Innovative e-social work courses help practitioners meet client needs during COVID-19 and beyond

While hospitals are the front line of the COVID-19 battle, every facet of healthcare is affected, including mental and behavioral health services. In Indiana, where access to counseling and mental health care is already a concern, the virus has forced social workers to shift services from in-person to virtual—with many making the transition for the very first time.

That’s why, in response to the pandemic, IU School of Social Work (IUSSW) developed a free introductory program, “Tele-behavioral Practice Basics for Social Work Educators and Clinicians Responding to COVID-19.” The self-paced offering is available online and provides strategies and skills for engaging with clients virtually. The three-module program addresses risk management, ethical guidelines, service policies, and social media.

While the pandemic caused swift disruption of traditional face-to-face mental health services, IUSSW was able to respond quickly with the targeted online program thanks to its expertise in e-social work practices. The school has offered e-social work courses since 2017, and in January 2019, launched the nation’s first and only graduate certificate program in View Post e-social work practice. Interest and enrollment in the school’s individual telehealth courses, as well as the full 12-credit certificate program, have grown rapidly in the past three years with nearly 150 students projected to complete the foundation’s course in 2020.

“More than 60% of mental health professionals are social workers, and yet our field has been very hesitant to come on board in providing mental health services virtually,” said Samantha Wolfe-Taylor, Ph.D. Candidate, LCSW, clinical assistant professor, and creator of the school’s online practice simulations. “It’s become increasingly important for our field to be at the forefront in providing e-health services, especially in light of the barriers to access that existed even before COVID-19.”

Since the pandemic began, Wolfe-Taylor and David Wilkerson, MSW, Ph.D., assistant professor, who leads the school’s e-social work educational efforts, have fielded calls from hospital systems asking for advice on how to quickly transition their mental and behavioral health services online.

“Studies completed before the pandemic show that only 50% of people with mental health issues are able to get their needs met,” Dr. Wilkerson said. “Sometimes it’s because providers aren’t available, but often it’s because people simply can’t access in-person services due to work and family commitments or transportation issues. It’s a real problem that virtual social work practice can help address.”

In addition to the Foundations of e-Social Work Practice, the certificate program includes a course in providing tele-behavioral health services to individuals and a similar course in working virtually with groups. The fourth course required to complete the certificate is an informatics elective, with students choosing from instruction on health information exchange, security and privacy policies, or clinical information systems. The courses not only teach students how to practice effectively and responsibly online, but they also address practical methods for practitioners to build an online rapport with clients, and how to use non-verbal cues and practice active listening in an online setting.