Varying forms of neglect, physical, and emotional abuse are associated with increased risks for compromises in development virtually across all a child’s domain. Among the most salient sequelae of a child, neglect is mental health problems. Also, parents who abuse substances are most likely to neglect or abuse their children. It is common that such parents will at some point be in contact with the child welfare system which seeks to protect children from neglect and abuse. The role of the child welfare system is responsible for investigating and processing child abuse and neglect cases. Based on the case study of Tonya, mother to Amber and Timothy, this paper will highlight three main sections which include the interview, placement, and intervention.
Interview
The primary responsibility of the child welfare system is to protect children from abuse and neglect through child welfare agencies across various states in the country. Four mains sets of services offered include child protection investigation, family-centered services, and support, foster care, and adoption. The situation involves child neglect and since the children have been considered unsafe in their home, they will be placed out of home-care henceforth. Since the children have been abused and neglected the course of action is dependent on the policies of the state and severity of maltreatment. Usually the severity varies from low to moderate to highly risky. Based on the substantial findings of the state in which Amber and Timothy were found, the severity is highly risky. The juvenile dependency court is yet to confirm the removal of children from home and determine their placement.
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As a parent who has been involved in child abuse and neglect, the child welfare system offers support and treatment services. Alternatively, you may be required by the juvenile dependency court to take part in services that will ensure both Amber and Timothy are safe. Regardless of whether the court may file criminal charges against Tonya or not, there are chances that the name of the persons, caregivers or parents involved in abuse or neglect will be placed in a registry. At its core, a registry in the child welfare system is a database that keeps information about maltreated children and perpetrators involved in the abuse or neglect.
Federal law requires to hold hearings which will determine whether the children will be placed under relatives, foster families or under residential hearing. Tonya will be required in court hearings often to help in the process of determining what will happen to the children. In a span of 12 months, Tonya will be required to turn up in court any time she is called upon to. Due to the fact that Tonya was found in possession of methamphetamine, there are chances that she will be imprisoned for quite some time. This may force the children to remain under foster care for a couple of months or years. According to the Adoption and Safe Families Act, parents’ termination rights may be filed if the children remain under foster care for more than 15 months. Other ways in which the AFSA might influence Tonya’s case is through allowing concurrent planning and exploration of options such as permanency or family reunification based on the ruling of the juvenile court.
Tonya will also be notified of an arranged Team Decision Making TDM. This team meeting will involve caseworkers and their supervisors, birth family members including the father, their neighbors and service providers that will be involved in decisions regarding foster care. TDM is a great tool in child welfare because it puts the safety of the child first and recognizes the important role each involved member has in ensuring the well-being of a child. During a TDM all participants are expected to be honest and respectful despite the incidence of child neglect.
Below are some of the questions I will ask Tonya regarding the placement of the children:
Do you understand why a CFSA social worker showed up at your place?
If the investigation takes a long time and your children forced to be under foster care for more than 15 months, are you aware that your rights as a parent will be scrapped off? Are you ready for that to happen?
Is there a relative that can be trusted to take care of Amber and Timothy as investigations go on?
How often will you see your children if they are placed under a foster care family?
How will you get to the visits and court hearings?
How often will you talk to your children on the phone?
Would you be willing to follow a particular procedure to get your children back at home and under your custody?
How will you ensure that you do not miss court hearings?
When did you use drugs/pills/drink alcohol most frequently? What are some of the
reasons you used drugs/abused alcohol? (For example, to feel better; to have fun with friends; to stay awake in order to work longer)
In case you are imprisoned, how will you participate in the placement of your children?
What will you tell your kids?
If your children were here right now and were able to speak about this, what would they say worries them about your drug/alcohol use?
Are you aware of how to prepare for court hearings?
Do you know what is expected of you during court hearings?
Besides the asking of questions, there is some information that needs to be provided to Tonya regarding the decision to detain Amber and Timothy. The first is to make her understand that the U.S. federal government has the power to protect children from caregivers who abuse and neglect them. Also, Tonya should be made to understand that this has happened before with Timothy therefore, due to a repeat of neglect she would not be allowed to keep her children. Also, Tonya was involved in alcohol and drug abuse since she was found in possession of methamphetamine and often picked Timothy from school under the influence of alcohol. The home environment and conditions under which Timothy and Amber were living are hazardous to their health therefore the decision to detain them. The information on the decision is important for the determination of placement options available for Tonya’s children.
