Bachelor of Social Work
Handbook
2015-2016
School of Social Work
Missouri State University
Pummill Hall Room 105
901 South National Ave
Springfield, MO 65897
Phone: 417-836-6953
Fax:
417-86-7688
Email: SWK@missouristate.edu
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Table of Contents
MSU SOCIAL WORK FACULTY MEMBERS .................................................................................................. 4
OVERVIEW OF MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY .......................................................................................... 5
BRIEF HISTORY OF MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY ..................................................................................................5
MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY-SPRINGFIELD CAMPUS DESCRIPTION .....................................................................5
INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITATION ...............................................................................................................................7
OVERVIEW OF THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK ....................................................................................... 9
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL W ORK-BSW PROGRAM...............................................................................9
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL W ORK MISSION AND GOALS-BSW PROGRAM........................................................................9
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL W ORK ACCREDITATION ...........................................................................................................9
THE BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM ....................................................................................... 10
INTERESTED IN THE SOCIAL W ORK MAJOR ............................................................................................................10
TRANSFER STUDENTS ............................................................................................................................................10
BSW PROGRAM ADMISSION ..................................................................................................................................10
ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY .............................................................................................................................................10
ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY CHECKLIST ..........................................................................................................................11
ADMISSION TO THE BACHELOR OF SOCIAL W ORK PROGRAM ...............................................................................11
BACHELOR OF SOCIAL W ORK CURRICULUM ..........................................................................................................12
RETENTION, PROGRESSION, AND GRADUATION POLICIES ....................................................................................12
BSW PROGRAM COURSE OFFERINGS ...................................................................................................... 14
REQUIRED COURSES WITHIN THE BSW PROGRAM ...............................................................................................14
SOCIAL W ORK ELECTIVE COURSES .......................................................................................................................16
BSW FIELD EDUCATION ................................................................................................................................ 19
FIELD READINESS ...................................................................................................................................................19
BSW ADVISEMENT.......................................................................................................................................... 20
BSW STUDENT POLICIES .............................................................................................................................. 23
STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES .............................................................................................................23
CLASS DISRUPTION POLICY ...................................................................................................................................23
CLASSROOM CONFLICT RESOLUTION POLICY .......................................................................................................23
LEAVE OF ABSENCE POLICY ...................................................................................................................................23
RETENTION AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURE ..............................................................................................................26
SOCIAL WORK ORGANIZATIONS ................................................................................................................ 30
BACHELOR OF SOCIAL W ORK STUDENT ORGANIZATION.......................................................................................30
ALPHA DELTA MU ...................................................................................................................................................30
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL W ORKERS.....................................................................................................30
EMPOWER MISSOURI ..............................................................................................................................................31
APPENDIX A ..................................................................................................................................................... 32
APPENDIX B ..................................................................................................................................................... 38
APPENDIX C ..................................................................................................................................................... 40
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Welcome to the Bachelor of Social Work Program at Missouri State University. You
have decided to major in a degree that according to the U.S. Department of Labor
Statistics is projected to have the most new jobs in community and social service
occupations between 2010 and 2020(Lockard & Wolf, 2012). The BSW degree
provides students the knowledge, values, and skills to empower people who are
working to overcome challenges that may include: poverty, discrimination, abuse,
oppression, addiction, mental and physical illness, disabilities, lack of support, and loss.
Concurrently, training students on how to practice as administrators, lobbyists, and
policymakers on the local, state, federal, and international levels.
The faculty at Missouri State University are committed to preparing students to become
ethical social workers in a global society with a commitment to social justice and a
respect for the diversity of others. Upon graduation from the BSW program, you will
have acquired the skills to be a generalist practitioner in the micro, mezzo, and macro
fields of social work practice. Your decision to become a social work major indicates
that you have given careful consideration to this program’s mission and the strengths
you will bring to the social work profession.
During your time in the BSW program, you will find that our faculty is passionate about
finding your place in the social work profession. You will see this exhibited through
classroom expectations. We do expect you to work diligently in your knowledge, theory,
practice, and field instruction courses. Additionally, we expect all students to
demonstrate acceptable levels of maturity, integrity, behaviors, and attitudes as defined
by the National Association of Social Work (NASW) Code of Ethics. Please take the
time to review the material in this handbook to make sure you fully understand the
program’s expectations.
I join the whole faculty in welcoming you to the Bachelor of Social Work Program at
Missouri State University. The faculty look forward to working with you during your time
as a student in the School of Social Work. It is our expectation you will become an
example of an exceptional addition to the field of social work practice.
Sincerely,
Dr. Amanda Keys, Ph.D., LCSW
BSW Coordinator
Assistant Professor
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MSU Social Work Faculty Members
BSW Administrative Faculty
Dr. Michele Day, Ph.D., LCSW
Director
MicheleDay@ MissouriState.edu
Dr. Amanda Keys, Ph.D., LCSW
BSW Coordinator
AmandaKeys@MissouriState.edu
Professor Regina Russell, MSSW, LCSW
Field Education Coordinator
RRussell@MissouriState.edu
Social Work Faculty and Staff Members
Professor Natalie Curry, LCSW
Clinical Instructor
NatalieCurry@MissouriState.edu
Dr. Mary Ann Jennings, Ph.D., MSSW
Professor
MaryAnnJennings@Missouristate.edu
Dr. Susan Dollar, Ph.D., LCSW
Professor
SusanDollar@MissouriState.edu
Dr. Rose Korang-Okrah, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
RKorangOkrah@MissouriState.edu
Professor Jannette Eldred, LCSW
Clinical Instructor
JEldred@MissouriState.edu
Dr. Joan McClennen, Ph.D.
Professor
JoanCMcClennen@MissouriState.edu
Dr. Darryl Haslam, Ph.D., LCSW
Professor
DHaslam@MissouriState.edu
Veronica R. Morris
Academic Administrative Assistant
VRMorris@MissouriState.edu
Dr. Tiffany Havlin, Ph.D., LCSW
Clinical Instructor
Tiffany804@MissouriState.edu
Linda Steinshouer
Academic Administrative Assistant II
LSteinshouer@MissouriState.edu
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Overview of Missouri State University
Brief History of Missouri State University
Missouri State University was founded in 1905 as the Fourth District Normal School.
During its early years, the institution’s primary purpose was preparing teachers for the
public school systems in the southwest region of Missouri. In 1905, the main campus
was founded in Springfield, Missouri. Forty years later, the institution’s name changed
to Southwest Missouri State College. The purpose of this change was to show
the school’s expansion beyond teacher preparation to liberal arts and science
education. In 1972, Southwest Missouri State College changed its name to Southwest
Missouri State University in recognition of the diverse program offerings at the
undergraduate and graduate levels. The most recent change took place in 2005 when
the institution became Missouri State University. The purpose of this change was to
reflect the enrollment of tens of thousands of students, as well as the University’s higher
admission standards and increase in graduate programs it offered.
Missouri State University-Springfield Campus Description
The Missouri State University-Springfield Campus offers a spectrum of educational
programs that respond to regional and statewide needs while striving for national and
international excellence. Missouri State is an intellectual and creative resource for the
Springfield metropolitan area, contributing to its economic development, social health,
and cultural vitality through education, research, and professional outreach. The
University collaborates with many communities and clientele throughout the region in
order to bridge the socio-economic, cultural, and political gaps that exist among them.
Missouri State continues to shape its structures and design its policies and practices to
enhance its effectiveness as a key institution for the citizens of Missouri.
The Missouri State University-Springfield Campus offers bachelor's, master's, specialist
in education, and professional doctorate degrees, and is the host site for a cooperative
doctorate degree in Educational Leadership with the University of Missouri-Columbia.
As of 2013, the Springfield Campus offered programs through 44 academic
departments organized in six academic colleges and the Darr School of Agriculture.
More than 150 academic programs and options are offered at the undergraduate level,
leading to 10 undergraduate degrees.
In the 1990's, mission enhancement funds were provided to Missouri State, enabling the
institution to better serve the state’s need for a high-quality undergraduate/graduate
institution. As a result, the Springfield Campus has become a major graduate education
provider, offering 50 graduate degree programs and working with the University of
Missouri to provide cooperative master's and doctoral level programs. Graduate
students comprise more than 15 percent of the campus’ total student population. Even
with these changes, undergraduate education remains a priority, and implementation of
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selective admissions standards will continue, with a sensitivity to the needs of the 24county service area and the state of Missouri.
Missouri State University Mission Statement
Missouri State University was granted a statewide mission in public affairs in 1995 when
Senate Bill 340 was signed into law. The public affairs mission defines a primary way in
which an education from Missouri State is different from that of other universities and
one way by which we educate our students to imagine the future.
The public affairs mission has three pillars: ethical leadership, cultural competence and
community engagement.
Ethical leadership:
Goal: Students will articulate their value systems, act ethically within the context
of a democratic society and demonstrate engaged and principled leadership
(Adapted from the Center for Ethical Leadership).
Missouri State is preparing students for the future by helping them understand
the ethical dimensions of leadership and take what they learn in the classrooms
and use it to help solve problems and bring about change.
Cultural competence:
Goal: Students will recognize and respect multiple perspectives and cultures.
Missouri State helps students develop cultural knowledge in several ways. Study
abroad programs, interactions with international students and opportunities to
study different languages, histories and religions, help students broaden their
horizons, build relationships and bring about better competition for the future.
Community engagement:
Goal: Students will recognize the importance of contributing their knowledge and
experiences to their own community and the broader society.
Goal: Students will recognize the importance of scientific principles in the
generation of sound public policy.
Community engagement lets students branch out and see how the world is
working through a different lens, giving them the opportunity to work with their
communities and build up their ability to lead in their careers.
College of Health and Human Services Mission Statement
The School of Social Work is housed in the College of Health and Human Services
(CHHS) at Missouri State University.
Vision:
To promote and enhance lifelong learning, health and well-being
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Mission:
The College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) focuses on improving the
health and well-being of people in Missouri, the nation, and the global community
through education, research, and service. CHHS values multidisciplinary
approaches, instills the public affairs mission, and encourages students and
faculty to develop lifelong learning skills.
Values:
Honesty, Integrity, Respect, Compassion, Excellence, Cultural Sensitivity,
Responsibility
Goals:
1. Recruit, develop, and retain faculty and staff who support quality instruction,
research, and service in accordance with the public affairs mission and
University goals
2. Recruit, retain and support quality students who will become engaged citizens
committed to using their education to fulfill the CHHS mission and University
goals
3. Develop, assess and maintain quality educational programs consistent with
the CHHS mission and University goals
4. Develop relationships with internal and external constituencies to support
academic programs and to fulfill our public affairs mission
5. Nurture--among students, faculty, and staff--an inclusive educational
environment enriched by respect for diverse capabilities, backgrounds,
thoughts, and values
6. Create and foster an environment that encourages and supports scholarship
of discovery, and application and dissemination of new knowledge
Institutional Accreditation
The Springfield and West Plains campuses of Missouri State University are separately
accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of
Colleges and Secondary Schools - a nationally recognized regional accrediting
organization. Institutional accreditation has been continuously maintained since 1915
with the most recent approval occurring in 2005-2006 and resulting in full accreditation
for the maximum allowable ten-year period. Accreditation of an institution by the Higher
Learning Commission indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of
institutional quality periodically applied through a peer group review process. An
accredited school or college is one which has available the necessary resources to
achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially
doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable
future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation. Accreditation by the
Higher Learning Association is not partial; it applies to the institution as a whole. As
such, it is not a guarantee of the quality of every course or program offered, or the
competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the
quality of opportunities available to the students who attend the institution.
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The Statement of Affiliation Status and the Organizational Profile for Missouri State
University can be found at www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org.
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Overview of the School of Social Work
History of the School of Social Work-BSW Program
The School of Social Work grew out of the Sociology Department in 1970, and was
added as an area of study under the leadership of Dr. Clarence Ketch. However, social
work courses were listed in the course bulletin as early as 1950. In the spring of 1972,
the Department of Sociology learned that the Council on Social Work Education
(CSWE) would begin accrediting undergraduate social work programs (Southwest
Missouri State University, 2003). The first social work course was taught in the spring
of 1972. In 1977, the social work undergraduate baccalaureate program was fully
accredited by CSWE.
School of Social Work Mission and Goals-BSW Program
The objectives of the baccalaureate program in social work are to be consistent with the
professional goals of social work, including the NASW Code of Ethics. The objectives
are also consistent with the public affairs mission of Missouri State University and its
institutional goals. The essential purpose of the BSW program is to prepare students
for the beginning level of professional social work practice within a generalist
perspective. The generalist perspective specifically includes preparation for beginning
professional practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Students achieve program objectives through successful completion of two major
undergraduate experiences: the liberal arts perspective inherent in the University's
general education requirements and the professional foundation of the BSW program.
The goals of the BSW program are to:
1. To engage ethically and critically in generalist social work practice.
2. To engage in culturally competent practice that recognizes the importance of
social and economic justice, diversity, and populations-at-risk.
