The Ethical Challenges Facing Social Workers
Case Study Summary The client, Marietta Garcia, is being abused by Jose, her husband. Marietta is an undocumented Mexican woman, with two school-age children living at home. Her husband is both physically and emotionally abusive. She still loves her husband, and is solely reliant on him for transportations and as an interpreter. This last incident of abuse could not be ignored by a friend of hers who insisted that she come to the shelter for help. Marietta fears that if she stays in the shelter, her husband may injure the children. The shelter feels that the best decision would be to leave the abusive situation, however, Marietta wishes to return home. She is feeling hopeless in the situation and is feeling much despair. The shelter is considering a new rule that declares, the client must leave abusive situations to continue being helped.
Ethical Considerations There are several issues in this case that require ethical decision making in accordance with the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, (NASW). The first consideration would be the safety of Marietta and the children. The fact that she is undocumented complicates this from the law enforcement perspective. It is realized that if reported, Marietta could get in …show more content…
Standard 3.09 covers this situation and others like it in great detail. Section 3.09 (b) encourages social workers to work with their employers to improve policy. Making employers aware of the position taken by social workers as set forth by NASW Code of Ethics is covered in section (c). Section (d) declares “Social workers should not allow an employing organization’s policies, procedures, regulations or administrative orders interfere with the ethical practice of social work” (NASW,
Case Study Summary The client, Marietta Garcia, is being abused by Jose, her husband. Marietta is an undocumented Mexican woman, with two school-age children living at home. Her husband is both physically and emotionally abusive. She still loves her husband, and is solely reliant on him for transportations and as an interpreter. This last incident of abuse could not be ignored by a friend of hers who insisted that she come to the shelter for help. Marietta fears that if she stays in the shelter, her husband may injure the children. The shelter feels that the best decision would be to leave the abusive situation, however, Marietta wishes to return home. She is feeling hopeless in the situation and is feeling much despair. The shelter is considering a new rule that declares, the client must leave abusive situations to continue being helped.
Ethical Considerations There are several issues in this case that require ethical decision making in accordance with the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, (NASW). The first consideration would be the safety of Marietta and the children. The fact that she is undocumented complicates this from the law enforcement perspective. It is realized that if reported, Marietta could get in …show more content…
Standard 3.09 covers this situation and others like it in great detail. Section 3.09 (b) encourages social workers to work with their employers to improve policy. Making employers aware of the position taken by social workers as set forth by NASW Code of Ethics is covered in section (c). Section (d) declares “Social workers should not allow an employing organization’s policies, procedures, regulations or administrative orders interfere with the ethical practice of social work” (NASW,