Staying Up-to-Date & Relevant: Advancing Professional Ethics in Rehabilitation The GREAT Conference Asheville, NC November 3, 2016 Brenda Y. Cartwright, EdD, CRC, NCC, LPC. MHC Developed and published by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification 1699 E. Woodfield Road, Suite 300 Schaumburg, IL 60173 www.crccertification.com All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher.

Noted changes in practice since 2010 Code became effective Factors Influencing Revisions to the CRCC Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors Ethics Committee initiated the revision process with a review of issues identified: Patterns in advisory opinions Analysis of reported complaints and violations 2013 Ethics Survey Noted changes in practice since 2010 Code became effective

Patterns in Advisory Opinions Disclosure Legal Issues Confidentiality Forensic and Indirect Services Informed Consent View opinions at: https://www.crccertification.com/filebin/pdf/AdvisoryOpinions_2016-09.pdf Source: Cartwright, B.Y. & Hartley, M.T. (2016). Ethics consultation in rehabilitation counseling: A content analysis of CRCC advisory opinions, 1996-2013. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 59(2), 84-93.

Example Representing an Opinion Rendered Involving Professional Disclosure

Example Representing an Opinion Rendered Involving Legal Issues

Example Representing an Opinion Rendered Involving Confidentiality

Example Representing an Opinion Rendered Involving Forensic and Indirect Services

Example Representing an Opinion Rendered Involving Informed Consent

CRCC Ethics Committee Actions (2006 and 2013) 71 complaints received 37 were accepted for further review Violations were found in 22 cases For updated info visit: https://www.crccertification.com/actions-taken Source: Hartley, M.T. & Cartwright, B.Y. (2015). Analysis of reported ethical complaints and violations to the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, 2006-2013. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 58(3), 154-164.

Themes of Violations Role and relationship boundaries Client rights and welfare Honest and responsible conduct Knowledge of ethics and the law Forensic and evaluation practices Secure and accurate record keeping

2013 Ethics Survey Web-based survey delivered to a random sample of 1,200 CRCs 211 respondents Research questions Describe the most ethically challenging or troubling incident or dilemma that you or a colleague faced in the past year or two. What do you project may become an ethically troubling issue or dilemma faced by RC professionals in the near future? Source: Hartley, M.T. & Cartwright, B.Y. (2016) A Survey of Current and Projected Ethical Dilemmas of Rehabilitation Counselors. Rehabilitation, Research, Policy & Education, 30 (1), 32-47. doi:10.189/21686653.30.1.1

Survey Findings Common themes of current dilemmas: Roles and relationships with clients Professional responsibility and competence Confidentiality and privacy Client welfare and autonomy Organizational conflicts

Survey Findings (continued) Common themes of projected dilemmas: Social media and technology Health care legislation and insurance Roles and relationships with clients Professional competence Financial conflicts of interests

Revision Timeline Late 2014 – 10 Member Code Revision Taskforce formed. March 2015-January 2016 - Taskforce engaged in several sessions to prepare recommendations. March 2016 - Ethics Committee considered recommendations. April-June 2016 - Draft Code made available for public comment through CRCC’s website. August 2016- Taskforce reconvened to make further modifications based on public comments. September 2016 - Ethics Committee considered revised draft. September 2016 – CRCC Board considered final draft.

New CRCC Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors The Result…. New CRCC Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors Effective January 1, 2017

Key Changes Preamble:  Enhanced to reinforce that Enforceable Standards are not to be interpreted in isolation; actions of rehabilitation counselors should be consistent with the spirit, as well as the letter, of the Enforceable Standards. Section Introductions:  Added to provide context for the Enforceable Standards within the section; introductions are aspirational – not enforceable. Values & Termination/Referral:  Enhanced guidance regarding the obligation to avoid values imposition, including values issues in termination and referral. (A.4 and A.8.b)

Key Changes Personal Virtual Relationships:  Prohibits engaging in personal virtual relationships with current clients (e.g., through social media). (A.5.f) Roles and Relationships:  Provides additional guidance regarding service provision with previous sexual or romantic partners, friends, and family members; enhanced guidance about extending professional boundaries. (A.5.d, A.5.e, A.5.g & A.5.h) Role Changes in Forensic Setting:  Provides cautions as well as clear guidance when changing roles, including the requirement to complete a new professional disclosure form. (F.1.c)

Key Changes (continued) Assessment, Evaluation & Tests/Instruments:  Consistency in use of these terms applied throughout the section; terms defined in Glossary. (Section G & Glossary) Technology:  Recognizes how technology is integrated in every aspect of practice; provides greater clarity for informed consent and disclosure in distance counseling; addresses required practices in use of social media. (Section J and throughout the Code)

Key Changes (continued) Outcome-based Payments & Liens:  Includes guidance for acceptable practices; reinforces payment for services based on an outcome of a case or award is not acceptable. (K.3.d & F.4.a) Self-Reporting:  New standard requiring notification to CRCC when certified rehabilitation counselors are sanctioned for violations of other ethical codes, violated laws related to rehabilitation counseling, or are convicted of offenses that constitute violations of the Code. (L.2.e)

Summary

Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) Contact Us Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) 1699 E. Woodfield Road, Suite 300 Schaumburg, IL 60173 (847) 944-1325 info@crccertification.com www.crccertification.com