3. To prepare students to engage in public service and leadership that enhances
the health and well-being of communities locally, nationally, and globally; and
4. To ensure that students integrate the social work values and ethics as the
cornerstone of the profession.
School of Social Work Accreditation
The School of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is a nonprofit national association
representing more than 2,500 individual members, as well as graduate and
undergraduate programs of professional social work education. Founded in 1952, this
partnership of educational and professional institutions, social welfare agencies, and
private citizens is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the
sole accrediting agency for social work education in this country (“Council on Social
Work Education,” n.d.).
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The Bachelor of Social Work Program
Interested in the Social Work Major
If you are a student, who is considering, or just declared, a social work major you must
attend a School of Social Work-BSW Program Information Meeting. These meetings
will be held one time per-month throughout the academic year. Please see Appendix B
for a list of dates.
The purpose of the BSW Program’s Information Meeting is to provide students with the
following information:
1. An overview of the social work profession
2. The BSW program’s purpose
3. The required curriculum for a BSW major
4. An overview of the application process
5. General BSW student expectations
6. Student advisement basics
At the BSW Program Information Meeting the student will be assigned a social work
advisor, if the student has changed, or is planning to change, his/her major.
Transfer Students
The School of Social Work is delighted to work with transfer students. Please refer to
the Transfer Center found at http://www.missouristate.edu/transfer/ to understand the
student expectations of transferring into Missouri State University. Once a student has
been accepted into Missouri State University, and declared a major in social work, the
student is expected to attend an Open House. At the Open House, the student will be
assigned a faculty advisor in the School of Social Work. All transfer students are
expected to adhere to the eligibility requirements of the BSW program. Please see
Appendix A for an overview of the transfer student plan.
BSW Program Admission
To begin course work in the field of social work, you initially need to be admitted to
Missouri State University. After completing 45 credit hours, you must also be admitted
into the social work degree. The social work program operates under a selective
admissions policy to maintain a program of excellence in the classroom, to assure
availability of quality internship placements, and to ensure a qualified and ethical
workforce.
Eligibility to Apply
Students are eligible to apply for admission into the BSW Program when the following
conditions are met:
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1. Completion of a minimum of 45 hours with a combined GPA (Missouri State and
transfer combined) of 2.50 or higher on a 4-point scale
2. Completion of the Foundations Courses for General Education except the
second writing course
3. Students, who were accepted to MSU, are eligible to apply who are currently
enrolled and/or have completed SWK 200(3), SWK 213(3), and SWK 219(3) with
a minimum grade of "C". Candidates whose application is reviewed positively will
not have admission to the Program until grades of "C" or better are recorded for
these courses at the close of the application semester.
Eligibility to Apply Checklist
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
Completion of a minimum of 45 hours of general education courses
Combined GPA (MSU and transfer) of 2.50 or higher on a 4.0 scale
Completed: GEP 101, ENG 110, COM 115, MTH 130
Completed/currently enrolled in SWK 200, SWK 213, SWK 219
Understands and is willing to participate in field placements outside of
Springfield, Missouri
Read the BSW Handbook available on the MSU website
Read the NASW Code of Ethics available at www.socialworkers.org
Admission to the Bachelor of Social Work Program
A. Students who are planning to pursue a BSW degree must declare a major in the
Social Work Program within the University.
B. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor in the School of Social Work
prior to or upon entering the University and at least once a semester to ensure
the proper selection and sequencing of prerequisites for the BSW Program.
C. Every student seeking admission to the BSW Program must submit a formal
application, with accompanying forms, to the School of Social Work office.
D. Applications for admission to the Program will be available online. Refer to the
application packet for specific due dates because the dates can vary.
E. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Incomplete
applications may result in not being considered.
F. Students seeking admission to the BSW Program do so with the understanding
that: (a) admission is competitive and selective and not all who apply can be
accommodated; and (b) meeting the minimum standards does not guarantee a
student will be admitted.
G. The BSW Committee will make a decision to admit a student based on a holistic
picture of the completed course work and values that are consistent with the
conduct of the profession and the Social Work Code of Ethics.
H. Students will be notified, prior to registration, if they have been admitted into the
BSW Program. Students who are not accepted into the BSW program will be
responsible for meeting with their advisor to transition into another major.
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Bachelor of Social Work Curriculum
The undergraduate Social Work Program at Missouri State University builds upon a
liberal arts education while preparing students for the practice of Social Work, with an
emphasis on the strengths perspective. Social Work is a comprehensive major
consisting of 48 hours of required Social Work courses (which includes a 12-hour
practicum); 22 hours of required courses from the humanities and the social, behavioral,
and biological sciences; and 6 hours of electives offered by the School of Social Work
(SWK electives). Students who successfully complete general education, all general
baccalaureate requirements and major requirements are awarded a Bachelor of Social
Work degree. A copy of the four year plan and advisement plan can be found in
Appendix A. Students are encouraged to use this as a guide when considering classes.
The following are the courses required to obtain a BSW degree:
1. Completion of all General Education Requirements
2. Recommended course: SWK 300 (1)
3. Major requirements
a. Non-Social Work Courses Required: BIO 101(3) and 111(1); or BMS
100(4) or 105(4) or 110(4); ECO 155(3) or 165(3); PLS 101(3); PSY
121(3); SOC 150(3), PSY 304(3); and PSY 200(3) or SOC 302(3) or AGR
330(3) or MTH 340(3) or QBA 237(3) or REC 328(3)
b. SWK 200(3), 213(3), 219(3), 306(3), 307(3), 313(3), 314(3), 325(3),
326(3), 418(3), 420(3), 430(3), 480(3), 490(9)
c. Two SWK electives (6 hours)
d. Public affairs capstone experience will be fulfilled by completion of SWK
480(3) and 490(9)
4. General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements
Retention, Progression, and Graduation Policies
After admission into the BSW Program, students must achieve the following for
retention in the major:
1. Maintain a combined GPA (Missouri State and transfer combined) of 2.50 or
higher. If a student’s GPA drops below a 2.50 the student will be withdrawn
from the program at the end of the semester.
2. Achieve a grade of “C” or better in all Social Work courses, which are courses
with “SWK” prefix.
3. Getting a “D” or below in a Social Work (SWK) course will result in the
inability to be admitted into the program.
4. If a student is formally accepted in the program, and earns a “D” in a Social
Work (SWK) course the student must retake the course before progressing.
If a student earns an “F” grade, the student will be dismissed from the
program at the end of the semester and may reapply.
5. Courses in the Social Work major may not be taken more than twice.
6. A student must earn a “Pass” grade in SWK 490(9). A grade below a “C”
in SWK 480(3) and/or a “Not Pass” grade in SWK 490(9) means the student
must reapply for admission and be readmitted to the BSW Program.
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7. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor in the School of Social
Work prior to or upon entering the University and at least once a semester to
ensure the proper selection and sequencing of prerequisites for the BSW
Program.
8. Students must demonstrate acceptable levels of maturity, integrity, behaviors
and attitudes as defined by the National Association of Social Work (NASW).
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BSW Program Course Offerings
Required Courses within the BSW Program
SWK 200 Introduction to Social Work (3 credit hours)
This course is an introduction to the values, knowledge, and skills that guide the
profession of social work. Examines practice interventions at the individual, family,
group, organization and community levels. The fields and settings for social work
practice are discussed. A grade of "C" or better is required for admission to the BSW
program.
SWK 213 Social Welfare Policy and Services I (3 credit hours)
Prerequisite: "C" or better in SWK 200 or concurrent enrollment.
This course examines the historical development and philosophical orientation of social
welfare policy and services in the United States as well as introduces students to the
development of social work as a profession. The course focuses on selected major
social welfare policies and programs and the philosophical, economic, social and
political forces that shape their development. A grade of "C" or better is required for
admission to the BSW program.
SWK 219 Human Diversity (3 credit hours)
General Education Course (Focus on Cultural Competence).
Content and skill development pertinent to working with diverse racial, cultural, ethnic,
and other populations such as persons with physical disabilities and mental illnesses.
This course is designed primarily to inform and sensitize individuals for effective
interventions within a heterogeneous society. A grade of "C" or better is required for
admission to the BSW program.
SWK 300 Service Learning in Social Work (1 credit hour)
Prerequisite: 30 hours and concurrent enrollment in a social work course designated as
a service learning offering (SWK 200, SWK 213, or SWK 219).
This service component for an existing course incorporates community service with
classroom instruction to provide an integrative learning experience that addresses the
practice of citizenship and promotes an awareness of and participation in public affairs.
Includes 40 hours of service that benefits an external community organization or
human/social service agency. Approved settings will focus on populations-at-risk,
diverse populations and groups that have experienced social and economic injustice. A
list of approved placements and assignments is available from the instructor and the
Citizenship and Service Learning Office. May be repeated. Graded Pass/Not Pass only.
SWK 306 Interviewing Skills in Generalist Social Work Practice (3 credit hours)
Prerequisite: admission to the BSW program.
An introduction to basic interviewing skills based upon the purpose of and plan for the
interview in the context of generalist social work practice.
SWK 307 Social Work Practice with Individuals (3 credit hours)
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Prerequisite: admission to the BSW program; and SWK 306.
Basic principles, practice theories and skill for beginning generalist practice with
individuals. Integrates practice theory and intervention skills within the context of the
Generalist Intervention/Problem-Solving model. The class emphasizes personal
awareness, professional growth, critical thinking and skills practice.
SWK 313 Social Justice (3 credit hours)
Prerequisite: admission to the BSW program; and completed or concurrent enrollment
in: ECO 155 or ECO 165; and PLS 101.
The primary subject matter of this course is social and economic inequality in United
States society. Students are introduced to the patterns and processes of social and
economic inequality in its major forms: class, race/ethnicity, gender, and sexual and
political orientation.
SWK 314 Social Welfare Policy and Services II (3 credit hours)
Prerequisite: admission to the BSW program; and SWK 213.
An introduction to the analytic, interactional, value clarification and political strategies
necessary for policy analysis and implementation.
SWK 325 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (3 credit hours)
Prerequisite: admission to the BSW program; and completed or concurrent enrollment
in: PSY 121 and SOC 150; and BIO 101 and 111, BMS 100 or BMS 105 or BMS 110.
An introduction to the dynamics of human behavior and the effects of the social
environment on the development of individuals and families.
SWK 326 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (3 credit hours)
Prerequisite: admission to the BSW program; and SWK 325.
Exploration of a broad systems' approach to the generalist practice of social work.
Focuses on the theories that support social work practice with groups, organizations,
and communities.
SWK 418 Methods of Social Research in Social Work Practice (3 credit hours)
Prerequisite: admission to the BSW program; SWK 307 and SWK 314 and SWK 326;
and one of the following statistics courses: SOC 302, PSY 200, AGR 330, MTH 340,
QBA 237, REC 328, or concurrent enrollment.
The application and use of the social scientific method for conducting research and
applying research to social work practice including, but not limited to, single subject
research design, treatment intervention evaluation, and program evaluation.
SWK 420 Social Work Practice with Groups and Families (3 credit hours)
Prerequisite: admission to the BSW program; and SWK 307 and SWK 314 and SWK
326.
Offers basic principles of group and family (G/F) interventions with a generalist practice
foundation. Contrasts G/F with other forms of social work practice. Reviews skills
required to conduct clinical and task groups. Overviews skills needed to work with
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families. Emphasizes cultural diversity and ethical parameters when offering G/F
services.
SWK 430 Social Work Practice in Communities and Organizations (3 credit hours)
Prerequisite: admission to the BSW program; and SWK 307 and SWK 314 and SWK
326.
Problem assessment and practice interventions with macrosystems. Examines
strategies and techniques for social work practice with organizations and communities.
SWK 480 Social Work Integrative Seminar (3 credit hours)
Prerequisite: admission to the BSW program; and SWK 418 and SWK 420 and SWK
430; and concurrent enrollment in SWK 490.
In conjunction with SWK 490, this course satisfies the Public Affairs Capstone
Experience. Examines student experiences, problems, and questions related to the
practicum. Integrates theory, knowledge, social work values and skills from previous
social work courses to prepare generalist social work practitioners. Failure to pass this
course will result in failure to pass SWK 490. Public Affairs Capstone Experience
course.
SWK 490 Practicum in Social Work (9 credit hours)
Prerequisite: admission to the BSW program; and SWK 418 and SWK 420 and SWK
430; and concurrent enrollment in SWK 480.
In conjunction with SWK 480, this course satisfies the Public Affairs Capstone
Experience. An educationally directed social work practice experience with individuals,
groups, families, communities and organizations in a social service agency. Students
are required to complete a minimum of 450 hours. Failure to pass this course will result
in failure to pass SWK 480. Supplemental course fee. Graded Pass/Not Pass only.
Public Affairs Capstone Experience course.
