08 Oct The Values and Standards of the NASW Code of Ethics should guide your thinking about how to handle each dilemma.

The set of cases you need to review is about Practice Ethical Scenarios – Children.  There is a scenario, followed by the standards that refer to the dilemma.  In other words, as we look at the Code of Ethics, after the guiding values, we come face to face with the different standards that refer to clients, colleagues, agency, the profession, etc.  You are expected to review The Code and write the appropriate standards that refer to the particular scenario.  The last step is to give your educated understanding of the dilemma and what could/might be a resolution.  Remember, social workers work in agencies that usually have many other disciplines.  Therefore, it doesn’t mean the social work value resolution is the best, right or only way to resolve a dilemmas an example.

 

The next set of scenarios is 3 Ethical Scenarios which again will help you understand what this assignment is asking.

 

When taking the test, I am looking for the appropriate Ethical Standards (Number and Name) and how you arrived at your answers.  The Values and Standards of the NASW Code of Ethics should guide your thinking about how to handle each dilemma.  Therefore, what standards are involved and how does this guide your thinking about how to handle each scenario.  I will send you an appropriate response for Scenario #1, because it is complicated.  You will address 8 of the remaining scenarios.  The Standards widll be listed by you by their number and description.  Tell me what guided your thinking in puzzling out your answer.  Again, I will be emailing you the first scenario with an explanation as an example.

 

Scenarios.  There are 12 ethical dilemmas attached. I did #1.  Pick 8 (eight) of the remaining 11 (eleven) scenarios.  Please use the number that is recorded on the scenario sheet. For each scenarios please provide the following information: a) Read the ethical dilemma carefully;  b) List the Ethical Standards that pertain to each scenario, at least three for each one; and c) Using your critical thinking skills, write out what you think the decision should be and why.  Therefore, you will address 8 scenarios with the Ethical Standards and Ethical Reasoning.  The Ethical Standards are to be listed with the appropriate number from the Code of Ethics and the appropriate title.  Example 1.03 =  Informed Consent.  Using your critical thinking skills please cite a reason for selecting the question to your delimma. Your decision should take about two paragraphs for each dilemma to adequately explain how you arrived at your answer.

 

 Please enter your work under the assignment listed under Module 1 Ethics using a .doc, .docx, or .pdf   Complete 8 out of the remaining 11 ethical scenarios using their appropriate number of the scenario selected.  Again, please use the scenario number so I can identify the dilemmas you are addressing.

 

Papers must be typed in 12pt Times New Roman or Arial with one inch borders and without grammatical error.  

 

Before taking this test, I will mail you onc example with an explanation.

 

ETHICAL DILEMMA #1

 

Yvonne is a child protective services worker.  After receiving a referral, she or other assigned workers will “investigate reports of child abuse and neglect, assess the degree of harm and the ongoing risk of harm to the child, determine whether the child can remain safely in the home or should be placed in the custody of the state, and work closely with the family or juvenile court regarding appropriate plans for the child’s safety and well-being.” (Liederman, 1995).

 

 

 

Yvonne has a client, Lolita, four, who was allegedly abused by both parents,  Lolita currently resides with her mother, Reza, while Reza is receiving counseling and other services including job training.  Bill, Lolita’s father, no longer lives in the home but has told Yvonne he would like to seek custody of Lolita.  Bills Yvonne to complain about Reza’s treatment of Lolita.  He states that Lolita often wets her bed at night and Reza simply ignores it.  Reza subsequently allows Lolita to sleep in her wet bed.  Then, even worse, the next day or night Reza does not change the sheets or Lolita.  Yvonne notes carefully what Bill tells her in Lolita’s case record.                                                                   The next day, Reza calls Yvonne. In a panic.  She cries that bill is threatening to take Lolita away from her.  Reza says Bill told her he called Yvonne to complain about Reza’s treatment of Lolita.  Reza stresses that she does not want to lose her little girl.  She demands to see Yvonne’s records.

