How can we be Ethical in a Chaotic World?
Instructor: Phoebe Cirio, MSW, LCSW
Date: 8/22/2026 Saturday 10:00 AM–1:00 PM, Hybrid
Credit Hours: 3
Fee: [Public attendee $25, With CEUs $99]
The NASW Code of Ethics is based on a set of core values: service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. Yet, at the present moment, none of these core values seem to be endorsed or modeled by the leadership of our political institutions. This results in feelings of being adrift for many people, which has contributed to a high level of polarization. Where to find an anchor in chaotic times?
The profession of social work has throughout our history tried to attend to the needs of people in the most adverse times. Often this meant services to the poor, abused and neglected, those newly arrived in our country, and people suffering from institutional oppression, among others. So, the question we will address in this course on ethical practice for social workers is how do we respond to the needs of those we serve, when we are ourselves buffeted by the forces of chaos and disruption? How do we understand these forces, and how can we develop our capacity to think about this situation?