Social Work Elective Courses
SWK 320 Services for Women (3 credit hours)
Examination of the multiple problems women experience, and needed community
resources. Areas of study broadly include women and health, violence against women,
women and socio-economic status.
SWK 330 Substance Abuse Interventions (3 credit hours)
Examinations of the problems of alcohol and chemical dependence. Areas of study
broadly include definitions, prevalence, etiology, policies, effects on family and society,
and prevention and treatment approaches.
SWK 365 Families in Later Life (3 credit hours)
Prerequisite: PSY 121; and CFD 155 or CFD 163 or 30 hours.
Examination of the structure and function of families in later life. Topics of interest
include demographic trends impacting the structure of the family, marriage, sibling
relations, parent-adult child relations, grandparenthood, widowhood, and retirement.
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The application of family theories and their relevance to later life families will be
discussed. Identical with CFD 365, GER 365, and PSY 366. Can only receive credit for
one of the following: CFD 365, GER 365, PSY 366 or SWK 365.
SWK 370 Child Welfare Services (3 credit hours)
Develop beginning competence in assessing types and benefits of different child
welfare services, (i.e., foster care, adoptions, institutionalization); examination of the
impact of public policies and social work practice on children and families.
SWK 397 Special Topics (1-3 credit hours)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
Selected topics of contemporary interest in social work such as changing social welfare
policy, specialized fields of social work, models of practice and future trends in social
work. May be repeated to a total of 6 hours as topics change. Variable Content Course.
SWK 470 Community Resources for Older Adults (3 credit hours)
Prerequisite: PSY 121.
Covers the services, programs and institutions involved in providing services to older
adults in the United States, with a focus on community-based services. Typical needs,
issues, concerns and desires of older persons are identified and corresponding
community-based services to address these needs are discussed. Emerging issues and
developments in the field of gerontology will also be discussed as they relate to
community services and resources. Site visits to agencies and organizations serving
older adults will enhance students' familiarity with resources to improve the quality of life
and well-being of aging members in our society. Identical with GER 470. Cannot receive
credit for both SWK 470 and GER 470.
SWK 496 Directed Readings in Social Work (1-3 credit hours)
Prerequisite: 6 hours of social work and permission.
Readings designed to supplement material introduced in previous social work courses.
Includes a wide selection from literature in the field. May be repeated to a total of 9
hours.
SWK 502 Rural Health (3 credit hours)
Prerequisite: junior standing.
This course offers a study of health care delivery in rural communities. It includes
theoretical foundations, cultural considerations and specific characteristics of rural
environments and people. Local and international perspectives will be explored. This
course has a community experience component. Identical with NUR 502. Cannot
receive credit for both SWK 502 and NUR 502. May be taught concurrently with SWK
602. Cannot receive credit for both SWK 602 and SWK 502.
SWK 544 Family Health and Family Violence (3 credit hours)
Enhances students' understanding of the theories, policies, practices, and interventions
related to family violence. May be taught concurrently with SWK 741. Cannot receive
credit for both SWK 544 and SWK 741.
17
SWK 558 Tropical Health for International Workers (3 credit hours)
This non-clinical course will provide the student with the ability to assess tropical health
risks in a remote setting, to take steps to protect the individual and the community from
common threats, and to communicate health information to a diverse community in a
culturally appropriate and effective manner. The course will be taught at the Yachana
ecolodge on the Napo river in Ecuador, providing students with the opportunity to
become familiar with the health risks of a remote tropical environment and to interact
with the culture of an indigenous population in the setting of a public health program.
SWK 595 Grant Writing in the Health and Human Services (3 credit hours)
Prerequisite: junior standing; and permission of instructor.
This online course offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding grant writing
and how health and human service professionals can collaborate for successful
proposal writing. Course will focus on practical skills needed to develop proposals,
budgets, and evaluation plans. Attention will be given to preparing a competitive grant
proposal. This course will cover the basics of proposals - purpose statements,
background and justification, aims or objectives, personnel, time line, methods, budget,
and evaluation, and how to effectively manage grants once they are funded. Grant
writing is related to health and human services that stress access to and availability of
resources. The needs of culturally diverse groups or communities will be discussed in
this course, along with the particulars of proposals that may be most effective in
meeting such needs.
SWK 598 Ethical Dimensions of Social Work (3 credit hours)
Prerequisite: junior standing.
Examines the ethical dimensions of social work in the context of ethical issues related to
practice; including tensions intrinsic to the mission of social work, and examination of
various philosophical frameworks and codes of ethics, analysis of larger systems that
create and sanction specific values and ethics, legal issues, and decision-making
strategies. May be taught concurrently with SWK 698. Cannot receive credit for both
SWK 698 and SWK 598.
SWK 599 Health Literacy in the Human Services (3 credit hours)
Prerequisite: junior standing and permission of instructor.
This online course offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding functional
health literacy and how the public's literacy skills affect interactions with health and
human services professionals. Includes an examination of the data for national and
international literacy levels and populations at risk for low literacy; research on health
literacy; assessment tools; and practical techniques for addressing literacy issues in
spoken and written communications at the practitioner and organizational levels.
Identical with BMS 599. Cannot receive credit for both SWK 599 and BMS 599. May be
taught concurrently with SWK 696. Cannot receive credit for both SWK 599/696 and
BMS 599.
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BSW Field Education
Field Education is a course of study that occurs in a human service agency or
organization as well as in the classroom. You may have heard it referred to as an
“internship” or as a “practicum.”
Field is the “signature pedagogy” of social work education (Council on Social Work
Education) because it transforms you into a professional.
 It is essential to your education.
 It is the springboard for your career.
 It is the pathway to your life’s work.
Field Instruction is an integral component of the School of Social Work curriculum. In
supervised learning activities, students have practical experiences applying social work
skills, knowledge and values. Our mission is to research, evaluate, document, and
provide appropriate field practicum experiences in accordance with the evaluation
standards set forth by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).
BSW students who are ready for field* will enroll for SWK 480 (Seminar) and SWK 490
(Field). Field education requires 450 completed social work practice hours in the spring
semester. Seminar class will meet on campus. It includes discussion, written
assignments, and exercises aimed at strengthening your skills as a social worker.
Process of Field assignment:
1. Attend Pre-Field Orientation – beginning of fall semester
2. Schedule Pre-Field Advising appointment with Field Coordinator
3. Interview at approved social service agencies
4. Confirmation selection of field placement – mid November
5. Attend Field Orientation – January
6. Begin Field Education in agency – January
Field Readiness
We recommend that you start planning for field when you apply to the program. Field
presents a hurdle that other courses do not. Although you create a degree plan for all of
your courses, your field placement demands a different time commitment. You will be in
a professional setting developing the essential skills of social workers.
Advisors in the BSW program in the School of Social Work will work closely with you to
develop a degree plan that includes the requirements you must complete before you are
eligible for field placement.
If you have any questions, please contact the Coordinator of Field Education.
19
BSW Advisement
Before meeting with an advisor for the first time, the student MUST attend a BSW
Program Information Meeting. During this meeting, the student will be assigned a
permanent advisor.
It is required for all BSW students to meet with a social work faculty advisor in the
School of Social Work at least once a semester. This meeting should take place
BEFORE class registration begins. This allows the advisor an opportunity to make sure
the student is adhering to the courses required for the social work degree. Once the
social work faculty advisor has met with the student, the advisor will remove the
advising hold that is often placed on the student that prohibits registration.
The purpose of advising is to assist students in following a degree plan that enables
him/her to graduate in the most efficient time-frame. It should be noted that social work
faculty advisors carry a substantial advisement load of BSW students. Therefore,
faculty advisors will expect students to do the following things:
1. Set an appointment during a time that the faculty member is available (email
is the preferable form of communication).
2. Make sure you provide your M-Number to your faculty advisor anytime you
speak with them.
3. Be on-time to your advisement appointment.
4. Bring a degree audit for your faculty advisor to review (this can be found on
mymissouristate.edu).
5. Have a tentative schedule prepared to show your faculty advisor during your
meeting.
6. Prior to dropping any course, email advisor to notify them of your intent.
The faculty advisor will assist the student in meeting all University and departmental
requirements, but the student is ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE for completing all
requirements and knowing all steps required to graduate on-time. It is highly
recommended students use the online undergraduate catalog to familiarize themselves
with admissions requirements, social work courses and their prerequisites, and program
requirements for graduation. Additionally, there are advisement tools found on the
social work website to help the student make decisions on course scheduling. These
advisement tools are also found in Appendix A. Students who deviate from outlined
course recommendations must recognize they may not graduate in a timely-manner.
The faculty advisor is responsible for working with the student to make sure the below
tasks are accomplished. These include:
Developing a Degree Plan
The degree plan is the plan of action for graduating from the BSW program. The
student is expected to use the four year plan (see Appendix A for example) found on
the School of Social Work website as a tool to accomplish this. As the student is
20
reviewing the Four Year Plan, the student may need assistance with figuring out the
necessary courses and when to take certain courses in order to fulfill their graduation
requirements.
Monitoring Student Performance
The School of Social Work is notified if a student's performance does not meet
University or School requirements. The advisor will discuss the problem with the
student. In addition, when the student is formally admitted into the BSW Program by
the BSW Admissions Committee, the advisor may be given the responsibility of talking
with the student about deficits or concerns cited by the Committee. This process serves
as an informal check on the growth and progress of social work students.
Career Guidance
Beyond curriculum issues, the faculty advisor has several other responsibilities.
Students seek guidance and counsel regarding career opportunities and graduate
school considerations. While both of these concerns are discussed in the social work
curriculum, the advisor has the obligation to help the student think about options,
discuss honestly and openly job opportunities, and weigh the prospect of graduate
school.
Adding & Dropping Classes
If a student does not have any holds that block registration, the student may add a
class, drop a class, or make a section change online through the My Missouri State
system or in person at the Office of the Registrar. If permission is required as a course
prerequisite, the student must obtain permission by the School of Social Work. Please
email your advisor if this takes place. Students may withdraw from one or more of their
classes online or in person at the Office of Registrar. Students should not drop any
courses without discussing the impact of dropping a course on their progress
toward graduation with their social work faculty advisor first. Students are
responsible for knowing the academic deadlines for adding and dropping classes.
Removing Holds/Clearing Students to Registrar
A student will not be able to register for classes each term until he/she has met with an
advisor. The advisor will verify that the student is not taking courses out of the
sequence and is fulfilling the necessary requirements in order to obtain a BSW degree.
Once the advisor has verified a student’s record, the advisor will clear him/her to
register. There are two common account holds that will need social work departmental
clearance. A student should contact their faculty advisor if they get a DG (Not Admitted
to Degree Program) or a DX hold (Not Admitted to Degree Program and Senior Status).
The student will need to write an email to the faculty advisor to let them know their plan
to be admitted into the program. If the faculty advisor approves this, the student will
21
need to complete a form and send it to the Director of the School of Social Work for final
approval. The form can be found in the School of Social Work office.
Course Substitution
For transfer students to the University or new students to the BSW program, some
courses might be substituted for some of the BSW required courses. If the student feels
that they have a course that might be eligible for substitution, they need to make an
appointment with their faculty advisor. The student will be responsible for bringing the
syllabus of the course that they are wanting to transfer to the advisement appointment.
It should be noted, most general education course substitutions should be done through
the “Transfer Credit Reevaluation and Preapproval” system on My Missouri State
through which requests are routed to the appropriate department head. The ONLY
course substitutions social work faculty will evaluate are for BSW required courses.
22
BSW Student Policies
Student Rights and Responsibilities
The School of Social Work adheres to the Code of Students Rights and Responsibilities
found on the Missouri State University website under the Office of Student Conduct. In
addition to the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, the School of Social Work
expects students to adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics can be
found in Appendix C. Failure to adhere to the aforementioned Codes, may result in the
student being dismissed from the BSW program.
Class Disruption Policy
The School of Social Work respects the individuality of its course instructors. The
course instructor has original jurisdiction over his/her class and may deny a student who
is unduly disruptive the right to attend the class. The student is expected to comply with
all reasonable directives of the course instructor. The course instructor may have a
student administratively withdrawn from a course upon showing of good cause and with
the concurrence of the department head. The appeals process in case of such
administrative withdrawal shall be as stated in the Grade Appeals and Academic
Grievances policy.
Classroom Conflict Resolution Policy
As a professional program, the Missouri State University School of Social Work
operates through understandings developed from the NASW Code of Ethics. If you are
experiencing any confusions or concerns regarding any dimension of a social work
course, please speak directly to the instructor about the issues immediately. To initiate
any formal grievance or appeal process, it is expected that you will speak first to the
instructor about those issues. If your issues continue after the discussion, please then
proceed to discuss your situation with the BSW Program Coordinator.
Leave of Absence Policy
There are circumstances in which students must interrupt their social work studies and
may request a leave of absence of up to one year before returning to their coursework.
A leave of absence is not approved automatically, nor does the School consider
students who choose not to enroll as being on a formal leave from study.
