Social workers must avoid taking advantage of which type of relationships?

In the context of the NASW Code of Ethics, social workers are specifically tasked with avoiding exploitation in professional relationships. Professional relationships are characterized by the power dynamics inherent in the roles of social workers and their clients. The Code emphasizes the obligation to maintain appropriate boundaries and to not exploit the trust and dependency that clients may place in social workers. This is crucial to ensure that clients receive unbiased support and that their well-being remains the primary focus of social work practice.

While personal and friendship relationships also hold the potential for exploitation, the ethics guidelines particularly emphasize professional relationships due to the vulnerability of clients and the power differential between professional social workers and the individuals they serve. Therefore, the focus on avoiding exploitation specifically relates to the professional context in which social workers operate.