Assume one is a professional responsible for supervision. Human services organizations provide a myriad of services, ranging from early childhood services to food services in impoverished communities, to mental health services in private facilities. Recognizing that one may serve as leader of an organization or program providing many services, one will know that the culture of the service recipients will play a significant role in how one performs their profession and, in particular, how one complies with ethical standards and resolve ethical conflicts that arise as dilemmas in human services.

It is not uncommon for human services professionals to think that all social and health problems are pretty much the same, no matter what the service recipient's culturebut there are differences. The diversity of most urban areas and many rural areas demands a thoughtful and effective response from leaders in human services. Human services professionals need to consider their cultural background and the extent to which this background influences their performance in diverse community environments as well. Given the complexity of such circumstances, human services leaders must understand how best to deliver social and health services in cross-cultural environments. In addition, ethical dilemmas will arise, requiring the human services professional to resolve conflicts that ensure effective social resolution and effective service.

Finally, the human services professional may serve in a supervisory role in an organization, agency, or program. For-profit, nonprofit, and governmental services delivered by human services professionals in each of these environments can add further complexity to the provision of services since the ethical framework for organizations, agencies, and programs can be different. Furthermore, the jurisdictional environment (federal, state, county, and city) can directly affect the way one understands and interprets ethical norms.

The human service professional must resolve dilemmas, address diverse cultural circumstances and demands, understand ethical standards, and perform the services demanded of the professional. How well you are prepared, and how responsive you are to diverse social, professional, and organizational demands can have a powerful influence on their professional success.

Look at leadership and managerial ethical dilemmas based on an understanding of the social service delivery ethical standards.

• Identify appropriate ethical standards for a chosen for-profit, nonprofit, or government agency delivering human services. Compare these standards to the human services professional association ethical code.
• Analyze the appropriate ethical guidance for service personnel faced with cross-cultural conflicts.
• Assess one's understanding of methods for resolving ethical dilemmas.
• Analyze social service delivery ethical standards in a cross-cultural environment

APA references and citations