To be eligible for a leave of absence, students must be admitted to and in good
standing with a social work program (e.g., maintaining the required minimum GPA,
passing social work classes at the time of withdrawal, or passing practicum at the time
of withdrawal). This policy does not apply to military students and dependents
regarding class drops and refunds associated with active orders (see separate,
applicable University policy for these circumstances).
23
Requesting a Leave of Absence
Students must complete the following process for requesting a leave of absence from
MSU social work programs:
1. Discuss with your academic advisor the impact of a leave of absence on the
following issues:
 Progress towards degree
 Catalog year and status following leave of absence
 Academic standing at the time of requested leave
 Transfer policies, incomplete grades, cohort requirements, and other
academic issues as applicable
2. Contact the Office of Financial Aid if you are receiving financial aid and/or
scholarships to learn the impact a leave of absence may have on your financial
aid status.
3. Write a letter to the BSW/MSW Program Coordinator formally requesting a leave
of absence from the social work program with your date of expected return.
4. If you are currently enrolled in classes, contact the Office of the Registrar to
formally drop/withdraw from your classes. Notifying the School of Social Work
of your intent to leave study does not drop/withdraw you from classes. If you
stop attending classes but do not follow proper procedure for
dropping/withdrawing, you will receive a failing grade and will be financially
obligated to pay for the classes. Students who withdraw once classes have
started are subject to the withdrawal/grading policies of the University and
academic standards of the social work programs in order to maintain good
academic standing.
5. Contact other University offices as applicable:
 Bursar's Office
 Campus Dining
 Counseling & Testing Center
 Financial Aid
 International Student Services
 Residential Life
 Safety & Transportation (Parking)
 Taylor Health & Wellness
 Veteran Student Services
6. Students will receive written notification from the BSW/MSW Program
Coordinator on the outcome of their request within seven (7) business days.
Returning from a Leave of Absence
24
When students return from a leave of absence, they are subject to the University’s
readmissions policy. Students must reapply to the University if they have not attended
classes for two semesters.
Students must follow this process for returning from a leave of absence from MSU
social work programs:
1. Student should be ready physically, mentally, and emotionally to resume studies.
2. Student must be eligible to register upon return (e.g., no financial, academic, or
disciplinary holds).
3. The deadline for a student to notify the School of return from leave of absence is
30 business days prior to the first class date of the semester in which the student
plans to re-enroll.
4. Notify in writing the BSW/MSW Coordinator of your intent to resume coursework.
5. Reapply to Missouri State University, if applicable.
6. Meet with your academic advisor to review course of study and obtain release to
register at least 14 business days prior to the first class date of the semester in
which the student plans to re-enroll.
7. Resume coursework according to completion of pre-requisite classes in the
correct cohort of the social work program.
8. For students returning to complete a social work practicum in the spring
semester, they must contact the Coordinator of Field Education by August 15 in
order to complete mandatory pre-practicum requirements. Failure to complete
mandatory practicum preparation in the fall will prevent students from
participating in practicum in the spring.
Appealing a Denied Leave of Absence
Students who have been denied a leave of absence or students who have been granted
leaves but believe that either the period of leave awarded or the conditions specified are
unreasonable have the right to appeal the decision.
Students can appeal a negative decision of the BSW/MSW Coordinator. The steps in
the appeal process are as follows:

The first step is to send a letter to the School of Social Work Director within five
(5) business days of the denial detailing the following information: name,
BearPass Number, and information about requested leave including starting and
25
ending dates, with a clear statement of the leave request and reasons which
justify the request;

Then to the College Dean;

Next to the Dean of the Graduate College, if the appeal is for an MSW student;

Then to the Provost, who may refer the appeal to his/her designee for a hearing
and recommendation;

Finally, to the President of the University.

At any step of the appeals process, any of the above individuals can authorize a
leave of absence, and must notify the involved individuals of their action (i.e., the
Director must notify the student and the BSW/MSW Coordinator of his/her
decision; the College Dean must notify the Director, Coordinator, and student of
his/her decision; the Graduate Dean, in the case of a graduate student, must
notify the College Dean, Director, Coordinator, and student; the Provost or
designee is responsible for notifying the College Dean, Director, Coordinator, and
student of his/her decision. If the request for a leave of absence is appealed to
the final step, the President will take action deemed appropriate and so inform
the Provost, College Dean, Director, Coordinator, and student. It is solely the
student’s responsibility to appeal in the order specified at each step of the
process, and the student may halt the appeal at any step.
Retention and Dismissal Procedure
Intent
The School of Social Work program faculty endeavor to admit qualified students and to
foster their development, with the hope and encouragement that all admitted students
will become high performing students and eventually ethical social workers.
Occasionally students demonstrate difficulties with skills and dispositions or ethical
concerns that are not resolved in a timely fashion, and questions arise regarding the
fitness of that student for the program and profession. Grade-related appeals should
follow the University policies.
If a student is struggling with ethical, non-academic development and/or behavior that
impedes professional performance, the following procedures are intended to provide
due process so that student evaluations (and faculty decisions regarding students)
balance the professional gate-keeping responsibility and the program faculty’s
commitment to student development, and are not arbitrary, discriminatory, personally
biased or otherwise unfair.
Rationale
26
In addition to meeting academic standards as described in the Missouri State University
Graduate Catalog, Missouri State Undergraduate Catalog, and the Missouri State Code
of Student Rights and Responsibilities, social work students are expected to conduct
themselves in a professional manner consistent with the National Association of Social
Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics (1999).
All students are to meet with their advisor on a yearly basis to discuss performance and
are given feedback on personal and professional development relative to specific
course work and to the student’s professional development on the whole. Students in
specific skill and disposition courses (practice courses and field instruction) are
evaluated using a standardized evaluation form. A student in the program who fails to
demonstrate appropriate communication, interpersonal or professional skills as
identified by a faculty member will be asked to meet with the faculty member and/or
advisor and may be required by the department to seek remediation including, but not
limited to, repeating pre-practicum courses, taking specially arranged remedial classes
and/or receiving counseling. In addition, a student who demonstrates behavior that
impedes professional performance, who is harmful to clients or who demonstrates
unprofessional conduct, thereby violating ethical standards outlined by the National
Association of Social Work Code of Ethics, may be required to seek remediation or may
be dismissed from the program, depending on the severity of the violation.
Retention, Remediation, and Dismissal Related to Ethical Violations
If a faculty member(s) has (or have) ethical concerns about the behavior of a student:
1. The ethical concern(s) are discussed with the student by the faculty member
and/or advisor, and an attempt is made to resolve the concern. The concern and
any remediation efforts will be documented in the student’s file and/or advising
notes.
2. If informal efforts by the faculty member or advisor are viewed as unsuccessful,
the ethical/professional concerns are expressed in writing to the BSW, MSW or
field education coordinator by the faculty member(s), including specific
concern(s), documentation of related event(s) and any attempts to resolve with
the student. The coordinator will notify the student and the School director of this
concern within 5 business days of receiving the written complaint. The student
may then respond to the complaint within 10 business days following receipt of
the letter/email.
3. The program coordinator will meet with the student (his/her academic advisor
may attend) in an attempt to resolve or remediate the issue no later than 30
business days following the faculty member’s written complaint. An attempt to
resolve or remediate the matter will be made before advancing the matter to the
director.
4. If the concern is unresolved, the student has not shown significant improvement
after remediation or if the faculty member or program coordinator is
recommending suspension or dismissal, the director will appoint a three-person
27
Admissions and Retention Committee (see details on committee composition
below) to review the complaint and student response, if submitted, and provide a
recommendation to the director within 30 calendar days of the committee’s
review date. The review committee may seek additional information from the
student, faculty or other sources as needed to give the most fair and accurate
representation of the issue(s) described in the complaint. If suspension or
dismissal of the student from the program is being considered, the student shall
be given an opportunity to meet with the committee. The student may bring a
faculty observer to the meeting, but the student is responsible for presenting his
or her own information to the committee. The disposition of the review may
include:
a. Dismissal of the complaint
b. Remediation plan
c. Recommendation for suspension or dismissal of the student from the
program
5. A copy of the disposition of the committee’s review will be provided to the student
in writing, and a copy signed by the student (if possible) within 10 business days
will be retained as part of the file. The final decision regarding suspension or
dismissal of the student from the program will be made by the director.
6. If the student is provided a remediation plan, the student’s advisor and/or
program coordinator will meet with the student at least once per semester (or
more, if necessary) to monitor the student’s progress and to offer support for
successful completion of the remediation plan. A remediation plan will address
goals, objectives, a timeline and outcome measure(s) in order to change
problematic issue(s).
If the student disagrees with the director’s decision, the student may present the appeal:
A. To the Dean of Health and Human Services
B. Next to the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education, if the appeal is
related to BSW education
C. Then to the Provost, who may refer the appeal to his/her designee for hearing
and recommendation
D. Finally, to the President of Missouri State University
School Ethics Review Committee Constituency
The Admissions and Retention Committee is comprised of three social work faculty
appointed by the director. Recusal from serving on the committee in a situation involving
a conflict of interest or other ethical matter may occur upon decision of the faculty
member and/or may be requested by the retention committee, student and/or faculty
member. In the event of a recusal, the director will appoint another faculty member to
serve instead on a case-by-case basis.
28
If deemed appropriate by a majority vote of the Admissions and Retention Committee in
concurrence with the director, a faculty member from another department may be asked
to sit in on committee proceedings as an unbiased observer. Notes of all committee
meetings and hearings will be kept and placed in the student’s file upon completion of
the process.
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Social Work Organizations
The School of Social Work sponsors various student-oriented organizations:
Bachelor of Social Work Student Organization
The Social Work Club has existed from the very beginning of the Social Work Program
at Missouri State University. Under the sponsorship of various faculty members and the
leadership and contributions of many bright, energetic students, the Social Work Club
has become a source of pride for Missouri State University. The club has received
recognition at state and national levels for its contributions to the community and
profession.
The Social Work Club is open to any social work major as well as other interested
students. Over the past several years, students have been very active in the club's
organization and activities. Some of these activities include painting at the Missouri
Hotel, holiday season food drives, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, Foster
Parent’s Night Out, and fund-raising activities for various community organizations
including The Honor Flight, Make-A Wish Foundation, AIDS Project of the Ozarks, and
Harmony House. Each year members of the social work staff and/or faculty are chosen
or volunteer to serve as sponsors of the Social Work Club. Please check in the social
work office to learn who the current sponsors are. Student officers are also elected
each year. Both the officers and the sponsors are happy to talk with students about the
Social Work Club. The Social Work Club advertises its scheduled meetings and
publishes a brochure describing its purpose
Alpha Delta Mu
In addition to the Social Work Club, students may also gain membership in the Beta
Omicron chapter of Alpha Delta Mu (ADM), a National Social Work Honor Society. In
order for a student to be eligible for initiation to Alpha Delta Mu, the student must be
accepted into the BSW program and have achieved a minimum cumulative/combined
GPA of 3.0 and a 3.5 GPA in social work courses. The primary objective of Alpha Delta
Mu is to recognize superior scholarship and academic achievement. This
acknowledgment is accomplished each year through an initiation ceremony for new
members. Students eligible for ADM receive an invitation to join ADM when they have
met the requirements. Each year members of the social work staff and/or faculty are
chosen or volunteer to serve as sponsors of Alpha Delta Mu. Please check in the social
work office to learn who the current sponsors are. Student officers are also elected
each year. Both the officers and the sponsors would be happy to talk with you about
Alpha Delta Mu.
The School of Social Work encourages participation in professional social work
organizations these include:
National Association of Social Workers
30
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the professional organization for
practicing social workers in the United States. It provides leadership on social issues at
the state and national levels, supports a wide variety of social legislation beneficial to
social workers and their clients, publishes a monthly journal entitled Social Work, and is
dedicated to encouraging high standards of social work practice. The Missouri Chapter
of NASW has several divisions including one that covers the Springfield area.
Empower Missouri
Empower Missouri is a citizen membership organization founded in 1901. Spawned in
the Progressive Era, it started in St. Louis as the Missouri Conference on Corrections
and Charities. It was mostly a forum for philanthropists, government employees of
human services, and private charity professionals. For the first decade, its activities
consisted mostly of meeting once a year to discuss social problems and read papers.
In 1913, under the presidency of Roger Baldwin, subsequent founder of the American
Civil Liberties Union, Empower Missouri became a more activist organization. It began
advocating for changes in public policy to improve social conditions. It has remained a
vigorous advocate throughout this century. Indeed not a year has passed in the century
when some social policy change did not bear the mark of Empower Missouri.
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Appendix A
32
Bachelor of Social Work
Four Year Plan
Prerequisite Courses for BSW Admission (must have a 2.5 GPA or above to be admitted):

SWK 200*

SWK 213*
Freshman Year Fall Semester
Hours
GEP 101 First Year Foundations
2
ENG 110 Writing I
3
SOC 150 Intro. To Society
3
PLS 101 American Democracy & Citizenship
3
Quantitative Literacy (MTH 130 or above)
3
Total 14 hrs.

