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To Help: 212.371.1000 ext. 2051 The Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York Code of Ethics

A Guide for Catholic Charities agencies in the Archdiocese of New York. 1011 First Avenue 11th Floor New York, NY 10022-4112

www.catholiccharitiesny.com

Developed in conjunction with the Code of Ethics Project of Catholic Charities USA and conforming with its fundamental principles and values.

1 Mission Contents

The Catholic Charities of the Catholic Charities: At The Heart of the Catholic Church ...... 3 Archdiocese of New York seeks to uphold the dignity of each person Key Principles and Values ...... 4 as made in the image of God by Standards ...... 5-10 serving the basic needs of the poor, 1. Those Whom We Serve: Consumers and Clients ...... 5 troubled, frail and oppressed of all religions. We collaborate with parishes 2. Those Who Oversee: Trustees ...... 6 and Catholic and non-Catholic partners 3. Those Who Serve: Employees ...... 7 to build a compassionate and just society. Through a network of 4. Those Who Support: Donors ...... 9 administered, sponsored and affiliated 5. The World in Which We Serve: Social Responsibility ...... 10 agencies, Catholic Charities delivers, Good Stewardship and Accountability Pledge ...... 11 coordinates and advocates for quality human services and programs Conclusion ...... 11 touching almost every human need. Vision ...... 12

3 Code of Ethics Code of Ethics 1 Code of Ethics Catholic Charities: The Catholic Charities Code of Ethics At the Heart of the provides a set of ethical standards to guide the behaviors of the agency Catholic Church as a whole and its employees and Love of neighbor, grounded in the volunteers. It articulates responsibilities love of God, is first and foremost a to clients, donors and society as a responsibility for each individual whole. It provides a foundation for member of the faithful but it is also the ongoing development of more a responsibility for the entire ecclesial detailed policies and procedures community at every level… As a in different areas of the agency’s community, the Church must practice operations. The Code is a further love. Love thus needs to be organized explication of Catholic Charities if it is to be an ordered service to Pledge of Good Stewardship and the community. Accountability that was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Catholic The Church’s deepest nature is Charities of the Archdiocese of expressed in her three-fold responsi- New York in 2004. bility: of proclaiming the word of God, celebrating the sacraments, and exercising the ministry of charity. These duties presuppose each other and are inseparable. For the Church, charity is not a kind of welfare activity which could equally well be left to other, but is a part of her nature, an indispensable expression of her very being. (Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, 20 & 25a)

2 Code of Ethics Code of Ethics 3 Life and Dignity of the use of client cases/material for Inspiration and The Human Person Standards training or marketing purposes. The refusal of a client to give such consent Guidance From Life is sacred and the dignity of the The following ethical standards flow will not in any way be a basis for human person is the foundation of from principles and values that are denying services. Catholic Tradition: a moral vision for society. the foundation of the work of Key Principles Catholic Charities and expressed in Non-Involvement of Clients in Call to Family, Community the previous two sections. This Code Internal Agency Matters: Staff shall and Values and Participation attempts to articulate standards not discuss with clients internal related to Catholic Charities major The person is not only sacred but also agency matters including conflicts Catholic Charities is an integral part stakeholders: Clients, Trustees, Staff, social. How we organize our society between themselves and colleagues. of the mission of the Catholic Church Society and Donors. directly affects human dignity. in faithfully living the Gospel of Research: The agency shall protect Jesus Christ in the world. The social the rights of human research subjects Rights and Responsibilities teachings of the Church, in particular, 1. Responsibility to Those and follow guidelines developed for express fundamental principles and Human dignity should be protected We Serve (Consumers protecting and evaluating research. values that both inspire and and a healthy community is achieved and Clients) Sensitively administered, written informed consent and assent shall guide its work. only if human rights are protected Respect: Staff shall respect each be obtained from research participants and responsibilities are met. person served as made in the image as dictated by governmental and of God and provide help with dignity professional mandates. Option for The Poor and compassion. and Vulnerable Non-Discrimination and Cultural Independence: Staff will provide help Competence: The agency shall not The needs of the poor and vulnerable in a way that decreases dependency engage in discriminatory or harassing are to be put first and drive us to raise and fosters authentic independence. a basic moral question: How are behaviors against individuals served our most vulnerable members of Confidentiality: Staff shall respect the or refuse services to individuals on the society faring? privacy of all persons served and shall basis of race, color, creed, age, gender, confidentially maintain all information sexual orientation, religion, disability The Dignity of Work and obtained except for compelling or nationality. Professional staff should the Rights of Workers professional reasons in accord with demonstrate competence in providing agency policies and procedures. Work is more than a way to make services that are sensitive to the a living; it is a form of continuing Privacy: The agency shall obtain the respective cultures and differences participation in God’s creation. informed consent of the client before among people and cultural groups Respecting the basic rights of workers audiotaping or videotaping clients; served by Catholic Charities. protects the dignity of work. consent should also be obtained for

