Professional Standards & Ethics Flashcards

When referring a student to an outside treatment provider, the SAC's ethical responsibility includes:

Answer: Ensuring the referral source is qualified and obtaining appropriate releases for coordination

Ethical referral practice includes verifying provider qualifications and obtaining proper releases to coordinate care effectively.

The concept of 'least restrictive environment' in SAC ethical practice means:

Answer: Using the least intensive level of intervention that can safely address the student's needs

Least restrictive environment means matching intervention intensity to the student's actual level of need rather than defaulting to the most intensive option.

An SAC working in a rural area with limited resources finds that they are the only available provider for a student with needs slightly beyond their expertise. Ethical practice requires:

Answer: Providing services while seeking supervision and continuing education to build competence

When no other options exist, providing services with active supervision and education is more ethical than abandoning the student without support.

Which statement BEST reflects the ethical use of evidence-based practices by an SAC?

Answer: Integrating research evidence with clinical expertise and student values and needs

Evidence-based practice is the integration of best available research with clinical expertise and client values — not rigid adherence to a single approach.

A student discloses past (not current) abuse that occurred several years ago by someone no longer in the student's life. The SAC is typically obligated to:

Answer: Follow jurisdiction-specific mandatory reporting laws which may or may not require reporting past abuse

Mandatory reporting requirements for historical abuse vary by state law — the SAC must know their jurisdiction's specific statutes.

Which behavior by an SAC would constitute an ethical violation related to professional boundaries?

Answer: Accepting expensive personal gifts from a student's family in exchange for extra sessions

Accepting expensive gifts in exchange for services creates a financial dual relationship and is a clear violation of professional boundaries.

Professional advocacy as an ethical SAC role means the counselor should:

Answer: Actively work to remove systemic barriers that negatively affect student wellbeing and access to services

Ethical SAC practice includes systemic advocacy to dismantle barriers that prevent students from accessing support and achieving wellbeing.