SWK 219*

Required gen eds.
Freshman Year Spring Semester
Hours
Life Science (with lab excludes GLG)
4
PSY 121 Introductory Psychology
3
COM 115 Fundamentals in Public Speaking
3
Humanities (choose 1 from gen ed.)
3
General Elective
1
Total 14 hrs.
Sophomore Year Fall Semester
SWK 200 Introduction to Social Work*
SWK 300 Service Learning*
HST 121 or HST 122
The Arts(choose one from gen ed.)
ECO 155 or ECO 165
General Elective
Sophomore Year Spring Semester
SWK 213 Social Welfare Pols/Svcs I*
SWK 219 Human Diversity*
Written Comm.(choose one from gen ed.)
Physical Science(choose one from gen ed.)
General Elective
Total
Hours
3
1
3
3
3
3
16 hrs.
Junior Year Spring Semester
SWK 307 Practice with Individuals*
SWK 314 Social Welfare Pols/Svcs II*
SWK 326 HBSE II*
Statistics (PSY 200/SOC 302)
SWK Elective*
General Elective
Total
Hours
3
3
3
3
3
3
18 hrs.
Junior Year Fall Semester
SWK 306 Interviewing Skills*
SWK 313 Social & Economic Justice*
SWK 325 HBSE I*
PSY 304 Abnormal Psychology
Public Issues (choose one from gen ed.)
General Elective
Senior Year Fall Semester
SWK 418 Social Work Research*
SWK 420 Practice with Fams/Grps*
SWK 430 Practice with Orgs/Communs*
SWK Elective*
General Elective
General Elective
Hours
3
3
3
3
3
Total
15 hrs.
Total
Hours
3
3
3
3
3
3
18 hrs.
Hours
Senior Year Spring Semester
Hours
3
SWK 480 Integrative Seminar*
3
3
SWK 490 Practicum in Social Work*
9
3
3
3
3
Total 18 hrs.
Total 12 hrs.
*Student must have a “C” or better in this course to continue in the BSW program
**Formal admission into BSW Program is required to enroll in all SWK 300 level classes and higher (except SWK 300)
Social Work Program Requirements
Required General Education Courses
General Education Electives
Required Humanities, Social, Behavioral, and Biological Courses
Social Work Required Courses
Social Work Recommended Course
Social Work Electives
Total
33
Hours
29 hrs.
19 hrs.
22 hrs.
48 hrs.
1 hr.
6 hrs.
125 hrs.
Bachelor of Social Work
Four Year Plan Advisement Form
Freshman Year Fall Semester
Hours
GEP 101 First Year Foundations
ENG 110 Writing I
SOC 150 Intro. To Society
2
3
3
PLS 101 American Democracy &
Citizenship
Quantitative Literacy (MTH 130 or above)
Total
Sophomore Year Fall Semester
Semester
Taken
Grade
Freshman Year Spring Semester
Hours
4
3
3
3
Life Science (with lab excludes GLG)
PSY 121 Introductory Psychology
COM 115 Fundamentals in Public
Speaking
Humanities (choose 1 from gen ed.)
3
General Elective
1
14
Hours
Total
Semester
Taken
Grade
Sophomore Year Spring Semester
Hours
SWK 213 Social Welfare Pols/Svcs I*
3
SWK 300 Service Learning*
HST 121 or HST 122
1
3
3
3
The Arts(choose one from gen ed.)
3
ECO 155 or ECO 165
General Elective
3
3
16
SWK 219 Human Diversity*
Written Comm.(choose one from
gen ed.)
Physical Science(choose one from
gen ed.)
General Elective
***APPLY TO PROGRAM***
Total
Hours
Semester
Taken
Grade
Junior Year Spring Semester
SWK 307 Practice with Individuals*
SWK 314 Social Welfare Pols/Svcs II*
3
3
SWK 325 HBSE I*
PSY 304 Abnormal Psychology
Public Issues (choose one from gen ed.)
3
3
3
SWK 326 HBSE II*
Statistics (PSY 200/SOC 302)
SWK Elective*
3
3
3
General Elective
3
18
General Elective
Hours
SWK 418 Social Work Research*
SWK 420 Practice with Fams/Grps*
SWK 430 Practice with Orgs/Communs*
3
3
3
SWK Elective*
General Elective
General Elective
3
3
3
18
Total
Semester
Taken
Grade
Senior Year Spring Semester
Total
3
9
12
NOTES:
Date Discussed:
Item Discussed:
BOLDED classes are prerequisites for admission and/or other SWK classes.
Formal admission into BSW program is required to enroll in all SWK 300 and higher classes (except SWK 300).
*indicates students must have a “C” or better in this course to continue in the BSW program.
A minimum of 45 general education hours must be completed before admission.
Completion of foundation courses: GEP 101, ENG 110, MTH 130, COM 115
Must have a 2.5 GPA upon admission into this program.
34
Semester
Taken
Grade
3
18
Hours
SWK 480 Integrative Seminar*
SWK 490 Practicum in Social Work*
Grade
15
3
3
Senior Year Fall Semester
Semester
Taken
3
Hours
Total
Grade
3
SWK 306 Interviewing Skills*
SWK 313 Social & Economic Justice*
Total
Semester
Taken
14
3
Junior Year Fall Semester
Grade
3
SWK 200 Introduction to Social Work*
Total
Semester
Taken
Bachelor of Social Work
Transfer Student Plan
Prerequisite Courses for BSW Admission (must have a 2.5 GPA or above to be admitted):
SWK 200*
SWK 213*
SWK 219*
 Required gen. eds.
Pre-Admission Fall Semester
SWK 200 Introduction to Social Work*
SWK 300 Service Learning*
ECO 155 or 165
General Elective (if needed)
General Elective (if needed)
Total
Hours
3
1
3
3
3
13 hrs.
Pre-Admission Spring Semester
SWK 213 Social Welfare Pols/Svcs I*
SWK 219 Human Diversity*
Abnormal Psychology
General Elective (if needed)
General Elective (if needed)
Junior Year Fall Semester
SWK 306 Interviewing Skills*
SWK 313 Social & Economic Justice*
SWK 325 HBSE I*
SWK Elective*
Junior Year Spring Semester
SWK 307 Practice with Individuals*
SWK 314 Social Welfare Pols/Svcs II*
SWK 326 HBSE II*
Statistics (PSY 200/SOC 302)
Total
Hours
3
3
3
3
12 hrs.
Senior Year Fall Semester
SWK 418 Social Work Research*
SWK 420 Practice with Fams/Grps*
SWK 430 Practice with Orgs/Communs*
SWK Elective*
Total
Hours
3
3
3
3
12 hrs.
Senior Year Spring Semester
SWK 480 Integrative Seminar*
SWK 490 Practicum in Social Work*
Total
Hours
3
3
3
3
3
15 hrs.
Total
Hours
3
3
3
3
12 hrs.
Hours
3
9
Total
12 hrs.
*Student must have a “C” or better in this course to continue in the BSW program
**Formal admission into BSW Program is required to enroll in all SWK 300 level classes and higher (except SWK
300)
Social Work Program Requirements
Hours
Required General Education Courses
General Education Electives
Required Humanities, Social, Behavioral, and Biological Courses
Social Work Required Courses
Social Work Recommended Course
Social Work Electives
29 hrs.
19 hrs.
22 hrs.
48 hrs.
1 hr.
6 hrs.
Total
125 hrs.
35
Bachelor of Social Work
Transfer Student Advisement Form
Pre-Admission Fall Semester
Hours
SWK 200 Introduction to Social
Work*
SWK 300 Service Learning*
ECO 155 or 165
General Elective (if needed)
General Elective (if needed)
Total
Junior Year Fall Semester
1
3
3
3
3
SWK 313 Social & Economic
Justice*
SWK 325 HBSE I*
SWK Elective*
3
Hours
SWK 213 Social Welfare
Pols/Svcs I*
SWK 219 Human Diversity*
Abnormal Psychology
General Elective (if needed)
General Elective (if needed)
***APPLY TO PROGRAM***
3
Semester
Taken
Grade
Junior Year Spring Semester
SWK 418 Social Work Research*
SWK 420 Practice with Fams/Grps*
3
3
SWK 430 Practice with
Orgs/Communs*
SWK Elective*
3
Grade
Senior Year Spring Semester
Semester
Taken
Grade
Semester
Taken
Grade
3
3
3
3
12
Hours
SWK 480 Integrative Seminar*
SWK 490 Practicum in Social
Work*
3
12
Grade
15
Hours
SWK 307 Practice with
Individuals*
SWK 314 Social Welfare Pols/Svcs
II*
SWK 326 HBSE II*
Statistics (PSY 200/SOC 302)
Total
Semester
Taken
Semester
Taken
3
3
3
3
Total
3
3
12
Hours
Total
Pre-Admission Spring Semester
13
SWK 306 Interviewing Skills*
Senior Year Fall Semester
Grade
3
Hours
Total
Semester
Taken
Total
3
9
12
NOTES:
Date Discussed:
Item Discussed:
BOLDED classes are prerequisites.
Formal admission into BSW program is required to enroll in all SWK 300 and higher classes (except SWK 300).
*indicates students must have a “C” or better in this course to continue in the BSW program.
A minimum of 45 general education hours must be completed before admission.
Completion of foundation courses: GEP 101, ENG 110, MTH 130, COM 115
Must have a 2.5 GPA upon admission into this program.
36
Bachelor of Social Work
Advisement Checklist
BSW Admission Minimum Requirements Checklist:
Check if
Completed:
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
Requirement:
Completed a minimum of 45 hours
Combined GPA of 2.5 or higher
GEP 101/UHC 110 completed
ENG 110 completed
COM 115 completed
MTH 130 or above completed
SWK 200 currently enrolled or completed
SWK 213 currently enrolled or completed
SWK 219 currently enrolled or completed
A minimum of a “C” grade in all SWK courses
Apply to the program spring semester!!!!
BSW Course Requirements Checklist:
Check if
Completed:
☐
☐
Course Prefix:
Course Name:
Prerequisites:
SWK 213
Social Welfare Policy & Services
1
“C” or better in SWK 200 or concurrent enrollment
☐
☐
ALL SWK 300 and
400 level
(except SWK 300
and SWK electives)
SWK 306
SWK 307
Admission into the program/maintaining a 2.5
overall GPA/minimum of a “C” grade in all SWK
prefix courses
☐
SWK 313
☐
SWK 314
☐
SWK 325
☐
SWK 326
☐
SWK 418
☐
SWK 420
☐
SWK 430
☐
SWK 480
Human Behavior & the Social
Environment II
Methods of Social Research in
Social Work Practice
Social Work Practice w/ Groups
& Families
Social Work Practice in Comm.
and Orgs.
Social Work Integrative Seminar
☐
SWK 490
Practicum in Social Work
Interviewing Skills
Social Work Practice w/
Individuals
Social Justice
Social Welfare Policy & Services
II
Human Behavior & the Social
Environment I
37
Admittance into the program
SWK 306
Completed or currently enrolled in: ECO 155 or
165 and PLS 101
SWK 213
Completed or currently enrolled in: PSY
121/SOC 150/BIO 101 and 111 or BMS
100/105/110
SWK 325
SWK 307, SWK 314, SWK 326, and completed or
currently enrolled in: Statistics
SWK 307, SWK 314, SWK 326
SWK 307, SWK 314, SWK 326
SWK 418, SWK 420, SWK 430, and concurrent
enrollment in SWK 490
SWK 418, SWK 420, SWK 430, and concurrent
enrollment in SWK 480
Appendix B
38
School of Social Work
BSW Program
What:
2015-2016 BSW Program Information Meeting
Where:
Pummill Hall 104B
Purpose:
To acclimate new and/or prospective BSW
students into the social work program and
assign advisors.
Dates:
Thursday, August 27th at 12:00pm
Friday, September 25th at 12:00pm
Thursday, October 29th at 12:00pm
Friday, November 20th at 12:00pm
Thursday, December 10th at 12:00pm
Friday, January 29th at 12:00pm
Thursday, February 25th at 12:00pm
Friday, March 25th at 12:00pm
Thursday, April 28th at 12:00pm
Friday, May 6th at 12:00pm
39
Appendix C
40
Code of Ethics
of the National Association of Social Workers
Preamble
The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help
meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and
empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. A historic and
defining feature of social work is the profession’s focus on individual well-being in a social
context and the well-being of society. Fundamental to social work is attention to the
environmental forces that create, contribute to, and address problems in living.
Social workers promote social justice and social change with and on behalf of clients. “Clients”
is used inclusively to refer to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Social workers are sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity and strive to end discrimination,
oppression, poverty, and other forms of social injustice. These activities may be in the form of
direct practice, community organizing, supervision, consultation administration, advocacy, social
and political action, policy development and implementation, education, and research and
evaluation. Social workers seek to enhance the capacity of people to address their own needs.
