This course takes an in-depth look at the values and ethics that helping professionals need to utilize in order to provide safe and effective services without harming clients. It also provides an opportunity to practice applying values and ethics so that by the end of the course, course participants are prepared to begin applying the concepts in a professional setting.

• Reamer, Frederic, G. (2024). Social work values and ethics, sixth edition. Columbia University Press.
• Student’s choice of a code of ethics from a helping profession ie: social work, CFLE, marriage and family therapy, nursing, education, etc…

If you are a social work or pre social work major, it is expected that you use the NASW Code of Ethics for assignments that require use of a Code of Ethics..

At the completion of this course, students will:

1. Identify the 5 ethical principles and explain their relevance in family services.
2. Explain personal values and biases and how they impact individual thought processes and decision making
3. Identify and name principles of ethical practice within family services (and helping professions generally) and demonstrate an ability to apply these principles in practice.
4. Demonstrate an ability to utilize critical thinking skills within the context of values and ethics in family services.
5. Explain the importance of incorporating multiple cultural perspectives into values and ethics.
6. Identify and explain the correlation between burnout and unethical behavior.
7. Identify, evaluate and apply appropriate strategies to ethical issues experienced by individuals and families (NCFR Competency 9).

Grading Scale

All percentages will be rounded to the nearest whole number.

• Please note that as a social work major, you must earn a B- or better in this course, or you will be required to repeat the course

Assignments

1. Ecological Model for Myself (25 points) - Please complete an Ecological Model for yourself in order to deepen your understanding of an Ecological Model. Please see Canvas for specific instructions and due date.
2. Burnout Prevention Plan (50 points) - For this assignment, you will identify and discuss a minimum of 5 warning signs of burnout focusing on how you know you are approaching burnout. Identify the 2 that will be the most problematic for you and explain why they will be problematic. Create a personalized, detailed burnout prevention plan that includes identifying and avoiding risk factors (when possible) and utilizing protective factors and self-care. Be specific. In order to receive a “Complete” for this assignment, it must be clear to the professor that your plan applies to your life. You may format this in whatever way you want and makes sense to you. You must use at least 2 outside sources, one of which mut be an academic source (textbook or peer reviewed article). Please include a reference page for this assignment. There is no minimum page number; please keep it under 5 pages. Please see Canvas for the due date.
3. Values & Bias Paper (50 points) - For this assignment, you will be exploring your personal values and biases. Then, you will write a 4-6 page paper about your personal values and biases. Please refer to the assignment shell in Canvas for additional details about this paper. Please see Canvas for the due date.
4. Code of Ethics Summary (25 points) - For this assignment, you will find a code of ethics relevant to your professional goals and write a summary about what stood out to you about it. In the summary, please address what the guiding principles are, what is included to protect both clients and professionals and what is important to remember as you move forward in this field. If you have either been accepted into or intend to apply for the BSW program at SUU, please use the NASW Code of Ethics for this assignment. Please see Canvas for the due date.
5. Ethics in the News (25 points) - For this assignment, you will find an article or news story of some kind highlighting an ethical issue, related to social work or family services, in the news. For full credit, you will need to write a brief summary, present the dilemma to the class and lead a discussion in class about the issue and its relevance to ethics. April 3 is the last guaranteed day to be able to present Ethics in the News. While there may be time later in the semester, the instructor cannot guarantee this. Please see Canvas for specific instructions and the due date.
6. Reading Summaries (120 points total) - For each week that reading is assigned, you will submit a summary of what you learned from the reading and how you are synthesizing it with the modules and outside content and/or experiences. Check Canvas for due dates.
7. Critical Thinking Activities (75 points total) - Throughout the semester, please choose any 3 activities to attend/participate in that challenge your comfort level. After each activity, please spend some time reflecting on how this particular activity was uncomfortable and then write a 1-2 page reflection about how participating in this activity helped you challenge your biases and increase your critical thinking skills. For 1 of these activities/assignments, please intentionally approach/confront an issue that you disagree with and/or makes you uncomfortable. The due date for these assignments is listed as the last day of the semester so that you have the entire semester to complete the assignment. If you wait until the last day (or week) of the semester to begin these assignments, you will not likely be able to complete them. Please see Canvas for specific instructions.
8. Group Presentation - For this assignment, you will:
   • work in groups of 3 - 5
   • choose 1 ethical concept discussed in class (any topic listed in the syllabus
   • research and explore:
     • how your chosen topic could be and/or is complicated across at least 2 clearly identified diverse cultures
     • implications for professional practice based on these complications
     • utilize at least 5 sources, 2 of which must be academic sources (textbook or peer-reviewed academic journal)

