Continuing Education

Ethics of AI, Tech, Telehealth, and Social Media

Navigating Responsible Technology Use in Mental Healthcare

Mental Health Education

About The Course

Course Title: Ethics of AI, Tech, Telehealth, and Social Media

Learning Method: Record asynchronous distance (non-interactive). This course includes a recorded video and access to the presented resources.

Amount of CE Credit Offered: 3 credits (ethics). ASWB ACE and NBCC.

Fees: This course can be purchased individually for $25 or as part of an annual unlimited continuing education subscription available for $99/year.

Posttest: Following the course, the participant will take a 30 question posttest. A score of 70% correct is required to pass and obtain a certificate. If you do not pass the posttest, it can be re-taken after fully reviewing the materials again.

Certificate of Completion: In order to receive a certificate of completion, you must indicate that you’ve watched the entire video portion of the course, earn a passing grade on the test, and complete the requested course evaluation.

Description of the Course:

Why is understanding this topic important?

1. Protecting Client Confidentiality:

The use of AI, telehealth, and social media introduces potential risks to client privacy, making it critical for social workers to understand ethical guidelines to safeguard sensitive information. Ensuring compliance with privacy standards like HIPAA is essential to maintain trust.

2. Maintaining Human-Centered Practice:

AI and technology can enhance efficiency but cannot replace the emotional and human-centered aspects of social work. Social workers must balance tech use with their professional judgment to maintain client-centered care.

3. Adapting to Evolving Technologies:

As technology rapidly advances, social workers need to stay informed about ethical best practices in AI and telehealth to integrate these tools responsibly. This ensures that client interactions remain ethical, effective, and aligned with professional standards.

Learning Objectives:

Evaluate the ethical implications of artificial intelligence in healthcare decision-making, identifying potential biases and proposing solutions to mitigate ethical concerns.
Assess the ethical challenges associated with telehealth services, including patient privacy, access to care, and the equitable distribution of healthcare resources.
Describe and critique the ethical considerations of using social media platforms in healthcare, focusing on patient confidentiality, misinformation, and the impact on public health behavior.

Target Audience:

Mental health professionals and Masters and Clinical level licensees pursuing continuing education.

Content Level:

Both beginning and intermediate-level content are included in this course.

Instructor Bio(s):

Ernesto Bejarano – The Social Work AI Mentor

Ernesto Bejarano is a trailblazer in integrating artificial intelligence with social work, revolutionizing the field. As the founder of Social Work AI Magic, Ernesto leverages AI to empower social workers, therapists, counselors, and other professionals in human services to streamline their work, offering tools that provide guidance, templates, research, and analysis.

In addition to his pioneering work with Social Work AI Magic, Ernesto is a certified career and personal development coach. He specializes in helping clients, particularly those in human services, to identify their goals, overcome barriers, and devise actionable plans to achieve their desired outcomes. His expertise extends to group facilitation in areas such as parenting, domestic violence, and youth counseling.

Ernesto’s dedication to education and community service is exemplified by his role as a governing board member of the Alum Rock School District in San Jose, California, where he served from 2018 to 2024. In this capacity, he contributed to leadership development and job coaching, supporting the district’s mission to provide quality education and resources. His extensive experience as a social work supervisor, where he has been instrumental in guiding and developing staff and improving casework practices, further underscores his commitment to the social work profession.

Meagan Mitchell is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been providing individualized and group instruction for over 8 years.

Meagan Mitchell, LICSW, is currently a Child and Adolescent Therapist and owner of Brain Space Wellness. She is working towards her Play Therapy credential. Meagan is also the founder of Agents of Change Social Work Test Prep – a learning platform and community designed for social workers preparing for their licensing exams.

She loves combining her passion for learning and sharing her knowledge with the social work community. Meagan has a strong interest in tech & and innovation, specifically exploring the intersection of technology with social work practices. She is also passionate about multicultural supervision & and ethics; ensuring diverse voices are heard, understood, and supported in supervision and consultation.

Lastly, Meagan is currently a DSW student at SUNY Buffalo.

Course Outline:

1) Introduction to AI and Technology in Social Work

Introduce the growing role of AI and emerging technologies in social work practice.
Define AI and its current uses in the field.
Overview of how technology is reshaping client interactions and data handling.
Ethical Foundations: Discuss the need for ethical considerations in adopting technology.
Explain why professional ethics, such as confidentiality and client autonomy, must be maintained.
NASW Code of Ethics as a guiding framework.

2) Key Ethical Concerns in Using AI

Confidentiality and Privacy: Focus on protecting sensitive client data when using AI.
- Discuss how AI tools should comply with data protection laws like HIPAA.
- Explore potential risks of data breaches and how to mitigate them.
Bias in AI: Highlight concerns over AI-generated recommendations.
- Explain how AI might introduce biases or inaccuracies, especially regarding cultural or familial nuances.
- Emphasize the need for social workers to critically review AI-generated outputs.

3) Responsible AI Integration in Practice

Supplementing, Not Replacing: Discuss how AI should complement, not replace, human expertise.
- Emphasize the importance of human-centered connections in social work that AI cannot replicate.
Informed Consent: Address the requirement of informed consent when using AI.
- Ensure clients understand how AI will be used in their case management.
- Clarify their right to opt out if they do not feel comfortable.

4) Telehealth and Social Media in Social Work

Telehealth Challenges: Explore ethical issues in using telehealth platforms.
- Discuss the inability to capture non-verbal communication in virtual sessions.
- Stress the importance of using secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms to ensure client confidentiality.
Social Media Boundaries: Address ethical concerns surrounding the use of social media.
- Maintain a clear boundary between personal and professional use.
- Highlight the need for confidentiality when engaging with clients on social platforms.

5) Best Practices and Ongoing Ethical Responsibilities

Continuous Learning: Stress the importance of staying informed about technological advancements.
- Encourage professionals to stay updated on AI tools, telehealth technologies, and social media platforms.
- Mention the need for regular ethics training and updates to ensure compliance with evolving standards.
Agency and Policy Compliance: Ensure all AI, telehealth, and social media use aligns with agency policies.
- Encourage consultation with supervisors and adherence to agency protocols for responsible tech use.

Course Creation Date: 10/20/24

Requesting Accessibility Accommodations:

Please email [email protected] to request accessibility accommodations.

System Requirements:

The most recent version of Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge browser
Javascript enabled
PDF plugin
Graphic and audio output capability
Broadband internet connection with a minimum speed of 5Mbps (recommended)
TLS 1.2 supported by your web browser

Refund Policy: In general, refunds will not be provided. However, if you do have any concerns or grievances, please contact us at the email address below. Registrants who do not complete their course(s) will not receive a refund. Registrants who purchased the course but did not achieve a passing grade will not receive a refund. The Agents of Change Grievance Policy can be viewed here.

Cancellation Policy: If an Agents of Change Continuing Education course is canceled, a full refund will be provided to all participants.

Please email [email protected] with any questions about the course.

Agents of Change is Approved by ACE

Agents of Change, #1919, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 7/26/2023 – 7/26/2027.

Agents of Change is Approved by NBCC

Agents of Change has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7620. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Agents of Change is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

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