 

What should Yvonne do:  Show Reza the incriminating records, or not?

 

ETHICAL DILEMMA #2

 

Herman is a substance abuse counselor.  He is currently seeing an alcoholic client, Anne, age thirty-seven.  Herman views Anna as a timid, needy woman who is working on increasing her self-esteem, problem solving skills, and assertiveness in the context of addressing her alcohol problem.  Treatment is going exceptionally well.  Anne has not been drinking for months and has been attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings regularly.  Anne is very grateful to Herman for all she feels he has done for her.  One day at the end of the counseling session, Anne walks up to Herman and says, “I really need a hug!”  What should Herman do?  On the one hand, Anne is needy of approval and affection.  She wishes to convey her gratitude to Herman.  On the other, her does not want to convey inappropriate feelings that do not exist.         

 

Should he allow Anne to hug him or not?

 

ETHICAL DILEMMA #3 

 

Sue married Jim two years after the biological father of her daughter disappear seemingly from the face of the earth.  They have now been married for seven years.  Andrea, eight and Jim have become very close.  Jim feels just like Andrea is his biological daughter.  Jim and Sue pursue the possibility of Jim adopting Andrea.   Mary Ellen is the adoption worker assigned to the case.  She helps with the relatively complex process of having the biological father relinquish his parental rights for Andrea when he is nowhere to be found.  Mary Ellen has completed a number of stepparent adoptions and has become quite competent in their successful completion.  Jim and Sue are very thankful.  They gave Mary Ellen a $50 gift certificate for a popular local restaurant.

 

            Is this appropriate or not?  Should Mary Ellen keep the gift or return it?  What is the ethical thing to do?

 

 ETHICAL DILEMMA #4

 

Lloyd is a social worker at a group home for people are cognitively challenged or have cognitive disabilities (the former, more negative term is mentally retarded).  Ellie, thirty-five, has been a resident at the group home for eight years.  She has relatively high adaptive functioning in terms of daily living skills, can read at the fourth-grade level, and has successfully worked at a sheltered workshop since entering the group home.  She has no known relatives.  The court has designated a lawyer as her guardian  ad litem (that is, a court appointee whose responsibility is to “preserve and manage affairs of another person who is considered incapable of managing his or her own affairs,” especially when court actions are involved).

 

            Without warning, Ellie cheerfully approaches Lloyd one day and informs him that she has saved enough money to go to Disney World, her dream of a lifetime.  She chatters on about getting the tickets and taking her first airplane ride.  Lloyd is familiar with Ellie’s capabilities and strong feels this endeavor is far beyond her capabilities.  What should he do?

 

ETHICAL DILEMMA #5

 

Ricardo is a social services worker who specializes in teaching parents’ effective child management skills.  Over the past six months, he has been working with Irma, a former crack user, to gain control of her four children’s behavior.  Although it was very difficult at first for Irma to trust Ricardo, they now have established a trusting relationship in which Irma feels free to discuss difficult issues with Ricardo.  Ideally, Ricardo would like to continue work with Irma for the next several months.  However, he has been transferred to another unit’s position with a higher salary.  Irma has achieved many of the major goals, but still could make significant improvements in how she treats her children.  Ricardo feels it would be very difficult for Irma to become accustomed to and work with another worker.  What should he do?

 

ETHICAL DILEMMA #6

 

Nick is a counselor for teenagers with severe emotional and behavioral problems who reside in a residential treatment center.  He sees himself as a shy person who finds it difficult to confront issues in conflicted situations.  As a member of an interdisciplinary team, he attends a staffing for one of his clients at which progress is reviewed and plans established.  Dr. Schmaltz, the psychiatrist attending the meeting, is a powerful authoritarian man who makes strong points completely in opposition to what Nick is proposing for the client being reviewed.  Dr. Schmaltz commands much authority and respect among other staff.  What should Nick do?

