CALIFORNIA LAW AND ETHICS
SOCIAL WORK LCSW ASW EXAM
CA L&E 2026/2027 WITH 1200
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS | GUARANTEED PASS
What is required to share a minor's (12+) information/medical record with others,
including parents? - ANSWER-Minor's written consent
Should a provider attempt to involve a parent/guardian in a minor's tx? -
ANSWER-Yes - unless inappropriate
At what age does a person become an "elder" under California Welfare and
Institution Code? - ANSWER-65
When should a therapist file a report? How about for APS? - ANSWER-
Immediately by phone and a written report within 36 hours
Immediately by phone and written report within 2 working days
,What do mandated reporters have immunity to? - ANSWER-Civil & criminal
liability
What is a mandated reporter subject to if they fail to file a report? - ANSWER-
Misdemeanor criminal prosecution & fines
If harm comes to a child through the result of a professional's failure to report
abuse, even stiffer penalties may exist.
What does CA require of social workers applying for a license with regard to child
abuse reporting? - ANSWER-Due to the importance of accurate knowledge of
child abuse, all persons applying for a license as a marriage and family therapist or
clinical social worker needs to complete at least 7 hours of training in child abuse
assessment and reporting. Additionally the BBS will not issue a license to a person
who has been convicted of a crime in this or any other state or in a territory of the
United States that involves sexual abuse of children or who is required to register
pursuant to Section 290 of the Penal Code or the equivalent in another state or
territory.
What is Laura's Law? - ANSWER-"Laura's Law," was written in response to these
concerns. Laura's Law allows California counties to decide whether to opt to
implement a community-based, court-monitored outpatient treatment program.
These programs require outpatient treatment for a seriously mentally ill person
who is unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision, has a
history treatment noncompliance, and presents a serious risk of harm to self or
others. At the present time some, but not all, California counties have adopted
Laura's Law.
When can a person be placed in assisted outpatient treatment? - ANSWER-The
person must:
,1) Be eighteen years of age or older;
2) Be suffering from a mental illness;
3) Be unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision
4) Have a history of non-compliance with treatment that has either:
5) Have been offered an opportunity to voluntarily participate in a treatment plan
by the local mental health department but continue to fail to engage in treatment;
6) Be substantially deteriorating;
7) Be, in view of his or her treatment history and current behavior, in need of
assisted outpatient treatment in order to prevent a relapse or deterioration that
would likely result in the person meeting California's inpatient commitment
standard, which is being:
A.) A serious risk of harm to himself or herself or others; or
B.) Gravely disabled (in immediate physical danger because unable to meet basic
needs for food, clothing, or shelter);
8) Be likely to benefit from assisted outpatient treatment; and
9) Participation in the assisted outpatient program is the least restrictive placement
necessary to ensure the person's recovery and stability.
Who can file a petition for AOT? - ANSWER-Only the county mental health
director may file a petition for AOT, but treatment providers or family members
may request that such a petition be filed.
How may a therapist carry out the "duty to protect?" (Tarasoff)
What is the consequence of not acting? - ANSWER-- Notify the police
- Warn the intended victim
- And/or take other reasonable steps to protect the individual
, - the psychotherapist's duty is to make a "reasonable effort to communicate the
threat to the victim or victims and to a law enforcement agency"
Failure to act may also result in potential civil liabilities
When is Tarasoff required? - ANSWER-"where the patient has communicated to
the psychotherapist a serious threat of physical violence against a reasonably
identifiable victim or victims"
Is there a difference in duty to protect if a pt communicates directly to therapist vs.
