Ethical Decision-Making in School Mental Health

Ethical predicaments are endemic for mental health professionals working in schools. New interventions, evolving technologies, and a patchwork of ethical and legal guidelines create a constant stream of potential dilemmas. The seven-step model presented in this book allows readers to apply a practical process to complex questions while both minimizing liability and protecting students.

Beginning with an introduction of the moral, legal, and clinical foundations that undergird ethical practice, James C. Raines and Nic T. Dibble present an ethical decision making model with seven steps: know yourself and your responsibilities, analyze the dilemma, seek consultation, identify courses of action, manage clinical concerns, enact the decision, and reflect on the process. Ethical Decision-Making in School Mental Health provides ethical guidelines from four different professions and addresses mental health issues in schools. This new edition includes meticulously updated chapters based on recent changes to all of the codes of ethics over the past ten years.

James C. Raines earned his MSSW at Columbia University in New York City and his Ph.D. from Loyola University of Chicago. He has been President of the Illinois Association of School Social Workers, Midwest Council of School Social Workers, and the School Social Work Association of America. Raines has written four books published by Oxford University Press on evidence-based practice, school social work, ethical decision-making, and treating DSM-5 disorders. He has keynoted state, national, and international conferences. The Department Chair of Health, Human Services and Public Policy at California State University Monterey Bay for six years, he is presently Professor of Social Work and teaches professional ethics.

Nic T. Dibble began his professional career as a school social worker in rural school districts. He served as the Wisconsin state consultant for school social work services for 20 years before retirement. His responsibilities included providing technical assistance to and professional development for local pupil services professionals and administrators, creating resources for local school districts, and networking with state-level agencies and organizations. His service included membership on the Midwest School Social Work Council, the NASW School Social Work Section Committee, the Wisconsin Council on Mental Health, and the Wisconsin Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Board. He was previously Chair of the Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board and president of his local school board.

Introduction

Chapter 1: Know Yourself and Your Responsibilities
Chapter 2: Analyze the Predicament
Chapter 3: Seek Consultation
Chapter 4: Identify Courses of Action
Chapter 5: Manage Clinical Concerns
Chapter 6: Implement the Decision
Chapter 7: Review and Document the Process
Chapter 8: Ethical Recordkeeping

Conclusion
Appendix
Glossary
References
Index