Social Work in the 21st Century: The Challenges of a Digital World

This book offers an in-depth analysis of how the rapid advancement of digitalization is influencing and transforming the landscape of the social work field. Through comprehensive exploration and insightful discussions, the book delves into the intricate ways technology shapes the delivery of social services, ethical considerations, and the overall role of social workers in an increasingly technology-driven world. This topic is particularly relevant now, as new technologies are increasingly being adopted across sectors, including social services, to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Social workers are increasingly engaging with these changes, navigating how technology can support better decision-making, streamline interventions, and enhance outcomes for service users.

The book's 14 chapters are organized in three parts. Part I examines how the profession has been adapting to Industry 4.0 and artificial intelligence (AI), exploring social transformations, digital vulnerabilities, and the transformative role of emerging technologies like AI in social work. This section sets the stage for understanding the intersection of technological change and social work practice. Part II addresses specific fields of intervention, exploring how digital technology is being applied in child protection, elderly care, rural mental health, and support for migrants and refugees, among others. This section highlights how technology can be leveraged to enhance social work interventions, focusing on improving care for vulnerable populations and addressing grand challenges in the field. The third and final part delves into emerging topics, discussing the ethical challenges, the role of interdisciplinarity in the digital age, the use of AI for data analysis in social interventions, professional training in a digitalized world, and pedagogical innovation in social work courses. This section points to future opportunities and challenges, emphasizing the importance of preparing social workers for a rapidly digitalizing world.

Social Work in the 21st Century: The Challenges of a Digital World is a timely and important resource for social work professionals, students, educators, and academics keen to deepen their understanding of how technology transforms the field. The book also appeals to those with existing knowledge who wish to explore the impact of the digital in social intervention.