Expert answer:Child Abuse and Neglect Assessment Case Study (BSH
Expert answer:Select a case study from the Child Abuse and Neglect Case Studies.Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper answering the following questions:What forms of neglect are present in this family?How do these forms of neglect impact the child’s protection or the children in the family?Does the neglect impact family preservation? Explain.What characteristics are present in the abuser and abused?Knowing these characteristics, what forms of assessment would you use for screening?What information are you lacking about the situation and its context that you feel you need to know to gain an in-depth understanding?What assumptions about human and social behavior are you making, and how would you follow up with these?Identify the strengths, limitations, risks, and barriers present in this family. Based on the strengths, where would you start to work with this family?Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.
bernardez_family.pdf
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THE BERNARDEZ FAMILY
Student Instructions
You are working as a family preservation worker with the Department of
Children and Family Services (DCFS). You have been assigned to work with the
Bernardez family. The department recently started a new program to work with
families dealing with substance abuse. The purpose of this program is to work
with families in which substance abuse is the primary problem. The parents have
voluntarily agreed to work with your program as an alternative to having their
children removed from the home. They have been arrested for possession of
marijuana and for domestic violence. They asked the judge to give them a
chance to keep their family together. The judge placed both parents on
probation, contingent upon them getting drug treatment, marital counseling for
domestic violence, and working with your program. If they fail to get treatment
and complete your program, they will go to jail and possibly lose their children.
You will meet them on Friday. They have completed one week of treatment.
Family Composition
The Bernardez family consists of the parents, Felix, age 35, and Marisa, age 30.
They have two daughters, Danielle, age 9, and Nicole, age 7. The paternal
grandmother, Lena Bernardez, and the maternal grandparents, Jose and Helena
Messina, are involved with the family. They do not reside in the home. The
family is from
Current Situation
Mr. and Mrs. Bernardez started smoking marijuana together about five years
ago. About six months ago, Mrs. Bernardez went out with a few friends and
experimented with crack cocaine and found she liked it. About two months ago
Mr.Bernardez found out that she was using crack, and he is very angry. As a
result, they do not smoke together anymore. He has asked her to stop using
drugs altogether. She is refusing to stop, and Mr. Bernardez feels that their
marriage is in trouble. He states that she cannot handle crack, because he has
come home on two occasions and found their two children dirty and hungry. He
has asked her to get some help or leave the house. Mr. Bernardez stated that he
came home one evening and found Mrs. Bernardez doing drugs in front of the
children. He states that he was so angry that they started to fight. Their oldest
daughter, Danielle, age 9, took her sister, Nicole, age 7, and ran across the
street to a neighbor’s house. The neighbor called their paternal grandmother,
who lives only a block away; she came and picked up the children and then
called the police.
From Brown, Child Welfare: Case Studies
© 2002 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
The police took both parents to jail. At their bond hearing, the judge told
them to either go to treatment and try and get their family back together or go
to jail. They agreed to go to treatment. Mr. Bernardez called his mother, and she
agreed to keep the children while they are in treatment. She has agreed to keep
them for a little while, but no one knows how long they might have to stay in
treatment. During the intake interview, the counselor advised them that she will
have to make a referral to DCFS. They are very angry because they did not want
anyone to find out about this. They fear they will lose their jobs and everything
they have worked so hard for.
Family Background
The Bernardez family is a lower-middle-class family living in a working-class
neighborhood. Their annual income is about $60,000 a year. The parents are
originally from Guatemala, but they have raised their children in the United
States. Both parents acknowledged their difficulty in fitting into this country
when they first moved here. They started using drugs to make friends with
people at Mr. Bernardez’s job.
Felix Bernardez
Mr. Bernardez is employed with a major firm as a computer operator. He has
been having problems on the job for several years, as his new boss has problems with people who speak another language. He has used drugs socially on
special occasions, but never felt he was addicted. He has been on this job for
eight years and thought this job was a “gift from heaven.” He does not see
himself as an addict, but says that he often wishes he could stop using drugs,
because he knows that it is not good and he is not setting a good example for
his children. He has a good reputation at his job and does not want anyone to
know what is going on. However, he only has two weeks vacation, and everyone
at his job thinks he is on vacation. He does not know what he will do about the
next two weeks or if he will have to leave treatment. He does not want to leave
because he does not want to lose his children or go to jail.
