UA Social Work Instructor to Hold Workshop in Tuskegee

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — In observance of Social Work Month, University of Alabama instructor Joanne Terrell will conduct a six-hour workshop focusing on values and ethical principles for social workers.

The workshop will be held March 23 in Building 90 at the Veteran’s Assistance Medical Center in Tuskegee. The workshop lasts from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost of attendance for non-VA employees is $45. The workshop is open to the public, and registration will be held prior to the start of the workshop. Eighty people have preregistered, and there’s roughly 45 spaces left, according to a VA spokesperson.

Terrell, an instructor in UA’s School of Social Work, will discuss the integration of social work values with ethical principles and professional behavior. She’ll also cover ethical dilemmas and how to negotiate and demonstrate ethical behaviors in complex situations. Terrell said a common example is when hospital social workers must decide between giving a child medical care that may conflict with the parents’ religious values.

“You have a child come in, and for religious reasons, the child’s parents won’t let the child have a blood transfusion,” Terrell explained. “You’re the social worker, and the doctor tells you that you’re going to have to figure out a way to have the transfusion. I use that sometimes because we want to respect people’s religion, but another ethical imperative is to protect children’s lives. There are two ethical principles that compete with each other. Of course, most people jump to the conclusion of saving the child’s life, but the way you come to, and implement, your decision is just as important.

“I’m going to challenge social workers to engage in wise choices, not just convenient choices.”