“Integrity plays a huge part in being a helper… To have integrity means to act in a way that adheres to moral principles, for example honesty. We have to handle people’s emotions with sensitivity and care, and choose to act with good intentions.” (Smith, H., Smith, M., 2008, pp. 50)
The Human Services field was developed to respond to human need and it is essential that developing professionals gain an understanding of the ethical standards and values that shape this profession. Ethics and values help guide us in how to handle difficult situations and service delivery. These can be seen also as guiding principles or rules on how you are required to interact within your relationships with clients, co-workers, or friends and family. As developing professionals, this can be seen as acquiring an understanding in how my personal belief system can influence or be influenced by systems around me (including service delivery, client values, and other interpersonal systems).
ETHICS AND VALUES
The ethics and values as set by the Council for Standards in Human Services Education is the foundation of the Human Services Program at Western Washington University. It provides the base for how each course is taught and the way students learn to be professionals.
Though together they form an essential part of the Human Services Program when you examine them separately they are quite different. Human services ethics are the moral principles that guide professionals on how to act. This can be seen even in simple concepts as respect and dignity (two frequently discussed terms in the CORE sequence of courses). Specific to the human services profession, the National Organization for Human services created the Ethical Standards for Human Services Professionals to outline the code of ethics professionals are required to abide by at all times. This includes, but is not limited to, respecting the integrity and welfare of clients, recognize and build upon client’s strengths, represent your professional qualifications to the public accurately, and professionals seeks training experience, education and supervision necessary to ensure their effectiveness in working with culturally diverse clients. (National Organization for Human Services)
Values, however, resemble the guiding principles the Human Services system is framed with. Personal values can also shape how we do our work and live our lives. It is my understanding that these guiding principles provide a base line for ethical standards to be formed from. For example, the American Red Cross has seven important values that shape the organization. These include: universality, unity, voluntary service, independence, neutrality, impartiality, and humanity. These values guide their actions and provide meaning and support for their services. Every service they provide is required to be in line with them. The same idea goes for the entire Human Services profession. Although the values are more widespread, there is a particular set of guiding principles that shape the systemic framework.
My values paper, created in HSP 301 Human Services and Personal Systems provides evidence of my developing understanding of the values system. My ideas of values are entirely different now than they were when I began the Human Services Program. I used to believe my values were, put simply, things in life that I treasure. Although I still believe this is one form of a values system it is not the only one. Love, hope, faith, loyalty, respect and passion are the core values that I try to live by and surround my professional work with. These will be demonstrated in how I interact with the people and organizations I am around as well as how my work is presented. For a developing Human Services professional it is essential to understand what your personal values are in order to fully gain the ability to work with diverse clients. Having this understanding can lead to increased sensitivity and awareness of other’s values as well as higher cultural competency.
In developing my identity contextualized presentation I used my creative writing voice in expressing my values within individual, community, and global systems. I used country song lyrics to show different concepts throughout this project and explained how I was personally able to relate them to my learning. When I began this quarter I had a good understanding of how my values were influential to my personal growth and development as a professional. However, now that I have gone through the entire program I have a new perspective on not only how my values have been shaped but also how they can influence the people around me. For example, I highly value hope. I am frequently told that I can take any situation and make a positive spin out of it. Some people may find this off-putting and therefore will influence how they interact with me. This could lead the individual to now want to discuss their struggles with me in fear that I will not fully listen to what they are saying – but rather just see the positive.
My perspective on human services ethics and values was tested to the extreme when I interned at the Department of Child and Family Services. Looking back this was not the ideal internship experience, but it was very valuable. Every day I challenged myself to pick out at least one Human Services Ethical Standard that stood out to me and how it was being applied in my observations. This helped me to become more familiar with them through observation of practice and applying knowledge gained in the classroom. I learned how to professionally work through challenging situations in diverse and unpredictable settings.
Unfortunately the majority of my learning wasn’t through seeing how standards were being applied but rather how they were being ignored. I observed many of these same ethical standards not being fulfilled to the best of the social worker’s ability. For example, Human Services Ethical Standard #2 is one area that could be improved upon. It states that “Human Services professionals [should] respect the integrity and welfare of the client at all times. Each client is [should be] treated with respect, acceptance, and dignity.” (National Organization for Human Services, n.d.) Based on my observations this standard was lacking throughout this environment. I heard gossip and frustrated rants about clients to co-workers almost every day. I do understand that discussing client services with each other is an acceptable way of brainstorming and asking for help, however, the tone of these conversations suggested otherwise. Although there were aspects of the social worker/ client relationships I did not agree with I can say this experience was valuable to my professional development in understanding and respecting Human Services ethics and values. I have seen different perspectives on direct service delivery and the application, or lacking, of these standards. This has helped me to form my own view point of how a professional should interact with clients and apply ethical standards of practice. An example of this development is in my self-assessment from HSP 341 Practicum and Seminar II.
