Thoughts from the CEO's Desk
Greetings Friends, Colleagues, and Fellow Professionals,
Spring is here, a time of new growth and fresh beginnings.
Today our industry is facing strong challenges. Together, we can work diligently to raise the bar of professional standards and ethics. We can participate in the verbal conversations and chats or we can choose to focus on where we do have control, within ourselves, our teams and our organizations.
We cannot pretend that we are not angry, and our hearts don't ache knowing that vulnerable individuals and families are falling victim to scams and improper enticement situations. We cannot stand by as predators work within our industry to poison the powerful gift that is a legitimate, client-centered, clinically-driven treatment plan.
Individuals and organizations developing personal standards and fine-tuning company standards, are leading the way by successfully developing ourselves and staff with a clear focus of a mission. We urge you to vocalize these standards, offer your team support, create clear guidelines, and present an open-door policy for those needing further training and mentoring.
We can all agree that social media has become a positive marketing tool and a negative quality of care issue. We are witness to "professionals" asking for professional advice and recommendations on an app created for socialization. How can we make a qualified and informed referral with only 2-3 sentences about a person, or is it just a marketing plug? Where does the liability come in? How does one maintain a professional reputation asking for professional guidance on a social app?
Thorough needs assessments must be made for each client.
Though not illegal, it is professionally unethical to recommend placement outside your scope of practice. As an industry we are here to help, not hurt, these individuals and families.
And, it is not ethical to exchange money for client referrals. Period.
A professional that spends the time to personally visit each program that they refer to is not only ethically responsible, but a trusted, valuable colleague and leader.
Interventionists, Case Managers, Educational Consultants, and other clinical placement specialists can take the guesswork out of creating a treatment plan. Most are professional advocates working with the client and family throughout the treatment experience. Let us work together!
All of us offer something unique in this field.
Let us all focus on what we do best and share it with our colleagues across the country.
Let us learn from each other and support our shared mission.
Let us create new relationships with our fellows.
Let us not forget why we are all here.
We are passionate about saving lives and showing light to those who are lost.
In service and thankfulness,
Nanette
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