 

 ETHICAL DILEMMA #7

 

Chuck is a youth counselor at an urban YMCA.  He is in his early twenties, good at sports, familiar with young people’s jargon, and, thus, extremely popular with his teenage clientele.  Emilio is another youth counselor at the same agency.  One night after work, Emilio accidentally observes Check smoking a joint with two of his clients in the shadows of an alley.  After serious thought, the next day Emilio confronts Chuck about his behavior.  Chuck responds that it was only marijuana and it provided a way for him to “join with” and be accepted by some of his clients.  Chuck rationalizes that smoking joints prevents many young people from using harder, more dangerous drugs.  Chuck implies that Emilio is just jealous of Chuck’s good rapport with the clientele.  What should Emilio do now?

 

 ETHICAL DILEMMA #8

 

Willie Lee, twenty-three, is a resident in a center for people who have cognitive disabilities.  Willie Lee can eat by himself and take care of most of his daily hygiene needs.  His vocabulary is small, but he usually understands much more than he can express.  Willie Lee is a very friendly person who socializes well with  peers and is generally respectful of staff.  He looks forward to his father’s rare visits, sometimes only once or twice a year.  His mother died at birth.

 

            Willie Lee’s father, Horace, has recently remarried and is moving across the continent.  He has hired an attorney and wants to terminate his guardianship and responsibility for Willie Lee.  Horace has always found Willie Lee to be a burden and has been embarrassed by his disability.  Horace feels this is his chance to abandon the whole problem and not to think about it anymore.  Although Willie Lee is always happy when Horace visits, he never asks about him.  This may be partially due to Willie Lee’s  communication difficulties.

 

            Horace succeeds in terminating his rights and moves away.  He informs the center that he plans on having no further contact with Willie Lee.

 

            Should the center social worker inform Willie Lee of this turn of events.  Does Willie Lee have the right to know about his father’s status?

 

ETHICAL DILEMMA #9

 

Ling, eighty-six, is a bed-bound resident in a nursing home.  Although she has numerous physical difficulties, she has maintained fairly strong mental faculties.  She enjoys the company of her two daughters who visit regularly.  Ling’s physician has just discovered that Ling has developed a lethal form of intestinal cancer and has only weeks, possibly months, to live.  Ling’s daughters beg the nursing home social worker not to tell Ling of her condition.  They plan to visit Ling daily and want her to enjoy her time as best she can.  They feel that informing her about the cancer would only ruin her last days.

 

            What should the social work do?  Should she inform Ling of her conditioner?  What are the pros and cons of informing or not informing?

 

ETHICAL DILEMMA #10

 

Sissy is a financial assistance worker.  Agency policy requires her to report any extra income clients may earn.  The exact amount of such income is the deducted from their financial assistance checks.  An excited client, Bertha, with four children, burst out, “I’m so happy!  My neighbor is going to pay me to take care of her two children while she works.  This will do wonders for my grocery bill.”

 

            As her worker, what should Sissy do?  Should she report the additional income and thereby decrease her financial assistance check?  If so, should she tell Bertha what she plans to do?  What might Bertha’s reaction be?  Or should Sissy keep her statement confidential, thereby disobeying agency policy?  What is the ethical thing to do?

 

ETHICAL DILEMMA #11

 

Chuck works for a social services agency serving almost all Hispanic and African American clients.  All the social workers and administrations are white.  None of the professional staff speak Spanish.  Chuck is very concerned about this situation but hesitates to make waves.  It is such a major problem.  He feels too insignificant to take it on himself.  Yet, he can’t keep it from bothering him.

 

            How might clients be better served?  What options might Chuck consider pursing?  What is the ethical thing to do?

 

ETHICAL DILEMMA #12

 

Lao is a social worker at a shelter and treatment center for runaways.  The center typically uses volunteers to serve many of its functions, including counseling youth and families.  Although volunteers receive twenty hours of training.  Lai feel this does not make them competent to counsel young people and their families.

 

            What, if anything, is wrong with this agency’s volunteer policy?  What might Lai to do make changes?  What might those changes be?  What is the ethical thing to do?