Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 24 - Mental Health › Part 3 - Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) Division of Professional Licensure and Certification (PLACE) Professional Credentialing Rules and Requirements › Chapter 9 - Application Procedures - DMH Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Therapist › Rule 24-3-9.9 - DMH Principles of Ethical and Professional Conduct

Current through June 25, 2024
All applicants and individuals holding a DMH professional
				  credential shall comply with ethical standards/principles as established by the
				  PLACE Review Board and the Department of Mental Health.
A. Introduction
1. The State Legislature granted Statutory
				Authority for Mississippi Department of Mental Health certification/licensure
				programs in 1996. As a result, the Division of Professional Licensure and
				Certification was created to develop and implement the programs. Having been
				amended by the State Legislature in 1997, Section
				41-4-7
				of the
Mississippi Code of 1972, Annotated
currently includes
				a provision authorizing the State Board of Mental Health to certify/license
				case managers (i.e., community support specialists), mental health therapists,
				mental retardation [IDD] therapists, mental health/retardation [IDD]
				administrators, addiction counselors and others as deemed appropriate by the
				State Board of Mental Health. The Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH)
				Division of Professional Licensure and Certification (PLACE) Review Board
				serves as the governing body for the everyday professional conduct of
				DMH-credentialed individuals. Individuals credentialed through the DMH may
				identify with different professional associations and are often certified by
				other groups with promulgated codes of ethics.
2. The safety, health, welfare and best
				interest of the individuals and families receiving services, and the public at
				large, are the primary guiding principles for appropriate professional conduct
				of all individuals holding a DMH professional credential. Individuals holding a
				DMH professional credential should adhere to all parts of the
DMH
				Principles of Ethical and Professional Conduct
listed below.
3. Applicable federal and state laws, the
				principles, program policies and any other pertinent rules must be observed
				when conducting business as a DMH-credentialed professional. Alleged violations
				of the principles may be subject to disciplinary action if the Review Board
				finds that a person is guilty of any violation of the principles. Information
				on disciplinary action is covered in Chapter 10.
4. The
DMH Principles of Ethical and
				Professional Conduct
herein referred to as "the principles," provide a
				minimal ethical standard for the professional behavior of all individuals
				credentialed through DMH. The principles provide a level of expectation for
				ethical practice from all who hold a DMH credential. In addition, the
				principles provide an enforceable standard for all DMH-credentialed individuals
				and facilitate an avenue for recourse in case of a perceived ethical violation.
				While the principles cannot guarantee ethical practice by all DMH-credentialed
				individuals or resolve all issues, the intent of the principles is to provide
				guidelines for individuals who, in good faith, seek to make reliable ethical
				judgments. Six general principles of ethical and professional conduct
				follow.