Ethical Decision Making in Responding to Abuse, Exploitation, and Neglect (3 hours)

Course Description: This course prepares social workers to make ethical decisions when responding to suspected or disclosed abuse, exploitation, and neglect. Participants will examine how these concerns appear across child, adult, eldercare, disability, and institutional contexts while considering the legal duties, ethical principles, historical harms, and power dynamics that shape professional intervention. The course emphasizes that mandated reporting is sometimes necessary but never the whole response. Social workers must be able to identify the concern clearly, assess risk and protective factors without succumbing to bias or fear, use informed consent and confidentiality protections appropriately, consult when needed, document their reasoning effectively, and provide follow-up that remains accountable to the person most affected.

Date: Ongoing
Distance Learning Method: Asynchronous Reading
Target Audience: Social Workers, Substance Abuse Counselors, Criminal Justice Professionals
Refund Policy: If you request a refund within 30 days of placing your order (and prior to submitting any exams / completing any courses) we will gladly issue a refund of your money, less the processing fee and handling charge.
Course Interactivity: None
Posttest Requirements: Must score 80% or better to pass. Tests can be taken multiple times to obtain passing score.
Course Completion Requirements: Passing score on posttest. Submission of course evaluation. Course date of completion is recorded at this point.
Certificate of Completion: Issued when course is completed, available for download in Student Center
System Requirements: Internet access