Case study Lia Lopez

Case study Lia Lopez

Abstract

This is a case study for Lia Lopez.  The analysis of the case study gives a brief background to the case and presents the six steps used in the scenario of planned changes.  I intend to demonstrate my level of understanding in chapter four of the lesson I learned in class.

A summary of the presenting and current situation

The case has presented a situation where a landlord has visited one of the tenant’s houses by the name Lopez to make repairs to the house. While at the home of the tenant, he realizes various things that bring the attention of a social worker. One of the children was giving the other child a drug overdose. He was giving him a glass of Robitussin as the child feeling unwell the previous night. Garcia, the landlord, also noted other things in the house. He noted that the house had many dirty dishes in various places in the room. There were clothes all over the house. Roaches and mice also characterized the house in the cupboard. Lopez, the mother to the children, left a box of cereals as food for these children.

The case provides information on the reasons that lead to the existing circumstances. Lopez, the mother to the kids, is an immigrant who does not have relevant travel documents, and therefore she is in the country illegally. Having been married out of the wish of her parents to someone they did not approve, the parents disowned him. Lopez decided to work out her ways to prove to her people that she can still excel without their support. For this reason, she has a job that takes most of her time with little pay, and therefore she fails to get time to clean the house and put it in order.

Additionally, the little pay is not sufficient to cater for her bills and adequately pay a house help who charges more than she can afford. Ms. Lopez, therefore, seems to be struggling with her situation. She has challenges in managing her house, taking care of her children, and managing the working hours for fear of being reported to the authorities, or being fired.

Planned change.

Planning change has six necessary steps. These steps include engagement, assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, and finally, termination (Kirst-Ashman, 2017).

Engagement

In engaging the client in the case study, I will apply various strategies that will make her feel comfortable to express all her issues.  Some of the strategies include using both verbal and non-verbal communication, choosing a ground or a venue that will create confidence in the client to express all her issues appropriately.  I will, therefore, use both verbal and non-verbal communication to give assurance to Lopez that my main intention is to help her from her situation. I will speak to her and ask her the best place which she can feel comfortable to express herself.

Assessment

At this phase, I will first start talking to Lopez about the issue of immigration and her condition at the job. I will ask her what she would like to do to address her situation before I give her my suggestions or opinions. I will also inquire more about her friends and the people she likes associating herself with. Knowing these people will help to know the strategies to use in helping her solve the issues she is experiencing.  I will plan and meet with the employer as well as the babysitter of Lopez. I will also meet with the father of her children, who has left her for another woman.

Planning and implementation

At the planning phase, I will first look at the living conditions that Lopez is experiencing. As the case says, she is living in a house with her children and housekeeper who fails to come to work at some point. I will plan to visit her periodically at her house and her place of work to inquire from her if there have been some changes. I will plan to assist her to get a decent job that will help her meet her bills appropriately with less struggle. I will begin a program with her that teaches her the essence of taking care of her kids appropriately. I would also suggest that she involves the authorities about her status of citizenship so that she can acquire her citizenship to enable her to live without worries.

Evaluation

In the evaluation phase, I will check to find out if the immigration authorities are ready to handle the situation that Lopez is facing at the moment. I would gather information and obtain reports from her boss, and her house help to know if there are changes regarding the existing scenario.

Termination

Once I have met the goals and objectives of the case, I will feel free to terminate the case. Some of the goals that I intend to achieve include; access to physical assistance to Lopez, helping Lopez to get citizenship and get a better job. My other goal is to ensure that Ms. Lopez has sufficient time to associate and create social relationships by creating more time for her.

References

Kirst-Ashman, K. M. (2017). Social Work & Social Welfare: Critical Thinking Perspectives. 5th

edition. Pp. 125-131