Considering Confidentiality

Maintaining confidentiality is essential to the helping relationship.

Using the text, the Internet, and the Library, research the concept of confidentiality. Describe the origins of this responsibility.

Do you think it is important to a successful helping relationship? Why or why not?

Assume you are a family preservation worker at your county human services agency working with a family attempting to stay together after a neglect report.

When you arrive at the home for an appointment one evening, the 7-year-old daughter pulls you aside and informs you that her parents left her alone while they went out over the weekend, then adds, …but it was fine. Nothing bad happened. She then asks you not to tell anyone about this as she does not want to be removed from the home. Do you honor her request? What steps do you take? Discuss the reasoning for your decision.

Review the NOHS Ethical Standards for Human Service Professionals. Identify all standards that concern confidentiality.

How would the NOHS standards require you to address the situation described above?

What are the legal issues presented by The Case of Don Learning Activity

TEXT:
Sommers-Flanagan, R., Sommers-Flanagan, J. Becoming an Ethical Helping Professional: Cultural and Philosophical Foundations, with Video Resource Center. Chapter 6: Confidentiality and Trust

READING AND RESOURCES

Please read the article below to explore confidentiality issues specifically related to working with children.

Reamer, F. G. (2005). Update on confidentiality issues in practice with children: Ethics risk management. Children & Schools, 27(2), 117.

Please review the NOHS Code of ethics link below to discover how the issue of confidentiality is addressed.

National Organization for Human Services. (2015). Ethical Standards for Human Service Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.nationalhumanservices.org/ethical-standards-for-hs-professionals