ODL 212: Ethics of Confidentiality and Diversity Considerations

Revised on 9/19/2024

Attention New Jersey Social Workers: 

This course is approved for all social workers, including New Jersey. The Board Adopted Amendments: N.J.A.C. 13:44G-6.3, 6.4, and 6.7 Content Areas for Continuing Education Credit on April 15, 2024. This updates the Board’s regulation. This amendment states that  attendance at programs or courses offered by providers approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) are now acceptable sources of CE credit. 

At the June 12, 2024 public meeting, the Board voted to allow “any applications submitted, or audits which take place, on or after September 1, 2022” to be able “to submit CE from the sources updated in the new amendment adopted on April 15, 2024.”

For more information please refer to https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/sw/Pages/Additional-Information.aspx#CE

Target Audience:

This course is targeted for social workers, case managers, nurses, and counselors.

Overview:

School social workers have many factors to consider in their work with students and families. Understanding ethics regarding confidentiality of minors in school settings is important for best practices and ethical decision making. Part one of the workshop will present participants with ethical considerations and responsibilities regarding minors in school settings. Case studies and the relevance of state law will be discussed. Participants will feel more confident assessing and managing ethics around confidentiality in minors. 

In part two, diversity considerations in school settings will be explored. Implicit bias, cultural competence, and specific dynamics of culture in schools will be presented. Participants have the opportunity to analyze cultural identities and their own cultural lenses as they work with diverse students and families. The goals of this session is for school social workers to increase their self-awareness, diversity sensitivity, and cultural competence practice.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the session – the participant will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of minor confidentiality considerations in three areas in school social work.
• Apply methods of responding to ethical dilemmas through at least three case vignettes.
• Differentiate methods of managing confidentiality with minors and other stakeholders.
• Examine personal beliefs regarding culture, implicit bias, and cultural sensitivity through reflection questions.
• Identify at least three ways that a school social worker can be more culturally competent.
• Analyze through critical thinking ways of understanding and responding to cultural diversity situations in school settings.

Presenter:

Diane Bigler, LCSW, LSCSW, and owner of Diane Bigler Therapy Services, Inc. 

Diane Bigler is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Missouri and Kansas. She has over 20 years of experience in the social services field. Diane has held positions as a therapist (in-home and outpatient), private practice owner, trainer/facilitator, clinical supervisor, and Professor of Social Work. She also has experience in corporate wellness training and coaching. Diane is most passionate about providing quality educational training to professionals. She enjoys spoiling her four Dachshunds and anything 80’s related.

5 CREDIT HOURS APPROVED FOR:

Social Workers
ASWB ACE – 5 Ethics CE Credits
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work – 5 Contact Hours
Case Managers
CCMC – 5 Ethics Hours
Nurses
California Board of Registered Nursing – 5 Contact Hours
Counselors
NBCC ACEP – 5 Ethics or 5 Contact Hours*
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners – 5 Contact Hours

* Some states do not require/accept ethics hours for counselors, for those cases contact hours will be awarded.

Please make sure to check with your own state board to ensure the transferability of CE credit for an asynchronous course. Some state boards may place restrictions regarding the modality of training required for ethics credits to be awarded. If this training indicates ethics credits are available, please verify that your state allows them to be earned through an on-demand course format.