Evaluations

Absent Parent Figure

Tuwanda Garris, Aude Kimbrew, & Melanie Schultz

Walden University

Abstract

This paper discusses the role of the absent parental figure in the growth and development of children in society. The case of the Johnson Family is interesting considering it focuses on the topic of discussion. The issue of negligence is a problem, but it may be brought about by the issues of incarceration and death. The paper looks at the statistics of the absent parental figure and its relationship to the Johnson family case.

Absent Parental Figure

Theresa Johnson, a 35-yr-old African American and Frank Powe, a 35-yr-old Caucasian male who has four daughters. All have taken the birth name of Theresa Johnson; Natalie, who is 17-yrs old, Ashley is 16, Jasmine is 14, and Nicole is 13. All four daughters are athletic and hold honors in their studies. Natalie is taking college prep classes is preparing for college. She also loves basketball and hopes to play on her college team. Natalie enjoys cheerleading and excels at basketball. Her other sisters, Nicole, Ashley, and are also involved in other sports such as track, cheerleading, and volleyball. All four sisters are on the honor roll and are involved in other organizations such as the NAACP and science club.

Recently, there has been a conflict between Frank and Theresa, and now Theresa is left to raise the four children alone. Frank was arrested for using and trafficking illegal drugs. Theresa works long hours as a supervisor for a local fast-food restaurant and has been struggling to make ends meet. Theresa does not have a high school diploma and did not obtain her GED and struggling to raise her children. Because of Frank’s incarceration, the family is currently residing with Theresa’s mom, Joanne who is 53 years old and is physically disabled. They all share a 4-bedroom government assistant home.

Natalie, the oldest daughter, has been dating Alex for the past two months. Alex is an 18-year-old Caucasian male. Alex is one of the star football players at their high school and he has been offered several scholarships for college. In his spare time, Alex works 15-20 hours as a part-time associate at a local game store. Alex occasionally uses marijuana and drinks alcohol. Natalie is aware of Alex’s usage with both but states that she believes he uses marijuana and alcohol as a way to balance work, playing sports, and working part-time. Natalie and Alex became sexually active the night that they met at a mutual friend’s party and they have been sexually active ever since. Natalie is currently on birth control pills and she and Alex use withdrawal (pull-out) as a method of birth control as well.

Natalie’s mother, Theresa, and her father, Frank met at a very young age of 13-years-old when Theresa and her family moved to Frank’s neighborhood. The two continued to date throughout junior high up until they had their last child Nicole. Frank has had a criminal history from a young age and has used and sold drugs since the age of 15. Theresa and Frank broke up once they had their last child. Frank has never been involved or helped with the children, although he and Theresa were still dating. Frank eventually disappeared and Theresa nor the girls never knew where he was until he was recently arrested.

Recently, Natalie, the oldest daughter, took a pregnancy test and learned that she was approximately 5-weeks pregnant. Natalie assumed that she may be pregnant after her menstrual cycle had been a few weeks late. Natalie knew that there may be a chance that she may be pregnant because she missed a few days of taking her birth control pills. Natalie thought that Alex (her boyfriend), had been extra careful when they were engaging in sexual activities.

During our first meeting, Natalie mentioned that she had recently taken a pregnancy test and learned that she was pregnant. At this time the only persons who knew about her pregnancy were her boyfriend Alex and her younger sister, Jasmine, who Natalie reports acts like her best friend. Natalie mentioned that she was fearful of telling her mother and her grandmother due to feeling that they would be disappointed and also due to her mother struggling to care for her and younger sisters. During our sessions, we discussed some ways that she should inform them and also went over the reactions and feedback that she would possibly receive. Natalie agreed that when she went home that night that she would let her family know that she is pregnant due to her not being able to hold her secret any longer.

