NEED IN 7 HOURS or LESS (NO EXCEPTION)

Answer the initial discussion (below), then reply to the classmate’s response to the discussion by following the instructions as instructed below to classmate’s post.

INITIAL 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. Above all else, do no harm. Hippocrates put this in words over 2,000 years ago, and it's still Rule Number One.

You have volunteered to run a community violence-prevention program, working with kids who are gang members or gang hangers-on. The kids trust you, and sometimes tell you about some of their less-than-savory activities. The police also know you work with gang members and often ask you for information about kids. What are you obligated to tell them or to keep from them?

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're concerned with, do you nonetheless have an obligation to become involved? What if you don't 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? What if your support or activism endangers or compromises your community intervention? Your initial post should be at least 300 words in length.

Respond to the Classmate’s Discussion (below) as you would in a face to face class by stating why you agree and asking questions pertaining to the discussion.

CLASSMATE’S DISCUSSION (Patricia)

Violence is a leading cause of death and nonfatal injuries among adolescents and young adults. Young people are disproportionately impacted by violence in their communities, including firearm injuries and deaths. As, for the police asking questions about gangs I would start by respecting everyone's human, civil, and legal rights. Also, this encompasses such issues as non-discrimination and cultural sensitivity. I will not abuse my position or exploit a participant to gain a personal advantage or to exercise power over another person. This refers to taking advantage of participants or others for political, social, sexual, or financial gain. Actively strive to improve or correct, to the extent possible, the situations of participants in your program and the community. In other words, it's incumbent on you to try to create the best and most effective program possible to meet the needs of participants, and to address underlying conditions or situations in a way that will benefit the community as a whole.

An organization that has a reputation for ethical action is far more likely to be respected by both participants and the community as a whole than one that has been known to be unethical in the past. An organization that's recognized as ethical is also apt to be seen as competent, and to be trusted to treat people with respect and to do what it says it will do. That community trust makes it easier to recruit staff, volunteers, Board members, and participants, and to raise money and public support. Also, volunteers seem to be learning new skills in offering mentoring support and this role is helping consolidate their links with thrive and involvement with other work. When we seek to address problems through community interventions, we discover the importance of the environment and potential community partners (Shinn & Toohey, 2003).

Respond to the Classmate’s Discussion (below) as you would in a face to face class by stating why you agree and asking questions pertaining to the discussion.

CLASSMATE’S DISCUSSION (Katie)

Local action also holds the advantage of the donor being able to acquire hands-on knowledge and information about what is needed in the community. Rather than trying to impose — as an outsider — ideas of what constitutes “help” and what a community needs, people can base their actions on local problems. (Kass, 2012)

On the other hand, there is much more that needs to be done in the world than just what we can be seen in any given community. The relative weight of the needs in one’s own community may not be as pressing or dire as needs elsewhere .(Kass, 2012)

If I were to hold a position in a community volunteer program I would ensure that all information told to me would be upheld as confidential by all laws and regulations. If the police were to come to me regarding a gang member that comes to my organization, I would research all laws and confidentiality procedures prior to giving any information.

Of course I would always want to the protect my community and prevent further gang activity, however I also want to keep the relationships that I have built with these children. I would like to think that I was making a difference in their lives and steering them away from the gang-related activity. They are coming to this program for a reason, whether it being required or on their own will.

Children that are in these types of programs want help and need help. They are trusting that the adults assisting them are trustworthy and are there to help them and not harm them. I deal with some of this in the children I see in schools, and while it easy to want to report the activity they are performing, they trust you and look up to you for advice. Building relationships and keeping them is an important part of life, and ethically speaking it is not our place to break the rules when maintain them.

Reference:

Kass, J. (2013). Helping or Hurting? The Ethics of Voluntourism [Web page]. Retrieved from https://www.brandeis.edu/ethics/ethicalinquiry/2013/May.htmlLinks to an external site