Self-Care for New Child Welfare Workers

CALIFORNIA COMMON CORE CURRICULA FOR CHILD WELFARE WORKERS

Values & Ethics

COMPETENCIES and LEARNING OBJECTIVES

RELEVANT CHILD WELFARE OUTCOMES

Safety 1 Children are, first and foremost, protected from abuse and neglect.

Safety 2 Children are safely maintained in their homes whenever possible and appropriate.

Permanency 1 Children have permanency and stability in their living situations without increasing reentry to foster care.

Permanency 2 The continuity of family relationships and connections is preserved for children.

Well-being 1 Families have enhanced capacity to provide for their children’s needs.

Well-being 2 Children receive services appropriate to their educational needs.

Well-being 3 Children receive services adequate to their physical, emotional and mental health needs.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Knowledge: K1. The trainee will be able to explain how professional values and ethics influence the decision-making process in public child welfare.

Values & Ethics Version 2.0, 2012 1 K4. The trainee will recognize how one’s personal values may influence one’s decision-making process in public child welfare.

K2. The trainee will recognize that the NASW Code of Ethics guides practice in CWS.

K3. The trainee will be able to identify two types of ethical issues that are related to child welfare practice.

Skill: S1. Given a case scenario, the trainee will be able to articulate potential areas of ethical concern.

Values: V1. The trainee values continued awareness of how one’s own values may influence one’s decision-making process in public child welfare.

V2. The trainee values awareness of his/her own emotional responses to clients in areas where the trainee’s values are challenged.

V3. The trainee values conducting him or herself in accordance with the professional expectations set forth in the NASW Code of Ethics, the NASW Standards for Social Work Practice in Child Welfare, and the California Standards and Values for Public Child Welfare Practice.

RELATED TITLE IV-E CURRICULUM COMPETENCIES

The Title IV-E MSW competencies were developed for the M.S.W. specialization in public child welfare in California, a two-year full time graduate program. The MSW competencies may overlap with the common core competencies, but are primarily designed for a full MSW program. Learning objectives and competencies in the common core support the MSW Title IV-E competencies, but not all of the IV-E material can be delivered during an in-service training session. MSW Title IV-E competencies may therefore be linked to multiple topic areas of the common core.

CF 2.a. Demonstrate awareness of personal values and bias and manages such bias to engage in practice consistent with professional ethics and values. CF 2.b. Understand the professional value base and apply NASW Code of Ethics and other applicable codes of ethics in creating plans and making decisions that affect children, youth, adults, families and communities. CA 1.2. Applies ethical principles, codes of ethics and professional social work values skillfully in practice and in resolving ethical conflicts.

Values & Ethics Version 2.0, 2012 2 CP 1.2. Maintain professional demeanor and boundaries in practice situations, demonstrate skill in articulating professional knowledge and effective use of self, and utilize appropriate resources to ensure professional growth. CP 2.1. Skillfully identify and apply ethical principles in making child welfare practice decisions and articulate their application in routine and challenging ethical contexts.

Values & Ethics Version 2.0, 2012 3