Organizational Code of Ethics

adopted October 27, 1998

Introduction

• The Children’s Place is committed to the highest ethical standards throughout the organization and in all of its operations.  The Board of Directors of The Children’s Place is responsible for establishing policies, selecting and supervising competent management and providing oversight of The Children's Place operations to guide the agency in operating in an ethical manner towards its clients and all constituent groups including volunteers, donors, funders, and contractors.  The President/CEO of The Children’s Place is responsible for supervising, directing and controlling the business and the officers of the agency making sure that all practices of the agency reflect the ethical policies and directions established by the Board of Directors. 

• The Children's Place will provide services within its capacity, its stated mission and philosophy and applicable regulations.  The Children's Place will have a defined referral process to help individuals receive the services it cannot provide.

• The Children's Place will hold itself accountable for its program and fiscal operations, and seek objective certification that it meets those standards of quality in its performance that have been established for the field of  behavioral health and social service, through accreditation and licensing as appropriate.

• The Children's Place board members, committee and service volunteers, administrative, professional and support staff shall accept and conform to these organizational norms.  These norms will be an essential part of orientation of new members of the staff and governing bodies.  The Children's Place clients will be informed of their rights and responsibilities consistent with agency policies and practices.

• The Children's Place will follow relevant civil law in its governance.
  
  
• The Children's Place will collaborate with other individuals, groups, and social agencies on issues, policies and programs which are compatible with the agency’s mission.
  

Clients Rights

• Clients are defined for this purpose as all identified individuals or family members who have been admitted to any agency program for evaluation, treatment or educational/supportive services.

• Clients are to be dealt with equally and fairly.

• All clients receive a written statement of their rights at admission and sign a statement of receipt of these rights.

• The Children's Place has a defined process for reviewing and assessing the needs, requests and complaints about care communicated by individuals served.  All clients have access to this process.  The client grievance process is approved by clinical staff and overseen by the Vice President of Program Administration and Development.  Authority for addressing admissions, treatment and discharge issues rests with the Vice President of Program Administration and Development.

• Care and services at The Children's Place are provided in such a way as to respect and foster in clients served a sense of dignity, autonomy, positive self regard and involvement in the provision of their care and services.  Client’s involvement takes into consideration their strengths and weaknesses and resources, the demands of the environment and expectations of the service providers and those they serve.

• The Children's Place clinical staff and leadership will define how individuals will be involved in all aspects of their care as appropriate for the population served.

• The Children's Place will involve family members, whenever appropriate, in facilitating care decisions.

• Clients are not to be named or discussed with anyone outside this facility setting or who does not have a legal release and reason to receive information about the client.

• No illicit drugs, alcohol or contraband materials will be distributed to current or former clients during treatment or post-discharge by a Children’s Place employee.

• The provision of care at The Children's Place will reflect respect for cultural, psychosocial and spiritual beliefs and will protect the privacy and security of the client.

• Employees will promote effective, culturally sensitive, and interdisciplinary approaches to the identification, intervention, treatment, and prevention of child abuse and neglect.

• Clear definitions of professional roles, responsibilities, duties, and tasks and the limits of professional conduct provide clients with maximal information upon which to base their own decisions and actions.  The nature of child maltreatment, in which boundaries are blurred or broken, relationships are disturbed, and social positions such as parent, caregiver, and helper are perverted, makes the maintenance of clear professional relationships with clients all the more critical for client protection and in creating the optimal conditions for growth and development.

• In all relationships with clients, The Children's Place employee seeks to actualize the following principles of interaction, which create conditions for change, accountability, and maintenance of the social contract: honesty, integrity, respect for differences, a non-judgmental attitude, a belief in the inherent dignity and worth of every individual, and an expectation that individuals will behave responsibly, balanced with an understanding that from time to time external social controls are necessary to protect children and society. 

• The Children's Place maintains integrity in all clinical decision making, utilizing tests, treatment and other interventions, based solely on the identified client need. 

• Client participation in follow-up studies or other research involving individual participation or re-contact is completely voluntary.  Continuation of service is not dependent on participation of the client in research or studies.  The signed consent of the client or, in the case of a minor client, by the parent or guardian is required before such research may take place.

Finance

• The agency will contract with a credible accounting firm for an annual independent audit of its finances after the close of each fiscal year.  The auditing firm will provide a formal report to the Board of Directors.

• The President/CEO, with input from The Children's Place staff, will prepare an annual operating budget identifying revenue sources and expenses for all agency programs.  This budget will be forwarded to the Board of Directors for their approval.  The agency will prepare monthly operating reports reflecting revenue and expenses and budget variances for Board review.

Contracts

• All contracts or agreements must be reviewed and signed by the President/CEO or the Vice President Finance and Operations. 

Billing and Collection

• When applicable, clients are billed for only those services they receive and are provided a list of such services.

• When requested, clients receive full information about The Children's Place sources of reimbursement for care.

• Clients will receive prompt and courteous responses to their inquiries.

Board of Directors

• Members of the board are chosen based on an assessment of the agency’s needs and review of current board members’ strengths and expertise.  The Strategic Development Committee makes recommendations for specific skills to the board which pursues community leaders’ participation.

