HSV 400 Ethical and Legal Issues in Human Services For this assignment, you will select a controversial issue from the list of suggested topics and

HSV 400 Ethical and Legal Issues in Human Services

Ethical/Legal Issues Paper

For this assignment, you will select a controversial issue from the list of suggested topics and discuss

how it relates to working in the human services field. You must conduct a search of the available

literature (with emphasis on peer-reviewed journal articles) surrounding the selected topic. This paper

must be written in proper APA format, which includes a title page, body of at least 7 full pages and a maximum of 10 pages, and a reference page(s).

In this paper, please be sure to provide background information on the controversy surrounding the topic,

addressing all views, and how it would relate to your work in the human services field. How would your

values and beliefs about this issue impact your work? How would you go about avoiding issues of

malpractice when working with a client experiencing this first hand? Is there countertransference you

may struggle with?

In addition to addressing the above questions, please be sure to develop a case study that is relevant

to your topic and identify the specific steps you would take in working with that client. Be sure to include

information about the client’s race and ethnicity, religious beliefs (if any), family structure, relevant values

and beliefs as well as the presenting issue.

Remember to evaluate all aspects of the case—i.e. Does the issue fall under Duty to Warn? Is this a

situation that might require a referral to Child Protection Services? Take on the perspective of a

Human Services provider and be sure to fully address all concerns that might be raised.

Here are some possible issues that your client may be presenting with that you choose to discuss.

The issues have been organized by different categories:

Family Issues: •

•

•

•

•

A person leaving his/her partner to pursue an affair

An interracial couple seeking premarital counseling

A person who admittedly abuses his/her partner

A parent who talks about LEGALLY using marijuana while supervising their children

A same-sex couple who is seeking to adopt

Social Issues: •

•

A transgender person looking for counseling to address depression

A person who is considering involuntary hospitalization of a mentally ill or handicapped family

member

A person who admits to having an addiction to pornography

A woman who is considering having an abortion

•

•

HSV400 Ethical and Legal Issues in Human Services

Ethical/Legal Issues Paper

• A person whose political views are polar opposite of yours

Criminal Issues:

•

•

•

•

•

A person considering euthanasia or physician-assisted

suicide A person who has admitted to molesting children in

the past

A person who has been released from prison after committing a

murder A minor who admits to using illegal drugs

An undocumented worker facing discrimination in the work place

If you want to choose a topic not on the list, it must be approved by the course instructor.

Requirements

You must use at minimum 3 scholarly resources for this policy paper. Wikipedia, Ask.com, and other

non- scholarly sources of information will not be accepted. If you are in doubt about the reliability of a

resource, ask your instructor.

Topics that must be addressed in this policy paper include

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Background information on the controversy surrounding the topic

Discussion of the different views of the issue

How the issue will relate to your work in the field

How your values and beliefs about this issue will impact your work

Relevant case study

Discussion of the steps you would take in working with the client

Grading Rubric for Legal/Ethical Issues Paper

CRITERIA Deficient (0 –

23 Points)

Development Needed

(24 – 27 Points)

Proficient (28 –

30 Points)

Exemplary

(31 – 34 Points)

Total

Points

Structure:

Well-developed

paragraphs,

complete sentences,

title page, body of

work meets

requirements,

references,

followed the

example specifically

Organizational

structure and

paragraphing have

serious and persistent

errors. Directions were

ignored and

information provided

was insufficient to

meet assignment

guidelines.

Written work

inadequate for

college-level work;

Paragraphing and

transitions are

inadequate;

inappropriate

guidelines outlined

for paper were not

met with several

problems (see

directions).

Written work is clear

and adequate college-

level work;

Paragraphing and

transitions are

adequate; appropriate

guidelines outlined for

paper were met with a

few noted problems (see

directions).

Written work is

clear and excellent

college-level work;

Paragraphing and

transitions are clear

and appropriate;

appropriate

guidelines outlined

for paper were met

(see directions).

/33

Deficient (0 –

23 Points)

Development Needed

(24 – 27 Points)

Proficient (28 –

30 Points)

Exemplary

(31 – 33 Points)

Content:

Demonstrates

knowledge of

topics, through

discussion of

concepts,

appropriate

integrate of topics

on directions;

scholarly journal

use

Written work does not

cover the assigned

topic; assertions are

not supported by

evidence; paper is

seriously lacking in

content and detail;

scholarly journals were

not used or used

properly.

Written work does

not do an adequate

job of covering the

assigned topic;

assertions are

weakly supported by

evidence; paper is

inadequate in

meeting the page

and content area

requirements; less

than 3 scholarly

journals were used.

The length of the

written work is

sufficient to cover the

topic; assertions are

supported by evidence;

does not meet full

required number of

pages and content areas.

3 scholarly journals

were used.

The length of the

written work

provides in-depth

coverage of the

topics, assertions

are clearly

supported by

evidence;

Paper meets

required length of

pages and content

areas; 3 or more

scholarly journals

were used.

/34

Mechanics:

Spelling; grammar;

use of APA style

Written work had

serious and persistent

errors in word

selection and use;

sentence structure,

spelling, grammar,

punctuation was

inappropriate and with

serious errors; APA

style was completely

unacceptable.

Written work had

several major errors

in word selection and

use; sentence

structure, spelling,

grammar,

punctuation was

inappropriate; APA

style was

unacceptable with a

few to multiple

errors.

Written work was

generally free of errors

in word selection and

use; sentence structure,

spelling, grammar,

punctuation was

adequate; APA style was

acceptable with a few

errors.

Written work has

no major errors in

word selection and

use; sentence

structure, spelling,

grammar,

punctuation was

appropriate; APA

style was

acceptable with no

to few errors.

/33

Total Points: /100