Mental Heath in the Schools: Ethical Challenges for · PDF fileMental Heath in the Schools:...

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Mental Heath in the Schools: Ethical Challenges for School Social Workers Sue Martin, LICSW, C-SSWS Boise State University [email protected]

Transcript of Mental Heath in the Schools: Ethical Challenges for · PDF fileMental Heath in the Schools:...

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Mental Heath in the Schools: Ethical

Challenges for

School Social Workers

Sue Martin, LICSW, C-SSWS

Boise State University

[email protected]

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Workshop Goals

Understand the prevalence for children with

mental health issues in the schools.

Define what ethical challenges school social

workers may face.

Understand best practices models for dealing

with ethical dilemmas.

Differentiate between Federal Regulations and

the challenges a school social workers face

when working with systems.

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Children with Mental Illnesses:

The Facts 20% of adolescents have a diagnosable

mental health disorder (National Center Children in Poverty)

An estimated 15 million have diagnosable

disorder

◦ 7% of youth receive appropriate help (DHHS, 2001)

◦ 11% receive counseling services outside of

school leaving school social workers to be the

primary care for mental health issues

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More Data 12-22% of all youngsters under age 18

are in need of services for mental, emotional or behavioral problems.

This tends to be broken down for ages 9 to 17 as follows: ◦ 21% (or one in five children and adolescents)

seen as experiencing the signs and symptoms of a DSM-IV disorder during the course of a year

◦ 11% seen as experiencing significant impairment

◦ about 5 % are experiencing extreme functional impairment (about 4 million young people)

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The Prevalence of Common Mental Health

Disorders Affecting Children and Youth

Center for Mental Heath Services. Mental, emotional, and behavior disorders in children and adolescents. Accessed at www.mentalhealth.org/publications/allpubs/CA-0006/default.asp

Disorder Number of

Children/Youth Affected

Anxiety 8 to 10 out of 100

Conduct 7 out of 100

Depression 6 out of 100

Learning 5 out of 100

Attention 5 out of 100

Eating 1 out of 150

Substance Abuse Not known

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Evidence Based Practice

Evidence-based practice is a process of integrating the “best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values”

(Sackett, Strauss, Richardson, Rosenberg, & Haynes, 2000, p. 1).

Evidence-based practice integrates individual practitioner expertise with the best available evidence while also considering the values and expectations of clients.

(Michelle Johnson, MSW, Doctoral Research Assistant, Michael J. Austin, PhD, Professor, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, February 2005).

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Ethical Guidelines

Be familiar with NASW stated values and principles.

Be aware of where your personal and professional values may conflict.

Know and use your sense of self in relation to each client.

Be sensitive about the degree of professional influence you employ.

Know your profession’s Code of Ethics thoroughly.

Be familiar with the federal and state laws that govern your profession’s pupil services practice.

James C. Raines & Nic Dibble. (2011). Ethical decision making in school mental health. Oxford University Press. Pages 27-28.

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Ethical Decision Making in

School Social Work 1. Knowing yourself and your profession’s

relevant ethical and legal parameters;

2. Analyzing the predicament;

3. Seeking consultation;

4. Identifying the courses of action;

5. Managing the clinical concerns;

6. Implementing the decision;

7. Reflecting on the process Raines, J. and Dibble, N. (2011) Ethical decision making in school mental health. Oxford University Press.

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Ethical Decision Making

1. Knowing yourself and your profession’s

relevant ethical and legal parameters

◦ Know your personal ethical preferences and

biases so as not to influence services to the

student(s).

◦ Know the state law with regard to the specific

situation.

◦ Know the school districts procedures for

dealing with the specific situation.

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Ethical Decision Making

2. Analyze the predicament

◦ Identify who, other than the student will be

affected by the management of the ethical

predicament.

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Ethical Decision Making

3. Seeking consultation

◦ Consult with those deemed appropriate

(for instance another school social worker;

supervisor; person who knows specific laws

regarding circumstances).

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Ethical Decision Making

4. Identify courses of action

◦ Avoid “either-or” thinking which may lead to

only two possible courses of action.

◦ Predict effects on stakeholders, as well as

effects for the student(s) involved

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Ethical Decision Making

5. Managing clinical concerns

◦ Ideally link student with appropriate referral

sources to adequately address needs.

◦ HOWEVER, you must make sure that the

clinical concerns are addressed.

◦ Make sure the clinical concerns are addressed

in a culturally relevant manner which supports

the student.

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Ethical Decision Making

6. Implementing the decision

◦ Avoid adverse outcomes by asking:

If I were the student, is this what I would want for

myself?

Would I treat other students in the same way?

Who is my primary client?

Would I feel comfortable if my professional

colleagues found out how I handled this situation?

Would you recommend a professional colleague

handle a similar situation in the same manner?

