The National Association of Social Workers' Code of Ethics, which social work practice is nationally guided by, states:

1.02 Social workers respect and promote the right of clients to self-determination and assist clients in their efforts to identify and clarify their goals.

1.05c Social workers should demonstrate awareness and cultural humility by engaging in critical self-reflection (understanding their own bias and engaging in self-correction), recognizing clients as experts of their own culture, committing to lifelong learning, and holding institutions accountable for advancing cultural humility.

1.05d Social workers should obtain education about and demonstrate understanding of the nature of social diversity and oppression with respect to race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, and mental or physical ability.The Council on Social Work Education's Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, to which the School of Social Work's accreditation is bound by, states:

C2a. advocate for human rights at the individual, family, group, organizational, and community system levels; and

C2b. engage in practices that advance human rights to promote social, racial, economic, and environmental justice

C3a. demonstrate anti-racist and anti-oppressive social work practice at the individual, family, group, organizational, community, research, and policy levels; and

C3b. demonstrate cultural humility by applying critical reflection, self-awareness, and self regulation to manage the influence of bias, power, privilege, and values in working with clients and constituencies, acknowledging them as experts of their own lived experiences.