Although social workers strongly believe in the principle of client self-determination, promoting client self-determination can pose ethical challenges when clients are engaging in risky behaviors or putting themselves in risky situations. This webinar explores the ethics of using a harm reduction approach with clients who are engaging in risky behaviors or situations, balancing the interests of client safety, autonomy, dignity, and empowerment.
Course created on June 21, 2021
On Demand
Course Type: Audio, Video
CE/CEU Offered: AK/1.0; AL/1.0; AR/1.0; ASWB ACE/1.0 Ethics; AZ/1.0; CA/1.0; CE Broker/1.0 Ethics, CE Broker #20-868604; CO/1.0; CT/1.0; DC/1.0; DE/1.0; FL/1.0; GA/1.0; HI/1.0; IA/1.0; IACET/0.1; ID/1.0; IL/1.0; IN/1.0; KS/1.0; KY/1.0; LA/1.0; MA/1.0; MD/1.0; ME/1.0; MI/1.0; MN/1.0; MO/1.0; MS/1.0; MT/1.0; NASW/1.0 Self-Study, Ethics; NC/1.0; ND/1.0; NE/1.0; NH/1.0; NJ (ASWB ACE)/1.0; NM/1.0; NV/1.0; NY-Contact Hours/1.0 Self-Study; OH/1.0; OK/1.0; OR/1.0; PA/1.0; RI/1.0; SC/1.0; SD/1.0; TN/1.0; TX/1.0; UT/1.0; VA/1.0; VT/1.0; WA/1.0; WI/1.0; WV/1.0; WY/1.0
Learning Outcomes
- After this course, participants will be able to identify harm reduction strategies that may be used with people involved in substance abuse, unprotected sex with multiple partners, and other risky behaviors and situations.
- After this course, participants will be able to decide how best to engage clients in discussions about harm reduction in order to facilitate self-determination, informed consent, empowerment, and safety.
- After this course, participants will be able to critically evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of particular harm reduction strategies in relation to social work ethics (including deontological and utilitarian perspectives).
Agenda
0-5 Minutes | Introduction & Reflection Exercise |
5-15 Minutes | What is Harm Reduction? |
15-20 Minutes | Rationale for Harm Reduction |
20-30 Minutes | Assessment, Interventions, Options, & Engaging Clients in Discussions About Harm Reduction |
30-40 Minutes | Framework for Managing Ethical Issues: Utilitarianism and Deontology |
40-55 Minutes | Case Examples |
55-60 Minutes | Summary, Q & A |
Reviews
1288 ReviewsPresented By

Allan Barsky
JD, MSW, PhD
Allan Barsky, JD, MSW, PhD, is a professor at Florida Atlantic University where he teaches professional ethics, conflict resolution, addictions, and pedagogy. In 2020, he was awarded FAU’s “Scholar of the Year Award.” His book credits include “Interprofessional Practice with Diverse Populations,” “Conflict Resolution for the Helping Professions,” “Successful Social Work Education,” and “Ethics & Values in Social Work.” Dr. Barsky is a Past Chair of the National Ethics Committee of the NASW, and received the 2015 “Excellence in Ethics Award” from NASW. He has taught internationally in Israel, the United Kingdom, Canada, Korea, Netherlands, and Finland.
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Sponsor Disclosure: This Course is presented by continued Social Work.
Content Disclosure: This learning event does not focus exclusively on any specific product or service.
Course participation information
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Full attendance is required, and the times you log in and out will be recorded and documented. If you log in to a live webinar late or if you log out early, you may not be able to earn CE credit.
Passing an online exam and completing a course evaluation will be required to earn continuing education credit.
Live Webinars allow presenter and participant interaction. The exam and course evaluation for these courses must be completed within 7 days of the event.
On-demand courses include texts, video and audio recordings of live webinars, and multimedia formats. The exam and course evaluation for on-demand courses must be completed within 30 days of course registration.
To participate in the course, complete the exam and course evaluation, and earn continuing education credit, you must be a Continued Social Work member. Participants must complete the entire course; partial credit is not allowed.
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Association of Social Work Boards ACE Provider
Continued Social Work, provider #1742, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 03/27/2021 – 03/27/2024. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 ethics continuing education credits.
CE Broker
Continued Social Work is an approved provider for CE Broker, provider #50-29950. This course is offered for 1.0 hours, Ethics category/categories. If you are a licensed social worker in Florida, Ohio, South Carolina, or West Virginia, CE Broker may be of interest to you.
International Association for Continuing Education and Training
Continued, LLC, is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). Continued complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard, which is recognized internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices. As a result of this accreditation, Continued is authorized to issue the IACET CEU. Continued, LLC, is authorized by IACET to offer 0.1 CEUs for this program.
National Association of Social Workers
This program is Approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval #886834032-7529), for 1.0 continuing education contact hours.
New Jersey Social Workers - Individual Course Approval
The Ethics of Harm Reduction: Approaches in Social Work Practice, course number 3782, is approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program to be offered by Continued Social Work as an individual course. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE course approval period: 09/03/2021-09/03/2023. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 Ethics continuing education credits.
New York State Education Department
continued.com LLC (Continued Social Work) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0617.
We recognize that state CE requirements are constantly changing. If you have any questions regarding our courses and your state requirements, please contact us at 866-419-0818 or contact Customer Service.