	Ethical Practice

Introduction

Administration and Management

Service Delivery Administration Standards

Service Standards

ETH 1: Open, Transparent Operations

The organization operates in an open and transparent manner in accordance with applicable legal requirements and uses assets exclusively and effectively to serve the purpose for which it has been created.

ETH 1.01

The public has access to clear, timely, accurate information, as appropriate to the type of organization, about the organization’s programs, activities, service recipients, and finances.

Interpretation: Consumers of services, donors, volunteers, and public officials are among those for whom access to information should be assured. The federal Form 990 filing, a vehicle to convey full descriptions of activities undertaken, is used increasingly as a source of information for consumers.

Interpretation: COA recognizes that for profit organizations are not required to disclose financial information to the public.

ETH 1.02

The organization accurately portrays its mission or purpose in all communications that contain such a representation.

ETH 1.03

Foundations, not-for-profit corporations, for-profit subsidiaries, or holding companies/separate legal entities established under the organization’s auspices, or on the organization’s behalf, take only those actions that are in the organization’s and the stakeholder’s best interests.

Note: Please see Tip Sheet: EAP Parent Companies in the Tools Index for additional assistance with this standard.

NA The organization has established no separate legal entities.

ETH 1.04

The organization eliminates internal and external barriers to achieving ethical practice throughout the organization, including unawareness of expectations and current information.

Interpretation: The organization promotes and maintains the education of the governing body, advisory group, owners, and staff regarding ethical practice and sets expectations for operating in an open, transparent manner.

ETH 1.05

When the network management entity, organizations with an ownership interest in the network, or members of the network's board of directors provide direct services to network clients, the network management entity discloses all ownership, partnership, or governance arrangements in all written material describing the network.

Interpretation: In partner networks, which typically consist of a group of organizations that have joined together to form a new, separately incorporated network entity, the partner organizations often have a direct financial stake in the network, as well as a direct role in the network's governance, decision-making, and outcomes. In such cases partner organizations can be considered the network's "owners."

A network can use a simple statement such as "The XYZ Network is a partnership of provider organizations in Clark County" on letterhead or other written material, as long as the network makes more detailed written information, such as a list of all "owners" available upon request.

NA The organization is not a network management entity.

QUICK JUMP TO


	PURPOSE: The organization earns and sustains the public trust through honest, truthful, and responsible transactions, partnerships, and relationships with individuals, communities, providers, businesses, donors, and government entities.

RELATED FILES


	PROGRAM A system of services offered by an organization. For example, an organization providing a mental health service may offer several mental health programs to different populations, e.g., a mental health program for adolescent teens. The word "program" can be used interchangeably with the word "service" or to describe specific programs.


	SERVICE RECIPIENT The individuals, groups, organizations, or communities that use, receive, or benefit from programs and services. Service recipients can include consumers, patients, family members, legal guardians, advocates, public/private organizations, employers, and purchasers. All are regarded as significant stakeholders served in a variety of agencies and practice settings.


	CONSUMER The individual, family, group, or community that seeks or receives services.


	SERVICE One or more organization-operated programs or activities that have a common general objective and deploy the organization's material and human resources in a planned and systematic manner. An organization that publicly promotes or identifies itself in writing as offering a service, is licensed to deliver a service, assigns personnel and/or space to a service, or allocates financial resources to a service is considered to offer that service.


	VOLUNTEER An individual who performs services for an organization for civic, charitable, or humanitarian reasons, without promise, expectation, or receipt of compensation for services rendered. Such service must be offered freely and without pressure or coercion, direct or implied, from an employer. If the individual is otherwise employed by the same employer for which s/he volunteers, the individual cannot volunteer to perform the same type of services that s/he is paid to perform as an employee.


	STAKEHOLDER Any person, group, or organization that has a vested interest in the services provided by the organization. Examples: clients, consumers, personnel, funding organizations, referral organizations, vendors, and governmental bodies.


	PRACTICE Established actions or ways of proceeding in the regular performance of organizational duties. Policies and procedures often guide practice.


	GOVERNING BODY A person or persons with the legal authority and responsibility to set policy and oversee the operations of an organization. Generally, the governing body is a group, such as a board of directors or board of trustees. While the exact responsibilities of the governing body depend on the nature and character of the organization, the governing body has minimum fiduciary responsibilities to the organization set by statute, regulation, and case law, and typically assume responsibilities for long term planning, risk management, and evaluation and effectiveness of management.


	ADVISORY GROUP A group of individuals selected by an organization's governing body or management who possess unique skills and/or knowledge and whose role is to make recommendations, provide information, and/or share input from stakeholders. Advisory groups do not have formal governance authority or responsibilities. Advisory groups can be ongoing or ad hoc.


	CASE A general term used to designate clients (including individuals, families, and groups) served by an organization for purposes of monitoring the provision of services. A foster care case is generally based on the placement of an individual child, although casework for the child may include services to the child's family. A child protective services case is based on an entire family household if a family assessment model is used; otherwise a case is defined as a child.


	MANAGEMENT See ADMINISTRATION


	CLIENT See service recipient.