Social workers also seek to promote the responsiveness of organizations, communities, and
other social institutions to individuals’ needs and social problems.
The mission of the social work profession is rooted in a set of core values. These core values,
embraced by social workers throughout the profession’s history, are the foundation of social
work’s unique purpose and perspective:
service
social justice
dignity and worth of the person
importance of human relationships
integrity
competence.
This constellation of core values reflects what is unique to the social work profession. Core
values, and the principles that flow from them, must be balanced within the context and
complexity of the human experience.
Purpose of the NASW Code of Ethics
Professional ethics are at the core of social work. The profession has an obligation to articulate
its basic values, ethical principles, and ethical standards. The NASW Code of Ethics sets forth
these values, principles, and standards to guide social workers’ conduct. The Code is relevant
to all social workers and social work students, regardless of their professional functions, the
settings in which they work, or the populations they serve.
The NASW Code of Ethics serves six purposes:
41
The Code identifies core values on which social work’s mission is based.
The Code summarizes broad ethical principles that reflect the profession’s core values
and establishes a set of specific ethical standards that should be used to guide social
work practice.
The Code is designed to help social workers identify relevant considerations when
professional obligations conflict or ethical uncertainties arise.
The Code provides ethical standards to which the general public can hold the social
work profession accountable.
The Code socializes practitioners new to the field to social work’s mission, values,
ethical principles, and ethical standards.
The Code articulates standards that the social work profession itself can use to assess
whether social workers have engaged in unethical conduct. NASW has formal
procedures to adjudicate ethics complaints filed against its members.* In subscribing to
this Code, social workers are required to cooperate in its implementation, participate in
NASW adjudication proceedings, and abide by any NASW disciplinary rulings or
sanctions based on it.
The Code offers a set of values, principles, and standards to guide decision making and
conduct when ethical issues arise. It does not provide a set of rules that prescribe how social
workers should act in all situations. Specific applications of the Code must take into account the
context in which it is being considered and the possibility of conflicts among the Code‘s values,
principles, and standards. Ethical responsibilities flow from all human relationships, from the
personal and familial to the social and professional.
Further, the NASW Code of Ethics does not specify which values, principles, and standards are
most important and ought to outweigh others in instances when they conflict. Reasonable
differences of opinion can and do exist among social workers with respect to the ways in which
values, ethical principles, and ethical standards should be rank ordered when they conflict.
Ethical decision making in a given situation must apply the informed judgment of the individual
social worker and should also consider how the issues would be judged in a peer review
process where the ethical standards of the profession would be applied.
Ethical decision making is a process. There are many instances in social work where simple
answers are not available to resolve complex ethical issues. Social workers should take into
consideration all the values, principles, and standards in this Code that are relevant to any
situation in which ethical judgment is warranted. Social workers’ decisions and actions should
be consistent with the spirit as well as the letter of this Code.
In addition to this Code, there are many other sources of information about ethical thinking that
may be useful. Social workers should consider ethical theory and principles generally, social
work theory and research, laws, regulations, agency policies, and other relevant codes of ethics,
recognizing that among codes of ethics social workers should consider the NASW Code of
Ethics as their primary source. Social workers also should be aware of the impact on ethical
decision making of their clients’ and their own personal values and cultural and religious beliefs
42
and practices. They should be aware of any conflicts between personal and professional values
and deal with them responsibly. For additional guidance social workers should consult the
relevant literature on professional ethics and ethical decision making and seek appropriate
consultation when faced with ethical dilemmas. This may involve consultation with an agencybased or social work organization’s ethics committee, a regulatory body, knowledgeable
colleagues, supervisors, or legal counsel.
Instances may arise when social workers’ ethical obligations conflict with agency policies or
relevant laws or regulations. When such conflicts occur, social workers must make a
responsible effort to resolve the conflict in a manner that is consistent with the values,
principles, and standards expressed in this Code. If a reasonable resolution of the conflict does
not appear possible, social workers should seek proper consultation before making a decision.
The NASW Code of Ethics is to be used by NASW and by individuals, agencies, organizations,
and bodies (such as licensing and regulatory boards, professional liability insurance providers,
courts of law, agency boards of directors, government agencies, and other professional groups)
that choose to adopt it or use it as a frame of reference. Violation of standards in this Code does
not automatically imply legal liability or violation of the law. Such determination can only be
made in the context of legal and judicial proceedings. Alleged violations of the Code would be
subject to a peer review process. Such processes are generally separate from legal or
administrative procedures and insulated from legal review or proceedings to allow the
profession to counsel and discipline its own members.
A code of ethics cannot guarantee ethical behavior. Moreover, a code of ethics cannot resolve
all ethical issues or disputes or capture the richness and complexity involved in striving to make
responsible choices within a moral community. Rather, a code of ethics sets forth values, ethical
principles, and ethical standards to which professionals aspire and by which their actions can be
judged. Social workers’ ethical behavior should result from their personal commitment to
engage in ethical practice. The NASW Code of Ethics reflects the commitment of all social
workers to uphold the profession’s values and to act ethically. Principles and standards must be
applied by individuals of good character who discern moral questions and, in good faith, seek to
make reliable ethical judgments.
Ethical Principles
The following broad ethical principles are based on social work’s core values of service, social
justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and
competence. These principles set forth ideals to which all social workers should aspire.
Value: Service
Ethical Principle: Social workers’ primary goal is to help people in need and to address social
problems.
Social workers elevate service to others above self-interest. Social workers draw on their
knowledge, values, and skills to help people in need and to address social problems. Social
workers are encouraged to volunteer some portion of their professional skills with no
expectation of significant financial return (pro bono service).
Value: Social Justice
43
Ethical Principle: Social workers challenge social injustice.
Social workers pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and
oppressed individuals and groups of people. Social workers’ social change efforts are focused
primarily on issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice.
These activities seek to promote sensitivity to and knowledge about oppression and cultural and
ethnic diversity. Social workers strive to ensure access to needed information, services, and
resources; equality of opportunity; and meaningful participation in decision making for all
people.
Value: Dignity and Worth of the Person
Ethical Principle: Social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person.
Social workers treat each person in a caring and respectful fashion, mindful of individual
differences and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers promote clients’ socially responsible
self-determination. Social workers seek to enhance clients’ capacity and opportunity to change
and to address their own needs. Social workers are cognizant of their dual responsibility to
clients and to the broader society. They seek to resolve conflicts between clients’ interests and
the broader society’s interests in a socially responsible manner consistent with the values,
ethical principles, and ethical standards of the profession.
Value: Importance of Human Relationships
Ethical Principle: Social workers recognize the central importance of human relationships.
Social workers understand that relationships between and among people are an important
vehicle for change. Social workers engage people as partners in the helping process. Social
workers seek to strengthen relationships among people in a purposeful effort to promote,
restore, maintain, and enhance the well-being of individuals, families, social groups,
organizations, and communities.
Value: Integrity
Ethical Principle: Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner.
Social workers are continually aware of the profession’s mission, values, ethical principles, and
ethical standards and practice in a manner consistent with them. Social workers act honestly
and responsibly and promote ethical practices on the part of the organizations with which they
are affiliated.
Value: Competence
Ethical Principle: Social workers practice within their areas of competence and develop and
enhance their professional expertise.
Social workers continually strive to increase their professional knowledge and skills and to apply
them in practice. Social workers should aspire to contribute to the knowledge base of the
profession.
Ethical Standards
The following ethical standards are relevant to the professional activities of all social workers.
These standards concern (1) social workers’ ethical responsibilities to clients, (2) social workers’
ethical responsibilities to colleagues, (3) social workers’ ethical responsibilities in practice
settings, (4) social workers’ ethical responsibilities as professionals, (5) social workers’ ethical
44
responsibilities to the social work profession, and (6) social workers’ ethical responsibilities to
the broader society.
Some of the standards that follow are enforceable guidelines for professional conduct, and
some are aspirational. The extent to which each standard is enforceable is a matter of
professional judgment to be exercised by those responsible for reviewing alleged violations of
ethical standards.
1. SOCIAL WORKERS’ ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES TO CLIENTS
1.01 Commitment to Clients
Social workers’ primary responsibility is to promote the well-being of clients. In general, clients’
interests are primary. However, social workers’ responsibility to the larger society or specific
legal obligations may on limited occasions supersede the loyalty owed clients, and clients
should be so advised. (Examples include when a social worker is required by law to report that
a client has abused a child or has threatened to harm self or others.)
1.02 Self-Determination
Social workers respect and promote the right of clients to self-determination and assist clients in
their efforts to identify and clarify their goals. Social workers may limit clients’ right to selfdetermination when, in the social workers’ professional judgment, clients’ actions or potential
actions pose a serious, foreseeable, and imminent risk to themselves or others.
1.03 Informed Consent
(a) Social workers should provide services to clients only in the context of a professional
relationship based, when appropriate, on valid informed consent. Social workers should use
clear and understandable language to inform clients of the purpose of the services, risks related
to the services, limits to services because of the requirements of a third-party payer, relevant
costs, reasonable alternatives, clients’ right to refuse or withdraw consent, and the time frame
covered by the consent. Social workers should provide clients with an opportunity to ask
questions.
(b) In instances when clients are not literate or have difficulty understanding the primary
language used in the practice setting, social workers should take steps to ensure clients’
comprehension. This may include providing clients with a detailed verbal explanation or
arranging for a qualified interpreter or translator whenever possible.
(c) In instances when clients lack the capacity to provide informed consent, social workers
should protect clients’ interests by seeking permission from an appropriate third party, informing
clients consistent with the clients’ level of understanding. In such instances social workers
should seek to ensure that the third party acts in a manner consistent with clients’ wishes and
interests. Social workers should take reasonable steps to enhance such clients’ ability to give
informed consent.
(d) In instances when clients are receiving services involuntarily, social workers should provide
information about the nature and extent of services and about the extent of clients’ right to
refuse service.
45
(e) Social workers who provide services via electronic media (such as computer, telephone,
radio, and television) should inform recipients of the limitations and risks associated with such
services.
(f) Social workers should obtain clients’ informed consent before audiotaping or videotaping
clients or permitting observation of services to clients by a third party.
1.04 Competence
(a) Social workers should provide services and represent themselves as competent only within
the boundaries of their education, training, license, certification, consultation received,
supervised experience, or other relevant professional experience.
(b) Social workers should provide services in substantive areas or use intervention techniques
or approaches that are new to them only after engaging in appropriate study, training,
consultation, and supervision from people who are competent in those interventions or
techniques.
(c) When generally recognized standards do not exist with respect to an emerging area of
practice, social workers should exercise careful judgment and take responsible steps (including
appropriate education, research, training, consultation, and supervision) to ensure the
competence of their work and to protect clients from harm.
1.05 Cultural Competence and Social Diversity
(a) Social workers should understand culture and its function in human behavior and society,
recognizing the strengths that exist in all cultures.
(b) Social workers should have a knowledge base of their clients’ cultures and be able to
demonstrate competence in the provision of services that are sensitive to clients’ cultures and to
differences among people and cultural groups.
(c) Social workers should obtain education about and seek to understand the nature of social
diversity and oppression with respect to race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion,
immigration status, and mental or physical disability.
1.06 Conflicts of Interest
(a) Social workers should be alert to and avoid conflicts of interest that interfere with the
exercise of professional discretion and impartial judgment. Social workers should inform clients
when a real or potential conflict of interest arises and take reasonable steps to resolve the issue
in a manner that makes the clients’ interests primary and protects clients’ interests to the
greatest extent possible. In some cases, protecting clients’ interests may require termination of
the professional relationship with proper referral of the client.
(b) Social workers should not take unfair advantage of any professional relationship or exploit
others to further their personal, religious, political, or business interests.
(c) Social workers should not engage in dual or multiple relationships with clients or former
clients in which there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client. In instances when
dual or multiple relationships are unavoidable, social workers should take steps to protect
46
clients and are responsible for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries.
(Dual or multiple relationships occur when social workers relate to clients in more than one
relationship, whether professional, social, or business. Dual or multiple relationships can occur
simultaneously or consecutively.)
(d) When social workers provide services to two or more people who have a relationship with
each other (for example, couples, family members), social workers should clarify with all parties
which individuals will be considered clients and the nature of social workers’ professional
obligations to the various individuals who are receiving services. Social workers who anticipate
a conflict of interest among the individuals receiving services or who anticipate having to
perform in potentially conflicting roles (for example, when a social worker is asked to testify in a
child custody dispute or divorce proceedings involving clients) should clarify their role with the
parties involved and take appropriate action to minimize any conflict of interest.
1.07 Privacy and Confidentiality
(a) Social workers should respect clients’ right to privacy. Social workers should not solicit
private information from clients unless it is essential to providing services or conducting social
work evaluation or research. Once private information is shared, standards of confidentiality
apply.
(b) Social workers may disclose confidential information when appropriate with valid consent
from a client or a person legally authorized to consent on behalf of a client.