info relayed by an immediate family member? - ANSWER-No - duty is the same
*Only if a family member communicates this. Not beyond
What are some symptoms of compassion fatigue? - ANSWER-Relational/Work-
Related Symptoms (Lombardo & Eyre, 2011)
• Avoidance or dread of working with certain patients
• Boundary issues, such as over-involvement with patients
• Reduced ability to feel empathy towards patients or families
• Frequent use of sick days
Physical/Emotional Symptoms
• Lack of joyfulness/Irritability
SOCIAL WORK LCSW ASW EXAM
CA L&E 2026/2027 WITH 1200
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS | GUARANTEED PASS
What is required to share a minor's (12+) information/medical record with others,
including parents? - ANSWER-Minor's written consent
Should a provider attempt to involve a parent/guardian in a minor's tx? -
ANSWER-Yes - unless inappropriate
At what age does a person become an "elder" under California Welfare and
Institution Code? - ANSWER-65
When should a therapist file a report? How about for APS? - ANSWER-
Immediately by phone and a written report within 36 hours
Immediately by phone and written report within 2 working days
,What do mandated reporters have immunity to? - ANSWER-Civil & criminal
liability
What is a mandated reporter subject to if they fail to file a report? - ANSWER-
Misdemeanor criminal prosecution & fines
If harm comes to a child through the result of a professional's failure to report
abuse, even stiffer penalties may exist.
What does CA require of social workers applying for a license with regard to child
abuse reporting? - ANSWER-Due to the importance of accurate knowledge of
child abuse, all persons applying for a license as a marriage and family therapist or
clinical social worker needs to complete at least 7 hours of training in child abuse
assessment and reporting. Additionally the BBS will not issue a license to a person
who has been convicted of a crime in this or any other state or in a territory of the
United States that involves sexual abuse of children or who is required to register
pursuant to Section 290 of the Penal Code or the equivalent in another state or
territory.
What is Laura's Law? - ANSWER-"Laura's Law," was written in response to these
concerns. Laura's Law allows California counties to decide whether to opt to
implement a community-based, court-monitored outpatient treatment program.
These programs require outpatient treatment for a seriously mentally ill person
who is unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision, has a
history treatment noncompliance, and presents a serious risk of harm to self or
others. At the present time some, but not all, California counties have adopted
Laura's Law.
When can a person be placed in assisted outpatient treatment? - ANSWER-The
person must:
,1) Be eighteen years of age or older;
2) Be suffering from a mental illness;
3) Be unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision
4) Have a history of non-compliance with treatment that has either:
5) Have been offered an opportunity to voluntarily participate in a treatment plan
by the local mental health department but continue to fail to engage in treatment;
6) Be substantially deteriorating;
7) Be, in view of his or her treatment history and current behavior, in need of
assisted outpatient treatment in order to prevent a relapse or deterioration that
would likely result in the person meeting California's inpatient commitment
standard, which is being:
A.) A serious risk of harm to himself or herself or others; or
B.) Gravely disabled (in immediate physical danger because unable to meet basic
needs for food, clothing, or shelter);
8) Be likely to benefit from assisted outpatient treatment; and
9) Participation in the assisted outpatient program is the least restrictive placement
necessary to ensure the person's recovery and stability.
Who can file a petition for AOT? - ANSWER-Only the county mental health
director may file a petition for AOT, but treatment providers or family members
may request that such a petition be filed.
How may a therapist carry out the "duty to protect?" (Tarasoff)
What is the consequence of not acting? - ANSWER-- Notify the police
- Warn the intended victim
- And/or take other reasonable steps to protect the individual
, - the psychotherapist's duty is to make a "reasonable effort to communicate the
threat to the victim or victims and to a law enforcement agency"
Failure to act may also result in potential civil liabilities
When is Tarasoff required? - ANSWER-"where the patient has communicated to
the psychotherapist a serious threat of physical violence against a reasonably
identifiable victim or victims"
Is there a difference in duty to protect if a pt communicates directly to therapist vs.
info relayed by an immediate family member? - ANSWER-No - duty is the same
*Only if a family member communicates this. Not beyond
What are some symptoms of compassion fatigue? - ANSWER-Relational/Work-
Related Symptoms (Lombardo & Eyre, 2011)
• Avoidance or dread of working with certain patients
• Boundary issues, such as over-involvement with patients
• Reduced ability to feel empathy towards patients or families
• Frequent use of sick days
Physical/Emotional Symptoms
• Lack of joyfulness/Irritability
