Social workers working with the lgbt community

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Discussion: Personal and Professional Social Work Values

Heterosexism is defined as "the discrimination or prejudice by heterosexuals against homosexuals" (merriam-webster.com) and is predicated on the belief that being heterosexual is the norm and the only accepted type of relationship.

Everyday heterosexism is exemplified in our media, our policies, and daily practices. By making these assumptions, social workers can be in part culpable for the oppression and marginalization experienced by the LGBTQ community.

As a profession, social work embraces diversity and strives to ensure equal rights for all. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is committed to supporting the needs of these groups and, in turn, they created the National Committee on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues. During this week's discussion you will be asked to consider how one's own personal views on sexual orientation may clash with the profession's stance.

Post a scenario of how a social worker's personal, ethical, and moral values in relation to the LGBTQ community might conflict with those of their clients. Explain the distinction between personal ethics and values and professional ethics and values evident in the social work profession in addressing this community. Be specific and explain how this distinction relates to the scenario you posted. Also explain how prejudice and bias might create barriers to fulfilling your professional responsibility to the LGBTQ community.

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AIAIAI Posted:

Learning about oppression, discrimination, and stereotypes the last couple of weeks has led us directly to this topic about the LGBTQ community. This is a very controversial topic and one that can lead to very different moral and value beliefs. Personal values and beliefs could cause a high degree of conflict with a client who has a dissimilar opinion. A conflict a social worker could face regarding the topic is if a social worker was homophobic working with someone of the LGBTQ community with an issue like assault or living arrangements, for example. This creates an instant conflict known by the social worker. Knowing that they have to uphold professional ethical values per the NASW Code of Ethics (2008). We aim to uphold a standard where we do not discriminate against anyone including their sexual orientation. So, if there was a difference in values that the social worker felt so strongly about, going to their boss and asking to transfer them to a different social worker would be best so there is no microaggressions, judgment, or personal beliefs exchanged on accident or purpose.

As a social worker, your professional values and beliefs written out in the NASW Code of Ethics are superior to your personal beliefs. I think it is important to take an unbiased stance, as hard as it may be, and listen with open ears. We are still able to help our community even with differences in opinions, that’s why we do what we do because we chose to take those steps. I know for a fact that I would have a very, very hard time working with a client that is homophobic because I cannot understand why it is not okay for people to be together, despite their gender or sexuality. In saying that, I would try my hardest to be accepting of the fact that they are against the LGBTQ community. That is fair for them coming to a professional. Assisting someone regardless of their gender, color, size, profession, etc. is different from conflicting with them about their personal beliefs. If the roles were reversed I would hope that the professional would be ethical enough to move past the difference.

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KP Posted:

When I was young I saw two men in the park being outwardly affectionate with each other. It made me feel very uncomfortable. Now that I'm older I would like to say that it's all good but to be truthful, if I went to a park and saw two guys kissing I think It would still make me feel uncomfortable. Personally, morally and ethically it bothers me to see two men showing affection for each other in public.

Now that I'm older and becoming an aspiring social worker, I would say that personal ethics and values need to be put aside for professional values and ethics. This means that if a person believes something is wrong like gays showing affection's in public, different skin color, abortion, or religion, social workers are asked to put their personal feelings aside to help the client. In the social work field, they don't expect you to change your values or ethics but they do encourage you to be aware of the differences you may have so you don't interfere with the treatment of the client.

Personal ethics refers to what an individual believes about morality and right and wrong. These ethics or code of conduct are taught and instilled in us by parents, family, and friends(Adams, et al., 2018).

Professional ethics are principles that govern the behavior of a person or group in a business environment. Every employee is expected to abide by these values. These values are vital in a business setting and it brings a sense of discipline in the people and helps maintain dignity.

Ethics makes employees responsible for their actions. The National Association of Social Work Code of Ethics (2007) states that the primary mission of the social worker is to enhance human wellbeing and help meet the basic human need of the people. So, regardless of our personal beliefs, social workers must assist those in need.

Prejudice and bias might create barriers to fulfilling professional responsibility because if your personal feelings come into play you may give that community less treatment, less time and fewer services, just to get that type of client out the door.

References

Adams, M., Blumenfeld, W. J., Castaneda, C., Catalano, D. C. J., DeJong, K., Hackman, H. W,... Zuniga, X. (Eds.). (2018). Readings for diversity and social justice (4th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge Press.

National Association of Social Workers. (2007). Institutional racism & the social work profession: A call to action. Retrieved from http://www.socialworkers.org/diversity/InstitutionalRacism.pdf

NS Posted:

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A social worker is bound to interact with people from different backgrounds. In present times, a social worker is likely to come across people who subscribe to different ideologies, such as their own interpretations of sexuality. When taking drug addicts through rehabilitative therapy, for instance, one is likely to interact with members of the LGBTQ community. In such a situation, the social worker should acknowledge that one's personal, ethical, as well as moral values should not interfere with the professional mandate of discharging one's duty as expected (Dessel, Jacobsen, Levy, McCarty-Caplan, Lewis, & Kaplan, 2017). To understand this, it is important to distinguish between personal ethics and values and professional ethics and values. To start with, the former refers to the set of beliefs that a person lives by. A social worker who is strictly religious is likely to have personal ethics and values which are against homosexuality (Kaplan, Jacobsen, & McCarty-Caplan, 2016). On the other hand, professional ethics and values guides one in the line of work. These values are hinged on the principles of equality, fairness, and diligence. Therefore, when it comes to social work, professional ethics and values take precedence over personal ethics and values. In the case of working with drug addicts whose members are part of the LGBTQ community, professional ethics and values require a social worker to serve and treat the LGBTQ in the same way as heterosexuals.

A social worker is expected to restrain and contain their personal opinions or individual biases, with the intention of working for the benefit of their clients. It is undeniably true that prejudices as well as biases may come in the way of the delivery of service to clients (Haldeman, 2012). This often happens when these biases and prejudices influence the social worker's perception about the clients, which might lead to discriminative habits thus affecting the professional relationship between the clients and the worker.

Dessel, A. B., Jacobsen, J., Levy, D. L., McCarty-Caplan, D., Lewis, T. O., & Kaplan, L. E. (2017). LGBTQ Topics and Christianity in Social Work: Tackling the Tough Questions. Social Work & Christianity, 44.

Haldeman, D. C. (2012). Sexual orientation conversion therapy: Fact, fiction, and fraud. Casebook for couseling lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons and their families, 297-305.

Kaplan, L. E., Jacobsen, J., & McCarty-Caplan, D. (2016). LGBTQ Topics and Christianity in Social Work: Tackling the Tough Questions.

AH Posted:

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A scenario a social worker may encounter that results in conflicting personal, ethical, and moral values in relation to the LGBTQ community is working with a client who is in a same-sex relationship and is seeking resources to adopt a child. It is estimated that more than 16,000 same-sex couples are raising an estimated 22,000 adopted children in the United States. (Lifelong Adoptions, 2019). Specifically, two men wish to adopt a child together and an adoption social worker who is put on the case who has personal and moral values against same-sex couples adopting must now be able to assist them professionally by putting aside her personal beliefs. There is often an assumption that the child of homosexual parents will then become homosexual themselves. There is also a religious background behind children and adoption that they should be placed in a home with a mother and father in order to have the best life and to avoid discrimination themselves from having same-sex parents. NASW (2008) states that, "social workers should not discriminate based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion..." (Dessel, Jacobsen, Levy, McCarty-Caplan, Lewis, & Kaplan, 2017, pg. 13). Social workers should be able to put aside their personal ethics and values to best assist a person, regardless of their background, in professional ethics and values.

Prejudice and bias might create barriers in fulfilling professional responsibilities to the LGBTQ community in that social workers may refer clients because they do not feel comfortable working with them, which is a form of discrimination. Another barrier is not being culturally competent in the case a referral is not possible resulting in inadequate resources or effective help to the client. Adams, et al (2018) described how there is a "tendency on the part of the dominant groups to discount the experiences of subordinate groups unless those experiences are authenticated or legitimized by a member of the dominant group" (pg. 372). This discount of experience, whether conscious or unconscious, contributes to the barriers creating a lack of competence when working with diverse groups.

Resources:

Lifelong Adoptions. (2019). Hoping. Retrieved from https://www.lifelongadoptions.com/

Dessel, A. B., Jacobsen, J., Levy, D. L., McCarty-Caplan, D., Lewis, T. O., & Kaplan, L. E. (2017). LGBTQ topics and Christianity in social work: Tackling the tough questions. Social Work & Christianity, 44(1/2), 11-30.

Adams, M., Blumenfeld, W. J., Castaneda, C., Catalano, D. C. J., DeJong, K., Hackman, H. W,... Zuniga, X. (Eds.). (2018).Readings for diversity and social justice (4th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge Press.

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For this assignment we need our responses to meet the following requirements:

Respond to with recommendations of what skills social workers might employ to separate and/or reconcile personal values with professional responsibilities in the scenario presented. Discuss how the barriers to services identified by your colleagues can be overcome by a professional social worker working with LGBTQ clients.

Support your response with specific references to the resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.