The Code identifies core values on which social work's mission is based, summarizes ethical principles that reflect the profession's core values, establishes a set of specific ethical standards that guide social work practice, and provides the basis on which the public can hold a practitioner accountable.

• Social worker's primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems
• Social workers challenge social injustice
• Social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person
• Social workers recognize the central importance of human relationships
• Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner
• Social workers practice within their areas of competence and develop and enhance their professional expertise

Ethical standards are articulated under social workers' ethical responsibilities to clients, to colleagues, in practice settings, as professionals, to the social work profession, and to broader society.

The National Association of Social Workers is the largest organization of professional social workers with 155,000 members. It promotes, develops and protects the practice of social work and social workers. NASW also seeks to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities through its work and through its advocacy. A professional social worker has a degree in social work and meets state legal requirements. Professional social workers practice in many settings including family service agencies, child welfare, community mental health centers, private practice, schools, hospitals, employee assistance programs, and public and private agencies. Professional social workers are the nation's largest group of mental health services providers.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is located at 750 First Street, NE, Suite 700, Washington DC 20002-4241. Telephone is 202/408-8600, FAX 202/336-8311 and TTD202/408-8396.

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