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Ethical Decision Making

7. Reflecting on the process to complete the

ethical decision making

◦ As a practitioner struggling with a predicament

means there is a real possibility of less than

positive outcomes for stakeholders.

◦ Failing to monitor the decision and outcomes is

not ethical.

Additional services may be necessary; management

of adverse outcomes may occur may be necessary.

Can help practitioner prepare for next similar

situation.

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Rank your Ethical Principles

Individual and partner activity.

◦ Please individually rank order the Ethical

Principles listed on the handout.

◦ Pair with a partner and share the information

on listed on page 2.

◦ Ethical clarification activity.

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Federal Legislation as a Guide Individuals with Disabilities Education

Improvement Act (IDEA) – (mentions +80 that school-based professionals must use scientific, research-based interventions).

No Child Left Behind (mentions EBP +100 times that educational service personnel must use scientifically based research to support their intervention)s.

Family Education and Rights Privacy Act (FERPA)

Elementary and Secondary Education Act

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

Standards of Care, Avoiding Harm, and Optimal Treatment

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Clinical Reasons to Use EBP

Standards of Care

• Avoid Harm

•Optimal Treatment

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Continuum for Evidence Based

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Raines, J.C. (2008). Evidence-based practice in school mental health: A primer for school social workers, psychologists, and counselors. Figure 1.1 (page 8).

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Know your School’s Culture

Regarding Evidence Based Practice

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Limits of Current Service

Arrangements Current system is not meeting children’s

mental health needs.

◦ Mental health system capacity

◦ Provider Shortage

◦ Insurance Coverage

Schools have become the de facto source

of mental health services for children

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Where to Find Best Practices

The School Success Online website

http://www.schoolsuccessonline.com

School Mental Health Project

http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu

University of Maryland Center for

School Mental Health Assistance

http://csmh.umaryland.edu/Resources/Clin

icianTools/index.html

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Internet Resources Center for Mental Health Services

http://www.mentalhealth.org/cmhs/ Mental Health: The Surgeon General's Report

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/toc.html#chapter3

National Institute of Mental Health http://www.nimh.nih.gov

School Mental Health Project http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu

The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools www.healthinschools.org

The School Success Online website http://www.schoolsuccessonline.com

Coordinated School Health in Washington State http://healthyschools.ospi.k12.wa.us/waschool/data_tools/data_decisions.html

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Other References Cappella, Elise, Jackson, Daisy R. and Bilal, Caroline. (2011). Bridging mental health and education in

urban elementary schools: Participatory research to inform intervention development. School Psychology Review, Volume 40, No. 4, pp. 486–508.

Confidentiality: Competing Principles, Inevitable Dilemmas. Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation, 9, p. 267-275.

Joint Guidance on the Application of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)And the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) To Student Health Record. November, 2008

Enlisting Appropriate Parental Cooperation and Involvement in Children’s Mental Health Treatment. The Mental Health Desk Reference, 31, p. 219-224.

Kelly, Michael S., Raines, James C., Stone, Susan (2010). School social work : An evidence-informed framework for practice. Cary, NC, USA: Oxford University Press.

Powers , Joelle D. (2010). Ecological risk and resilience perspective: A theoretical framework supporting evidence-based practice in schools. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work. 7:443–451.

Powers, Joelle D. (2012). Scientifically supported mental health intervention in schools: Meeting accountability demands with an online resource. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 9:3, 231-240.

Powers, Joelle, Webber, Kristina C., & Bower, Heather A. (2012). Promoting school mental health with a systems of care approach: Perspectives from community partners social work in mental health. 9:3, 147-162.

Raines, James C. (2008). Evidence based practice in school mental health. Cary, NC, USA: Oxford University Press.

Raines, James C., Dibble, Nic T. (2010). Ethical decision making in school mental health. Cary, NC, USA: Oxford University Press.

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Standard of Care Case

Your client is a 17 year old male. He is

Christian and has recently told his parents

he is gay. Your client’s mother has just met

with you regarding this. She feels quite

strongly that she wants to put him into

Conversion Therapy.

At your tables please go through the 7

steps toward Ethical Decision Making.

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Avoid Harm Case Billy, a 13 year old 8th grader manifests behavioral

problems in school, with little academic work ever accomplished. He does not pay attention tin class and is continually fighting with other children. This behavior has been occurring for the past 2 months. Billy’s teacher refers him to you for services regarding his problematic behavior and lack of turning in work. While speaking with Billy, he tells you his parents are separated and his older brother is living with his father in another state. He misses his father and brother. Billy finds it difficult to talk about this issue and explicitly tells you he does not want anyone else knowing his parents are separated. Shortly after Billy returns to class the teacher approaches you to find out what is going on.

At your tables please go through the 7 steps toward Ethical Decision Making.