An Electronic Newsletter for the NASW Washington State Chapter January 2012 Volume 2, Issue 1

NASW WA Chapter Office Website: www.nasw-wa.org Phone: (206) 706 – 7084 522 N 85th St. #B-100 Email: info@nasw-wa.org Fax: (206) 706 - 7085 Seattle, WA 98103

Index

2012 Conference ..................................1

2012 Conference Partnerships ….….2-3

Therapy in the Age of Social Media...3-5

Lobby Day………………….……….....5-6

Member Honored………………………..6

Upcoming CE Courses……….………6-7

Free Membership…………………….....7

Nominations for FY 2012……….…..7-12

Online CE Institute.........................12-13

Awards Nominations………………13-14

Release of Records……..…………14-18

Social Workers and Skype, Part I .18-24

We Wish You a Happy and Healthy 2012!!!

Save The Date:

NASW-WA 2012 Annual Conference

May 18-19, 2011

The NASW WA Chapter is planning

an annual conference for May 18-19,

2012. Please plan to attend this

exciting event. More information on

topics and presenters will be

forthcoming over the next months. If

you would like to assist the

Professional Development committee

in planning and implementing the

2012 Annual conference, please

email the NASW-WA Chapter to be

added to the Conference Planning

Committee. The Conference Planning

Committee will be working on

securing presenters, exhibitors, and

sponsors for the 2012 Conference.

We look forward to seeing everyone

at the 2012 Conference.

Visit our Website for more information at www.nasw-wa.org. Enjoy!

We Need Conference Sponsors!

If you know any company who would like publicity and to sponsor the NASW-WA 2012 Conference please send the company name, contact name, and all contact information to NASW-WA at info@nasw-wa.org. The more companies that sponsor the conference the less it will cost each of you to attend. More information can be found by clicking here.

PARTNERSHIP FEATURE

BENEFITS

Supporter Partner: $250

Non-exclusive Company name recognized in

conference program One (1) complimentary conference

registration Bronze Partner: $500

Non-exclusive Company name recognized in

conference program Exhibit marketing area space One (1) complimentary conference

registration Silver Partner: $750

Non-exclusive Company name recognized in

conference program (1/8 page black and white ad)

Exhibit marketing area space Company logo on website for one

(1) month One (1) complimentary conference

registration Gold Partner: $1,000

Non-exclusive Company name recognized in

conference program (1/4 page ad)

Exhibit marking area space Company logo on website for two

(2) months Invitation for one (1) person to

attend special events or receptions (TBD)

One (1) complimentary conference registration

Platinum Partner: $1,500

Non-exclusive Company logo in conference

program (1/2 page ad)

Exhibit marking area space Company logo on website for three

(3) months Invitation for one (1) person to

attend special events or receptions (TBD)

One (1) complimentary conference registration

Corporate Partnership: $3,000 (Exclusive)

Exclusivity to Industry Company logo in conference

program (1/2 page ad)

Third prime exhibit marketing area Company logo on website for three

(3) months Door prize questionnaire Recognition after Title and Host

Partners Invitation for 2 people to attend

special events or receptions (TBD) Host Partnership: $5,000 (Exclusive)

Exclusivity to Industry Second largest company logo on

promotional media (Program Workbook and

Website)

Second prime exhibit marketing area

Company logo on website for six (6) months

Company logo in conference program

(1st full page ad after program

agenda in conference workbook)

Door prize questionnaire Second recognition thanking

partners Invitation for 3 people to attend

special events or receptions (TBD) Title Partnership: $10,000 (Exclusive)

Exclusivity to Industry First and largest company logo on

promotional media (Program Workbook and Website)

Visit our Website for more information at www.nasw-wa.org. Enjoy!

Prime exhibit marketing area Company logo on website for nine

(9) months Company logo in conference

program (First full page ad inside right)

Door prize questionnaire Invitation for 4 people to attend

special events or receptions (TBD)

Exclusive awards reception corporate partner

Corporate Partnership Agreement

Please fill out the Partner Sponsorship

Agreement and Return to NASW-WA by

January 31, 2012

The agreement can be found by

clicking here.

Therapy in the age of social

media: Exploring the issues

by Katie Ramsburgh

Social media is impacting the world in ways that were unexpected or unimagined. As therapists we hear how it is impacting our clients. We also have our own experiences. And, we have had or hear about discussions regarding the ethics of social media for therapists. As the social media landscape constantly changes, I believe that the discussion does not lie in whether or not we should use social media, but rather in how we should use it. The analogy I keep coming back to is safe sex. It is safer and in the best interest of everyone to teach therapists the responsible way to use social media rather than telling them to abstain. I use social media every day for my private practice and as the marketing and social media manager for the Gottman Institute. I am connected to LMFTs

throughout the U.S. and in other countries. I have had conversations with some of these clinicians, as well as with my local peers. In addition, I have read or attended talks regarding using social media legally and ethically. I recently attended a talk on telehealth by Marnee W. Milner, JD, PhD, at a WAMFT networking lunch. I keep coming to the same conclusion. There is a lot of information about how to use social media an very little information about how to do it safely. I have a few ideas. But first, I think it’s important to explore how marriage and family therapists can use social media. Milner defines telehealth as “all interactions that are not in-person between health care professionals and their patients. This includes landline phones, cell phones, video teleconferencing, instant messaging, email, facsimile, chat, blog, video blog, webinars, social or professional networking, or web pages.” Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines social media as “forms of electronic communication (as Web sites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content.” Both Milner’s and Merriam-Webster’s definitions are expansive. Narrowing it down a bit, I think there are a handful of useful social media outlets for clinicians to use. Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace appear to be the most popular social networking sites. YouTube is frequently used to promote video for free to the general public. PESI produces webinars, podcasts, videocasts, and telecasts for clinicians. And many clinicians are producing blogs. As therapists, how do we responsibly take advantage of these social media opportunities? First, there is the use of social media for the purpose of marketing your practice, whether you are in private practice or working for an agency. All can benefit from using social

Visit our Website for more information at www.nasw-wa.org. Enjoy!

media as a cheap and easy way to market themselves. Let me give you a few examples. Shirley Cress Dudley, MA, LPC, NCC, founded a resource center in Charlotte, North Carolina, for blended families and provides family therapy. Her Twitter page has 38,076 followers as of March 26, 2011. Shirley tweets daily. She shares special offers and uses her site to distribute information. Every time she does that, she reaches at least 38,076 people. Some of those people then share the information she tweets with their followers, further spreading her name and information. This scope of word-of-mouth marketing is something that clinicians have not had access to before the advent of social networking. Similarly, if you create a Facebook or MySpace fan page, you can share information with your fans. Every time you share with them or they share a link to your page, you are getting free word-of-mouth advertising. Marketing via social media is an article in itself. The ideas and examples are endless. Another beneficial use of social media is psychoeducation. Organizations, as well as individual clinicians, frequently use social media to share educational materials. Daily tweets or posts to social networking pages are used to share ideas to provoke thought. Many organizations and clinicians use YouTube to provide free videos of psychoeducational materials with the public. A YouTube search for Alfred Adler produces 169 results. Virginia Satir produces 104 videos. Clinicians can record any talk they have given or plan to give and share it. Another venue for this type of sharing of information is blogs. Many clinicians maintain a blog and use it to share information with the purpose of educating those who read it. A good example of this is Cary Terra, an LMFT in Seattle, who writes a blog entitled Aspie Strategy to share information with people living with

