How well did her clients appear to understand boundaries?

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 took the right steps to clarify her clientsí boundaries. She routinely addressed the issue at the outset of treatment relationships and had a standard response when clients approached her at church. Also, while on the trip to the amusement park, Angelina reminded her clients that she was their social worker when they began sharing ìwar stories.î
Angelina commended Raymond for understanding and working well in various relationships he had with her as a social worker, congregant, and neighbor. The many relationships he experienced with Angelina while receiving services from IMH, attending CUS, and living in Zion could be difficult for any client to handle. He was offered a job, in part, because he paid attention to boundaries, functioning as client, supervisee, and neighbor to Angelina. Based on their shared history, Angelina was confident that they could work together effectively.
It was not clear whether Jacob understood the boundaries and dual relationships involved at IMH, CUS, and Zion. He had, however, failed a monthly urinalysis. Jacob used drugs with other addicts and alcoholics from his church after he agreed to become a mentor to them. Because of this action he had to leave Zion and learn to be a resident in The Communion House once again. He also could no longer be a mentor for CUS.

Social Work & Human Services

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