Child Welfare Case Workers

Across the United States, child welfare systems and child welfare case workers serve some of the most vulnerable children, youths, and families. Child welfare case workers, classified more broadly as child, family, and school social workers, are individuals who can work for state or local government, as well as for schools, to help children gain access to healthier and happier lives. They work to support families and to protect children from harm through many prevention and intervention services; in particular, case workers work to support children who have been or are at risk of abuse or neglect. However, oftentimes the family the case worker is trying to help greets him or her with hostility and dislike, resulting in the family not willing …show more content…
Relationships with clients and colleagues should be based on mutual respect, commitment, and honesty, and should take into consideration the cultural differences and the right to privacy. Children, youth, and families involved with the child welfare system have a right to the privacy of their records and personal information, except under certain circumstances. Developing and coordinating a system of policies and practices that guides information sharing among the agencies that serve families is an important part of providing sound and ethical services. When providing services to children, youth, and families, agencies must ensure the protection of client rights, most commonly in the following areas: nondiscrimination, acceptance or refusal of services, ethical treatment, confidentiality, and grievance procedures. In addition, research involving the use of information about or the participation of children, youth, and families must take certain issues into consideration, such as informed consent and the confidentiality of data. Child welfare practitioners can draw on the lessons learned from these ethical