Human Services Information Technology Applications Factor...

Human Services Information Technology Applications

Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, CanadaAugust 26 - 29, 2007

About HusitaHUSITA (HUman Services Information

Technology Applications) is an international

virtual association dedicated to promoting the

ethical and effective use of IT to better serve

humanity. HUSITA’s focus and expertise is

situated at the intersection of three core domains:

information technology, human services, and

social development. With an emphasis on human

centeredness and social justice, HUSITA strives to

promote international knowledge development,

dissemination and transfer of technology

within human services. It achieves this through

multidisciplinary leadership in international

conferences, publications, collaboration,

and consultation directed particularly at IT

applications and innovations that promote social

betterment.

Conference theme■ Information technology and diversity in

human services.

■ Promoting strength through difference.

Information technology has great potential to

bridge the myriad differences that can separate

individuals within the human services. Husita8

will examine how technology connects people

from a wide range of diversity dimensions,

including gender, age, race, physical or mental

ability. Socio-economic status, religion or faith,

sexual orientation and language. Conference

content will also focus on IT applications that

address diversity at an organizational level,

the question of human rights in the context of

pervasive technology accessability and issue

around accessibility and the digital divide.

WELCOME TO HUSITA8

Local Organizing CommitteeRobert MacFadden

Acting Associate Dean,

Director, Continuing Education,

Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work,

University of Toronto

Marilyn Herie

Project Director, TEACH, Centre for Addiction

and Mental Health

Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Social Work,


Kelly Ernst

President & Chief Executive Officer, Canadian

Outcomes Research Institute

David Schulz

Executive Director,

Mutual Support Systems of the Niagara Region

Casey Pieterson

Management Consultant

Betty Dondertman

Concurrent Disorders Capacity-Building

Team, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Social Work,


Gerry Cooper

Manager, Northern Ontario Area,

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

Associate Professor, Northern Ontario School

of Medicine

A. Simon Mielniczuk

Solutions Architect, ITS Cooperative

Welcome from the Local Organizing CommitteeWelcome to Husita8, the eighth international

conference on Human Services Information

Technology Applications held at the University of

Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

This is the first time that this Husita conference

has been held in Canada and we hope that you

will have a chance to explore our city, as well as

attend the rich array of presentations that reflect

the state of the art of knowledge and practice in

IT in human services in 2007.

This is truly an international conference with

participants from the all over the globe. As one

of the world’s most multicultural cities, having

a conference with the theme, “Information

Technology and Diversity in Human Services:

Promoting Strength Through Difference”, seemed

to make sense. And our session topics, presenters

and participants reflect this diversity along many

dimensions. The challenges and opportunities

that diversity presents are reflected in numerous

presentations including IT and poverty alleviation,

advancing digital equality, empowerment of

senior citizens via IT, teaching about diversity and

racism using IT, delivering social work education

to remote and culturally diverse populations,

digital exclusion and advancing digital equality as

examples only.

Arthur C. Clarke once said that “Any sufficiently

advanced technology is indistinguishable from

magic.” This conference is about magic, but

the kind of magic that arises when people

gather together to share their knowledge and

expertise with each other. Husita is built on the

commitment to foster the ethical and effective

use of information technology in human

services. This conference is one of the ways this

commitment is realized.

The Local Organizing Committee of Husita8

would like to wish you an informative and

enjoyable conference and hope that you will

carry some of the excitement and learning from

this event into your everyday practice.

Husita BoardDick Schoech, Chair

Tom Hanna, Vice Chair

Rob MacFadden, Secretary

Jo Ann Regan, Treasurer

John Fung

Hein de Graaf

Marilyn Herie

Goutham Menon

Jackie Rafferty

Victor Savtschenko

Jan Steyaert

Stuart Toole

Emeritus Members

Walter LaMendola

Brian Glanstonbury

Presenters interested in submitting an article based on their

conference presentations should contact Professor Rob MacFadden

at [email protected].

Haworth has previously published peer reviewed articles in a book

and the Journal of Technology in Human Services.

2 3

Welcome & About Husita 2

Local Organizing Committee & Husita Board 3

The sponsors 4

Meeting rooms 5

Conference at a glance 6

Conference programme

Sunday, August 26 8

Monday, August 27 8

Tuesday, August 28 11

Wednesday, August 29 14

Speaker abstracts 16

Index of Presenters 49

PROGRAM CONTENTS

The organizers would like to gratefully acknowledge the support of the following organizations:

Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Faculty of Continuing Education and Training, Seneca College

Canadian Outcomes Research Institute

Curam Software

Bayfield Homes Ltd.

CARF

Morning Sun Software Development Corporation

ITS Cooperative

Mutual Support Systems of the Niagara Region

Ontario Association of Residences Treating Youth

Faculty of Continuing Education and Training, University of Toronto

Haworth Press

Faculty of Community Services, Ryerson University

HUSITA8 SPONSORS

LAKEVIEW ROOMis on the

27th FLOOR

GIOVANNI ROOM

ARMOURYSUITE

ELMSUITE

LOMBARDSUITE

BALLROOM CENTRE

BALLROOM EAST

BALLROOM WEST

THIRD FLOORMEETING ROOMS

SECOND FLOORMEETING ROOMS

ST. DAVIDNORTH

ST. DAVIDSOUTH

ST. GEORGEEAST

ST. ANDREW

ST. LAWRENCE

TERRACEEAST

TERRACEWEST

TERRACENORTH

ST. GEORGEWEST

ST. PATRICKNORTH

ST. PATRICKSOUTH

Elevators

Men’sWashroom

CoatCheck

Women’sWashroom

Men’sWashroom

Women’sWashroom

Elevators

Escalators

Escalators

89 CHESTNUT MEETING ROOMS

4 5

Tuesday, August 28

8:00am Registration desk

9:00am Keynote session, Lawrence Murphy

10:00am Parallel session 4

10a The future is now

10b E-therapy: An alternative to

FTF psychotherapy

10c Using technology(CoP)

11a Morning Sun

11b ClientTrack

11c Impact of online technology

12a Using organizational outcome

monitoring

12b Enabling connectivity

12c Enhancing student learning

13a IT & health education

13b Volunteering through the net

13c IT as a tool for poverty alleviation

11:30am Break


14a Evaluation of online peer support

14b The impact of method & form

15a Empowerment of senior citizens

15b Reaching out to hidden seniors

15c Using technology to connect the aging

16a Process factors in online teaching

16b Report on development

16c Using Web 2.0

17 Social work for the i-world

1:15pm Lunch break

2:15pm Parallel session 6

18a The Dutch national program.

18b Canadian Home Children

18c Ensuring discoverability

19a Game theory application

19b Evaluation of virtual reality

19c Advancing digital equality

2:30pm Field visits

(see schedule for depart times)

Advance sign-up required

6:30pm Cultural evening

at Hart House Great Hall, UofT campus

(Check with hospitality desk for directions

& map)

Wednesday, August 29


9:00am Keynote session, Barry Wellman

10:00am Break


20a Administering psychological tests

20b Healthy adjustment

20c Health literacy

21a Internet-based health information

21b Global eHealth

21c Promille SMS service

22a An evaluation of two virtual learning

environments

22b Internet virtual video classroom

22c Utilizing multimedia

11:45am Closing lunch & launch of Husita 9

Sunday, August 26

Optional tours

(See information on web site)

4:00pm Registration desk opens

at 89 Chestnut

6:00pm Keynote address, Patrick McLean

7:00pm Welcome reception & dinner

Lakeview room, 89 Chestnut

Monday, August 27


9:00am Opening session, Cheryl Regeher

9:15am Keynote session, Paul Gillespie

10:15am Break


1a Social work in digital society

1b Internet & social trust

1c Technologies of care

2a Web counselling interventions

2b Cybercops

2c Keeping up

3a Promoting access

3b Process is queen?

3c Surveying distance education efforts

12:00noon Lunch break & poster sessions

101 A social work wiki?

102 Knowledge management


4a Technologies empowering child welfare

4b Target your computer system

5a The road to Hana

5b Medical education

5c Methodological considerations

6a Linking elderly to holistic care services

6b The impact of access

6c Perpetuating old exclusions

2:30pm Break & poster sessions


7a A first look at persuasive technologies

7b Addiction-link

7c Web-phone based intervention

8a Computer self-efficacy

8b Use of technology

8c Pattern change in IT use

9a The case for open access

9b A social work wiki?

9c Creating an information commons

Evening Free

CONFERENCE AT A GLANCE

6 7

2 - b. Ballroom Center

Cybercops

SGT. Robyn MacEachern, Ontario Provincial Police

2 - c. Ballroom Center Keeping up: Adapting child internet safety strategies to changes in technology

Robert MacFadden, Professor


University of Toronto, Canada

3 - a. St. Patrick Room Promoting access to, engagement with, and efficacy of the treatment of mental health and addiction problems with web-based disease management programs

Dr. Peter Farvolden, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

3 - b. St. Patrick Room Process is queen? How to create distributed educational media

Dr. Michael Wright. Assistant Professor

Ms. Clarisa Perochena, MSW Student

Andrews University, U.S.A.

Mrs. Taunya Wright, Registered Nurse, BSN,

MAWMedia Group, U.S.A.

3 - c. St. Patrick Room Surveying distance education efforts in schools of social work

Mr. Eric Youn,

Assistant Professor-Distance Education Program

Dr. Marshall Smith, Professor,

University of Hawaii at Manoa, U.S.A.

12:00 - 1:00pm Lunch - on own

Poster session Ballroom West

101. Ballroom West A social work wiki? Increasing the evidence base and engaging practitioners in the production of research

Dr. Harriet Meek, Assistant Professor,

New Mexico State University, U.S.A.

102. Ballroom West Knowledge management with Web 2.0 applications in human services

Klaus Bredl, Professor

University of Applied Sciences Neubrandenburg, Germany

1:00 - 2:30pm Parallel session 2

4 - a. Ballroom Center Technologies empowering Ontario’s child welfare system

Jeanette Lewis, Executive Director,

Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies, Canada

Mr. Ronan Rooney, Chief Technology Officer & Co-founder,

Curam Software, Canada

4 - b. Ballroom Center Target your computer system implementation efforts for maximum effect: Results from four human services

Dr. Menachem Monnickendam,

Senior Lecturer, School of Social Work,

Bar Ilan University, Israel

Riki Savaya, Associate Professor

Bob Shapell School of Social Work,

Tel Aviv University, Israel

5 - a. Ballroom East The road to Hana: Going the distance to deliver social work education to remote, underserved and culturally diverse populations

Dr. Ann Rosegrant Alvarez, Director of Distance Education

Dr. Marshall Smith, Program Coordinator, Distance

Education, University of Hawai’i at Manoa , U.S.A.

5 - b. Ballroom East Medical education, distributed learning and the role of technology at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine

Dr. David Topps,

Director, eLearning Unit and Associate Professor - Family

Medicine, Northern Ontario School of Medicine

5 - c. Ballroom East Methodological considerations integrating disparate human services information systems

Dale Fitch, Assistant Professor,

University of Michigan, U.S.A.

6 - a. St. Patrick Room Linking elderly to holistic care services through integrated communication technology

Mr. Timothy Ma, Executive Director

Senior Citizen Home Safety Association, Hong Kong

Sunday, August 264:00pm Registration 2nd Floor Foyer

6:00pm Keynote address Ballroom Centre

Patrick McLean Patrick McLean is Vice-President of Marketing for Bell Canada’s Consumer Internet Services which is Canada’s largest Internet Service Provider. He holds an MBA degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queen’s University. He has been accountable for developing the extensive value-added services program as well as overseeing Bell Sympatico’s consumer partnership with Microsoft. Patrick will identify current directions and future trends of the Internet that will have implications for human service providers.

7:00pm Welcome reception & dinner Lakeview Room 27th Floor Following the Keynote Address, join your colleagues for a reception and buffet dinner in the Lakeview Room at 89 Chestnut Conference Centre.

Companions Welcome – Cost $50 CDN

Monday, August 278:00am Registration 2nd Floor Foyer

9:00am Opening Ceremony Ballroom Centre Cheryl Regeher, Dean Factor-Inwentash Facuty of Social Work University of Toronto

9:15 - 10:15am Keynote session Paul Gillespie, Cybercrime Director-in Residence, University of Ontario, Institute of Technology

Child exploitation on the internet

Paul Gillespie has more than 25 years of international law enforcement leadership experience and his background includes developing the world renown Child Exploitation Section of the Toronto Police Service, and the Child Exploitation Tracking System (CETS) through a Toronto Police Service partnership with Microsoft Canada. Paul is an expert on the victimization of children through the Internet and is featured prominently in the new book on the cyberabuse of children, “One Child at a Time”.

10:15 - 10:30am Morning refreshment break


1 - a. Ballroom East Social work in a digital society

Jackie Rafferty, Director, Centre for Human Service

Technology/SWAP, University of Southampton, U.K.

Dr. Jan Steyaert, Adjunct Professor

Centre for Human Service Technology, University of

Southampton, U.K.

1 - b. Ballroom East Internet and social trust: Implications for human services

Dhrubodhi Mukherjee, Assistant Professor

Southern Illinois University Carbondale, U.S.A.

1 - c. Ballroom East Technologies of care or rather care of technologies

Mr. Thomas Ley, Research Fellow

Dr. Udo Seelmeyer, Scientific Assistant

Bielefeld University, Germany

2 - a. Ballroom Center

Web counseling interventions for youth involved in cyber-bullying

Duane, Counsellor, Kids Help Phone

CONFERENCE PROGRAM

8 9

Tuesday, August 288:00am Registration 2nd Floor Foyer

9:00 - 10:00am Keynote session Ballroom Centre

Lawrence Murphy

Lawrence Murphy is a pioneer in the use of cybercounselling via e-mail. With his partner, Dan Mitchell, and the National Board for Certified Counsellors, they co-authored the first major ethical code for online practice. He and Dan Mitchell have contributed some of the seminal writing in this area and they provide training, supervision, and clinical services via their company, World Wide Therapy Online, Inc.

10:00 - 11:30am Parallel session 4

10-a. Ballroom Centre The future is now: Cyber counselling in the 21st century

Mr. Lawrence Murphy, Director Mr. Dan Mitchell, Director, World Wide Therapy Online Inc., Canada

10-b. Ballroom Centre E-Therapy: An alterntive for clinical skills training and psychotherapy to distance

Dr. Georgina Cardenas-Lopez Prof. Berenice Serrano, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico

10-c. Ballroom Centre Using technology to promote communities of practice (CoP)

Dr. Brenda Moore, Interim Department Head & BSW Director, Texas A&M University - Commerce

11-a. Ballroom East Morning Sun Standards Manager for accreditation

Dr. Larry Sanders, Chairman / CEO Morning Sun Software Development, Canada Mr. Jeffery Angelo, President, Intelliware Information Solutions, Canada

11-b. Ballroom East ClientTrack: Overcoming the barriers to diversity and collaboration through an innovative web-based application for human social services providers

Mr. Brian Bingel, President Dr. Richard Alvarez, Chief Operating Officer David Talbot, Vice President of Development Data Systems International, Inc., U.S.A.

11-c. Ballroom East Impact of online technology on the non-profit sector

Mr. Dmitry Buterin, Chief Apricot, Wild Apricot, Canada

12–a. St. Patrick Room Using organizational outcome monitoring within multi-agency and funder networks

Dr. Kelly Ernst, President & CEO,

Dave Sargeant, Regional Manager, Ontario,

Canadian Outcomes Research Institute, Canada

12-b. St. Patrick Room Enabling connectivity: Developing technical literacy through organisational and physical design as a means of promoting interdisciplinary higher education

Mr. Tarsem Singh Cooner, Associate Director,

The Centre of Excellence in Interdisciplinary Mental Health,

University of Birmingham, U.K.

12-c. St. Patrick Room Enhancing student learning with case-based multimedia: The views of social work students in Scotland and Canada

Dr. Alan Knowles, Instructor,

Grant MacEwan College, Canada

Mr. Neil Ballantyne, Learning Technology Manager,

Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education, U.K.

13-a. Terrace Room Information Technology and health education

Ms. Miriam George, Social Worker,

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada

13-b. Terrace Room Volunteering through the net: A social capital perspective

Dhrubodhi Mukherjee, Assistant Professor,


13-c. Terrace Room Information Technology as a tool for poverty alleviation

Lul Aden Ibrahim, Project Officer, Development Concern

Charles Mbugua, Federation of Social Workers Africa, Kenya


Ballroom West

6 - b. St. Patrick Room The impact of access to personal computer at home on the children’s learning capacity, civic participation, social relationship and parent-child relationship

Dr. Chi-kwong Law, Associate Professor,

The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

6 - c. St. Patrick Room Perpetuating old exclusions and producing new ones - digital exclusions in information society

Dr. Yu-Cheung Wong, Assistant Professor



Dr. Yat-Chu, John Fung, Director,

ITRC, HKCSS, Hong Kong

Dr. Chi-yee, Jolie Lam, Research Assistant,


2:30 - 2:45pm Afternoon refreshment break &

poster sessions Ballroom West

(see previous description)


7 - a. Ballroom Centre A first look at persuasive technologies in the human services

Prof. Walter LaMendola, Director of Technology,

University of Denver, U.S.A.

Judy Krysik, Associate Professor,

Arizona State University, U.S.A.

7 - b. Ballroom Centre Addiction-link and other ICT tools in addictions prevention and treatment in Finland

Mr. Teuvo Peltoniemi, Director of Information Department,

A-Clinic Foundation, Finland

7 - c. Ballroom Centre Web-phone based intervention plan adherence optimizer

Dick Schoech, Dulak Professor,

University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work, U.S.A.

8 - a. Ballroom East Computer self-efficacy and computer anxiety in a hospital social work and nursing case management department

Dr. William Barcy, Visiting Scholar,


8 - b. Ballroom East Use of technology in rural social service agencies

Dr. Brenda Moore, Interim Department Head & BSW

Director, Texas A&M University – Commerce, U.S.A.

8 - c. Ballroom East Pattern change in IT use of children from lower-income families after gaining home access

Ms. Lai-shan Ho, Research Assistant,

The University of Hong Kong

9 - a. St. Patrick Room The case for open access to social work research

Jan Steyaert, Professor ,

Fontys University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands

Jackie Rafferty, University of Southampton, U.K.

9 - b. St. Patrick Room A social work wiki? Increasing the evidence base and engaging practitioners in the production of research

Dr. Harriet Meek, Assistant Professor


9 - c. St. Patrick Room Creating an information commons: Sharing knowledge to connect administrators, professionals and participants

Mr. Josh Knauer, Director of Advanced Development

MAYA Design, Inc., U.S.A.

John Pierce, Deputy Director of the Office of Information

Allegheny Country Department of Human Services, U.S.A.

