Wk4: Limits of Confidentiality: Mandated Reporting

The ACA commits an entire section of its Code of Ethics to confidentiality, privileged communication, and privacy as it pertains to ethical and legal issues for the counseling profession. These issues are not absolute, however, because there are situations in which counselors are required by law, ethics, and morality to breach client or student confidentiality to protect the client or student from harm and injustice. This week, you continue to examine ethical and legal confidentiality issues as they relate to mandated reporting—reporting abuse or neglect of minors, the elderly, and vulnerable populations (e.g., individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities). As a reminder, counselors also have a duty to breach confidentiality due to lethality issues (e.g., harm to self or others) and to respond to court orders as reviewed previously in the course.

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Learning Objectives

Students will:

· Analyze responsibility of counselors as a mandated reporter of abuse or neglect of minors, the elderly, and vulnerable populations

· Apply reporting procedures for making a mandated report of abuse or neglect

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Remley, T. P., & Herlihy, B. (2020). Ethical, legal, and professional issues in counseling (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

· Chapter 5, “Confidentiality and Privileged Communication”

· Chapter 12, “Counseling Families and Groups”

American Counseling Association. (2014). 2014 ACA Code of Ethics. Alexandria, VA: Author. Retrieved from https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf

· Section A: The Counseling Relationship

· Section B: Confidentiality and Privacy

· Section C: Professional Responsibility.

American School Counseling Association. (2016). ASCA ethical standards for school counselors. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/Ethics/EthicalStandards2016.pdf

International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC). (2017). International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors Code of Ethics. Retrieved from http://www.iamfconline.org/public/IAMFC-Ethical-Code-Final.pdf

Document: How to Save a Document as a PDF (PDF)

Required Media

Walden University (Producer). (2019b). Reporting abuse or neglect: Case Studies [Interactive media]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Note: You will download the Abuse Report Form required for this Week’s Discussion from this link.

Discussion: Completing an Abuse Report Form

As a counselor, you may witness or work with a client that may be the victim, or perpetrator, of abuse or neglect. You have a moral and legally mandated obligation to report abuse or neglect. For this Discussion, you will examine the responsibilities of counselors as mandated reporters by interacting with a case study and filling out an Abuse Report Form. Wk4: Limits of Confidentiality: Mandated Reporting

To Prepare:

· Read the case studies in the Learning Resources.

· Select one case study and complete the Abuse Report Form. You will download this form from the Learning Resource: Reporting abuse or neglect: case studies.

· Save the Abuse Report Form as a picture and post in the discussion forum for your colleagues to review.

· Note that this is a post-first Discussion; you will not be able to view your colleagues’ posts until after you post.

notes

International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors Code of Ethics Preamble The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC) is a division of the American Counseling Association dedicated to advancing research, training and practice of couple and family counseling. Members of IAMFC are dedicated to the advocacy of the counseling profession, advocacy of clients and the professionalism of counselors. Members of IAMFC commit themselves to enhancing family relationships and advocate for the healthy development of families while also considering the uniqueness of individuals within family systems. The guidelines presented in the Ethical Code of the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC) supplement the current ethical standards of the American Counseling Association (ACA). This code of ethics provides guidelines for counselors who provide couple and family counseling. The code is divided into ten sections: Section A: The Counseling Relationship and Client Welfare Couple and family counselors advocate for the family as a whole system while considering the uniqueness of each family member. Couple and family counselors use systems perspectives and theories as they practice counseling. In addition, couple and family counselors understand that each family presents diverse cultural backgrounds and actively attempt to promote their cultural awareness and knowledge. Couple and family counselors promote multicultural inclusion and do not promote bias or stereotyping regarding family status and/or roles within families. Couple and family counselors promote client autonomy and facilitate problem solving skills to prevent future problems. They do not make decisions for families or family members when the decision-making rightfully belongs to the family and/or family members. When it is beneficial, couple and family counselors share clinical impressions and recommendations for the purpose of better informing families. Couple and family counselors do not participate in keeping secrets for or from clients and maintain professional relationships with clients, refraining from multiple relationships with clients involving business and social contacts, whenever possible. Couple and family counselors also generally refrain from nonprofessional relationships with clients and former clients. At all times, couple and family counselors do not harass, exploit, coerce, or manipulate clients for personal gain. Couple and family counselors adhere to the following: Couple and family counselors do not discriminate or condone discrimination based on age, color, culture, disability, ethnic group, gender, race, language preference, religion, spirituality, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status. 2. Couple and family counselors inform clients of the goals of counseling. 3. Couple and family counselors inform clients in writing of their counseling qualifications, costs of services, goals of counseling and reasonable expectations for outcomes. 4. Couple and family counselors inform clients that they cannot guarantee that counseling will produce positive results for the couple and/or family. 5. Couple and family counselors inform clients if they have any potentially conflictual relationships with the identified client(s) and a third party or institution. 6. Couple and family counselors must monitor their places of employment and make recommendations to promote cultural awareness, inclusivity, and human growth and development. 7. Couple and family counselors do not harass, exploit, coerce, or manipulate clients for personal gain. 8. Couple and family counselors avoid multiple relationships with clients, including but not limited to, business, social, or educational relationships. 9. Couple and family counselors must refrain from sexual relationships with clients, former clients, and family members of clients. 10. Couple and family counselors withdraw from a counseling relationship if the continuation of the relationship is not in the best interests of the client or would result in a violation of ethical standards. 11. Couple and family counselors do not abandon clients and do not withhold treatment to clients for discriminatory reasons such as race, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation or identification, cultural background, national origin, marital status, affiliation or socioeconomic status. 12. Couple and family counselors arrange appropriate termination of counseling relationship. 13. Couple and family counselors maintain accurate and up-to-date records. 14. Couple and family counselors establish fees that are reasonable and customary based upon the scope and location of their practices. 15. Couple and family counselors do not solicit gifts or fees for referrals. 16. Couple and family counselors recognize that gifts as tokens of respect and gratitude are culturally appropriate with certain clients and may receive gifts of small value. 17. All treatment notes must include the date and time of service. 18. All treatment notes must include the names of those present during the counseling session. 19. All treatment notes must

Read the three case studies. Then, select one case study and use it to complete the Abuse Report Form.

Course Outline

The Case of Zac: Minors and Mandated Reporting

The Case of Jamie: Vulnerable Individuals and Mandated Reporting

The Case of Rona: Elderly and Mandated Reporting

Abuse Report Form