Dilemma between protecting personal benefits or the overall good of the vulnerable children

Question A 

The primary ethical dilemma that the social worker faces is to comply with the law or protect the needs of the children whose future is on the verge of jeopardy if the policies take effect. The social worker uses the utilitarianism model to frame her thinking. According to his assessment, complying with the policy that requires her to report on any child whose parent is currently receiving welfare help is bad for two main reasons. First, reporting the newborns threatens their eligibility to receive welfare services. Secondly, it will create a class of citizens who will likely face discrimination in the future. The utilitarianism model maintains that an action can only be regarded as morally right if has a positive consequence. Otherwise, it should be viewed as an ethically incorrect action. On the other hand, refusing to comply with the law would be immoral on the part of the social workers. Social workers have the duty and obligation to act in a manner that inspires professionalism. In light of virtue ethics, they must show fidelity, trust, and obedience to their superiors. Failure to implement the policy on reporting might cause them to the termination of her duties as a social worker. Therefore, the dilemma is between protecting her personal benefit or the overall good of the vulnerable children. 

Question B 

The two reasons highlighted by the social worker are legitimate reasons that require keen consideration. The reporting system will hinder children born into the welfare families from receiving essential services. It is increasingly evident that children born from welfare families are equally susceptible or predisposed to various challenges that might include a lack of basic needs or education among others. As such, reporting these newborns will mean that the social worker will need to provide the agency with vital information that might lock away the children from any support whenever they need it in their entire lives. The second legitimate concern is that the policy goes against the spirit of inclusivity and integration in the society. It creates a center-stage for future discrimination as these innocent children will not receive any help by virtue of the fact that they have family ties with individuals who had received the support before. It is, therefore, a social injustice to see the passage of discriminatory laws that target individuals based on their familial associations. In the spirit of social welfare, policies should not exclude a group of people based on flimsy reasons as the one described. 

Question C 

As a social worker in this county agency, this is an excessively tricky situation because it involves the dilemma between choosing my career or the pursuit of justice. Therefore, my response to the situation will first begin by assessing the merits and demerits of each side of the dilemma before developing a course of action. The pursuit of justice by failing to report the cases will amount to unprofessionalism and unethical behavior in the workplace. In the end, it will not guarantee that the children will receive the much-needed justice. The first possible cause of action would, therefore, write to the county authorities expressing my dissatisfactions with the policy and citing how it will affect future generations. Secondly, I will move to the highest authorities at the county agency and explain to them in person why the policy is not in line with the spirit of social welfare. However, since the policy does not align to my individual beliefs and ethics, I will consider resigning from the position of the social worker to avoid being part of an injustice perpetrated by the top echelons at the county agency.