Question

You have been called to assess a local family. Jimmy (8yrs), Johnny (4yrs) and Jackson (2yrs) live with their parents just outside of town. Jimmy and Johnny have indications of old bruising on their arms and buttocks. Jackson appears to be the targeted child and has severe bruising on his genitals, buttocks and lower back. He also has faded bruising on his upper arms. Julie is a stay at home mother and Justin works at a local factory. Julie says she "has an alcohol problem" but does not want to participate in AA. Justin is supportive of his wife Julie, and both parents deny abusing the children. You observe that the children appear to be strongly connected to their parents. Jimmy does well at school but his grade have slipped a little. The children deny being abused by anyone. Grandparents live close by but are not able to offer a lot of support to the family. Two aunts have separately expressed concern and each wants the boys removed and placed with her.

Review the case study provided and address the following in your discussion:

1. Apply what you learned about family services, kinship care and family preservation services in this chapter; what services/supports would you recommend be put in place for this family?
2. Would you leave the children in the home or remove them and what is your reasoning?
3. What personal values and biases does this case bring up for you?

Answer 1

1. Based on the information provided in the case study, it appears that the family would benefit from a range of services and supports to address the concerns about child abuse and the parents' alcohol use. Some potential services and supports that could be put in place for this family include:

Kinship care: The aunts who have expressed concern about the boys' well-being could potentially serve as kinship caregivers, providing a safe and supportive home environment for the boys while their parents address their alcohol use and any other issues that may be contributing to the children's safety concerns.

Family preservation services: These services could be provided to help the family address the issues that are putting the children at risk and to prevent the need for out-of-home placement. This could include counseling for the parents to help them address their alcohol use and learn healthy parenting skills, as well as therapy for the children to help them cope with any trauma they may have experienced and to strengthen their relationships with their parents.

Support for the grandparents: The grandparents may be able to provide some support and stability for the family, but it is unclear from the case study how involved they are in the children's lives. If they are able and willing to offer more support, it may be helpful to provide them with information and resources to help them assist the family.

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2. In this case, it would be important to carefully consider the potential risks and benefits of leaving the children in the home versus removing them. On the one hand, leaving the children in the home could allow them to maintain their connections with their parents and potentially benefit from the services and supports that are put in place to address the family's issues. However, there are also significant risks associated with leaving the children in the home, given the evidence of abuse and the parents' alcohol use. In addition, the children's denial of abuse and the parents' denial of responsibility for the injuries raise further concerns about the safety of the children.

Given these considerations, it may be necessary to remove the children from the home in order to protect them from further harm. This decision would need to be made after conducting a thorough assessment of the family's situation and considering the potential risks and benefits of different options. The aunts who have expressed concern could be considered as placement options, but it would be important to assess their suitability as caregivers and ensure that the boys would be safe and supported in their care.

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This case raises several personal values and biases for me. I have a strong commitment to protecting children from harm and ensuring that they have the opportunity to grow up in safe and supportive environments. This case highlights the need for intervention to address the concerns about child abuse and the parents' alcohol use, and it may be necessary to remove the children from the home in order to keep them safe.

However, I also recognize the importance of maintaining family connections and supporting parents to address their issues and improve their parenting skills. In this case, the parents appear to have a strong attachment to their children and the children appear to be connected to their parents, despite the concerns about abuse and alcohol use. As such, I would consider the potential for providing services and supports to help the family address their issues and prevent the need for out-of-home placement, while also carefully monitoring the situation and considering the need for more drastic interventions if necessary to protect the children.

Additionally, this case may bring up personal biases related to alcohol use and its potential impact on parenting. I may have assumptions or judgments about the parents' alcohol use and its potential effects on their ability to care for their children safely.

Answer 2

Based on the information provided in the case study, I would recommend a number of services and supports be put in place for this family. First, it would be important to provide support to the parents, particularly Julie, in addressing her alcohol problem. This could include referrals to treatment programs and support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), as well as counseling and other forms of support to help her manage her addiction and improve her parenting skills. It would also be important to provide support to the entire family in addressing the issue of child abuse, including counseling and therapy for the children and their parents, as well as support and guidance on positive parenting techniques.

In terms of whether the children should be removed from the home or not, I would recommend removing them from the home at least temporarily. The severity and extent of the bruising on Jackson, as well as the indications of old bruising on Jimmy and Johnny, suggest that the children are at high risk of continued abuse if they remain in the home. Furthermore, the parents' denial of the abuse and lack of willingness to address Julie's alcohol problem raise concerns about their ability to protect and care for the children. In this situation, the safety and well-being of the children must be the primary concern, and removing them from the home would be the best way to ensure their safety and provide them with the support and care they need.

In terms of personal values and biases, this case brings up a number of issues for me. First, it highlights my strong belief in the importance of protecting children from harm and ensuring their safety and well-being. This is a value that is deeply ingrained in me, and it is something that I feel strongly about. Additionally, this case raises issues related to addiction and the impact that it can have on families and children. I have a personal bias towards providing support and resources to individuals struggling with addiction, and I believe that it is important to help them access the services and supports they need to overcome their addiction and improve their lives. Overall, this case highlights the need for a multi-faceted approach to addressing the complex issues facing this family, and the importance of providing support and resources to help them overcome their challenges and improve their lives.