Scott Valley

This post is about rural life. Article 6 of the text Rural Social Work Building and Sustaining Community Assets, points out some differences when working in rural, semi-rural and urban environments. The two topics I will be discussing are confidentiality and dual relationships, which are two strongly held values in The Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and pushed endlessly in social work education.

The code of ethics states, in regards to confidentiality that "social workers should respect clients' right to privacy." Yes, this is true to some degree; it is applied very differently working in rural communities where natural helping networks are built on people knowing other peoples business. Natural helpers and informal resources are neighbors, friends, family and churches that meet peoples needs and resolve problems, rather than formal, trained professionals or "therapists." My brother, whom lives in rural Scott Valley, recently said to me, "If I am having problems I will go to my friends or older people in the community for support." My husband from a rural area of Ghana also said to me, "We seek help from family, close friends, parents or elders. We do not seek help from outsiders or non-family members." The NASW Code of Ethics also talks about dual relationships and states, "social workers should not engage in dual or multiple relationships with clients or former clients in which there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to clients." In semi-rural and urban environments it is common to refer clients to another social worker or helper when a "conflict" of interest is present or when the worker and client have any known connection. One can not live in truly rural communities without having dual relationships because first you are a member the community and then a "professional." In rural places where there is (or is not) one school, one pharmacy, one doctor, one store and maybe a couple of churches like my home town. A social worker can not avoid the store where your client may work, or not visit the doctor because your client is his wife. The interconnectedness of rural communities is amazing and assets and strengths should be highlighted and used rather than highlighting the lack of formal agency resources.

Here is a story I thought about when I was pondering my hometown and rural and urban situations. A couple of years ago, as I was driving from Eureka to Etna California, going from 299 to highway 96 on to a small one lane winding road to Sawyers Bar, I had a rural awakening experience. As I was getting into more rural areas, after a few waves from strangers passing by I thought, "Everyone is waving to me. I have not waved to someone just because we passed by each other in such a long time. Matter of fact, I have not waved to even someone I new in such a long time. How sad is this?" I got closer and closer to my home town a friendly hand greeted me through each windshield that passed by.

*The Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers

http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp

*Rural Social Work Building and Sustaining Community Assets, edited by Scales; Article 6, Natural Helping Networks, by Ted Watkins.