The next day Natalie came into my office and her face was drowning in tears. She had expressed that she had told her mother and grandmother that she was pregnant, and her mother was furious and angry. Natalie mentioned that her mother had called her all kinds of horrible names and informed her that she would not be raising another child. Theresa informed Natalie that she would be getting an abortion and her grandmother agreed. Natalie stated that her mother had taken her to the doctor earlier this morning and the doctor confirmed that she was actually 6-weeks pregnant. Theresa demanded that if Natalie did not get an abortion that she would have to move out of her home. Natalie was extremely upset that her mother was making decisions for her and she believed that out of anyone her mother should understand that even though she was young she could still be a great mother.

Natalie’s mother believed that Natalie and Alex were not serious enough to be preparing to have a baby and believed that a child would ruin their lives. I offered to meet with Natalie and her mother so that we could all discuss the situation and what the next steps would be. Theresa agreed to meet with me and Natalie. When I met with Natalie, and her mother Theresa, Theresa was very emotional and stressed the fact that she was tired and burned out trying to care for her children and that she was extremely upset that Natalie would put herself and her family into this situation. Theresa stood by her belief that abortion was the best option for Natalie because Natalie knows how hard it is to be a single mother and how is extremely hard it is to grow up without a father figure.

Two days later, Natalie returned to my office and informed me that after our session with her mother that they went home and was able to have a conversation without any cursing or name-calling is involved. Natalie stated that she had also discussed her pregnancy with her sisters and friends, and many believed that she was not ready for a baby and that her mother may be right. Natalie expressed that she didn’t know what she was going to do at this point. Natalie mentioned that she did not want to raise a child alone. She feared that she would be struggling to raise her child like her mother struggles to take care of her and her sisters. She went on to express how her dad not being present in her life seriously affected her mental health. She wishes that he was there to see her play sports and see that she’s a good kid. She was still in belief and distraught that Alex had broken up with her and wanted nothing to do with her or the baby.

At the end of the session, Natalie asked me what my thoughts were regarding what she should do. I expressed to Natalie that this should be a decision that she makes and not be influenced by what other people’s opinions. It was best for Natalie to know all of her options, so we went over them together. By the end of our session, Natalie stated that she had in mind what she wanted to do. She stated that she was going to go home and speak with her family and that she would also inform Alex of her decision although he does not want to be involved.

Identifying Problems

The ultimate goal for a social worker working with families is to be able to help them improve their relationships and to be able to help them cope with difficult situations similar to Johnson’s family. Working with a family can present potential problems especially when families are not cohesive making decisions that will impact them as a whole. Although there may be problems presented, it is always important and helpful to involve any family member who is connected with or influences a client’s reason for seeking help (Holosko,). Communication may be the number one presenting problem when working with the Johnson family. The mother, Theresa is determined to make decisions without involving her daughter who it potentially affects the most.

Scope and current Absent Parental Figure in the Society

The issue of absent parental figures in the United States is created by the dramatic increase in incarceration in the last three decades. The level of incarceration in the country is the reason for the children and families in different states being affected by the trends. With the increasing incarceration rates among parents, more families and children tend to suffer parental neglect due to the absence of his or her parents. The number of children with fathers in prison and jails in the last decade has increased from approximately 350,000 to 2.1 million (Sherwood & Kendall, 2013). This is a representation of 3% of children in the United States with fathers in prison and jail since 2000. The Bureau of Justice Statistics shows that close to 57% of those who were imprisoned in 2007 had minor children (Erola, Jalonen, & Lehti, 2016).

Currently, an estimated 1.7 million children below the 18-years age bracket have a parent in either federal or state prison (Unicef, 2018). Another significant issue revolves around the racial and ethnic disparities among prison populations. They represent the disparate rates associated with parental incarceration. African and Hispanic Americans are seen to experience more incarceration compared to other racial groups. The situation has increased poverty among the groups’ families compared to the Caucasians.