Asperger’s. In addition to sharing knowledge and information with the public, social media provides opportunities for clinicians to learn. As I already mentioned, you can learn more about Alfred Adler or Virginia Satir for free on YouTube. If you need CEs, you can earn them at websites such as PESI.com and Cascadia Training. The benefits of social media are extensive, but what are the pitfalls of using social media? According to Milner, 22 states have general laws about the use of telehealth and only three states (California, Kentucky, and Vermont) have specific laws. Milner says that Ohio has standardized guidelines for the use of telehealth, which Washington State is currently reviewing as the DOH forms guidelines for our state. The use of social media by clinicians is currently unregulated. As I created my Web site and social networking pages, I considered my disclosure statement. In addition to addressing the use of email and texting with my clients, I included social networking. For me, choosing to not be “friends” with a client on Facebook was a no brainer because I view it as a dual relationship. I do not want to see their Facebook pages, and I do not want them to see mine. I am able to set my privacy settings so they won’t find me, and if by some chance they do, I can deny the “friend request.” I felt it was fair to explain this to my clients in my disclosure. I also have a Facebook fan page for my private practice, and this is available to anyone, as is my Twitter account. I use these exclusively for professional purposes. I share information, clinical insights, articles, and psychoeducational materials. I also address this in my disclosure. My private practice is small and very few people actually follow me, but what about liability for more public figures? As the chief administrator for the Gottman Institute’s Facebook page, I have some experience with this. We started this

Visit our Website for more information at www.nasw-wa.org. Enjoy!

page with the goal of using it to provide information about events and to share psychoeducational material. Eventually people started to ask personal questions on our wall. I didn’t feel it was an appropriate forum in which to answer those questions, but I felt a duty to give a good referral. After consulting with other Gottman staff, we decided to ask people with questions to email us for referrals and we created a disclaimer for our page, which lets people know that the page is intended to be educational and not to be used as therapy. I think this is a good idea for anyone using social media for their business, and we need to continue the conversation about how to responsibly inform people about the use of therapy pages. There is more that needs to be explored and defined in terms of responsibly using social media and telehealth. This is just the tip of the iceberg. But I think it is time for us to move on from conversations about whether or not we should use social media and start hammering out the details of how and why to use social media. Katie Ramsburgh, MA, LMFTA, graduated from Antioch University Seattle with an MA in psychology in 2009. She maintains a private practice, Healing Home Counseling, in Snoqualmie, where she sees teens and adults, individuals, couples, and families. In addition to her practice, she is the marketing and social media manager for the Gottman Institute. You can reach her at 425-988-4408 or kramsburgh@gmail.com or visit http://www.healinghomecounseling.com

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of

NASW Washington State Chapter. This article is reprinted with the permission of the author.

Social Work Lobby Day 2012

Make your voice heard to your

elected officials. Stand up and speak

out on important issues facing the

social work profession in today’s

legislative arena.

February 20, 2012

The United Churches 110 11th Ave SE

Olympia, WA 98501

8:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Join all your social work colleagues for NASW-WA Chapter Lobby Day February 20, 2012. Lobby Day is an opportunity for the social workers across the state to speak one on one with their state legislators and voice support for legislation that impacts children, families, health care, the profession of social work, and many other social justice issues. The last several years, approximately 200 social workers participated in the WA Chapter Lobby Day.

Lobby Day will be held at The United Churches of Olympia, 110 11th Street SE, Olympia, WA 98501. The events will begin at 8:30AM and run until early afternoon with your visits to your state legislators. Come together on February 20, 2012, and support the profession of social work and the clients we serve.

2012 LOBBY DAY CONTEST FOR

SCHOOLS OF SOCIAL WORK

The college or university with the

greatest participation in Lobby Day

will receive a plaque honoring their

efforts. Two prizes will be given - one

for the largest number of participants,

Visit our Website for more information at www.nasw-wa.org. Enjoy!

and one for the greatest percentage

of students attending.

Contact NASW-WA at 1-206-706-

7084 for more information and

contest rules!

Honoring a Member

Dr. James Williams new President of the Pierce County Chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

Dr. James Williams, Criminal Justice lecturer, has been elected President of the Pierce County Chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill is a national organization that advocates for the mentally ill and their families. It has a number of support programs for families of mentally ill persons as well as for empowering mentally ill persons in their recovery. Dr. Williams has been recognized as a pioneer in the Social Work field for his work with mental health individuals in the criminal justice system.

If you know a fellow NASW WA Chapter Member that has been honored please forward the information to: “Currents” at NASW WA Chapter, 522 N 85th St. Suite #B-100 Seattle, WA 98103

Upcoming Workshops

NASW-WA Conference

May 18-May 19, 2012

March 2, 2012 – Bellevue Downtown

Courtyard Marriott, Bellevue, WA

Unlocking the Mystery of Medication

and Major Mental Illness

Fred Raleigh, Pharm.D.

March 17, 2012 - North Seattle

Community College, Seattle, WA

Licensure Exam Preparation Workshop

Jonathan Beard, LICSW, CPRP

March 23, 2012 - North Seattle

Community College, Seattle, WA

Good Ethics – Good Practice

Joan Golston, DCSW, LICSW

May 18 - May 19, 2012 – DoubleTree

by Hilton Hotel, Seattle Airport,

Seattle, WA

NASW-WA Conference

May 19, 2012 - DoubleTree by Hilton

Hotel, Seattle Airport, Seattle, WA

Licensure Exam Preparation Workshop

Jonathan Beard, LICSW, CPRP

September 7, 2012 – Location TBD,

Seattle Area, WA – Pending

The Art of Writing Mental Health

Records to Protect the Clinician

Frederico Grosso,

September 15, 2012 - Location TBD,

Seattle Area, WA – Pending

Licensure Exam Preparation Workshop

Jonathan Beard, LICSW, CPRP

October 26, 2012 – Location TBD,

Seattle Area, WA – Pending

Compassion, Fatigue, & Vicarious

Trauma

Mary Jo Barrett, M.S.W.

Visit our Website for more information at www.nasw-wa.org. Enjoy!

