Asking forgiveness or permission

You are working with a young pregnant girl. Her parents are residential school survivors and she has had negative experiences with the health care system in the past. She is in her third trimester and has had very little family support and no prenatal care to date. You make a good connection with her and sense she is beginning to trust you. You encourage her to come back the next week, but she doesn’t show up, and she does not return your phone calls. When you run into her a few days later, you gently ask how you can best support her. She says she forgot about the appointment, and tells you that if you texted her, it would be easier to remember what she is supposed to be doing.

Your organization’s policy prevents texting with clients, but you realize this may be your only opportunity to establish and maintain a good connection with her before her baby is born. What should you do?

Questions for discussion and consideration:

1. What are the risks and implications of texting with clients? What might be the benefits?
2. What ethical principles are you considering in making this decision?
3. What relational factors will you consider? How would power, respect, and the legacy of residential schools affect the decision in this case? How do equity-affecting considerations play out here?
4. What should you do in this situation?