Ethics Statement

Spark Work LLC | DBA Kind Path Guide

At Kind Path Guide, I provide independent advocacy and organizational consulting and advocacy services rooted in human dignity, autonomy, and system integrity.

My work operates across two domains:

Individual Advocacy: standing alongside individuals and families
Organizational Consulting & Advocacy: supporting systems that serve them

Because these roles carry different responsibilities, I am committed to maintaining clear ethical boundaries to protect the integrity of both.

🧭 Guiding Principles

1. Client-Centered Advocacy
When serving as an advocate, my sole responsibility is to the individual.
I prioritize their values, preferences, rights, and lived experience without influence from organizational relationships.

2. Systems Integrity in Consulting & Advocacy
When serving as a consultant, I work to strengthen organizational practices, culture, and accountability in alignment with ethical, person-centered care.

3. Role Clarity and Separation
I do not blend advocacy and consulting roles.
At any given time, I am accountable to one role, one party, and one set of responsibilities.

4. Transparency and Informed Consent
I clearly communicate my role, scope, and limitations to all parties.
Clients and organizations are informed of any potential conflicts and have the right to decline or request referral.

5. Respect for Autonomy and Consent
I uphold each individual’s right to make informed decisions, including the right to refuse services or recommendations.

6. Equity and Fairness
I do not use organizational influence to advantage one individual over others.
Access to advocacy does not create preferential treatment within systems.

7. Confidentiality and Information Integrity
I protect confidential information and do not transfer knowledge between advocacy and consulting roles without explicit, informed consent.

8. Accountability and Reflection
I engage in ongoing ethical reflection, consultation, and documentation to ensure my work remains aligned with these principles.

⚖️ Conflict of Interest Policy

🔹 Definition

A conflict of interest arises when our responsibilities to one party (individual or organization) could compromise, or appear to compromise, my responsibilities to another.

This includes actual, potential, or perceived conflicts.

🔹 Core Policy

To protect all parties:

1. No Dual Service Without Disclosure

I do not provide independent advocacy to an individual currently served by a program within an organization I am consulting with without:

* Full written disclosure to all parties
* Informed consent from both the individual (or their representative) and the organization
* Clear, documented boundaries regarding role, communication, and limitations

2. Right to Decline or Refer

I reserve the right to decline or refer services when:

* Role clarity cannot be maintained
* Ethical boundaries may be compromised
* There is risk of undue influence or divided loyalty

Referrals will be offered whenever possible.

3. Separation of Roles

When both roles exist within the same ecosystem:

* Advocacy work remains independent and client-aligned
* Consulting work remains system-focused and non-client-specific
* No advocacy information is used to inform consulting work
* No consulting influence is used to affect individual advocacy outcomes

4. Confidentiality Protections

Information obtained in one role is not shared in another without explicit consent
Organizational insights are not used to influence individual cases
Individual client information is not used to inform organizational strategy

5. Communication Boundaries

I do not act as an intermediary between client and organization unless explicitly contracted in a defined role
Any shift in role requires pause, disclosure, and re-contracting

6. Documentation

I maintain clear documentation of:

* Role designation (advocate vs consultant)
* Disclosures made
* Consents obtained
* Decisions related to conflicts

7. Ethical Consultation

When complex situations arise, I seek:

* Peer consultation
* Ethics advisement

My work exists at the intersection of people and systems.

I believe both deserve integrity.

By maintaining clear ethical boundaries, I ensure that individuals receive fully aligned advocacy, and organizations are supported with honesty and accountability without compromise.

Kind Path Guide · Code of Ethics · 2026