4 Code of Ethics Code of Ethics 5 Religious Identity, Institutional Conflicts of Interest: Staff shall Program Quality and fraudulent or malicious reporting Conscience and Non-Proselytizing: be alert to, and avoid conflicts of Responsiveness: The Board of will be subject to disciplinary action. The identity of the agency is Catholic interest, or appearances of a conflict, Trustees shall regularly review the and as such, the agency adheres to that jeopardize the integrity of the quality and responsiveness of its the social and moral teachings of work of Catholic Charities. programs to the needs of the 3. Those Who Serve the Roman Catholic Church in the communities it serves. (Employee and Volunteer Fees: The agency shall set fees that are Responsibilities) delivery of its services. At the same fair, reasonable and commensurate Fiscal Accountability: The Board time, Catholic Charities serves The Catholic Charities Code of Ethics with the services performed. Persons of Trustees shall approve the annual Non-Catholics and Catholics alike, will be incorporated into the agency’s served shall be made aware of fees budget and monitor achievement and does not proselytize in the organizational and employee policy and consideration should be given of budget goals. delivery of its services. manuals and communicated to to their ability to pay. In addition, the Board of Trustees new employees in the hiring and However, Catholic Charities will shall provide for regular review and orientation process. exercise its right to act in accord with engagement of auditors and review its institutional conscience when a 2. Responsibilities of Human Resource Policies: Human and accept the annual audit, along requested service is outside of the Those Who Oversee resource policies, procedures and with any observations by the auditors. dictates of competent professional Our Services (Trustees) practices should be comprehensive practice and/or when it is contrary Fidelity: Trustees shall be faithful Investments: Catholic Charities shall and adequate to promote to the social or moral teaching of to Catholic Charities purposes and ensure that all funds are prudently understanding of the mutual the Roman Catholic Church. In the exercise their best, independent invested and investments are screened responsibilities and expectation performance of their duties on behalf judgment concerning the best to ensure consistency with Catholic of staff and the agency. of Catholic Charities, staff are expected moral and social teaching. interest of the agency. Each Trustee Job Descriptions and Evaluations: to act in accord with these values shall be responsible for adequately Conflict of Interest: Trustees shall There shall be written up-to-date and principles. preparing for and regularly attending execute annually a conflict of interest job descriptions and evaluation for board meetings. Service Competence: All staff shall statement in accord with policies of all positions. provide services within the scope the agency. Stewardship of Assets: Trustees shall Supervisory Staff: Supervisors shall of their training and expertise. assure that the agency’s funds and Non-Retaliation: The Board of Trustees meet with the supervisees on a other assets are used for the charitable Duty to Warn, Protect and Report: shall provide an accessible and safe regular basis to provide for mutual purposes of the corporation in accord All professional staff shall be aware communication process for employees communication and clearly with applicable regulations and laws. of their legal and professional duty to make known to the Board any communicate to supervisees that The Board of Trustees shall be vigilant to warn and report incidents and irregularities regarding the use of emergency situations are to be to honor donor restrictions on any situations to protect third parties funds. There will be no retaliation brought to the supervisor’s funds the agency accepts. from harm that may be perpetrated against any employee for good faith attention immediately. by a client(s) in their care. reports of irregularities. Frivolous,

