The field of social work is filled with ethical decision making, engaging clients and community, and providing leadership to address these individual, family, and community needs. Children are considered a vulnerable population and social workers need to integrate the highest of ethical standards while considering the multiple needs of diverse clients. Throughout this course, you have learned about multiple challenging issues that children, youth, and families face. Take a minute to reflect on the topic that resonates with you, that engages you, or even makes you feel passionate about the social work field.

For this assignment, consider current challenging issues for children and adolescents within our society; examples include confidentiality; treating children with medication; sentencing children to life in prison; involuntary holds; removing children from the home due to abuse; sex trafficking; controversial therapies such as conversion therapy; discrimination against diverse populations; and lack of resources for a particular childhood issue. Consider a topic you have examined during this course, or identify a new topic.

One role for social workers is advocacy. As a part of this assignment, you conduct a form of leadership through advocacy in relation to your chosen topic.

Instructions
Write a 1–2 page letter that identifies and addresses your concern. This letter can be written to the editor of your local newspaper, your local legislative body, or agencies that create policy and advocacy for this population.

This letter should be an example of critical thinking and should include, at a minimum:

A well-articulated ethical issue you have identified, including demographics, statistics, and why it is an issue within your community. Provide relevant resources and citations.
A strategy that would address dimensions and differentiation in diversity that will influence local policy and influence relationships, intervention techniques and technologies with diverse clients, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Interventions identified through research and evidence-based practices. Provide references and research.
Demonstrate use of leadership skills and use of technology.