Social Work Case Study

Social Work Case Study

            In the case study, two lesbian couple engages in a parenting role. This couple is made up of Brenda, who is a 29-year-old and Celia, who is 27 years old. Celia decides to adopt Richardo, a five-year-old boy who is a son to her younger sister, Dora, who is a 21 year old. Dora decided she wanted to concentrate on her studies, thereby giving her son Rickard for adoption. Brenda is experienced with child care since she had earlier engaged in taking care of her friend’s children. Soon after adoption, challenges commence in the three family structures. Richardo, now Rick, starts experiencing behavioral shortcomings at school. Therefore, the case study illustrates how same-sex parents also experience parenting and family disputes, just like heterosexual marriages.

Presenting Issue within the Family

            To begin with, the family is the same-sex marriage system. One of the problems facing the family is a subsequent conflict between the adults. This occurs when Brenda, resigns from her part-time job at the public library to fully concentrate on raising and parenting Rick. On the other hand, she feels that her partner, Celia, is distancing herself from the parenting roles. Thus, this makes her upset. She also complains of not having legal authorization to make decisions concerning Rick despite spending most durations parenting him.

How the Problem impacts the Family

Due to frequent conflict between Celia and Brenda, the family is negatively impacted. Additionally, Brenda and Celia begin experiencing difficulties. For example, Celia is starting to be envious of the relationship between Rick and Brenda. Celia’s jealousy grows since she lacks parental bond with her adopted son. What is more, Brenda also starts being upset with Celia. Celia seems to be assuming her parenting roles. She even complains that she has no legal authority to make decisions for Rick. Celia’s parents also start doubting Brenda’s relationship with Rick, and this is one of the reasons they never grant her Rick’s legal authorization. Brenda’s and Celia’s conflict even affects Rick’s school and discipline behaviors.

Strength of the Family

            According to Cochran (2017), there are various strengths of families, for instance, caring plus appreciation, effective communication, time together, spirituality, encouragement, commitment, and community ties. Also, this family entails a number of these strengths. Specifically, the couple has time together, and this assists in strengthening the bond. Having time together helps Rick, the adopted son, to make the fast bond with Brenda, thereby forming one family. Correspondingly, communication is another strength of this family. Brenda and Celia communicate and plans on the most effective ways of parenting Rick. Therefore, Brenda resigns from her part-time public library job while Celia continues working as a legal secretary to support the family’s needs. Another strength of the family is the level of commitment. Celia and Brenda both agree on ways to help Rick. This couple even gives Rick a private room, and Brenda holds talks with him to encourage him to feel like a part of the family. The other strength is caring and appreciation. Brenda and Celia show great concern for their adopted son. Therefore, all these family strengths aim at boosting the fundamental, psychological, and additional family needs.

Family Life Cycle

            In light of Fogarty, Rapoport, and Rapoport (2017), the family is under the life cycle of childbearing adults and school-aged children. Brenda and Celia have been married for four years and usually address the issue of child adoption. This family then adopts Rick, who now acts as their child within the family. Thus, the life cycle is childbearing. In addition, the second stage concerns a school-aged child. Rick is a five-year-old is school. Childbearing stage impacts the family in that the couple needs to adjust their time, finances, plus duties to care for Rick. Since Rick is a school going, Brenda and Celia need to offer words of encouragement and permit him to form bonds outside the school.

Identities of the Family Vulnerable to Oppression

            According to Mattsson (2014), privilege operates at different levels; for instance, personal, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural levels. And, it gives an advantage to the dominant group at the expense of the target group. What is more, oppression combines prejudice and institutional might, thereby creating a scheme discriminating against other groups, usually identified as the target groups, and benefits the dominant groups. Based on this explanation, this family has notable identities that earn can enable them to be vulnerable to oppression. Firstly, the family is of the same-sex marriage, falling under the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community. Despite gaining rights in a few countries, for instance, the USA, the LGBT community still experiences different forms of oppression. Since the family is made up of the same-sex marriage, they are vulnerable to abuse. Another identity is the economic class. The LGBT community faces several issues, for instance, work stigmatization. Some employers fail to employ such individuals due to their sexuality (Forte 2016). Thus, due to their economic class, the family is vulnerable to oppression. In light of the case study, the family gains support from the local Women’s charity, which began swindling. Another identity is race. Brenda is an Australian while Celia is from Salvador, a Latin American prone to oppression (Diemer et al. 2016). As stated earlier, the major problem facing the family is adult conflict. Additionally, the information helps in comprehending the family generally needs, for instance, equal rights to that of heterosexual families. Some individuals believe that being in same-sex marriage makes one not to belong in a particular group. This action often leads to isolation and even mental health (Thompson, 2017). As stated in the case study, Celia’s family treats Brenda with suspicion, thereby denying her parental rights over Rick. Thus, this is the onset of parenting conflict between Celia and Brenda. This information helps me in understanding different viewpoints from the family before engaging in talks with them. Applying cultural humidity will enhance cooperation with the family since I will be able to understand also the background.

Solution Focused Theory (SGBT)

To begin with, the shortcomings of the family affect the behavioral patterns of Rick. His school performance is dropping. Rick also confesses the fear he has for being unadopted due to Celia and Brenda’s separation. Therefore, the most effective approach to deal with family problems is not only to focus on the shortcomings but also to focus on the most effective solutions. In light of information from the case study, the three family members also know that they would like to stay together as one entity. Solutions would thus assist in helping this unit stay together. Based on O’Connell (2012), solution-focused theory enables clients or families to imagine the future they would like to attain, then helps in the creation of realistic steps to get there. Just like the name details, solution-focused theory concentrates on the solution rather than the problem.