Evening Free evening – Check with the Husita8

Hospitality Desk for suggestions on where

to dine in Toronto

7:00pm Husita board meeting St. Andrew Room

10 11

2:15 – 3:45pm Parallel session 6

18-a. Ballroom Centre The Dutch national program for digital learning in social work education

Herman Van Lieshout, Senior Lecturer,

Fontys University of Professional Education, The Netherlands

Albert Visser, Senior Lecturer,

Hogeschool Utrecht, The Netherlands

18-b. Ballroom Centre The Canadian “Home Children”: a case study in the digitization of social work heritage material

Mr. Neil Ballantyne, Learning Technology Manager

Ms. Ellen Daly, Knowledge and Information Assistant,


18-c. Ballroom Centre Ensuring the discoverability of digital images for social work education: An online “tagging” survey to test controlled vocabularies

Ms. Ellen Daly, Knowledge & Information Assistant

Mr. Neil Ballantyne, Learning Technology Manager, Scottish

Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education, U.K.

19-a. Ballroom East Game theory application in home for elderly of Hong Kong drug management, medical history, petty cash management

Mr. Kim Nam, Keith Tsoi, Managing Director,

KTC Keith Tsoi Chinese Computer Centre, Hong Kong

19-b. Ballroom East Evaluation of virtual reality exposure training for agoraphobia treatment

Dr. Georgina Cardenas-Lopez,

Carmen Ramos,

Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico

19-c. Ballroom East Advancing digital equality: A human service obligation

Dr. Elizabeth DePoy, Professor

Dr. Stephen Gilson, Professor, University of Maine, U.S.A.

Field Visits Advance sign-up is required for Field Visits.

Meet in the Lobby of 89 Chestnut for transfers.

3:30pm F1

University of Toronto Psychiatric Outreach Program (UTPOP) - videoconference demonstration

UTPOP coordinates clinical service, education and support

to communities throughout Ontario, but in particular, those

communities which are rural, remote or are considered

under-serviced in terms of mental health care services. In

order to fullfill its mandate, UTPOP necessarily must rely on

technology and, to a large extent, this means telepsychiatry

via videoconferencing. This field trip will introduce you to

telepsychiatry through an in-person exchange with UTPOP’s

Director, Dr. Robert Cooke, and a live videoconference

demonstration with a rural location in Campbellford, Ontario.

(Maximum number: 15)

2:30pm F2

Kids Help Phone

This session will focus on how Canada’s national Kids

Help Phone responds to children and youth experiencing

cyberabuse through posting counsellor responses on its

website. The technology employed in this service will

be discussed along with exploring issues faced by kids

experiencing forms of cyberabuse..

(Maximum number: 20)

2:30pm F3

211Toronto

Established in 1971, Findhelp Information Services (Findhelp)

is a charitable, non-profit organization and a leader in

information and referral (I&R) in North America. Findhelp

is recognized as one of North America’s top 211 service

providers. Information management achievements include

the development of a technology solution that optimizes web

searches of large, detailed human services databases, enables

data sharing across Ontario, and supports the vision of 211

through an integrated online database system. Findhelp also

leads and facilitates the alignment of data standards and

development of best practices in I&R data management across

Canada.

Findhelp is accredited by the Alliance of Information and

1145 - 1:15pm Parallel session 5

14-a. Ballroom Centre Evaluation of an online peer support network for adolescents with chronic kidney disease (CKD)

Dr. David Nicholas, Academic and Clinical Specialist,

The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Social Work,

Canada

14-b. Ballroom Centre The impact on method and form of online communication in providing social support: Issues and applications


The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Social Work,

Canada

15-a. Ballroom East Empowerment of senior citizens via information and communication technology in a non-English speaking culture

Dr. John Fung, Research Associate & Honorary Lecturer,


15-b. Ballroom East Reaching out to hidden seniors - the ICT ways

Dr. Chi-yee, Jolie Lam, Senior Research Assistant

Dr. Chi-kwong Law, Associate Professor

Dr. Yu-cheung Wong, Assistant Professor

University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Dr. Yat-chu, John Fung, Director, Information Technology,

Resource Centre Limited, Hong Kong Council of Social Service

15-c. Ballroom East Using technology to connect the aging, their families, and their caregivers

Paul Freddolino, Professor and Coordinator of Distance,

Education, Michigan State University, U.S.A.

16-a. St. Patrick Room Process factors in online teaching: Using self-reflection and small group dialogue to enhance learning about addiction issues

Wayne Skinner, Deputy Clinical Director,

Addictions Program, CAMH / University of Toronto, Canada

Marilyn Herie, Project Director,

TEACH Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

16-b. St. Patrick Room A report on the development of a blended on-line collaborative learning community in a professional graduate school

Prof. Walter LaMendola, Director of Technology

Jean East, Associate Professor

Julie Anne Laser, Assistant Professor


16-c. St. Patrick Room Using Web 2.0 to enhance global competence in social work education

Dr. Goutham M. Menon, Associate Professor,

University of Texas at San Antonio

17. Terrace Room Social work for the i-world: Integrating technology, global/cultural contexts, and evidence-based/informed practice to meet contemporary challenges

Presenters:

Wally Gingerich, Professor of Social Work,

Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences,

Case Western Reserve


University of Texas-Arlington School of Social Work

Yuhwa Eva Lu, Associate Professor,

New York University School of Social Work

Tazuko Shibusawa, Associate Professor,


Moderator:

Suzanne England, Dean and Professor,


Advance sign-up is required for the session. Lunch from 1:15

to 2:15 is included following the session.

1:15 - 2:15pm Lunch – on own

12 13

20-c. Terrace Room Health literacy & well-being body systems program

Mrs. Taunya Wright, Registered Nurse BSN

Dr. Michael Wright, Owner, MAWMedia Group, U.S.A.

21-a. St. Patrick Room Internet-based health information use by persons aged 50 and older: An exploration of process, meaning, and experience

Ms. Karen Zgoda, Doctoral Student, Boston College, U.S.A.

21-b. St. Patrick Room Global eHealth innovation through tobacco control

Prof. Peter Selby, Clinical Director,

Addictions Program Centre for Addiction

and Mental Health, Canada

Dr. Scott McIntosh, Assistant Professor,

University of Rochester, U.S.A.

Dr. Cameron Norman, Assistant Professor,


Dr. Beth Bock, Associate Professor, Brown Medical School

21-c. St. Patrick Room Promille SMS service helps people to control excessive alcohol use



22-a. Ballroom East An evaluation of two virtual learning environments to develop listening skills

Mr. Eric Youn, Assistant Professor,


Mr. Juan Enrique Huerta Wong, PhD Student,

Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Mexico



22-b. Ballroom East The internet virtual video classroom: Description, features, and applications



Dr. Jo Ann Coe Regan, Assistant Professor-Distance

Education Program, University of Hawaii at Manoa, U.S.A.

Dr. Andrew Quinn, Assistant Professor,

University of North Dakota, U.S.A.

22-c. Ballroom East Utilizing multimedia and web-based technologies for teaching about issues of diversity and racism



Dr. Michael Berghoef, Associate Professor of Social Work,

Ferris State University, U.S.A.

11:45 - 1:30pm Closing lunch & launch of Husita9

Ballroom Centre

Join us for a farewell buffet lunch followed by the Launch

of Husita9.

Lunch is complimentary. However, advance sign-up is

required by Tuesday noon. Please drop by the Husita

Hospitality Desk.

Referral Systems (AIRS), recognizing organizational ability

and highest quality of service. The AIRS accreditation team

found Findhelp’s service “leading edge” and its operations

“outstanding”. (Maximum number: 15)

6:30pm Cultural Evening

Hart House Great Hall, University of Toronto

Join fellow participants for a Canadian Cultural Evening in

the historic Hart House on the main University campus. The

superb Gothic styled Great Hall is a perfect setting for the

Native Dance troupe. These First Nations dancers will provide

a spectacular show, providing a rare opportunity to witness

North American Native performers in a colourful presentation

of songs and dances.

The evening will include a substantial buffet of finger

foods, a cash bar, and an opportunity to mingle with other

Husita8 participants. The cost is only CD$40.00 per person

and advance sign-up is required. Check with the Husita8

Hospitality Desk for sign-up and directions.

Wednesday, August 29

8:00am Registration 2nd Floor Foyer

9:00 - 10:00am Keynote session Ballroom Centre

Barry Wellman

Connected lives

The Connected Lives study investigates interrelationships

of personal networks, household relations, community

involvement and media use (Internet, phone, in-person).

Based at the University of Toronto, Prof Barry Wellman’s

research examines virtual community, the virtual workplace,

social support, community, kinship, friendship, and social

network theory and methods. He is the Chair-Emeritus of

the Community and Information Technologies section and

Community and Urban Sociology section of the American

Sociological Association. He has been a Fellow of IBM’s

Institute of Knowledge Management, a consultant with Mitel

Networks, a member of Advanced Micro Devices’ Global

Consumer Advisory Board, and a committee member of the

Social Science Research Council’s (and Ford Foundation’s)

Program on Information Technology, International Coopera-

tion and Global Security. He is the (co-)author of more than

two hundred articles, co-authored with more than eighty

scholars, and is the (co-)editor of three books.


Ballroom West

10:15 - 11:45am Parallel session 7

20-a. Terrace Room Administering psychological tests in the 21st century: Leveraging the power of the internet

Hazel Wheldon, Vice-President,

Clinical and Education Division

Rick Walrond, Manager,

Programming Multi Health Systems Inc., Canada

20-b. Terrace Room Healthy adjustment in the post-partum year (happy): For mothers and supportive others

Mrs. Ann-Marie Dawes, MSW Student,


Dr. Michael Wright, Owner, MAWMedia Group, U.S.A.

14 15

1 - c. Technologies of care or rather care of technologies?

Mr. Thomas Ley, Research Fellow

Dr. Udo Seelmeyer, Scientific Assistant,

Bielefeld University, Germany

Summary: Social Work is affected by the difference of front-line case-

work and a management perspective. Each side addresses

different requirements and expectations on the usage

of IT. Our general question is, how structures, functions

and contents of case-management-software influence the

ambivalent relation between case-work an management.

Abstract: Social Work is affected by the difference of front-line case-

work on the one hand and a management perspective on

the other hand. Each side addresses different requirements

and expectations on the usage of IT. Our general question is,

how structures, functions and contents of case-management-

software influence the ambivalent relation between case-work

and management.

To represent ‘reality’ in software, information about clients

and interactions has to be transformed into a new formalized

order. Focussing on this topic of formalization several authors

are arguing that a new managerialism is shaping social work

in its foundations: it is characterized by a tickbox culture, the

dominance of standardized assessment tools (in contradiction

to a traditional, holistic face-to-face communication), and last

but not least the technological fix on software tools. If we

follow this reasoning, the bundle of these “technologies of

care” will lead to a de-professionalization of social work.

Reframing this discussion and according to current results

from organisational research there are however at least two

types of formalization: enabling and coercive formalization.

If we adapt this heuristic for software in social work, a

deterministic view on software can be handled; nevertheless

the empirical evidence of a “supporting professionalization”

from software in social work is still lacking.

Within the presentation we want to illustrate both sides of

formalization by an empirical view on case-management-

software (in the field of youth welfare) which provides

decision corridors for supporting diagnosis and assessment,

planning and documentation of interventions and evaluation

of achievements for the front-line-practitioner and which

generates in the same way aggregated data for the supervision

and controlling by the management of social services.

2 - a.

Web counselling interventions for youth involved in cyber-bullying

Duane, Counsellor, Kids Help Phone

Summary: Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only anonymous 24 hour

bilingual phone and web counselling and referral service. In

this presentation Duane will explain how counsellors at Kids

Help Phone work with children and youth to avoid becoming

involved with cyber-bullying and/or developing strategies to

deal with the effects of cyber-bullying. Duane will provide an

online tour of our website.

2 - b.

Cybercops

SGT. Robyn MacEachern, Ontario Provincial Police

Summary: Cybercops is a collaborative, interactive, education program.

Partners include the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Safety

& Correctional Services, and private industry live wires.

Cybercops is an interactive computer game for grade 7 and 8

students in Ontario, promoting cyber safety.

2 - c. Keeping up: Adapting child internet safety strategies to changes in technology

Robert MacFadden, Professor



Summary: This presentation identifies several safety strategies for children

and youth using the Internet and explores the implications of

new changes in technology on these recommended strategies.

The importance of a child protection safety assessment

before these products are fully developed and marketed is

emphasized.

Abstract: The rapid integration of information and communications

technologies (ICT) into society offers considerable benefits

and significant risks and has been termed a “double edged

sword” (Spence-Diehl, 2003). Child victimization through

the use of ICTs is increasing as perpetrators explore the

possibilities of these new innovations.

This paper will explore several of the commonly prescribed

strategies for keeping children and youth safe from Internet

predators and examine these strategies from the perspective of

current and future changes in technology. An example is how

Parallel session 1

1 - a. Social work in a digital society

Jackie Rafferty, Director, Centre for Human Service


Dr. Jan Steyaert, Adjunct Professor, Centre for Human Service

Technology, University of Southampton, U.K.

Summary: In this presentation we aim to outline some of the major

issues when thinking about the digital society from a

professional social work perspective. Starting from the

position of individuals or households we will discuss three

issues: the digital divide (which can sometimes be a bridge),

digital literacy and the new information environment.

Abstract: We are living in a digital society which has significantly

changed the information landscape affecting every aspect of

our lives. The current wave of technological innovation is

part of the context in which social work students, practitioners

and service users and carers operate. The technology can

improve the quality of our lives and learning and is a potential

enrichment for social work practice but that depends on

our active involvement and will not happen without social

workers moulding technology developments and uses to their

own and service users’ needs. However, the technology can

also pose some challenges and dangers.

In this presentation we aim to outline some of the major

issues when thinking about the digital society from a

professional social work perspective. Starting from the

position of individuals or households, three issues emerge:

■ the digital divide (which can sometimes be a bridge);

■ digital literacy;

■ the new information environment

That environment is also part of the new meeting place

between service users and social workers and will mean

changes in social work practice, as well as in the skill set

social workers require. We will end by outlining an extra

digital skill social workers need, which can be labeled

‘innovation-through-resistance’.

1 - b. Internet and social trust: Implications for human services



Summary: Social trust is an important element in developing prospective

Internet based human services catering to diverse population.

The study conducts a secondary data analysis using data

from the Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey to

evaluate this relationship between social trust and Internet

communication in the context of human service delivery.

Abstract: The study argues that the Internet is an interactive medium

that connects people and has the potential to play a

constructive role in building generalized social trust. Social

trust is an important element in developing prospective

Internet based human services catering to diverse population.

However, literature on Internet and social trust is not

unequivocal in that verdict and derides Internet as yet

another new media that undermines conventional in person

interaction essential for development of social trust.

The study conducts a secondary data analysis using data

from the Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey

(SCCBS, 2001). The survey comprises of national sample

of 3000 respondents and community-based sample of

26,700 respondents. Social trust is measured by five distinct

components that indicate existence of social trust in diverse

environments. Stepwise multiple regression models indicated

positive relationship between social trust index developed for

this study and the Internet participation variables that include

both access to the Internet and participation measures.

Of the three Internet related variables, Internet access proved

to be highly significant (p<.0001) suggesting that subjects

without Internet access demonstrate lower social trust than

subjects with Internet access, furthermore subjects who spent

more time on the Internet would experience decrease in social

trust, this finding fits well with the bivariate analysis outcomes

where five to ten hours of Internet time was identified as

optimum for positive score on social trust index while more

than fifteen hours on Internet use had negative impact. Online

discussion had a negative effect on social trust; this finding

was an unexpected element in this model. The implication

of the findings to human service professionals working in

potentially diverse environments, catering to clients farther

from their location connected through the Internet, has been

discussed in the paper.

Key words: Internet, Social Trust, Human Services, Diversity,

Social Capital

ABSTRACTS

16 17

learner interest, but it solves an important challenge in

distributed education media development, updating lessons.

Examples, reflections, and the method are presented based on

actual projects completed 2006 & 2007.

3 - c. Surveying distance education efforts at schools of social work

Mr. Eric Youn, Assistant Professor-

Distance Education Program

Dr. Marshall Smith, Professor,


Summary: This presentation focuses on the results of a survey of all

CSWE accredited programs (at all levels: BSW, MSW & PhD)

on the extent of their distance education efforts

Abstract: As distance education techniques become more and more

prevalent within the various fields of academia, it becomes of

greater and greater importance to track use and prevalence

in order to help better determine trends in techniques,

effectiveness, and best practices. Social Work as an academic

field has also seen growth in distance education.

In an attempt to help foster this expansion of knowledge,

this presentation details the preliminary results of a CSWE

survey of all accredited programs (at BSW & MSW levels) on

the extent of their distance education efforts and future plans.

It also details attempts to attain a secondary set of data that

builds on issues derived from the survey results.

Poster sessions

101. A social work wiki? Increasing the evidence base and engaging practitioners in the production of research



SubTheme: Creating a compendium of partially conceptualized social

work practices at a lower level of evidence than the RCT

Summary: The creation of a compendium of social work practices

is proposed, similar to the Wikipedia, where partially

conceptualized conventions can be compiled and made

available, allowing conceptualization to increase and the

information gained can gradually move up the evidence

hierarchy. Come join an exploration and problem solving

around this idea!

Abstract: Most of us agree the evidence base for social work practice

needs to be increased, but many researchers seem to think

only of the level of the randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Practitioners complain much of the published research is of

little help to them. Almost no one talks about the lower levels

of the evidence taxonomy; observations, accepted practice,

expert opinion, etc. Yet, practitioners often operate at this

lower level of evidence, depending on their own accumulated

experience and that of people they trust, along with their

own observations of the immediate situation. The questions

emerging at this level are often not studied at the higher

levels, in part because of difficulty in conceptualization.

Can some of these problems be solved, perhaps also helping

to heal the rift between practice and research, practice

and academia? Can practitioners be engaged in collecting

expert opinion, careful observations, expert practice, etc. for

questions that concern them? This would help keep research

related to the actual work of practitioners. Themes could be

identified, in some cases allowing sufficient conceptualization

for study at the RCT level while for others, further work might

be needed for adequate definition. Could all this be compiled

in a format much like the popular Wikipedia, available to

researchers and practitioners alike?

The author will present her ideas on this subject, including

one study of this type she has carried out. She will then

engage the audience in a working discussion on how

advancing mobile phone technology will become the most

common access portal to the Internet and how many safety

strategies have been developed for non-mobile situations such

as the positioning of the computer within a common area of

the house and monitoring children’s use directly. New safety

strategies that relate to the capabilities of these technologies

will have to be developed.

It is essential to be forward looking and to examine new

services and technologies in advance of their widespread use.

Like an early marketing assessment, these child protection

safety assessments of new products and services are needed

to minimize dangers to children and youth. Recently (2007)

the youth oriented online community MySpace was sued

by parents of a girl who was abused by someone she met

online on MySpace. The parents argued that MySpace should

have implemented basic safety measures to prevent sexual

predators from communicating with minors on their site.

Although the judge ruled that it was the duty of the parents

and not MySpace to protect their daughter, the suit suggests

that consumers and parents are looking for ways to hold ICT

companies more accountable for what happens to people and

especially children as a result of these new technologies.

