Ethics

Code of Ethical Standards

Principle 1: Non-Discrimination

The Certified Prevention Specialist must not discriminate against service recipients, colleagues, or the general public based on race, religion, age, sex, national ancestry, sexual orientation, economic or handicapping conditions.

The Certified Prevention Specialist should broaden his or her understanding and acceptance of cultural and individual differences, in order to render services and provide information sensitive to those differences.

Principle 2: Personal Responsibility

The Certified Prevention Specialist shall exercise competent professional judgment when dealing with service recipients, colleagues, or the general public and shall maintain their best interest at all times.

The Certified Prevention Specialist shall serve as a responsible role model in applying prevention concepts to public and professional relationships.

Principle 3: Professional Competence

The Certified Prevention Specialist shall provide competent, professional service to all in keeping with the State of New Hampshire Standards. Competent professional service required:

Thorough knowledge of ATOD abuse prevention
Skill in presentation and education techniques
Thoroughness and preparation reasonably necessary to assure the highest level of quality
Service, and
Willingness to maintain current and relevant knowledge through ongoing professional education.

The Certified Prevention Specialist shall assess personal competence, recognize personal boundaries and limitations, and not offer services beyond his/her skill or training level.

Principle 4: Professional Standards

The Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) shall maintain the highest professional standards and:

Shall not claim either directly or by implication, professional knowledge, qualifications or affiliations that the CPS does not possess.
Shall not lend his/her name to, or participate in, any professional and/or business relationship that may knowingly misrepresent or mislead the public in any way.
Shall not misrepresent his/her certification to the public or make false statements regarding their qualifications to the New Hampshire Prevention Certification Board.
Must ensure that any materials or products, with which he/she is associated in developing or promoting, whether for commercial sale or other use, are presented in a professional and factual way.
Shall recognize the effect of substance use on professional performance and must be willing to seek appropriate treatment for oneself or to support colleague in need of treatment services.
Must fairly and accurately report appropriate prevention information to service recipients, colleagues, and the general public, acknowledging and documenting sources, materials and techniques used.
Must not misrepresent the work of others.
Must not misrepresent one’s own prevention work for personal or professional recognition, funding, or other gain.

Principle 5: Public Statements

The Certified Prevention Specialist must respect the limits of current knowledge in public statements concerning the effectiveness of prevention initiatives, prevention programs, prevention research, and ATOD information.

The Certified Prevention Specialist who conducts training in prevention must indicate to the audience the requisite training/qualifications required to properly implement the material, program, or techniques presented/taught in training.

Principle 6: Material Credit

The Certified Prevention Specialist who participates in the writing, editing, development or production of professional papers, videos/films, pamphlets, books, or any other prevention materials, must acknowledge and document any published or unpublished materials, techniques, or sources used in creating these materials.
The use of copyrighted materials without first receiving author approval is against the law and in violation of professional ethics.

Principle 7: Recipient Welfare

The Certified Prevention Specialist shall maintain objectivity, integrity, and the highest professional standards in:

Delivering prevention services.
Providing a supportive environment.
Protecting the welfare and upholding the best interest of both individual recipients and the public.
Maintaining an objective, non-possessive relationship with those they serve and not exploiting them sexually, financially, or emotionally.
Maintaining an ability and willingness to make appropriate referrals.

Principle 8: Confidentiality

The Certified Prevention Specialist has the responsibility to be aware of and in compliance with all applicable state and federal guidelines, regulations, statutes, and agency policies, i.e.

Notification of recipient rights
Reporting child abuse and neglect
Reporting misconduct by individuals or agencies
Maintaining client confidentiality and safeguarding from disclosure confidential information acquired during service delivery

Principle 9: Professional Integrity

The Certified Prevention Specialist should:

Never knowingly make false statements to the appropriate licensing/certifying disciplinary authority.
Promptly alert colleague to potentially unethical behavior so said colleague can take corrective action.
Report violations of professional conduct by other prevention professionals to the appropriate licensing/certification disciplinary authority when there is knowledge that the said professional has violated professional standards.

Principle 10: Remuneration

The Certified Prevention Specialist must establish financial arrangements in professional practice in accordance with the professional standards that safeguard the best interests of service recipients, colleagues, and the public.

The Certified Prevention Specialist must not send or receive a commission or rebate or any other form of remuneration for referral of service recipients for professional services.

The Certified Prevention Specialist must not exploit one’s relationship with service recipients to promote personal gain or the profit of any agency or commercial enterprise of any kind.

Principle 11: Societal Obligations