Table Of Content“This impressive volume provides an excellent illustration of how social work values and
ethics demand clarity regarding both relevant questions and sensible solutions. In advocating
for lucidity of thought and inquiry, this book is a valuable resource for those wishing to
engage in thinking about and practicing social work in a variety of settings.”
– Daniel Pollack, Professor at Wurzweiler School of Social Work,
Yeshiva University, New York City
“Stephen Marson and Robert McKinney have compiled the most comprehensive resource
on social work values and ethics available. With a cadre of diverse experts and authors, this
book contains a wealth of information and guidance for both neophyte and experienced
practitioners. It is a remarkable and timely undertaking.”
– Grafton H. Hull, Jr. EdD., Professor Emeritus, University of Utah
College of Social Work
“Marson and McKinney have pulled together a thorough anthology of essays and research
articles about ethics in social work and the principles that should guide our professional
work. There is nothing more important in professional education than teaching students
how to confront ethical issues and to solve ethical problems while maintaining the dignity
of all persons. We sometimes give ethics short shrift, but this collection of work from these
world-wide authors helps us understand the range of moral and ethical problems we face In
practice as well as the means by which we are able to ethically mitigate the human suffering
that abounds in our world.”
– Kay Seeley Hoffman, PhD, Professor Emeritus, University of Kentucky
“I congratulate the editors of this volume for seeking out a range of reasoned views on the
contentious subject of abortion. Most social workers will, at one time or another, encoun-
ter clients with strongly pro-life convictions. This volume will surely stimulate a rigorous
discussion of this important topic, and the social work profession will be the better for it.”
– Jennifer Roback Morse, PhD, Founder and President of the Ruth Institute
The Routledge Handbook of
Social Work Ethics and Values
The Routledge Handbook of Social Work Ethics and Values is a comprehensive exploration and
assessment of current and future issues facing social work practice and education. It is the
first book to codify ethical practices for social workers from across the globe and in myriad
workplace settings.
Each section meaningfully captures this complex subject area:
• ethics writ large
• visions of diverse values
• abortion
• relationship and gender issues
• micro and mezzo practice settings
• social work education
• technological issues
• spirituality
• globalism
• economic issues
• special topics
Leaving no stone unturned, this handbook comprehensively addresses the most controversial
topics in an evenhanded manner. Among professional social workers, values and ethics tra-
verse political boundaries, cultural identifications, and languages. This handbook will help
to make sense of this unity within diversity.
With contributions from the world’s leading scholars, this book will be a valuable resource
for all social work students, academics, researchers, and practitioners who seek a coherent and
objective analysis in the abstract arena of ethics and values.
Stephen M. Marson was educated at the North Carolina State University (PhD) with his
minor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in social work, The Ohio State
University (MSW), and Ohio Dominican University (BA). After 40 years, he retired from
his professorship at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and is now a Professor
Emeritus. He has published and presented numerous papers in the area of social work values
and ethics and is the founder and editor of The Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics.
Robert E. McKinney, Jr. was educated at The University of Alabama (PhD, MSW) and at
Mississippi State University (BA, philosophy). He is an Assistant Professor, jointly appointed
at The University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences and School of Social
Work. He teaches learners from myriad health care disciplines about ethical behaviors and
the social determinants of health in an interprofessional educational residency setting at The
University of Alabama Family Medicine Residency – Tuscaloosa Campus. He is a clinical
social worker and registered yoga therapist.
The Routledge Handbook
of Social Work Ethics
and Values
Edited by Stephen M. Marson
and Robert E. McKinney, Jr.
First published 2019
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2019 selection and editorial matter, Stephen M. Marson and
Robert E. McKinney, Jr.; individual chapters, the contributors
The right of Stephen M. Marson and Robert E. McKinney, Jr. to be
identified as the authors of the editorial material, and of the authors for
their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections
77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other
means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and
recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record has been requested for this book
ISBN: 978-1-138-34393-1 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-429-43881-3 (ebk)
Typeset in Bembo
by codeMantra
contents
List of illustrations xiii
List of contributors xiv
Acknowledgments xxv
1 A historical foundation to social work values and ethics 1
Stephen M. Marson and Robert E. McKinney, Jr.
SEcTion i
Ethics writ large 5
2 International analysis of human rights and social work ethics 7
Annie J. Keeney, Abdulaziz Albrithen, Shannon Harrison,
Linda Briskman, and David Androff
3 Ethical theories and social work practice 15
Frederic G. Reamer
4 Then and now: the history and development of social work ethics 22
Terricka Hardy
5 An integrated principle-based approach to international social work
ethical principles and servant leadership principles 28
Sandra R. Williamson-Ashe and Charles M. S. Birore
6 Social worker self-care: an ethical responsibility 36
Dorothy S. Greene and Karen T. Cummings-Lilly
7 The test of a good conscience 44
John Solas
8 Narrative ethics in social work practice 51
Allan Edward Barsky
vii
Contents
9 How a relational approach to practice can encourage social work
to return to its ethical endeavor 58
Elizabeth C. Reimer and Lester J. Thompson
10 Ethical action in challenging times 65
Kim Strom-Gottfried
SEcTion ii
Visions of diverse values 73
11 Social work ethics and values within the context of South African
social work education and practice 75
Sue Cook
12 Barriers to designing a code of ethics for social workers
in the Arab society 83
Fakir Al Gharaibeh
13 Disability ethics: a confluence of human and distributive rights 90
Elizabeth DePoy and Stephen Gilson
SEcTion iii
Abortion 99
14 Self-determination and abortion access: a pro-choice perspective
on the International Statement of Ethical Principles 101
Heather Witt, Erica Goldblatt Hyatt, Carly Franklin, and Maha N. Younes
15 Social work’s first obligation: the role of social workers in protecting
unborn children 109
William C. Rainford and Bruce A. Thyer
16 Mercy or murder: social work and ambivalence over abortion 117
Mary S. Sheridan
SEcTion iV
Relationship and gender issues 125
17 Advocating for self- determination, arriving at safety:
how social workers can address ethical dilemmas
in intimate partner violence 127
Amber Sutton and Catherine Carlson
viii
Contents
18 Social work clinical practice and intimate partner violence: a system
approach to help reverse the macro and individual effects of violence 135
Maria E. Taylor
19 The legal and ethical consequences of human trafficking 143
Michelle Sunkel
SEcTion V
Micro practice settings 149
20 Social work ethics and values: global issues in criminal justice practice 151
Kathi R. Trawver, Kelli E. Canada, and Stacey Barrenger
21 Boundary issues and dual relationships in social work: a global perspective 157
Frederic G. Reamer
22 Social workers’ dilemma in patients’ rights on end-of-life care and
decision-making u nder the new act in South Korea 165
Sooyoun K. Han
23 An effective theoretical approach to ethical problem-solving in
cross-cultural social work 173
Valerie Bryan, Laura Kaplan, Scott Sanders, Stephen Young, and Paul Mwangosi
SEcTion Vi
Mezzo practice settings 181
24 Ethics and values in social group work 183
Mark Doel
25 Ethical challenges in group work: potential perils and preventive practices 191
Mary Banach and Roshini Pillay
SEcTion Vii
Macro practice settings 199
26 The ethical geography of macro practice: human rights to utilitarianism 201
Ogden Rogers
27 Ethical dilemmas when working with extreme right-winged youth
cultures in Germany 206
Stefan Borrmann
ix
