Abstract

Despite the promise of digital technologies to strengthen social work practice, like many other social service organizations, service providers at domestic violence (DV) and sexual assault (SA) organizations have yet to fully embrace their use in their work. Our study explores teen dating violence (TDV) service providers’ perceptions of both the benefits and the risks of using digital technologies in their service delivery system. We conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with TDV staff at agencies throughout the United States (N = 35). Findings suggest service providers are actively negotiating the ways technology can nurture their clients’ safety or perpetuate harm including exacerbating the digital divide. DV service providers contend that while technology can be lifesaving, important considerations must address associated harms.

摘要

尽管数字技术有望加强社会工作实践，但与许多其他社会服务组织一样，家庭暴力 (DV) 和性侵犯 (SA) 组织的服务提供者尚未完全接受在工作中使用数字技术。我们的研究探讨了青少年约会暴力 (TDV) 服务提供商对在其服务交付系统中使用数字技术的好处和风险的看法。我们对全美各机构的 TDV 工作人员进行了深入的定性访谈 (N = 35)。调查结果表明，服务提供商正在积极协商技术如何保护客户的安全或使伤害永久化，包括加剧数字鸿沟。DV 服务提供商争辩说，虽然技术可以挽救生命，但重要的考虑因素必须解决相关的危害。