Essential Moral Sources of Ethical Standards in Child and Youth Care Work

Douglas Magnuson

doi:10.5195/jcycw.2012.42

Abstract

It is proposed that an ethical framework for child and youth care practice should take into account the differences between descriptive ethical inquiry on the one hand and normative and analytical ethical inquiry on the other. This will help us avoid the error of deriving our ethical principles from our practices, when in fact what we need is a moral criterion originating outside our practice that is not based on efficiency. Mattingly (1995) suggests this in recommending that we “Develop an ethical vision.” This ethical vision should take into account the domains of morality proposed by Taylor (1989), including respect for human life, issues of what makes a rich, meaningful life, and ideas about dignity. Doing so may provide a moral foundation not just for a code of ethics, but a moral framework for evaluating the entire range of our practice with children and youth.

Highlights

To this I want to say yes, and let us remember that ethical practice is“dialogical.” There are existing frames of reference, or horizons, that can help us choose wisely
Garfat and Ricks (1995) rightly point out that a guide for ethical decision making in child and youth care work should be more than a prescription of rules
Garfat and Ricks say,“ ethical practice is moderated through and driven by the self as opposed to being driven by external variables.”

Summary

Introduction

To this I want to say yes, and let us remember that ethical practice is“dialogical.” There are existing frames of reference, or horizons, that can help us choose wisely. Garfat and Ricks (1995) rightly point out that a guide for ethical decision making in child and youth care work should be more than a prescription of rules. Ethical practice is not a self-referential conversation with the self; it is a “conversation” between the self and the“other(s).”In our case, the others are clients, other staff, the rules and organizational values that Garfat and Ricks refer to, and it is a conversation with the tradition of ethical decision making within the child and youth care field.

Results

Conclusion