This regulation establishes employee conduct standards for staff at DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) licensed mental health providers. Staff must maintain ethical and professional relationships with clients, adhere to professional codes of conduct, and avoid dual or conflicting relationships. The regulation strictly prohibits sexual contact or harassment between staff (including volunteers and support personnel) and current or former clients, their relatives, or close associates, and requires providers to establish written policies governing staff-client relationships.
View official source8008 EMPLOYEE CONDUCT 8008.1 All staff shall adhere to ethical standards of behavior in their relationships with individuals as follows: (a) Staff shall maintain an ethical and professional relationship with individuals at all times; (b) Licensed or certified staff shall adhere to their professional codes of conduct, as required by District licensing laws and regulations; (c) Staff shall not enter into dual or conflicting relationships with individuals that might affect professional judgment, therapeutic relationships, or increase the risk of exploitation; and (d) The provider shall establish written policies and procedures regarding staff relationships with both current and former individuals that are consistent with this section. 8008.2 No staff, including licensed professionals, support personnel, and volunteers, shall engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with individuals in the program. 8008.3 No staff, including licensed professionals, support personnel, and volunteers, shall engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with individuals formerly served by the program. 8008.4 No staff, including licensed professionals, support personnel, and volunteers, shall engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with individuals’ relatives or other individuals with whom individuals maintain a close personal relationship. 8008.5 No staff, including licensed professionals, support personnel, and volunteers, shall provide services to individuals with whom they have had a prior sexual or other significant relationship. 8008.6 Staff, including licensed professionals, support personnel, and volunteers, shall only engage in appropriate physical contact with individuals in the program and are responsible for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries that govern such physical contact. 8008.7 No staff, including licensed professionals, support personnel, and volunteers, shall sexually harass any individual. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, sexual advances, sexual solicitation, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 68 DCR 1623 (February 5, 2021). District of Columbia Municipal Regulations Mental Health 22-A DCMR § 8008