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100 words for QS1 and 100 words of response to each discussion forum

QS 1: what is at least one relevant current ethical or compliance standard (briefly cited and referenced noting the name of the exact standard) from the most current relevant ethical code or compliance standards? Please explain how that standard is relevant to either lobbying or being a mental health advocate...

Forum B: There are differences between lobbying for an issue legislatively and being a mental health advocate for a client. I have been a case manager and am currently a supervisor overseeing these direct care positions, however, lobbying for issues was a new concept for me when taking this course. Mental health care advocates assist clients through communicating concerns to medical providers and social service agencies. They assist in establishing community benefits and teaching clients how to gain skills themselves to gain independence. I have sat with clients in doctor’s offices to help them communicate medical concerns or have assisted in filling out paperwork to receive social security or housing benefits. Lobbying is when a person or group advocates for specific laws or regulations that blanket an entire group of people, rather than just one individual person. Lobbying usually entails going to law makers and representatives in order to advocate for positive change.

            The American Psychological Association (2017) explains one specific compliance standard, which is “3.04, Avoiding Harm”. This standard outlines the need for psychologists to take steps to avoid physical or mental pains, suffering, or inflecting any type of behavior that creates suffering for the client. This compliance standard is important when directly advocating for an individual as we constantly need to determine if what and how we are saying things is in the best interest of the client. We want to help them in gaining independence and teach them those skills while also considering if we need to step in to assist with advocating. For instance, they may really need a place to live, so if they struggle with communication, it is in their best interest to help with establishing housing, rather than allowing them to end up homeless. Of course, we often only have so much power, making all attempts is in their best interest. It’s also good to consider when lobbying, as lobbyist should be advocating for laws and changes that are in the best interest of the group of people. It should be making attempts to help the greater good.

 

References

American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and  code of conduct (2002, amend effective June 1, 2010, and January 1, 2017). https://apa.org/ethics/code/ethics-code-2017.pdf

Forum N: In order to define differences between lobbying for an issue legislatively and being a mental health advocate for an individual client, we must understand what lobbying and advocacy is.  Advocacy and lobbying share a similar goal in bringing light to important issues.  Advocacy can be defined as arguing in favor of a cause or idea that affect people every day, such as minority rights.  Two examples of advocacy consist of (1) meeting with a government official to explain how a specific issue is affecting a particular group of peoples and (2) Utilizing social media to educate individuals on a specific cause/issue.  Lobbying is an attempt to persuade or influence a politician or public official be in favor on a specific issue, such as improving mental health equality.  Austen-Smith and Wright 1994; Rothenberg 1992; Wright 1996 (as cited in Hall & Reynolds, 2012) suggest that “The most prominent view holds that lobbying is primarily about changing legislators’ preferences over policies, to win the votes of undecided legislators when a bill comes to the floor” (p. 889). Two common examples of lobbying consist of (1) asking a member of Congress to vote for/against, amending or to introduce specific legislation and (2) to generate an online petition asking the public and/or members of an organization to contact their legislator(s) to support or oppose a certain legislation.

To put it simply, lobbying for an issue legislatively consists of approaching a member of Congress or legislature about how a particular issue such as mental health parity could improve the quality of life and treatment for a specific population, such as the homeless to influence them to vote for an amendment to the law for the issue you are lobbying.   Being a mental health advocate for a client is being the voice for your client on an issue(s) that has an influence on their life.

One relevant current ethical/compliance standard appropriate to the topic outlined by the National Organization for Human Services (2015) Ethical Standards for Human Services Professionals is standard 12, which states that human service professionals remain aware of local, state, and federal laws and that they advocate for change in regulations and/or statutes when these regulations/statutes present a conflict with ethical guidelines or a client’s rights.  This standard can cause confliction of morals and compliance with laws as well as remaining compliant in being an advocate for client’s rights.  According to Kusserow (2014), “There are two general types of surveys that can be employed to evidence compliance program effectiveness: “compliance culture survey” and “compliance knowledge survey” (p. 51).  Both surveys can be beneficial in providing insight on organization compliance effectiveness to include the effectiveness of any changes implemented into the organization’s compliance program.

Standard 12 of the National Organization for Human Services (2015) Ethical Standards for Human Services Professionals is pertinent to lobbying and being a mental health advocate because lobbyists and advocates need to remain vigilant of all laws (local, state, and federal) that have a direct impact on the lives of the individuals in which they are lobbying or advocating for.  Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to politics.

 

References

Hall Richard L., & Reynolds Molly E. (2012). Targeted Issue Advertising and Legislative Strategy: The Inside Ends of Outside Lobbying. The Journal of Politics, 74(3), 888–902. https://doi-org.proxy-library.ashford.edu/10.1017/s002238161200031x (Links to an external site.)

Kusserow, R. P. (2014). Metrics to Evidence and Benchmark Compliance Program Effectiveness. Journal of Health Care Compliance, 16(6), 49-52. Retrieved from https://www-proquest-com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/trade-journals/metrics-evidence-benchmark-compliance-program/docview/1623087519/se-2?accountid=32521 (Links to an external site.)

National Organization for Human Services. (2015). Ethical Standards for Human Services Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.nationalhumanservices.org/ethical-standards-for-hs-professionals (Links to an external site.)

Nguyen, D. (2010). The Health Care Reform Bill: Compliance Implications for Behavioral and Mental Health Services. Journal of Health Care Compliance, 12(4), 11–61.  Retrieved from https://www-proquest-com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/trade-journals/health-care-reform-bill-compliance-implications/docview/614004596/se-2?accountid=32521 (Links to an external site.)