December 1, 2012 - Location TBD,

Seattle Area, WA – Pending

Licensure Exam Preparation Workshop

Jonathan Beard, LICSW, CPRP

Click here to Register!

Free Membership - New Member

Recruitment Drive

Do you want to earn a free NASW WA Chapter membership? It is easy. Between July 1, 2011, and June 30, 2012, recruit three (3) new FULL members that have not been a NASW member in the last five years, and your membership dues will be paid. A Full member is one that pays the full current membership dues of $190.

All you have to do is recruit three Social Workers that have not been FULL NASW members prior to July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007. If you have paid your FULL membership dues in July or August 2011, you are still eligible for the free membership. Just send in the three new members and after the membership is verified that they have not been a member in the last five years, your dues will be refunded. A Full member is one that pays the full current membership dues of $190.

Please carefully read the membership recruitment drive instructions and complete the new member application form with your three new Social worker members. All new members will be verified that they have not been a member prior to July 1, 2006, and June 30, 2007. Click on the following link for more details: Membership Drive.

Listen to a NASW-WA Radio Advertisement

Call for Nominations for FY 2012 NASW-WA Leadership

Positions

Become Part of the NASW-WA

State Leadership Team

Call for Nomination for the 2012 Chapter

Leadership Election!

Our Chapter is filled with social workers

from across the state, who work in a

variety of capacities and bring with them

different talents, interests, values and

cultural backgrounds. What unites us is

being a member of the social work

profession. As the professional

association for such a diverse

profession, our leadership must be a

robust and diverse as our membership

to represent the issues and engage in

the activities that are important to each

of you.

Annually the chapter has a variety of

elected leadership roles that become

available. The available opportunities

for the 2012 election are identified

below. The Chapter’s Nominations &

Visit our Website for more information at www.nasw-wa.org. Enjoy!

Leadership Identification Committee

(NLIC) asks you to review these

opportunities and consider running for

one that fits your skills and interests as

a way of giving back to your profession

and enhancing your own leadership

skills.

Upon election, the Chapter will

provide orientation to your new role,

information about current chapter

initiatives, as well as opportunities for

leadership development. Holding a

leadership position offers you an

influential role at the state and/or local

level to guide our programmatic and

policy priorities for the organization.

You may nominate yourself, a

friend, or colleague who is also a

member of NASW-WA. The members

of our NLIC Committee as well as our

NLIC Chairperson, Taylene Watson and

staff liaison are all available to discuss

the various opportunities with you and

help you decide which role best suits

you. Experienced leaders are welcome

and new candidates are also

encouraged to nominate.

Fiscal Year 2012 and 2013 Leadership

Vacancies (Term Begins July 1, 2012-

June 30, 2014)

Board of Directors Officers

(all offices are 2 year terms unless

otherwise noted)

President Elect – 1 year term

Secretary

VP Communications Marketing

VP Diversity

Columbia River Region Representative

MT Rainer Region Representative

South Puget Sound Region Representative

Suburban King County Region Representative

Blue MT Region Representative

MSW Representative - 1 year term

BSW Representative – 1 year term

Non BOD Position

Delegate Assembly (2 positions)

NLIC Positions

Mount Rainer Region Representative

Inland Empire Region Representative

South Puget Sound Region Representative

Columbia River Region Representative

Blue Mountain Region Representative

Job Descriptions:

Job Title: President – Elect The President Elect serves as an identified NASW elected Board member and is elected one year in advance of assuming the duties of the office. This person is a voting member of the Board and participates in the decision making process. The President Elect works with other Chapter officers, Board members, Chapter members and Chapter staff to fulfill the mission of the Chapter. RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Serves as an apprentice to the office of

President. 2. Fulfills all of the duties of the President

in the event of absence or disability of the President.

3. Attends all meetings of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

4. Serves on Chapter committees as assigned by the President.

5. Represents the Chapter in attendance at national, regional and statewide meetings as assigned by the President.

Visit our Website for more information at www.nasw-wa.org. Enjoy!

6. Assists the President with adjudicated cases of the Chapter Professional Review Committee, helps in assuring compliance with NASW procedures, helps in planning and implementing recommendations in final report, and monitors cases as assigned by the President.

QUALIFICATIONS

Membership in NASW.

Knowledge of and commitment to NASW and the Chapter.

Evidence of active involvement and leadership in Chapter activities.

Availability to fulfill the duties of the office.

Job Title: Secretary The Secretary serves as an identified NASW elected Board member and fills a two year term in office, attends all meetings of the Board of Directors and participates in the decision making process. The Secretary works with other Chapter officers, Board members, Chapter members and Chapter staff to fulfill the mission of the Chapter. All Chapter elected terms run from July 1 through June 30. RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Records minutes at all Board and

Executive Committee meetings and other meetings as assigned.

2. Maintains order of all non-fiscal records of the Chapter.

3. Serves as the primary liaison between the Board of Directors and Regional Representatives to insure that Regional programs are developed and implemented in a fashion consistent with the Chapter’s strategic plan, policies and procedures of the Association.

4. Represents the Chapter in attendance at national, regional and statewide meetings as assigned by the President.

5. Reviews adjudicated cases of the Chapter Professional Review Committee, helps assure compliance with NASW procedures, helps in planning and implementing recommendations in final report, and monitors cases as assigned by the President.

QUALIFICATIONS

Membership in NASW.

Knowledge of and commitment to NASW and the Chapter.

Evidence of active involvement and leadership in Chapter activities.

Availability to fulfill the duties of the office.

Job Title: Vice President of Communication and Marketing

The Vice President of Communication and Marketing serves is an NASW Board member, is elected to a two-year term on the Board of Directors, attends all meetings of the Board of Directors and participates in the decision making process. The Vice President works with other Chapter officers, Board members, Chapter members and Chapter staff to fulfill the mission of the Chapter. This person serves as program coordinator to fulfill the goal of the Membership and Communication Services Committee: to enhance the effective functioning of the Chapter and to improve the way we serve its members. All Chapter elected terms run from July 1 through June 30. RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Liaisons with the Membership Committee, Communication and Media Committee, and other Committees as assigned.

2. Provides consultation to the chairpersons of the above groups as appropriate.

3. Provides an effective communications link between the Board of Directors and the Membership Committee and Communication and Media Committee with a quarterly report of their activities.

4. Assures that programs and activities of the above groups are coordinated with each other and with related activities of groups in other program areas.

5. Assures development and implementation of plans and activities that are consistent with the Chapter’s strategic plan, policies and procedures.

6. Assures the timely completion of projects and programs.

7. Identifies problems areas and undertakes corrective actions in a timely manner.

8. Recommends candidates for Committee appointments.

9. Represents the Chapter in attendance at national, regional and statewide meetings as assigned by the President.

10. Fosters membership in the Schools of Social Work and coordinates with the Student Board Representatives.

Visit our Website for more information at www.nasw-wa.org. Enjoy!

