Was it reasonable for Angelina to attend the church her clients attended and to live in the urban neighborhood where they lived?

Social worker Angelina Pettit enjoyed practicing in a faith-based agency, where she found deep personal meaning in her work with clients. However, the work was complicated by the agencyís integral connections with her church. Her husband, Philip, a group leader in their church, invited Jacob and Raymond, two single men in his group and the church who were also Angelinaís clients, to their home for Christmas dinner. Angelina generally felt successful in managing her dual relationships, but it seemed this situation was hitting ìtoo close to home.î Their coming to dinner could challenge her sense of professionalism regarding dual relationships. But, she felt compelled to follow her faith and belief that individuals should not be alone during the Christmas season, and that celebrating community and being loved within the church family was important.


Angelina valued living in the same community as her clients: ìTo live with those who suffer and are with great need is how I try to develop intentional community.î She also believed that living in the neighborhood of people with whom she practiced was important to living out her faith. Professionally, Angelina felt that she could better connect with her clients on difficult issues such as living in poverty and providing food and shelter for children. Meeting people or clients where they were was essential for her to succeed at helping them at IMH and at CUS.
This question also might raise concern for social workers practicing in rural areas and small towns. In such communities, there might only be one bank, one grocery market, one car dealership, or one family practice center. Often, only one or two social workers provide services to the small community, so that dual relationships are unavoidable. Knowing who received services from a social worker would not be ethically problematic, but discussing this with nonclients would be ethically irresponsible.

Social Work & Human Services

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