The following guidelines are a mixture of recommended boundaries taken from Janus Youth Programs and the Journal of Child and Youth Care Work best practice.  The guidelines pertain to all youth workers employed by Walker’s Point Youth and Family Center.  The guidelines represent only a few of the most basic best practice measures and many professionals in the agency have additional guidelines.

PURPOSE:  To identify a safe relationship between clients and staff that will promote, restore, maintain, and enhance the well-being of individuals and families.  A boundary refers to the protective distance between staff and clients to include physical, emotional and cognitive boundaries.  Staff are responsible to engage in a professional development plan to acquire acceptable boundaries and learn to respect the changing needs and rights of each youth and family member seeking services.  Staff are expected to maintain professional competency, being mindful that individual differences, as well as cultural and ethnic diversity, will impact the client’s capacity for self-determination and the opportunity for him/her to address his/her needs, thereby increasing opportunity for change.

This document is presented as a guide offering examples of relationships that should be avoided.  Whenever in question, staff need to seek clarity from his/her respective supervisor.  Staff are responsible for knowing what constitutes healthy and productive boundaries.

1. Never have a sexual, romantic, or otherwise emotionally intimate personal relationship with a client or former client.  Examples may include attending a funeral related to a former client, baby shower, wedding, socializing in a tavern setting, or having a date.  This is extended to the parents of a youth or other family member who received services with the organization.  Relationships of this kind result in harm as well as other ramifications such as legal issues and ethical issues for the client, staff and the agency.  

In the event a dual relationship occurs, such as a former client becomes a social work student, church member with staff, or other type of colleague, share with your supervisor any significant unplanned contact with former clients. The staff person is expected to abide by all professional codes of conduct and ethics and maintain the confidentiality of the client.  

There are times when a client’s membership status with the agency might change such as a client becoming a volunteer, student, board member, or other type of colleague.  All staff persons are expected to abide by professional codes of conduct and ethics and maintain the confidentiality of the client.  Staff are expected to seek clarification from their supervisor what type of personal relationship is acceptable under these situations if in question.

2. Never allow a client to sleep with you or in the same room as you.  If the client is at risk for self harm, action needs to be taken to secure protective services for the client.

3. Never supply drugs or use drugs with a client or former client.  Never supply, accept the purchase, or use alcohol with a client or former client.  

4. Self disclosure of personal information as a general rule is discouraged.  Sharing personal information has implications for the client and therapeutic relationship.  Sharing information about who you are is acceptable.  Never give a client your home phone number, address, or personal information about a colleague.

5. Never proselytize with a client.  Do not argue with clients about your personal spiritual, political, or philosophical beliefs.  Sharing your past emotional difficulties requires guidance from your supervisor.  

6. Humor can be an important part of rapport development as well as an experience of hurt and perceived abuse.  Clients do not understand how humor, joking, is used and interpret joking as sarcasm, put downs, or teasing.  Extra caution must be exercised when using humor with parents or family members of youth who can easily misinterpret the action.  Misguided humor is experienced as disrespectful.

7. Never initiate conversations that are sexual in nature or question a client about past sexual abuse.  If a client brings up these issues evaluate what motivates the client at this time and what are the motives of the staff.  Most disclosures of sexual abuse are best handled by the therapist.  Trust in the therapeutic relationship is paramount.  Caution needs to be the rule as some clients lack boundaries and have misconceived ideas about staff.   It is always staff’s responsibility to be sure that appropriate boundaries are in place.

8. The initiation of hugs is, again, generally not a good idea.  There is a high potential for misunderstanding associated with any type of touch and common sense is not a reliable practice to use as a guideline.   Youth are not always able to say no when asked if they want a hug.  When staff say no to a touch initiated by a client, staff is modeling a boundary and that it is ok to say no to unwanted touch.  Expressing care for a client in a non-physical way may have more meaning.

9. Programs within Walker’s Point Youth and Family Center have some specific guidelines regarding staff dress.  Staff are expected to know the guidelines for the program s/he works within.  Staff need to have an awareness of personal body language when in the presence of youth, families, community members, and colleagues.

10. Caring for clients is best demonstrated through consistency and kindness, not through words of endearment, breaking of rules, initiating hugs, or giving special attention. A useful approach to convey caring to a youth is to speak as a member of the team and behaving with consistency.  Staff are responsible to know and enforce the rules, policies, and procedures of the program s/he works within.

11. Never undress in front of clients or be present when a client is undressed.  In an emergency, have another staff member with you if this arises.

12. Entering a client’s room is best proceeded with a knock and verbal announcement.  Evening bed checks are the exception and require written log of bed checks.

13. Gift exchanges can become problematic and lead to accusatory behaviors of favoritism.  Gifts from clients are accepted on behalf of the organization.  Gifts of money are directed to the program supervisor, clothing to the donation closets, and other items are shared and dispersed at the direction of the program supervisor.  Staff do not offer gifts to clients.  Staff are welcome to make clothing donations that are available to all youth and miscellaneous items to the agency program that can make use of staff generosity.  

14. Never engage in financial transactions with clients or a client’s family.

15. Agency purchases of clothing, office supplies, school supplies, hygiene items, and food are for the use and consumption by clients.  Family style meals and staff sharing of meals is program specific.  Staff should consult with their respective supervisors for needed clarification.

16. Never engage in any kind of verbal abuse as defined as an attack on a person’s personality or character, or language used to harass or intimidate a client or family of a client. Refer to item #6, Humor.

Updated 11/2004