   You may choose to take a strict research approach, combine research with personal interviews of individuals from diverse populations, or take an entirely different approach. Please remember 1 or 2 individuals from a diverse population does not represent the entire population. As long as you include sources as previously outlined, there is no limit and/or expectation for how the information is presented as long as it is done with empathy and critical thinking.

   The only written work to be handed in will be an outline (Due February 27), reference page and evaluation of your group members which are due before class on the day you present. While everyone needs to turn in an evaluation of your group members, it is only necessary for one group member to turn in the outline and reference page; please be sure all the names of individuals within the group are included with the outline/reference page that is turned in for the group.

   Presentations will be done in class the last 2 weeks of class. Written work is due before class on the day you present (outline is due by February 27) even though Canvas lists the due date as April 17. Your presentation should be between 15 and 20 minutes long. Please refer to the grading rubric in Canvas for additional details.

9. Final Exam (75 points) - There will be a comprehensive final exam that will be completed in the testing center during the last week of class. It will be application based, meaning the focus will be on information you need to know in order to be an ethical practitioner. A study guide will be provided at least one week prior to the exam. You will be allowed one page of notes in the testing center. If you attend and are engaged in class throughout the semester, you will do well on the exam. Additional details will be provided as the date gets closer.
10. Case Study Analysis - This assignment will be completed during our scheduled time for a final exam which is Tuesday April 21 from 11:00 - 12:50. Specific instructions will be provided during that time.

Course Schedule Disclaimer: While content scheduled to be covered that is outlined in this course schedule will not likely change, the timing of which week it is presented may change based on factors unavailable to address at the time this syllabus was written.

FINAL (Case Study Analysis): Tuesday April 21: 11:00 - 12:50

Deadlines and Late Work

• All assignments are due at midnight on the due date unless otherwise noted.
• Assignments may be turned in early. You may turn in up to 3 assignments up to 3 days late without questions or penalty. Any late work beyond this will only be accepted if you have formal accommodations in place through the Disability Resource Center or support through the Office of Student Outreach and Support. This applies to all assignments that will receive a grade. Please do not rely on Canvas to remind you of when assignments are due; please be proactive and know when assignments are due. All assignments for the semester are already entered into Canvas.

Revise and Resubmit

Because I want your focus to be on learning and not on how skilled you are or aren’t at earning high grades, the grading in this class is intended to be reflective of that. Your participation, effort, and learning are more important than your skill at earning a specific grade.

All assignments, excluding quizzes, turned in on time, or within 3 days of the due date (maximum of 3 assignments), and completed according to the assignment instructions as outlined in both the assignment instructions in Canvas and the grading rubric will receive full credit. All assignments turned in on time, or within 3 days of the due date (maximum of 3 assignments), for which all or part of the assignment is insufficient for meeting assignment expectations as outlined in both Canvas and the grading rubric will receive ½ credit.

If you earn ½ credit on an assignment, you may revise and resubmit (excluding quizzes/final exam) for full credit as long as you do so within 7 days of when the assignment is graded and your revisions are highlighted. You may revise and resubmit as many times as you want/need to in order to earn the grade you want on each assignment. The instructor will not regrade any assignments that do not have revisions clearly highlighted. Any assignments due the last week of the semester will not have this flexibility; while you will be given the opportunity to revise and resubmit these assignments, it must be done within the time frame outlined in comments left by the instructor/grader at the time it is graded.

Communication and Announcements

• Email (using an email application) is the best way to reach me. Please do not rely on communication through assignments in Canvas for communicating with me. While I try to keep track of that communication, I have never been 100% successful at this.
• Please pay attention to Canvas Announcements as this instructor uses Canvas Announcements to communicate with students about important information. You will be accountable for information provided through announcements.