QUALIFICATIONS

Membership in NASW.

Knowledge of and commitment to NASW and the Chapter.

Evidence of active involvement and leadership in Chapter activities.

Availability to fulfill the duties of the office

Job Title: Vice President of

Diversity The Vice President of Diversity serves as an identified NASW elected Board members, is elected to a two-year term on the Board of Directors, attends all meetings of the Board of Directors and participates in the decision making process. The Vice President works with other Chapter officers, Board members, Chapter members and Chapter staff to fulfill the mission of the Chapter. This person serves as program coordinator by identifying members to volunteer on assigned committees and projects and overseeing their work. All Chapter terms run from July 1 through June 30. Responsibilities The Committee is responsible for the development of programs, activities, policy and leadership identification that pertain to the mission and goals of this committee. QUALIFICATIONS

Membership in NASW.

Knowledge of and commitment to NASW and the Chapter.

Evidence of active involvement and leadership in Chapter activities.

Availability to fulfill the duties of the office.

Job Title: Region

Representative

The Region Representative serves as an identified NASW elected Board member and fills a two year term in office, attends all meetings of the Board of Directors and participates in the decision making process. The Representative works with other Chapter officers, Board members, Chapter members and Chapter staff to fulfill the mission of the Chapter. All Chapter elected terms run from July 1 through June 30. RESPONSIBILITIES Responsible for the functioning of Regions and in the development of District leadership and activities.

Activities

1. Provide leadership to the development of Districts within the Regions.

2. Hold quarterly Region leadership and program development meetings with District Chairs.

3. Recommend candidates to the NLIC Committee for Chapter elections.

4. Recommend candidates to the President for Committee appointments.

5. Prepare and deliver a written quarterly report of plans/activities to the Board of Directors.

6. Establish and maintain contact with the faculty and Student District Chair at the schools of social work within the Region (if such are present.)

7. Select and present annual Region awards (e.g., Social Worker and Public Citizen of the Year) and nominate the winners for the State awards. Submit name(s) to the Chapter for statewide awards.

8. Submit a calendar of meeting dates and summary of events to the Chapter office for publication in each issue of Currents.

9. Invite NASW members and non members to attend the District meetings and become involved in the District activities.

10. Hold at least one workshop or training per year. Charge admission with the goal of attaining excess revenue.

QUALIFICATIONS

Membership in NASW.

Commitment to NASW, the Washington State Chapter of NASW and to the profession of social work.

Interest in developing leadership skills and becoming involved in Chapter, Region and District activities.

Willingness and availability to fulfill the duties of the office.

Job Title: MSW Student Representative

The MSW Student Representative serves a one-year term on the Board of Directors, attends all meetings of the Board of Directors and participates in the decision making process. The Representative serves as an identified NASW leader and works with the Chapter officers, Board members and Chapter members to fulfill the mission of the Chapter. All Chapter elected terms run from July 1 through June 30.

Visit our Website for more information at www.nasw-wa.org. Enjoy!

RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Serves as the representative for all

MSW students in the state assuring adequate flow of information from the Chapter and Board to identified Student District Chairs.

2. Assists with the recruitment of a Student District Chair from each of the MSW programs in the state in the spring to begin transition of activities.

3. Meets with the incoming Student Board Representative, after the Spring election, to create a smooth transition for future activities.

4. Meets in the fall with the Student District Chairs and a representative from the Chapter to:

a) identify student activities and b) plan for student membership recruitment and retention.

5. Is encouraged to attend the local District meetings and encourages students to participate in these meetings and activities.

6. Convenes NASW meetings for students on his/her own campus 1-2 times a year and encourages the Student District Chairs to hold similar student meetings.

7. Communicates with the Board Representative in the Region in which the student goes to school.

8. Provides quarterly reports to the Board. 9. Writes articles on MSW student

activities for the Currents. 10. Identifies student members with

leadership interest or potential for the Chapter Nominations and Leadership Identification Committee (NLIC).

11. Communicates with the identified faculty liaisons in the school at which the student attends.

QUALIFICATIONS

Membership in NASW.

Must have at least one year remaining in his/her program of study when taking office.

Knowledge of and commitment to NASW and the Chapter.

Interest in becoming involved in a leadership training position and in Chapter activities.

Availability to fulfill the duties of the office.

Job Title: BSW Student Representative

The BSW Student Representative serves a one-year term on the Board of Directors, attends all meetings of the Board of Directors and participates in the decision making process. The Representative serves as an identified NASW leader and works with the Chapter officers, Board members and Chapter members to fulfill the mission of the Chapter. All Chapter elected terms run from July 1 through June 30. RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Serves as the representative for all BSW

students in the state assuring adequate information flow from the Chapter and Board to identified Student District Chairs.

2. Assists with the recruitment of a Student District Chair from each of the BSW programs in the state in the spring to begin transition of activities.

3. Meets with the incoming Student Board Representative, after the Spring election, to create a smooth transition for future activities.

4. Meets in the fall with the Student District Chairs and a representative from the Chapter to:

a) identify student activities and b) plan for student membership recruitment and retention.

5. Convenes NASW meetings for students on his/her own campus 1-2 times a year and encourages the Student District Chair in other schools to hold similar student meetings.

6. Communicates with the Board Representative in the Region in which the student goes to school.

7. Is encouraged to attend the local District meetings and encourages students to participate in these meetings and activities.

8. Provides quarterly written reports to the Board.

9. Writes articles on BSW student activities for the Currents.

10. Identifies student members with leadership interest or potential for the Chapter Nominations and Leadership Identification Committee (NLIC).

11. Communicates with the BSW and faculty liaisons in the school at which the student attends.

Visit our Website for more information at www.nasw-wa.org. Enjoy!

QUALIFICATIONS

Membership in NASW.

Must have at least one year remaining in his/her program of study when taking office.

Knowledge of and commitment to NASW and the Chapter.

Interest in becoming involved in a leadership training position and in Chapter activities.

Availability to fulfill the duties of the office.

Job Title: Delegate to National Delegate assembly

RESPONSIBILITIES The Delegate Assembly is the representative, decision – making body – comprised of 277 elected delegates – through which NASW members set broad organizational policy, establish program priorities, and develop a collective stance on public addresses Delegate Assembly. The Delegate Assembly meets once every three years. Click here for Details.

Job Title: Nominations and

Leadership Identification Committee (NLIC)

Authorization and Accountability

The Nominations and Leadership Identification

Committee (NLIC) is mandated by the Chapter

Bylaws Article IX and is accountable to the

Board of Directors.

Duties The duties of the NLIC shall be:

To select at least two candidates for each position in the regular election of Chapter officers, Board members and NLIC members and Delegates. The candidates shall be selected so as to guarantee that candidates reflect the population concentrations, geographic distribution, ethnic minority distribution, gender distribution, students and special interests of the membership.

