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On January 1, 2018, the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) changed. These changes, adopted by the NASW Delegate Assembly in August 2017, are the first major revisions since 1996, although significant changes were made in 2008. In the free training offered to members and nonmembers alike (which I urge all social workers to take advantage of), the NASW stated that it had created nineteen new standards and revised nineteen existing standards.
Most of the revisions focus on the increasing use of technology in social work and its implications for ethical social work practice. The Code of Ethics defines "technology-assisted social work services" as "any social work services that involve the use of computers, mobile or landline telephones, tablets, video technology, or other electronic or digital technologies; this includes the use of various electronic or digital platforms, such as the Internet, online social media, chat rooms, text messaging, e-mail, and emerging digital applications" (NASW, 2018). Although school social workers may not use every one of these listed technology services, they definitely use the Internet, telephones, text messages, e-mails, and computers to carry out their social work roles. Additionally, many computer programs that may be required by school districts to assist school social workers in their job performance are by definition technologyassisted social work services. Social media, which some school districts and social workers rely on to connect with students and their families, are another technology-assisted social work service. Social workers should recognize that technology-assisted social work services encompass all aspects of social work practice. As stated in the preamble to the Code of Ethics, "Technology-assisted social work services encompass all aspects of social work practice, including psychotherapy; individual, family, or group counseling; community organization; administration; advocacy; mediation; education; supervision; research; evaluation; and other social work services" (NASW, 2018).
Perhaps the most important takeaway on the changes to the Code of Ethics is...