Describe three important personal values/issues and explain how your values about that particular issue relate to the values and ethics of the profession of social work. For example, you may either believe that individuals should have the right to choose to have an abortion or you may believe that individuals should not have the right to have an abortion (or maybe under certain circumstances). Describe your thoughts and beliefs on this particular issue and your personal values. Discuss their relevance to professional social work values and the NASW Code of Ethics. Additionally, you must discuss how your values would impact your decisions/actions in social work practice. For example, with the above issue of abortion, you might discuss the value of self-determination and/or protection from harm (mother’s, fetus?) and the implications your values would have on your practice. DO NOT use the above example. Other areas to consider could include the death penalty, end of life care, corporal punishment, prayer in schools, sex education, and homelessness. These are only possible examples and you are not limited to these as there are many other issues/values you could discuss.
