The term intervention assumes interaction between individuals—with at least one of the individuals being identified as a person in “need” of assistance of some sort.

In this course we have studied groups of individuals that are often in need of human-services assistance and some interventions that have been found effective in meeting particular human-services needs. Interaction between a human-services professional and a service recipient requires that the worker act in a professional and “ethical” manner to ensure that the services rendered are beneficial and do not harm those receiving them.

Review the ethical standards for human-services professionals at http://www.nationalhumanservices.org/ethical-standards-for-hs-professionals.

Now consider this scenario:

You have been a social worker on a case involving a single mom, Ellen, and her daughter, Jenny. Ellen is a heroin addict who was living with a physically abusive boyfriend. Jenny was placed in a foster home as a result. Ellen has since entered substance abuse treatment and has been clean for one year. She now holds a steady job. Ellen also kicked the boyfriend out of her life. At this point, the court has decided that Ellen may have unsupervised visits with Jenny because things are going so well. You, the social worker, visit Ellen in her home, where Ellen admits that the abusive boyfriend showed up at the house just the week before. Ellen allowed him in and then shot up heroin with him. She promises it was her only slip with heroin use and that she will not do it again nor will she ever let the boyfriend back into her house. You know that this admission could jeopardize Ellen’s visits with Jenny.

What do you do?

In your discussion post, address the following:

1. Which of the ethical standards for human-services professionals apply in this scenario? Provide rationale for the standards that you selected.
2. Discuss how the human-services professional can intervene ethically based on the ethical standards that you selected.
3. Evaluate how the service recipient (Ellen) and others involved in the case (child, foster care) could be affected if the professional acted without consideration to his or her ethical standards.

Discussion question responses should be at least 200-300 words. Your responses in the discussion board must be well written according to CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements. The CSU-Global Library is a great place to find resources.