Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 18 - HUMAN SERVICES › Part 6 - Division of Family and Children's Services › Chapter 1 - DFCS Policy Manual › Section 18-6-1-A - Administration › Subpart I - ADMINISTRATION › Section 18-6-1-A-I-XII - CODE OF ETHICS FOR CHILD WELFARE PROFESSIONALS

Current through June 25, 2024
A.
Children and Parents' Natural
					 Rights
Society values each child's natural right to have basic
						needs for survival and development met and each child's natural right to live
						with his/her parents. Society also values each parent's natural right to rear
						his/her child, but through its child welfare laws, defines certain situations
						in which the parent's rights can be limited so that the child can be protected.
Society delegates to the child welfare field and to those
						who become members of the field the authority to intervene in the lives of
						families with the goals of ensuring the safety of abused and neglected
						children, assisting parents in meeting minimum parenting standards, and
						planning alternative permanent care when parents are incapable of or unwilling
						to meet those standards.
B.
Society's Representatives
Child welfare professionals are society's representatives
						in its attempts to meet the needs of abused and neglected children and their
						families. The authority delegated to them to intervene in the lives of families
						is accompanied by the responsibility to act in a professional manner. The Code
						of Ethics for Child Welfare Professionals is the public acknowledgment and
						acceptance of that responsibility.
It sets forth the values and ethical principles which
						form the foundation of the child welfare field and is intended to guide
						practice decisions both within DFCS and private agencies with which it
						contracts. It is also a statement of shared commitments held by professionals
						working to improve the child welfare field and our promise to our clients and
						to society that we are worthy of their trust.
(
See
http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/default.asp
).
C.
Multiple Codes of
					 Ethics Apply to Professionals
The national Association of Social Workers (NASW), the
						professional organization for social workers, has created a Code of Ethics for
						its members. This Code of Ethics is also used by agencies as a guide for
						ethical practice for child welfare professionals. This Code can be accessed at
http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/default.asp
.
						The expectation for DFCS employees is to adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics in
						all dealings with clients, co-workers, and other professionals.
Licensed social workers are bound by professional
						standards in the Social Work Licensing Statues in Mississippi (MISS. Code ANN.
						73-53-1) and the Rules and Regulations Regarding the Licensure of Social
						Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists - (
http://www.swmft.ms.gov/swmft/web.nsf
).
						Also, see MDHS AP-27 Code of Ethics.
D.
Conflict of Interest
MDHS AP-23 "Conflict of Interest", pursuant to the
						policies and procedures promulgated by the Mississippi State Personnel Board,
						requires that state employees must avoid using, or appearing to use, an
						official position for personal gain, giving unjustified preferences, or losing
						sight of the need for efficient and impartial decision making in the state's
						operation. No act should be committed which could result in questioning the
						integrity of state government.
Employees must not use their official position to secure
						privileges or advantages for themselves; must not, in their official capacity,
						act in any matter in which they have personal interest that could in the least
						degree impair their objectivity; must not accept any gift or favor of a nature
						to imply any obligation that is inconsistent with the free and objective
						exercise of their professional responsibilities.
An employee shall not individually or through an interest
						in any corporation, organization, business, or other entity be a contractor,
						sub-contractor, or vendor with MDHS. Preferential treatment must not be given
						to any members, community partners, advisory groups, and consultants as well
						who apply for DFCS services.
Conflict of interest is addressed in several different
						places to ensure that employees are aware of all of the above information. See
						the following for comprehensive conflict of interest policy:
* MDHS AP-23, pages 1 -4 of attachment
* MDHS AP-27 (Code of Ethics)
* MDHS AP-51 (Anti-Nepotism)
* MS State Employee Handbook, pages 5-6 of attachment
Mississippi State Personnel Board-Policy and
						Procedure Manual:
http://www.spbrez.ms.gov/SPB%20Documents/SPB/Policy%20Proc2010/MSPB_PPM_100110.PDF
Mississippi Department of Human Services-Sub-grant
						Manual:
http://www.mdhs.state.ms.us/dpi_subman.htm
E.
Restriction of Staff in
					 Handling Certain Cases
Due to the nature of DFCS cases, DFCS staff is restricted
						from handling certain cases. No member of the county staff, including the ASWS
						or Worker will be assigned an investigation or a service case when the service
						recipient is related to the staff member by marriage or by whole or half blood
						to the third degree.
No member of the county staff, including the ASWS or
						Worker will be allowed to take the application for licensing of a Relative
						Resource Home, to determine the eligibility, to conduct the home study, to be
						assigned the case, re-evaluate or participate in the decision-making process
						regarding the placement in or the removal of the children from the home. Even
						if the relative is within a lesser degree of relationship or the person is a
						close friend who has applied for services, the case must be assigned to another
						Worker.
When the situation arises that the ASWS is the staff
						person related to the recipient of services of Resource Parent, the RD or
						designee will act as the ASWS for that case. If the case is a Resource Home,
						the RD or designee will act as the ASWS for all aspects of the placement or
						removal of children in that home.