Placement
Almost universally, placement creates a crisis in the life and development of children. Tonya’s children are no exception. Before agreeing on the placement options, it is important to inform the children why they are not at home and what is happening. Timothy who is six is in a better position to comprehend while Amber who is barely 2 might not understand what is going on. To begin with, social workers dealing with the case will help them face the reality of abuse and neglect by their mother. Secondly the children will be allowed to express their feelings without necessarily condemning their mother. Thirdly, they will be told the truth. For instance they can be told that their mother was unable to take care of them without referring to her as an alcoholic or drug addict. It is also important to process with the children why the separation is taking place. The children will also be encouraged to give more information about their past since it is critical in forming their identity in the new placement. After a thorough informing of the occurrences, the options of placement will be considered.
In this particular case, foster care is being considered. It will allow for Timothy and Amber to live under one roof. One of the considerations made in determining placement options is to make it possible for siblings to live together. Under foster care, there is a chance for children to be diagnostically screened. Since the foster care environment will not be under the influence of Tonya, social workers will have the opportunity to explore the abilities of the children and any consequences of neglect such as delayed development. Amber who is an infant will also be closely and well-monitored. With close assessments, social workers will easily come up with a plan that is suitable for each child. Foster home will also provide the children with a peaceful environment that is distant from the neglect they encountered from their mother in their original home. The children will be taught how to live without fear as they will no longer be neglected since everything they need will be provided to them. In the beginning, foster care will be difficult due to the trauma of separation from their parents. However, children begin to embrace the changes and the healing process.
Another rationale behind foster care placement is the availability of foster parents who will serve as new role models. They are expected to conduct themselves in such a manner that they are available for their children to overcome the emotions of neglect by their biological mother. The foster home provides consistency to the development of children without having episodes of neglect like Tonya had done with Timothy at 3 and now at six.
While in the process of considering foster care for the children, a number of attempts will be made to involve Tonya in the placement decision. The consideration of foster care has been made considering the strengths of the children, needs, skills of the facilities and prospects for permanency with family replacements, and reunification. Her involvement is necessary because she knows the education needs of Timothy. Timothy should be allowed to continue with school. Therefore the foster care home should be in proximity to her school. Other attempts that will be made on Tonya include getting her to regularly communicate with her children. Communication is important because the children were used to their mother. The involvement of Tonya in the placement decisions will help ensure the decision and plan arrived at meets the different needs of the child.
Below is the plan that will be followed to move the children to foster care.
Inform the children that they will be placed under foster care.
Inform Tonya on the day the actual movement will take place.
Make arrangements with Tonya on how often she can call her children and visit them
Select a foster care that is within the proximity of the children needs such as school, friends and other relatives
Make arrangements with the foster parents regarding when the children will be moved.
Make an actual visit to the foster home with the children for a respite weekend
Advocate for a period of transition to ensure that the child does not feel like they are going to be under the care of complete strangers. This will help reduce the trauma.
Break the news to the child that they will be moving to a new home. The focus will be primarily on the move due to the foster’s home needs.
It is appropriate to visit the children after they are placed in the new foster home.
Provide closure with the children and their mother Tonya by having something special for them in their favorite places.
Make sure the child moves with the old toys and clothes to the new home.
Finally, make the children understand that the placement under new foster parents is not their fault but because of the concern for their well-being.
Intervention
Effective intervention to remedy Timothy’s and Amber’s neglect by their mother Tonya requires an understanding of the causes. Two major factors that led to the neglect of the children is substance abuse and family composition. Tonya is a divorcee hence a single mother raising the two children on her own. Based on the two causes the best method of intervention is focusing on parenting practices and family support services. Strategies that can be used to achieve this include individual social support that can come in the form of counseling, educating the parents and enrolling Tonya in a parent aide program, social training to Tonya that will enable her access support and resources during a crisis. Another strategy that would help prevent the reoccurrence of neglect after Tonya unites with her children is the frequent visitation of the home. During the period the children will be under foster care, Tonya should be enrolled in a rehabilitation center that will help her with her substance abuse.
As a social worker, I will help Tonya’s family with the below case plan services:
The search of the type of foster care home the children will be placed
Ensuring that Amber and Tanya receive safe and proper care in their new foster home.
To address the needs of the children while under foster care.
Efforts to provide counseling to Tonya to ensure she stops abusing drugs. This will help improve the conditions of their home.
To maintain the educational stability of Timothy while in foster care including continuing enrolment in his current school
Make available education and health records of the children
Contact Tonya’s relatives that are to be involved in the case planning process and TDM.
Document the proceedings of finalizing the placement when the outcome becomes permanency placement in another home
Provision of emotional counseling to the children due to trauma as a result of separation from their mother.