The Nomination Process Complete the Nomination form for Elective Office and submit to the Chapter Office. Nominees will be asked to complete a biographical fact sheet to

provide the NLIC with additional information about the prospective candidate. For additional information regarding leadership opportunities, please contact the NASW-WA Chapter Office at 206-706-7084 or via email.

Easy Access to Online Learning

Professional social workers are more pressed for time than ever, but the fact that there are too few hours in a day doesn’t let us off the hook when it comes to continuing education requirements. This is a good thing. We all want practitioners in our profession to be on top of their game and that means staying current on the latest research, techniques, and best practices. Sometimes, however, we need to find creative solutions to help us keep up with CE requirements. Technology is just such a creative solution, as it can provide the means to access continuing education at any time of the day from anywhere Internet access is available. This opens up a whole new world for those of us trying to squeeze CE into an already full schedule.

At NASW Washington State Chapter, we recognize that online CE is both an important tool and a necessity for busy social workers. That is why we have developed a brand new online CE program. We call the program, the Online CE Institute. The Institute is a part of the NASW-Washington Chapter website where members can browse and select courses from an extensive

Visit our Website for more information at www.nasw-wa.org. Enjoy!

CE catalog. Institute courses include self-study programs, live online seminars, taped video presentations, and audio workshops. And the Institute is designed to make it easy for members to find, register, and participate in courses. Since Washington State social workers are allowed to earn twenty six of the required 36 continuing education credits online, the Institute provides the perfect opportunity to participate in high-quality courses and programs at your convenience and through a trusted source. By the time this article goes to print, the NASW Washington State catalog will have grown to hundreds of online options. Course content includes subject areas from addiction, adolescent behavior, and anxiety to depression, geriatrics, PTSD and much more.

Tips for Getting Started

Using the online catalog is simple. Just go to the NASW Washington State website and click on the Online CE Institute banner in the right sidebar. Or look for “continuing education” in the top pull down menu and click on “online continuing education”. Once you are on the Online CE Institute page, use the tabs to navigate to the courses you are interested in.

Purchasing a course is also easy, just click “buy now,” complete your registration, and pay for the program. That’s all there is to it.

One of the advantages of an online course is that you can complete it in multiple sittings (unless it is a live seminar). If you want to take a break for a minute or a week, just return at your convenience and go to the “MyAccount” tab. Your course will be waiting for you, right where you left off. When you complete a course, take the test, and fill out the course evaluation. Once completed, you will be prompted to print your certificate. It’s straight forward and

convenient. But if you do happen to run into technical difficulties while registering or taking a course, NASW-Washington State has that covered. We have included a “HELP” tab that is accessible on any Online CE Institute website page. There, you will find answers to commonly asked questions as well as contact information for live technical support--email, chat, and phone. So you are covered, no matter when you happen to be taking the course.

CE Where and When You Need It

Social work is a challenging and rewarding career. It also requires a commitment to ongoing learning. At NASW-Washington State Chapter, it is our goal to support your commitment to continuing education by making it easier for you to find and participate in high quality courses and workshops. The Online CE Institute was created to do just that. We hope you will visit the Institute next time you are online and we welcome your thoughts about the Institute and continuing education in general.

Happy learning!

NASW-Washington State Chapter

2011 Awards Nominations

NASW WA State Chapter would like to

honor people from the following

categories. If you know of someone or

an agency that you think deserves to be

recognized please download the

nomination form and send it back to the

NASW-WA State office. The categories

are listed below (click on the position to

read what the criteria for that nomination

are).

Social Worker of the Year

Social Work Educator of the Year

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Outstanding Recent Graduate

Outstanding Student

Outstanding Agency of the Year

Public Citizen of the Year

2011 Awards Nominations Form

Release of Records and Client

Privacy

By Sherri Morgan, Associate Counsel,

LDF and Office of Ethics and

Professional Review and Carolyn I.

Polowy, NASW General Counsel

©2011 National Association of Social Workers.

All Rights Reserved.

Introduction

Social workers who receive a request

for client records from a third party or a

subpoena will have a number of

questions. These may reflect concerns

regarding the client’s privacy, the social

worker’s obligations and/or rights,

potential liability, the social worker’s role

in responding to clients’ legal matters

and questions concerning the scope of

the request, such as:

Am I allowed or required to release the client’s information?

How much information must I disclose?

What type of client information should be released?

This Legal Issue of the Month article will address questions related to making well-reasoned decisions when responding to requests for confidential client information. This review does not address situations where the social worker is the target of a lawsuit or complaint.

Basic Client Privacy Considerations Client’s privacy rights are embedded in

professional healthcare provider

standards, the U.S. and state

constitutions and other state and federal

laws addressing patient records

(Morgan, Polowy, Carvino & Kraft,

2007). Clients’ rights to exercise self-

determination (NASW, Standard1.02,

2008) are at the core of decisions

regarding the release or disclosure of

client information However, these rights

may be impacted by the requirements of

certain legal proceedings or court orders

or may be affected by the requirements

of insurers, employers, or other

requesting entities (Polowy, Morgan,

Bailey & Gorenberg, 2008). It is the

social worker’s obligation to maintain the

client’s confidences, as guided by the

client, to the extent permitted by law

(NASW, Standard 1.07, 2008).

It is generally helpful whenever

confidential information has been

requested by a third party to

communicate directly with the client or

former client about the request, if

possible, so that the client’s consent to

release information (or withholding of

consent) is fully informed (NASW,

Standard 1.07(b),(d) and (e), 2008).

Social workers who receive a request

for records from an attorney or law firm

may also find it necessary to seek more

information before responding,

including:

What is the type of legal action involved and who are the parties? Is the client suing or being sued? Is the client a criminal defendant? Is the client applying for public benefits?

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Does the social worker have any concerns about the details of the client’s information that are contained in the records? Is the information contained in the record likely to portray the client in a negative light or negatively affect the outcome of their legal case?

Informed Consent In any situation where a client’s record

is to be released, it is the social worker’s

obligation to ensure that the client’s

consent is fully informed. In order to

accomplish this, the client needs to be

fully aware of the content of the record

that is to be disclosed. It is not unusual

for clients to have little awareness of the

information that has been documented

in the course of therapeutic sessions.

After a discussion or review of the

contents of the clinical record with the

social worker, the client will be in a

better position to determine whether to

agree to a potential release of

information or to revoke an authorization

that they may have already signed

(Reamer, p. 54 – 56, 2006).

