Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth & Family Services

CODE OF ETHICS

Adopted by the PCCYFS Board of Directors 3/25/2009
Council membership commits to the highest standards of integrity and ethical principles in the delivery of best practice services to children, youth and families. This code of ethics sets standards of behavior to be adhered to in relationships between the member agency and its clients, colleagues, staff, foster parents, the child welfare field and society. This code is the ideal to which all members work to achieve and reinforces each member agency’s accountability to society and to those individuals with whom they have professional relationships.
The membership of the Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth and Family Services affirms and agrees to adhere to the following statement of ethics
  • Member agencies will ensure each child’s safety, permanence and well being within the guidelines of priorities and best practice established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Member agencies will also ensure adherence to the guidelines of Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) principles for youth involved with the juvenile justice system and the Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP).
  • Member agencies will protect children in their care from maltreatment and avoid harming those for whom they have professional responsibility.
  • Member agencies will establish and sustain services that are unbiased, competent, appropriate, and culturally competent.
  • Member agencies will respect and protect the confidentiality and rights of all clients served.
  • Member agencies will carry out their professional responsibilities with integrity, treating those with whom they share professional relationships in a respectful and honest manner.
  • Member agencies will employ the staff necessary to ensure that services are provided in a professionally competent manner.
  • Member agencies will nurture and model organizational operations that encourage accountability and reward ethical behavior.
  • Member agencies will ensure their private interests, whether personal or financial, will not conflict or appear to conflict with their professional responsibilities.
  • Member agencies will adhere to all laws and regulations relating to the conduct and operations of their agency and work to improve and change laws and policies that are unproductive or outdated.
  • Member agencies will respect the boundaries and policies established for use and dissemination of material, information and publications generated by PCCYFS as benefits of membership.