Ethics, Diversity, Leadership, and Engagement The field of social work is filled with ethical decision making, engaging clients and community, and providing leadership to address these individual, family, and community needs. Children are considered a vulnerable population and social workers need to integrate the highest of ethical standards while considering the multiple needs of diverse clients. There are multiple challenging issues that children, youth, and families face. One role for social workers is advocacy. Consider current challenging issues for children and adolescents within our society; examples include confidentiality; treating children with medication; sentencing children to life in prison; involuntary holds; removing children from the home due to abuse; sex trafficking; controversial therapies such as conversion therapy; discrimination against diverse populations; and lack of resources for a particular childhood issue. (Any of the example topics are acceptable). Instructions Write a 2-page letter that identifies and addresses the challenge facing children chosen from above. This letter can be written to the editor of your local newspaper, your local legislative body, or agencies that create policy and advocacy for this population. **Create it as if an actual letter is being written** This letter should be an example of critical thinking and should include, at a minimum: 1. A well-articulated ethical issue (from examples above) that has been identified, including demographics, statistics, and why it is an issue within the community. Provide relevant resources and citations. 2. A strategy that would address dimensions and differentiation in diversity that will influence local policy and influence relationships, intervention techniques and technologies with diverse clients, families, groups, organizations, and communities. 3. Interventions identified through research and evidence-based practices. Provide references and research. 4. Demonstrate use of leadership skills and use of technology. Include the person or group’s contact information and an explanation as to why they were chosen. Additional Requirements • Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message. • APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and formatting standards. • Cited resources: Minimum of two scholarly sources. All literature cited should be current, with publication dates within the past five years. • Length of paper: 2 double-spaced pages. • Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
