Ethics

Allan Barsky has taught professional ethics since 1989. He is a former chair of the National Association for Social Workers National Ethics Committee. Dr. Barsky was selected for the National Association of Social Workers “Excellence in Ethics Award” in 2015. He was chair of a national committee to update the NASW Code to address ethical issues concerning the use of electronic communication technologies.

"Essential Ethics for Social Work Practice" has been designed as a textbook for BSW or MSW generalist courses:

Barsky, A. E. (2023). Essential ethics for social work practice. Oxford University Press. Enhanced EPUB: ISBN 9780197585153 Paperback: ISBN 9780197585139
The enhanced textbook includes links to videos, Kahoot games, Quizlets, and other interactive learning activities.

"Ethics and Values in Social Work" has been designed as a series of modules that can be used across the social work curriculum. This textbook may also be used for a stand-alone course on social work ethics. It includes chapters on various areas of specialized practice, including child welfare, criminal justice, supervision, and mental health:

Barsky, A. E. (2019). Ethics and values in social work: An integrated approach for a comprehensive curriculum (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press, (Professors and instructors, please check the “Companion Website” on the OUP website for teaching and instructor resources).

Image of Book Cover for "Ethics and Values in Social Work"

Ethics Websites

American Society for Bioethics and Humanities: http://www.asbh.org

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (Standards of practice for family mediators, parenting coordinators, and custody evaluators): http://www.afccnet.org/Resource-Center/Practice-Guidelines-and-Standards

Association for Practical and Professional Ethics: http://www.indiana.edu/~appe

Association for Specialists in Group Work (Group Work Standards): http://www.asgw.org

Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions: http://ethics.iit.edu/codes/coe.html

Ethics and Malpractice: http://www.kspope.com/ethics/malpractice.php

Ethics in the Helping Professions: http://ethicsinthehelpingprofessions.socialwork.dal.ca/?page_id=66

Feminist Therapy Code of Ethics: http://feminist-therapy-institute.org/ethics.htm

Florida Bioethics Network: http://www6.miami.edu/ethics/fbn/index.html

Florida Statutes: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/STATUTES (including Chapters 39 on Child Abuse, 397 on Substance Abuse, 491 SW on Licensure, and 744 on Guardianship)

Foundations of Critical Thinking: http://www.criticalthinking.org

Institute for Global Ethics: http://www.globalethics.org

Journal of Law, Medicine, and Ethics: http://www.aslme.org/Publications

Journal of Moral Education: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/archive/cjme-con.asp

Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics: http://www.socialworker.com/jswve

National Association of Social Workers: http://www.naswdc.org

National Institutes of Health—Human Subjects Review Training: http://ohsr.od.nih.gov/cbt/index.html

Tukegee University, National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care (including concerns specific to African Americans and other underserved people): http://www.tuskegee.edu/bioethics

World Values Survey Association, http://ww.worldvaluessurvey.org

Social Work Ethics and COVID-19 Resources

Here are some resources that were developed for social workers in response to the Coronavirus pandemic:

ASWB: https://www.aswb.org/covid-19

APA and Telemental Health: https://www.apa.org/topics/covid-19

New Social Worker: https://www.socialworker.com/magazine/digital-edition/the_new_social_worker_digital_issues

CSWE: https://www.cswe.org/News/General-News-Archives/COVID-19-Telehealth

Practicing During a Pandemic: https://www.socialworktoday.com/archive/exc_032420.shtml

NASW: https://www.socialworkers.org/Practice/Infectious-Diseases/Coronavirus

Telehealth Discretion (HIPAA): https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/emergency-preparedness/notification-enforcement-discretion-telehealth/index.html

Ethical Challenges and Coronavirus (Reamer): https://www.socialworktoday.com/news/eoe_0320.shtml

NASW Assurance: Telemental Health Consent Form: https://naswassurance.org/pdf/telehealth-informed-consent.pdf?utm_source=mailchimp&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=policyholder-message-2&utm_term=sept-dec-renewals-2020