On August 14, the New York City Delegation marched into Washington, D.C., 18 delegates strong, armed with by-laws changes, resolutions, and new policy statements for NASW's 19th Delegate Assembly.

Along with representatives of the 54 other NASW Chapters, the New York City Delegation voted to adopt an extensively revised Code of Ethics. With this new Code, social workers will now have a "user friendly" guide to everyday professional conduct and ethical decision making. Effective January 1997, the revised code includes:

• The social worker's obligation to inform clients of third party payors limitations on services.
• The need for sensitivity to the client's culture in the provision of services.
• A general prohibition on dual relationships (in which the social worker relates to the client in more than one way, whether personal, business, or social). If such relationships are unavoidable (for example, in sparsely populated areas), the social worker is responsible for protecting clients from harm and setting clear boundaries.
• A prohibition on sexual activity with former clients. If a social worker does engage in such activity, the social worker-not the client-assumes full responsibility for ensuring that the client is not exploited, coerced, or manipulated, intentionally or unintentionally.
• A need to protect the confidentiality of information transmitted through computers, e-mail, fax, telephone answering machines, and other electronic or computer technology.
• A need to clarify which persons are considered "clients" and the professional obligations to each, in the event a social worker is providing
• services to two or more family members or otherwise connected individuals.
• A discussion of responsibilities to colleagues, including confidentiality, referrals, and issues of colleague substance abuse, impairment, incompetence, or unethical conduct.
• A discussion of responsibilities to employers, including a proviso that social workers should not allow an employer's policies to interfere with the ethical practice of social work.
• A requirement that a social worker not engage in physical contact with clients where there is the possibility of psychological harm.
• Prohibition against sexual harassment of clients, colleagues, supervisees, students, or trainees.

NYC Efforts

It was primarily through the efforts of the NYC Delegation that three new policy statements made it to the floor of the Delegate Assembly: (1) Affirmative Action; (2) Cultural Competence Within the Profession; and (3) The Role of Government, Social Policy and Social Work. Other new policy statements adopted were related to Electoral Politics, Disasters, Child Abuse and Neglect, and Women in the Social Work Profession. Some of the significantly revised policy statements were: Gender- and Race-Based Workplace Discrimination; Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Substance Abuse; Education for Children and Youth; Immigrants and Refugees; Long-Term Care; Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues; Racism; Homelessness; and HIV/AIDS: Social Work Roles and Responsibilities. Eventually the edited policy statements will be reproduced in a document called "Social Work Speaks" due out in January, 1997 in hard copy and CD ROM.

Ten program priority goals were debated and adopted as guides in the development and implementation of NASW programs for all 55 chapters and at the national level for the next three years beginning July 1, 1997 through June 30, 2000. In addition to prioritizing goals that enhance and advance social work practice, the Assembly called for the "recruitment, training, and promotion of social workers as candidates for political appointments and elected office at all levels of government." To enhance public recognition of social work, the Assembly voted to "strengthen public information, public relations, and media initiatives to shape a positive public perception of social work at the local, state, national, and international levels."

In terms of social policy and action, the Assembly adopted the following four priority goals: (1) To advocate for a national public welfare system that promotes the empowerment, protection, and economic independence of vulnerable people; (2) To continue to advocate for a national policy on universal, comprehensive physical and mental health care coverage that includes social work services and that provides a focus on people infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS; (3) To develop a program that prevents the erosion of affirmative action standards and promotes continued support for affirmative action; and (4) To promote the concept of caring communities and to work to preserve the roles and responsibilities of federal, state, and local governments in meeting basic human needs, protecting civil rights, and empowering vulnerable populations.

The past and current presidents of the Chapter, Barbara Brenner and Carmen Ortiz Hendricks, co-chaired the delegation which was comprised of experienced delegates Bobbie Rabinowitz, Terry Mizrahi, David Roth, Tony Vera, Carolyn Baker Brown, Nita Henick, and Irma Serrano, and first-time delegates Dava Weinstein, Terry Weiss, Ximena Trujillo, Jackie Berman, Richard Jazwinski, Patricia Beresford, Elaine Congress, Susan Bair Egan, and Jeanne Atkatz. The Chapter's Executive Director, Robert Schachter, was on hand to lend support and expertise as an experienced participant in several delegate assemblies. NYC's Delegation is part of the Eastern Coalition which has 80 elected delegates representing New York City, New York State,New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

The Chapter's delegates have one more year to serve and they can be approached to assist anyone interested in self-identifying themselves to the Chapter's Nominations and Leadership Committee as a candidate for election to the 1999 Delegate Assembly. The Chapter encourages all members to consider taking an active role, getting in on the inside, and finding out how professional standards are set for NASW. Being a delegate is a rewarding role and one which has a lasting impact on NASW and the profession itself. For more information, call the Chapter office at 212-668-0050.