1

University of Maryland School of Social Work

Welcome to the

School and the Path to the Profession

Dean Richard P. Barth

Spring 2014Orientation for Students

2

Five Goals for Orientation Talk

• Welcome you and tell you about our School• Remind you what a unique and gifted class

you are• Discuss key ethical actions now expected of

you• Call you to excellence• Finish on time

3

o The only profession committed to the practice of “scientific charity” (shout out to Baltimore’s very own Mary Richmond)

o 112 years young and growing stronger• UM SSW pursuing peace and justice

for all for 52 Years

Welcome to the Science and Practice of Social Work

4

The Code of Ethics of theNational Association of Social Workers

(NASW) will become one of your guides

Your ethical and moral compass has gotten you this far.

You have all made tough decisions along the path to today.

5

Mission

The mission of social work is rooted in a set of core values. The following core values, embraced by social workers throughout the profession’s history, are the foundation of social work’s unique purpose and perspective.

Value: Service

Ethical Principle: Social workers’ primary goal is to help people in need

and to address social problems.

Value: Social Justice

Ethical Principle: Social workers challenge social injustice.

Value: Dignity and Worth of the Person

Ethical Principle: Social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the

person.

Value: Importance of Human Relationships

Ethical Principle: Social workers recognize the central importance of human

relationships.

Value: Integrity

Ethical Principle: Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner.

Value: Competence

Ethical Principle: Social workers practice within their areas of

competence and develop and enhance their professional expertise.

12

1.01 Commitment to Clients1.02 Self-Determination 1.03 Informed Consent1.04 Competence1.05 Cultural Competence & Social Diversity1.06 Conflicts of Interest1.07 Privacy and Confidentiality1.08 Access to Records 1.09 Sexual Relationships1.10 Physical Contact1.11 Sexual Harassment1.12 Derogatory Language (and more)

Social Worker’s Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues (Section 1 of the NASW Code of Ethics)

1.06 Conflicts of Interest

(c) Social workers should not engage in dual or multiple relationships with clients or

former clients in which there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client.

1.07 Privacy and Confidentiality

(a) Social workers should respect clients’ right to

privacy. Social workers should not solicit private information from clients unless it is

essential to providing services or conducting social work evaluation or research. Once private information is shared, standards of

confidentiality apply.

1.09 Sexual Relationships

(a) Social workers should under no circumstances engage in sexual activities or

sexual contact with current clients, whether such contact is consensual or forced.

(b, c) or with clients relatives or persons close to clients or with former clients.

16

Section 2: Social Worker’s Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues

Section 3: Social Worker’s Ethical Responsibilities in Practice Settings

Section 4: Social Workers’ Ethical Responsibilities as Professionals (aka, the “plagiarism section”)

4.08 Acknowledging Credit (a) Social workers should take responsibility and

credit, including authorship credit, only for work they have actually performed and to which they have contributed.

(b) Social workers should honestly acknowledge the work of, and the contributions made by

others.

STAY OUT OF STUDENT REVIEW !

It’s far better to be late or wrong than to be

dishonest .

18

So…• Use discretion in what you say and what you

do and who you say it to or do it with• Write tight and cite right; when in doubt,

over cite• Read the DAILY BULLETIN faithfully

STAY ON TRACK TO GRADUATE, SURPRISE YOURSELF WITH HOW MANY

LEARNING CHANCES YOU TAKE, MAKE US ALL PROUD!

19

Settle Only for Excellence

• We are at a time in our nation when people may have never needed effective services more and had fewer resources to dedicate to them.

I hope you will join me in dedicating yourself to excellence in every aspect of your time here—you need that to succeed. Our nation and world needs us to succeed.

20

Welcome on behalf of all our School’s faculty and staff to the fascinating, profoundly enriching, and

honored profession of SOCIAL WORK, and what we hope will be a happy and life long membership in the family of those who are part of the past and future of

the University of Maryland School of Social Work.