Spence-Diehl, E. (2003). Stalking and technology: The double-

edged sword. Journal of Technology in Human Services.

Vol.22, No. _, p. 5-18.

3 - a. Promoting access to, engagement with, and efficacy of the treatment of mental health and addiction problems with web-based disease management programs

Dr. Peter Farvolden, Clinic Head, Work, Stress and

Health Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health,

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry,


Mental health and addictions problems are common

problems that result in enormous personal suffering, as well

as enormous economic and societal costs. There are well-

researched effective evidence-based treatments for most

common problems. However, there are a number of barriers

to access, engagement and effectiveness for most people

including language, culture, geography and lack of specialized

services. Web-Based disease management programs provide

an opportunity for the wide availability of evidence-based

protocols and treatments. A number of controlled trials have

demonstrated efficacy of Web-based self-help approaches

for a variety of problems. However, there remain significant

barriers to access and engagement. This presentation will

summarize these issues and propose strategies for maximizing

access, engagement and efficacy using as examples data

from freely available Web-Based self help programs for panic

disorder, depression, smoking cessation and problem drinking

3 - b. Process is queen?: How to create distributed educational media

Dr. Michael Wright, Assistant Professor

Ms. Clarisa Perochena, MSW Student,


Mrs. Taunya Wright, Registered Nurse,

BSN, MAWMedia Group, U.S.A.

Summary: Content is king in media production, but process is also

important. This paper introduces a method to guide

production of distributed educational media projects. Specific

examples are provided related to content development,

production process, and project management based on

real university and community education projects that

implemented the method.

Abstract: Production of an distributed educational media project (e.g.

a CDROM or website) can be a daunting task. In addition to

the work of compiling credible content from subject matter

experts and research team members, the technological

challenge is to engage users in an experience that provides

fun and facilitates learning. This paper proposes a method

for accomplishing the laundry list above. Key features of the

technique include modular lessons, interactivity, animation,

and narration.

The paper discusses the challenges inherent in a technological

project, namely, getting subject matter experts to have enough

comfort with the technology in order to write content that

takes advantage of the capabilities of the medium. The

method we describe frees the subject matter expert to write

in the context of the question, “What would be the best way

to communicate this content?” In this way, the content gains

levels of potential engagement from the start. Technology

is then used to achieve the vision rather than to just

communicate the content.

The method we describe also presupposes Competency-

based Education and Training (CBET). CBET means that

learning objectives, the progression of lessons, assessments,

and technological features all work together linearly for each

lesson. Modular lesson develop means that individual lessons

can be viewed out of order. This is not only a way to maintain

18 19

of Cúram Software, examines OACAS’ decision to implement

an integrated system and provides an overview of the

program’s successes and challenges to date. The presentation

will take a “lessons learned” approach and instruct conference

attendees on topics to consider when overhauling a mission-

critical system, such as how to chose a solution that fits

their organization’s budget, how to leverage technology for

maximum results, and how to approach a major technology

overhaul in a child welfare/social services setting.

4 - b. Target your computer system implementation efforts for maximum effect: Results from four human services

Dr. Menachem Monnickendam, Senior Lecturer,

School of Social Work, Bar Ilan University, Israel

Riki Savaya, Associate Professor,

Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Israel

Summary: This paper presents the results of a study conducted in two

types of human service organizations in Israel. The study

aimed at identifying the most salient factors affecting user

satisfaction with computer systems. A discussion of the

implications of these findings for human service management

concludes the paper.

Abstract: Implementing a new client system in a human service

is expensive, time consuming and requires significant

organizational resources. Given these costs, it is imperative

for human service managers to concentrate their system

implementation related efforts in areas providing the largest

return in terms of end-user satisfaction.

End-user satisfaction is affected by: organizational support

during system development and implementation, attributes

of the development and implementation process, and system

usefulness. Research encompassing all three groups of

variables in order to assess their relative effect on end-user

satisfaction in human service organizations is lacking.

Organizational support during and after implementation refers

to the normative environment suitable for and supportive

of change, thus contributing to the willingness of workers

to adopt to the system. Attributes of the implementation

process refer to the design of a process that allows for user

involvement, and training. System usefulness refers to the

match between the system and the daily work routine.

Research to assess the relative effect of these groups of

variables, on end-user satisfaction was conducted in four

human service organizations in Israel, two of which had

introduced management oriented systems while the other

two had introduced client oriented systems (N=517 social

workers).

Results indicate that technical support, importance to

management, training, and system usefulness explain 58% of

the variance in end-user satisfaction. Social work education

should familiarize human services managers with the salient

factors affecting computer system implementation in human

services.

5 - a. The road to Hana: Going the distance to deliver social work education to remote, underserved and culturally diverse populations

Dr. Ann Rosegrant Alvarez, Director of Distance Education

Dr. Marshall Smith, Program Coordinator, Distance

Education, University of Hawai’i at Manoa, U.S.A.

Summary: Traveling “The Road to Hana,” a distance education team

delivers an MSW degree program to underserved and remote

populations, including Native Hawaiians. Presenters identify

challenges and strategies in working across cultures, distance

and geographic barriers, and articulate specific efforts—

including the use of technology—to respect and reflect

regional and local culture.

Abstract: Until this year, access to the MSW degree was very limited

for many Hawaiians who are most committed to their

communities. In turn, this contributed to a shortage of

human service programs and practitioners, and exacerbated

social problems experienced disproportionately by native

Hawaiians and descendants of early immigrant groups. A

distance education team is now delivering an MSW degree

program reaching underserved and remote populations,

including Native Hawaiians. Presenters identify challenges and

strategies in working across cultures, distance and geographic

barriers, and articulate specific efforts—including the use of

technology—to respect and reflect regional and local culture.

The authors use the shared experience of a trip traveling

“The Road to Hana” as a metaphor to describe the distance

education approach developed to make the MSW degree

program available to those who have been underserved

due to their remote location and other factors. The process

such a project might be accomplished, what software and

organizational structures might be useful, and how to solve

other difficulties that will emerge, hoping to locate others who

find this an interesting and useful idea.

102. Knowledge management with Web 2.0 applications in human services

Klaus Bredl, Professor,

University of Applied Sciences Neubrandenburg, Germany

Summary: The need for Knowledge Management (KM) in Human

Services is relatively new. This is an area which is growing

parallely to the transformation of health care organisations

into efficiently managed enterprises. New web-based services

which came up with the so called “Web 2.0” enable new

possibilities of implementing KM-strategies.

Abstract: The sector of Human Services is characterized by knowledge

intensive work places. The diverse duties of help and

counseling in the Social Work require appropriate actual

knowledge. Thus, the issue emerges how to provide the

social worker with the right knowledge. On the one hand,

concerning the strategy of codification of knowledge, it

is necessary to conceptualize and develop instruments to

support the identification, the storage and the access to

codified knowledge. On the other hand, one has to reflect

about the personalization in the sense of the distribution of

knowledge and the cooperation between experts in the field

of social work. New second generation web-based services

often developed as “Open Source” as a part of the so called

“Web 2.0” allow new forms of handling knowledge.

In the field of codification of human service-oriented

knowledge some own projects showing the use of

Open Source applications will be presented: The Wiki

“Socialpedia” aiming at the building of a knowledge platform

for practitioners in Social Work and the introduction of a

Knowledge Management System in a job center.

Finally, an approach for the combination of Open source

based Knowledge Management Instruments which

supports both strategies -codification and personalization of

knowledge- will be demonstrated.

A brief outlook on research on the implications of Web 3.0 for

the Human Services will round off this contribution.

Parallel session 2

4 - a. Technologies empowering Ontario’s child welfare system

Jeanette Lewis, Executive Director,

Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies, Canada

Mr. Ronan Rooney, Chief Technology Officer & Co-founder,

Curam Software, Canada

Summary: Driven to better serve the children of Ontario, the Ontario

Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS) decided

to merge its 10 disparate databases into an integrated child

welfare management system.

This presentation examines OACAS’ decision to implement an

integrated system and provides an overview of the program’s

successes and challenges.

Abstract: The Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS)

plays a vital role in countless children’s lives – providing child

welfare support services to the most vulnerable Ontarians.

OACAS serves Children’s Aid Societies (CAS) by promoting

child welfare issues, liaising with government leaders, assuring

quality in child welfare practices, and providing training for

all of Ontario’s child protection workers. CAS’ nearly 8,000

employees conduct over 82,000 child welfare investigations

annually.

Keeping track of every investigation represents a high

priority for OACAS and its member societies. Previously, the

organization utilized 10 separate databases to track every

child welfare case under its purview, a time-consuming and

burdensome approach. Driven to better serve the children of

Ontario, OACAS decided to implement the Single Information

System, an integrated child welfare management system.

Funding for a pilot study is being provided by the Ministry of

Finance and development and integration services are being

provided by IBM.

To make the Single Information System a reality, OACAS

looked to solutions provided by Ireland-based Cúram

Software. Cúram Software, from the Gaelic word for “care

and protection,” helps human services organizations provide

better services quickly. Cúram Software uses social enterprise

management (SEM), a new category of enterprise software,

to streamline and modernize legacy database and eligibility

systems.

This presentation, co-presented by Jeanette Lewis, executive

director of OACAS and Ronan Rooney, CTO and co-founder 20 21

6 - a. Linking elderly to holistic care services through integrated communication technology

Mr. Timothy Ma, Executive Director,

Senior Citizen Home Safety Association, Hong Kong

Summary: The abstract is about how the elderly living in the

community are linked through an advanced information

and communication system by the Personal Emergency Link

Service of the Senior Citizen Home Safety Association in Hong

Kong. Holistic services are rendered to the elderly under the

cold metal surface of the system.

Abstract: Through a Personal Emergency Link system, the Senior Citizen

Home Safety Association has been rendering 24 hours care

to more than 50,000 service users, who are mostly vulnerable

elders and chronic invalids living alone or living with their

elderly spouses / carers only.

The service operates through an integrated communication

technology, which enables a 2-way communications between

the elderly and the call centre operators. Whenever the

service users require assistance, they can simply press the

remote trigger and communicate with the 24 hour call centre.

Operators would then be able to identify their needs and

provide timely assistance according to the prior agreed plan,

such as calling their relatives or sending them to the AED of

hospitals.

As a fee-charged service, users are required to pay for the

equipment and service per month. Yet, those with financial

difficulties could be subsidized by funding bodies or

donations collected from funding raising activities.

Commenced in 1st Sept, 1996, it took about 3 months to

prepare for the operation of service. SCHSA has been working

with the manufacturer for improving the reliability and

functions of hardware over the years. The association has also

tried every means to prevent failure of the system such as

using the self-test function of the hardware, performing annual

hardware checking at users’ homes, providing back-up power

to call centre, and using separate server, etc.

After 10 years of development, the service has evolved from

an emergency link into a holistic personal care service. Apart

from emergency assistance, counselling service, friendly

visits by volunteers and care management for in-home

support services are rendered to the seniors. In the near

future, emergency assistance in outdoor environment with

location tracking and Tele-health advice service operated by

professional nurses are planned to render. Under the cold

metal surface of the PE Link system, lots of human touches

are rendered to the needy by means of different technology

applications.

Summary of abstract: The abstract is about how the elderly

living in the community are linked through an advanced

information and communication system by the Personal

Emergency Link Service of the Senior Citizen Home Safety

Association in Hong Kong. Holistic services are rendered to

the elderly under the cold metal surface of the system.

6 - b. The impact of access to personal computer at home on the children’s learning capacity, civic participation, social relationship and parent-child relationship.



Summary: The impact of access to personal computers on the children’s

learning capacity, civic participation, social relationship and

parent-child relationships is examined. Moderating variables

include: the demand and support from school in using ICT

education, parents’ education level, computer literacy and

their aspiration towards their children and other demographic

variables.

Abstract: In January 2007, a survey on about 1,200 children of low-

income families and one of their parents was conducted

prior to their receipt of a recycled personal computer. The

study aimed at identifying the impact of access to home

computer on the learning capacity, civic participation, social

relationship, and parent-child relationship, either moderating

or mediating by other variables such as demand & support

from school in using ICT education, parents’ education level,

computer literacy, supports from parents, other demographic

variables, aspiration of parents towards students, background

of school, and types and frequency of computer usage. A

comparison random sample of 980 students in the general

population was also obtained. As 70% of households in Hong

Kong had personal computer, we would expect the majority

of this comparison sample would have PC at the time of the

survey. While this study will conduct follow up surveys at

intervals of half year for a period of one year, this paper dealt

with the initial differences between the two samples and the

moderating effects of the various factors on the dependent

variables.

included visits to educational entities and human service

agencies on all neighbor islands at two key points in the

timeline; the early development of an extensive eMail

distribution list across all islands; intensive advocacy efforts

with the state legislature; use of consultants who served as key

cultural anchors and liaisons; and the incorporation of local

cultural focus and content into every aspect of the program,

including the orientation of faculty, staff and students; design

of individual courses and the overall curricular approach; and

the development of field practicum sites.

This paper adds to the sparse but growing literature that

considers the intersection of technology and culture (Hick,

2002; Wong & Schoech, 2005), and the specific issues of

working effectively with indigenous populations (Berman,

2006; Rice-Green & Dumbrill, 2005)). It also contributes

to discussions on the potential of distance education for

developing learning communities among isolated populations

(Neuman, 2006), and for strengthening connections among

community agencies (McFall & Freddolino, 2000).

5 - b. Medical education, distributed learning and the role of technology at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine

Dr. David Topps, Director, eLearning Unit and Associate

Professor - Family Medicine, Northern Ontario School of

Medicine

Abstract: Unlike other medical schools in Canada for whom e-learning

is an adjunct, NOSM is highly dependent on technology

with its two campuses being almost 1,000 kilometers apart.

This is a fact unique to NOSM: its distributed medical

education approach is a lived experience each day. Dr.

Topps’ presentation will discuss the lessons learned regarding

the development, maintenance and future of the role that

technology plays at Canada’s newest medical school.

5 - c. Integrating different information systems: Lessons learned

Dale Fitch, Assistant Professor,


Summary: Methodological considerations in the design of two

interorganizational systems that integrate disparate human

services information systems are presented. One involves

an online, hosted database system that facilitates electronic

referrals and interagency case management. The other project

integrates a structured information and referral database with

an agency wiki.

Abstract: The projects discussed in this paper illustrate two different

models for interorganizational systems (IOS) that integrate

dissimilar human services information systems. The

methodology employed knowledge sharing and participative

decision-making (Chi & Holsapple), strategic planning

and visioning (Volkoff, et al), augmented by discussion on

governance structures (Bardach, 2001). The technology

was the primary mechanism to facilitate interorganizational

processes since these agencies were not part of a formal

collaboration. Key in developing this methodology was an

adaptation of the requirements analysis process using tools

developed by Beer (1985), van Gigch (1991), Midgley (2000),

and Checkland (2001). Only after all the process flows and

organizational constraints were fully described were we able

to identify the design for the IOSs.

One application is a Shared Point of Access (SPA) between

a group of non-profit agencies providing services to senior

citizens to facilitate interagency case management. The second

project involved a collaboration between a mental health

agency that needed a better way to organize information

about community resources and a regional information and

referral center (2-1-1) that had this information in a database.

The application employed to facilitate this integration was

a wiki (similar to Wikipedia). The end result is an IOS that

facilitates organizational memory (Feldman & Feldman,

2006) combined with the highly efficient information

management capabilities of the 2-1-1 database. In sum, these

two applications illustrate the struggle in integrating different

human services information systems.

22 23

1. applications that simulate cause and effect,

2. simulate environments,

3. simulate objects.

Computers as Persuasive Social Actors – intended to create

relationships

1. applications that provide social support or sanctions,

2. model attitudes and behaviors,

3. leverage social rules and dynamics.

Credibility is an underlying theme, is a topic that has been

widely studied, and has multiple dimensions (Self, 1996; Buller

and Burgoon, 1996). Important dimensions of credibility for

the human services are trustworthiness and expertise. The

paper summarizes the meta-review by examining current

ethical guidelines in these areas.

7 - b. Addiction-link and other ICT tools in addictions prevention and treatment in Finland

Mr. Teuvo Peltoniemi, Director of Information,

Department, A-Clinic Foundation, Finland

Summary: AddictionLink, SMS-Promille & Help-info - ICT-based

psycho-social prevention & treatment services of Finnish

A-Clinic Foundation serve monthly 40000 individuals. 10-

years-experiences suggest ICT partly replace face-to-face

work, be better & cheaper, preferred by clients. Harms

like net addiction need attention. Future calls transfer from

infrastructure to human instructiveness; broader thematic

concepts; virtual reality & robotics inclusion; contents,

organisational, and traditional services integration.

Abstract: Many ICT features are especially suitable for dealing with

mental health and addiction problems. Internet and mobile

services offer interactivity and feedback. Partial return

to written word gives benefits, especially in regulating

anonymity. ICT offers low threshold to seek help,

empowerment to use own resources and simplifies complex

society by easy availability and choice freedom, and serves

hard-to-reach peer and marginal groups.

A-Clinic Foundation has used ICT in prevention and treatment

since 1996. AddictionLink (Päihdelinkki) consists of databank,

open & closed discussion forums, self-assessment tests and

guidance programs, counselling & consultation services, areas

for children and families etc. in Finnish, Swedish, English,

Russian & Sign language with 40000 individual visitors a

month.

Since 2000 the cell phone SMS Promille helps to estimate

blood alcohol level and legal status to drive. Another one

operates in the Czech Republic. A new extensive SMS service

based on peer support and professional counselling is in

production.

The Foundation coordinates early-stage crisis portal

www.apua.info (help.info), a cooperative site by 23 mental

health, addictions, children’s protection, child abuse &

domestic violence and public health organisations offering

versatile help via one channel while reaching sufficient critical

mass. Here one can seek help without prior self-diagnosis,

which professional system to approach.

The future needs

1) to transfer infrastructure emphasis to human instructiveness.

2) Broader psycho-social concepts are needed.

3) ICT services must integrate with traditional for a flexible

service chain.

4) Contents and organisational integration is needed nationally

and globally. Soon also

5) virtual reality and robotics play an important role in

prevention and treatment. As pre-taste we have tested a small-

scale Tamagotchi treatment.

While developing ICT services, attention is needed to

1) quality proof system,

2) prevention of digital divide and

3) research on effects.

Experiences from Finnish tools suggest that ICT can replace

part of standard face-to-face work. While better and cheaper

by results it is often preferred by clients. Also possible

harms must be taken into consideration. As an addiction

oriented organisation A-Clinic Foundation offers prevention

and treatment tools for Internet addiction and gambling,

paradoxically but for good reason mainly in Internet.