(c) Social workers should protect the confidentiality of all information obtained in the course of
professional service, except for compelling professional reasons. The general expectation that
social workers will keep information confidential does not apply when disclosure is necessary to
prevent serious, foreseeable, and imminent harm to a client or other identifiable person. In all
instances, social workers should disclose the least amount of confidential information necessary
to achieve the desired purpose; only information that is directly relevant to the purpose for which
the disclosure is made should be revealed.
(d) Social workers should inform clients, to the extent possible, about the disclosure of
confidential information and the potential consequences, when feasible before the disclosure is
made. This applies whether social workers disclose confidential information on the basis of a
legal requirement or client consent.
(e) Social workers should discuss with clients and other interested parties the nature of
confidentiality and limitations of clients’ right to confidentiality. Social workers should review with
clients circumstances where confidential information may be requested and where disclosure of
confidential information may be legally required. This discussion should occur as soon as
possible in the social worker-client relationship and as needed throughout the course of the
relationship.
(f) When social workers provide counseling services to families, couples, or groups, social
workers should seek agreement among the parties involved concerning each individual’s right to
confidentiality and obligation to preserve the confidentiality of information shared by others.
Social workers should inform participants in family, couples, or group counseling that social
workers cannot guarantee that all participants will honor such agreements.
47
(g) Social workers should inform clients involved in family, couples, marital, or group counseling
of the social worker’s, employer’s, and agency’s policy concerning the social worker’s disclosure
of confidential information among the parties involved in the counseling.
(h) Social workers should not disclose confidential information to third-party payers unless
clients have authorized such disclosure.
(i) Social workers should not discuss confidential information in any setting unless privacy can
be ensured. Social workers should not discuss confidential information in public or semipublic
areas such as hallways, waiting rooms, elevators, and restaurants.
(j) Social workers should protect the confidentiality of clients during legal proceedings to the
extent permitted by law. When a court of law or other legally authorized body orders social
workers to disclose confidential or privileged information without a client’s consent and such
disclosure could cause harm to the client, social workers should request that the court withdraw
the order or limit the order as narrowly as possible or maintain the records under seal,
unavailable for public inspection.
(k) Social workers should protect the confidentiality of clients when responding to requests from
members of the media.
(l) Social workers should protect the confidentiality of clients’ written and electronic records and
other sensitive information. Social workers should take reasonable steps to ensure that clients’
records are stored in a secure location and that clients’ records are not available to others who
are not authorized to have access.
(m) Social workers should take precautions to ensure and maintain the confidentiality of
information transmitted to other parties through the use of computers, electronic mail, facsimile
machines, telephones and telephone answering machines, and other electronic or computer
technology. Disclosure of identifying information should be avoided whenever possible.
(n) Social workers should transfer or dispose of clients’ records in a manner that protects clients’
confidentiality and is consistent with state statutes governing records and social work licensure.
(o) Social workers should take reasonable precautions to protect client confidentiality in the
event of the social worker’s termination of practice, incapacitation, or death.
(p) Social workers should not disclose identifying information when discussing clients for
teaching or training purposes unless the client has consented to disclosure of confidential
information.
(q) Social workers should not disclose identifying information when discussing clients with
consultants unless the client has consented to disclosure of confidential information or there is a
compelling need for such disclosure.
(r) Social workers should protect the confidentiality of deceased clients consistent with the
preceding standards.
1.08 Access to Records
(a) Social workers should provide clients with reasonable access to records concerning the
clients. Social workers who are concerned that clients’ access to their records could cause
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serious misunderstanding or harm to the client should provide assistance in interpreting the
records and consultation with the client regarding the records. Social workers should limit
clients’ access to their records, or portions of their records, only in exceptional circumstances
when there is compelling evidence that such access would cause serious harm to the client.
Both clients’ requests and the rationale for withholding some or all of the record should be
documented in clients’ files.
(b) When providing clients with access to their records, social workers should take steps to
protect the confidentiality of other individuals identified or discussed in such records.
1.09 Sexual Relationships
(a) Social workers should under no circumstances engage in sexual activities or sexual contact
with current clients, whether such contact is consensual or forced.
(b) Social workers should not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with clients’ relatives
or other individuals with whom clients maintain a close personal relationship when there is a risk
of exploitation or potential harm to the client. Sexual activity or sexual contact with clients’
relatives or other individuals with whom clients maintain a personal relationship has the potential
to be harmful to the client and may make it difficult for the social worker and client to maintain
appropriate professional boundaries. Social workers—not their clients, their clients’ relatives, or
other individuals with whom the client maintains a personal relationship—assume the full burden
for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries.
(c) Social workers should not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with former clients
because of the potential for harm to the client. If social workers engage in conduct contrary to
this prohibition or claim that an exception to this prohibition is warranted because of
extraordinary circumstances, it is social workers—not their clients—who assume the full burden
of demonstrating that the former client has not been exploited, coerced, or manipulated,
intentionally or unintentionally.
(d) Social workers should not provide clinical services to individuals with whom they have had a
prior sexual relationship. Providing clinical services to a former sexual partner has the potential
to be harmful to the individual and is likely to make it difficult for the social worker and individual
to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
1.10 Physical Contact
Social workers should not engage in physical contact with clients when there is a possibility of
psychological harm to the client as a result of the contact (such as cradling or caressing clients).
Social workers who engage in appropriate physical contact with clients are responsible for
setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries that govern such physical contact.
1.11 Sexual Harassment
Social workers should not sexually harass clients. Sexual harassment includes sexual
advances, sexual solicitation, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of
a sexual nature.
1.12 Derogatory Language
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Social workers should not use derogatory language in their written or verbal communications to
or about clients. Social workers should use accurate and respectful language in all
communications to and about clients.
1.13 Payment for Services
(a) When setting fees, social workers should ensure that the fees are fair, reasonable, and
commensurate with the services performed. Consideration should be given to clients’ ability to
pay.
(b) Social workers should avoid accepting goods or services from clients as payment for
professional services. Bartering arrangements, particularly involving services, create the
potential for conflicts of interest, exploitation, and inappropriate boundaries in social workers’
relationships with clients. Social workers should explore and may participate in bartering only in
very limited circumstances when it can be demonstrated that such arrangements are an
accepted practice among professionals in the local community, considered to be essential for
the provision of services, negotiated without coercion, and entered into at the client’s initiative
and with the client’s informed consent. Social workers who accept goods or services from
clients as payment for professional services assume the full burden of demonstrating that this
arrangement will not be detrimental to the client or the professional relationship.
(c) Social workers should not solicit a private fee or other remuneration for providing services to
clients who are entitled to such available services through the social workers’ employer or
agency.
1.14 Clients Who Lack Decision-Making Capacity
When social workers act on behalf of clients who lack the capacity to make informed decisions,
social workers should take reasonable steps to safeguard the interests and rights of those
clients.
1.15 Interruption of Services
Social workers should make reasonable efforts to ensure continuity of services in the event that
services are interrupted by factors such as unavailability, relocation, illness, disability, or death.
1.16 Termination of Services
(a) Social workers should terminate services to clients and professional relationships with them
when such services and
relationships are no longer required or no longer serve the clients’ needs or interests.
(b) Social workers should take reasonable steps to avoid abandoning clients who are still in
need of services. Social workers should withdraw services precipitously only under unusual
circumstances, giving careful consideration to all factors in the situation and taking care to
minimize possible adverse effects. Social workers should assist in making appropriate
arrangements for continuation of services when necessary.
(c) Social workers in fee-for-service settings may terminate services to clients who are not
paying an overdue balance if the financial contractual arrangements have been made clear to
the client, if the client does not pose an imminent danger to self or others, and if the clinical and
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other consequences of the current nonpayment have been addressed and discussed with the
client.
(d) Social workers should not terminate services to pursue a social, financial, or sexual
relationship with a client.
(e) Social workers who anticipate the termination or interruption of services to clients should
notify clients promptly and seek the transfer, referral, or continuation of services in relation to
the clients’ needs and preferences.
(f) Social workers who are leaving an employment setting should inform clients of appropriate
options for the continuation of services and of the benefits and risks of the options.
2. SOCIAL WORKERS’ ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES TO COLLEAGUES
2.01 Respect
(a) Social workers should treat colleagues with respect and should represent accurately and
fairly the qualifications, views, and obligations of colleagues.
(b) Social workers should avoid unwarranted negative criticism of colleagues in communications
with clients or with other professionals. Unwarranted negative criticism may include demeaning
comments that refer to colleagues’ level of competence or to individuals’ attributes such as race,
ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age,
marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, and mental or physical disability.
(c) Social workers should cooperate with social work colleagues and with colleagues of other
professions when such cooperation serves the well-being of clients.
2.02 Confidentiality
Social workers should respect confidential information shared by colleagues in the course of
their professional relationships and transactions. Social workers should ensure that such
colleagues understand social workers’ obligation to respect confidentiality and any exceptions
related to it.
2.03 Interdisciplinary Collaboration
(a) Social workers who are members of an interdisciplinary team should participate in and
contribute to decisions that affect the well-being of clients by drawing on the perspectives,
values, and experiences of the social work profession. Professional and ethical obligations of
the interdisciplinary team as a whole and of its individual members should be clearly
established.
(b) Social workers for whom a team decision raises ethical concerns should attempt to resolve
the disagreement through appropriate channels. If the disagreement cannot be resolved, social
workers should pursue other avenues to address their concerns consistent with client wellbeing.
2.04 Disputes Involving Colleagues
(a) Social workers should not take advantage of a dispute between a colleague and an
employer to obtain a position or otherwise advance the social workers’ own interests.
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(b) Social workers should not exploit clients in disputes with colleagues or engage clients in any
inappropriate discussion of conflicts between social workers and their colleagues.
2.05 Consultation
(a) Social workers should seek the advice and counsel of colleagues whenever such
consultation is in the best interests of clients.
(b) Social workers should keep themselves informed about colleagues’ areas of expertise and
competencies. Social workers should seek consultation only from colleagues who have
demonstrated knowledge, expertise, and competence related to the subject of the consultation.
(c) When consulting with colleagues about clients, social workers should disclose the least
amount of information necessary to achieve the purposes of the consultation.
2.06 Referral for Services
(a) Social workers should refer clients to other professionals when the other professionals’
specialized knowledge or expertise is needed to serve clients fully or when social workers
believe that they are not being effective or making reasonable progress with clients and that
additional service is required.
(b) Social workers who refer clients to other professionals should take appropriate steps to
facilitate an orderly transfer of responsibility. Social workers who refer clients to other
professionals should disclose, with clients’ consent, all pertinent information to the new service
providers.
(c) Social workers are prohibited from giving or receiving payment for a referral when no
professional service is provided by the referring social worker.
2.07 Sexual Relationships
(a) Social workers who function as supervisors or educators should not engage in sexual
activities or contact with supervisees, students, trainees, or other colleagues over whom they
exercise professional authority.
(b) Social workers should avoid engaging in sexual relationships with colleagues when there is
potential for a conflict of interest. Social workers who become involved in, or anticipate
becoming involved in, a sexual relationship with a colleague have a duty to transfer professional
responsibilities, when necessary, to avoid a conflict of interest.
2.08 Sexual Harassment
Social workers should not sexually harass supervisees, students, trainees, or colleagues.
Sexual harassment includes sexual advances, sexual solicitation, requests for sexual favors,
and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
2.09 Impairment of Colleagues
(a) Social workers who have direct knowledge of a social work colleague’s impairment that is
due to personal problems, psychosocial distress, substance abuse, or mental health difficulties
and that interferes
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with practice effectiveness should consult with that colleague when feasible and assist the
colleague in taking remedial action.
(b) Social workers who believe that a social work colleague’s impairment interferes with practice
effectiveness and that the colleague has not taken adequate steps to address the impairment
should take action through appropriate channels established by employers, agencies, NASW,
licensing and regulatory bodies, and other professional organizations.
2.10 Incompetence of Colleagues
(a) Social workers who have direct knowledge of a social work colleague’s incompetence should
consult with that colleague when feasible and assist the colleague in taking remedial action.
(b) Social workers who believe that a social work colleague is incompetent and has not taken
adequate steps to address the incompetence should take action through appropriate channels
established by employers, agencies, NASW, licensing and regulatory bodies, and other
professional organizations.
2.11 Unethical Conduct of Colleagues
(a) Social workers should take adequate measures to discourage, prevent, expose, and correct
the unethical conduct of colleagues.
(b) Social workers should be knowledgeable about established policies and procedures for
handling concerns about colleagues’ unethical behavior. Social workers should be familiar with
national, state, and local procedures for handling ethics complaints. These include policies and
procedures created by NASW, licensing and regulatory bodies, employers, agencies, and other
professional organizations.
(c) Social workers who believe that a colleague has acted unethically should seek resolution by
discussing their concerns with the colleague when feasible and when such discussion is likely to
be productive.