HSP 345 Case Management and Interventions taught me about Human Services ethics and values and how they can be used in a case management setting. I also examined how my personal belief system can affect my productivity as a case manager. My values paper provides a good idea of my development and understanding in this area. During a values exercise in class students were provided with a list of scenarios they would potentially run into as a case manager. We were required to rate each one on a scale of 1-3 on how effectively we would be able to work with that client (1 being fully able, 3 being unable). This exercise taught me how my personal belief system can affect interpersonal systems and influence the quality of my client’s service delivery.
Acknowledging your privileges within society is a big part of working within the Human Services code of ethics. As a White heterosexual female who is able bodied, I know that there are certain privileges that affect my life in various ways. With acknowledgement and understanding of these privileges and corresponding disadvantages a developing Human Services professional can become an ally for underprivileged groups and social causes they are passionate about. Understanding these socially constructed ideologies can increase a professional’s cultural competency and ability to work with diverse populations. This can be seen when advocating for policy change within a specific population or community, working with diverse clients in a case management or therapeutic setting, or in working to reduce social stigma. My developed understanding of diversity and social justice can be seen in my exploring privilege essay.
Over the course of my education in the Human Services Program, my understanding of ethics and values has changed as I have developed as a Human Services professional. Ethics and values are incorporated into every aspect of the field and play a large role in community and individual proactive change. Human Services ethical standards are shaped by the values community change agents see as an essential attitude in creating change while respecting and treating all individuals fairly and with dignity. As a developing professional I will always uphold these ethical standards and values within my work and my community. This is, I feel, the most important factor in creating change.
Standard 12: The curriculum shall include knowledge and theory of the interaction of human systems including: individual, interpersonal, group, family, organizational, community, and societal.
Standard 13: The curriculum shall address the scope of conditions that promote or inhibit human functioning.
Standard 17: Learning experiences shall be provided for the student to develop his or her interpersonal skills.
Standard 19: The curriculum shall incorporate human services values and attitudes and promote understanding of human services ethics and their application in practice.
Standard 20: The program shall provide experiences and support to enable students to develop awareness of their own values, personalities, reaction patterns, interpersonal styles, and limitations.
References:
Smith, H., & Smith, M. K. (2008). The art of helping others: Being around, being there, being wise. London, England: Arthenaeum Press, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.
National Organization for Human Services. (n.d.). Ethical standards for human services professionals. Retrieved from: http://www.nationalhumanservices.org/ethical-standards-for-hs-professionals#section_1
Kincaid, S. O. (2009). Student Guide to Capstone Portfolio Process. Available on Blackboard & http://www.wce.wwu.edu/Depts/HS/Forms/OtherForms/Student-Capstone-Guide-rev2010.pdf
American Red Cross. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://www.redcross.org/about-us/mission
Though together they form an essential part of the Human Services Program when you examine them separately they are quite different. Human services ethics are the moral principles that guide professionals on how to act. This can be seen even in simple concepts as respect and dignity (two frequently discussed terms in the CORE sequence of courses). Specific to the human services profession, the National Organization for Human services created the Ethical Standards for Human Services Professionals to outline the code of ethics professionals are required to abide by at all times. This includes, but is not limited to, respecting the integrity and welfare of clients, recognize and build upon client’s strengths, represent your professional qualifications to the public accurately, and professionals seeks training experience, education and supervision necessary to ensure their effectiveness in working with culturally diverse clients. (National Organization for Human Services)
Values, however, resemble the guiding principles the Human Services system is framed with. Personal values can also shape how we do our work and live our lives. It is my understanding that these guiding principles provide a base line for ethical standards to be formed from. For example, the American Red Cross has seven important values that shape the organization. These include: universality, unity, voluntary service, independence, neutrality, impartiality, and humanity. These values guide their actions and provide meaning and support for their services. Every service they provide is required to be in line with them. The same idea goes for the entire Human Services profession. Although the values are more widespread, there is a particular set of guiding principles that shape the systemic framework.
My values paper, created in HSP 301 Human Services and Personal Systems provides evidence of my developing understanding of the values system. My ideas of values are entirely different now than they were when I began the Human Services Program. I used to believe my values were, put simply, things in life that I treasure. Although I still believe this is one form of a values system it is not the only one. Love, hope, faith, loyalty, respect and passion are the core values that I try to live by and surround my professional work with. These will be demonstrated in how I interact with the people and organizations I am around as well as how my work is presented. For a developing Human Services professional it is essential to understand what your personal values are in order to fully gain the ability to work with diverse clients. Having this understanding can lead to increased sensitivity and awareness of other’s values as well as higher cultural competency.
