SEE ATTACHMENT
Respond to the Classmates Discussion (below) as you would in a face-to-
face class by stating why you agree as pertaining to the discussion. When
responding to your classmates, please provide a resource located in your
region that assists clients with acquiring interview and professional clothing
(e.g., a clothing closet at a church such as Hope Ministries Clothes Closet of
Bushnell, FL; Dress for Success of Phoenix, AZ; Bottomless Closet of
Milwaukee, WI; etc.). Explain what the resource offers clientsbe specific.
Your response posts need to be at least 250 words each. Please be sure to
validate your opinions and ideas.
Discussion 1 (Nicole)
As a human service professional, it is crucial to abide by the general ethical principles
of the profession while also adhering to the employment agency’s policies. The ethical
principles and agency policies may conflict in certain situations, leading to a difficult
decision-making process. This scenario presents a human service professional who is
faced with a dilemma where the agency policies only offer career assistance, but the
client cannot afford appropriate clothing for interviews. Despite exploring all other
options, the client remains in need, and the professional is considering paying for the
outfit. To arrive at a decision, utilizing Kitchener’s model of ethical decision-making and
following the National Organization of Human Services (NOHS) ethical principle can
guide the professional in determining whether paying for the outfit is ethical or not.
Kitchener’s model of ethical decision-making is a well-known framework that has been
widely used in various fields, including healthcare, psychology, and business. The model
comprises five stages, including (a) moral sensitivity, (b) moral judgment, (c) moral
motivation, (d) moral character, and (e) moral action. The first stage, moral sensitivity,
involves recognizing a moral issue and identifying the parties involved. The second stage,
moral judgment, involves assessing the situation and deciding on what action to take.
The third stage, moral motivation, involves committing to the decision made and
recognizing the moral obligation to act. The fourth stage, moral character, involves the
development of moral virtues and values that guide decision-making. Finally, the fifth
stage, moral action, involves implementing the decision made and taking responsibility
for the consequences. Kitchener’s model has been praised for its comprehensive
approach to ethical decision-making, as it considers both cognitive and affective factors
in the process (Robson, 2000). However, some critics argue that the model is too
simplistic and does not account for the complex nature of ethical decision-making in
real-life situations. Despite these criticisms, Kitchener’s model remains valuable for
individuals and organizations seeking to make ethical decisions.
In conclusion, the decision to pay for an outfit for a client in need is a complex ethical
dilemma that requires careful consideration. Kitcheners model of ethical decision-
making offers a framework for analyzing the situation based on four assumptions:
autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. In this scenario, the NOHS ethical
principle of promoting self-sufficiency must also be considered. While paying for an
outfit may seem like a kind and generous gesture, it could also undermine the client’s
autonomy and create a dependency on the human service professional. Ultimately, the
decision to pay for the outfit must be made considering the client’s best interest and the
agency’s ethical obligations. The human service professional may need to consider
alternative solutions or resources to help the client become self-sufficient.
Respond to the Classmates Discussion (below) as you would in a face-to-
face class by stating why you agree as pertaining to the discussion. When
responding to your classmates, please provide a resource located in your
region that assists clients with acquiring interview and professional clothing
(e.g., a clothing closet at a church such as Hope Ministries Clothes Closet of
Bushnell, FL; Dress for Success of Phoenix, AZ; Bottomless Closet of
Milwaukee, WI; etc.). Explain what the resource offers clientsbe specific.
Your response posts need to be at least 250 words each. Please be sure to
validate your opinions and ideas.
Discussion 2 (Lindan)
“An ethical dilemma is a complicated situation in which one must make a difficult choice
or decision in the face of conflicting morals, or the valuesLinks to an external site. one
uses to determine the difference between right and wrong” (Rohland, 2022, p. 1). For
this situation, the human service professional is being faced with an ethical dilemma.
Ethical dilemmas occur often in the professional world. We are often pulled in both
directions on what to do. A human service professional has legal obligations for ethics
and personal obligations or standards for ethics. In this situation, the human service
professional has no obligations with the company to help the client, but feels some
personal obligations. According to the NOHS, human service professionals have
responsibilities to clients, employers, self, profession, and more. (National Organization
for Human Services, 2015).
