American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics

• Promote client welfare (A.1.a)

• Counselors recognize that support systems can hold varying importance for clients, and they see the involvement, understanding, and contributions of others (including religious/spiritual/community leaders, family members, and friends) as valuable resources, when appropriate and with the client's consent. (A.1.d)

• Counselors have the responsibility to give create opportunities for informed consent when possible, although in some cases of immediacy it may be a secondary concern or the consent is given immediately such as when calling a crisis hotline (A.2.a)
• Discuss the limitations to confidentiality when clients are mandated for counseling services, cases for crisis workers may be concerning suicide (A.2.e)
• Counselors should do their best to avoid harming clients especially in their vulnerable state of crisis (A.4.a)
• Counselors in a crisis worker might be in positions of advocacy such as those in case management and must get client's consent before doing so (A.7)
• Counselors should have multicultural and diversity awareness, respect for privacy, and respect and explain confidentiality of clients when working with them in crisis situations (B.1)
• Counselors may need to break confidentiality when clients may harm themselves or others such as a suicide situations or contagion (B.2.a & B.2.c)
• Counselors should keep in mind that the family is the client as a whole (B.4.b)
• When working with children or others who are unable to give informed consent in crisis situations, counselors should ensure that they locate and inform the parents/caregivers (B.5)
• Counselors should not discriminate, in crisis situations, they should attend to those in most need first (C.5)
• Counselors working as crisis workers may be part of interdisciplinary teams and should work well with those teams to ensure their clients are getting the most effective care in crisis situations while following the rules and regulations of the organizations they are working for (D.1.c & D.1.g)
• Counselors working in crisis situations should use the right assessments for crises and use assessments appropriately (E.2.b & E.6.a) (an example of a suicide assessment is discussed on the suicide page).

Child and Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with an Intellectual Disability or Related Condition (ICF/IID) abuse and neglect is mandated to be reported in Texas.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services provides more information on the legal definitions, recognizing the signs and reporting of abuse.