Electronic Device Use (Cell phones, laptops, tablets)

Please keep your cell phones on vibrate or silent and do not allow them to become a distraction in class. If you need to use your cell phone, please practice professionalism and step out to do so. I, and other faculty on campus, have noticed a trend of laptops becoming a distraction in class. Please practice professionalism while in class and keep your focus on class. Please do not work on assignments for this or any other class during this class, unless that assignment is the current focus of class (such as labs).

Academic Writing and Integrity Expectations

• All documentation must be done in APA 7th Edition format. Please note that in this course, I am very strict about how references are formatted. You will lose points if they are not precise. For this course, abstracts, cover pages and headings are not necessary. You will not be docked for using these. When required to use outside sources, students are expected to use credible sources; wikipedia is not allowed for use as a reference in this course. OWL at Purdue is a great resource! Please do not rely on any automatic reference/citation formatting tools/engines as these often produce incorrect citations/references. If you are going to pursue your education in the social sciences field, you may find it useful to purchase an APA manual. If it is discovered that you used a false source, generated by AI or any other source, this will be considered academic dishonesty and SUU Policy 6.33 will be followed.
• It is expected that all work you turn in is created and developed by you. If you use AI, the expectation for this course is that you use it as a resource and not a robot. You must properly cite it if you use it. If it is discovered that you are using AI without properly citing it or you use AI to generate work that you turn in as your own, SUU Policy 6.33 for Academic Integrity will be followed.
• All papers must be typed in either Arial or Times New Roman with a 12 point font, 1 inch margins, and double spaced.
• Grammar and following instructions matters! Your grade will be affected by these things. Please take care to be sure your assignments are properly formatted (ie spelling, punctuation, paragraph/sentence structure and complete sentences) and that you follow instructions listed in the syllabus. While you will be docked points according to assignment rubrics for incorrect grammar and poor writing mechanics, because of the amount of time it takes to do so, I will not be editing your papers as I grade them.

Attendance - Being in class matters and your attendance will significantly impact your grade. You are allowed 3 absences without any impact to your overall grade. This is the equivalent of 1 week of class. After those 3 absences, each unexcused absence will drop your final grade by 1%. Excused absences will only be granted for school excused activities, DRC Accommodations, or as supported by the Office of Student Outreach and Support. You are responsible for providing/facilitating documentation for school excused absences. Please use your 3 free absences wisely. If you have extenuating circumstances that arise such as emergency surgery, a long term illness, or a death in the family, please be aware you may be eligible for temporary accommodations through the DRC or Office of Student Support.

Emotional Safety

Due to the emotionally and psychologically vulnerable content that will be discussed throughout this course, it is essential that all participants contribute to an environment of emotional safety. In the event of a student participating in emotionally unsafe comments/behavior, the instructor will provide feedback which will serve as a warning. At that time, the student will be invited to converse with the instructor about what made their comments/behavior emotionally unsafe. If the behavior is repeated, students will be referred to campus services. If you find you are emotionally overwhelmed by content in this or any other course, the University Counseling and Psychological Services Center (CAPS) is a resource available to you. The phone number for CAPS is: 435.865.8621.

Student Support and Complaints

Please know I want to be a support to you and because I am operating within a system, I am limited in what I can and can’t do to support you. If you are in need of accommodations, please reach out to the Disability Resource Center or the Office of Student Outreach and Support on campus who can help you access short-term and long-term accommodations.

If you have a complaint about any professor or course on campus, please take the following steps:

1. Talk to the professor
2. If you feel like you can’t talk to the professor, please go to the chair of the department, contact information for this person can be found on the department’s website.
3. Other resources include:
   • Dean of the college where the course is housed
   • Provost’s office
   • Dean of Students
4. Regardless of the steps you take, leaving feedback in your end of semester course evaluations is important. These are anonymous; instructors do not have access to them until after grades are posted.

Student Responsibility for Learning

As a student in this course, you are responsible for the content presented in this course and for your own learning. If you need help, please ask. If you have questions about the material that you are interested in or curious about that is not addressed in the course, please ask. If you do not understand a concept being taught/discussed, please ask. The instructor is a resource to you; however, if you do not communicate that you need help, the instructor cannot help you.

Learning Objectives Alignment