“The models assumptions are that all ethical behaviors are presumed to be based on: (1)
autonomy, (2) beneficence, (3) non-maleficence, (4) justice, and (5) fidelity” (Martin,
2018, p. 50). For this situation, the client is acting on their own free will, the
professional’s actions are trying to benefit the client, no harm is being done, the
professional is respecting the rights of the client, and the professional’s actions show
commitment to the client. I can understand the want for helping another individual who
is in need and is trying to better themselves. I would offer to take the client to a used
store and shop for professional clothes. Before I did this, I would check with my boss to
inform them of what is occurring. This protects the human service professional in a way.
Additionally, I would see if any of my colleagues would like to donate old professional
clothes so that if this happened again, there is a closet available for use. I believe that
https://eds.s.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/[emailprotected]&vid=1&db=ers&ss=AN+%2289164545%22&sl=ll
when an individual sees a problem, they try to solve it and make it better in the future. I
would assist the client in getting professional attire.
References
Martin, M. E. (2018). Introduction to human services: Through the eyes of practice
settings (4th ed.). Pearson.
National Organization for Human Services. (2015). Ethical Standards for Human Services
Professionals. Retrieved from https://www.nationalhumanservices.org/ethical-
standards-for-hs-professionalsLinks to an external site.
Rohland, L. (2022). Ethical dilemma. Salem Press Encyclopedia.
Respond to the Classmates Discussion (below) as you would in a face-to-
face class by stating why you agree as pertaining to the discussion. When
responding to your classmates, please provide a resource located in your
region that assists clients with acquiring interview and professional clothing
(e.g., a clothing closet at a church such as Hope Ministries Clothes Closet of
Bushnell, FL; Dress for Success of Phoenix, AZ; Bottomless Closet of
Milwaukee, WI; etc.). Explain what the resource offers clientsbe specific.
Your response posts need to be at least 250 words each. Please be sure to
validate your opinions and ideas.
Discussion 3 (Kayla)
Working in human services, I have come across dilemmas such as this one. I work with
children and adolescents so it was not the exact scenario, however I can definitely relate
to the aspect of having to evaluate the ethical side of certain situations. Kitcheners
model of ethical decision making helps us to determine what is and is not ethical when it
comes to our clients. Having a litmus test to guide your decision-making process is
essential in many cases where there is uncertainty.
Kitchener lays out the model of ethical decision-making based on autonomy,
beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, and fidelity. Autonomy helps us to ensure that our
client is acting on their own free will. Beneficence determines whether or not our
professional decision is beneficial to the client. Nonmaleficence makes sure that we are
in no way harming our client. Justice measures the dignity of all involved parties, as well
as making sure that our actions were carried out in a manner that respected the rights of
our client. Fidelity reflects on our loyalty and commitment to our client (Kitchener,
1984).
Prior to reviewing these assumptions, I would be quick to say that I would go buy
the client clothes for their interview. We are in fact in the service of helping others to
https://uagc.instructure.com/courses/115755/modules/items/5884437
https://uagc.instructure.com/courses/115755/modules/items/5884437
better themselves and create a better and more stable lifestyle. However, after
reviewing the model I would take more time to evaluate every possible scenario and
whether or not my initial decision is in fact ethical. I would exhaust every possible option
in order to provide for my clients needs. This could possibly be donating clothes, since
they were not paid for, nor bought for them. This eliminates a lot of the red tape in the
process of decision-making. I would obviously consult with my supervisor and get their
perspective on the dilemma prior to taking any action. Simply put, I am not sure that I
would purchase clothes personally for my client, however I would be willing to donate
clothes, or find other avenues for them to obtain what they need in order to secure
employment. After all, our job as a human service professional is to work towards the
improvement of the lifestyles and outcomes of our clients. This does not look the same
for every situation, but it is our responsibility to provide resources and go above and
beyond for them to better themselves and those around them.
References:
Kitchener’s, K. S. [1984]. Intuition, critical evaluation, and ethical principles in clinical
decision making. The Counseling Psychologist, 12[2], 53-55.
Martin, M. E. [2018]. Introduction to human services: Through the eyes of practice
settings [4th ed.]. Pearson.
