Monday, August 6, 2012

The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human wellbeing and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. A historic and defining feature of social work is the profession’s focus on individual wellbeing in a social context and the wellbeing of society. Fundamental to social work is attention to the environmental forces that create, contribute to, and address problems in living.

Social workers promote social justice and social change with and on behalf of clients. “Clients” is used inclusively to refer to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers are sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity and strive to end discrimination, oppression, poverty, and other forms of social injustice. These activities may be in the form of direct practice, community organizing, supervision, consultation administration, advocacy, social and political action, policy development and implementation, education, and research and evaluation. Social workers seek to enhance the capacity of people to address their own needs. Social workers also seek to promote the responsiveness of organizations, communities, and other social institutions to individuals’ needs and social problems.

The mission of the social work profession is rooted in a set of core values. These core values, embraced by social workers throughout the profession’s history, are the foundation of social work’s unique purpose and perspective:

service
social justice
dignity and worth of the person
importance of human relationships
integrity
competence.

This constellation of core values reflects what is unique to the social work profession. Core values, and the principles that flow from them, must be balanced within the context and complexity of the human experience.

Ethical Principles

The following broad ethical principles are based on social work’s core values of service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. These principles set forth ideals to which all social workers should aspire.

Value: Service

Ethical Principle: Social workers’ primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems.
Social workers elevate service to others above selfinterest. Social workers draw on their knowledge, values, and skills to help people in need and to address social problems. Social workers are encouraged to volunteer some portion of their professional skills with no expectation of significant financial return (pro bono service).

Value: Social Justice

Ethical Principle: Social workers challenge social injustice.
Social workers pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups of people. Social workers’ social change efforts are focused primarily on issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice. These activities seek to promote sensitivity to and knowledge about oppression and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers strive to ensure access to needed information, services, and resources; equality of opportunity; and meaningful participation in decision making for all people.

Value: Dignity and Worth of the Person

Ethical Principle: Social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person.
Social workers treat each person in a caring and respectful fashion, mindful of individual differences and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers promote clients’ socially responsible selfdetermination. Social workers seek to enhance clients’ capacity and opportunity to change and to address their own needs. Social workers are cognizant of their dual responsibility to clients and to the broader society. They seek to resolve conflicts between clients’ interests and the broader society’s interests in a socially responsible manner consistent with the values, ethical principles, and ethical standards of the profession.

Value: Importance of Human Relationships

Ethical Principle: Social workers recognize the central importance of human relationships.
Social workers understand that relationships between and among people are an important vehicle for change. Social workers engage people as partners in the helping process. Social workers seek to strengthen relationships among people in a purposeful effort to promote, restore, maintain, and enhance the wellbeing of individuals, families, social groups, organizations, and communities.

Value: Integrity

Ethical Principle: Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner.
Social workers are continually aware of the profession’s mission, values, ethical principles, and ethical standards and practice in a manner consistent with them. Social workers act honestly and responsibly and promote ethical practices on the part of the organizations with which they are affiliated.

Value: Competence

Ethical Principle: Social workers practice within their areas of competence and develop and enhance their professional expertise.
Social workers continually strive to increase their professional knowledge and skills and to apply them in practice. Social workers should aspire to contribute to the knowledge base of the profession.

Purpose of the NASW Code of Ethics

Professional ethics are at the core of social work. The profession has an obligation to articulate its basic values, ethical principles, and ethical standards. The NASW Code of Ethics sets forth these values, principles, and standards to guide social workers’ conduct. The Code is relevant to all social workers and social work students, regardless of their professional functions, the settings in which they work, or the populations they serve.
The NASW Code of Ethics serves six purposes:

The Code identifies core values on which social work’s mission is based.
The Code summarizes broad ethical principles that reflect the profession’s core values and establishes a set of specific ethical standards that should be used to guide social work practice.
The Code is designed to help social workers identify relevant considerations when professional obligations conflict or ethical uncertainties arise.
The Code provides ethical standards to which the general public can hold the social work profession accountable.
The Code socializes practitioners new to the field to social work’s mission, values, ethical principles, and ethical standards.
The Code articulates standards that the social work profession itself can use to assess whether social workers have engaged in unethical conduct. NASW has formal procedures to adjudicate ethics complaints filed against its members.* In subscribing to this Code, social workers are required to cooperate in its implementation, participate in NASW adjudication proceedings, and abide by any NASW disciplinary rulings or sanctions based on it.

The Code offers a set of values, principles, and standards to guide decision making and conduct when ethical issues arise. It does not provide a set of rules that prescribe how social workers should act in all situations. Specific applications of theCode must take into account the context in which it is being considered and the possibility of conflicts among the Code‘svalues, principles, and standards. Ethical responsibilities flow from all human relationships, from the personal and familial to the social and professional.

Further, the NASW Code of Ethics does not specify which values, principles, and standards are most important and ought to outweigh others in instances when they conflict. Reasonable differences of opinion can and do exist among social workers with respect to the ways in which values, ethical principles, and ethical standards should be rank ordered when they conflict. Ethical decision making in a given situation must apply the informed judgment of the individual social worker and should also consider how the issues would be judged in a peer review process where the ethical standards of the profession would be applied.

