NASW-CA EmpowerEd Program

Course Description

This is the second module in a two-part series that explores how to effectively manage high-risk behaviors and crisis issues while focusing on the legal and ethical standard of care for California’s LCSWs and LMFTs. When clinicians manage high-risk behaviors or crisis issues below the legal standard of care, they open themselves up to malpractice and administrative actions and, in some cases, an accusation of contributing to the wrongful death of the client or others. Based on standards of care founded in California legislation, case law, and professional ethical standards, the series defines "reasonable and cautious” or “reasonably careful” care, and provides strategies for meeting this standard of care. To complete this module, readers access online content that incorporates short web-based video clips, case vignettes, a reader exercise, and relevant resources.

Target Audience

The two modules can be used toward the mandated pre-license requirement for 12 hours of California law and ethics training.

The two modules can be used toward the ongoing CE requirement for six hours of training in law and ethics.

Learning Objectives

After completing this module, readers will be able to do the following:

• Identify the clinical definition of "reasonable and cautious” decision-making and action.
• Identify risk factors associated with high-risk behavior and crisis situations and apply these risk factors appropriately to clinical practice.
• Identify California state law and case law and be able to apply these legal standards to high-risk behaviors and crisis issues.
• Identify professional ethical standards that apply to high-risk behaviors and crisis issues, such as the NASW Code of Ethics and the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) Ethical Standards.
• Identify critical aspects of meeting the standard of care and creating appropriate and timely documentation while managing high-risk behaviors and crisis issues.
• Identify critical strategies in managing high-risk behaviors and crisis issues including, but not limited to, suicide or risk of harm to self, threat of serious harm to others, child abuse, and elder and dependent adult abuse.