Standards For Child Placing Agencies

Since the inception of its program of Standards development, CWLA has formulated a series of Standards based on current knowledge, the developmental needs of children, and tested ways of meeting these needs effectively. The preparation of Standards involves an examination of current practices and the assumptions on which they are based; a survey of professional literature and standards developed by other groups; and a study of the most recent scientific findings of social work and related fields, such as child development, education, mental health, psychology, medicine, psychiatry, and sociology, as they bear on child welfare practice. The final formulation of each Standards volume follows extended discussion of principles and issues by committees of experts in each service, the drafting of a preliminary statement, and a critical review by CWLA member agencies and representatives of related professions and other national organizations. The format of each volume is similar: each Standard is numbered, with subsumed elaboration, and is also cross-referenced and indexed. Standards volumes are three-hole punched, with their own cover/divider and identifying tab, and are packaged individually. Binders are available for purchase separately.

This highly practical text surveys the myriad legal and ethical issues that social workers encounter both in daily practice and under special circumstances. Its initial section presents concepts in law and ethics that unite practitioners, researchers, and academics in the field, such as confidentiality, informed consent, and the interplay between social work and administrative and judicial systems. A selection of representative cases illustrates legal aspects involved in providing services to families, children, elders, and persons with disabilities. Also included are chapters on advocacy in social work, both in its potential to influence policy and on the global stage as part of the ongoing struggle for human rights and dignity. Among the topics covered: Confidentiality and the social worker-client relationship Liability issues for social workers in the clinical context Legal issues arising in the context of social work research The social worker and forensic social work Social worker involvement in access to school and school services Social work in the context of health care Legal issues working with immigrants, refugees, and asylees The interface between social work and human rights Legal Issues in Social Work Practice and Research is an interdisciplinary text aimed at social work, mental health, and legal professionals. It enhances the power of social work as an integrative system to support clients’ rights and agency.