Social Work + Tech Consulting

Practical and Ethical Use of Emerging Technologies

Hey there! I’m Melanie, and I get it – the rapid march of technology can feel overwhelming, especially in fields like social work where human connection is so vital. You may be worried that integrating new tech will take time away from your core work of helping others. Or maybe you’re unsure about how to use these tools effectively and ethically, or that tech will compromise your values or those of our profession. Maybe you even worry that you will fall so far behind the tech power curve that there’s no keeping up.

That’s where I come in. As a social worker with years in social work practice and academia, I’ve been there. I know the unique challenges you face in this digital age. But I’ve also seen how thoughtfully incorporating things like AI, social media, and online teaching can actually enhance our work, engage our students, and make dissemination and impact of our research even stronger.

My role is to be a guide and partner in navigating this tech-infused landscape. With deep expertise in ethical and effective technology use for social work, I’ll equip you and your teams to not just adapt, but thrive. We’ll tackle the tools in a way that complements – not compromises – your human-centered practice.

I am excited and passionate, and when I work with individuals and teams I see them start to imagine the possibilities alongside me. I make the work of integrating technology practical and pragmatic. So if embracing new technology feels daunting, let’s walk that path together. I’ll share hard-won wisdom from the front lines to make this transition seamless. The future of social work is unfolding, and I’m here to ensure you can move boldly towards it.

You might be pondering questions like these:

• AI in Education and Research:
  • How do we teach students about emerging issues in the profession, and foster an environment of innovation within social work programs?
  • How do we talk about AI in the classroom, and teach our students to harness it, but not when they should be thinking critically about their coursework?
  • How can our faculty leverage AI for productivity and to maintain a competitive edge in a way that is ethical?
• Social Media for Professional Networking and Engagement:
  • How do we teach faculty and students to use the power of social networks and technology to build communities, share knowledge, and engage with stakeholders across the globe?
  • How can faculty harness social media to improve dissemination of research and demonstrate to funders that they can reach broad stakeholders?
• Online Teaching and Technology-Enhanced Learning:
  • How do we build online education in a way that enhances accessibility, engagement, and effectiveness?
  • What training is essential for educators as they adapt seated classes for the online environment?
  • How do we design online learning that is rigourous and also trauma-informed?

My Vision:

Prepping all of you – educators, researchers, agency leaders, supervisors, frontline folks – to be mavens of the technological shift now unfolding. Ethically, constructively, in lockstep with social work’s values. No more playing catch-up, or just waving red flags about what we see as problems. It’s time to build the path forward as innovators and leaders.

Let’s Collaborate: If that collaborative journey of(re)shaping social work’s future with conscientious tech integration lights a fire under you (or even just feels like an imperitive given the changing times), then I’m the partner you need. You’ll tell me where you might want to go, and I’ll help build a map to us get there at a pace that feels right for your environment. Let’s get excited about the possibilities together.