Apart from incarceration, another issue revolves around the death of the parents. When a family loses one of the parents, who is considered to be the breadwinner, it becomes difficult for the family to fend for their needs. Children may not be able to attend school because of their failure to meet their school fees (Amato & Christopher, 2014). However, when it comes to absent parental figures, death is not talked about compared to incarceration. Foster homes care for most of the children with a background of their parents experiencing incarceration compared to death. This is a serious issue that needs to be tackled to enhance the positive development of children in society.

Relating to the Johnson Family Case

With the statistics provided and the information relating to the issues facing children, the case of Johnson Family may represent the above-stated issue. In the above case, Frank Powe has been arrested for drug use and trafficking, which is a huge offense in the United States. The situation leaves the thirty-five-year-old Theresa Johnson with the heavy burden of raising their four daughters. She is caught with the dilemma of assisting her mother Joanne Johnson and caring for the needs of her children. This is a problem for the children growing up because they sense the absence of their father, who should be present to guide and care for their needs. Despite the children showing significant improvements in their academic backgrounds and better performance in their curricular activities, it seems that they may not be able to remain motivated for a long period. There is a high likelihood of children ending in foster care compared to living with their struggling mother.

The absent parental figure is a problem for many families in the United States and different parts of the world, mostly due to incarceration and the death of the parent. The Johnson family, children are extraordinarily good both in their academic and co-curricular backgrounds despite them being disadvantaged economically. The absenteeism of the father in the case is a major problem for the development of the children. The children may blame their parents for the misfortunes that befall them, considering that the criminal background of the father (Frank Powe) seems to be a neglect of his role as a parent in terms of creating a positive background for the children.

Assessment of the Johnson Family

Theresa Johnson, a 35-yr-old African American and Frank Powe, a 35-yr-old Caucasian male have four daughters. All have taken the birth name of Theresa Johnson; Natalie, who is 17-yrs old, Ashley is 16, Jasmine is 14, and Nicole is 13. All four daughters are athletic and hold honors in their studies. Natalie is taking college prep classes is preparing for college. She also loves basketball and hopes to play on her college team. Natalie enjoys cheerleading and excels at basketball. Her other sisters, Nicole, Ashley, and are also involved in other sports such as track, cheerleading, and volleyball. All four sisters are on the honor roll and are involved in other organizations such as the NAACP and science club.

Recently, there is a conflict between Theresa and Frank and Theresa is now left to raise the four children alone. Frank was arrested for using and trafficking illegal drugs. Theresa works long hours as a supervisor for a local fast-food restaurant and has been struggling to make ends meet. Theresa does not have a high school diploma and did not obtain her GED due to struggling to raise her children. The family is currently residing with Theresa’s mother, Joanne, who is physically disabled. They all share a 4-bedroom government assistant home. Assessment will begin with Theresa, the mother. As her social worker and counselor, I will need to assess her needs and discuss goals for a successful treatment plan. Theresa is struggling financially and does not have a home of her own. “Assessment is fundamentally about the construction of the official story about a family, its needs and strengths; and decisions are usually made about access to resources, relationship issues, and care of children” (Holosko, Dulmus, & Sowers, 2013, pg. 242). Intensive care will also involve Theresa’s four daughters, ages 17, 16, 14, and 13. Although they want to remain living with Theresa, it might not be feasible due to economic hardship.

Finding appropriate resources to help the family stay together will take dedication and use of community resources or other healthcare professionals involved in the case. One way to do this is to investigate and collaborate with Theresa and her social network. Can other family members be incorporated within the treatment plan? It would be important to know if Frank has a supportive network system as well that could help care for the children.

