Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 30 - Professions and Occupations › Part 1902 - RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR SOCIAL WORKERS › Chapter 3 - Professional Standards of Practice and Code of Conduct › Rule 30-1902-3.4 - Standards for Use of Technology in Practice

Current through June 25, 2024
A. Definitions
Client - means the individual, couple, family, group,
				  organization, or community that seeks or receives social work services from an
				  individual social worker or organization. Client status is not dependent on
				  billing or payment of fees for such services.
Electronic social work services - mean the use of computers
				  (including the Internet, social media, online chat, text, and email) and other
				  electronic means (such as smartphones, landline telephones, and video
				  technology) to (a) provide social work information to the public, (b) deliver
				  social work services to clients, (c) communicate with clients, (d) manage
				  confidential information and case records, (e) store and access information
				  about clients, and (f) arrange payment for professional services.
In-person - refers to interactions in which the social worker
				  and the client are in the same physical space and does not include interactions
				  that may occur through the use of technology.
Remote - refers to the provision of a service that is
				  received at a different site from where the social worker is physically
				  located. Remote includes no consideration related to distance and may refer to
				  a site that is near to or far from the social worker.
B. Electronic Practice Social Work Services:
				The practice of LSW, LMSW, or Clinical or Certified Social Work to an
				individual in this state or another state through telephonic, electronic social
				work services, or other means, regardless of the location of the practitioner,
				shall constitute the practice of social work and shall be subject to Rules and
				Regulations of the state where they are providing services and where the client
				is receiving services. Social workers providing electronic social work services
				shall take all necessary measures to ensure compliance with relevant practice
				standards and ethics.
C. Social
				workers who choose to provide electronic social work services shall:
1. Inform clients about risks associated with
				disclosure of confidential information on the Internet, social media sites,
				text-messaging sites, and videoconferencing sites, and the potential
				consequences.
2. Use proper
				safeguards, including encryption, when sharing confidential information using
				digital or other electronic technology. Social workers shall protect clients'
				stored confidential information through the use of proper safeguards, including
				secure firewalls, encryption software, and password. Adhere to statutes and
				regulations regarding the secure use of digital and other electronic technology
				both within Mississippi and within the location where the client is
				located.
3. Inform clients that
				clients are advised not to disclose or post digital or other electronic
				communications from social workers or other recipients of services without
				proper consent.
4. Take steps to
				ensure that confidential digital communications are protected. Social workers
				shall use proper safeguards, including encryption, when using digital
				communications such as email communications, online posts, online chat
				sessions, mobile communication, and text communications. Social workers shall
				develop and disclose policies and procedures for notifying clients as soon as
				possible of any breach of confidential information.
5. Take reasonable steps to prevent client
				access to social workers' personal social networking sites to avoid boundary
				confusion and inappropriate dual relationships. Social workers shall maintain
				separate professional and personal social media and websites in order to
				establish clear boundaries and to avoid inappropriate dual
				relationships.