(d) When necessary, social workers who believe that a colleague has acted unethically should
take action through appropriate formal channels (such as contacting a state licensing board or
regulatory body, an NASW committee on inquiry, or other professional ethics committees).
(e) Social workers should defend and assist colleagues who are unjustly charged with unethical
conduct.
3. SOCIAL WORKERS’ ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES IN PRACTICE SETTINGS
3.01 Supervision and Consultation
(a) Social workers who provide supervision or consultation should have the necessary
knowledge and skill to supervise or consult appropriately and should do so only within their
areas of knowledge and competence.
(b) Social workers who provide supervision or consultation are responsible for setting clear,
appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries.
(c) Social workers should not engage in any dual or multiple relationships with supervisees in
which there is a risk of exploitation of or potential harm to the supervisee.
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(d) Social workers who provide supervision should evaluate supervisees’ performance in a
manner that is fair and respectful.
3.02 Education and Training
(a) Social workers who function as educators, field instructors for students, or trainers should
provide instruction only within their areas of knowledge and competence and should provide
instruction based on the most current information and knowledge available in the profession.
(b) Social workers who function as educators or field instructors for students should evaluate
students’ performance in a manner that is fair and respectful.
(c) Social workers who function as educators or field instructors for students should take
reasonable steps to ensure that clients are routinely informed when services are being provided
by students.
(d) Social workers who function as educators or field instructors for students should not engage
in any dual or multiple relationships with students in which there is a risk of exploitation or
potential harm to the student. Social work educators and field instructors are responsible for
setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries.
3.03 Performance Evaluation
Social workers who have responsibility for evaluating the performance of others should fulfill
such responsibility in a fair and considerate manner and on the basis of clearly stated criteria.
3.04 Client Records
(a) Social workers should take reasonable steps to ensure that documentation in records is
accurate and reflects the services provided.
(b) Social workers should include sufficient and timely documentation in records to facilitate the
delivery of services and to ensure continuity of services provided to clients in the future.
(c) Social workers’ documentation should protect clients’ privacy to the extent that is possible
and appropriate and should include only information that is directly relevant to the delivery of
services.
(d) Social workers should store records following the termination of services to ensure
reasonable future access. Records should be maintained for the number of years required by
state statutes or relevant contracts.
3.05 Billing
Social workers should establish and maintain billing practices that accurately reflect the nature
and extent of services provided and that identify who provided the service in the practice setting.
3.06 Client Transfer
(a) When an individual who is receiving services from another agency or colleague contacts a
social worker for services, the social worker should carefully consider the client’s needs before
agreeing to provide services. To minimize possible confusion and conflict, social workers should
discuss with potential clients the nature of the clients’ current relationship with other service
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providers and the implications, including possible benefits or risks, of entering into a relationship
with a new service provider.
(b) If a new client has been served by another agency or colleague, social workers should
discuss with the client whether consultation with the previous service provider is in the client’s
best interest.
3.07 Administration
(a) Social work administrators should advocate within and outside their agencies for adequate
resources to meet clients’ needs.
(b) Social workers should advocate for resource allocation procedures that are open and fair.
When not all clients’ needs can be met, an allocation procedure should be developed that is
nondiscriminatory and based on appropriate and consistently applied principles.
(c) Social workers who are administrators should take reasonable steps to ensure that adequate
agency or organizational resources are available to provide appropriate staff supervision.
(d) Social work administrators should take reasonable steps to ensure that the working
environment for which they are responsible is consistent with and encourages compliance with
the NASW Code of Ethics. Social work administrators should take reasonable steps to eliminate
any conditions in their organizations that violate, interfere with, or discourage compliance with
the Code.
3.08 Continuing Education and Staff Development
Social work administrators and supervisors should take reasonable steps to provide or arrange
for continuing education and staff development for all staff for whom they are responsible.
Continuing education and staff development should address current knowledge and emerging
developments related to social work practice and ethics.
3.09 Commitments to Employers
(a) Social workers generally should adhere to commitments made to employers and employing
organizations.
(b) Social workers should work to improve employing agencies’ policies and procedures and the
efficiency and effectiveness of their services.
(c) Social workers should take reasonable steps to ensure that employers are aware of social
workers’ ethical obligations as set forth in the NASW Code of Ethics and of the implications of
those obligations for social work practice.
(d) Social workers should not allow an employing organization’s policies, procedures,
regulations, or administrative orders to interfere with their ethical practice of social work. Social
workers should take reasonable steps to ensure that their employing organizations’ practices
are consistent with the NASW Code of Ethics.
(e) Social workers should act to prevent and eliminate discrimination in the employing
organization’s work assignments and in its employment policies and practices.
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(f) Social workers should accept employment or arrange student field placements only in
organizations that exercise fair personnel practices.
(g) Social workers should be diligent stewards of the resources of their employing organizations,
wisely conserving funds where appropriate and never misappropriating funds or using them for
unintended purposes.
3.10 Labor-Management Disputes
(a) Social workers may engage in organized action, including the formation of and participation
in labor unions, to improve services to clients and working conditions.
(b) The actions of social workers who are involved in labor-management disputes, job actions,
or labor strikes should be guided by the profession’s values, ethical principles, and ethical
standards. Reasonable differences of opinion exist among social workers concerning their
primary obligation as professionals during an actual or threatened labor strike or job action.
Social workers should carefully examine relevant issues and their possible impact on clients
before deciding on a course of action.
4. SOCIAL WORKERS’ ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES AS PROFESSIONALS
4.01 Competence
(a) Social workers should accept responsibility or employment only on the basis of existing
competence or the intention to acquire the necessary competence.
(b) Social workers should strive to become and remain proficient in professional practice and
the performance of professional functions. Social workers should critically examine and keep
current with emerging knowledge relevant to social work. Social workers should routinely review
the professional literature and participate in continuing education relevant to social work practice
and social work ethics.
(c) Social workers should base practice on recognized knowledge, including empirically based
knowledge, relevant to social work and social work ethics.
4.02 Discrimination
Social workers should not practice, condone, facilitate, or collaborate with any form of
discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, or
mental or physical disability.
4.03 Private Conduct
Social workers should not permit their private conduct to interfere with their ability to fulfill their
professional responsibilities.
4.04 Dishonesty, Fraud, and Deception
Social workers should not participate in, condone, or be associated with dishonesty, fraud, or
deception.
4.05 Impairment
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(a) Social workers should not allow their own personal problems, psychosocial distress, legal
problems, substance abuse, or mental health difficulties to interfere with their professional
judgment and performance or to jeopardize the best interests of people for whom they have a
professional responsibility.
(b) Social workers whose personal problems, psychosocial distress, legal problems, substance
abuse, or mental health difficulties interfere with their professional judgment and performance
should immediately seek consultation and take appropriate remedial action by seeking
professional help, making adjustments in workload, terminating practice, or taking any other
steps necessary to protect clients and others.
4.06 Misrepresentation
(a) Social workers should make clear distinctions between statements made and actions
engaged in as a private individual and as a representative of the social work profession, a
professional social work organization, or the social worker’s employing agency.
(b) Social workers who speak on behalf of professional social work organizations should
accurately represent the official and authorized positions of the organizations.
(c) Social workers should ensure that their representations to clients, agencies, and the public of
professional qualifications, credentials, education, competence, affiliations, services provided, or
results to be achieved are accurate. Social workers should claim only those relevant
professional credentials they actually possess and take steps to correct any inaccuracies or
misrepresentations of their credentials by others.
4.07 Solicitations
(a) Social workers should not engage in uninvited solicitation of potential clients who, because
of their circumstances, are vulnerable to undue influence, manipulation, or coercion.
(b) Social workers should not engage in solicitation of testimonial endorsements (including
solicitation of consent to use a client’s prior statement as a testimonial endorsement) from
current clients or from other people who, because of their particular circumstances, are
vulnerable to undue influence.
4.08 Acknowledging Credit
(a) Social workers should take responsibility and credit, including authorship credit, only for work
they have actually performed and to which they have contributed.
(b) Social workers should honestly acknowledge the work of and the contributions made by
others.
5. SOCIAL WORKERS’ ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE SOCIAL WORK
PROFESSION
5.01 Integrity of the Profession
(a) Social workers should work toward the maintenance and promotion of high standards of
practice.
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(b) Social workers should uphold and advance the values, ethics, knowledge, and mission of the
profession. Social workers should protect, enhance, and improve the integrity of the profession
through appropriate study and research, active discussion, and responsible criticism of the
profession.
(c) Social workers should contribute time and professional expertise to activities that promote
respect for the value, integrity, and competence of the social work profession. These activities
may include teaching, research, consultation, service, legislative testimony, presentations in the
community, and participation in their professional organizations.
(d) Social workers should contribute to the knowledge base of social work and share with
colleagues their knowledge related to practice, research, and ethics. Social workers should seek
to contribute to the profession’s literature and to share their knowledge at professional meetings
and conferences.
(e) Social workers should act to prevent the unauthorized and unqualified practice of social
work.
5.02 Evaluation and Research
(a) Social workers should monitor and evaluate policies, the implementation of programs, and
practice interventions.
(b) Social workers should promote and facilitate evaluation and research to contribute to the
development of knowledge.
(c) Social workers should critically examine and keep current with emerging knowledge relevant
to social work and fully use evaluation and research evidence in their professional practice.
(d) Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should carefully consider possible
consequences and should follow guidelines developed for the protection of evaluation and
research participants. Appropriate institutional review boards should be consulted.
(e) Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should obtain voluntary and written
informed consent from participants, when appropriate, without any implied or actual deprivation
or penalty for refusal to participate; without undue inducement to participate; and with due
regard for participants’ well-being, privacy, and dignity. Informed consent should include
information about the nature, extent, and duration of the participation requested and disclosure
of the risks and benefits of participation in the research.
(f) When evaluation or research participants are incapable of giving informed consent, social
workers should provide an appropriate explanation to the participants, obtain the participants’
assent to the extent they are able, and obtain written consent from an appropriate proxy.
(g) Social workers should never design or conduct evaluation or research that does not use
consent procedures, such as certain forms of naturalistic observation and archival research,
unless rigorous and responsible review of the research has found it to be justified because of its
prospective scientific, educational, or applied value and unless equally effective alternative
procedures that do not involve waiver of consent are not feasible.
(h) Social workers should inform participants of their right to withdraw from evaluation and
research at any time without penalty.
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(i) Social workers should take appropriate steps to ensure that participants in evaluation and
research have access to appropriate supportive services.
(j) Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should protect participants from
unwarranted physical or mental distress, harm, danger, or deprivation.
(k) Social workers engaged in the evaluation of services should discuss collected information
only for professional purposes and only with people professionally concerned with this
information.
(l) Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should ensure the anonymity or
confidentiality of participants and of the data obtained from them. Social workers should inform
participants of any limits of confidentiality, the measures that will be taken to ensure
confidentiality, and when any records containing research data will be destroyed.
(m) Social workers who report evaluation and research results should protect participants’
confidentiality by omitting identifying information unless proper consent has been obtained
authorizing disclosure.
(n) Social workers should report evaluation and research findings accurately. They should not
fabricate or falsify results and should take steps to correct any errors later found in published
data using standard publication methods.
(o) Social workers engaged in evaluation or research should be alert to and avoid conflicts of
interest and dual relationships with participants, should inform participants when a real or
potential conflict of interest arises, and should take steps to resolve the issue in a manner that
makes participants’ interests primary.
(p) Social workers should educate themselves, their students, and their colleagues about
responsible research practices.
6. SOCIAL WORKERS’ ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE BROADER SOCIETY
6.01 Social Welfare
Social workers should promote the general welfare of society, from local to global levels, and
the development of people, their communities, and their environments. Social workers should
advocate for living conditions conducive to the fulfillment of basic human needs and should
promote social, economic, political, and cultural values and institutions that are compatible with
the realization of social justice.
6.02 Public Participation
Social workers should facilitate informed participation by the public in shaping social policies
and institutions.
6.03 Public Emergencies
Social workers should provide appropriate professional services in public emergencies to the
greatest extent possible.
6.04 Social and Political Action
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(a) Social workers should engage in social and political action that seeks to ensure that all
people have equal access to the resources, employment, services, and opportunities they
require to meet their basic human needs and to develop fully. Social workers should be aware
of the impact of the political arena on practice and should advocate for changes in policy and
legislation to improve social conditions in order to meet basic human needs and promote social
justice.
(b) Social workers should act to expand choice and opportunity for all people, with special
regard for vulnerable, disadvantaged, oppressed, and exploited people and groups.
(c) Social workers should promote conditions that encourage respect for cultural and social
diversity within the United States and globally. Social workers should promote policies and
practices that demonstrate respect for difference, support the expansion of cultural knowledge
and resources, advocate for programs and institutions that demonstrate cultural competence,
and promote policies that safeguard the rights of and confirm equity and social justice for all
people.
(d) Social workers should act to prevent and eliminate domination of, exploitation of, and
discrimination against any person, group, or class on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin,
color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief,
religion, immigration status, or mental or physical disability.
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