Abstract: Submission #58

Abstract During disasters, service users’ access to social work organization is interrupted this compels the social work profession to adopt innovative and ethical strategies to ensure uninterrupted response to crises. This qualitative study examines the role of technology in crisis intervention, informed by the lived experiences of 16 service users who accessed social work services during disasters, with a focus on lessons from the rapid digitization of care from the COVID-19 pandemic. Guided by the crisis intervention model and critical social work theory, the research highlights the dual potential of technology to enhance and hinder crisis support. The data that was obtained was thematically analyzed to identify the emerging themes and subthemes. The findings affirm that digital tools, allowed access to services when physical outreach was interrupted. However, the findings reveal significant ethical risks: insecure digital platforms exposed users to cybersecurity threats, breaches of confidentiality, and unreliable communication, disproportionately endangering marginalized groups during vulnerable moments. The study underscores the need for ethical frameworks to govern technology use in crisis contexts. The findings emphasize that unregulated platforms, particularly those lacking encryption or privacy protocols, increase risks of harm, undermining trust in digital interventions. This research seek to answer the following research question “How do you reach out to a social worker during disasters or crises”? The contents of the poster include, title, methods, findings and recommendations. Recommendations include mandatory cybersecurity standards, digital training for practitioners, clear and user-friendly processes involving service users to evaluate platform safety. This poster contributes to the discourse on sustainable development by redefining innovation in crisis response as a balance between technological efficiency and an unwavering commitment to justice, security and the dignity of those most affected by systemic disasters.