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Please read the entire instructions to complete the 1-page outline
it is important that you do.
The ethic debate topic this week on case vignettes. Choose one of
the below examples to debate with your partner as to which ethical issue is the
most important to address first and how you will address it. Each of you take a
different NASW ethical standard needing to be addressed first. Utilize
one of the ethical frameworks you learned about in Week 3 to outline your
debate. Both student debaters should use the same, agreed upon, framework. Use
any ethical codes which may apply and explain why. Make sure to specify
which ethical framework you are using.
(I chose the agency case vignette), (The framework I chose is
Model 1: Elaine Congress ETHIC model of Decision Making) please apply the
framework and ethical codes that may apply to why The one caseworker who has
twice the caseload then the other workers is the more important ethical
standard to address in the scenario.
The Agency Scenario – You work for a private foster care agency. The influx of
immigrants has shifted your client base from mostly white and African American
clients to a significant portion being Latino. The agency has very few Spanish
speaking families and one Spanish bilingual worker. The agency is placing
Spanish and English bilingual children with English speaking only families due
to lack of resources. The agency is having workers use translation software to
communicate in session. Since none of the forms are in Spanish, the agency cuts
and pastes the forms into Google translate in session, then hit the speaker
button. After Google has finished, the clients sign the needed forms. The
agency has given up on recruiting Spanish and English bilingual caseworkers due
to lack of response online.
NASW

ethical standard needing to be addressed first. The one caseworker has twice the caseload of the other
caseworkers.
Use any ethical codes which may apply and explain why
(Ethical Framework that needs to be applied )
Model I: Elaine Congress ETHIC Model of Decision Making
In her article, What Social Workers Should Know
About Ethics: Understanding and Resolving Practice Dilemmas, (Advances in
Social Work Practice, Vol. 1 No 1 Spring 2000, pgs 1 – 25), Congress discusses
the major tenets of the newly revised NASW Code of Ethics.
In addition to her review, Congress also
presents the ETHIC model of decision making: “This easy to use five step
process includes examining personal, agency, client, and professional values,
thinking about ethical standards and relevant laws, hypothesizing about
consequences, identifying the most vulnerable, and consulting with
supervisors.” This model, described in more detail below, is meant to be a
quick and as effective as possible approach to resolving ethical dilemmas.
E – Evaluate relevant personal, societal,
agency, client and professional values
T – Think about what ethical
standard of the NASW Code of Ethics applies, as well as relevant laws and case
decisions
H – Hypothesize about
possible consequences of different decisions
I – Identify who will
benefit and who will be harmed in view of social work’s commitment to the most
vulnerable
C – Consult with
supervisor and colleagues about the most ethical choice
Congress, Elaine P., What Social Workers Should
Know About Ethics: Understanding and Resolving Practice Dilemmas, Advances in
Social Work Practice, Vol. 1 No 1 Spring 2000, pgs 1 – 25 (Please use this
website as one of 2 sources) : ETH3338
– SECTION 2: BEST PRACTICE MODELS OF ETHICAL DECISION MAKING | yourceus.com