(DOWNLOAD) "Social Work Informatics: A New Specialty." by Social Work # Book PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Social Work Informatics: A New Specialty.
- Author : Social Work
- Release Date : January 01, 2006
- Genre: Social Science,Books,Nonfiction,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 189 KB
Description
Although the use of technology by social workers is not a new phenomenon, it is controversial. For a discipline traditionally tied to face-to-face interaction, many concerns about moving to technology-based practices have been raised. Advocates for the use of technology identify increased opportunity and access to social work services, lower costs, improved coordination of services, and privacy for stigmatized individuals as benefits of the tools (Chenoweth & Stehlik, 2002; Giffords, 1998; Smart, Russell, & Custodio, 1998). Critics, on the other hand, point to the technological difficulties that impede interaction. They cite inequalities in access to resources, confidentiality concerns, and depersonalization (Karger & Kreuger, 1988; Kreuger & Stretch, 2000; Menon & Miller-Cribbs, 2002; Schopler, Abell, & Galinsky, 1998; Stofle & Harrington, 2002). Believing technology distances workers from those whom they want to service, Ashery (2001) noted that social workers have thought of themselves as "people-persons" and have traditionally rejected technological interventions. Choi and colleagues (2002) found that although anxious about using computers, social worker anxiety varied by area of practice, availability of equipment, amount of use, and participation in training. They concluded that anxiety can be lowered through education and exposure (Choi et al.). A technological revolution is occurring, and it has become impossible to ignore the impact of new developments on the expectations of consumers, efficiencies, and the potential benefits of these tools (Meier, 2000). In an effort to meet these new challenges, we encourage social work to follow other human services professions and embrace the integration of informatics into the science of the profession.