Requests from Clients’ Legal

Counsel

Because the client’s attorney has an

obligation to vigorously represent the

client’s legal interests, it is often

valuable to the client for their attorney to

have access to complete information

about the client’s mental health. Client

consent is a primary consideration

whenever confidential information is

released. There is no legal barrier to

releasing the client’s records if the client

has signed a valid authorization to

release them to the attorney. In some

states, health care providers are

obligated to release the records to the

client’s legal counsel upon receipt of a

written authorization signed by the

client. If a social worker has concerns

about sending a copy of the client’s

records to the client’s designated

attorney, two options may be

considered:

1. Offer to provide the records directly to the client. Client’s have a legal right to access their own information and the client will then have the sole decision making role as to further disclosing the information to the attorney.

2. Request that the attorney put the request in the form of a subpoena. Most subpoenas are issued by attorneys, so this is a routine procedure within a law firm. A written release from the client will still be needed to document the client’s consent. With a subpoena, the social worker may have additional justification to support the release of information in the event it is later challenged as improper.

Subpoenas A subpoena is a special type of request

for client information, usually issued by

an attorney representing a party in a

legal matter. Similar issues concerning

the client’s informed consent apply to

subpoenas. This is addressed in an

earlier Legal Issues of the Month article,

Responding to a Subpoena (Morgan &

Polowy, 2009). When a social worker

has received a subpoena, it is important

to note which party is requiring the

disclosure of information: Is it the client

(through their attorney) or the opposing

party? Additional caution and review

are required when responding to

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subpoenas from opposition counsel, as

an improper or unauthorized release of

information could have a lasting and

damaging impact on the client’s legal

matter and be a potential basis for a

malpractice complaint against the social

worker.

How Much Information Should a

Social Worker Disclose?

With few exceptions, social workers are

generally advised to release confidential

client information only with a written

release signed by the client or their

authorized representative (such as the

parent of a minor, guardian, etc.). The

release form typically describes the

scope of the information requested,

which may vary considerably.

Reviewing the description of the

information contained in the signed

release form is informative; however, if

additional questions remain about what

is requested the social worker may

consult with the client as to their

intentions and/or with the individual who

sent the request. The range of

responses may include:

A treatment summary

Invoices showing dates of treatment and amounts charged

Completion of a pre-prepared checklist of specific questions concerning the client’s mental health and/or history

A complete copy of the entire client file

A copy of the entire clinical file, as well as copies of appointment calendar dates, all health plan claims and correspondence and all reimbursements received

A copy of the complete clinical file, financial records and separate psychotherapy notes.

Factors for determining how much and which information to release may include the following:

Is the requesting person or the client willing to accept a treatment summary in lieu of the entire client chart? Sometimes an attorney wants the clinician to make specific statements to support a legal strategy, but that may create the appearance of bias. An objective and complete summary will present an accurate overview of the client’s treatment.

Is the confidentiality of other individuals compromised by releasing the client’s record? For any therapy sessions where multiple clients were present, each individual’s privacy rights also need to be protected. Each individual may need to consent to release of information before joint sessions records are released, although parents can generally consent on behalf of their minor children. Notes of joint therapy sessions often present complexities and may raise potential conflicts of interest, requiring legal and ethical consultation by the social workers.

Is it feasible to redact information in the client’s record that identifies other individuals? One approach is to make a copy of the client chart, then blank out the other individual’s information (e.g. with a heavy marker or “White-Out”) and then make a copy of the redacted version of the chart. Whenever a portion of a record is withheld it is appropriate to indicate in a cover letter the nature of the information redacted and the basis, such as,

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“This copy contains the records of Client X; however, it excludes references to other individuals based on ethical requirements,” or, “This copy contains confidential information about the services provided to Client X as an individual. Information from sessions where other individuals may have been present is not included due to lack of written consent.” It is never appropriate to re-write a redacted or revised record and present it as a complete copy of the original.

Were the social worker’s personal notes maintained in a separate file, so they are protected by HIPAA as “psychotherapy notes”? Detailed session notes that are maintained separately from the primary client chart may meet the definition as “psychotherapy notes” under HIPAA and would not be subject to release unless the client has signed a separate consent form specific to those notes. This topic is further discussed in Social Workers and Psychotherapy Notes (Morgan & Polowy, 2006). Psychotherapy notes do not have ironclad protection from disclosure under all circumstances (and a court may order their release in some situations); however, they do require a separate review and analysis before disclosure. NASW strongly recommends the use of separate psychotherapy notes to increase the privacy protections available to clients’ information.

Does the client’s record contain specific information that would be harmful to their case if it were released? If the record contains clearly negative information about the client (e.g.

evidence of malingering, deception, violence, etc.) it is particularly important to discuss with the client the possible implications of releasing the record and obtain a clear statement of the client’s intention, including a written revocation of consent if they decide not to pursue the matter that prompted the request. Clients who revoke a prior consent may suffer negative consequences, so they should be encouraged to consult their legal counsel about the legal effect of withholding or revoking consent to the release of information.

Analysis and Conclusions

Social workers who receive a request

for confidential client information and

have also received a written consent

from the client to release the information

are in a good position to handle the

request by communicating clearly with

the client and/or the requestor to clarify

uncertainties. Situations where client

contact is not possible, where multiple

clients (or former clients) may be

involved, or other concerns are present

may require consultation with legal

counsel, respected peers and/or ethics

professionals. If a client objects to a

subpoena, a social worker may need

additional assistance such as

consultation with an attorney in order to

file a motion to quash (or block) the

subpoena. Resources available to

NASW members include a risk

management hotline (available through

NASW Assurance Services, Inc. at 800-

897-0033), ethics consultations with the

Office of Ethics & Professional Review

(available Tuesdays, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

and Thursdays, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m., Eastern

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Time, at 800-638-8799, Ext. 282) and

legal consultations available from the

Office of General Counsel/Legal

Defense Fund (800-638-8799, Ext. 290).

In addition, NASW members who have

the NASW ASI professional liability

insurance may have coverage for legal

consultation related to the receipt of a

subpoena for client records.

Confirmation of coverage can be

obtained by calling the ASI 800 number

above.

References

Morgan, S., Carvino L., Polowy, C.I. & Kraft, E.G. (2007). The

Social Worker and Protection of Privacy. NASW Legal

Defense Fund Law Note Series. Wash., DC: NASW

Legal Defense Fund.

Morgan, S. & Polowy, C.I. (2009). Responding to a subpoena.

NASW Legal Defense Fund, Legal Issue of the Month.

Wash., DC: NASW Legal Defense Fund. Retrieved from

http://www.socialworkers.org/ldf/legal_issue/2009/200904.

asp.

Morgan, S. & Polowy, C.I. (2006). Social workers and

psychotherapy notes. NASW Legal Defense Fund, Legal

Issue of the Month. Wash., DC: NASW Legal Defense

Fund. Retrieved from

http://www.socialworkers.org/ldf/legal_issue/2006/20060

6.asp.

National Association of Social Workers (2008). NASW Code of

Ethics. Washington, DC: NASW Press. Retrieved from

http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code.

