Ethics & Professional Standards in Prevention Flashcards

A prevention specialist discovers a social media post in which a program participant shares details about their involvement in the prevention program. Ethically, the professional should:

Answer: Avoid engaging with or sharing the post and consult organizational policy

Social media interactions involving participants require careful adherence to confidentiality policies and organizational guidelines.

Which of the following BEST describes the concept of 'fidelity' as an ethical standard in prevention?

Answer: Delivering evidence-based programs with adherence to the intended model

Fidelity refers to implementing an evidence-based program as it was designed, preserving the core elements shown to produce results.

A community organization requests that a prevention professional speak at a political rally supporting a ballot measure related to substance use. The professional should:

Answer: Carefully consider whether participation represents the organization and whether policies permit it

Prevention professionals must distinguish between personal advocacy and organizational representation and follow employer policy on political activity.

Which practice MOST effectively reduces the risk of professional burnout among prevention workers?

Answer: Establishing healthy boundaries, supervision, and peer support systems

Burnout prevention requires proactive boundary-setting, peer support, and regular supervision rather than simply working harder.

A prevention professional is offered a gift by a grateful family after completing a successful parenting program. The MOST ethical response is to:

Answer: Politely decline or follow agency policy, which typically limits or prohibits gifts

Most professional ethics codes and agency policies prohibit or limit gifts to prevent boundary violations and conflicts of interest.

Which scenario MOST clearly violates the ethical principle of non-maleficence in prevention?

Answer: Using a program that research shows increases risk behaviors in the target population

Non-maleficence prohibits using interventions known to cause harm; implementing programs with evidence of harm directly violates this principle.

Professional boundaries are MOST important in prevention work because they:

Answer: Protect both the participant and the professional and maintain the integrity of the helping relationship

Clear professional boundaries protect participants from exploitation and professionals from ethical violations, maintaining effective and trustworthy relationships.