More information: Peltoniemi, Teuvo: Experiences and

perspectives in using telematic prevention on sensitive health

issues. In: Latifi (ed.): Establishing telemedicine in developing

countries. IOS Press. Amsterdam 2004.

www.paihdelinkki.fi (Finnish site with a smaller English part)

www.prevnet.net (EU network site)

6 - c. Perpetuating old exclusions and producing new ones – digital exclusions in information society

Dr. Yu-Cheung Wong, Assistant Professor



Dr. Yat-Chu, John Fung, Director, ITRC, HKCSS, Hong Kong

Dr. Chi-yee, Jolie Lam, Research Assistant,


Summary: This paper describes a digital inclusion index measuring digital

divide between disadvantaged groups and the mainstream

society in Hong Kong. The index captures information about

access, knowledge, usage and affordability in information

communication technology and the findings depict the degree

of digital inclusion/exclusions across various disadvantaged

groups.

Abstract: This paper presents a study which measures the degree

of digital exclusion – or conversely, the degree of digital

inclusion in a developed city in East Asia. Governments in

the region are among the most active actors in the developed

world in pushing its society ahead in developing knowledge

economy and information society. The major concern is to

improve/maintain their competitiveness in the new knowledge

economy created by the process of globalization and the

advancement in information technology. Many countries in

the region have established themselves in the top ranks of

a number of indexes and measurements comparing digital

readiness, digital access, ICT penetration, etc. However,

not all the citizens in the regions share the benefits and

promises of the information society. People of the traditionally

disadvantaged groups in the society, such as the elderly, low

income groups are in the process of further excluded from the

information society. Such exclusion affects other social groups

as well. This study creates a new digital inclusion index to

measures the degree of inclusion of various disadvantaged

groups in the information society. Data regarding seven

disadvantage groups, such as elderly, persons with disabilities,

housewives, children in low income households, etc. were

collected through household survey (N= 2312). The index

captures information about access, knowledge, usage and

affordability in information communication technology of the

disadvantaged in comparison with the mainstream society

(N= 756).

Parallel session 3

7 - a. A first look at persuasive technologies in the human services

Prof. Walter LaMendola, Director of Technology,


Judy Krysik, Associate Professor,

Arizona State University, U.S.A.

Summary: Persuasive technologies are interactive technologies used

to motivate, change behavior or attitudes, or increase

compliance. Examples of human service applications

that incorporate persuasive technologies as modalities for

influencing behavior, dealing with intervention barriers, and

enhancing therapeutic outcomes are examined. The paper

examines current ethical guidelines in these areas.

Abstract: Persuasive technologies are interactive technologies that are

used to motivate, change behavior or attitudes, or increase

compliance. The study of the intersection of computing,

communication services, and human persuasion is part of a

developing field of knowledge called captology. Captology

theory and methods are interdisciplinary. No single method

or theory “...captures the persuasive possibilities of interactive

technologies” (Fogg, Lee, and Marshall, 2002). The authors

examine the emerging field of human service captology in

terms of human service applications that incorporate the

Internet and Web services as new modalities for influencing

behavior, dealing with barriers to delivering interventions as

intended, and enhancing therapeutic outcomes. A framework

developed by Fogg (1999, 2002)called the Functional Triad

begins by classifying computer functions in three areas: as

tools, as media, and as social actors. (Examples of at least one

type of application from each functional area will be included)

Computers as Persuasive Tools – intended to increase

capabilities and change mental models

1. applications that increase self efficacy,

2. provide tailored information,

3. trigger decision-making,

4. simplify or guide people through a process.

Computers as Persuasive Media – intended to provide

experiences that provide first hand learning, insight,

visualization and resolve, understanding of cause and effect,

and that motivate through a combination of experience and

sensation24 25

8 - b. Use of technology in rural social service agencies


Director, Texas A&M University – Commerce, U.S.A.

Summary: Technology is increasingly used in direct practice as well as in

education. This paper presentation will overview of the use of

technology in rural communities and explore the implications

for diverse populations in practice and education.

Abstract: Rural human service agencies face many challenges in

providing services to clients in geographic areas with

limited resources. While technology offers great potential

for improving the availability, access, and quality of services

in rural communities, there is little research on the extent

to which rural human service organizations are using or

benefiting from technology.

This presentation focuses on comparing rural and urban

human service agencies in their use of technology in

practice and administration. Findings from an exploratory

study of rural human service agency workers on their

“use and comfort” with common software, their degree of

computer anxiety, self-efficacy, and perceived effectiveness

in professional helping will be compared with previous

studies published about urban or suburban agencies. Because

technology must be adapted for use in various environments

(ie., different types of agencies, various geographic locales,

varying degrees of acceptance, etc.), such comparisons can

provide helpful approaches to maximize the benefits available

through technology.

In addition to understanding how technology, and specifically

the Internet, is transforming human service delivery, there are

implications for social work educators who prepare students

for practice in human service agencies. The issue of student

preparation is discussed in terms of the role of social work

education – in other words, are we teaching what students

need to know in terms of the application of technology in

human services? This paper will present information which

compares urban and rural human service agencies in their use

of technology and looks at the congruence between agencies’

use and students’ preparation as future helping professionals

and administrators.

8 - c. Pattern change in IT use of children from lower-income families after gaining home access

Ms. Lai-shan Ho, Research Assistant,


Summary: The Hong Kong Government has introduced the “Computer

Recycling Scheme” in 2005/06 and 2006/07 school years

to help the students from lower-income families to gain

home access to IT. This paper will look into the change

in the pattern of IT use of the participants after joining the

programme.

Abstract: According to a survey by the Census and Statistics Department

from June to August 2004, about 36,000 primary and

secondary school students aged ten and over did not have

computers at home in Hong Kong. Among them, about 20,000

students had indicated their needs to have computers to

facilitate their study. In response to the need, the Education

and Manpower Bureau has introduced the “Computer

Recycling Scheme” in 2005/06 and 2006/07 school years. The

project will help the poor communities, students from lower-

income families, to gain home access to IT to narrow this IT

gap.

It is expected that providing technical devices and services

to the poor communities will help to bridge the gaps on

educational advantages, future employment and earnings,

opportunities for social and civic involvement, and equity

and civil rights issues between the IT “haves” and “have-

nots”. However, helping the students from lower-income

families to solve their access problem cannot guarantee that

they can share the benefits of the information society and

maximize their life chances. For example, Internet addiction

and frequently uses IT for recreational purposes are some

popular topics and worries of many parents, educators and

social workers. We cannot neglect those temptations and

threats come along. It is worth to know how the students use

IT before and after gaining home access.

The University of Hong Kong is conducting a study to

examine the impact of the Computer Recycling Scheme

through focus group, interview, and telephone interview. This

paper will look into the change in the pattern of IT use of the

participants after gaining home access.

7 - c. Web-phone based intervention plan adherence optimizer



Summary: This presentation overviews a web-based case management

application that optimizes adherence to treatment by

delivering voice messages, reminders, and surveys using

phones, smartphones, VoIP, and the web. The application

supports workers with high caseloads who have difficulty

monitoring and prioritizing in order to focus on cases most at

risk.

Abstract: Computers, phones, and the Internet are merging to provide

a powerful set of tools for delivering human services. This

presentation will overview a web-based application designed

to optimize adherence to intervention plans. The major

application supports case management where workers have

high caseloads making it difficult to monitor and prioritize all

cases in order to focus on those most at risk.

The system uses a web site to deliver messages, reminders,

and surveys using a variety of phones including smartphones

and VoIP. The system has 5 features. First is a web site where

worker and client set up the intervention plan goals and

objectives along with the questions that will provide good

indicators of success. Questions can be similar to: do you feel

you are doing better, do you feel your medication is working,

do you want your worker to contact you, etc. The second is

a web site where clients and worker specify when the client

wants to be called, how often, who else to involve in the

case management process, and who can see the results. The

third feature involves providing educational audio files and

voice reminders to clients. The fourth is the graphic display

of the results of the client-phone interaction and the survey

responses. The fifth is data mining of the collected data to

predict adherence and non-adherence to intervention plan

objectives. The system is being tested in several settings and

has the potential to reduce much of the drudgery work of

case management and service follow-up. In addition, the

system collects valuable information and flags clients who

are failing or succeeding. Thus, the system allows workers to

prioritize their time and agencies to examine risk assessment

and program evaluation data.

8 - a. Computer self-efficacy and computer anxiety in a hospital social work and nursing case management department

Dr. William Barcy, Visiting Scholar,


Summary: The present study examined the relationship of computer

self-efficacy, computer anxiety, and perceived computer

usefulness to performance utilizing IT programs by clinical

staff in a hospital-based social work and nursing case

management department. Data collection included survey and

actual in-vivo observation of staff in the tartet environment.

Abstract: The current health care delivery system increasingly relies

upon information technology (IT) to more effectively and

efficiently meet patient needs. The present study examined

the relationship of computer self-efficacy, computer anxiety,

and perceived computer usefulness to performance utilizing

IT programs by clinical staff in a hospital-based social work

and nursing case management department.

Use of IT programs within the hospital setting was assessed by

self-reported frequency of use of the shared drive system of

electronic resources and by observed behavioral proficiency

in completing a computerized search task of resources on the

shared drive. Computer self-efficacy was assessed by a self-

report survey adapted from the Computer Self-Efficacy Scale

developed by Murphy, Coover, and Owen (1989). Computer

anxiety was assessed by Johnson’s (2005) self-report survey

version of the Computer Anxiety Rating Scale adapted to

reflect the specific IT programs utilized in the hospital setting.

Computer usefulness was assessed by a modified version

of the self-report Usefulness survey developed by Franz

and Robey (1986). All of the 45 participants completed the

self-report survey measures, with 27 also completing the

computerized search task.

The results indicated significant relationships between

observed behavioral proficiency on the computerized search

task and self-reported ratings of computer self-efficacy and

computer anxiety. Higher task proficiency was associated with

higher computer self-efficacy ratings. Lower task proficiency

was associated with higher computer anxiety. More frequent

self-reported use of the shared drive system was significantly

associated with higher ratings of computer usefulness.

26 27

Can some of these problems be solved, perhaps also helping

to heal the rift between practice and research, practice

and academia? Can practitioners be engaged in collecting

expert opinion, careful observations, expert practice, etc. for

questions that concern them? This would help keep research

related to the actual work of practitioners. Themes could be

identified, in some cases allowing sufficient conceptualization

for study at the RCT level while for others, further work might

be needed for adequate definition. Could all this be compiled

in a format much like the popular Wikipedia, available to

researchers and practitioners alike?

The author will present her ideas on this subject, including

one study of this type she has carried out. She will then

engage the audience in a working discussion on how

such a project might be accomplished, what software and

organizational structures might be useful, and how to solve

other difficulties that will emerge, hoping to locate others who

find this an interesting and useful idea.

9 - c. Creating an information commons: Sharing knowledge to connect administrators, professionals and participants

Mr. Josh Knauer, Director of Advanced Development,

MAYA Design, Inc., U.S.A.

John Pierce, Deputy Director of the Office of Information,

Allegheny Country Department of Human Services, U.S.A.

Summary: The HumanServices.net project, based on “Information

Commons” distributed database technology, has drastically

improved how human services are administered in Allegheny

County. John Pierce of Allegheny DHS and Josh Knauer of

MAYA will explain how new technologies help agencies

improve service delivery, streamline workflow, and encourage

data sharing among service providers.

Abstract: Josh and John can speak to the award-winning

HumanServices.net project, named by InfoWorld Magazine as

one of the Top IT Projects of 2006. HumanServices.net is a

distributed database that brings together data from thousands

of human service providers and nonprofit organizations into

a single, easily searchable repository. This data is fused with

information on the community’s demography, geography and

education systems, creating a comprehensive picture of assets

and needs.

Using HumanServices.net, a caseworker looking for drug

treatment programs for a teenager can pull up with one search

the description of a relevant program near the teen’s school

and on an accessible bus route. Contact information, facility

hours, photos, a map and directions are all available for the

referral. Before Humanservices.net, this information would

take hours to locate, verify and package.

The system’s unique distributed design allows each

participating agency and organization to maintain control of

their own data through their own systems. Allegheny DHS

updates information using its own database system, and

then the Information Commons (the peer-to-peer network

that HumanServices.net is built upon) extracts the data and

reformats it for HumanServices.net. Participating organizations

can enter their data into the Commons directly, and they

can also publish data available in the Commons from other

organizations on their own websites. Independent sites

focused on after school programs and offered through the

United Way have used the Commons in this way, a tribute to

how the HumanServices.net effort benefits the entire human

services community.

Josh and John will speak to the challenges and benefits of

uniting a community’s human services data into a distributed

system like the Information Commons. HUSITA participants

will gain a deeper understanding of how new technologies

can help agencies save money and streamline workflow while

creating a comprehensive picture of human service assets and

needs.

9 - a. The case for open access to social work research

Jan Steyaert, Professor,

Fontys University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands

Jackie Rafferty, Director: Centre for Human Service


Summary: High quality of social care provision calls for a close

relationship between practice and research. The academic

publishing culture has not been helpful in establishing this

proximity. Is the internet, google and open access bringing

research and practice closer together?

Abstract: Internationally there is a strong and growing call for social

work to be evidence-based and informed by research on

effectiveness of social interventions. Equally there is a long

tradition of research into the lack of social work practitioner

access to the existing research literature, beginning with the

work of Wilson and Streatfield in the mid seventies.

Technology has changed the information landscape of practice

settings. The wide availability of computers and the internet

in conjunction with increasing practitioner familiarity with

using technology has drastically transformed the information

landscape. In their domestic and social life practitioners have

become familiar with using the Internet to look up train

timetables, book tickets for events, shop, download music, etc.

‘Google’ is an important if not the first gateway to information.

They are also likely to be in touch with family and friends

through communication technologies. In their professional life

practitioners are using the technology to keep records, carry

out assessments, communicate with colleagues and service

users, access local policies and information.

Technology has equally changed the information landscape

in research settings. Printed journals are rapidly being

replaced by electronic versions, and an increasing number

of publications are freely available in digital form. Rising

subscription costs and the opportunities of the internet

result has resulted in calls for ‘open access’. There are

numerous arguments to support open access (e.g. The Berlin

Declaration, if you don’t exist on Google, you don’t exist, ).

Many universities and research funders (e.g.Joseph Rowntree

foundation (www.jrf.org.uk) now have policies in place to

ensure open access. Having said that, the majority of research

output is still available through commercial publishers as

a result of the role of peer reviewed publications in career

development (the science citation index is far more important

than the Google citation index) and issues around copyright

(and the lack of awareness about the alternative, copy-left).

Fortunately, there are an increasing number of examples on

how to open up the knowledge base for social work. These

include, but are not limited to:

■ personal webpages of scholars;

■ Open access professional journals such as

http://fsw.ucalgary.ca/currents/ or www.socwork.net/, for

an overview, see the directory of open access journals at

www.doaj.org;

■ Higher Education Institutional repositories e.g. DARE and

‘promise of science’ in the Netherlands

Given these developments, what happens or can happen to

the divide between research and practice? Does more ‘open

access’ bring them closer together? This paper will argue that

although there are very convincing and sound arguments

to practice and promote open access, these are intrinsic to

scholarly communication and at best of marginal interest for

professional communication. Other modes of communication

are needed (and partly existing) to bring research and practice

closer together.

9 - b. A social work wiki? increasing the evidence base and engaging practitioners in the production of research



Summary: The creation of a compendium of social work practices

is proposed, similar to the Wikipedia, where partially

conceptualized conventions can be compiled and made

available, allowing conceptualization to increase and the

information gained can gradually move up the evidence

hierarchy. Come join an exploration and problem solving

around this idea!

Abstract: Most of us agree the evidence base for social work practice

needs to be increased, but many researchers seem to think

only of the level of the randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Practitioners complain much of the published research is of

little help to them. Almost no one talks about the lower levels

of the evidence taxonomy; observations, accepted practice,

expert opinion, etc. Yet, practitioners often operate at this

lower level of evidence, depending on their own accumulated

experience and that of people they trust, along with their

own observations of the immediate situation. The questions

emerging at this level are often not studied at the higher

levels, in part because of difficulty in conceptualization.

28 29

10 - c. Using technology to promote communities of practice (CoP)


Director, Texas A&M University - Commerce

Summary: Communities of Practice (CoP) is a theoretical model that

describes people with shared. concerns and interests. This

paper presents an overview of the CoP model and describes

how technology can facilitate the use of CoPs in social work

education and practice to facilitate learning and problem-

solving.

Abstract: Social workers are seeking new practice models to facilitate

education and practice as they confront current challenges

inherent in the blending of many cultures, increased

globalization, and technology. Communities of Practice (CoP)

is a theoretical model that describes people with shared

concerns and interests who emerge as groups based upon a

common need. This paper presents an overview of the CoP

model and describes how technology can effectively use CoPs

in social work education and practice to connect people to

facilitate learning and problem-solving.

Communities of Practice (CoP) was first proposed by Wenger

and Lave (1991). Communities of Practice are comprised of

“groups of people who share a concern, a set of problems,

or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge

and expertise by interacting on an ongoing basis” (Wenger,

McDermott & Snyder, 2002, p. 4). CoPs have a shared history,

an enterprise that forms around a value or purpose, and the

enterprise involves learning. CoPs do not necessarily develop

or produce a product; the emphasis is on learning, practice,

and process. Learning is viewed as distributed among the

participants of the community, including experts, novices, and

everyone in between. Understanding and experience are in

constant interaction.

Current research is focusing on examination of virtual CoPs

(Johnson, 2001; McLoughlin, 1999; Hildreth & Kimble, 2000;

Adams & Freeman, 2000; Putz & Arnold, 2001). Educators

are exploring how distance-learning technologies might

facilitate the creation of distributed Communities of Practice.

Comparisons are applicable for virtual and traditional

communities. The Internet has increased the parameters of

what is known as a community and further study is needed to

fully understand how the human dynamics described by Lave

& Wenger’s model apply in a virtual environment.

11 - a. Morning Sun Standards Manager for accreditation

Dr. Larry Sanders, Chairman / CEO,

Morning Sun Software Development, Canada

Mr. Jeffery Angelo, President,

Intelliware Information Solutions, Canada

Summary: Standards Manager is a great project management tool for

organizations seeking accreditation for the first time and

for those seeking re-accreditation. Organizations can use

Standards Manager to engage their staff in the accreditation

process by assigning tasks and developing action plans,

tracking progress, and printing status reports for specific or

generic measurement.

Abstract: The Standards Manager is a computer application developed

by Morning Sun Software Development for organizations to

use in their accreditation preparation process to create

an organized comprehensive package of evidence of

conformance to the Commission on Accreditation of

Rehabilitative Facilities (CARF) standards. Standards Manager

is a great project management tool for organizations seeking

accreditation for the first time and for those seeking re-

accreditation. Organizations around the globe, i.e. Sweden,

U.S.A., Canada, can purchase Standards Manager directly from

CARF for $1045 USD to engage their staff in the accreditation

process by assigning tasks and developing action plans,

tracking progress, and printing status reports. Organizations

will save time preparing for their assessment survey by

creating an efficient electronic documentation repository

by attaching and copying evidence items directly into

Standards Manager. It allows organizations to see what has

been changed or added and address those areas by creating

traceable action plans to meet or exceed the standards.

