humans service
APPENDIX C
NASW Code of Ethics
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest organization of professional social workers in the world. NASW serves nearly 160,000 social workers in 56 chapters throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and abroad. NASW was formed in 1955 through a merger of seven predecessor social work organizations to carry out three responsibilities:
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Strengthen and unify the profession
Promote the development of social work practice
Advance sound social policies.
Promoting high standards of practice and protecting the consumer of services are major association principles.
Overview
The NASW Code of Ethics is intended to serve as a guide to the everyday professional conduct of social workers. This Code includes four sections. The first section, “Preamble,” summarizes the social work profession’s mission and core values. The second section, “Purpose of the NASW Code of Ethics,” provides an overview of the Code’s main functions and a brief guide for dealing with ethical issues or dilemmas in social work practice. The third section, “Ethical Principles,” presents broad ethical principles, based on social work’s core values, that inform social work practice. The final section, “Ethical Standards,” includes specific ethical standards to guide social workers’ conduct and to provide a basis for adjudication.*
Preamble
The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. A historic and defining feature of social work is the profession’s focus on in-
ISBN: 0-536-12115-X
*Approved by the 1996 NASW Delegate Assembly and revised by the 1999 NASW Delegate Assembly.
Copyright 1999, National Association of Social Workers, Inc., NASW Code of Ethics. Reprinted with permission.
277
NASW Code of Ethics
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest organization of professional social workers in the world. NASW serves nearly 160,000 social workers in 56 chapters throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and abroad. NASW was formed in 1955 through a merger of seven predecessor social work organizations to carry out three responsibilities:
■
■
■
Strengthen and unify the profession
Promote the development of social work practice
Advance sound social policies.
Promoting high standards of practice and protecting the consumer of services are major association principles.
Overview
The NASW Code of Ethics is intended to serve as a guide to the everyday professional conduct of social workers. This Code includes four sections. The first section, “Preamble,” summarizes the social work profession’s mission and core values. The second section, “Purpose of the NASW Code of Ethics,” provides an overview of the Code’s main functions and a brief guide for dealing with ethical issues or dilemmas in social work practice. The third section, “Ethical Principles,” presents broad ethical principles, based on social work’s core values, that inform social work practice. The final section, “Ethical Standards,” includes specific ethical standards to guide social workers’ conduct and to provide a basis for adjudication.*
Preamble
The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. A historic and defining feature of social work is the profession’s focus on in-
ISBN: 0-536-12115-X
*Approved by the 1996 NASW Delegate Assembly and revised by the 1999 NASW Delegate Assembly.
Copyright 1999, National Association of Social Workers, Inc., NASW Code of Ethics. Reprinted with permission.
277