discussion

Ethics is a code of thinking and behavior governed by a combination of personal, moral, legal, and social standards of what is right. Although the definition of "right" varies with situations and cultures, its meaning in the context of a community work involves many guiding principles with which most community activists and service providers would probably agree. If you are actively striving to do "good," how far does that obligation take you? If there are issues affecting the community that have nothing to do directly with the one, you are concerned with, do you nonetheless have an obligation to become involved? What if you do not really understand the whole situation, and your involvement may do as much harm as good—do you still have an ethical obligation to support or become active on the right side? Do you agree with thoughts below?

Youth violence is a real problem that can have a long-lasting impact on the health and well-being on an individual. The violence is intended to use a form of physical or power to threaten and harm others. The target victims are usually unrelated to the young person and someone that that either don’t know or don’t know well. Besides gang-related violence it can also include fighting, bullying, forms of weapons and threats. “Thousands of people experience youth violence every day. While the extent and types of youth violence vary across communities and demographic groups, youth violence negatively impacts youth in all communities—urban, suburban, rural, and tribal”. (CDC, 2020)  

There are lasting and serious effects that the youth violence can bring which are but not limited to, perpetration, victimization, substance abuse, depression, and suicide. The impacts of youth violence can go beyond just physical consequences and it is the leading cause of death and resulting in more than 400,000 nonfatal injuries every year. (CDC, 2020) Not only is this worldwide problem affecting our youth, it also affects our families and the communities we live in. According to the CDC, homicides are the leading cause of deaths for our youth ranging between the ages 10 to 24 years of age. It is estimated that 14 youths die from homicide every day, but despise these statistics, the prevention of youth violence is possible.  

When it comes to volunteering at the center, the goal is to generally supervise and interact with the youth groups, helping them with their problems and making sure that their emotional, mental and physical needs are being met. Giving them a place to turn to that will not judge them yet helps them become the best that they can be, and at times helping them see the person inside themselves that couldn’t otherwise.  

The codes of ethics are the same as there are anywhere and at any other time. As a counselor you have a duty to keep the discussions between you and the other person. As well as having to breach confidentially, the Duty to Warn or ethical duty falls in place when the discussions become clear that there is intent to harm another person or themselves.  It is the duty of the counselor to put the well-being and protect that person or another when they may be placed in danger. “Various ethical concerns have been raised in connection with voluntourism over the past quarter century in particular.” (Kass, 2013)