Caseworkers should be prepared to address a number of ethical dilemmas that may occur when working with children, youth, and families. The following resources can help them assess the context in which moral and ethical issues may arise and how to address those issues effectively.
400: Using Ethics to Guide Casework Decision Making
The Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center
Defines ethical standards in child welfare and provides guidance on implementing those standards into child welfare practice. This resource includes training materials like handouts and overheads.
Ethical Considerations with Confidentiality, Disclosures, and Communication in Child Welfare Practice
Schap (2014)
Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare
Presents several complex issues related to confidentiality in foster care, adoption, and Indian Child Welfare Act casework practice.
Ethics Resources and Professional Literature
National Association for Social Workers
Offers topic-specific resources in order to inform child welfare casework practice.
Eye on Ethics
Reamer (2013)
Social Work Today
Discusses the benefit of reflective casework practice in child welfare, as defined by self-analysis in decision making.
Supervisors Behaving Badly: Witnessing Ethical Dilemmas and What To Do About It (PDF - 241 KB)
Cimino, Rorke, & Adams (2013)
Journal of Social Work Values & Ethics, 10(2)
Discusses six situations involving supervisor misconduct that child welfare professionals may face. This resource derives these situations from structured interviews with workers.