SSW Ethical & Legal Practices 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A school social worker suspects a student is being abused but lacks physical evidence. Under mandatory reporting laws, what is the appropriate action?
- Wait for more evidence before reporting
- Report the suspicion to child protective services immediately (Correct answer)
- Consult with the principal before making any report
- Discuss the concern only with the student's parents
Correct answer: Report the suspicion to child protective services immediately
Mandatory reporting laws require school social workers to report reasonable suspicions of abuse — certainty or physical evidence is not required.
Question 2: Which federal law primarily governs the privacy of student education records in U.S. public schools?
- HIPAA
- IDEA
- FERPA (Correct answer)
- ADA
Correct answer: FERPA
FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) protects the privacy of student education records and applies to schools receiving federal funds.
Question 3: A student discloses plans to harm a specific classmate. Under the Tarasoff duty-to-protect principle, the school social worker should:
- Keep the disclosure confidential per ethical guidelines
- Warn the intended victim and notify appropriate authorities (Correct answer)
- Refer the student to a private therapist only
- Document the disclosure and take no further action
Correct answer: Warn the intended victim and notify appropriate authorities
The Tarasoff ruling established that mental health professionals have a duty to protect identifiable third parties from credible threats of harm.
Question 4: A parent requests access to their child's school records. Under FERPA, the school must provide access within:
- 24 hours
- 30 days
- 45 days (Correct answer)
- 60 days
Correct answer: 45 days
FERPA requires schools to provide parents access to education records within 45 days of a request.
Question 5: The NASW Code of Ethics principle that directs social workers to act in the best interest of clients even when it conflicts with agency policy is best described as:
- Competence
- Integrity
- Primacy of client interests (Correct answer)
- Social justice
Correct answer: Primacy of client interests
The principle of primacy of client interests holds that social workers' primary obligation is to client well-being, even when it conflicts with employing organizations.
Question 6: A 16-year-old student asks the school social worker not to tell parents about her mental health concerns. In most U.S. states, the social worker should consider that:
- Minors have no right to confidentiality under any circumstance
- Parental consent is always required to keep information private
- Some states grant minors the right to confidential mental health services (Correct answer)
- FERPA automatically overrides any minor confidentiality rights
Correct answer: Some states grant minors the right to confidential mental health services
Many states allow minors to consent to and receive confidential mental health services, so state law must be consulted before disclosing.
Question 7: When a school social worker maintains detailed, objective records of interventions with a student, this practice primarily serves which ethical purpose?
- Protecting the social worker from liability only
- Enabling accurate billing for services
- Ensuring accountability, continuity of care, and legal compliance (Correct answer)
- Satisfying administrative requirements with no clinical value
Correct answer: Ensuring accountability, continuity of care, and legal compliance
Thorough documentation supports accountability, ensures continuity if another professional takes over, and fulfills legal and ethical obligations.
SSW Ethical & Legal Practices 2
A school social worker suspects a student is being abused but lacks physical evidence.
Under mandatory reporting laws, what is the appropriate action?