IMPORTANT: Best practices and answers will be published in the ASIDE project reports [ISBN], EPALE and in the project website. http://aside.inbie.pl/
Social work practice and the needs of people who use services, including carers, should drive the development and use of digital technologies.
We are continuing to seek examples of good practices on "how digital technology" is being used in social work practice and education.
In work aorund supports for independent living for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities, with colleagues and a provider I am looking at the use of navigation app using smart phone and a smart watch to both support adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities in independently travelling around their neighborhoods while offering real time connections to family and other caregivers so they may support these activities. We are looking at increasing community engagement, greater variety in community activities and greater confidence about community engagement in both the persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities and in their caregivers
In my small regional city, I have seen how Facebook has become a primary means of community engagement and activism in the COVID-19 crisis. There are grassroots initiatives, such as Caremongering Groups and Sew the Curve (making cloth masks, scrub caps, etc.) that have sprung up to care for members of the community.
However, I see a disconnect between these grassroots initiatives and social work practice. Even in a technologically advanced country such as Canada, there are commonly low levels of technological literacy in terms of social work practice on the part of students, practitioners, and educators. We have not embedded these means into our practice and our education for practice.
The other disconnect I see is that over the years, we have seen a shift to clinical practice and a de-emphasizing of group and community practice (in the Global North). This leaves us without the theoretical and practice knowledge to engage with community at times such as these.
While I am excited about these grassroots initiatives, when they are not supported by existing agencies and/or social workers, I worry about the potential and risk for harm to vulnerable people. For example, volunteers helping seniors and single mothers of young children get groceries without an understanding of the risks of predators or people with very poor boundaries entering this picture concerns me. I love the volunteer and grassroots energy -- but I think as a field we need to think of our role in all this and how we can support and secure these initiatives (rather than take them over).
Epid-situation is forcing some institutes around the world to depend heavily on digital services. Such as - education, pharmacy and many other. ,,Non-essential" jobs is adapting and trying to be as competitive as they can.
Because of this in a small country like Georgia, Facebook, Zoom and Teams became vital applications to interact for academic and job purpose.
For example educational or career based institutes are using Zoom app. They are recording and saving it.
For schools Georgia successfully uses Microsoft Teams.
I think when this situation will be over, some of the companies and institutions will continue to use digital tools, to be more successful.
Mamia Tetvadze