Scenario:
The collaborative nature of crisis intervention benefits clients in a variety of ways, but can also bring up various ethical issues and considerations. Human services professionals often are privy to the most personal, sensitive aspects of clients' lives. When a client's situation calls for collaboration, it may be unavoidable that some of these details are shared with other parties, whether they are medical professionals, police officers, lawyers, or employees in government agencies. In some cases, human services professionals may be able to secure the services or help of other people or organizations while maintaining the confidentiality of their clients' identities. In other cases, this may not be possible and it is thus the job of the human services professional to maintain the utmost in sensitivity and discretion. Guidelines from organizations including the National Organization for Human Services, the American Psychological Association, and the American Counseling Association can help human services professionals navigate this complicated ethical terrain. Above all, human services professionals have the responsibility to treat clients with respect, empathy, and nonjudgmental acceptance. They must keep the details of their interactions with clients confidential, except when these interactions indicate that the client or someone else is in immediate danger.
The assignment :
Identify the community partners with whom you might collaborate to provide services to your residents, and, for each, explain why this collaborative relationship might be necessary.
Explain the role you might play and the actions you might take in facilitating these relationships.
Explain which services might be most challenging to provide to shelter residents, assuming this shelter is located in your community, and why.
Explain at least two specific ethical issues you might consider or have to address while working with the shelter residents.