• Names and addresses of all agency board members are public information which will be disclosed upon request.

• No board member may directly or indirectly accept any gift, payment, services or special privilege, or other favors from any person or business organization that does or seeks to do business with the agency.

• The Children's Place board members must refrain from financial conflicts of interest with the agency.  When the potential for such conflict exists, board members must disclose at a meeting of the board, any financial benefits or potential financial benefits that may be derived from their association with the agency, including, but not limited to, fees for services, commissions, receipt of proceeds from the sale of property, etc.

Staff

• Limitations on multiple relationships may vary with different professions (e.g., law); Children’s Place employees should comply with the ethical guidelines applicable to their own profession.

  1.     Except as provided by ethical codes of individual professions, engaging or attempting to engage in dual, nonprofessional relationships with clients is forbidden.  Such relationships include business, financial, social, or sexual relationships.  Once a professional relationship has been established, engaging in dual, nonprofessional relationships with clients is never proper. Some professional roles, practice settings (e.g., rural communities), or cultural contexts may place professionals and their clients in ongoing contact.  It is the obligation of the employee in these unique and selective situations to ensure that the relationship remains non-exploitive, equal, and mindful of the inherent power differential and other special characteristics of professional-client relationships.

2.     When a professional is called upon to engage in more than one professional role, such as therapist and advocate, investigator and therapist, assessor and healer, investigator and concerned citizen, the professional must be clear about the different responsibilities and tasks required of each role; take appropriate steps to guard against role conflict; and make sure that the client understands the nature and different responsibilities of each role.  Assuming more than one professional role in a given case at a given time does not necessarily represent an unethical multiple-role relationship.

• The Children's Place employees are aware of cultural and individual differences, including those due to socioeconomic status, age, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion, and disability.  Employees strive to ensure that their work is free of biases based on those factors, and do not knowingly participate in or condone unfair discriminatory practices.

• The right of clients to confidentiality, which is the assurance that nothing about an individual is revealed except under agreed-upon conditions, is fundamental to professional relationships with clients.  Laws in all states define the rights of confidentiality and privacy.  The rights of clients to privacy and confidentiality, except where limited by state and federal laws, are recognized and honored by The Children's Place employees at all times.

1.     The right to privacy ensures that information about the client’s functioning, experiences, and history are revealed only with the expressed consent of the client or his or her legal guardian pursuant to court order, or as restricted or mandated by state and federal laws (e.g., in the case of mandated reporting of suspected child maltreatment).

2.     Where state or federal law or professional occupation does not limit the exchange of client information, information is shared only on a need-to-know basis and only to the extent necessary for the completion of professional tasks.

3.     The Children's Place employees communicate information about clients at all times in ways which convey respect for the client’s personhood and dignity.

• The Children's Place employees will conduct themselves at all times in a manner consistent with the best interests of the child, and hold this principle above all others.  We recognize that determining what constitutes the best interests of a child can be a complex undertaking, requiring analysis of varying values, interests, cultural differences, and childhood needs and capabilities.  When certain objectives or purposes compete, the employee makes the best interests of the child the priority in evaluating alternatives.

• At all times, we seek to empower individuals to make their own decisions, live their lives in concert with their values and traditions, and seek their own goals.  We strive to actualize client self-determination in all professional actions.  When professional intervention is required, we seek as minimal intervention for as brief a period of time as necessary.

• Personal problems and/or agency concerns of staff members are not to be discussed with any client.

• The Children's Place recognizes a staff member’s right to be excused from an aspect of care or service.  The agency will provide the means to ensure that services to clients are not interrupted to an excused leave.

• The Children's Place employees must report any situation which involves a possible conflict between their personal interests and those of the agency.

• The Children's Place employees who are licensed or certified in any profession shall follow carefully all applicable rules of conduct pertaining to that profession, in addition to The Children's Place Code of Ethics guidelines.

• The Children's Place employees are to bring questions and problems regarding any facet of their employment or rules with the agency first to their direct supervisor. 

• Appropriate language is to be used at all times.

• Staff members of The Children's Place are to render care in a manner which enhances the personal dignity and rights of each client.  Any form of client abuse or neglect will not be tolerated and staff members are to support facility policy and procedure in this regard.

• The Children’s Place staff and consultants shall avoid direct or indirect financial conflicts of interest with the agency.  Staff members and consultants must disclose in writing to the President/CEO any known financial benefits or potential financial benefits they will derive from any contract, collaboration or other activity in which the agency is currently or is planning to be engaged.

• Relatives of staff members may be employed at the agency based on their own merit.  No employee who is related to another employee may supervise or recommend promotion for his/her relative.

• Any qualified applicant for a position will be given fair consideration for that position.  The agency’s hiring practices will be consistent with federal, state and local laws and agency policy.  All personnel who work with or around children will be subject to background checks.

