Summary

Social work would not hold such status without an ethical framework and code to practice our purpose and functions. On the surface this all seems clear but social work ethics are a contested and dynamic area of scholarship and practice. The complexity of these issues has only increased in recent years both due to crises, as well as the rapid changes in factors such as digital and information technologies, climate change, health care, migration, displacement, and economic disparities. Critical thinkers and activists have challenged both structures and taken for granted positions that have been prefaced on the foundations of powerful constructs such as colonialism, patriarchy, racism, managerialism, and homophobia. This has disrupted established ethical practice. This challenges taken for granted concepts and contribute to the evolution of social work so that it can meet the challenges of a rapidly changing and diverse world. In this presentation we ask fundamental questions regarding whose interests are being served and what are the implicit biases in ethical assertions. We explore how social work operates within some of these very structures it clashes with. How do we keep a delicate balance of not being complicit but collaborating enough with systems to enable change? Social work cannot avoid these dilemmas as it attempts to respond to pressing issues such as gendered violence, discrimination, and inequality. What is clear is that we cannot do it alone, we cannot only rely on consensus but more on the collective courage of diversity and inclusion where no one can be left behind. This presentation by the two Co-Chief Editors of International Social Work asks these questions while exploring some of the challenges facing international social work. It places these issues within a ethical framework in the context of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the future of social work.

Keywords (separate with commas)

Ethics, Disruption, Sustainable Development Goals, Critical Practice, International Social Work, Violence, Discrimination, Oppression

Summary

This presentation will detail the crucial need for data privacy standards in social work services. The United States of America, with no national guidelines similar to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), serves as the backdrop for this discussion. With the rapid advancement of technology and the increasing reliance on digital platforms and data science in the field of social work, protecting clients' personal information and ensuring data privacy has become a pressing concern. Data breaches, unauthorized access, and unethical data sharing can have far-reaching consequences, jeopardizing the trust and well-being of individuals in need - or - unfairly eliminate the choice to share data among marginalized populations with limited resource options. To address these challenges, it is crucial for the social work profession to adopt comprehensive data privacy standards that protect the confidentiality of personal information and preserve the integrity of social and human services. This presentation will explore the potential risks associated with inadequate data privacy measures for vulnerable populations and will emphasize the significance of implementing robust standards to safeguard sensitive information. We will further discuss the ethical and legal considerations relevant to data privacy in social work and emphasize the importance of upholding clients' confidentiality and trust. Recommendations for developing and implementing effective data privacy standards will be provided.

Keywords (separate with commas)

data privacy, digital equity, technology, data science, data ethics

Summary

This workshop explores guiding principles, values and ethics of social work practice, their commonalities and uniqueness from an international perspective and the current political ideologies that impede ethical practice. The capacity to adhere to ethics and values in light of societal discourse and divisiveness across the globe challenges social workers in teaching and practice settings. Often adverse to the current political ideologies, social work ethics remain the foundation of our profession. However, social workers face divergent political and cultural views that can conflict with our capacity to fully engage in practice and education reflective of our ethical guidelines. Political ideology, legislation and policies that dictate content and delivery of curricula threaten the capacity of social work educators to teach from a diversity and equity lens. With social justice as a foundational principle of social work practice, it is imperative that we facilitate learning from a justice perspective. This includes curriculum that embraces antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion and reflects our values and ethics. The workshop explores conceptual considerations on how social workers stay true to our ethics in the wake of restrictions to academic and professional freedom within the context of education and practice. \ \ 

Keywords (separate with commas)

ethics, values, political ideology, culture

Summary

The National Association of Social Workers in the U.S. states as part of its mission that “the social work profession is to enhance human well-being.” Thus, using a mixed-methods approach, this study explored student well-being in relationship to the social work field practicum requirement to determine if this educational practice aligned with the ethics of the profession. The project was conducted by faculty at a medium sized university in the United States. Social work educators and field practicum instructors participated in interviews. Students and former students completed surveys on the topic. The data analyses revealed emotional burdens as well as threats to student well-being in association with the fieldwork required for those in pursuit of a social work degree. The study includes recommendations of anti-oppressive approaches for academic programs and implications for further research.\ 

Keywords (separate with commas)

Emotional wellbeing, field practicum, mixed-methods, social justice, ethics, social work education