Ethics Committee

The Ethics Committee is a standing committee and is foundational to the work of the Chapter. The committee reviews conflict of interest cases, uses information gained in that process to inform ethics training content, publicizes the ethical obligations of members in the newsletter and at conferences and trainings, assists with media responses regarding social work ethics, and identifies pending changes to controversial ethical and professional standards.

Committee Chair: Jennifer Davis

Interested in Joining?

Email NASW Ohio at info.naswoh@socialworkers.org.

Ethics Consultation Services for NASW Members 

The NASW Ohio Chapter offers ethics consultations for NASW Ohio members. The Consultation Panel is comprised of social workers who have been trained on ethical issues through the NASW National Office of Ethics and Professional Responsibility (OEPR) and serve as members of the Cadre of Consultants for the NASW OEPR. NASW Ohio members can submit ethics questions to the panel. 

• Contact NASW Ohio at info.naswoh@socialworkers.org or 614-461-4484
• Ethical dilemmas must be presented as hypothetical scenarios and specific to the ethical concerns with no identifying information.
• Legal and clinical practice matters cannot be addressed by the Consultation Panel.
• The Panel will review the scenario and come to a consensus about the sections of the Code of Ethics that relate, recommend resources for consideration, and provide a hypothetical response.

NASW National Office of Ethics and Professional Review (OEPR) Hotline Service 

NASW OEPR Hotline addresses ethics questions for NASW members. 

• Calls are answered on a first-come, first-served basis and are not pre-scheduled.
• If you call during consultation hours and receive a voicemail response, there may be a 24-hour wait for a return call.
• The NASW National OEPR hotline number is 800-742-4089

NASW National Legal Consultation 

NASW National also offers legal consultation services for NASW members.  

• Calls are answered Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 4:30 PM by calling the National Office at 202-408-8600 extension 592.
• You can leave a message and the call will be returned from the NASW National Office of the General Counsel. You can also leave an email address so that resources can be provided if appropriate. 

Send the ethics committee your feedback on the following questions to info.naswoh@socialworkers.org. We want to hear from you!

• What types of ethical dilemmas do you encounter in your practice?
• Do you have a peer consultation group available to you at your workplace or in your community? Do you think a peer consultation group would be helpful to you?