Guidelines for Ethical Practice in Community Organization

Author: Donna Hardina

Source: Social Work, Volume 49, Number 4, October 2004 , pp. 595-604(10)

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $48.00 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

Community organizers often encounter ethical dilemmas in practice. Most organizers engage on a regular basis with community residents, constituency groups, local institutions, and government decision makers. Consequently, most practice activities occur outside traditional agency settings and are not directly addressed in the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Although community practice principles such as self-determination, informed consent, and protection of confidentiality are identified in the Code, situational factors make their application different than in direct practice. This article identifies the values inherent in community practice, describes ethical issues encountered by organizers, and examines tools available to organizers for resolving common ethical dilemmas.

Keywords: COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION; MACRO PRACTICE; SOCIAL CHANGE; SOCIAL WORK ETHICS; VALUES

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2004-10-01

More about this publication?

Social Work is the premiere journal of the social work profession. Widely read by practitioners, faculty, and students, it is the official journal of NASW and is provided to all members as a membership benefit. Social Work is dedicated to improving practice and advancing knowledge in social work and social welfare. Its articles yield new insights into established practices, evaluate new techniques and research, examine current social problems, and bring serious critical analysis to bear on problems in the profession. Major emphasis is placed on social policy and the solutions to serious human problems.
Editorial Board
Information for Authors
Subscribe to this Title
NASW Member/Subscriber access
ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites