Download The Ethical and Legal Responsibility for

The Ethical and Legal Responsibility for Continuing
Education
Gary Lalicki LMSW, ACSW, MBA
(NASW Michigan Chapter Ethics Committee Chair Elect)
Ellen M. Craine, JD, LMSW, ACSW
(NASW Michigan Chapter Ethics Committee Chair)
2014 National Association of Social Workers - Michigan Chapter
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Three words that are not heard very much these days are responsibility, accountability, and
integrity. According to Webster’s Dictionary the following are definitions for each of these
words:



Responsibility: the state of being the person who caused something to happen: a duty
or task that you are required or expected to do: something that you should do because
it is morally right, legally required, etc.
Accountability: the quality or state of being accountable; especially: an obligation or
willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions.
Integrity: firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: incorruptibility
2: an unimpaired condition: soundness 3: the quality or state of being complete or
undivided :
Every week in the newspapers, magazines or on TV there are stories about companies or
individuals not being responsible or accountable, and/ or lacking integrity in their job function.
The world seems to have forgotten how significant these words have been in the foundation of
our society. Examples include: publicly elected officials stealing money or accepting bribes,
doctors falsely billing Medicare or Medicaid for services not rendered, and therapists having
sexual relations with their clients.
Thank goodness these three words are interwoven into the social work profession. These three
words help to represent ethical social work practice. The social work profession provides a
great example of how to put these words into practice every day, in how we treat our clients
(NASW Code Section 1.0), our colleagues (NASW Code Section 2.0), our profession and our
employer (NASW Code Section 3.09) and our community (NASW Code Section6.0). The NASW
Code of Ethics provides a set of values, principles and standards to guide social work conduct.
The code provides the following insight:
“A code of ethics cannot guarantee ethical behavior. Moreover, a code of ethics
cannot resolve all ethical issues or disputes or capture the richness and complexity
involved in striving to make responsible choices within a moral community. Rather,
a code of ethics sets forth values, ethical principles, and ethical standards to which
professionals aspire and by which their actions can be judged. Social workers’
ethical behavior should result from their personal commitment to engage in ethical
practice. The NASW Code of Ethics reflects the commitment of all social workers to
uphold the profession’s values and to act ethically. Principles and standards must
be applied by individuals of good character who discern moral questions and, in
good faith, seek to make reliable ethical judgments.”
(National Association of Social Worker. Code of Ethics; Purpose of NASW Code of
Ethics, Washington, D.C., 2012)
2014 National Association of Social Workers - Michigan Chapter
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One area where some social workers seem to be falling short on a consistent basis is in a failure
to obtain the required number of continuing education units (CEU’s) to maintain licensure. This
issue was addressed in an earlier issue of The Bridge but it is an ongoing issue. Not only is this
an ethical requirement, it is a licensure requirement, making it a legal requirement, in
Michigan.
In Michigan, all licensed social workers are required to obtain 45 continuing education units
(CEU’s) every three years to maintain their license. No more than 10 of these CEU’s are allowed
to be obtained outside of a classroom setting (on-line or mail order). These CEU’s must include
at least 5 in social work ethics and 1 in pain management (under licensing requirements).
Every year, the Michigan Board of Social Work completes an audit of a sample of licenses that
are up for renewal that year. Up to a third of the social workers audited are not completing the
required number of CEU’s to maintain their license. In fact, some social workers are not even
completing any CEU’s! As a result of these violations, the Social Work Board can impose
monetary fees and hold up licensure renewal until these CEU’s are completed.
According to the NASW Code of Ethics, the following sections address the need for ongoing
continuing education for social workers:
1. Section 3.07 d states that social work administrators should take reasonable steps to
ensure that the working environment for which they are responsible is consistent with
and encourages compliance with the NASW Code of Ethics. Social work administrators
should take reasonable steps to eliminate any conditions in their organizations that
violate, interfere with, or discourage compliance with the Code.
2. Section 3.08 states that social work administrators and supervisors should take
reasonable steps to provide or arrange for continuing education and staff development
for all staff for whom they are responsible. Continuing education and staff development
should address current knowledge and emerging developments related to social work
practice and ethics.
3. Section 4.01 b states that social workers should strive to become and remain proficient
in professional practice and the performance of professional functions. Social workers
should critically examine and keep current with emerging knowledge relevant to social
work. Social workers should routinely review the professional literature and participate
in continuing education relevant to social work practice and social work ethics.
4. Section 4.04 states that social workers should not participate in, condone, or be
associated with dishonesty, fraud, or deception.
2014 National Association of Social Workers - Michigan Chapter
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It is clear from these sections that we have a responsibility and accountability to ourselves, our
clients and our profession to continue to increase our knowledge base to help serve others. By
not completing the standard number of CEU’s or completely ignoring the standard all together,
social workers are not practicing our Code of Ethics.
Do not allow lack of CEU’s or lack of appropriate CEU’s jeopardize your license or cost you
unnecessary money! Get your CEU’s and make sure they are from one of the following
accrediting groups:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Michigan Social Work Continuing Education Collaborative (MICEC)
Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
Approved Continuing Education (ACE)
Other State’s Board of Social Work
In addition, the NASW Michigan Chapter has approved workshops listed on their website on a
monthly basis. On the right hand side of the home page, there is a list of upcoming workshops
by date. If you have any questions in regards to licensing requirements and continuing
education, please contact Robin Simpson, RSST at 1-800-292-7871 or at
[email protected].
2014 National Association of Social Workers - Michigan Chapter
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