Morning Sun Software Development upgrades the software

annually to include the new standards created by CARF. The

design also allows for the software application to be portable

to other accreditation standards and has the capacity to

accommodate other performance measures.

Types of Organizations that would benefit from the software:

Behavioral Health Services

Child and Youth Services

Medical Rehabilitation Services

Aging Services

Opioid Treatment Services

Vision Rehabilitation Services

Employment and Community Services

Parallel session 4

10 - a. The future is now: Cyber counselling in the 21st century

Mr. Lawrence Murphy, Director

Mr. Dan Mitchell, Director,

World Wide Therapy Online Inc., Canada

Summary: 21st Century clients expect to be able to connect with

professionals online. This interactive workshop will provide

participants with a solid grounding in the ethics, technology,

and practical aspects of therapy online. It will cover a variety

of eCounselling techniques including what the authors refer to

as Presence Techniques.

Abstract: 21st Century clients expect to be able to connect with their

counsellor online. The question is whether the counsellor is

ready. Because the future is now. This interactive workshop

will provide participants with a solid grounding in the ethics,

technology, and practical aspects of doing therapy online.

eMail correspondence can be therapeutic. But this requires

an understanding of approaches that make eMail a richer,

more personal experience. This workshop will cover a variety

of eCounselling techniques including joining in text, reading

eMail for clinical comprehension, and what Murphy and

Mitchell refer to as Presence and Process Control Techniques.

This workshop will be of benefit to participants interested in

exploring the possibility of doing therapy online, and to those

who are already doing the work and want to learn more.

Lawrence Murphy and Dan Mitchell founded Therapy Online

in 1995. In 1998 they co-authored, with the National Board for

Certified Counsellors, the first ethical code for online practice.

They have published a number of academic works, including

chapters in both of the American Counselling Association’s

Cyber Counselling & Cyber Learning texts, and their seminal

1998 paper When writing helps to heal: EMail as therapy, in

the British Journal of Guidance and Counselling. Therapy

Online provides 2 levels of certificate level Cyber Counselling

training to therapists throughout the globe in collaboration

with the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Social Work.

10 - b. E-Therapy: An alternative to FTF psychotherapy

Dr. Georgina Cardenas-Lopez Prof. Berenice Serrano Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico

Summary: This paper present an e-therapy program with a double benefit: the students will be able to count on practicing with programs suitable to their own interests and curriculum structure, in addition to practicing their clinical abilities; the patients will benefit from having access to high-quality psychological services at a distance.

Abstract: The mental health services, like other areas, are benefiting from rapid advances in information and communication technologies. For several decades, treatment programs have been created with the aid of computers with successful outcomes. Computer technologies are increasingly being applied to several mental disorders and their respective treatment programs. The Virtual Teaching Laboratory of Psychology at the National University of Mexico (UNAM) is orchestrating its program of e-therapy for anxiety and depression disorders. Psychology students will get a double benefit; they will be able to count on practicing with programs suitable to their own interests and curriculum structure, in addition to practicing their clinical abilities in an innovative psychotherapy modality that will help them to prepare their professional futures. The patients will benefit from having access to high-quality psychological services, granted to them through consultation of a qualified professional.

The availability of formative programs of service that strengthen the university students’ integral formation, in particular the linking of theory and the practice, represents a great contribution to the field of psychology. The training of students in this innovative therapeutic modality and its incipient application in Mexico, allows the educator to provide the student with specialized knowledge that fortifies his or her competence level and modernizes them as a professional in these newly developing specialties. Based on preliminary feedback, this modality of therapy has been well accepted by the patients, who have expressed that it is comfortable to have a therapy session from home, work or form the university without having to spend time being in transit from one place to another one. Also they refer to having good communication with their therapist when combining the sessions by Chat with the sessions via eMail, and that the e-therapy has been as effective as the face to face therapy in the treatment of anxiety and depression problems.

30 31

Non-profit organizations have a growing interest in

technology applications designed to meet their needs. With

the development of Wild Apricot, non-profits have a new and

effective way of connecting through technology. Delivered

as a software as a service, Wild Apricot software resides on

a central server but non-profits access it remotely and have

full control over website, contact database etc. Thus there is

nothing to install or maintain locally - it can be used by staff

and volunteers from any computer with Internet connection

and a common browser like Internet Explorer or Firefox. It

can be deployed instantly and afforded by the smallest charity,

professional association or support group.

Wild Apricot is a fully integrated system that delivers key

functionality for member management, easy content creation

and updating, online payment for dues and fees, event

management and donations. The application’s user interface is

designed for non-technical people and focuses on simplicity

and ease of use. Users can easily understand the application

and easily manage their website. Additionally, the ASP.

NET and AJAX technologies that Wild Apricot adopts allow

for quick development, testing and deployment of new

functionalities and implementation of very rich interactivity.

Non-profit organizations are very diverse and complex

because of their size, number of members and nature of

operations. Taking all these factors into consideration, the

biggest challenges include:

■ Developing the application in such a way that is generic

enough to work for clubs, charities and associations etc.

but tailored enough for each organization to figure out

and apply to their situation.

■ Providing an easy to use interface for novice, non-

technical users while providing comprehensive

functionality for expert users.

■ Using the modern ‘Ajax’ technology to make the

application feel like a desktop application - while

managing the internal complexity of doing this and

maintaining compatibility with major browsers.

■ Maintaining flexibility through short iterations as a result

of ongoing feedback, requirements changes and new laws

and regulations.

Wild Apricot helps non-profit and charitable organizations

grow and thrive. Our commitment is to make it easier and

affordable for these organizations to carry out their own

efforts. There are no extra fees, maintenance and upgrades

are included into monthly subscription fee (which ranges from

$12 to $200 a month so it can be afforded by the smallest

non-profits)

By helping organizations operate more efficiently, we

can make a difference in the lives of others. Wild Apricot

is already allowing many non-profit supporters to build

movements for social, environmental and political change.

Wild Apricot is used by over 1,000 non-profit organizations

worldwide and now is embarking on new major activities to

reach more organizations.

12 - a. Using organizational outcome monitoring within multi-agency and funder networks

Dr. Kelly Ernst, President & CEO

Mr. Dave Sargeant, Regional Manager,

Ontario Canadian Outcomes Research Institute, Canada

Summary: This workshop will teach participants a data system that

collects data on a person and organizational level, but is able

to aggregate data on multi-agency groups. Participants will see

how aggregating data across agencies can occur with ease,

simplicity and low cost while simultaneously engaging in

discussion on the ethical, legal, and social policy implications

for using multi-agency data systems.

Abstract: Funders have been requesting outcome information in Canada

for a number of years and it is increasingly common to use

outcomes within an accountability exercise. Yet little is done

with the evidence of successes and failures about human

services after the data is produced. This workshop walks

people through the Hull Outcome Monitoring and Evaluation

Systems which collects data on a person and organizational

level and is able to aggregate data on multi-agency groups and

across regions. The workshop will demonstrate that collecting

outcome information across multiple agencies can occur with

ease, simplicity and low cost. It will also demonstrate that

such information can start a process of asking hard questions

for policy and decision-making. The workshop will end with a

discussion regarding questions related to the theme, “So what

now; services produce outcome information but what comes

next?” Ethical, legal, and social policy scenarios and their

implications will be discussed during the presentation.

Feature/Benefits:

Easy to install and user friendly to navigate

Organizes the accreditation preparation process

Assign tasks to key people, teams, or departments and

track their progress

Real-time assessment of conformance to CARF standards

Overall conformance graph for management overview

and monitoring

Copy and paste information and evidence directly into

the appropriate standard

Link existing documentation as attachments

Automatically bookmarks the last entry

Multi-viewer with one central coordinator

Organizes evidence for surveyor assessment

Manages conformance between surveys

Minimum System Requirements:

Pentium III processor or equivalent with CD-ROM

128 MB RAM (256M recommended)

Windows 2000/XP

11 - b. ClientTrack: Modern technology for human social services

Mr. Brian Bingel, President

Dr. Richard Alvarez, Chief Operating Officer

David Talbot, Vice President of Development,

Data Systems International, Inc., U.S.A.

Summary: Human social services providers face increasing challenges

associated with compliance reporting requirements and non-

technical end users tasked with collecting client data through

complex technology solutions. ClientTrack is the easy-to-use

solution that addresses the unique needs of HSS organizations

through its intuitive data collection, unprecedented

configurability, and accurate reporting capabilities.

Abstract: Private and government funding sources have placed

additional burdens on human service providers to comply

with complex reporting requirements in order to continue

to receive critical financial support. Consequently, case

managers and administrators are faced with the need to

collect and report large amounts of human social services data

accurately. While modern technology offers the best solution

to meet these needs, non-technical staff often find it difficult

to collect this important data using modern, state-of-the-art

software solutions. ClientTrack, with its intuitive, easy-to-

use interface, accurate data collection, and robust reporting

capabilities, is the ideal solution. ClientTrack enables human

social services organizations to provide critical services, satisfy

compliance reporting, and collect important data accurately.

The eight designer tools included in ClientTrack allow non-

technical personnel to configure the application quickly and

easily to meet the unique needs of their organizations. The

application is scaleable to meet the requirements of local and

regional institutions as well as those that operate on global

level. Most importantly, it is an easy-to-use and extremely

intuitive application that enables end users to record all of the

required data easily. This results in accurate reports that satisfy

increasingly complex compliance reporting requirements.

In the twenty-first century, human social service providers

face unprecedented difficulties in order to meet the expanding

needs of humankind. Demographic data and program

outcomes can assist planners and academics to evaluate

current social services programs, modify existing systems, and

craft novel solutions for the future. Through its contractual

agreements with its clients, Data Systems International, the

producer of ClientTrack, has maintained the rights to a vast

amount of anonymous social service data which can assist

in this endeavor. A live demonstration of ClientTrack and a

discussion of its relevance to human social services providers

offer HUSITA 8 participants a unique opportunity to evaluate

how technology can improve the world in which we live.

11 - c. Impact of online technology on the non-profit sector

Mr. Dmitry Buterin, Chief Apricot,

Wild Apricot, Canada

Summary: With modern digital tools, non-profits can operate much more

efficiently. Wild Apricot is a Web 2.0 innovation specifically

built for small non-profits - an integrated tool for website,

membership and event management. Delivered as a software

as a service, it can be deployed instantly and afforded by the

smallest organization.

Abstract: Wild Apricot is an integrated software for non-profit

and member-based organizations. It is tailored for small

associations, clubs, support groups and community

organizations. Available as a web-based monthly subscription

it includes member/contact database management, event

registrations, integrated website (with content management

system), online payments and donations. Wild Apricot is a

child of Web 2.0 innovation specifically built for small non-

profit organizations. 32 33

learning resources in social work education. The findings

have implications for educators who are interested in the

development, reuse, sharing and exchange of digital learning

resources in social work education.

13-a. Information technology and health education

Ms. Miriam George, Social Worker,


Summary: A qualitative study conducted with health care educators

in a large city suggests that health organizations are not

providing the training supports needed to foster technological

competency among these health educators and that these

organizations may be looking to young, male educators to

deliver this technology-based education and overlooking

women and older educators.

Abstract: The primary role of health educators in a health care setting

is providing practice-oriented innovative educational activities

using a variety of technologies. This researcher conducted

a qualitative study investigating health educators’ roles and

challenges in a large multicultural city. The researcher used

fifteen individual interviews and one focus group for data

collection. The participants in this study were health educators

who had been working in the downtown city hospitals for

two or more years. The researcher analysed the data using N

Vivo, which demonstrates that while there is a strong demand

for health educators in health care settings, the lack of

organizational support and of innovative educational materials

are adversely affecting the delivery of health education. Major

findings also include: needs more recognition for health

education/health educators, more community resources, more

continuing professional education for health educators, lack

of role clarification, lack of enough funding. One of the other

major findings of this study is that the lack of technology

training and the resulting general deficiency of technical

knowledge among health educators are negatively affecting

the quality of continuing health education. Although health

care organizations are eager to introduce technology-based

health education, they are not providing enough technical

training for health educators to be able to effectively deliver

these programs. Another important finding is the role of

gender and age in determining the assignment of technology-

based education. Results show that health care organizations

expect young, male health educators to take more initiative

with respect to information technology. There seems to be a

prevailing attitude that this demo-graphic group is more adept

at understanding and working with technology, and so it has

become more difficult for women and/or older educators

to get access to technology training. It is recommended that

more effective, culturally appropriate, technology-focused

health education be emphasized to provide accurate health

information to diverse communities. More research may be

needed to generalize the findings of this study. However,

this research provides a stepping stone for analyzing and

enhancing the role of information technology in health

education.

13-b. Volunteering through the net: A social capital perspective



Summary: The paper examines volunteerism on the Internet or e-

volunteerism and civic participation on the Internet can

enhance social capital online. The paper examines the

formation of trust in the relationship between the e-volunteers

and their clients and the role that the recruiting agency in

facilitating that.

Abstract: The paper attempts to understand the role of social capital

in explaining motivation of volunteers who performs their

volunteer tasks, “in whole or in part, via the Internet and a

home or work computer” (Ellis and Cravens, 2000: 4). The

paper examines the alternative explanation to volunteer

motivation put forward by Robert Putnam (2000) a Harvard

political scientist, in the context of the computer-mediated

or e-volunteerism. Putnam has argued that motivation for

volunteerism generates from an intricate network of social

relationships embedded in norms of trust and reciprocity

that we call social capital. Putnam (2000) identified social

capital as the glue that holds communities together, at the

core of this proposition he argued that the extent of social

capital is dictated by how networks of individuals in a

community create conditions where people are inclined to do

things for one another (Putnam, 2000). Whitford and Yeats

(2002), further proposed, in their study of the Ombudsman

Program that recognizing social capital’s role in volunteerism

can help administrators in their search for more proximate

answers to the needs of such program. As the social capital

perspective is being used to explain volunteer motivation

in the conventional contexts of volunteerism, this paper

would examine whether the same perspective could be

used to explain motivation behind computer mediated or

12 - b. Enabling connectivity: Developing technical literacy through organizational and physical design as a means of promoting interdisciplinary higher education

Mr. Tarsem Singh Cooner, Associate Director,

The Centre of Excellence in Interdisciplinary Mental Health,

University of Birmingham, U.K.

Summary: This paper outlines an organizational and physical design at a

Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Birmingham

University, UK. The Centre aims to develop technical literacy

of academic staff and mental health service users/careers

to create ICT based materials that promote interdisciplinary

education collaboration between six University Schools.

Abstract: Interdisciplinary education requires that University

programmes are able to work together to produce graduates

who have an inter-professional view of the world. Cuban

(1999) argues that existing structures, cultures and processes

within higher education institutions prevent them from

effectively cultivating teaching partnerships that promote

interdisciplinary collaboration.

Employed appropriately, information and communication

technology (ICT) has the potential to overcome some of the

barriers that ‘traditional teaching’ methods have imposed

on interdisciplinary education by providing new ways of

connecting students, academics, service users and careers in

teaching and learning processes.

This paper outlines a design developed at an Interdisciplinary

Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning at the

University of Birmingham, UK. From its inception the Centre

adopted a model that aimed to provide academics and service

users and careers with the skills required to create e-learning

materials. The objectives are to create resources that are easily

shared and provide a diverse perspective about mental health

issues to an interdisciplinary audience.

This paper explores the approach developed by the Centre

to encourage technical literacy through its organisational

and physical design. The first focuses on the processes and

opportunities created through the existence of a Teaching

and Learning Fund. In particular the facility the fund provides

for discussion and looking beyond the traditional methods of

teaching by engaging in e-learning techniques. The second

examines the physical design of a 21st century learning space

that incorporates ICT at its very heart. The different areas are

introduced along with a rationale for the design, equipment

and explanation of how the spaces are used to promote

(model) teaching techniques that embrace at their core

effective use of ICT.

The lessons learned so far highlight issues relevant to the

development of technical literacy within the higher education

sector in the 21st Century.

Reference:

Cuban, L. (1999) How scholars trumped teachers. New York:

Teachers College Press.

12 - c. Enhancing student learning with case-based multimedia: The views of social work students in Scotland and Canada.

Dr. Alan Knowles, Instructor,

Grant MacEwan College, Canada

Mr. Neil Ballantyne, Learning Technology Manager,


Summary: This paper summarizes the results of a survey evaluating

students’ use of case-based learning in Scotland and Canada.

The results indicate strong support for the use of multimedia

case scenarios in social work education. The findings have

implications for development, reuse, sharing, and exchange of

digital learning resources.

Abstract: This paper summarizes the results of a survey evaluating

students’ views of case-based learning comparing learning

from traditional text-based case material with learning using

a web-based multimedia case scenario. The survey included

two cohorts of social work students from two different English

speaking countries: Scotland (N= 39) and Canada (N= 57).

Based on the principles of problem based, constructivist

and collaborative learning, students participated in learning

activities built into their respective courses. At the end of

the courses, students completed a structured survey form

including a series of statements using a five point Likert scale

to quantify their views of the different case types (text-based

and multimedia). Students in Canada also participated in

two focus groups that further explored their experiences,

including questions related to authenticity, real world learning,

relevance of the case scenario to their practice, sense of

immediacy and emotional reactions, and the design of the

case scenario. The results indicate strong support for the use

of multimedia case scenarios in social work education and

that students’ learning was enhanced compared to the use of

text-based case studies. A number of benefits, disadvantages

and recommendations were identified that will help guide

the future development, (re)use, and exchange of digitized

34 35

14 - b.

The impact on method and form of online communication in providing social support: Issues and applications


The Hospital for Sick Children,

Department of Social Work, Canada

Summary: Despite the proliferation of online applications and utilization

for health purposes, limited research has addressed the impact

of different methods of online presentation and delivery.

In this presentation, findings will be presented that address

the use of varying forms of technology-based social support

including: asynchronous text-based online communication,

online videoconferencing, real-time (synchronous) online

dialogue, and video telephone communication.

Abstract: The use of online technology for social support has

exponentially increased in recent decades. Clearly, online

capacities are emerging as convenient and accessible forums

for accessing support and information in managing health

care conditions. Innovations in health care applications have

emerged including the use of video-mediated online imaging

for social support; telehealth as a means of augmenting

intervention; and web-based networks for accessing health

issues and primary-level treatment information.

Despite the proliferation of online applications and utilization

for health purposes, limited research has addressed the

impact of different methods of online presentation and

delivery. A program of research has been advanced in which

social support via online technology has been examined for

differential impact of online presentation (e.g., web-based,

video-mediated, text-based, synchronous, asynchronous).

Specifically, studies evaluating varying technology-based

support initiatives among a variety of pediatric populations

have been conducted. Approaches and populations

addressed in considering these issues include technology-

based interventions for: fathers of children with spina bifida;

family caregivers of technology-assisted children; hospitalized

children and adolescents; and families geographically

separated due to child hospitalization needs.

