Assignment Purpose This assignment aims to have you apply a systematic approach to address and resolve ethical dilemmas in social work practice.
Course Outcomes This assignment provides documentation of student ability to meet the following course outcomes:
CO 1: Analyze ethical dilemmas using multiple frameworks, including the NASW Code of Ethics, various ethical principles models, and anti-racist perspectives (Competency 1). Due Date Students must complete the Week 2 Applying the Ten-Step Ethical Decision-Making Model Assignment by Sunday at 11:59 p.m. MT.
Late Assignment Policy Students are expected to submit assignments by the due date. Assignments submitted after the due date and time will receive an automatic deduction.
Total Points Possible This assignment is worth 150 points.
Preparing the Assignment Complete the Week 2 Assignment by following the steps below.
Choose one of the two scenarios described below and apply the ten-step ethical decision-making model using this worksheet Download worksheetOpen this document with ReadSpeaker docReader. Answer all questions with explanation and detail. Include at least three scholarly references. Include in-text citations. Complete all sections of the worksheet. Upload the completed worksheet onto Case Scenario 1
Mr. Takahashi is an 81-year-old, cisgender, gay male diagnosed with Vascular Dementia following a significant stroke six months ago. The progression of the disease was sudden. He lost the ability to speak, write, or walk. He can no longer communicate his needs or carry out most activities of daily living.
Mr. Takahashi resides at home with his partner, Mr. Lee. Mr. Takahashi attends a daycare center for older adults 5 days a week. Mr. Takahashi and Mr. Lee have been together for 20 years but never married. Mr. Takahashi’s primary care provider informed Mr. Lee, Mr. Takahashi’s biological children, and the daycare center staff that Mr. Takahashi cannot make informed medical decisions for himself. Mr. Takahashi’s daughter informed the staff at the daycare center that she and Mr. Takahashi’s biological children request they not provide any life-sustaining or life-prolonging interventions (e.g., cardiopulmonary resuscitation) in case Mr. Takahashi has a life-threatening medical event (e.g., heart attack, stroke). Mr. Lee disagrees with Mr. Takahashi’s children and requested that the staff provide life-sustaining interventions in case of life-threatening medical events. Mr. Takahashi does not have an advanced healthcare directive. Mr. Takahashi’s daughter insists that before his condition, Mr. Takahashi stated that he did not wish for any life-prolonging treatment or assistance. Mr. Lee disagreed and explained that Mr. Takahashi never articulated this wish to him or their friends.
Case Scenario 2
Chris is a fifteen-year-old, non-binary adolescent receiving outpatient mental health services for six months. Chris is being treated for depression and anxiety. Chris’s parents are opposed to the use of psychotherapeutic medications and firmly believe that Chris’ symptoms will be relieved only through prayer. Chris’s parents refuse to acknowledge Chris as non-binary and only acknowledge them by their sex assigned at birth (i.e., male). Chris has overheard their father make comments to others that queer people are destined for hell. Chris has never communicated their sexual orientation. They share that they met Bruce, a twenty-six-year-old, cisgender, gay male. Chris informs you they have been having unprotected sex with Bruce. Chris begs you not to report their relationship with Bruce or that they have been sexually active to their parents or anyone else.
Grading Criteria
CategoryPointsDescriptionStep 1: Ethical dilemma5Identify and succinctly describe the ethical dilemma.Step 2: Impacted individuals, groups, and organizations5Identifies at least 2 individuals, groups, or organizations (and their roles) that are likely to be affected or impacted by the ethical decision.Step 3: Ethical principles and standards10Identifies at least one ethical principle and two ethical standards from the NASW Code of Ethics that are applicable to the case and explains how and why they are relevant.Step 4: Values, Biases, Conflicts of Interest5Identifies at least two conflicting values, potential biases, and possible conflicts of interest.Step 5: Laws15Identifies at least one state statutory law by statute that is relevant to the case. Describes how and why the law is relevant and applicable.Step 6: Consultation10Identifies, at minimum, at least two actions taken when consulting with (1) a colleague, (2) a supervisor, or (3) a legal expert. Describe the rationale for each action.Step 7: Courses of action15List at least two possible and probable courses of action and the consequences or implications for each action. Identify the benefits and risks of each action. Identify participants involved.Step 8: Select the course of action15Based on the possible and probable courses of action, choose one. Describe how you arrived at this decision.Step 9: Implementation plan10Outline at least three steps to implement the selected course of action.Step 10: Evaluation plan10Identify at least two steps for evaluating the action or outcome.Format30Answer all questions with explanation and detail, complete all sections of the template, and include at least three outside sources and in-text citations.Citation and Reference Formation10Use the current APA style standards to format citations and references and is free of errors.Writing Requirements10Communicate with minimal English grammar, spelling, syntax, and punctuation errors.Total150
Textbooks and Resources Required Textbooks The following books are required for this course:
Title: Publication Manual of the American Psychological AssociationAuthors: American Psychological AssociationPublisher: American Psychological Association (APA)Publication Date: 2019-10-01Edition: 7thAPA Citation
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). American Psychological Association.
Title: Generalist Social Work PracticeAuthors: Janice GaskerPublisher: SAGE PublicationsPublication Date: 2023-02-12APA Citation
Gasker, J. (2023). Generalist social work practice (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.
Title: Intersectional Approach to Human Behavior in the Social EnvironmentAuthors: Elisabeth Counselman-CarpenterPublication Date: 2024-11-07APA Citation
Counselman-Carpenter, E. (2025). An intersectional approach to human behavior in the social environment: Decolonizing theory to practice (1st ed.). Cognella.
Title: Research Methods in Social WorkAuthors: David RoysePublication Date: 2024-12-03APA Citation
Royse, D. (2025). Research methods in social work (9th ed.). Cognella.
Title: Social Policy for Effective Practice: A Strengths PerspectiveAuthors: Rosemary Kennedy Chapin, Melinda LewisPublisher: RoutledgePublication Date: 2023-03-31Edition: 6thAPA Citation
Kennedy Chapin, R., & Lewis, M. (2023). Social policy for effective practice: A strengths perspective (6th ed.). Routledge.