Horizon Family Solutions, LLC's Ethical Standards were adopted by our company January 4, 2000, revised February 4, 2002, March 1, 2004 and January 4, 2006.
Highest Ethical Standards
We remain true to our founding values of quality services, honesty and hard work. We have the highest ethical standards in the industry.
We “do the right thing.”
Horizon Family Solutions is a business based on trust. HFS is consistently associated with the high standards of service, quality, personal attention to clients, and integrity.
HFS strives to honor the public trust by setting standards for ethical practice as described in this Code. The ethical standards define professional expectations and are enforced by the HFS associates and staff. The absence of an explicit reference to a specific behavior or situation in the Code does not mean that the behavior is ethical or unethical. The standards are not exhaustive.
HFS recognizes the vital role we play as we help families identify programs, schools and other services that best suit the families that we serve. Because we are not bound to any institution, program or school, we provide unbiased advice and recommendations based on our professional judgment of a familiy's and/or student's needs and abilities.
Associates and staff of HFS pledge to maintain the highest ethical standards and not to accept compensation from any program, institution, or school or other service provider for referral or placement of a client. HFS associates and staff are compensated directly by our clients.
Principle I
Responsibility to Clients
Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators advance the welfare of families and individuals. They respect the rights of those persons seeking their assistance, and make reasonable efforts to ensure that their services are used appropriately.
1.1. Child Right's Advocates , Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators provide professional assistance to persons without discrimination on the basis of race, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disability, gender, health status, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation.
1.2 Child Right's Advocates , Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators obtain appropriate informed consent to information or related procedures as early as feasible in the professional relationship, and use language that is reasonably understandable to clients.
The content of informed consent may vary depending upon the client and treatment plan; however, informed consent generally necessitates that the client: (a) has the capacity to consent; (b) has been adequately informed of significant information concerning the processes and procedures; (c) has been adequately informed of potential risks and benefits for which generally recognized standards do not yet exist; (d) has freely and without undue influence expressed consent; and (e) has provided consent that is appropriately documented. When persons, due to age or mental status, are legally incapable of giving informed consent, Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators obtain informed permission from a legally authorized person, if such substitute consent is legally permissible.
1.3 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators are aware of their influential positions with respect to clients, and they avoid exploiting the trust and dependency of such persons. We therefore, make every effort to avoid conditions and multiple relationships with clients that could impair professional judgment or increase the risk of exploitation.
When the risk of impairment or exploitation exists due to conditions or multiple roles, Child Right's Advocates , Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators take appropriate precautions.
1.4 Sexual intimacy with clients is prohibited.
1.5 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators respect the rights of clients to make decisions and help them to understand the consequences of these decisions.
1.6 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators continue business relationships only so long as it is reasonably clear that clients are benefiting from the relationship.
1.7 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators assist persons in obtaining other services if we are unable or unwilling, for appropriate reasons, to provide professional help.
1.8 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators obtain written informed consent from clients before videotaping, audio recording, or permitting third-party observation.
Principle II
Confidentiality
Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators have unique confidentiality concerns because the client in one of these relationships may be more than one person. We respect and guard the confidences of each individual client.
2.1 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators disclose to clients and other interested parties, as early as feasible in their professional contacts, the nature of confidentiality and possible limitations of the clients’ right to confidentiality. We review with clients the circumstances where confidential information may be requested and where disclosure of confidential information may be legally required. Circumstances may necessitate repeated disclosures.
2.2 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators do not disclose client confidences except by written authorization or waiver, or where mandated or permitted by law. Verbal authorization will not be sufficient except in emergency situations, unless prohibited by law.
When providing services, we do not disclose information outside the business relationship context without a written authorization from each individual competent to execute a waiver. In the context of couple, family or group services, we may not reveal any individual’s confidences to others in the client unit without the prior written permission of that individual.
2.3 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators store, safeguard, and dispose of client records in ways that maintain confidentiality and in accord with applicable laws and professional standards.
2.4 Subsequent to HFS moving from the area, closing the practice, or upon the death of the owner(s), we will arrange for the storage, transfer, or disposal of client records in ways that maintain confidentiality and safeguard the welfare of clients.
2.5 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators, when consulting with colleagues or referral sources, do not share confidential information that could reasonably lead to the identification of a client or other person with whom they have a confidential relationship unless they have obtained the prior written consent of the client or other person with whom they have a confidential relationship. Information may be shared only to the extent necessary to achieve the purposes of the consultation.
Principle III
Professional Competence and Integrity
Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators maintain high standards of professional competence and integrity.
3.1 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators pursue knowledge of new developments and maintain competence in their area of expetise through education, training, or supervised experience.
3.2 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators maintain adequate knowledge of and adhere to applicable laws, ethics, and professional standards.
3.3 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators seek appropriate professional assistance for their personal problems or conflicts that may impair work performance or professional judgment.
3.4 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators do not provide services that create a conflict of interest that may impair work performance or professional judgment.
3.5 While developing new skills in specialty areas, Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators take steps to ensure the competence of their work and to protect clients from possible harm.
We practice in specialty areas new to us only after appropriate education, training, or supervised experience.
3.6 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators do not diagnose, treat, or advise on problems outside the recognized boundaries of their competencies.
3.7 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators, because of their ability to influence and alter the lives of others, exercise special care when making public their professional recommendations and opinions through testimony or other public statements.
Principle IV
Financial Arrangements
Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators make financial arrangements with clients and third-party payors that are reasonably understandable and conform to accepted professional practices.
4.1 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators do not offer or accept kickbacks, rebates, bonuses, or other remuneration for referrals.
4.2 Prior to entering into the business relationship, Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators clearly disclose and explain to clients: (a) all financial arrangements and fees related to professional services, including charges for canceled or missed appointments; (b) the use of collection agencies or legal measures for nonpayment; and (c) the procedure for obtaining payment from the client, to the extent allowed by law, if payment is denied by the third-party payor. Once services have begun, we provide reasonable notice of any changes in fees or other charges
4.3 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators represent facts truthfully to clients and third-party payors regarding services rendered.
4.4 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators ordinarily refrain from accepting goods and services from clients in return for services rendered. Bartering for professional services may be conducted only if: (a) the supervisee or client requests it, (b) the relationship is not exploitative, (c) the professional relationship is not distorted, and (d) a clear written contract is established.
4.5 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators may not withhold records under their immediate control that are requested and needed for a client’s treatment solely because payment has not been received for past services, except as otherwise provided by law.
Principle V
Advertising
Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators engage in appropriate informational activities, including those that enable the public, referral sources, or others to choose professional services on an informed basis.
5.1 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators accurately represent their competencies, education, training, and experience relevant to their practice and services.
5.2 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators correct, wherever possible, false, misleading, or inaccurate information and representations made by others concerning the their qualifications, services, or products.
5.3 Child Right's Advocates, Educational Consultants, Family Coaches and Parent Coordinators do not represent themselves as providing specialized services unless they have the appropriate education, training, or supervised experience.
This Code is published by:
Horizon Family Solutions, LLC
1145 NW Knoxville Blvd., Bend, OR 97701
Phone: (541) 312-4422 - Fax: (541) 312-4420
© Copyright 2007 by HFS, LLC. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
