Personal Reflections
Let's talk Ethics and policy making
According to the NASW Code of Ethics (2008), some of the key responsibility of social workers are to help people in need, promote social change, and enhance the capacity of our clients. House Bill 359 is the proposed solution in allowing families to remain intact and support one another. One of the biggest strengths relates to the ethical principle "social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person" (NASW, 2008). This principles places responsibility on the social worker in enhancing a person's "capacity and opportunity to change and address their own needs" (NASW, 2008). That is exactly what the bill is doing! It allows a person to recognize they need family support in caring for their children and then initiating that support with minimal barriers. Code 1.02, Self-Determination, supports this principle and requires social workers to respect their client's rights to self-determination. They should also assist them in this effort not deter them.
An ethical weakness of the bill relates to Code 1.14, Clients who Lack Decision-Making Capacity (NASW, 2008). There is nothing in the bill that talks about the capacity of the parent who is signing the power of attorney. It is my duty as a social worker to act on their behalf and step in when the Supporting and Strengthening Families Act is not in the best interest of the parent or child. This could negatively affect the child and parent, especially if the parent is not able to make the best decision. I work with a lot of parent where there is mental health issues and drug abuse related issues. These illnesses impair their thinking and judgment and it is detrimental to the lives of their children that DFCS be involved.
An ethical weakness of the bill relates to Code 1.14, Clients who Lack Decision-Making Capacity (NASW, 2008). There is nothing in the bill that talks about the capacity of the parent who is signing the power of attorney. It is my duty as a social worker to act on their behalf and step in when the Supporting and Strengthening Families Act is not in the best interest of the parent or child. This could negatively affect the child and parent, especially if the parent is not able to make the best decision. I work with a lot of parent where there is mental health issues and drug abuse related issues. These illnesses impair their thinking and judgment and it is detrimental to the lives of their children that DFCS be involved.
I believe that ethics has a minor role in policy making. I think our politicians have great intentions and good things happen from those intentions but bad things can come out of those intentions as well. Rep. Welch shared insight on the voting process and that seasoned politicians know when and how to present their bill for a passing vote. This bill was present 2nd to last at the end of a very long day and there are concerns Representatives wanted to vote and get it over with. Rep. Welch was concerned the bill did not get "vetted" (2017). Another concern is that my local Senator spoke on her thoughts, however brief, prior to reading the bill. Lastly, It was very hard to speak with sponsors of the bill and that leads me to believe that others, including community stakeholders, may have also had a hard time speaking with them as well.
What do I think???
I believe that the bill is a step in the right direction in enhancing social justice. I have noticed a trend in working with the foster care system and that trend is majority of these families do not have adequate support systems. They have no one to call on when they need help. From personal relationships and other programs at my agency, those parents that do have adequate family support use their family. There are so many grandparents in the United States caring for grandchildren. Although it can be stressful for grandparents, there are agencies that provide services to those providing kinship care (Gladstone, Brown, & Fitzgerald, 2009). I think this bill provides a way for those supports to continue to happen but also make it easier and legal for grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. to handle educational and medical needs without barriers. Interviewee C.D and other military personnel would be able to sign a power of attorney to a family member when they are deployed or away on training. Cozza (2014) talks about how important it is to support our military families. God forbid if I ever got extremely sick, my parents would be able to care for my child and her needs without going through the court system for guardianship. My family is very important to me as well as families sticking together. The bills aligns with my personal values on family and I know my family would not hesitate to care for my daughter. I know that they would provide a safe and nurturing environment for her. In a study conducted by Metzger (2008), it showed that children in kinship care have better social supports. I think the bill would be beneficial to many people.
I disagree with the bill stating a nonprofit organization could be a caregiver. This bill should specifically be for family only. I would recommend the bill be modified in removing nonprofits. Also, as a part of the notarization process, the parent should have to show proof of the background check and sex offender check in order for the power of attorney to be notarized.
Lastly, I feel the policy making process as a whole is rushed and there is no possible way the representatives and senators read all the bills. While speaking with my senator, she had to rush away a few times to go vote on a bill. When choosing a bill, there were hundreds to search from. My most positive moment was meeting my local senator and taking our picture. I met her on my second visit to the Capitol and after waiting a while to speak with other legislators. I think the experience of actually connecting with the sponsors would have made the process more insightful.
I disagree with the bill stating a nonprofit organization could be a caregiver. This bill should specifically be for family only. I would recommend the bill be modified in removing nonprofits. Also, as a part of the notarization process, the parent should have to show proof of the background check and sex offender check in order for the power of attorney to be notarized.
Lastly, I feel the policy making process as a whole is rushed and there is no possible way the representatives and senators read all the bills. While speaking with my senator, she had to rush away a few times to go vote on a bill. When choosing a bill, there were hundreds to search from. My most positive moment was meeting my local senator and taking our picture. I met her on my second visit to the Capitol and after waiting a while to speak with other legislators. I think the experience of actually connecting with the sponsors would have made the process more insightful.