Ethical Standards for Human Service Professionals

National Organization for Human Service Professionals

Prepared by: Roseanna Ruiz, Liliana Zamora, Tannia Bejarano, and Janie Hernandez

What is Human Services? (JH)

The field of Human Services is broadly defined, uniquely approaching the objective of meeting human needs through an interdisciplinary knowledge base, focusing on prevention as well as remediation of problems, and maintaining a commitment to improving the overall quality of life of service populations (NOHS website).

The Human Services profession is one which promotes improved service delivery systems by addressing not only the quality of direct services, but also by seeking to improve accessibility, accountability, and coordination among professionals and agencies in service delivery (NOHS website).

The primary purpose of the human services professional is to assist individual and communities to function as effectively as possible in the major domains of living (NOHS website).

Examples of Occupational Titles of Human Service Workers (JH)

Case WorkerFamily Support WorkerYouth WorkerSocial Service LiaisonResidential CounselorCase Management AideEligibility CounselorAlcohol CounselorAdult Day Care WorkerDrug Abuse CounselorLife Skills InstructorClient AdvocateMany others

National Organization for Human Service Professionals (NOHS) (LZ)

Fosters excellence in teaching, research and curriculum planning in the human service area.

Encourages and supports the development of local, state, and national human services organizations.

Aids faculty and professional members in their career development.

Provides a medium for cooperation and communication among members.

Maintains registry of qualified consultants in human service education.

The Professional Association Endorsing the Code (LZ)

Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE) Adopted 1996

The Council is a national board committed to improving the quality, consistency, and relevance of

human service education programs through national standards and accreditation of human service

degree programs, research, and publications.

Mission: The Council is committed to assuring the quality, consistency, and relevance of human

service education through research-based standards and a peer-review, accreditation process.

Vision: to promote excellence in human service education, provide quality assurance, and support

standards of performance and practice through the accreditation process.

Age of the Professional Organization (LZ)

First founded in 1975

6-Other Associations (LZ)

NEOHS - New England Organization for Human Services

MWOHS - Midwest Organization for Human Services

SOHS - Southern Organization for Human Services

WEST - Western Region of Human Service Professionals

MACHS - Mid-Atlantic Consortium for Human Services

NWHSA - Northwest Human Services Association

Vision and Mission of the National Organization for Human Service Professionals (LZ)

Vision-Individuals and communities transformed through human services

Mission-Strengthen the community of human services by:

Expanding professional development opportunities.

Promoting professional and organizational identity through certification.

Enhancing internal and external communications.

Advocating and implementing a social policy and agenda.

Nurturing the financial sustainability and growth of the organization.

The History of Code Revisions (RR)

Formerly: (1985) National Organization of Human Service Educators

First revision: (2006) National Organization for Human Service Education

Current name: (2014) National Organization of Human Services (NOHS)

The Stated Purpose (RR)

Purpose: Is to strengthen the community.

Goal: Is to make a difference in people’s lives.

Its explicit core values or principles (prima facie) (RR)

Core values:

● the capacity of human growth and change

● advocating for social justice

● recognizing and utilizing peoples’ strength and abilities

● supporting physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health

● promoting collaboration and accountability

● including all members of the human services community

The implicit core values or principles (TB)

Core Values Privacy & Confidentiality (acquire relevant information and keep it safe)

Social Justice (Social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups)

Protection of Life (seek to protect and prolong a person’s biophysical life)

Services ( seek to help people in need and address social problem above any self-interest)

Major topic areas covered by the Code (TB)

The Human Service Professionals are responsible for all of the following: Responsibility to clients Responsibility to the community & societyResponsibility to colleaguesResponsibility to the professionResponsibility to employers & self

Aspirational or Obligatory and WHY? (TB)

As a group we decided that the code was ASPIRATIONAL

Unique aspects of the Code compared to two other codes (JH)

NOHS is compared to NASW (National Association of Social Work)Both have the following similar codes of ethics such as:❖ respect❖ social justice❖ privacy and confidentiality ❖ dignity and worth of a person

NOHS is compared to Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors.Both have the following similar codes of ethics such as:❖ respecting human rights & dignity❖ ensuring the integrity of all professional relationships❖ privacy & confidentiality

Suggested changes (JH)

Three suggested changes to NOHS based on NASW:❖ Being competent ❖ Having integrity ❖ Knowing the importance of human relationships

Three suggested changes to NOHS based on Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors:❖ Acting to alleviate personal distress and suffering ❖ Advocating for the fair and adequate provision of services❖ Appreciating the diversity of human experience and culture

Responsibility to Clients (TB)

Statement 3

Human service professionals protect the client's right to privacy and confidentiality

except when such confidentiality would cause harm to the client or others when

agency guidelines state otherwise, or under other stated conditions (e.g., local, state,

or federal laws).

Professionals inform clients of the limits of confidentiality prior to the onset of the

helping relationship

Statement 8

The client's right to self-determination is protected by human service professionals.

They recognize the client's right to receive or refuse services.

Responsibility to the Community and Society (JH)

Human service professionals provide services without discrimination or preference based on age, ethnicity, culture, race, disability, gender, religion, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status.

Human service professionals represent their qualifications to the public accurately.

Responsibility to Colleagues (RR)

Statement 24:

Human Service professionals respond appropriately to unethical behavior of colleagues.

Usually this means initially talking directly with the colleague and, if no resolution is forthcoming, reporting the colleague’s behavior to supervisory or administrative staff and/or the Professional organization(s) to which the colleague belongs.

Statement 25:All consultations between human service professionals are kept confidential unless

to do so would result in harm to clients or communities.

Responsibility to the Profession (RR)

Statement 26:Human service professionals know the limit and scope of their professional

knowledge and offer services only within their knowledge and skill base.

Statement 31:Human service professionals continually seek out new and effective

approaches continually seek out new and effective approaches to enhance their professional abilities.

Responsibility to Employers and Self (LZ)

Employers:Human service professionals participate in efforts to establish and maintain

employment conditions which are conducive to high quality client services. They assist in evaluating the effectiveness of the agency through reliable and

valid assessment measures.Self:

Human service professionals foster self-awareness and personal growth in themselves.

They recognize that when professionals are aware of their own values, attitudes, cultural background, and personal needs, the process of helping others is less likely to be negatively impacted by those factors .

(LZ)

Role play

References (LZ)

Council for Standards in Human Services Education. Retrived from http://cshse.org/about.html

National Organization for Human Service Professionals. Retrived from http://www.nationalhumanservices.org/

National Association of Social Work. Retrived http://www.naswdc.org