Focus Area 4: Ethics
Summary
Nothing in this module was intended to tell you what to do in any given situation, or even how to be a youth worker. Rather, it gave you some tools for how to think about being a youth worker in the best way possible.
This focus area is designed to help you better understand yourself as a youth worker. That is critical for building a foundation for ethical decision making, particularly in unclear situations or actual dilemmas.
It’s important to understand that ethics is not about memorizing the rules or understanding exactly what to do or say, it is developing an understanding of the importance of mindfulness that is required when considering your actions and interventions. Once you become aware of what motivates your decisions, the remainder of learning regarding ethics is a commitment to mastering your skill.
It is crucial to know yourself so you can anticipate how you would respond in certain situations and contemplate why you would respond in that way. Your response to the ethical dilemmas you’ll encounter in working with youth won’t come from strategies, techniques, prepared responses or practicing rote processes. Your real ability to respond well to the many ethical dilemmas that youth work holds will come from a genuine commitment to know why you think what you think is right.
Youth work practice is complex. That’s why it is so important for you to see Ethics as a continuous study and lifelong exploration. Keep at it. There’s no doubt that your day-to-day interactions with youth will give you plenty of chances to put your learning to the test!
Learn the value of an ethical code of conduct:
- Ethics is about learning why you do what you do and being willing to question whether your ‘why’ is actually the best response in any given situation.
- There were a lot of exercises that had you asking yourself important questions to uncover your values and understand your principles – knowing yourself is the hard work of Ethics.
Know the ethical responsibilities and professional principles of youth work:
- Responsibility for yourself
- Responsibility to the youth you serve, and their families
- Responsibility to your employer and co-workers
- Responsibility to the profession of youth work
- Responsibility to your community and society overall
- You learned the importance of knowing the limits of your role, and when to consult and refer youth for support that you do not have the knowledge, skills, or confidence to provide
- You know your obligation to keep youth safe, honor their confidentiality whenever possible, and follow the laws pertaining to mandatory reporting
Uphold healthy boundaries in your professional relationship with young people:
- You examined 8 types of boundaries;
- Responsibility boundaries, Role boundaries, Emotion and feelings-related boundaries, Privacy boundaries, Power and control boundaries, Personal and professional boundaries, Relationship boundaries, Physical privacy boundaries
Apply ethical principles to the challenges faced in ethical dilemmas:
- You learned 5 major categories of ethical dilemmas that occur often in youth work
- By doing the practice exercises, you reinforced that there are no easy answers, there will always be much to consider, and having ethical principles as your compass will guide you to the best choice
Ethics Quiz
You’re at the halfway point on your learning journey to earn your certificate in The Art & Science of Youth Work– excellent progress!
In this module, you learned that Ethics is not something easily taught. But by taking the time to study the dimensions of ethical principles, the expectations of ethical professional behavior, and the factors that inform ethical decision-making, you can increase the likelihood that you’ll respond appropriately more often.
Now you will demonstrate your learning by passing an 8-question quiz. If you’ve paid attention to the videos and carefully studied the written material, you are well-prepared for the quiz. You need a score of at least 80% to pass. Good luck!
"Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do." ― Potter Stewart, Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice, known for contributing to criminal justice reform and civil rights
You are at the halfway point in this learning journey - how cool! Learning how to bring your whole self to your work with young people is an art and being grounded in ethical practice is a science that is difficult to learn. Be proud of yourself for taking on the challenge. Want to expand your knowledge in this focus area? Click the link above and explore.
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