Frameworks for understanding value discrepancies and ethical dilemmas in managed mental health for social work in the United States

This article explores the ethical dilemmas social workers in the United States face as they grapple with the day-to-day effects of managed mental health care organizations (MMHOs). it explores the dilemmas created by the conflicts that emerge from the disparate values that exist in the profession of social work and in MMHOs. The author presents a framework that social workers can utilize to help resolve these conflicts in practice situations. This topic will become increasingly important as managed care becomes a permanent part of the social service delivery landscape internationally.