Question description
Assignment: Child Abuse and Neglect
Social Policy: Child Abuse and Neglect – Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse can have a devastating impact on a child and his or her family members. Social workers need to understand how to recognize and respond to cases of abuse expertly and efficiently. With an empathetic and helpful social worker, victims/survivors of abuse can take their first step onto the long road toward healing.
For this Assignment, read the case study Working With Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Trauma: The Case of Brandon and then consider what you would do if you were a social worker and had to report a parent of suspected child abuse.
Submit by a 2- to 4-page paper in which you review the approach taken by the social worker in Brandon’s case. Identify how the social worker might have used the ecological model to understand Brandon’s situation based on a person-in-environment perspective.
Explain the use of the ecological model in this case on micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
Describe strengths the social worker may have missed in assessing Brandon and his mother.
Review the challenges that the social worker identifies and explain the impact the abuse could have had on Brandon had his strengths not been identified and addressed.
Please use the Learning Resources to support your answer.
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Social Policy: Child Abuse and Neglect References
Holt, N. L., Kingsley, B. C., Tink, L. N., & Scherer, J. (2011). Benefits and challenges associated with sports participation by children and parents from low-income families. Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 12(5), 490–499. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.Social Policy: Child Abuse and Neglect
Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S. M. (Eds.). (2014). Social work case studies: Foundation year.Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].
- Working With Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Trauma: The Case of Brandon
Roose, R., & De Bie, M. (2008). Children’s rights: A challenge for social work. International Social Work, 51(1), 37–46. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.Social Policy: Child Abuse and Neglect
Zastrow, C. H., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2016). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. Social Policy: Child Abuse and Neglect
Social Policy: Child Abuse and Neglect Case
Working With Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Trauma: The Case of Brandon
Brandon is a 12-year-old, Caucasian male who currently resides with his mother and her boyfriend. Six years ago, Brandon disclosed that his father had repeatedly sexually abused him between the ages of 4 and 6. Brandon’s mother called law enforcement immediately after the disclosure, and his father has been incarcerated since. Brandon has previously participated in therapy to address challenging behaviors, including physical aggression, difficulty following rules at home and school, and using inappropriate language with sexual overtones toward female peers. Brandon and his mother report that they ceased participating in therapy in the past after there was no change in Brandon’s behavior. Brandon’s teachers have suggested that his behaviors are similar to those of peers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but his mother has declined educational or psychological testing because she does not want her son to be labeled and is unsure if she agrees with the use of psychotropic medication with children.
Brandon began attending trauma-focused treatment after demonstrating an increase in argumentative behavior and minor property destruction at home. His mother reported that the majority of undesired behaviors were initiated during interactions with her boyfriend. Brandon’s use of physical aggression has not increased in school; however, a female peer recently reported him for using sexually explicit language toward her. Brandon admitted to using inappropriate language toward the female peer but appeared to have a limited understanding of what the phrases used meant. Brandon’s mother noted during intake that she is concerned that her son will become a violent sexual offender or a pedophile and noted that his use of sexual language was likely the start of sexual behavior problems.
At the beginning of treatment, Brandon reported that he frequently feared for his physical safety but often could not pinpoint what made him feel unsafe. He had searched the Internet to find registered sexual offenders in his neighborhood, and he had begun sleeping with a loaded BB gun under his pillow in case someone entered the home to assault him again. Brandon had flashbacks when trying to fall asleep and described feeling like he was floating outside of his body when he thought of his abuse. He had seen a television show where victims spoke at the parole hearings of their perpetrators, and he spent many hours thinking about what he would say if he went to his father’s parole hearing in 3 years. Brandon felt like he loved his father very much and that his father was a great father except for when he hurt him. Brandon identified wanting to feel less worried, sleep better, and fight less with his mother as primary treatment goals.
I worked with Brandon in both individual and family sessions to address his symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Utilizing the trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy approach, early sessions focused on coping skills and emotional regulation. As Brandon became more comfortable with expressing feelings and utilizing coping skills, he began discussing his sexual abuse history and the ongoing effect this experience had on his life. I met with Brandon’s mother for collateral sessions in order to help her identify and process her own feelings about his abuse and to develop skills to support Brandon through his treatment. Brandon’s mother was provided with psychoeducation regarding childhood sexual abuse, and her belief that her son would become a violent sexual offender as a result of his experience was challenged through cognitive behavioral therapy. She agreed to meet the agency psychiatrist, and after the initial consultation she agreed to have Brandon meet with the doctor. After a psychiatric evaluation, Brandon was prescribed a low dose of antidepressant medication.