During the assessment phase, a genogram could be very useful in finding out what other relationships the family has. Often times, members do not realize the support that may be available for them in difficult times. “Genograms fit in naturally during the assessment portion of treatment (Genograms for Psychotherapy, 2019). The genogram may be difficult in the case of Theresa and her family, but it could also be used as a tool to show progress in new relationships the family may build upon. Relationships are an important aspect of the assessment process. As the Johnson family’s social worker, I will need to be aware that micro, mezzo, and macro impact the family systems. one definition of Social Systems Theory is “The Interconnectedness of the person and environment on the micro, mezzo and macro levels” (Wenger, J. C., 2014). In the assessment process with the Johnson family, I will also focus on current coping skills that may need to be developed with dealing with Frank’s incarceration. According to the McMaster Model of Family Functioning, based on an empirically based research project that began in the 1950’s, the “Carefully crafted measurement technique pays particular heed to how the family develops and maintains itself through developing coping skills for dealing with certain necessary tasks” (Goldenberg, & Goldenberg, 2008, pg. 414-15). The McMaster model pays attention to three functioning areas: (a) basic task area (how the family deals with problems of providing food, money, transportation, shelter); (b) developmental task area (how they deal with problems arising as a result of changes over time, such as first pregnancies or last child leaving home); (c) hazardous task area (how they handle crisis that arises as a result of illness, accident, loss of income, job change, and such). These four areas will have to be addressed with Theresa and her four daughters in the assessment process in order to continue and great a successful intervention plan (Goldberg & Goldberg, 2008). The McMaster model is an attempt to assess where each family member is in an attempt to determine the level of intervention that may be needed for the family or each family member.

Review of Literature Evidence-Based Interventions

Understanding family history and characteristics are highly recommended and valued within the social work field when it comes to providing interventions for families. When working with families and not individuals, the view of how presenting problems are viewed must be shifted. There are several intervention models that have been well explored and are effective in accomplishing position outcomes, such as reduced behavior problems and improved family interactions (Holosko et al., 2013). Evidence-based interventions that have been proven to have an impact on family issues such as the Johnson Family Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and Structural therapy. This literature review will discuss how SFBT and Structural Therapy could be useful when it comes to working with families who have been impacted by an absent parental figure.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

SFBT was developed by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg and some of their colleagues in the 1970s (What is Solution-Focused, 2019). The purpose of this therapy is for it to be goal-directed, and to assist families with forming solutions to their problems that have ultimately landed them in therapy. This would be a great intervention for the Johnson family so that they can address their family’s goals and form solutions to the impacts that the absent parental figure has caused to the family and it can also address any future problems that may arise due to Natalie’s pregnancy and her possibly raising her own child with a parent figure being absent.

With SFBT, the approach automatically assumes that the client or the clients have some knowledge of what would make their lives better, even though they may need assistance with the details (What is Solution, 2019). It is very important when completing this type of therapy family that miracle and scaling questions are being asked. Asking the correct questions are extremely important and vital to facilitating change with families as well as bring them hope. This method with this type of intervention has been known to have positive outcomes for families (Solution Focused Brief Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Summary of Process Research., 2017).

Franklin, Bolton, and Guz, (2019) took a look at the impacts and the outcomes of how SFBT for families within therapy. The ultimate goal of this type of therapy is for families to be able to help families imagine a different future. The families who are introduced to SFBT needs guidance in order to create realistic goals (Franklin, Bolton, & Guz, 2019). In order for this type of therapy to be successful, there are several factors that must go into it. In order for clients to be able to find solutions to their problems, the family must be able to utilize collaborative communication (Franklin, Bolton , & Guz, 2019). The listener must be able to not only hear the speaker but must be able to process what they are saying (Franklin, Bolton , & Guz, 2019).

Structural Therapy

SFBT was developed by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg and some of their colleagues in the 1970s (What is Solution-Focused, 2019). The purpose of this therapy is for it to be goal-directed, and to assist families with forming solutions to their problems that have ultimately landed them in therapy. This would be landed intervention for the Johnson family so that they can address their family’s goals and form solutions to the impacts that the absent parental figure has caused on the family and it can also address any future problems that may arise due to Natalie’s pregnancy and her possibly raising her own child with a parent figure being absent.

