18 Miss. Code. R. 6-1-A-I-XII
Society values each child's natural right to have basic needs for survival and development met and each child's natural right to live with his/her parents. Society also values each parent's natural right to rear his/her child, but through its child welfare laws, defines certain situations in which the parent's rights can be limited so that the child can be protected.
Society delegates to the child welfare field and to those who become members of the field the authority to intervene in the lives of families with the goals of ensuring the safety of abused and neglected children, assisting parents in meeting minimum parenting standards, and planning alternative permanent care when parents are incapable of or unwilling to meet those standards.
Child welfare professionals are society's representatives in its attempts to meet the needs of abused and neglected children and their families. The authority delegated to them to intervene in the lives of families is accompanied by the responsibility to act in a professional manner. The Code of Ethics for Child Welfare Professionals is the public acknowledgment and acceptance of that responsibility.
It sets forth the values and ethical principles which form the foundation of the child welfare field and is intended to guide practice decisions both within DFCS and private agencies with which it contracts. It is also a statement of shared commitments held by professionals working to improve the child welfare field and our promise to our clients and to society that we are worthy of their trust.
The national Association of Social Workers (NASW), the professional organization for social workers, has created a Code of Ethics for its members. This Code of Ethics is also used by agencies as a guide for ethical practice for child welfare professionals. This Code can be accessed at http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/default.asp. The expectation for DFCS employees is to adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics in all dealings with clients, co-workers, and other professionals.
Licensed social workers are bound by professional standards in the Social Work Licensing Statues in Mississippi (MISS. Code ANN. 73-53-1) and the Rules and Regulations Regarding the Licensure of Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists - (http://www.swmft.ms.gov/swmft/web.nsf). Also, see MDHS AP-27 Code of Ethics.
MDHS AP-23 "Conflict of Interest", pursuant to the policies and procedures promulgated by the Mississippi State Personnel Board, requires that state employees must avoid using, or appearing to use, an official position for personal gain, giving unjustified preferences, or losing sight of the need for efficient and impartial decision making in the state's operation. No act should be committed which could result in questioning the integrity of state government.
Employees must not use their official position to secure privileges or advantages for themselves; must not, in their official capacity, act in any matter in which they have personal interest that could in the least degree impair their objectivity; must not accept any gift or favor of a nature to imply any obligation that is inconsistent with the free and objective exercise of their professional responsibilities.
An employee shall not individually or through an interest in any corporation, organization, business, or other entity be a contractor, sub-contractor, or vendor with MDHS. Preferential treatment must not be given to any members, community partners, advisory groups, and consultants as well who apply for DFCS services.
Conflict of interest is addressed in several different places to ensure that employees are aware of all of the above information. See the following for comprehensive conflict of interest policy:
* MDHS AP-23, pages 1 -4 of attachment
* MDHS AP-27 (Code of Ethics)
* MDHS AP-51 (Anti-Nepotism)
* MS State Employee Handbook, pages 5-6 of attachment
Mississippi State Personnel Board-Policy and Procedure Manual:
http://www.spbrez.ms.gov/SPB%20Documents/SPB/Policy%20Proc2010/MSPB_PPM_100110.PDF
Mississippi Department of Human Services-Sub-grant Manual:http://www.mdhs.state.ms.us/dpi_subman.htm
Due to the nature of DFCS cases, DFCS staff is restricted from handling certain cases. No member of the county staff, including the ASWS or Worker will be assigned an investigation or a service case when the service recipient is related to the staff member by marriage or by whole or half blood to the third degree.
No member of the county staff, including the ASWS or Worker will be allowed to take the application for licensing of a Relative Resource Home, to determine the eligibility, to conduct the home study, to be assigned the case, re-evaluate or participate in the decision-making process regarding the placement in or the removal of the children from the home. Even if the relative is within a lesser degree of relationship or the person is a close friend who has applied for services, the case must be assigned to another Worker.
When the situation arises that the ASWS is the staff person related to the recipient of services of Resource Parent, the RD or designee will act as the ASWS for that case. If the case is a Resource Home, the RD or designee will act as the ASWS for all aspects of the placement or removal of children in that home.
18 Miss. Code. R. 6-1-A-I-XII