Polowy, C.I., Morgan, S., Bailey, W.D. & Gorenberg, C.

(2008). Confidentiality and privileged communication. In

T. Mizrahi & L.E. Davis (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Social

Work, (Vol. 1, pp. 408-414). Wash., DC: NASW Press

& New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Reamer, F.G. (2006). Ethical Standards in Social Work, (2nd

ed.). Wash., DC: NASW Press.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of NASW Washington

State Chapter. This article is reprinted with the permission of the author.

Social Workers and Skype,

Part I

By Sherri Morgan, Associate Counsel,

LDF and Office of Ethics and

Professional Review and Carolyn I.

Polowy, NASW General Counsel

©2011 National Association of Social Workers.

All Rights Reserved.

Introduction

Social workers are increasingly using

electronic communications technologies

to expand and refine their practices,

including psychotherapy performed via

videoconferencing, and this has raised

many questions about professional

social work standards. Use of

videoconferencing technology in mental

health service delivery is variously

referred to as “telepsychiatry,”

“telemedicine,” “telemental health,” “e-

therapy,” “distance counseling” and

other terminology. One of the most

widely available videoconferencing

technologies is an online service and

software program known as Skype. Its

wide acceptance as a consumer

technology has made telemental health

services readily available for clients in

their own homes and for solo and

private practice clinicians without a

burdensome investment in new

technology. This first of two articles will

review some of the emerging legal and

professional issues involved in the use

or potential use of Skype or similar

technology as a communications

modality for clinical social work

assessment and treatment of clients.

Part II will review legal cases and

statutes, including state social work

licensure.

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Background

Six-hundred and sixty-three (663) million

registered users of Skype services were

reported by the company in corporate

filings covering 2010 (Skype, 2011). An

uncounted segment of these were

mental health professionals and their

clients, engaged in interactive

psychotherapy sessions. Information

about the conduct of distance

counseling via Skype is widely reported

(Strong, P., 2010; Hoffman, J., 2011)

and the use of this modality appears to

be increasing rapidly, although precise

statistics about the phenomena are not

readily available. The Social Work

Encyclopedia (Finn, J., 2008)

acknowledges that online therapy is

used in a wide variety of clinical

interventions with a range of mental

health professionals and describes

online therapy as a “promising, but yet

unproven intervention,” suggesting the

need for further research about clinical

effectiveness and national standards

and national licensure for online

practice. Since the date of that

publication, research regarding the

efficacy of distance-based interventions,

as well as technological advances, has

expanded considerably (American

Telemedicine Association, 2009). One

of the key issues for professional

practice is how the security of Internet-

based videoconferencing, such as

Skype, compares to established

telemedicine videoconferencing centers

and “plain old telephone services”

(POTS). This is further addressed in the

discussion on HIPAA, below.

Does HIPAA Apply to Skype

Sessions?

A key to answering any HIPAA question

is first determining whether or not the

practitioner is subject to HIPAA. Is the

clinical social work practice billing any

clients’ health insurance electronically

(or using a billing service that submits

claims electronically)? If so, then

HIPAA applies to all of the social

workers’ confidential client information,

even for those clients who self-pay.

The HIPAA privacy and security

standards apply to healthcare providers

who conduct electronic claims

transactions with third-party payers (45

CFR § 160.103). Thus, clinical social

workers or other health care providers

who bill clients’ health insurance

electronically are considered “covered

entities” subject to the full panoply of

HIPAA requirements. Covered entities

are responsible to ensure compliance

with HIPAA when they create, store,

maintain or transmit clients’ individually

identifiable health information (also

known as “protected health information”

or PHI). If covered entities conduct

electronic claims transactions for any

clients then those entities are subject to

the HIPAA requirements, which would

likely include Skype transmissions

conducted by those practitioners.

Skype psychotherapy sessions (and

sessions conducted via other forms of

videoconferencing) contain confidential

client health/mental health information

and when such sessions are conducted

by providers who are subject to HIPAA,

then HIPAA standards would apply.

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Does Skype Technology Meet HIPAA

Standards?

This is an unresolved topic of discussion

among mental health and technology

experts who utilize or study

telemedicine. The HIPAA security

standards cover four basic areas of

responsibility for electronic health

information. Entities subject to HIPAA

are required to:

Ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all electronic protected health information the covered entity creates, receives, maintains, or transmits.

Protect against any reasonably anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such information.

Protect against any reasonably anticipated uses or disclosures of such information that are not permitted or required under the privacy regulations.

Ensure compliance by its employees (and business associates) (45 CFR § 164.306; Morgan, S.

and Polowy, C.I., 2003).

Complying with these standards

requires that clinical social workers who

seek to use Skype or other

videoconferencing technology be

familiar enough with the security and

privacy policies and practices of the host

company to understand what threats

might be anticipated and how to protect

against them. Here are a few of the

potential concerns that should be

addressed:

What type of encryption technology is used by Skype?

Are other sensitive documents maintained on the same computer as that which is used for Skype sessions? Are these encrypted so that if the system is compromised a hacker would not be able to gain access to clients’ records? Has the social worker considered using a dedicated computer for Skype communications?

What are Skype’s privacy policies in the event the content of a psychotherapy session was subpoenaed? Is this congruent with the practitioner’s policies?

Professional reviews of Skype’s security

features provide mixed feedback. At

least one medical study on the use of

telemedicine reported using Skype as a

HIPAA-compliant means of performing

plastic surgery and summarized several

studies that have relied on Internet-

based telemedicine (Dobke, M. and

Whitehead, E., 2009). Another study

that compared the strengths and

weaknesses of various forms of

telerehabiliation indicated that Skype

may be less secure and private than

established telehealth networks, but

affords greater access in the client’s

natural environment (Cason, J., 2011).

Garfinkel, S.L. (2005) analyzed the

security of Skype and Voice over

Internet Protocol communications

(VoIP), finding that some of Skype’s

advantages are its ease of use, cost

(free), availability on multiple operating

systems, higher fidelity voice quality,

and 128-bit or better encryption;

however, he also noted that online

technology such as Skype changes

frequently, so it is difficult to remain

aware of current compliance with

security and privacy standards.

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Knowledgeable users can adjust their computer settings to reduce a number of Skype security risks, such as allowing only those in the social worker’s Skype contact list to call them via Skype, disabling the Skype API (this prevents use by third-party applications which can introduce viruses) and disabling file transfer except when the social worker specifically needs to transfer a file (this reduces the risk of unauthorized access to data on your computer) (Hayes, B., 2008). Other settings can also be configured to reduce the use of computer bandwidth. Social workers who are unable to utilize these computer system controls will want to consider an evaluation of their computer software and hardware by an information security consultant. Watzlaf, ab Moeini and Firouzan (2010) have developed a check-list for health providers who want to use VoIP technology. Professional Standards

In 2005, NASW and the Association of

Social Work Boards (ASWB) issued

standards for the use of technology in

social work practice; however, the fast

pace of technological developments

requires that social workers are able to

analyze how the professional standards,

which are rather broad and general,

apply to the details of the technology

they would like to use in daily practice.

