This document discusses the intersection of human behavior and religious/spiritual environments in social work practice and supervision. It notes that in 2002, President Bush signed an order allowing faith-based organizations receiving federal funds to maintain religious autonomy. The document provides questions for evaluating potential ethical issues and discusses how spiritual values relate to common ethical dilemmas. It outlines six elements of spirituality that may be discussed in supervision and concludes that a client's spirituality is important to address in treatment.

1. Human Behavior and the
Religious/Spiritual
Environment

2. In December 2002, President George W. Bush
signed an executive order prohibiting
discrimination against any organization on the
basis of religion or religious belief in the
administration or distribution of federal financial
assistance for social services programs (Executive
Order No. 13,279, 2002).

3. O Although public funding cannot be used for inherently
religious activities such as worship, religious
instruction, or proselytization, organizations may
maintain autonomy in their names, display of religious
symbols, hiring decisions, and use of religious
terminology in mission statements and other
documents.
O Such autonomy was previously unavailable to faith-
related organizations receiving public funds for social
services programs; funding was contingent on
removing religious references and symbols in
services settings and complying with the same
regulations and standards applied to secular nonprofit
agencies.

4. Questions that may be asked in
reference to practice ethics include
O Is there potential for discrimination against the client
if she or he engages in services? Will efforts likely
be made to trivialize or change a client's belief
system?
O Does the client have agency and physical and
mental capacity to resist religious program elements
if she or he objects to them?
O Does the provider engage in funding or hiring
processes likely to conflict with the client's beliefs or
values?
O Does the provider have the training, skills, and
resources necessary to meet the client's presenting
needs?

5. In addition to practice, ethical dilemmas are often
riddled with spiritual values.
O What comes to mind? Likely ethical dilemmas about aborti
on, right to die, self‐ disclosure,
O self determination, corporal punishment, discipline of
O children, divorce, and medical care are
O just a few that supervisors/supervisees need to address an
d understand for competency in
O practice. It is too late to say, “I didn’t know s/he
O believed …”. Added to ethical dilemmas is
O the cultural understanding of the client. One’s cultue is ofte
n closely tied to one’s religion
O or spiritual beliefs and practices

6. Six elements of spirituality in clinical practice that may be
adapted to supervision as a guide for supervisors as they seek
to share and understand spiritual or religious views and
meaning:
O 1. Supervisor/worker views of meaning of life, meaninglessness, and hope/
O hopelessness.
O 2.
Values often determine how we view ourselves, others, our world and govern
how we
O behave, make choices and deal with losses.
O 3.
Mortality: Exploring and understanding beliefs and feelings about death, den
ial about
O death, and fear of death. How do we relate to the fragileness of life?
O 4.
Our universal view of self and others. Views begin with parents and develop
through
O significant relationships and experiences throughout the lifespan. Our views
(and
O values) are influenced by culture, religion, relationships and basic beliefs.
O 5. Attitude toward suffering both internal and external.
O 6. Transcendence: acceptance, responsibility, peace, and at‐one‐ness.

7. Spiritual Health and Social
Work
O http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw51E
UqnL3c

8. O http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaQHB
oM_29U

9. Conclusion:
Is Spirituality good when
working with a client?
O Spirituality is very important, many
cultures are focused around religion and
or spiritual beliefs.
O One’s beliefs have a profound effect on
everyday life:
O Health
O Recovery
O Treatment options

10. References
O Martin, Lana.
"THE IMPACT OF RELIGION/SPIRITUALITY IN SOCIAL WORK SUPERVISION."htt
p://www.nacsw.org/Publications/Proceedings2008/MartinLImpact.pdf. N.p., n.d. Web.
12 Apr 2014. <http://www.nacsw.org/>.
O Tangenberg, Kathleen. "Faith-Based Human Services Initiatives: Considerations for
Social Work Practice and Theory." http://web.b.ebscohost.com.hrt-
proxy.libraries.vsc.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=148cfb4d-5bb6-4d4e-a717-
40b7b7987248@sessionmgr115&vid=2&hid=122. N.p., 01 Jul 2005. Web. 12 Apr
2014.
O Skelton, G. (Photographer). (2014, January 10). Belfast Met's Gerry Skelton -
Interview on Spirituality [Print Photo]. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaQHBoM_29U
O (2009, May 03). ssw511 ssw511·1 video Subscribe 3 1,960 Like 3 Dislike 0 I like
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