Ethical decision making is a process. There are many instances in social work where simple answers are not available to resolve complex ethical issues. Social workers should take into consideration all the values, principles, and standards in this Code that are relevant to any situation in which ethical judgment is warranted. Social workers’ decisions and actions should be consistent with the spirit as well as the letter of this Code.

In addition to this Code, there are many other sources of information about ethical thinking that may be useful. Social workers should consider ethical theory and principles generally, social work theory and research, laws, regulations, agency policies, and other relevant codes of ethics, recognizing that among codes of ethics social workers should consider theNASW Code of Ethics as their primary source. Social workers also should be aware of the impact on ethical decision making of their clients’ and their own personal values and cultural and religious beliefs and practices. They should be aware of any conflicts between personal and professional values and deal with them responsibly. For additional guidance social workers should consult the relevant literature on professional ethics and ethical decision making and seek appropriate consultation when faced with ethical dilemmas. This may involve consultation with an agencybased or social work organization’s ethics committee, a regulatory body, knowledgeable colleagues, supervisors, or legal counsel.

Instances may arise when social workers’ ethical obligations conflict with agency policies or relevant laws or regulations. When such conflicts occur, social workers must make a responsible effort to resolve the conflict in a manner that is consistent with the values, principles, and standards expressed in this Code. If a reasonable resolution of the conflict does not appear possible, social workers should seek proper consultation before making a decision.

The NASW Code of Ethics is to be used by NASW and by individuals, agencies, organizations, and bodies (such as licensing and regulatory boards, professional liability insurance providers, courts of law, agency boards of directors, government agencies, and other professional groups) that choose to adopt it or use it as a frame of reference. Violation of standards in this Code does not automatically imply legal liability or violation of the law. Such determination can only be made in the context of legal and judicial proceedings. Alleged violations of the Code would be subject to a peer review process. Such processes are generally separate from legal or administrative procedures and insulated from legal review or proceedings to allow the profession to counsel and discipline its own members.

A code of ethics cannot guarantee ethical behavior. Moreover, a code of ethics cannot resolve all ethical issues or disputes or capture the richness and complexity involved in striving to make responsible choices within a moral community. Rather, a code of ethics sets forth values, ethical principles, and ethical standards to which professionals aspire and by which their actions can be judged. Social workers’ ethical behavior should result from their personal commitment to engage in ethical practice. The NASW Code of Ethics reflects the commitment of all social workers to uphold the profession’s values and to act ethically. Principles and standards must be applied by individuals of good character who discern moral questions and, in good faith, seek to make reliable ethical judgments.

Monday, July 23, 2012

License Exam: The Social Work Intervention Model / Problem-Solving Method

View each question in light of how you would approach work with a client, as a process of social work, and in time-order. In other words, what do you do FIRST when you are assisting a client? What happens NEXT in the process?

ENGAGE > COLLECT INFO > ASSESS > SET GOALS / PLAN TREATMENT > EVALUATE > TERMINATE

1. Engage the client. Develop rapport and cultivate the professional/therapeutic relationship.

2. Collect information from the client, relevant to the challenges that brought her to seek services

3. Assess the client’s needs with this information (may include diagnosis in some social work roles)

4. Set goals for and plan treatment, always putting the client’s needs first, as well as her choices about challenges to address and the methods used. Keep in the forefront of your mind that every client is a worthy person with the right to self-determination.

5. Evaluate the work done, including process, methods, outcomes, and progress made

6. Terminate the relationship with the client in a manner that supports her continuing human needs.

Another perspective on the social work process stresses the importance of aiding clients as they address their own challenges, whereby social workers use the least-invasive methods and intervene only after assisting in other ways:.

1. Feelings

2. Assess

3. Refer

4. Educate

5. Advocate

6. Facilitate

7. Intervene

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

NPR Audio: Coping With College And Mental Illness

Entering College (with Autism, ADHD, and Depression)

An Autistic Student's Journey To College : NPR

On Morning Edition, a great story about managing in college when one is diagnosed with mental health issues. In this story, a student entering college talks about registering with Disability Services on-campus when he's dealt with several long-term illnesses from a young age. He mentions planning to register with the office, even though he doesn't feel as if he needs services now -- he wants them to know that he comes with diagnoses and that now at the school.

It's smart to register because you get to learn about possible services that can be of immense help and you also have a contact to guide you through the process, who can also step in if They talk about making the transition from home to school and necessary steps they need to take to make his experience successful.

Many students either don't know they have a mental/behavioral health disorder, or are in the dark about how to get help or the fact that they deserve support int he form of accommodations. However, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures that a wide variety of accommodations are available for people with all types of disabilities (or, rather, different abilities from the majority) that help everyone to exist on more level playing field, and, in effect, increasing social justice in our culture.

