4.5 Key Takeaways and Discussion Questions

Included in this section are tools for the reader to refresh and retain the knowledge. A Key Takeaway serves one of three purposes:

highlighting an especially complex aspect of the chapter;
summarizing an overarching idea; or
emphasizing an idea that invites the reader to think about it more deeply, to connect to life experiences, and/or additional learnings.

Discussion Questions are recommended for individual reflection or class discussion.

Key Takeaways

An ethical code must be considered within the context of multiple systems. The most complicated involve the overlapping cultures that affect us: the cultural context of the individuals and families being served, the professional’s own culture, societal values and policies, and workplace expectations. These are not to be given equal weight, but they are all factors in the work and ethical life of the helping professional.
The purpose of presenting these interwoven concepts now is to give human services students an introduction to the ideas. Having an ethical code is a tool that will guide practitioners, the people they serve, and society.
It is essential to understand that ethical codes are not the same as laws. Laws are enforceable and ethics are not, even if it seems it should be. Ethical codes are not enforceable by governmental agencies, like laws are. They are guidelines that carers have to function under set professional values and standards.

What is the purpose of having a code of ethics?
What additional ways can you ethically advocate for clients, families, and their communities that are listed above?
What community or population would you struggle with the most when working ethically, as your personal and professional values do not match?
How will you use the systems of power you are part of to advocate for removing systemic barriers?

“Key Takeaways and Discussion Questions” by Elizabeth B. Pearce is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Revised by Martha Ochoa-Leyva.

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Introduction to Human Services: An Equity Lens 2e Copyright © by Elizabeth B. Pearce and Martha Ochoa Leyva is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.