Marisa Bernardez
Mrs. Bernardez is also working. She is an elementary Spanish teacher in the
local public school. She has also used drugs with her husband socially. However,
in the last six months she has tried crack occasionally and is finding that she
likes it. Mr. Bernardez is upset, as he thinks she is addicted. She disagrees, and
this is causing marital problems. She states that it is not affecting her job yet,
but she is in charge of the “say no to drugs” program at the school. She feels
guilty for using, but feels that she can stop any time she wants. She is very
emotionally upset, as she cannot believe that she and Mr. Bernardez had a fight
From Brown, Child Welfare: Case Studies
© 2002 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
and that their children saw it. She has called her school and asked to take two
weeks of sick leave. She must bring a doctor’s note to the principal when she
returns. She does not know what to do, and she fears that if the school board
finds out they will fire her. She is disappointed in herself, as she feels a lot of
kids look up to her in the school because of the “say no to drugs” program.
Danielle
Danielle is 9 years old, and a very intelligent child. She is an A student and
attends the same school at which her mother works. She speaks Spanish and
English fluently and is well liked by her teacher. Her teacher has recently noticed
a change in her behavior and is wondering what is wrong with her. Danielle
wants to tell her teacher what she saw at home and that her parents are in a
drug program, but she is afraid to say anything, as her grandmother told her not
to say anything to anybody because her family will be in trouble. Danielle is
becoming very sad because of her home life. She does not play with her friends
at school and is becoming more withdrawn every day. She has a best friend and
thinks she can share the secret with her, but is too afraid.
Nicole
Nicole is 7 years old and usually very friendly. However, lately she is often sad
and appears distracted. She used to laugh all the time. She attends private
school, because her parents thought she might need more attention. Nicole is
not as bright as Danielle. Nicole is into playing with Barbie dolls, and she speaks
little Spanish. She does not know specifically what is going on in the family.
Recently, she has been creating more imaginary friends and is beginning to talk
about those friends at school, and the teacher is accusing her of lying. Also, she
is in a Brownie troop and they do a lot of activities. Nicole is close to her Brownie
leader and has been asking to spend the night with her on a weekly basis. The
Brownie leader has talked to the parents and the parents state that Nicole is just
infatuated with the leader because of the fun she has with her. After observing
the domestic dispute between her parents, Nicole has become more withdrawn
and sad. She is close to her father, but lately she does not even talk to him or
allow him to hug her.
Extended Family
Lena Bernardez is the paternal grandmother with whom the children are
currently staying. She is from Guatemala and has been in the United States for
only seven years. She came to the United States after her husband died. Felix is
her only son; she has two older daughters, one in New York and the other in
From Brown, Child Welfare: Case Studies
© 2002 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Guatemala. She speaks both English and Spanish, but mostly Spanish. Her
English is not as good as she would like it to be. She describes herself as a
Christian woman and is totally against any kind of “wrong-doings.” She often
comments to her son about how bad drugs are in Guatemala and that she is so
glad that she and her children never used drugs. She lives on her own in a small
senior citizens’ apartment complex nearby. She often babysits the girls when the
parents have to go out. However, she cannot keep the girls for long, because of
the rules of the building—only the person whose name is on the lease can live
there. Others can come to visit, but not for more than thirty days. She loves her
son and his family and is very upset, as she was not aware that they were using
drugs. She is always bragging to her friends and family in Guatemala about how
successful they are. Her grandchildren love her very much.
Helena and Jose Messina are the maternal grandparents. They live in a city
nearby that is approximately three hours’ drive from the Bernardez’s. They have
four children, two older boys and a daughter younger than Marisa. They too are
from Guatemala and are a very proud Latino family. Marisa called them to come
and get the children. When they arrived, they demanded to know what was
going on. Lena told them everything. They have been very supportive of the
family, but they are very angry about this situation. They are disappointed in Mr.
Bernardez, and they feel it is all his fault. Mr. Messina said, “What kind of man
would allow his wife to use drugs?” Mr. Messina says that he is so angry with
them that he does not know what to do. They had a very good relationship with
Mr. Bernardez up until now. Mr. Messina has often told Felix how much he
respects him and appreciates his taking care of his daughter and grandchildren.
THE PHILLIPS FAMILY
Student Instructions
You are employed as a social worker with the Society for Children. Your agency’s
primary focus is family preservation. You have been assigned to work with the
Phillips family. The family was referred to your agency by the Department of
Children and Family Services (DCFS) for family preservation services. The family
has been served by other social service agencies, but after a review of the case
the committee felt that this family needed more one-on-one direct services. An
assessment of the current family situation is needed.
Family Composition
The Phillips family consists of the mother, Keisha, age 22, and her three children. She has one son, Jeremy, age 4, and two daughters, KeKe, age 7, and
Alexia, age 15 months. The family resides in the Third Chance Shelter for
From Brown, Child Welfare: Case Studies
© 2002 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
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