With SFBT the approach automatically assumes that the client or the clients have some knowledge of what would make their lives better, even though they may need assistance with details (What is Solution-Focused Therapy?, 2019). It is very important when completing this type of therapy family that miracle and scaling questions are being asked. Asking the correct questions are extremely important and vital to facilitating change with families as well as bring them hope. This method with this type of intervention has been known to have positive outcomes on families (Solution Focused Brief Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Summary of Process Research., 2017).

Structural Therapy has also been proven to be a great intervention for families. Structural Therapy is a theory that was created by Salvador Minuchin. This particular type of therapy focuses on and addresses problems functioning within families (Structural Family Therapy , 2019). Families who do not address issues or problems when they happen are more likely to have the same presenting problem and tend to repeat throughout family generations. According to Minuchin, dysfunction often emerges within a family when the structure struggles to acclimate to several changes and stressors (Structural Family Therapy , 2019). It is extremely important if a family lives within a multi-generational home that all are included within therapy.

In 2016, Structural Family Therapy was applied to a case study regarding an African American single mother who was struggling to raise her four children on her own by Williams, Foye, and Lewis (2016). This form of therapy was applied to attempt to change the setting of how African American single mothers were viewed. In 2013, 66% of African American children were born to single parents (Williams, Foye, & Lewis , 2016). African American single-mother households often developed as a result of social and economic situations that are also maintained and constantly affected by the same forces. Structural Family Therapy is relevant to the treatment of families who may be experiencing the absence of a parental figure because it can provide therapeutic conceptualization (Williams, Foye, & Lewis , 2016). Although this form of therapy can be beneficial for families who may have an absent parental figure it is extremely important for the social worker who is facilitating, it not imply that the family is incomplete without the other parent (Williams, Foye, & Lewis , 2016).

Issues regarding family developments and relationships are complex and require in-depth assessment for them to be understood. The Johnson and Powe's family comprising of four daughters seems to need more therapeutic and family models to ensure that they can deal with their challenges. A discussion on the employed frameworks is significant. Evaluating the used genogram, Social System Theory, McMaster Model of Family Functioning, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Structural Therapy is essential. Their disadvantages and advantages may prove their role in enhancing change in the family. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Interventions

Starting with the Genogram, it is a framework that allows a psychologist to understand the relationship between a family. It provides a diagrammatic representation of how the family of Theresa and Powe works and relates to each other. It also focuses on the psychological challenges created by daily living in their operational environments. The disadvantage of the genogram fails to create an in-depth evaluation of the environment and how it affects the well-being of the family (Kalmijn, 2012). It is limited to lineages and family relations as it does not focus on social, economic, and political changes that are in the environment.

Social System Theory is instrumental to ensure that a mental expert looks at the family as an integrated system with different members. With the above concept, it becomes easy to break down the role of the family members and their position in influencing the development of the family as an entity. Furthermore, understanding the nature of a family, an entity ensures that one can pinpoint the various challenges affecting that family and its members (Samuel, Rillotta, & Brown, 2012). The Social System Theory also creates a possibility of assisting the Johnson family in dealing with issues and concerns. The greatest advantage is that it concentrates solely on the patient as the leading force towards the aspect of coming up with the necessary solution. It enables the patient to acquire the motivation of identifying the troubling factors and develop the solution (Oshri et al., 2015).

Social Systems Theory is a summary of the family unit and not individuals. This limits the unique challenges and problems that affect family members. The solution-focused theory is critical because it focuses on ensuring that the solutions are provided to the family. Disadvantages are that it limits one from identifying the needed problems that may affect the normal functioning of the mind. 

The structural therapy is beneficial because it provides information on family interactions that create problems. It evaluates signs of mental factors that cause dysfunctional family backgrounds (Becerra & Michael-Makri, 2012). The main disadvantage is that it focuses on changing the family structure compared to the personality and role of the family members in creating a favorable psychological background in the family. This is somehow a problem for the positive development of the family. 

