Description
To fully understand and navigate ethical and effective teletherapy, it is necessary for social workers to be aware of the various laws and regulations that impact their practice. The workshop will include opportunities to explore the legal and practice standards relevant to teletherapy/telebehavioral health (TBH), including the new teletherapy regulations that were published in December 2022 and went into effect in 2023. Risk Management Strategies will also be explored.
Instructor
University of Maryland School of Social Work
Gisele Ferretto, MSW, LCSW-C has over 35 years of social work experience in both clinical and macro practice areas. Her areas of expertise include: policy, professional ethics, supervision and leadership, confidentiality, social work and field practicum education, child welfare practice, and curriculum development. Ms. Ferretto provides consultation and training for private and public agencies in her areas of expertise. She has served on various committees and boards at the local, state, and national level, developing policy and program initiatives.
Currently, Ms. Ferretto is on the Faculty at the University of Maryland School of Social Work (SSW) and serves as Director of Public Policy and Manager of Training for the Office of Field Education. During her tenure at the SSW, she has held positions in the Office of Field Education, Child Welfare Fellowship Program, Child Welfare Academy, Family Connections Baltimore, and Social Work Community Outreach Service (SWCOS). Prior to her time at the SSW, she served as an administrator at the Maryland Department of Human Services in the following programs: Child Protective Services, Office of Equal Opportunity, and the Office of Staff Development and Training. Ms. Ferretto began her social work career as a Child Protective Services Worker at Baltimore City Department of Social Services.
Agenda & Learning Objectives
AGENDA:
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8:50 am to 9:00 am Log On
9:00 am
Definition of Terms
Overview of the Ethical Principals Related to Telehealth Practice
Sources of Telehealth Policy
Exploration of The National Standards for Ethical Social Work Practice when using Technology
Identification of The Statute, Regulations and Policy concerning Telehealth & Professional Licensing
10:30 am to 10:45 am BREAK
10:45 am
Lessons Learned: Benefits and Barriers
Expectations and Standards of Practice for Teletherapy
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm LUNCH
1:00 PM
General Principles of Confidentiality
Elements of an Informed Consent for Teletherapy
Safety Planning and Risk Management Strategies
2:30 pm to 3:00 pm BREAK
3:00 pm
Developing a Social Media Policy
Activity: Planning your “Telepresence”
Special Considerations
Online Groups
Working with Children
4:30 pm Adjournment and Evaluations
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon the completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
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Identify the governing bodies, statutes and regulations, and national standards that inform effective and ethical telehealth practice.
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Explore the use of the Maryland Statute and Regulations, which govern social work practice, with special attention to the legal requirements for professional conduct, professional ethical codes, and the function served by an ethical code.
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Identify risk management strategies and describe steps necessary to anticipate and address challenges unique to telehealth practice.
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Develop an informed consent specific to teletherapy services, including identification of the risk and benefits and a social media policy.
Bibliography & References
BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES
NASW, ASWB, CSWE and CSWA Standards for Technology in Social Work Practice (2017) https://www.socialworkers.org/includes/newIncludes/homepage/PRA-BRO-33617.TechStandards_FINAL_POSTING.pdf
NASW Telemental Health: Legal Considerations for Social Workers. By Anne B. Camper, General Counsel and Elizabeth M. Felton, JD, LICSW, Associate Counsel. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Legal/HIPAA-Help-For-Social-Workers/Telemental-Health
Maryland Statutes reviewed: from Maryland Statutes reviewed: from Maryland General Assembly/ Related Links/LexisNexis https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/RelatedLinks
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Health General §4-307 (personal notes)
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Health General, §4-303 (Informed consent)
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Health General, §4-301, et seq. (Medical/ Mental Health records confidentiality)
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Courts and Judicial Proceedings, §5-609 (Duty to Warn)
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Family Law §5-704 (reporting child maltreatment)
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Family Law §14-704 (reporting vulnerable adults)
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Health General §20-102 (rights of minors)
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Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 9-121 (Privileged communication)
Maryland Regulations reviewed from http://www.dsd.state.md.us/COMAR/ComarHome.html
Hilty, D.M., Maheu, M.M., Drude, K.P. et al. Telebehavioral Health, Telemental Health, e-Therapy and e-Health Competencies: the Need for an Interprofessional Framework. J. technol. behav. sci. 2, 171–189 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-017-0036-0
Merrill, C.A., Maheu, M.M., Drude, K.P. et al. CTiBS and Clinical Social Work: Telebehavioral Health Competencies for LCSWs in the Age of COVID-19. Clin Soc Work J 50, 115–123 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-021-00827-7
Reamer, Frederic G. (2021) Ethics and Risk Management in Online and Distance Social Work. San Diego, Cognella Academic Publishing.
Reamer, Frederic G. (2015) Risk Management in Social Work: Preventing Professional Malpractice, Liability, and Disciplinary Action. New York: Columbia University Press.
Resources:
https://www.telehealthresourcecenter.org/matrc/?Center=MATRC -Midatlantic Telehealth Resource Center
www.cchpca.org - Center for Connected Health Policy
www.americantelemed.org American Telemedicine Association
https://telementalhealthcomparisons.com/
Training Resources:
https:/telementalhealthtraining.com/ - certification for TMH
https://personcenteredtech.com/
https://www.zurinstitute.com/free-resources/articles/digital-ethics- telemental-health/
https://telehealth.org/
Target Audience
Social Workers, LCPCs, and Psychologists
We welcome anyone interested in the topic!
Late Fees and Refunds
The base price is $130 and includes CE credit. A non-refundable late fee of $20 is added on 03/08/24.
Cancellations** must be received 24 hours in advance prior to the workshop to receive a refund or an account credit.
Late fees cannot be refunded or applied to account credit.
**ALL cancellations will be subjected to a $35.00 administration fee.**
ADA Accommodations
If you are requesting ADA accommodations, please contact our office via email at least two weeks prior to the workshop date. Requests after that date may not be fulfilled.
Our email address is cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu.
