Telehealth Training

SARAH CALIBOSO-SOTO, EdD, LCSW, is an Associate Professor of Social Work Practicum Education at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. She has taught courses in policy and practice and served as a liaison to practicum students. A licensed clinical social worker in California, Caliboso-Soto has worked in Los Angeles for the past 20 years. She has provided direct services to the children, youth, and families of South Los Angeles. She also led the development and implementation of multiple programs, including a 0-5 assessment and intervention program, an intensive community-based mental health program working with the chronically mentally ill and transitional aged youth. Currently, Caliboso-Soto is the Assistant Director of Community and Clinical Programs. She oversees the clinic's clinical operations and the training of MSW interns at the Trauma Recovery Center (TRC@USC) and the Telebehavioral Health Clinic. Her focus is on utilizing telebehavioral health practice and closing the health gap for underserved children and families in California.

This course will satisfy the recently signed AB 1759, which requires applicants for licensure to have completed a minimum of three hours of training in the provision of mental health services via telehealth or virtual platform. The COVID-19 pandemic triggered the increased need for telebehavioral health services. With this need comes the need to ensure an understanding of law and ethics related to using technology to deliver much-needed services. This course will review the law and ethics of providing mental health services via telehealth. This training will also discuss how telehealth services have played a key role in meeting mental health needs. Recent data and research will highlight telehealth services' effectiveness for specific disorders and conditions.

Learning Objectives

• Define terminology basic to telehealth, telemental health, telebehavioral health, and technology.
• Describe the legal and ethical considerations of delivering services and behavioral health treatment via technology
• Introduce research that has demonstrated the effectiveness of telebehavioral health practices and identify best practices in telebehavioral health.
• Recognize risk management and ethical issues arising from the use of technology and online platforms to serve clients.

Open to all eligible individuals. The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.