• The Children's Place maintains a personnel file on each staff member.  The personnel file includes such information as the staff member’s job application, resume, records of training, documentation of performance appraisals and salary increases and other employment records.  Personnel files are the property of The Children's Place, and access to the information they contain is restricted.  Generally, only supervisors and management personnel of The Children's Place who have a legitimate reason to review information in a file are allowed to do so.  Staff members who wish to review their own file should contact their supervisor.  In the presence of their supervisor, staff may review information, request that information be added or corrected, or respond in writing to any item to which they object.

• If an agency clinician personally knows a potential client, the potential client is to be referred to another agency clinician for professional services.

• No staff member may directly or indirectly accept any gift, payment, service or special privilege, or other favors from any person or business organization that does or seeks to do business with the agency.

Marketing

• The Children's Place marketing materials will accurately reflect the agency’s capabilities, licensure and accreditation status.

Admissions

• The need for agency services is the primary criterion of eligibility.  Agency services are available to anyone within the Admission Criteria without discrimination by reason of race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, sex, age, or disability.

• At the time that a client is admitted for service, he/she will receive a written statement outlining client rights and responsibilities and explaining the agency mechanisms for resolution of complaints.

• All clients must give written consent before services can be provided.  All clients will sign an Informed Consent for Treatment Form.  The agency will not utilize any treatment modality that it has reason to believe may be hazardous to a client or which interferes with a client’s right to self determination.

• Clients have a right to refuse any service, treatment, or medication unless such rights have been limited by law or court order.

Access to Client Records

• Access to The Children's Place records is limited to the client, the parent or legal guardian when the client is a minor, authorized agency personnel and others outside the agency whose request for information access is permitted by law and is covered by assurances of confidentiality similar to those given by the agency and whose access is necessary for administration of the agency and/or services to the client.  The Children's Place will allow minor clients access to their records with the written consent of the parent or guardian.

• Except where contrary to law, a client may review his/her case record in the presence of professional personnel of the agency on the agency premises.  Such a review is to be carried out in a manner that protects the confidentiality of other family members and other individuals whose contacts may be contained in the record.  If the agency determines that direct access would be injurious to the client, the agency will allow a duly qualified professional to review the record on behalf of the client after mutual agreement between the agency and the professional that the information believed to be harmful will not be released.

• Clients have the right to insert a statement into the record about their problems or about services they are receiving or may wish to receive.  If the agency inserts a statement or response into the client’s record which concerns the client’s own insertion, the client will be informed of this fact. 

Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Policy

Purpose: 

This is to affirm The Children’s Place policy of providing equal opportunity to all employees, applicants for employment, and current and potential volunteers in accordance with all applicable equal employment opportunity/affirmative action laws, directives, and regulations of federal, state and local governing bodies or agencies thereof. 

Guidelines:

• The Children’s Place will not discriminate against or harass any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, or veteran status.

• The Children’s Place will take affirmative action to ensure that all employment practices are free of such discrimination.  Such employment practices include, but are not limited to, the following:  hiring, upgrading, demotion, transfer, recruitment or recruitment advertising, selection, layoff, disciplinary action, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, and selection for training, including apprenticeship.

• The Children’s Place will commit the necessary time and resources, both financial and human, to pursue the goals of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action.

• The Children’s Place fully supports incorporation of nondiscrimination and affirmative action rules and regulations into contracts.

• The Children’s Place will evaluate the performance of its management and supervisory personnel on the basis of their involvement in achieving these affirmative action objectives as well as other established criteria.  Any employee of this agency who does not comply with its equal employment opportunity policies and procedures will be subject to disciplinary action.  Any subcontractor not complying with all applicable equal employment opportunity/affirmative action laws, directives, and regulations of federal, state, and local governing bodies or agencies thereof will be subject to appropriate sanctions.

• The President/CEO of this agency will receive and review reports on the progress of the program.  If any employee or applicant for employment believes he or she has been discriminated against, they are to contact the President/CEO.

Confidentiality

• The Children’s Place assures clients of privacy and confidentiality appropriate to the service given.  All staff, board of directors, and volunteers have a special responsibility to maintain this commitment.  The willful disclosure of information regarding clients in violation of confidentiality on the part of any member, director, and volunteer shall be grounds for immediate dismissal from employment or volunteer service.

• Discussions regarding clients are not to be held in the presence of or with any other clients or any other person not privileged to this communication.

• All agency business (administrative, personnel and departmental) must be treated as confidential by all staff members.  No client of the agency shall be used for public relations without their full understanding and consent in writing.  No client shall be subjected to any publicity which betrays their anonymity and/or reveal confidential information about them.  All information about clients, including whether they are clients of the agency is considered confidential information.

Compliance

• All current employees should acknowledge their understanding of the ethics policy with a signed acknowledgement of receipt.  All new employees and volunteers should be informed of these policies.

• An individual violating these guidelines is subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal or resignation.

Conclusion

• This Code of Ethics is not intended to establish a legally binding standard of conduct.  Violation of the Code of Ethics does not itself determine whether a Children’s Place employee is legally liable in a court action.  Such outcomes are based on legal rather than ethical rules.  Further, the Code of Ethics applies only to The Children's Place employees’ work-related activities. 

• The Children’s Place demands that all its activities be conducted in such a manner that it would be proud to make full disclosure, if called upon to do so, without embarrassment or discomfort.