Brandon completed a trauma narrative that addressed the details of his sexual abuse experience, his disclosure of the abuse, and the trial and subsequent imprisonment of his father. Brandon included a description of his feelings at each point in his narrative, as well as what he learned in treatment about childhood sexual abuse and coping skills to deal with uncomfortable feelings and impulsivity. Brandon shared his trauma narrative with his mother, who provided a safe and supportive space during this experience through the use of skills learned and practiced during collateral parent sessions. Brandon’s symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress decreased steadily during the course of treatment. After 8 months of sessions and the successful completion of his trauma narrative, the family and I agreed that Brandon was ready to terminate trauma-focused treatment. Brandon continued receiving medication management with a psychiatrist and transitioned into home- and community-based treatment that focused on his ongoing impulsive behaviors.
Social Policy: Child Abuse and Neglect Assignment:
Social Policy: Child Abuse and Neglect Response Assignment
- Respond to at least two colleagues who selected a different position from the one you selected by suggesting how the policy initiative can be achieved.
- Be sure to identify any challenges or obstacles you see in passing and implementing the initiative.
Support your response with specific references to the resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.
Social Policy: Child Abuse and Neglect Colleague 1: RW
The description from the NASW policy statement on child abuse or neglect would be “authorities should leave nonoffending parents or guardians and their children in their own homes and remove the batterers to preserve the stability of children’s caregiving and residence in domestic violence cases.” (NASW, 2008). A policy initiative that I would initiate would be expand on this idea of allowing the nonoffending parent and the children a place to stay. I would initiate a policy that would help parents who may be living in the homes of the offending parents a temporary place to stay while the gain financial assistance to ensure safety of the children. This is similar to some policies already in place, especially in DCS, regarding relative placement. The idea behind the NASW statement and existing policies are created to minimize the traumatic experience on the children, as well as to maintain a sense of familiarity for the children. Therefore making any removals due to domestic violence an easier transition for the children, and other victims involved, as well as ensuring safety of all people involved.
NASW. (2009). Social work speaks. Washington, DC: NASW Press. 42-48
Social Policy: Child Abuse and Neglect Colleague 2: DP
NASW Policy Statement on Child Abuse and Neglect Position
I chose the position of “Children have the right to be treated with respect as individuals and to receive culturally sensitive services. Children have a right to express their opinions about their lives and have those opinions considered in all placement and judicial proceedings” (National Association of Social Workers, 2005, p. 46). While I think that children cannot fully vouch for themselves especially depending on their age, I do believe that children have the ability to express themselves in one form or another. Sometimes we do not give children enough credit as to having their own thought process as well as how and what they comprehend. Now, what would be conflicting is if the child wants one thing and it conflicts with the child’s safety. Then of course appropriate action should be taken.
Policy Initiative
The policy initiative I would be in favor for is better accommodation in services and treatment for/towards children in regards to children who have been abused and neglected. It would be more in depth as to appropriateness to age as well as maturity to include safety in all aspects. Some children are highly adapted culturally speaking and some prefer to stay in that setting or to have respect in cultural mannerisms. Then there are other children whom are adamant with what they are comfortable in and around and have preferences to their individual liking. While all accommodations might not be made satisfactorily according to the specific individual child, there is still the ability to strive in giving all of what is available to a child or to respect a child’s unique wishes and likings.
Georgia’s State Policies
Georgia’s child abuse policy for court procedures outlines that within the first 72 hours professional/officials will decipher what will happen with the child (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children, n.d., pp. 3-4). The initiative I offered up could alter the policy by extending this timeline of when a child is taken into custody and who determines what. This I believe could happen because depending on what the child expresses (whether it is concerns or the direction the child wants to go) can make this a lengthier process so that the child can elaborate and get the respect as well as specific services needed to cater to the child.