SSW Ethical & Legal Practices 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A school social worker is assigned to assess a student from a culture the worker is unfamiliar with. The ethical obligation of cultural competence requires the worker to:
- Reassign the case to avoid bias
- Apply standard assessment tools without modification
- Seek knowledge about the student's cultural background and adapt the approach accordingly (Correct answer)
- Ask the student to explain their culture before proceeding
Correct answer: Seek knowledge about the student's cultural background and adapt the approach accordingly
Cultural competence requires social workers to actively seek relevant cultural knowledge and adapt practice to meet clients' culturally specific needs.
Question 2: Under IDEA, when a school social worker participates in an IEP meeting, they are legally required to:
- Serve as the meeting's presiding officer
- Ensure parents receive prior written notice of the meeting (Correct answer)
- Write all IEP goals without input from the team
- Obtain FERPA consent for each team member
Correct answer: Ensure parents receive prior written notice of the meeting
IDEA mandates that schools provide parents with prior written notice before any IEP meeting so parents can meaningfully participate.
Question 3: A school social worker discovers that a colleague is having an inappropriate relationship with a student. The most ethical course of action is to:
- Confront the colleague privately and give them a chance to stop
- Report the concern through appropriate administrative and legal channels immediately (Correct answer)
- Gather extensive evidence before reporting to avoid false accusations
- Consult only with a trusted peer before deciding
Correct answer: Report the concern through appropriate administrative and legal channels immediately
Ethical codes and child protection laws require immediate reporting of professional misconduct involving students through proper channels.
Question 4: Which concept describes the ethical boundary violation that occurs when a school social worker enters a personal friendship with a current student's family?
- Transference
- Countertransference
- Dual relationship (Correct answer)
- Role conflict
Correct answer: Dual relationship
A dual relationship occurs when a professional holds a second, personal role with a client or client's family, creating potential for conflict of interest or exploitation.
Question 5: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requires schools to provide accommodations for students with disabilities. A school social worker's ethical role in this process includes:
- Approving all 504 plans unilaterally
- Advocating for students' rights to appropriate accommodations (Correct answer)
- Limiting accommodations to those that don't burden teachers
- Determining eligibility based solely on medical diagnosis
Correct answer: Advocating for students' rights to appropriate accommodations
School social workers ethically advocate for students' rights to receive appropriate accommodations under Section 504 as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Question 6: A school social worker is subpoenaed to testify about a student's records. The most appropriate first response is to:
- Immediately release all records to the court
- Refuse to comply since school records are always privileged
- Consult with legal counsel and the school district before responding (Correct answer)
- Contact the student's parents and ask how to proceed
Correct answer: Consult with legal counsel and the school district before responding
A subpoena is a legal order that requires careful navigation; consulting legal counsel and the school district ensures compliance with FERPA and applicable law.
Question 7: The ethical principle of 'informed consent' in school social work practice primarily means:
- Clients must sign a form before any interaction
- Clients receive clear information about services, risks, and their right to refuse (Correct answer)
- Parents automatically consent on behalf of all minor students
- Consent is implied when a student attends a session
Correct answer: Clients receive clear information about services, risks, and their right to refuse
Informed consent requires that clients understand the nature of services, potential risks and benefits, and their right to decline or withdraw at any time.
SSW Ethical & Legal Practices 3
A school social worker is assigned to assess a student from a culture the worker is unfamiliar with.
The ethical obligation of cultural competence requires the worker to: