Jennifer Henius, MSW, LCSW

The Social Work Lens

How social work shapes my work in technology

My social work background deeply shapes how I understand technology and approach its design and implementation. Social work taught me to look beyond the immediate problem and examine the systems, policies, relationships, and inequities surrounding it. It also taught me that technology is never neutral. The tools and systems we create reflect the assumptions, priorities, and power structures of the people and institutions behind them.

That perspective leads me to ask important questions: Who is this designed to serve? Who may be excluded? What unintended consequences could emerge? Have the people most affected been meaningfully included in the process?

I bring empathy, ethical reasoning, systems thinking, and a person-in-environment perspective to digital health and responsible AI. I also understand that successful innovation is not simply about introducing a new tool. It requires trust, accessibility, meaningful participation, thoughtful implementation, and effective change management.

My goal is to help organizations create and implement technology that strengthens human connection, improves access to care and services, supports well-being, and leads to more equitable outcomes.