Too often, work flow proceeds in a traditional way that no one questions because they have no trouble following those practices. It's always been (done) that way? But, discerning critical thinkers realize that these are just as socially created as "work" is itself. There are a million different ways to do most tasks and to be productive. Using the resources offered by the ADA is a way of celebrating the rights of all people, even those in the majority as far as abilities go.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Quit Smoking NOW: Smokefree.gov Resources

Smokefree.gov: Reasons for Quitting

Smokefree.gov: Smoking Triggers

Smokefree.gov: Putting a Stop to Smoky Thinking

Clearing the Air (2011) - Smokefree.gov's Online Guide to Quitting
for all smokers interested in quitting

This booklet is designed to help you at any stage—whether you’re still thinking about quitting, have made the decision to quit, or have already taken steps to quit and just need help maintaining your new lifestyle. Both ex-smokers and experts have contributed to this guide. Clearing the Air can help people at all stages make it to their final goal—living smokefree.
AVAILABLE AS PDF TO SAVE OR PRINT, TOO!

Forever Free™ (2011)
for smokers who have recently quit

Congratulations! You’ve made the decision to stop smoking, and have taken real steps to quit. Now comes the next step: Staying smokefree. People who quit smoking initially fight to overcome their body’s addiction to the drug nicotine. But afterward, they still face challenges that can tempt them to smoke. Forever Free™ includes eight booklets that describe these challenges and ways to deal with them without smoking. Among the topics are controlling weight gain, dealing with stress, and what to do if you have that first cigarette.
AVAILABLE AS PDF TO SAVE OR PRINT, TOO!

Forever Free for Baby and Me™ (2004)
for pregnant smokers who have recently quit

Congratulations on quitting smoking! You have taken one of the most important health steps that a woman can take. The fact that you asked for Forever Free for Baby and Me means that you want to stay smokefree for you, your baby, and your family. You can succeed! Your commitment, along with the Forever Free for Baby and Me booklets, should increase your chance of success!
AVAILABLE AS PDF TO SAVE OR PRINT, TOO!

Libres Para Siempre por mi Bebé y por Mí™(2004)
para fumadoras embarazadas que han dejado de fumar recientemente

¡Felicidades por dejar de fumar! Usted ha dado uno de los pasos más importantes que una mujer puede dar. El hecho de haber pedido información sobre "Libres para siempre por mi bebé y por mí" significa que desea vivir sin fumar: por su bien, el de su bebé y el de su familia. ¡Puede lograrlo! ¡Ese compromiso y los folletos de "Libres para siempre por mi bebé y por mí" mejorarán sus probabilidades de éxito!
AVAILABLE AS PDF TO SAVE OR PRINT, TOO!

Guía: Viva de forma más saludable para usted y su familia, deje de fumar hoy mismo (2011)
para fumadores de habla hispana

El número de habitantes de habla hispana está aumentando rápidamente y, pronto, ellos llegarán a ser el segundo grupo étnico más grande en los Estados Unidos. Junto con este crecimiento, hay una necesidad mayor de materiales en español que podrían ayudar a la población de habla hispana a dejar de fumar y ha mantenerse así. Escritas para quienes piensan dejar de fumar o quienes ya han dejado de fumar, estas 44 páginas están llenas de fotos, dibujos llamativos y contenido que se basa en la cultura hispana.
AVAILABLE AS PDF TO SAVE OR PRINT, TOO!

Pathways to Freedom
for African American smokers

This guide was developed to address the national concern over the high rates of smoking among the African-American population. This updated edition (2003) offers proven strategies for anyone who wants to quit; how friends and family can help, and how the community and its leaders can promote the value of gaining freedom from tobacco.
AVAILABLE AS PDF TO SAVE OR PRINT, TOO!

Smokeless Tobacco: A Guide for Quitting
for young men who have decided to quit using spit tobacco

This booklet is designed specifically for young men who have decided to quit using spit tobacco or who are thinking about quitting. It includes reasons to quit, addresses myths about spit tobacco, and helps the reader develop a plan for quitting.

AVAILABLE AS PDF TO SAVE OR PRINT, TOO!

Fact Sheets and FAQs
for smokers and non-smokers looking to learn about the impact of smoking

19 Fact Sheets and set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) providing information about cigarettes and other tobacco products, environmental tobacco smoke, and additional topics.

AVAILABLE AS PDF TO SAVE OR PRINT, TOO!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

NPR Audio: Diagnosis Can Miss ADHD Symptoms In Girls

Diagnosis Can Miss ADHD Symptoms In Girls

Listen to the Story

The majority of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) research has focused on boys. But recent research shows that many girls who have ADHD simply aren't diagnosed — ADHD manifests itself in girls as detachment and distraction rather than in the disruptive behavior often seen in boys.

Until, recently the majority of ADHD research has concentrated on those boys. But, even though young men do struggle with ADHD look beyond them and you'll see girls who are fighting the disorder. Only, they tend to be staring out a window - distracted and disconnected. These girls often are under-diagnosed and at a higher risk for depression, substance abuse, eating disorders and trouble with their peers.

Stacie E Hebert, LMSW - Licensed Master Social Worker

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