week 2 post3 soc

Promoting social justice is one of the core values of the social work profession. Discuss the various roles a social worker can play in this struggle and the potential challenges they may face. Discuss the ways in which the values of the social work profession overlap with a Christian worldview in the area of promoting social justice.

Gabriela Thompson

Hello everyone,

Social justice is the recognition and battle to decrease the suffering experienced by humanity. Social workers are at the forefront of the social work battles as they work alongside of these individuals who have found themselves experiencing less than desirable times. Social workers work with individuals who are facing troubles such as poverty, hunger, addiction, and mental illness. One of the primary struggles that social workers face is seeing what seems like a never-ending client flow of injustice, which may leave the social worker feeling that they are not making a difference in their community. Social work and Christianity have many similar goals that can very easily be used together to achieve social justice. The primary similarity is that both Christianity and social work intentionally fight back against the pain and suffering experienced by the poor and oppressed. The Christian worldview is also in line with the NASW Code of Ethics and affirms the way that social workers are able to go about achieving social justice for their clients (Pryor Kasch, 2020).

Given the following circumstances, use the NASW Code of Ethics to discuss which ethical values/principles are involved and how you would react. Why?

When working with a minor client, he/she admits to using alcohol and then later asks you not to tell his/her parent.

A client you have been working with for 18 months asks if you would like to go out for coffee after their session.

This goes with the second post

Brittany Meyer-Lee

Hello,

In general, the right to privacy in treatment is connected to the right to consent to treatment. Because a child cannot legally consent to treatment, the parent often acts as a personal representative for the child. Most children do not have a legal right to privacy from their parents, as a parent may need certain information in order to consent to treatment (Behnke & Warner, 2002). According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics (2021), the social worker’s commitment to their clients explains that the primary goal of the social worker is to promote the wellbeing of the clients. Therefore Section 1.03(a) of the NASW Code of Ethics (2021) explains (a) Social workers should provide services to clients only in the context of a professional relationship based, when appropriate, on valid informed consent. Having a consent in place allows the client to fully understand that the consent is in place and if the Social workers has to get third party involved, they can do so. It would be advised to the client to confront their parents of the alcohol use and if they are not willing then offer a group session with consent of the client that way it gives the client some sort of security to how parents and or guardian may react to the information being provided to them. Also in Section 1.07(c) of the NASW Code of Ethics (2021) explains that social workers should protect the confidentiality of all information that is obtained unless it is to prevent serious harm from the client or others. Young people are at greater risk of alcohol-related harm than adults. As the brain keeps developing into the mid-twenties, drinking alcohol as a teenager can greatly increase the risk of damage to the developing brain. It can also lead to problems with alcoholism later in life (NIAAA, 2021).

According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics (2021), Part 1.03(a) of the Code of Ethics explains that social workers should only provide services to clients on a professional level. If a clients is asking a professional for coffee outside of appointments then that professional can simply remind the client of their ethical code and guidelines and that they are only to provide professional services and that going out for coffee can break those ethical code and boundaries and to continue services it would be advised they keep it professional. Most clients fully understand once they are reminded and their will be times that their will be clients that become infatuated that is when it is time to staff and transfer client to another professional to stay clear of any possible situation that the client maybe capable. It could be explained that it is for their protection and the social workers protection.