Which list represents basic ethical values to which school social workers and other social work personnel are required to adhere?

• A. Confidentiality, self-determination, and client protection
• B. Judgement, confidentiality, and self-determination
• C. Child prioritization, judgement, and confidentiality
• D. Self-determination, confidentiality, and client participation

Answer: (D)

In school social work, ethical practice centers on respecting and partnering with students and families. Self-determination means supporting clients’ right to make informed choices about their goals and the services they receive. Confidentiality protects private information and governs when and how it can be shared. Client participation emphasizes involving clients in decisions about their plans and services, ensuring their voice shapes the course of action. Together, these three reflect the empowering, privacy-protecting, and collaborative stance that ethical practice requires. The other options mix in concepts like judgment or prioritize a child in a way that isn’t framed as a foundational ethical value, or use terms not typically listed as core ethical commitments.