Principal Investigators: David Wilkerson, Associate Professor and Director of Office of e-Social Work Education and Practice, Department of Office of e-Social Work Education and Practice, IU School of Social Work; Kristin Funk, Doctoral Student, Indiana University School of Social Work
Project Title: We Train Social Workers to Practice Online - Can Clients Access and Use Our Services? Digital Equity Competencies for e-Social Work/Telehealth Practice
Funding Level: $5000
Abstract: Technology leaders in social work education have long recommended greater curricular inclusion of telehealth training by schools of social work. In 2015, the Indiana University School of Social Work (IUSSW) responded by developing a graduate telehealth curriculum, which consists of three micro/mezzo-level telehealth practice courses. An important student outcome from these courses was that our 2020/21 graduates were prepared to deliver services online when COVID-19 restricted traditional modes of delivery. However, even though our graduates were prepared for the pandemic-induced shift to online delivery, many clients were unable, unprepared, or unwilling to receive services online. The purpose of this proposal is to develop and research a new and a fourth IUSSW telehealth course that will train students in macro/mezzo level practice to enable equitable opportunities for client participation in telehealth services. The proposed Social Work Digital Equity course will prepare students to practice from a policy framework that recognizes technology access as a human right. In the proposed course, social work students will develop the competency of digital citizenship to advance telehealth practice with client populations that are marginalized and vulnerable. Digital citizenship is a branch of digital equity, and an essential competency for social workers; policy and practice leadership in an online world where internet access, literacy, and usage are social determinants of health.