Theme 4: How to do adult social
work in digital media environment? comparison of Finland country
and Sri Lanka country ?
by MediaMinds-Niresha Kodduru Arachchige
Adult social work in a digital media environment involves
employing digital tools and platforms to support individuals, improve
accessibility to services, and engage with clients effectively. Below is an
overview comparing the approaches to adult social work in a digital context in
Finland and Sri Lanka.
Finland: Digital Social
Work
(1) Infrastructure and
Accessibility:
Broadband Internet: Finland has a high penetration of broadband
internet, ensuring that most citizens have access to digital services.
E-Government Services: The country has invested heavily in digital
government services, enabling citizens to access social services online
conveniently.
(2) Training and
Professional Development:
Digital Literacy Programs: Finnish social workers often receive
training in digital tools and methods to improve service delivery and client
engagement.
Continuous Education: The presence of advanced training platforms
ensures that social workers stay updated with digital practices.
(3) Ethical and Privacy
Standards:
Finland emphasizes strong data
protection and privacy laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation
(GDPR), ensuring that the personal data of clients is safeguarded.
(4) Use of Technology in
Practice:
Telehealth Services: Many social services utilize telehealth and
video consultations to reach clients, especially in rural areas.
Social Media Engagement: Finnish social workers may use platforms
like Facebook or Instagram to provide information and engage with communities.
(5) Client-Centric
Approaches:
They often use online assessments
and digital tools to personalize services based on individual needs, enhancing
client participation in their care plans.
Sri Lanka: Digital
Social Work
(1) Infrastructure and Accessibility:
Growing Internet Penetration: Internet access varies widely across
urban and rural areas, limiting some citizens' access to digital services.
Emerging E-Government Services: The government is gradually rolling
out digital services, but there are still significant gaps in infrastructure
and access.
(2) Training and
Professional Development:
Limited Resources: Training opportunities in digital literacy for
social workers may be less developed compared to Finland, impacting the
effective use of digital tools in practice.
Capacity Building: Efforts are being made to improve social
workers' skills, but substantial investments are still needed to enhance
digital competencies.
(3) Ethical and Privacy
Standards:
The legal framework around data
protection is developing, but enforcement and adherence to privacy standards
may not be as robust as in Finland.
(4) Use of Technology in
Practice:
Social Media Use: Social workers in Sri Lanka may leverage social
media for awareness campaigns and community outreach, but interactions are less
formalized compared to Finland.
Digital Platforms: Initiatives like mobile apps and websites for
connecting clients to services are emerging but are not yet ubiquitous.
(5) Client-Centric
Approaches:
Traditional methods of
face-to-face interaction still dominate, though there are pockets of innovation
utilizing digital tools to enhance service delivery.
Comparison Summary –
Finland & Sri Lanka
Infrastructure and Accessibility: Finland has a well-established
digital infrastructure making it easier for social work practices to integrate
technology, while Sri Lanka is still developing its digital services, resulting
in uneven access.
Training and Development: Finnish social workers generally have
better access to continuous professional development regarding digital tools,
while in Sri Lanka, opportunities are growing but still limited.
Ethical Standards: Finland's robust legal framework provides strong
protection of client data, contrasting against Sri Lanka's evolving legal
landscape.
Use of Technology: Finland has integrated telehealth and digital
assessments widely in social work, whereas Sri Lanka is at the early stages of
utilizing technology for social work practices.
Client Engagement: Finnish social workers utilize diverse digital
platforms for engagement, while Sri Lankan practitioners are still exploring
effective ways to engage clients through digital means.
In conclusion, while
Finland represents a model where digital media is cohesively integrated into
social work, Sri Lanka is on a path of development with considerable potential
for growth in this area. Collaboration, investment in technology, and training
will be crucial for advancing digital social work in Sri Lanka.
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