6 Code of Ethics Code of Ethics 7 Professional Development: The activities staff shall make clear to resolve the conflict in a manner appropriate to their type and level agency shall provide professional distinctions between their own consistent with this organizational of responsibility. development opportunities for staff personal statements, beliefs or actions Code of Ethics. To their best ability, Volunteers shall generally be expected to ensure their ongoing growth, and those of the agency when there Catholic Charities agencies will honor to act in the same manner as development and ability to provide is a discrepancy. Employees in certain and respect staff, board members employed staff. quality service to the agency’s clients. positions need to be extremely and volunteers’ adherence to such cautious in this area. professional codes of ethics, but Transparency: Senior Management will reserve the right to require that Team will communicate openly and Staff Relationships: Respect, 4. Those Who Support each staff person, board member or honestly with all governing and openness and mutual support Us: Donors volunteer respect and adhere to the advisory boards to enable such boards shall guide staff relationships and Contracts and Grants: In entering into Catholic Charities Code of Ethics as to be of maximum effectiveness in interactions. contracts for the provision of services, agents of Catholic Charities. overseeing and advising on the Solicitation of Clients: Staff shall not Catholic Charities shall assure that work of the agency. Impairment: A staff person who has solicit clients from alternative providers all contracts are consistent with direct knowledge of a colleague’s Responsibility of Employees to the for the purpose of increasing their agency mission. impairment (due to personal, Organization: All employees shall client base. If staff members engage Catholic Charities shall assure that psychosocial, substance abuse or share with their respective supervisors in a practice outside of their work for the acceptance of any grant does mental health issues) or who believes information that could place agency the Catholic Charities agency, they not require the violation of any of that a colleague has acted unethically staff, clients or other persons at risk shall also not solicit clients away from its principles and values. should bring this to the attention of or that could seriously impede the Catholic Charities. the employee’s own supervisor or Catholic Charities shall comply with mission of the agency. Other Professional Codes of Ethics: the human resources department. all appropriate reporting mechanisms Mutual Responsibility of Catholic Many Catholic Charities employees required by these funding sources Volunteers: Volunteers shall support Charities and Staff: Employment with and volunteers recognize various and assure the use of funds for their the mission, values and ethics of the Catholic Charities agency comprises professional codes of ethics. These intended purpose. organization as the foundation for a mutual relationship between the may include, but are not limited to, their work with and for the agency Fundraising and Marketing Activities: organization and the individual staff codes of ethics for social workers, and its clients. Catholic Charities shall ensure that all member that is guided by the psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, marketing and solicitation materials values of respect, openness and attorneys, physicians, accountants Volunteers shall be screened, and practices truthfully represent the transparency. and fund-raisers/development interviewed and placed in roles within agency, its mission and the use of professionals. When personal values the organization, which match their Staff Responsibility to Organization: solicited funds and comply with of staff or ethical obligations to clients skills and abilities with the needs of Staff shall support the mission, applicable laws and regulations. conflict with agency policies or the agency and its clients. Background values and ethics of the agency procedures, laws or regulations, and reference checks shall be Compensation: Catholic Charities shall in the performance of the job and all responsible efforts should be taken completed on volunteers as ensure that development/fundraising program related activities. In non-work

8 Code of Ethics Code of Ethics 9 staff does not accept compensation Coalition Building: Catholic Charities that is based on a percentage of the will participate as appropriate in Conclusion funds raised or accept finders’ fees. coalitions formed to ameliorate social The values, principles and standards injustices, enhance services to those Respect for Clients: Catholic Charities provide guidance and direction for in need and advocate for just shall take all appropriate steps to those who oversee and carry out the social policies. assure that no clients are exploited mission of Catholic Charities. They are in the fundraising or marketing Disaster Response: Catholic Charities also a notice to others of the way that process and that proper consents will have a disaster response plan we expect our mission and vision to are obtained. in place, enabling it to respond be carried out for the sake of those effectively to local or national disasters. whom we are privileged to serve. Donor Privacy: Catholic Charities shall Even though these standards touch never disclose confidential information Research: Catholic Charities, as on many areas of our work, there will about donors to any unauthorized appropriate, shall engage in and/or always be situations not covered by party in accord with its donor collaborate in responsible research this Code. We expect the spirit of this privacy policy. geared toward the improvement of Code to be applied to those areas services and/or interventions. Such and, as necessary, we will review research should be conducted in and update this Code to deal with 5. The World in Which We Serve accordance with the principles new situations. (Social Responsibility) articulated in the codes of ethics Advocacy: In fulfillment of its mission, of relevant professional disciplines, Catholic Charities will promote a just research bodies, accreditation and compassionate society. standards and other applicable organizational and governmental Involving the Church Community: rules and regulations. Catholic Charities shall work to engage parishes in its mission by providing opportunities for parishioners to be engaged in direct service and the work of advocacy. Staff Participation: Catholic Charities will encourage its staff to become involved proactively with the broader community in efforts to promote social justice that are consistent with the values and principles of Catholic social teaching.

10 Code of Ethics Code of Ethics 11 Good Stewardship Catholic Charities and Accountability Vision Pledge Catholic Charities helps solve the problems of New Yorkers in need Catholic Charities is committed —non-Catholics and Catholics alike. to the highest standards of good The neglected child, the homeless stewardship and accountability. The family and the hungry senior are Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese among those for whom we provide of New York is separately incorporated help and create hope. We rebuild lives according to the not-for-profit laws and touch almost every human need of New York State with its own active promptly, locally, day in and day out, Board of Trustees. An independent and always with compassion and public accounting firm, overseen by dignity. We help your neighbors, as the Audit Committee of the Board of you would like to be helped if your Trustees, conducts an annual audit family were in need. of Catholic Charities finances. Funds received by Catholic Charities are carefully monitored to ensure their use complies with donor intent. Funds are maintained in separate accounts and not co-mingled with those of the Archdiocese of New York. Catholic Charities policies and procedures have been reviewed and meet the standards of the charitable accountability of the Better Business Bureau’s Philanthropic Advisory Service. Catholic Charities complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws regarding discrimination (Adopted 2004).

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