McMaster Model of Family Functioning provides a comprehensive analysis of how the family should be in terms of psychological, social, and economic well-being. It reevaluates the past and present issues to create a mirror on the right approaches to use in creating positives for the family to benefit from (Henry, Sheffield Morris, & Harrist, 2015). McMaster Model of Family Functioning is not diverse because it does not look at the nature of relations with external stakeholders such as friends, colleagues, and peers in influencing the needed developments in the family.

Findings have shown that the genogram, Social System Theory, McMaster Model of Family Functioning, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Structural Therapy are significant in understanding the developments of any family. However, a discussion on how they either benefit a family or harm their well-being should be evaluated. The debate has shown that they have more benefits than disadvantages in their assessment of family well-being. 

Recommendations for Treatment

The case of Theresa, her husband Frank Powe, and their four daughters bring a lot of questions. Theresa has been left alone to care for the four daughters since Frank’s arrest for drug use and illegal trafficking of drugs. After careful consideration of the many therapeutic interventions for the Johnson family, I recommend Family Systems Therapy and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. Many forms of therapy are based upon the family system, and addressing the entire family is important when incorporating a strategic plan to reach goals. In the Johnson case, the focus has become that of Natalie, Theresa and Frank’s oldest daughter who is pregnant. Natalie has decided she will continue with her pregnancy and keep the baby. She has three sisters and her mother Theresa that support her. Because of the dynamics of the family, I would incorporate Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SF). With this type of therapy, “The questions asked by SF therapists are usually focused on the present or in the future. This reflects the basic belief that problems are best solved by focusing on what is already working, and how a client would like their life to be, rather than focusing on what is already working, and how a client would like their life to be, rather than focusing on the past and the origin of problems” (What is Solution Focused, 2019). Using Family Systems Therapy and Solution Focused together may bring about group therapy sessions to address family concerns.

Family therapy is based on family systems theory and consist of (a) Structural family therapy, which looks at family relationships, behaviors, and patterns; (b) Strategic family therapy, which examines family processes and functions, such as communication or problem-solving patterns; and (c) Intergenerational family therapy, which acknowledges generational influences on family and individual behavior (What is Solution, 2019). Using the Family System application and Solution-Focused therapy could show positive outcomes for the family as a whole. In clinical social work aspects of therapy, a clinical social worker must always ask “why” (Anonymous, 2019). Why would I suggest the Family Systems Therapy and incorporate the Solution Focused Therapy in the case of the Johnson family?

First, the family dynamics are complex, and Natalie obviously needs attention first since she was the person that initially sought out therapy regarding her pregnancy. Since she has decided to continue on with her pregnancy, it is crucial to advocate her decision. Natalie is now facing the reality of not having her father present due to him being in prison. As Natalie’s social worker, I would focus on the micro-level. Family therapy would follow after our sessions and if Natalie was comfortable with introducing her mother and her father. The genogram will be a great place to start by assessing who Natalie’s connections begin. She may have contacts that may be helpful in her situation.

Second, Solution-Focused therapy can direct the family in, what is working for you? I want to help them explore how best to continue practicing those strategies and encourage them to acknowledge and celebrate success” (GoodTherapy, 2019). The one thing I always ask a person, family, or group is “what is working?” “Do you see changes that need to be made?” or “How can we improve success?” I will always ask a person if he or she feels that the methods used are useful to him or her. This is a vital question - part of evaluation.

Evaluation

References

Amato, P., & Christopher, J. (2014). Estimating the effects of parental divorce and death with fixed effects models. Journal of Marriage and Family, Vol. 76, Issue. 2, 370-386.

Becerra, M., & Michael-Makri, S. (2012). Applying Structural Family Therapy With a Mexican-American Family With Children With Disabilities: A Case Study of a Single-Parent Mother. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, volume, 43 (2), 17-24.