Additionally, Grant (2012) affirms that the approach has been applied to couples and family therapies. Grant also confirms that the solution-focused approach applies to individuals with mental problems, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, behavioral shortcomings, and relationship problems. Correspondingly, SFBT also focuses on the family’s default solutions and modifies them with practical solutions. I would, therefore, use this theory to solve shortcomings relevant to Brenda and Celia’s family.

Family-Based Intervention

            According to Brwon et al. (2016), family interventions are those combined activities aimed at building family support. There are various forms of family interventions, for instance, strengthening of health patterns, application of role modeling, plus physical activities. Based on this case study, the most effective family intervention should focus on helping Rick improve his behaviors and school performance. Additionally, Rick confessed that he feared to lose the family due to separation. This notion implies that Rick is a victim of domestic violence. His behaviors arose due to witnessing the abuse the adopted parents had. Therefore, an article, “Comprehensive Review of Interventions for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence,” details some of the interventions that assist in helping children prone to family violence, just like Rick’s situation (Chamberlain 2014).

Description of the Family Intervention

            Chamberlain (2014) details Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTI) as one of the most effective family intervention techniques. What is more, the intervention theory gives provides short psychoeducation plus early interventions that would apply to reduce posttraumatic stress. This intervention easily applies to children within the age bracket of 7-18 years. Likewise, this family intervention works engages both the parent and the child in the most effective way to create healthy bonds. Chamberlain also affirms that the intervention assists in impacting positive behavior skills to the child. Also, parents and caregivers achieve a great deal by planning and making future expectations with their children. This family intervention procedure relates to solution-focused theory since it enables parents to have close and personal sessions with their children to plan on a positive behavior change. Similarly, this intervention was tested, and evidence detailed concerning the effectiveness of the family intervention procedure. It involved using a test having 106 adult caregivers who 90 percent were female. Children’s participators were 37. Based on the study, children exposed to traumatic events for 30 days experienced posttraumatic effects. Nineteen percent of these children were affected due to witnessing the violence. After the incidences, families went into four sessions of CFTI. Results obtained indicated that children who went through CTFI sessions had lower posttraumatic signs compared to children who used other interventions.

In this article, the author has no information concerning diversity. However, there are various issues involving diversity and culture. Specifically, this case study is acceptance and respect. There need to be respect and acceptance between individuals associating in different subjects, for instance, work or marriages. When an individual accepts the differences they have, then they learn to live and associate in respect. Celia, in the relationship, seemed not to take and understand the bond between Rick and Brenda. Based on my reading and understanding of the case study, the intervention is effective specifically to children experiencing behavioral changes due to differences in their caregivers. From the intervention, I would engage the family by giving them miracle questions to help decide plans for a better future.

Intervention plan

Name: Rick

Age: 5 years old

Behavioral Issue: Sleeping problems, eating problems, anxiety, and discipline problems.

Target behavior: Increased bonding with both adopted parents, excellent school performance, and enhanced discipline.

Intervention procedure: Assist the family in drafting future expectations for their relationship and Rick’s behaviors. Also, by detailing miracle questions that would help the family plan and observe future expectations.

Goal: To unite the family and foster understanding present before.

Objective: To effectively use solution-focused theory for the enhancement of Rick’s negative behaviors within one month. Another aim would be to enhance Celia and Brenda’s cooperation and understanding within the family within one month.

Conclusion

            This case study involves Celia and Brenda, who decided to adopt a child, Rick. Just like other heterosexual couples, the family too has problems. After six months, the family starts experiencing problems. Brenda feels upset since she takes care of Rick and has no legal authorization rights over the child. On the other hand, Celia is jealous of the close bond between Brenda and Celia. Due to the conflict, Rick’s behavior changes. Also, an adequate theory to apply is a solution-focused approach. An intervention plan effective for use in Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention.

References

Cochran, M. (2017). The Parental Empowerment Process: Buiding on Family Strengths. In Child psychology in action (pp. 12-33). Routledge.

Brown, H. E., Atkin, A. J., Panter, J., Wong, G., Chinapaw, M. J., & Van Sluijs, E. M. F. (2016). Family‐based interventions to increase physical activity in children: a systematic review, meta‐analysis, and realist synthesis. Obesity Reviews, 17(4), 345-360.

Diemer, M. A., Rapa, L. J., Voight, A. M., & McWhirter, E. H. (2016). Critical consciousness: A developmental approach to addressing marginalization and oppression. Child Development Perspectives, 10(4), 216-221.

Fogarty, M. P., Rapoport, R., & Rapoport, R. N. (2017). Sex, career, and family. Routledge.

Forte, K. (2016). Building an LGBTGNCQ Culturally Humble Defense Practice. Crim. Just., 31, 4.

Grant, A. M. (2012). Making positive change: A randomized study comparing solution-focused vs. problem-focused coaching questions. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 31(2), 21-35.

Chamberlain, Linda. (2014). Comprehensive Review of Interventions for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence. Child Welfare Information Gateway. Retrieved from: http://promising.futureswithoutviolence.org/files/2012/01/Comprehensive-Review-of-Interventions-for-Children-Exposed-to-Domestic-Violence-FINAL.pdf

Mattsson, T. (2014). Intersectionality as a useful tool: Anti-oppressive social work and critical reflection. Affiliate, 29(1), 8-17.

O’Connell, B. (2012). Solution-focused therapy. Sage.

Thompson, N. (2017). Promoting equality: Challenging discrimination and oppression. Macmillan International Higher Education.