In this presentation, findings will be presented that address

the use of varying forms of technology-based social support

including: asynchronous text-based online communication,

online videoconferencing, real-time (synchronous) online

dialogue, and video telephone communication. As an

example, the presentation will address considerations

specific to camera/video mediation and its impact on support

processes and outcomes for varying pediatric populations.

Theoretical considerations will be examined and exemplified

based on findings from specific studies. Impacts on pediatric

populations (including children and parents) will be

addressed. Implications and recommendations for research

and practice will be discussed including considerations in

choosing methods for delivering online support.

15 - a.

Empowerment of senior citizens via information and communication technology in a non-English speaking culture

Dr. John Fung, Research Associate & Honorary Lecturer,


Summary: This paper draws reference to two research studies, one

qualitative in nature and the other being quantitative, to

discuss the empowerment effect of senior citizens learning

and adoption information and communication technology.

Findings indicated that there were positive changes in three

areas namely self-efficacy; social awareness and life skills.

Abstract: Hong Kong has been staying on the top ranks of many

international ratings of information society. In the Digital

Opportunity Index announced by ITU in year 2005, Hong

Kong ranked second in the world, only after South Korea.

Yet the digital divide problem in Hong Kong is not less serious

than other countries. The ICT uptake rate of senior citizens,

for instance, was only 5%. That compared with the household

penetration rate of personal computers of around 71%, is

totally out of proportion.

Advanced medical technology is lengthening the retirement

period of senior citizens. Unless appropriate social

interventions were carried out to facilitate the informatisation

of the senior population, old people will be further

marginalized by the mainstream information society.

A qualitative research was completed in year 2004 locally

in Hong Kong regarding the empowerment effects amongst

senior citizens via the learning of personal computers.

Informants belonged to the first batch of participants of

systematic computer training programs organized by NGOs.

Some of them were users of the first senior citizens website

in Hong Kong. Findings indicated that there were quite some

major changes in their lifestyle as a result of using information

and communication technology. Empowerment in three

aspects, namely the increase of self-efficacy; the improvement

e-volunteerism. The paper would pay special attention to

examine the formation of trust in the relationship between the

e-volunteers and their clients and the role that the recruiting

agency plays in facilitating that. The study would draw its

findings from the information obtained through interviews of

the program managers and select volunteer participants from

three primary organizations that run e- volunteer programs,

namely, VolunteerWatch, United Nations Volunteer program

NetAid and Idealist.org.

13-c. Information technology as a tool for poverty alleviation

Lul Aden Ibrahim, Project Officer Development Concern

Charles Mbugua, Federation of Social Workers Africa, Kenya

Information technology (IT) has to a great extent cushioned

individuals and communities against the negative forces

of globalization and has therefore become a modern tool

for poverty reduction in many African countries. IT has

complimented education as a service and an essential

component for capacity building through human and social

capital development, and has great potential to bridge the

existing gaps in the delivery of human services. Several

factors, among them poverty in its various dimensions inhibit

the access and sharing of the IT benefits with the vulnerable

groups and communities. The paper argues that IT been

commoditized to the disadvantage of the developing countries

and Africa in particular, and at the expense of the vulnerable

groups who are the major recipients of social work service.

The presentation will demonstrate how in the African context

IT has contributed to key issues of social justice and holistic

development. Major challenges and constrains which need to

be addressed to ensure inclusive delivery of human services

will be outlined.

Parallel session 5

14 - a. Evaluation of an online peer support network for adolescents with chronic kidney disease (CKD)


The Hospital for Sick Children,

Department of Social Work, Canada

Summary: This presentation reports on the preliminary findings of a

multi-centre study evaluating an online peer network for

adolescents with end stage renal disease. The study explores:

(1) the effectiveness of an online network; (2) participants’

experiences and perceptions of the network; (3) the benefits/

limitations of online technology for peer interaction; and

(4) means by which adolescents convey support within this

online context.

Abstract: Peer networks are typically relied upon by adolescents and, in

some cases, become a source of, or a contributor to, identity

formation, a sense of ‘belonging’, and differentiation from

parents. For adolescents with end stage renal disease (ESRD),

peer interaction may be impeded due to decreased energy,

demands of care, and geographic dispersion. However,

internet technology or online applications have the potential

to offer a convenient and accessible forum for accessing social

support and information in managing health care conditions.

This presentation reports on the preliminary findings of a

multi-centre study (Toronto, Hamilton, and London, Ontario)

evaluating a 6 month online peer network for adolescents

with ESRD which sought to decrease social isolation and

illness intrusion in daily living and improve coping of

participants.

A sample of 24 (total) male and female adolescents between

11 and 18 years of age enrolled in the online network, and

were invited to read and post messages on the online support

network as desired.

Evaluation of the computer network is comprised of: (1) pre-

and post-intervention evaluation of variables in which social

support is expected to effect change; (2) post-intervention

qualitative interviews in which participants’ perceptions of

the network are sought; and (3) transcript analysis including

quantitative and qualitative analysis of online discussion.

This presentation will also address perceived benefits and

challenges/limitations of the online therapeutic group.

36 37

serve them. While generally more accessible in so-called

‘developed’ countries, recent data from the UN and other

sources continues to show expanding access in ‘developing’

economies to the Internet and its wide range of resources

through wired and wireless approaches. Several looks into

emerging technologies will also be included.

The presentation will cover technologies that: 1) facilitate

communication and support groups; 2) facilitate monitoring

of client status; and 3) support education and training efforts.

All of these serve to enhance connectedness among the key

people involved in the long term care of the aging.

16 - a. Process factors in online teaching: Using self-reflection and small group dialogue to enhancing learning about addiction issues

Wayne Skinner, Deputy Clinical Director,

Addictions Program, CAMH / University of Toronto, Canada

Marilyn Herie, Project Director,

TEACH Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Summary: Teaching online with large class sizes present considerable

challenges to the effective engagement of students in the

learning process. The intentional use of process strategies

that encourage self-reflection and dialogue will be explored.

Strategies, exercises and activities that enhance student

participant are described, and student feedback will be

presented.

Abstract: Teaching an online undergraduate course on Addictions in

Contemporary Society to up to 100 students gives rise to a

number of pedagogical challenges. In particular, how can

students be encouraged to explore the topic not just a formal

matter but as an issue that allows for personal reflection, self-

disclosure and respectful dialogue? This session will describe

the intentional use of dialogue groups as an inherent element

in the learning experience in a large course format. The goal

of the dialogue groups was to provide a way for encouraging

students to willingly reflect, share and discuss their attitudes,

values and beliefs about addictive behaviours, based on not

just observations of the broader social context and the course

materials, but on their own lived experience. Setting up small

groups proved to be a necessary, but in itself insufficient,

strategy. What was also essential was the use of particular

strategies, exercises and activities that evoked self-reflection

and respectful disclosure. The challenges and risks in this

approach will be described. Student feedback, both qualitative

and quantitative, about the learning experience will be

presented. Key question to be considered include: 1) how can

a learning context as impersonal as asynchronous online study

produce experiences that students evaluate as among the most

personally engaging and meaningful learning opportunities in

their tenure as university students? And 2) as class size grows,

how can online educators produce high levels of personal

engagement, motivation and inter-connectivity among

course participants, rather than being reduced to becoming

impersonal administrators of dispassionate and disengaged

instruction for an amorphous mass of students?

16 - b. A report on the development of a blended on-line collaborative learning community in a professional graduate school

Prof. Walter LaMendola, Director of Technology

Jean East, Associate Professor

Julie Anne Laser, Assistant Professor

University of Denver, U.S.A

Summary: This panel will present research findings related to

implementing a community of inquiry approach (Garrison,

Anderson & Archer, 2001) in the development of an on line

collaborative learning community. The research investigates

social, teaching, and cognitive presences as well as the

development of community in a professional graduate school.

Abstract: This panel will present research findings related to

implementing a community of inquiry approach (Garrison,

Anderson & Archer, 2001) in the development of an on line

collaborative learning community. The research investigates

social, teaching, and cognitive presences as well as the

development of community in a professional graduate school.

Social presence is defined as the degree to which students

can project themselves socially and affectively into a group

of learners and has been shown as critical for effective

learning. Teaching presence denotes the intentional design,

facilitation, and direction of the learning process, and has

been found to be critical to the development of critical and

creative thinkers and doers. Cognitive presence is the extent

to which students are able to construct and deeply understand

meaning through discourse, material exposure, and reflection

afforded by the community of inquiry. In effect then, the

three forms of presence combine in the community of inquiry

approach, which was developed to “explore how online

communication and discourse can facilitate higher order

thinking skills.” (Vaughan and Garrison, 2004) This research

investigates the extent to which an effective community of

in social awareness; and the enhancement of life skills was

recorded. It was also found that the internet had emerged

as one important tool for networking amongst retired senior

citizens.

In year 2007, a quantitative research was conducted following

the same theme of empowerment. The study took on a pre-

post tests questionnaire design to capture the changes of

life style in senior citizens after their participating in various

computer training courses for 4 months.

This paper will draw reference to those two research studies

and contribute insights in understanding systematically the

experience of senior citizens in their learning and adoption of

information and communication technology.

15 - b.

Reaching out to hidden seniors – the ICT ways

Dr. Chi-yee, Jolie Lam, Senior Research Assistant

Dr. Chi-kwong Law, Associate Professor

Dr. Yu-cheung Wong, Assistant Professor,

University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Dr. Yat-chu, John Fung, Director,

Information Technology Resource Centre Limited

Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Hong Kong

Summary: This is an exploratory study to identify socio-cultural factors,

which help promote usage of ICT of hidden seniors in Hong

Kong. Hong Kong government plays a key role in enforcing

strategies for building a digital inclusive and knowledge

inclusive society.

Abstract: Aging population is one of the challenges that Hong Kong

is facing these years. As Hong Kong government recently

proposed to increase welfare spending for the elderly, the

primal concern is finding effective measures to tackle the

issues that aging population will bring along. Specifically,

there are seniors who live alone; who may be in poor health

or with chronic illness (e.g. diabetes); who may have no

families and relatives to care for them; who are lacking a

social network, and so on. These elderly are identified as

“hidden seniors” by the Hong Kong society, and their needs

should not be neglected.

Previous literature has proven the positive impacts of the

adoption of information and communication technology (ICT)

to better the care of seniors’ health and to enrich their social

lives. An empirical study, which was released in Hong Kong

last year, reported that ICT adoption among elderly include

factors such as affordability, ICT skills, and availability of

ICT. Nonetheless, other socio-cultural factors of ICT adoption

among elderly in Hong Kong have not yet been explored. As

a result, a new research study is called for.

The objectives of this study are twofold: firstly, to identify

factors which hinder the continuing usage of ICT; for

example, the desirable content and applications of ICT for

elderly and their interest/disinterest in using ICT; secondly,

to provide recommendation to Hong Kong government in

formulating policies in promoting ICT adoption of elderly.

It is expected that the findings of this study could provide

valuable insights to other developing countries in coping with

the social issues of aging population. Besides, it is believed

that other disadvantaged groups (e.g. people with disability

or the “differentially-abled”) may share similar barricades in

using ICT. Therefore, this lesson learned report could serve as

a useful case study.

15 - c.

Using technology to connect the aging, their families, and their caregivers

Paul Freddolino, Professor and Coordinator of Distance

Education, Michigan State University, U.S.A.

Summary: Recent UN and other data show expanding access in

‘developing’ economies to the Internet and a wide range

of wired and wireless technologies. This presentation will

examine available and emerging tools to connect aging

populations, their families, and their caregivers, especially

when children leave rural areas for urban economic centers.

Abstract: Many societies face an aging population generally needing

more health and social services while adult children, the

traditional caregivers, move farther away to follow economic

opportunities. This pattern challenges traditional forms of

connectedness among family members. Similarly, if there are

local helpers in the communities of the aging, the movement

of children away from the area makes connections between

local helpers and family members more difficult.

At the same time, new information and communication

technologies (ICTs) provide more cost-effective access to

people in distant areas, with more interactivity and much

greater ease of use by people of all ages and abilities.

This presentation will review technology resources available

today for aging individuals, their family members, and

caregivers – both profession and nonprofessional -- who

38 39

Parallel session 6

18 - a. The Dutch national program for digital learning in social work education

Herman Van Lieshout, Senior Lecturer,

Fontys University of Professional Education, The Netherlands

Albert Visser, Senior Lecturer,

Hogeschool Utrecht, The Netherlands

Summary: This paper addresses the Dutch program on digital learning

in social work education. Schools of Social Work in the

Netherlands are cooperating in the development of case based

learning materials to be used in virtual learning environments.

A project on the use of wiki by students to produce learning

objects is presented as a case illustration.

Abstract: From September 2005 onward, six schools of social work in

the Netherlands are working together on the development of

digital learning materials for higher education in the domain

of social services. This cooperation is open to other Dutch

schools of social work as well; there are more than 20 of

them in the Netherlands. The cooperation is based on a

common analysis of the use of information technology both

in social work practice and in social work education. This

analysis - laid down in a so called Domain Plan Social Work

- is the frame of reference for all educational projects to be

undertaken in the consortium.

In our paper we go into the concept of domain directed

development of digital learning materials, its advantages and

risks, and we give an overview of the results from the projects

within the domain. In 2006, five projects were started: Virtual

City District; Experiments with Social Storytelling; From Social

Software to Reusable Learning Objects; Social Activities; Virtual

Home.

In our presentation we are going to show some results of

these projects, and we use the project on Reusable Learning

Objects as a case illustration. In this project students are

activity involved in delivering information objects by means

of wiki. Quality control is done by teachers who also may

advise to ‘freeze’ such an information object and store it in a

repository. Comparison will be made to the learning objects

development occurring now in Scotland (Neill Ballantyne).

For 2007 the main topic is implementation of the learning

materials into the curricula of the Dutch social work

education. We will describe the way in which we are

enhancing the use of these materials within the six partner

institutions. Special attention is asked for our partnership with

editors for the exploitation of the materials.

18 - b. The Canadian “Home Children”: a case study in the digitization of social work heritage material.


Ms. Ellen Daly, Knowledge and Information Assistant


Summary: The paper discusses the ‘virtualization’ of an existing social

work museum exhibition on the migration of “Home

Children” from Scotland to Canada in the late 19th Century;

and the digital preservation of historical assets held by

the contemporary social care organization involved in the

migration of the children.

Abstract: Social work and social welfare services in the developed

world have a rich, if relatively recent, history with origins in

the social upheavals associated with rapid industrialization

and urbanization during the eighteenth and nineteenth

centuries. There is a regular flow of scholarly work analysing

historical trends in the policies and practices of social welfare

agencies. Work that is written not only to track the past, but

to illuminate the socially constructed nature of contemporary

reality, and uncover changing discourses about the subjects

of social welfare: the poor, the underprivileged, and the

dispossessed.

In order to preserve and maintain the heritage of the past

we need ‘memory institutions’ - like libraries, archives and

museums - to collect social welfare content; and digital

technologies to preserve and re-present the material. This

paper is a case study in the digitization of social work

heritage material and the virtualization of an existing museum

exhibition created by a Scottish Museum of Social Work.

It explores how digital preservation can help safeguard

the heritage of social welfare organizations for the social

researchers and educators of the future; and demonstrates

how digital media can add rich new dimensions to the

presentation of the historical narrative. The project involved

the ‘virtualization’ of an existing social work museum

exhibition on the migration of “Home Children” from Scotland

to Canada in the late 19th Century; and the preservation of

historical assets held in the archives of a contemporary social

care organisation involved in the migration of the children.

The purpose of the project was: to provide public access to

the historical assets for research and education; to preserve

the historical assets before they were damaged any further

by prolonged and inadequate storage conditions; and to

repurpose the exhibition material to retell the story of

Victorian child migration with new digital media.

inquiry binds learners, teachers, and the profession together

through shared values, ideals, and goals even as the students

move into professional practice. Following Heckman and

Annabi (2006), we hope to “…uncover principles that might

be useful in developing a continuous, voluntary, online

learning community…”(p. 52) that will involve practitioners

beyond their university experience. The conceptual model

will be presented and discussed by the panel. The faculty

development community of inquiry results will be presented.

16 - c Using Web 2.0 to enhance global competence in social work education

Dr. Goutham M. Menon, Associate Professor,

University of Texas at San Antonio

Summary: The emergence of Web 2.0 potentially has large implications

on how the professions shares resources, concepts, and

practice information amongst itself. This paper will help

define Web 2.0 and will provide a detailed road map for the

development of a common language of practice and research

for the social work profession.

Abstract: Brustein (2006) defines “Global competence” as having

the ability not only to contribute to knowledge but also to

comprehend, analyze and evaluate its meaning in the context

of an increasingly globalized world and then to add the

skills that form the foundation of global competence. They

include the ability to work effectively in international settings;

aware-ness and adaptability to diverse cultures, perceptions

and approaches; familiarity with the major currents of

global change, and effective communication across cultural

boundaries. In the world professional social work, the need

for such a conceptualization cannot be further than the truth.

One promising technology and concept that can provide a

platform for all professions to contribute to the development

of knowledge and experiences has been Web 2.0. The

emergence of Web 2.0 potentially has large implications on

how the professions shares resources, concepts, and practice

information amongst itself. One of the key concepts of Web

2.0 is the importance of harnessing collective intelligence.

Another evolutionary facet of Web 2.0 is the concept that

the knowledge base gets refined and better as it places the

ownership on the community to grow within itself, and share

those experiences with others. It also gives users the sense of

value and participation which encourages a greater degree of

participation and the development of practice wisdom.

This paper will help define Web 2.0 and will provide a

detailed road map for the development of a common

language of practice and research for the social work

profession.

17. Social work for the i-world: Integrating technology, global/cultural contexts, and evidence-based/informed practice to meet contemporary challenges

Presenters:

Wally Gingerich, Professor of Social Work,

Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences,

Case Western Reserve


University of Texas-Arlington School of Social Work

Yuhwa Eva Lu, Associate Professor,


Tazuko Shibusawa, Associate Professor,


Moderator:

Suzanne England, Dean and Professor,


This session is designed to foster the opening of a conceptual

and conversational space to explore the merging of four

important developments in contemporary social work:

■ Critical reasoning and evidence-based/informed practice

(EB/IP)

■ Information and communications technologies (ICT).

■ Pedagogy or teaching/learning and the assessment of

teaching outcomes

■ Cultural context and global access to information/

knowledge.

Follow-up Discussion and luncheon

A follow-up luncheon is planned (12:00-1:00 p.m.) for those

who wish to further explore the topics discussed at the Panel.

Seating is limited & requires advance registration.

