Reimagining Social Work’s Digital Future: The Critical Role of Interdisciplinary Tech Partnerships

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ABSTRACT

The social work field is a relative latecomer to the digital revolution. To advance the Social Work Grand Challenge “Harnessing Technology for Social Good,” the social work field needs a transformative reorientation—towards seeing itself not only as critical adopters of technology but as necessary contributors in interdisciplinary tech partnerships. The purpose of this article is to describe the collective contributions the social work and tech fields can make through interdisciplinary collaboration. We will discuss the potential of technological innovations in social work settings. Then we will describe how social work’s emphasis on structural inequity and social justice can develop equity-focused technologies. Strategies will be discussed to overcome barriers to partnerships in the interest of creating a more just society.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Heather L. Storer

Heather L. Storer is an Associate Professor at the Kent School of Social Work at the University of Louisville.

Carol F. Scott

Carol F. Scott is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Michigan, School of Informa.

Melissa Eggleston

Melissa Eggleston is a doctoral student at North Carolina State University.

Toby Shulruff

Toby Shulruff is a graduate student at Arizona State University.

Maria Y. Rodriguez

Maria Y. Rodriguez is an Assistant Professor at the University at Buffalo.