In developing my identity contextualized presentation I used my creative writing voice in expressing my values within individual, community, and global systems. I used country song lyrics to show different concepts throughout this project and explained how I was personally able to relate them to my learning. When I began this quarter I had a good understanding of how my values were influential to my personal growth and development as a professional. However, now that I have gone through the entire program I have a new perspective on not only how my values have been shaped but also how they can influence the people around me. For example, I highly value hope. I am frequently told that I can take any situation and make a positive spin out of it. Some people may find this off-putting and therefore will influence how they interact with me. This could lead the individual to now want to discuss their struggles with me in fear that I will not fully listen to what they are saying – but rather just see the positive.
My perspective on human services ethics and values was tested to the extreme when I interned at the Department of Child and Family Services. Looking back this was not the ideal internship experience, but it was very valuable. Every day I challenged myself to pick out at least one Human Services Ethical Standard that stood out to me and how it was being applied in my observations. This helped me to become more familiar with them through observation of practice and applying knowledge gained in the classroom. I learned how to professionally work through challenging situations in diverse and unpredictable settings.
Unfortunately the majority of my learning wasn’t through seeing how standards were being applied but rather how they were being ignored. I observed many of these same ethical standards not being fulfilled to the best of the social worker’s ability. For example, Human Services Ethical Standard #2 is one area that could be improved upon. It states that “Human Services professionals [should] respect the integrity and welfare of the client at all times. Each client is [should be] treated with respect, acceptance, and dignity.” (National Organization for Human Services, n.d.) Based on my observations this standard was lacking throughout this environment. I heard gossip and frustrated rants about clients to co-workers almost every day. I do understand that discussing client services with each other is an acceptable way of brainstorming and asking for help, however, the tone of these conversations suggested otherwise. Although there were aspects of the social worker/ client relationships I did not agree with I can say this experience was valuable to my professional development in understanding and respecting Human Services ethics and values. I have seen different perspectives on direct service delivery and the application, or lacking, of these standards. This has helped me to form my own view point of how a professional should interact with clients and apply ethical standards of practice. An example of this development is in my self-assessment from HSP 341 Practicum and Seminar II.
HSP 345 Case Management and Interventions taught me about Human Services ethics and values and how they can be used in a case management setting. I also examined how my personal belief system can affect my productivity as a case manager. My values paper provides a good idea of my development and understanding in this area. During a values exercise in class students were provided with a list of scenarios they would potentially run into as a case manager. We were required to rate each one on a scale of 1-3 on how effectively we would be able to work with that client (1 being fully able, 3 being unable). This exercise taught me how my personal belief system can affect interpersonal systems and influence the quality of my client’s service delivery.
Acknowledging your privileges within society is a big part of working within the Human Services code of ethics. As a White heterosexual female who is able bodied, I know that there are certain privileges that affect my life in various ways. With acknowledgement and understanding of these privileges and corresponding disadvantages a developing Human Services professional can become an ally for underprivileged groups and social causes they are passionate about. Understanding these socially constructed ideologies can increase a professional’s cultural competency and ability to work with diverse populations. This can be seen when advocating for policy change within a specific population or community, working with diverse clients in a case management or therapeutic setting, or in working to reduce social stigma. My developed understanding of diversity and social justice can be seen in my exploring privilege essay.
Over the course of my education in the Human Services Program, my understanding of ethics and values has changed as I have developed as a Human Services professional. Ethics and values are incorporated into every aspect of the field and play a large role in community and individual proactive change. Human Services ethical standards are shaped by the values community change agents see as an essential attitude in creating change while respecting and treating all individuals fairly and with dignity. As a developing professional I will always uphold these ethical standards and values within my work and my community. This is, I feel, the most important factor in creating change.
Standard 12: The curriculum shall include knowledge and theory of the interaction of human systems including: individual, interpersonal, group, family, organizational, community, and societal.
Standard 13: The curriculum shall address the scope of conditions that promote or inhibit human functioning.
Standard 17: Learning experiences shall be provided for the student to develop his or her interpersonal skills.
Standard 19: The curriculum shall incorporate human services values and attitudes and promote understanding of human services ethics and their application in practice.
Standard 20: The program shall provide experiences and support to enable students to develop awareness of their own values, personalities, reaction patterns, interpersonal styles, and limitations.
References:
Smith, H., & Smith, M. K. (2008). The art of helping others: Being around, being there, being wise. London, England: Arthenaeum Press, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.
National Organization for Human Services. (n.d.). Ethical standards for human services professionals. Retrieved from: http://www.nationalhumanservices.org/ethical-standards-for-hs-professionals#section_1
Kincaid, S. O. (2009). Student Guide to Capstone Portfolio Process. Available on Blackboard & http://www.wce.wwu.edu/Depts/HS/Forms/OtherForms/Student-Capstone-Guide-rev2010.pdf
American Red Cross. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://www.redcross.org/about-us/mission