40 41

19 - b. Evaluation of virtual reality exposure training for agoraphobia treatment

Dr. Georgina Cardenas-Lopez

Carmen Ramos

Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico

Abstract: The mental health services, as well as other fields, are

benefiting from vigorous advances of information and

communication technologies. Last decade, innovative

applications of treatment systems based on virtual reality

technologies have been published in literature pertaining to

the field of psychology. The literature on the field, describes

the results derived to these systems are promising on the

treatment of posttraumatic stress, anxiety and fears and

obsessive compulsive disorders. This paper describes a

project that is carrying out by the Virtual Teaching Laboratory

of the School of Psychology in collaboration with the IXTLI

Virtual Reality Visualization Observatory of the National

Autonomous University of Mexico, that has two objectives:

first, to provide and evaluate educational sessions, address to

university students in the mental health area, in order to teach:

patient’s symptoms, the use of virtual reality technologies

for agoraphobia exposure treatment, advantages and

disadvantages of this treatment innovative modality. Second,

to develop and evaluate these virtual reality models for clinical

use in the treatment of phobias and anxiety disorders. Initial

outcomes from the teaching sessions’ evaluation will be

describe and include the estimation of presence level of these

virtual scenarios and the user satisfaction related to the use

of virtual reality technologies for educational goals. . In this

sense, it is assured that new angles will continue to emerge to

fortify these systems, making them simpler and counting with

more varied applications to different mental health problems.

Keywords: Agoraphobia, treatment, VR exposure, higher

education, presence measure.

19 - c. Advancing digital equality: A human service obligation

Dr. Elizabeth DePoy, Professor

Dr. Stephen Gilson, Professor

University of Maine, U.S.A.

Summary: This presentation critically reviews universal approaches

to expanding web access to previously underserved user

populations, briefly summarizes a needs assessment, and

discusses the application of universal principles to advancing

access to electronic information as a civil right for all people.

We conclude with applications for human service practice.

Abstract: Digital equality, defined as equivalent access to electronic

information, has been identified as a major civil right of the

21st century (Kamara, 2004, Pinkett, 2005). Yet, numerous

population categories of atypical users, including people

with disabilities, low literacy users, and more recently elders

with limited computer proficiency, continue to experience

limited or no access to this resource, creating serious negative

consequences for their participation in community, health and

wellness, recreational, economic, social, and civic activity. In

response to this disparity, much attention has been devoted

to narrowing and eliminating digital inequality. However,

despite the progress and development aimed at increasing

electronic information literacy for atypical users it is evident

from the human computer interface (HCI) and related

literature that access solutions structured according to

principles of retrofitting, accommodation or adaptation,

although well intended, fall short in advancing equality

(Schneiderman, 2002). The application of universal principles

to information technology holds the promise of expanding

information literacy to all people, yet, only recently has it

appeared in the literature (Stephanidis, 2001) and thus is

still in its infancy. In this presentation, we critically review

universal approaches to expanding web access to previously

underserved user populations, briefly summarize a needs

assessment, and discuss the application of universal principles

to advancing access to electronic information as a civil right

for all people. We conclude with applications for human

service practice.

18 - c. Ensuring the discoverability of digital images for social work education: An online “tagging” survey to test controlled vocabularies

Ms. Ellen Daly, Knowledge & Information Assistant



Summary: This paper reports on the findings of research designed to

test the suitability of two controlled vocabularies to source

keywords and ensure the discoverability of images collected

in a national digital image bank repository for social work

education.

Abstract: This paper reports on the findings of research designed to

test the suitability of two controlled vocabularies to source

keywords and ensure the discoverability of images collected

in a national digital image bank repository. This image

bank forms part of The Learning Exchange, the world’s first

interactive library – or digital repository - of learning resources

for social work education. The content includes interactive

games, video clips, case studies, official publications and

radio broadcasts and may be used for non-commercial,

educational purposes. This rich variety of content enables an

active community of educators to develop and disseminate

high quality learning materials. Each resource inside the

Learning Exchange has a detailed catalogue record. Due to the

subjective nature of images, this research was conducted to

inform the cataloguing process used to describe each image.

An online survey was designed requiring respondents to

“tag” sequentially a series of 30 images with up to three key

words or phrases per image. The 30 images were selected

to be representative of the types of image to be stored and

catalogued inside the image bank repository. An invitation

to take part in the survey was distributed on two UK social

work education mailing lists: 191 individuals took part in

the survey generating 3975 individual tags. At the end of the

survey period, responses were analysed and mapped against

the two controlled vocabularies to ascertain the percentage of

responses appearing on either or both of the vocabularies.

Whilst a significant proportion of the words and phrases

used by respondents could be mapped to terms (or their

equivalents) in the controlled vocabularies, many could

not. The implications of these findings for cataloguing and

discovering content are discussed in the context of a wider

review of the literature on “folksonomies” (or free tagging)

versus taxonomies and controlled vocabularies.

19 - a. Game theory application in home for elderly of Hong Kong drug management, medical history, petty cash management

Mr. Kim Nam, Keith Tsoi, Managing Director,

KTC Keith Tsoi Chinese Computer Centre, Hong Kong

Summary: Our service reserves diversification of the NGOs to promote

adaptability and flexibility. KTC also fosters the benefits and

economic cooperation in software development. We focus on

staff training to further develop for the future, which keeps

their uniqueness and diversity.

Abstract: KTC develops software system for the social service units to

promote high standard of service quality. We provide one-stop

solution for software development, user training, hardware

purchasing, support and maintenance. We are so eager

to share our experience, including success and failure, to

promote future cooperation.

Different NGOs, different in philosophy and administrative

resources, have a different working approach, which

constitute greater adaptability and productivity. Therefore,

the government has been encouraging the same service in

different areas of cooperation and competition. In Hong Kong,

Home for Elderly Service is provided by different NGOs and

private services sectors.

In the process of IT application in Home for the Elderly,

KTC provides computer software, with particular focus

on residential drug management computer system,

medical history management recording system, resident’s

miscellaneous payment system. We serve a combination of

characteristics in the common point of different Organizations

or Units, while retaining autonomy for more than 30 agencies

and 80 units. In the past five years, we have been providing

computer services. Started from zero to professional level, we

have also experienced a number of versions upgrade to meet

the government’s licensing requirements.

According to our experience in IT application in Homes for

Elderly & Elderly Service, we play the role of social worker,

helping people to help themselves. We develop the ability of

staff to develop their own database system, involved in data

analysis and reporting their success to the public.

Keith Tsoi, founder of the Center is a registered social worker.

Years of service targets including government departments,

social service agencies, the private sectors.

It is really a big challenge to develop software for social

service agencies and to sustain the diversity. We believe that

staff empowerment is essential for the future development.

42 43

20 - c. Health literacy & well-being body systems program

Mrs. Taunya Wright, Registered Nurse BSN

Dr. Michael Wright, Owner

MAWMedia Group, U.S.A.

Summary: When medical professionals come into contact with

clients, they typically give a speech about personal health

management, hand the client a sheet of instructions, and send

them on their way. Heart Knowledge I is a CDROM training

for clients that engages them toward healthy lifestyle choices.

Abstract: Heart Knowledge I is the first of the Health Literacy & Well-

being body systems program. This educational project was

developed and designed to promote knowledge about

diseases and preventative measures to bring about an

awareness and responsibility for personal health. The product

is an interactive CDROM built in a cross-OS language. It

can be viewed in its own player or via a web browser.

Users become familiar with disease processes and medical

terminology. The material is explained with words, pictures,

sounds, graphs, and animation to make learning fun and

interesting. Heart Knowledge I focuses on coronary artery

disease and myocardial infarction. Myocardial infarction is

one of the leading causes of death in the US according to

the American Heart Association. The goal of this project is to

make important information about personal health available

in a form that is appealing to users. The material can be used

as a review tool for hospitals and their clients. It has potential

to be a great addition to discharge teaching prior to clients

leaving the hospital. It can also be used as a study companion

or assessment tool for those studying a medical profession

like nursing or emergency response. We plan to distribute

the product to walk-in clinics, wellness centers, hospitals

as well as nursing schools, and corporate human resource

departments. The material is organized into modules enabling

a “just-in-time” approach to learning. This means that users

can go directly to information that interests them improving

the learning experience. It is our goal to educate all adults

concerning the great benefit of personal health awareness and

management. This product series provides an essential tool

toward that goal, knowledge.

21 - a. Internet-based health information use by persons aged 50 and older: An exploration of process, meaning, and experience

Ms. Karen Zgoda, Doctoral Student, Boston College, U.S.A.

Summary: This poster presentation will describe a study conducted using

email-based interviews to examine how adults aged 50 and

older used the Internet to collect health information.

Abstract: In the United States the older adult population is rapidly

increasing, with 7,918 persons turning age 50 each day at the

rate of 330 each hour (U.S. Census, 2006). In Massachusetts

alone there are 1.8 million Baby Boomers, comprising roughly

28% of our total population (Kahn, 2005). At the same

time, more and more health information, on topics such as

Medicare, Prescription Advantage, prescription medications

and specific medical conditions, is increasingly available from

the Internet. Such information is disseminated more frequently

on the Internet as even television advertisements for the

AARP frequently list a web site in lieu of a phone number.

As a result of this increase, the older population will need

to become savvy consumers of online health information

to leverage resources for their care. This paper presentation

will describe a qualitative study with 5 adults aged 50 and

older examining how they used the Internet to collect health

information. The study took place via email-based interviews.

Thematic analysis was used to construct themes around

such topics as type of health information, the importance

of information, the role of the Internet in gathering this

information, and for whom the information is collected (self,

spouse, friend, etc.). Implications for future research, practice,

and cross-cultural comparisons will be discussed.

Parallel session 7

20 - a. Administering psychological tests in the 21st century: Leveraging the power of the internet

Hazel Wheldon, Vice-President, Clinical and Education

Division

Rick Walrond, Manager, Programming,

Multi Health Systems Inc., Canada

Summary: This session is intended to demonstrate how those involved

in the administration and scoring of psychological tests can

utilize the power of the internet to improve the efficiency

and efficacy of the testing process. Features and benefits of

internet testing, scoring and database management will be

highlighted and issues around security and privacy will be

addressed.

Abstract: Exploring and utilizing cutting edge technologies in the

administration, scoring and interpretation of psychological

tests lags far behind the leveraging of technology in other

areas both within and outside the field of clinical psychology.

Concerns regarding security, privacy and efficacy of

administering psychological tests online have prevailed over

the practical benefits that the internet can offer. Internet test

delivery is particularly attractive to clinicians who want to have

their clients complete assessments prior to the first visit or are

looking for multiple informants (such as parents and teachers)

or multiple assessments. It also allows for fast and efficient

scoring, database management, tracking of assessment results

and effective treatment monitoring. In this demonstration we

offer several options for internet test delivery that will benefit

the client, the test administrator and the organization. Issues of

security, privacy, reporting and interpreting are addressed.

20 - b. Healthy adjustment in the post-partum year (happy): For mothers and supportive others

Ann-Marie Dawes, MSW Student, Andrews University, U.S.A. Dr. Michael Wright, Owner, MAWMedia Group, U.S.A.

Summary: Healthy Adjustment in the Post-Partum Year or (H.A.P.P.Y.) is an interactive CDROM recognizing that childbirth is both wonderful and significant. The CDROM combined with a community intervention seeks to educate society that all women have some level of post-partum reaction. Therefore, pathologizing may not be appropriate to a complete solution.

Abstract: Family contexts, cultural expectations, support system, and a host of other factors determine the range of post-partum reactions. HAPPY is an interactive CDROM intended to provide information and skills both to the mother and her supportive others, to promote positive coping factors and arrest negative coping conditions. Combined with a community intervention plan, the HAPPY project can potentially shed light on what is commonly called Post-partum Depression.

The range of postpartum reactions extends between an intense fatigue or brief crying bout through to a prolonged ahedonia or depression. Benvenuti, Valoriani, and Vanni (2006) that the depressive end of the range is a continuum including maternity blues, minor depression and major depression. Even if postpartum reactions do not reach the degree of depression, the coping and healthy environment factors described in HAPPY are a potential benefit to all mothers and supportive others.

Post-partum reactions are experienced by women in every society and from every socioeconomic background. Most assessments of post-partum reactions center on Post-Partum Depression and usually measure depressive symptoms. This focus does not account for the risk factors for PPD and post-partum reactions more generally (Halbreich & Karkun, 2006).

Many women do not recognize the need for help or neglect to seek help. Women who do recognize an intense and persistent unhealthy reaction resist communicating the feeling due to shame or fear of having their children taken (Buist, Ross & Steiner, 2006). In the United States, some 15-20% of women may experience Post-Partum Depression (PPD). Recent research revealed 400,000 cases of PPD per year. This number does not include many cases that are unreported due to lack of education, awareness, and the perceived stigma of

the “perfect mother” (Truant, 2005).

44 45

active, even if user numbers are greatly dependent on

marketing efforts and media coverage.

Promille programs are distributed also though Prevnet EU

network. The Prague treatment centre Sananim started a

similar service with minor modification in Czech Republic in

2005.”Promile sms” has been a great success also in Czech.

More information:

Peltoniemi, Teuvo: Experiences and perspectives in using

telematic prevention on sensitive health issues. In: Latifi (ed.):

Establishing telemedicine in developing countries. IOS Press.

Amsterdam 2004.

Kubu, Pavel & Peltoniemi, Teuvo & Trnka, Pavel:

Localization of SMS tool for alcohol abuse prevention.

10th World Congress Internet in Medicine, Prague, Czech

Republic, 4-7 December 2005.

www.promile.fi - www.promilesms.fi - www.prevnet.net

22 - a. An evaluation of two virtual learning environments to develop listening skills

Mr. Eric Youn, Assistant Professor,


Mr. Juan Enrique Huerta Wong, PhD Student,

Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Mexico



Summary: An English and Spanish version of a multimedia virtual

learning environments for teaching clinical listening skills were

built. One was tested in Texas using social work students; the

other in Mexico using psychology students. Preliminary results

on the effectiveness of both to teach listening skills will be

reported.

Abstract: Virtual environments for learning (VELs) are computer

and Internet-based system that facilitates the management

and delivery of educational content for instructors and

learners (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Managed_learning_

environment). This proposal presents two multimedia

virtual learning environments that assessed the potential

of developing clinical listening skills in Social Work and

Psychology students. The VELs were based in Kolb’s

experiential learning theory and constructivism. One learning

environment was built in English; the other one in Spanish.

One was tested in Texas, the other in Mexico. Preliminary

results on the effectiveness of both VELs to teach listening

skills will be reported.

22 - b. The internet virtual video classroom: Description, features, and applications





Dr. Andrew Quinn, Assistant Professor,

University of North Dakota, U.S.A.

Summary: This presentation focuses on the use of the Internet

virtual video classroom to deliver educational content

on-line. Descriptions of the technology, along with live

demonstrations, will be used to illustrate how the Internet

Virtual Video Classroom can be used to educate students

world wide.

Abstract: Two-way Internet video is one of the most important

educational medium in recent years because the instructor can

use traditional face-to-face teaching methods in place of, or

addition to, asynchronous deliveries such as audio and video

tapes or CD/DVD, discussion forums, and email. Commercial

distance education applications expand Internet video by

including features such as shared whiteboards, documents,

presentations, instant polling, text chat, and sidebar chat.

These features, in concert with two-way video, are forming

the foundation of an Internet virtual video classroom (IVVC)

that can mimic not only the traditional face-to-face classroom

but also today’s technology enhanced classrooms. This

presentation will illustrate IVVC features with two presenters

at HUSITA8 and one presenter at a distance using the IVVC,

Macromedia Breeze. Key activities of an IVVC such as

instructor-student/student-to-student communications, sharing

of documents, classroom discussion, student presentations,

and group oriented work will be demonstrated. The authors

will highlight the discussion of the IVVC using their online

teaching experiences using packages such as Breeze,

Elluminate, Webex, and Paltalk. A focus of the presentation is

on how this technology can be utilized in remote areas where

traditional distance education technology (i.e. Interactive TV,

video-conferencing, satellites) may not exist. The authors

will share their IVVC experiences with populations living

in remote areas limited by weather and distance as well as

island communities limited by transportation access and

ocean barriers. Implications for utilizing the IVVC will also be

discussed particularly on how this technology can be used

for distance education with hard-to-reach populations due to

culture (written English), geography, and distance education

technology access.

21 - b.

Global eHealth innovation through tobacco control

Prof. Peter Selby, Clinical Director, Addictions Program,


Dr. Scott McIntosh, Assistant Professor,

University of Rochester, U.S.A.

Dr. Cameron Norman, Assistant Professor,


Dr. Beth Bock, Associate Professor, Brown Medical School

Summary: The WATI Initiative will hold a workshop on the use of

technology to send health promotion messages and to help

smokers quit and stay quit. This workshop will provide an

opportunity to network and exchange knowledge about

WATI initiatives and to build capacity for technology-enabled

tobacco control.

Abstract: The Web-Assisted Tobacco Interventions (WATI) Initiative

will hold a workshop on the use of technology to send

health promotion messages and to aid smoking cessation,

prevention and training. This emerging area of research and

practice has been called Web-Assisted Tobacco Interventions.

A challenge for WATI is creating shared frameworks for

knowledge translation within a new and rapidly growing field

where those creating the knowledge are physically located

all around the globe. This workshop will provide a venue

for practitioners, researchers, policy makers and funders

within the area of human services to network and exchange

knowledge, learn from past WATI activities, build capacity for

technology-enabled health promotion. This workshop will

highlight:

■ evidence for WATI;

■ lessons learned from past activities;

■ introduction to the WATI global community

of practice project;

■ profiles of:

◆ WATI’s that have been built on sound health behaviour

change theory that move beyond providing information

and raising awareness to fostering skill development, self-

determination, increasing behavioural intentions to change

and to action itself; and

◆ WATI and other widely used technologies (i.e., gaming,

simulations, SMS alerting).

By bringing together experts from different countries,

disciplines and interests related to WATI, the workshop

has the potential to create a lasting network of knowledge

exchange and collaboration that can further advance tobacco

control and eHealth capacity. Presenters will include:

■ P. Selby will introduce the topic and provide a brief history

of the WATI world;

■ C. Norman will review of the underlying theories behind

WATI and the WATI Community of Practice Initiative;

■ S. McIntosh will discuss lessons learned from WATI and

how these lessons can be transferred to the tobacco

control community at large; and B. Bock will provide an

overview of the world wide WATI and what goes into

evaluating the quality of smoking treatment websites.

21 - c. Promille SMS service helps people to control excessive alcohol use



Summary: SMS Promille is text message based cell phone application

used in Finland since 2000. It helps to estimate blood alcohol

level for controlling drinking or keeping under legal driving

limit. Czech Republic operates kindred solution. A new

extensive SMS service based on peer support and professional

counselling is in production.

Abstract: Promille SMS cell phone text message service provides

a handy way to measure blood alcohol contents. It is

theoretically based on cognitive therapy, which supports small

steps monitoring of one’s behaviour and giving practical tips

how to keep the control. Promille SMS advises whether one is

legally able to drive a car. It also supports one for controlling

alcohol use, when one decides to never drink over a certain

BAC.

One reason behind the success of the Promille SMS is

probably its character as socially invisible tool. People send

and receive text messages a lot, when in drinking company

with no one paying any attention to that process.

