The document compares two models for ethical decision making - the Kenyon model and the Reamer & Conrad model. The Kenyon model is a 10 step reflexive model that examines the ethical dilemma, legal issues, potential resolutions, alternatives, and consequences. The Reamer & Conrad model has 6 steps that determine the ethical issues, identify affected parties, rank relevant values, develop a plan, implement it, and reflect on the outcome. The document argues that the Kenyon model may be more broadly applicable to social work situations as it takes a more holistic approach and allows for deeper understanding of the ethical issues. Examples of each model being applied to hypothetical client situations are also provided.

1. Week 3 Ethical Decision
Making Model Debate
Group 4: Jayce Homewood and Jacqui Wollin
Master of Social Work, University of Massachusetts Global
SOWK 602: Law and Ethics
Dr. Georgiana Yoshioka Mora
January 27, 2023

2. Kenyon Model
● A set of 10 steps with specific questions to consider
● Reflexive model
● The process begins by describing the ethical dilemma and who the key players are
● Next it considers ethical and legal aspects by consulting guidelines and Codes of
Ethics
● Then it examines any conflicts and how they can be resolved, potentially with
assistance or consultation
● Next, it identifies alternatives responses to the dilemma and then examines and
evaluates these in line with client and professional values
● Then select and evaluate the best course of action, the one that causes least harm
● Finally, create the action plan and assess results, then examine the consequences

3. Reamer & Conrad Model
● Six steps each with a key focus
● Determine - the ethical issues, social work values and duties that conflict
● Identify - the groups, individuals, and organization who may be affected
● Rank - most relevant values and principles to the situation
● Develop - possible course of action, confer with others, determine justification of plan
● Implement - move forward with plan, use skills and competencies such as
communication and cultural competence
● Reflect - on the outcome. Would I change the plan? How do the others in the case
seem to feel?

4. Kenyon>Reamer & Conrad Model
● Application to Social Work vs. Reamer & Conrad Model
○ Applicable to broader scope of ethical dilemmas
○ Considers values of professional, client, and all
stakeholders
○ Evaluation is built in
○ It is a reflexive model which helps professional
better understand the situation
○ Can be developed as a skill to be more readily
accessible when an ethical dilemma arises.
● Better Ethical Framework vs. Reamer & Conrad Model
○ Wider scope and based on National Organization
for Human Service Education (Uriz et al., 2017).
○ Can be used in interdisciplinary collaboration
○ Focused on improving quality of life in a more
holistic way
○ More concrete approach to better understand the
ethical situation
○ More focus on use for students
● Kenyon > Reamer & Conrad
○ Both models aim to improve quality of life for
people, Kenyon’s model can be more broadly
applied to the field of social work and other helping
professions
○ Kenyon’s model is reflexive which allows for a
deeper understanding of the ethical situation (Uriz
et al., 2017).
○ Hierarchical/prioritization models such as Reamers
are ‘hugely complicated’ to make universal and are
also more limited when analyzing the ethics of the
situation (Uriz et al., 2017. p. 35).
○ Kenyon focused on improving quality of life in a
more holistic way rather than with a basic needs
approach (Uriz et al., 2017).

5. Applied Kenyon Model
● Client Situation
○ A professional accepting a gift from a culturally-diverse client. In their culture, it is disrespectful to refuse a gift, however
the social worker has concerns that accepting the gift would be an ethical boundary violation.
○ Using the Kenyon Model we can evaluate personal and professional values as well as values of the community and client,
internal and external conflicts and consider how accepting the gift could have greater implications. It may be decided that
refusing the gift has greater negative impacts on the client and community’s relationship with the social worker/agency.
● Applicable Ethical Code
○ Ethical Code 6.01 Social Welfare: “Social workers should promote the general welfare of society, from local to global
levels, and the development of people, their communities, and their environments. Social workers should advocate for
living conditions conducive to the fulfillment of basic human needs and should promote social, economic, political, and
cultural values and institutions that are compatible with the realization of social justice” (National Association of Social
Workers, 2021).
○ In Step 6, the Kenyon Model asks the ethical professional to examine alternative actions and in doing so, consider how
the action impacts social justice, other populations, and society in general.

6. Reamer & Conrad > Kenyon Model
Application to Social Work vs. Kenyon Model
○ Used by NASW Office of Ethics & Adjudication as a tool for practitioners, faculty, students, agency
administrators, and licensing boards (ETH3338 - Section 2: Best Practice Models of Ethical
Decision Making, n.d.)
○ Included on NASW Massachusetts website as model for decision making (National Association of
Social Work, 1995)
Reamer & Conrad vs. Kenyon
○ Kenyon model not listed on Top 10 Ethical Decision Making Models
○ Cyclical model, able to be adjusted if needed after analyzing results

7. Applied Reamer & Conrad Model
● Client Situation
○ From a past signature assignment vignette that I really appreciated. Adult female client, developmentally disabled, upset
with the staff of the group home she lives in. Staff is stating she must be on birth control because she is sexually active
with a number of men, but client states she wants to have a baby. Staff doesn’t believe she’s capable of raising a child, or
fully understanding the decisions she is making.
○ Reamer & Conrad model helps us determine the values and duties conflicting here, who will be affected, and how to
proceed with determining the appropriate course of action.
● Applicable Ethical Code
○ 1.02 Self-Determination “Social workers respect and promote the right of clients to self-determination and assist clients
in their efforts to identify and clarify their goals. Social workers may limit clients’ right to self-determination when, in the
social workers’ professional judgment, clients’ actions or potential actions pose a serious, foreseeable, and imminent risk
to themselves or others.” (National Association of Social Workers, 2021).
○ While differing values and principles are present, Reamer & Conrad's model helps us rank them and identify the parties
involved and affected

8. References
ETH3338 - Section 2: Best practice models of ethical decision making. (n.d.). yourceus.com.
https://www.yourceus.com/pages/eth3338-section-ii-best-practice-models-of-ethical-decision-making
National Association of Social Workers. (2021). Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers.
https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English
National Association of Social Work. (2021). Essential steps for ethical problem-solving. NASW Massachusetts Chapter.
https://www.naswma.org/page/100/Essential-Steps-for-Ethical-Problem-Solving.htm
Uriz, M-J., Idarta, F., Viscarret, J-J. & Ballestero, A. (2017). Methodologies for ethical decision making in social work. Ljetopis
Socijalnog Rada 24(1):33-54.