthen clarify
  with data
• Administration
• Recording Monitoring
• Policy Planning
• Knowledge Dissemination
• Community Organization

5
Impediments to use of Technology and Social Work
Why isnt there a more extensive use?

• Engineering of Expert System
• Small Market
• Reluctance to use
• Threat to Profession

• Over Bureaucratization
• Lack of Resources
• Incompatible professional cultures
• Lack of Role Models

6
Ways of Using Computer Technology in Social Work?

• Concentrate on Software
• Social Work Disciplines

7
Software Categories

• Flow Charting
• Graphics
• Geographic Information Systems
• Computer Based Training (CBT)
• Statistics

• Databases
• Spreadsheets
• Desktop Publishing
• Finance Accounting
• Seasonal Information Management
• Word Processing

• Project Management
• Presentation
• Web Creation
• Utilities, Scanning
• Programming
• Artificial Intelligence

8
Within Social Work Disciplines

• Administration
• Project Management
• Microsoft Project
• Personnel Management
• Dbase/Microsoft Access
• Financial Management
• Microsoft Excel
• Accountability Reporting
• AI
• Presentation
• Microsoft PowerPoint

9
Within Social Work Disciplines

• Community Organization
• Campaign Software
• Fund Raising
• Donor Tracking
• Document Production
• Financial Control
• Reporting

10
Within Social Work Discipline
Direct Services

• Word Processing
• Information Gathering
• Forms
• Record Keeping
• Forms Database
• Scheduling

• Monitoring
• Assessment Testing
• Consultation Treatment
• Biofeedback
• Programmed Instruction
• Disability Services
• Simulation

11
Within Social Work Discipline

• Policy Planning
• Databases
• Surveys
• Decision Support
• Research
• Statistical (SPSS)
• Databases

12
Within Social Work Discipline

• Training Education
• CBT
• Authorware, Toolbox
• Web CT
• Blackboard
• Games
• Simulation

13
IRONY

• To use computers requires linear logical thinking
• To use them to serve our clients requires
  creative, non-linear, holistic synergist
• AS SOCIAL WORKERS, WE NEED TO BE PROFICIENT AT
  BOTH