Technically Promille SMS is a distance calculator. The user

sends info about gender, weight, starting time of drinking and

the number of drinks consumed. In Finland the unit term has

been described in the marketing leaflets of Promille and in

Internet. There are also two other versions of Promille: a java

program that runs independently in the phone itself and the

Internet version, which can be used in those newer phones

which have a web surfing connectivity.

The author developed Promille SMS at the A-Clinic

Foundation. The program was launched in 2000. The Finnish

Slot Machine Association and the Prevnet EU activities

financed the development work. The use has been very

46 47

22 - c. Utilizing multimedia and web-based technologies for teaching about issues of diversity and racism



Dr. Michael Berghoef, Associate Professor of Social Work,

Ferris State University, U.S.A.

Summary: This presentation focuses on the use of multimedia and Web-

based technologies to deliver educational content regarding

issues of diversity and racism. Descriptions of the technology,

along with live demonstrations, will be used to illustrate how

these technologies can be used to support students’ critical

thinking skills on diversity and racism.

Abstract: This workshop will focus on how two educators utilized

multimedia and Web-based technologies in their courses

to support students’ critical thinking skills on diversity

and racism issues. Descriptions of the technology and live

demonstrations of the teaching and learning activities will be

used to train participants on how these technologies can be

used to teach about diversity and racism. The first example

will focus on classroom strategies utilizing the multifaceted Jim

Crow Museum learning lab to equip students to understand

and confront historical and current racism. Selected artifacts

from the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia will be

displayed, the online virtual version of the museum (www.

ferris.edu/jimcrow) will be demonstrated, and clips from the

award-winning documentary “Jim Crow’s Museum” will be

shown. Thought provoking exercises will be demonstrated

that deepen awareness of the roots and persistence of racial

caricatures and stereotypes in modern culture with the goals

of equipping students with tools to become positive and

assertive leaders in race relations.

The second example presented is an initiative focused

on the indigenization of a social work curriculum for a

new distance education program option developed for an

indigenous population. Given the unique cultural heritage of

this population, this initiative included teaching and learning

activities that focused on researching and understanding

Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander diversity issues.

Students in the course developed projects in class that utilized

digital media arts technology applications (i.e. use of video,

movie-making with I-Movie, streaming video/audio on the

web, and/or pod casting) to convey their research findings on

diversity issues. These projects were disseminated on a public

website that will be demonstrated in the presentation. The

presenters will discuss how the creation of long-term scholarly

and instructional projects that use multimedia and Web-based

technologies can enhance communication and exchange on

understanding diversity and racism issues.

Duane, Counsellor, Kids Help Phone, 1 - 2a Web counseling interventions for youth involved in cyber-bullying 17

Alvarez, Ann Rosegrant; Director of Distance Education, University of Hawaii at Manoa, U.S.A. 2 - 5a The Road to Hana: Going the Distance to Deliver Social Work Education to Remote, Underserved and Culturally Diverse Populations 21

Alvarez, Richard; Chief Operating Officer Data, Systems International, Inc., U.S.A. 4 - 11b ClientTrack: Overcoming the barriers to diversity and collaboration through an innovative web-based application for human social services providers 32

Angelo, Jeffery; President, Morning Sun Software Development, Canada. 4 - 11a Morning Sun Standards Manager for accreditation 31

Ballantyne, Neil; Learning Technology Manager, Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education, U.K. 4 - 12c Enhancing student learning with case-based multimedia: 34 The views of social work students in Scotland and Canada 6 - 18b The Canadian “Home Children”: A case study in the digitization of social sork heritage material 41 6 - 18c Ensuring the discoverability of digital images for social work education: An online “Tagging” survey to test controlled vocabularies 42

Barcy, William; Visiting Scholar, University of Michigan, U.S.A. 3 - 8a Computer self-efficacy and computer anxiety in a hospital social work and nursing case management department 26

Berghoef, Michael; Associate Professor of Social Work, Ferris State University, U.S.A. 7 - 22c Utilizing multimedia and web-based technologies for teaching about issues of diversity and racism 48

Bingel, Brian; President, Data Systems International, Inc., U.S.A. 4 - 11b ClientTrack: Overcoming the barriers to diversity and collaboration through an innovative web-based application for human social services providers 32

Bock, Beth; Associate Professor, Brown Medical School 7 - 21b Global eHealth innovation through tobacco control 46

Bredl, Klaus; Professor, University of Applied Sciences Neubrandenburg, Germany Poster 102 Knowledge management with Web 2.0 applications in human services 20

Buterin, Dmitry; Chief Apricot, Wild Apricot, Canada 4 - 11c Impact of online technology on the nonprofit sector 32

Cardenas-Lopez, Georgina Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico 4 - 10b E-Therapy: An alternative to FTF psychotherapy 30 6 - 19b Evaluation of virtual reality exposure training for agoraphobia treatment 43

Coe Regan, Jo Ann; Assistant Professor-Distance Education Program, University of Hawaii at Manoa, U.S.A. 7 - 22c Utilizing multimedia and web-based technologies for teaching about issues of diversity and racism 48

Cooner, Tarsem Singh; Associate Director The Centre of Excellence in Interdisciplinary Mental Health, University of Birmingham, U.K. 4 - 12b Enabling connectivity: Developing technical literacy through organisational and physical design as a means of promoting interdisciplinary higher education 34

Daly, Ellen; Knowledge and Information Assistant Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education, U.K. 6 - 18b The Canadian “Home Children”: A case study in the digitization of social sork heritage material 41 6 - 18c Ensuring the discoverability of digital images for social work education: An online “Tagging” survey to test controlled vocabularies 42

Dawes, Ann-Marie; MSW Student, Andrews University, U.S.A. 7 - 20b Healthy adjustment in the post-partum year (happy): for mothers and supportive others 44

DePoy, Elizabeth; Professor, University of Maine, U.S.A. 6 - 19c Advancing digital equality: A human service obligation 43

East, Jean; Associate Professor, University of Denver, U.S.A. 5 - 16b A report on the development of a blended on-line collaborative learning community in a professional graduate school 39

England, Suzanne; Dean and Professor New York University School of Social Work, U.S.A. 5 - 17 Social work for the i-world: Integrating technology, global/cultural contexts, and evidence-based/informed practice to meet contemporary challenges 40

Ernst, Kelly; President & CEO Canadian Outcomes Research Institute, Canada 4 - 12a Using organizational outcome monitoring within multi-agency and funder networks 33

Farvolden, Peter, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 1 - 3a Promoting access to, engagement with, and efficacy of the treatment of mental health and addiction problems with web-based disease management programs 18

Fitch, Dale; Assistant Professor, University of Michigan, U.S.A. 2 - 5c Methodological considerations integrating disparate human services information systems 22

Flores, Lorene Alejandra Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico 4 - 10b E-Therapy: An alternative to FTF psychotherapy 30

Freddolino, Paul; Professor and Coordinator of Distance Education Michigan State University, U.S.A. 5 - 15c Using technology to connect the aging, their families, and their caregivers 38

Fung, Yat-chu, John; Director, ITRC, HKCSS Research Associate & Honorary Lecturer, University of Hong Kong, Director, Hong Kong Council of Social Service 2 - 6c Perpetuating old exclusions and producing new ones - digital exclusions in information society 24 5 - 15a Empowerment of senior citizens via information and communication technology in a non-English speaking culture 37 5 - 15b Reaching out to hidden seniors - the ICT ways 38

George, Miriam; Social Worker Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada 4 - 13a Information technology and health education 35

Gillespie, Paul; Cybercrime Director-in-Residence University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Canada Keynote - Aug.27, Child exploitation on the internet 8

Gilson, Stephen; Professor, University of Maine, U.S.A. 6 - 19c Advancing digital equality: A human service obligation 43

Gingerich, Wally; Professor of Social Work Mandel School of Applied Social Services, U.S.A. 5 - 17 Social work for the i-world: Integrating technology, global/cultural contexts, and evidence-based/informed practice to meet contemporary challenges 40

Herie, Marilyn; Project Director, TEACH Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 5 - 16a Process factors in online teaching: Using self-reflection and small group dialogue to enhance learning about addiction issues 39

Ho Lai-shan; Research Assistant The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 3 - 8c Pattern change in IT use of children from lower-income families after gaining home access 27

INDEX OF PRESENTERS

48 49

Huerta Wong, Juan Enrique; PhD Student Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Mexico 7 - 22a An evaluation of two virtual learning environments to develop listening skills 47

Ibrahim, Lul Aden; Project Officer, Development Concerns, Kenya 4 - 13c Information technology as a tool for poverty alleviation 36

Knauer, Josh; Director of Advanced Development MAYA Design, Inc., U.S.A. 3 - 9c Creating an information commons: Sharing knowledge to connect administrators, professionals and participants 29

Knowles, Alan; Instructor, Grant MacEwan College, Canada 4 - 12c Enhancing student learning with case-based multimedia: The views of social work students in Scotland and Canada 34

Krysik, Judy; Associate Professor, Arizona State University, U.S.A. 3 - 7a A first look at persuasive technologies in the human services 24

Lam, Chi-yee, Jolie; Senior Research Assistant University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 2 - 6c Perpetuating old exclusions and producing new ones - digital exclusions in information society 24 5 - 15b Reaching Out to Hidden Seniors - the ICT ways 38

LaMendola, Walter; Director of Technology, University of Denver, U.S.A. 3 - 7a A first look at persuasive technologies in the human services 24 5 - 16b A report on the development of a blended on-line collaborative learning community in a professional graduate school 39

Laser, Julie Anne; Assistant Professor, University of Denver, U.S.A. 5 - 16b A report on the development of a blended on-line collaborative learning community in a professional graduate school 39

Law, Chi-kwong; Associate Professor University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 2 - 6b The impact of access to personal computer at home on the children’s learning capacity, civic participation, social relationship and parent-child relationship 23 2 - 6c Perpetuating old exclusions and producing new ones - digital exclusions in information society 24 5 - 15b Reaching out to hidden seniors - the ICT ways 38

Lewis, Jeanette; Executive Director Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies, Canada 2 - 4a Technologies empowering Ontario’s child welfare system 20

Ley, Thomas; Research Fellow, Bielefeld University, Germany 1 - 1c Technologies of care or rather care of technologies 17

Lu Yuhwa Eva, Associate Professor New York University School of Social Work, U.S.A. 5 - 17a Social work for the i-world: Integrating technology, global/cultural contexts, and evidence-based/informed practice to meet contemporary challenges 40

Ma, Timothy; Executive Director, Senior Citizen Home Safety Association, Hong Kong 2 - 6a Linking elderly to holistic care services through integrated communication technology 23

MacEachern, Robyn, Ontario Provincial Police 1 - 2b Cybercops 17

MacFadden, Robert; Professor Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto 1 - 2c Keeping up: Adapting child internet safety strategies to changes in technology 17

Mbugua, Charles, Federation of Social Workers Africa, Kenya 4 - 13c Information technology as a tool for poverty alleviation 36

McIntosh, Scott; Assistant Professor, University of Rochester, U.S.A. 7 - 21b Global eHealth innovation through tobacco control 46

McLean, Patrick; Vice-President of Marketing Consumer Internet Services, Bell Canada Keynote - Aug.26 8

Meek, Harriet; Assistant Professor, New Mexico State University, U.S.A. 3 - 9b A social work wiki? Increasing the evidence base and engaging practioners in the production of research 28 Poster 101 A social work wiki? Increasing the evidence base and engaging practioners in the production of research 19

Menon, Goutham M.; Associate Professor University of Texas at San Antonio, U.S.A. 5 - 16c Using Web 2.0 to enhance global competence in social work education 40

Mitchell, Dan; Director, World Wide Therapy Online Inc., Canada 4 - 10a The future is now: Cybercounselling in the 21st century 30

Monnickendam, Menachem; Senior Lecturer School of Social Work, Bar Ilan University, Israel 2 - 4b Target your computer system implementation efforts for maximum effect: Results from four human services 21

Moore, Brenda; Interim Department Head & BSW Director Texas A&M University - Commerce, U.S.A. 3 - 8b Use of technology in rural social service agencies 27 4 - 10c Using technology to promote communities of practice (CoP) 21

Mukherjee, Dhrubodhi; Assistant Professor Southern Illinois University Carbondale, U.S.A. 1 - 1b Internet and social trust: Implications for human services 16 4 - 13b Volunteering through the net: A social capital perspective 35

Murphy, Lawrence; Director, World Wide Therapy Online Inc., Canada 4 - 10a The future is now: Cybercounselling in the 21st century 30 Keynote - Aug.28 11

Nicholas, David; Academic and Clinical Specialist The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Social Work, Canada 5 - 14a Evaluation of an online peer support network for adolescents with chronic kidney disease (CKD) 36 5 - 14b The impact on method and form of online communication in providing social support: Issues and applications 37

Norman, Cameron; Assistant Professor, University of Toronto, Canada 7 - 21b Global eHealth innovation through tobacco control 47

Peltoniemi, Teuvo; Director of Information Department A-Clinic Foundation, Finland 3 - 7b Addictionlink and other ICT tools in addictions prevention and treatment in Finland 25 7 - 21c Promille SMS service helps people to control excessive alcohol use 46

Perochena, Clarisa; MSW Student, Andrews University, U.S.A. 1 - 3b Process is queen?: how to create distributed educational media 18

Pierce, John; Deputy Director of the Office of Information Allegheny Country Department of Human Services, U.S.A. 3 - 9c Creating an information commons: Sharing knowledge to connect administrators, professionals and participants 29

Quinn, Andrew; Assistant Professor, University of North Dakota, U.S.A. 7 - 22b The internet virtual video classroom: Description, features, and applications 47

Rafferty, Jackie; Director, Centre for Human Service Technology/SWAP University of Southampton, U.K. 1 - 1a Social work in a digital society 16 3 - 9a The case for open access to social work research 28

Ramos, Carmen; Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico 6 - 19b Evaluation of virtual reality exposure training for agoraphobia treatment 43

Regan, Jo Ann Coe; Assistant Professor-Distance Education Program University of Hawaii at Manoa, U.S.A. 7 - 22b The internet virtual video classroom: Description, features, and applications 47

Rooney, Ronan; Chief Technology Officer & Co-founder Curam Software, Canada 2 - 4a Technologies empowering Ontario’s child welfare system 20

Sanders, Larry; Chairman / CEO Morning Sun Software Development, Canada 4 - 11a Morning Sun Standards Manager for accreditation 31

Sargeant, Dave; Regional Manager, Ontario Canadian Outcomes Research Institute, Canada 4 - 12a Using organizational outcome monitoring within multi-agency and funder networks 33

Savaya, Riki; Associate Professor Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Israel 2 - 4b Target your computer system implementation efforts for maximum effect: Results from four human services 21

Schoech, Dick; Dulak Professor University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work, U.S.A. 3 - 7c Web-phone based intervention plan adherence optimizer 26 5 - 17 Social work for the i-world: Integrating technology, global/cultural contexts, and evidence-based/informed practice to meet contemporary challenges 40 7 - 22a An evaluation of two virtual learning environments to develop listening skills 47 7 - 22b The internet virtual video classroom: Description, features, and applications 47

Seelmeyer, Udo; Scientific Assistant, Bielefeld University, Germany 1 - 1c Technologies of care or rather care of technologies 17

Selby, Peter; Clinical Director, Addictions Program Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada 7 - 21b Global eHealth innovation through tobacco control 46

Serrano, Berenice; Professor Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico 4 - 10b E-Therapy: An alternative to FTF psychotherapy 30

Shibusawa, Tazuko; Associate Professor New York University School of Social Work, U.S.A. 5 - 17 Social work for the i-world: Integrating technology, global/cultural contexts, and evidence-based/informed practice to meet contemporary challenges 40

Skinner, Wayne; Deputy Clinical Director, Addictions Program CAMH/University of Toronto, Canada 5 - 16a Process factors in online teaching: Using self-reflection and small group dialogue to enhance learning about addiction issues 39

Smith, Marshall; Professor & Program Coordinator, Distance Education University of Hawaii at Manoa, U.S.A. 1 - 3c Surveying distance education efforts at schools of social work 19 2 - 5a The road to Hana: Going the distance to deliver social work education to remote, underserved and culturally diverse populations 21

Steyaert, Jan; Adjunct Professor, Centre for Human Service Technology, University of Southampton, U.K. Professor, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands 1 - 1a Social work in a digital society 16 3 - 9a The case for open access to social work research 28

Talbot, David; Vice President of Development Data Systems International, Inc., U.S.A. 4 - 11b ClientTrack: Overcoming the barriers to diversity and collaboration through an innovative web-based application for human social services providers 32

Topps, David; Director, e-Learning Unit and Associate Professor - Family Medicine Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Canada 2 - 5b Medical education, distributed learning and the role of technology at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine 22

Tsoi, Kim Nam, Keith; Managing Director KTC Keith Tsoi Chinese Computer Centre, Hong Kong 6 - 19a Game theory application in home for elderly of Hong Kong drug management, medical history, petty cash management 42

Van Lieshout, Herman; Senior Lecturer Fontys University of Professional Education, The Netherlands 6 - 18a The Dutch national program for digital learning in social work education 41

Visser, Albert; Senior Lecturer, Hogeschool Utrecht, The Netherlands 6 - 18a The Dutch national program for digital learning in social work education 41

Walrond, Rick; Manager, Programming Multi Health Systems Inc., Canada 7 - 20a Administering psychological tests in the 21st century: Leveraging the power of the internet 44

Wellman, Barry; Professor, University of Toronto, Canada Keynote - Aug.29. Connected lives 14

Wheldon, Hazel; Vice-President, Clinical and Education Division Multi Health Systems Inc., Canada 7 - 20a Administering psychological tests in the 21st century: Leveraging the power of the internet 44

Wong, Yu-Cheung; Assistant Professor The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 2 - 6c Perpetuating old exclusions and producing new ones - digital exclusions in information society 24 5 - 15b Reaching out to hidden seniors - the ICT ways 38

Wright, Michael; Assistant Professor, Andrews University. Owner, MAWMedia Group, U.S.A. 1 - 3b Process is queen?: How to create distributed educational media 18 7 - 20b Healthy adjustment in the post-partum year (happy): for mothers and supportive others 44 7 - 20c Health literacy & well-being body systems program 45

Wright, Taunya; Registered Nurse, BSN, MAWMedia Group, U.S.A. 1 - 3b Process is queen?: How to create distributed educational media 18 7 - 20c Health literacy & well-being body systems program 45

Youn, Eric; Assistant Professor-Distance Education Program University of Hawaii at Manoa, U.S.A. 1 - 3c Surveying distance education efforts at schools of social work 19 7 - 22a An evaluation of two virtual learning environments to develop listening skills 47

Zgoda, Karen; Doctoral Student, Boston College, U.S.A. 7 - 21a Internet-based health information use by persons aged 50 and older: An exploration of process, meaning, and experience 45

50 51

Human Services Information Technology Applications Factor...

Documents

Transcript of Human Services Information Technology Applications Factor...