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 premaritalcounseling
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
• Apersonwhosepolitical views arepolaroppositeof 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 wantto 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 thatmustbeaddressed 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 collegelevel work;
Paragraphing and
transitions are
adequate; appropriate
guidelines outlined for
paper were met with a
fewnotedproblems (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 oftopics
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 supportedby
evidence; paper is
inadequate in
meeting the page
and content area
requirements; less
than 3 scholarly
journals wereused.
The length of the
written work is
sufficient to cover the
topic; assertions are
supported by evidence;
does not meet full
required number of
pagesandcontentareas.
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 lengthof
pages andcontent
areas; 3 or more
scholarly journals
wereused.
/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 andwith
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 stylewas
acceptable with a few
errors.
Written work has
no major errors in
word selectionand
use; sentence
structure, spelling,
grammar,
punctuation was
appropriate; APA
style was
acceptable withno
to fewerrors.
/33
Total Points: /100