Some of the relevant requirements for

use of technology by social workers

identified in the NASW and ASWB

standards are listed here:

Accurate documentation of services provided electronically, including client authorization for disclosure and informed consent

Development of guidelines for electronic communication with clients (timing and length of sessions, emails, etc.)

Use of security measures such as encryption, firewalls and pass codes

Establishing fair and equitable fees

Adequate technical and policy supports, including privacy and security procedures, protocols and technologies

Compliance with applicable federal and state laws, such as HIPAA. (NASW, 2005, p. 10 -11).

Santhiveeran (2009) reviewed the

compliance of social workers’ online

therapy Websites according to the

NASW Code of Ethics standards and

found that:

Less than half of the sites studied (44%) provided information to clients about how to safeguard their privacy while engaging in the online mental health services;

Barely half (49%) provided statements about the duty to maintain confidentiality;

Only one-third (32%) included specific emergency protocols (beyond a bare reference to 911), for local emergency back-ups such as hospital, physician or close friend information that was taken at the time of intake.

In 2009, the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) developed detailed standards relating to “telemental health.” However, these were not designed to specifically apply to Internet counseling or Web-based therapy. Use of Skype and other online technologies has proceeded rapidly since then. The ATA standards identify some of the technical specifications for videoconferencing in the mental health context. According to the ATA, in addition to the capacity to

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support interactive, synchronous video and audio signals, telemental health technologies should have the ability to:

Display pictures, diagrams or objects

View and share a computer desktop or applications

Play videos or CDs for viewing at other locations

Recording meetings (when clinically indicated and with consent)

Share information on a common whiteboard (or on-screen shared notebook) or via computer files

Other highly recommended technical

specifications are:

The ability for the clinician to control the remote camera to pan, tilt and zoom the camera on the patient end

The ability for each user to see the picture sent as well as the picture received (“picture-in-picture”)

Audio at 7 kHz full duplex with echo cancellation, mute and volume adjustment

On-screen messages to notify the user of loss of video, dropped connections, mute/unmuted lines

Ability to operate at a bandwidth of 384 Kbps or higher (American Telemedicine

Association, 2009b, p. 13).

A number of features are considered

essential to telemental health services,

especially the quality of the audio (which

is affected by microphone type and

placement in the room), 128-bit

encryption (consistent with HIPAA),

resolution of the display monitor that

closely matches that of the acquired

image being displayed, and compliance

with any other federal or state

regulations (ATA, 2009b, p. 14-15).

Some features regarding the room set-

up may be useful for additional

consideration. Although clients may like

the freedom of having Skype sessions

“on the go,” setting the boundaries of

the online session may be valuable to

assure that professional standards are

maintained and these are the

responsibility of the licensed

professional to articulate and maintain.

Here are some of the ATA’s

expectations for the physical layout

used in videoconferencing:

Both the therapist’s and the client’s site should be designated as private (posting a sign or locking the door)

All persons in the room at both sites should be identified at the beginning of the session and the client’s permission obtained for any visitors or clinicians

Room should be well lit with sources approximating “daylight” as nearly as possible and for the provider and client to see each other without shadows

Plain colored background is recommended; blue is optimal

Gaze angle between the participant’s camera and eyes should be minimal, not more than 5 – 7 degrees (sharper angles can create unintended effects of appearing to “look down” or “look up” at the other individual) (American Telemedicine

Association, 2009b, p. 15-16).

The ATA also clearly states that

clinicians are expected to meet the

professional standard of care and

ethical requirements for their respective

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professions when using

videoconferencing technology. The

telemedicine standards are not to be

considered a substitute for standards of

care and existing standards and

guidelines from professional

associations are to be utilized and

applied to telemental health services

(ATA, 2009a, p. 6).

Analysis and Conclusions

Use of Skype and similar technologies

by mental health clinicians has

expanded faster than the development

of applicable legal and professional

standards. Effectiveness research

suggests many positive uses for

telemental health services provided that

the appropriate professional boundaries

and protocols are established and

maintained. Further research on

telemental services in a private mental

health practice with clients in their own

homes is needed. Clinical social

workers who utilize new technologies

bear the responsibility for understanding

them sufficiently to protect from

authorized access of client information

and for providing an appropriate level of

clinical care for distant clients.

Assuring that clients’ confidential

communications via Skype will be

adequately protected is a difficult and

uncertain task. Skype’s services are not

limited to or focused on health care

delivery. The company’s security

policies and practices may change

periodically and all the data necessary

to conduct a full analysis of the security

features is not readily available to the

public. Following the recommendations

and protocols suggested by professional

and security experts is valuable to

reduce the risks of inadvertent

disclosure of confidential mental health

information when using Skype to

provide confidential mental health

services; however, use of Skype or

similar VoIP communications systems

still presents some privacy risks.

Expanding access to mental health

services in rural or underserved areas is

an important value fostered by the

availability of Skype services, but

professional social work standards for

security and privacy of data at this time

are better supported by the use of

electronic services and communications

programs that are dedicated to the

delivery of secure telemental health

services and that offer detailed HIPAA

compliance information and/or HIPAA

Business Associate agreements.

This Legal Issue of the Month article is

not a substitute for further technical

analysis of any technology employed in

social work practice and is meant as a

preliminary overview of a complex and

fast-changing topic.

References

American Telemedicine Association (2009a). Evidence-based practice of telemental health. Available at http://www.americantelemed.org/files/public/standards/EvidenceBasedTelementalHealth_WithCover.pdf.

American Telemedicine Association (2009b). Practice guidelines for videoconferencing-based telemental health. Available at http://virtualservices.kansasworks.com/About/Documents/Telemental%20Health2.pdf.

Cason, J. (2011). Telerehabilitation: An adjunct service delivery model for early intervention services. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, (3)1. Available at http://telerehab.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/Telerehab/article/view/6071/6301.

Dobke, M. and Whitehead, E. (2009). Telemedicine as an

aid to clinical practice, research and education in plastic surgery In Advances in telemedicine: applications in various Medical disciplines and geographical regions, Ch. 10, 210 (citing Gosman AA, Fischer CA, Agha Z, Sigler A, Chao J, & Dobke MK (2009). Telemedicine and surgical education across borders: A case report. Journal of Surgical Education,

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66(2), 102-105). Available at http://www.intechopen.com/articles/show/title/telemedicine-as-an-aid-to-clinical-practice-research-and-education-in-plastic-surgery.

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The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of NASW Washington

State Chapter. This article is reprinted with the permission of the author, National

Association of Social Workers National Chapter.

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