For Sasha

CHAD 302

Fall 2018

Case Scenario for Individualized Service Plan

DJ

Reason for Involvement

This family came to the attention of Child Protective Services (CPS) one year ago, when the children were physically abused by the mother’s boyfriend and were subsequently removed into foster care. Two months ago, the children were returned to their mother. She has failed to bring DJ for psychotherapy at an outpatient mental health clinic as recommended by his physician at the county hospital where he was treated for broken bones resulting from the abuse. For that reason, DJ was again removed from his mother’s care two weeks ago. Custody of DJ has been granted to CPS, which placed him in the care of his aunt, Julie.

Family Composition

Mother: Mandy Mingle (31)

Fathers: Jorge Martinez (father of DJ): Unknown address

Damon Long (father of James and Verna): Known address

John Reed (father of Howard): Known address

Children: Howard (13)

DJ (11)

James (5)

Verna (3)

Significant Others:

Julie Moon (aunt of DJ)

Family History

Two months ago, when the children were returned to the mother, the family moved across the city. Their new, quiet neighborhood features single-family houses as well as apartment houses, including the one in which Mandy rents. The family is residing in a 2-bedroom apartment. The children have transferred to schools in the new neighborhood. The family receives food stamps.

Parent’s History

Mandy is a 31-year-old African-American woman born in Midwest. She reported that she and her four siblings were raised by their parents, responsible people who did not abuse or neglect their children. Both of Mandy’s parents died about five years ago. Because her parents moved their family here from the Midwest before Mandy could complete 12th grade, she has no high school diploma. Since leaving school, she has worked for many different part-time jobs.

Mandy is a single mother of four. She reportedly has no contact with the father of DJ; Damon, the father of James and Verna, sometimes drops in on Mandy and the children and gives them cash (typically $20). At one point, Mandy held two jobs. She currently works six days a week from 2 to 11 p.m. for an inn across the city from the family home. She sometimes works double shifts, trying to earn enough to cover the family’s expenses. She typically appears tired, if not exhausted. In order to work, Mandy reported, she employs a babysitter for James and Verna. The sitter, Ms. Bell, is very reliable, according to Mandy. On occasion, James and Verna stay overnight with their paternal grandmother.

Mandy has complained that DJ is moody, even unstable, and easily enraged. She reported that, while he has told her he loves her, he has also threatened to kill her. Moreover, she said, he has thrown his younger siblings to the floor as a means of expressing his displeasure at having to live with his mother. Mandy reported that she has tried hard to maintain a good relationship with DJ; however, she was unable to provide any examples of her efforts in this regard. She said she believes DJ likes staying with Julie, his aunt, because she indulges DJ, permitting him activities and buying him things that Mandy would not. In the past Mandy wanted to arrange DJ to live with Julie. Mandy said she has not recently contacted Julie, whom she labeled a “welfare queen.”

Following DJ’s most recent removal, Mandy, who was clearly upset by the CPS’s action, reluctantly agreed to in-home counseling but nevertheless balked at arranging for DJ to complete the recommended clinic-based psychotherapy. She said her busy schedule would not accommodate psychotherapy appointments. She said that she does not believe DJ has mental health problems requiring therapy or medication; he is, she said, just a difficult child.

Mandy has said she wants DJ to return to the family home, and that in order to achieve this, she is willing to take DJ for psychotherapy appointments—but not at the particular clinic recommended for him by his hospital physician. She said she feels tired after years of struggle with DJ and that she feels disappointed by the outcomes of earlier interventions. She said she doubts whether DJ’s behavior and relationships with his family members will be improved.

Mandy reported that her apartment has been without heat since the family moved in two months ago. Her rent has been paid on time, she said, but the landlord has denied gas company representatives access to the basement to turn on the gas. The social worker offered to speak with the landlord, but Mandy said she preferred to handle the matter herself.

Mandy reported having no history of substance use or mental health problems. She does not know the history of substance use and mental health problems among her children’s paternal relatives.

History of Children Not in Placement

Howard is a 13-year-old African-American boy who appeared well-fed and adequately clothed (he was dressed in black clothing and wore a metal-spiked choker). He did not maintain eye contact with the social worker and seemed uninterested in conversation with the worker. Although Howard and DJ reportedly sometimes argue, Howard claimed to understand DJ’s moodiness.

Howard attends middle school and said he dislikes his new school and its teachers; he tends to earn C grades. He said his favorite subject is P.E. and that he wants to attend Clark High School because he likes its basketball team. He said he likes going out with his friends (most of whom are in his class at school) in his free time. He said sometimes he is with them away from home until after 11 p.m. and that his mother asks no questions about it. Howard was vague regarding his whereabouts and activities at such times; he was very vague about his experience with substance use. Howard reportedly does not help with household chores or supervision of his younger siblings.

James is 5-year-old African-American boy who appeared well-fed and adequately clothed. No marks or bruises could be observed on his person. James did not want to pay attention to the social worker during the interview. During his mother’s conversation with the social worker, he repeatedly broke in to talk with his mother; he appeared to need a great deal of attention from her. James said he dislikes DJ because DJ gets angry at him easily and yells at or hits him. Reportedly, James often spends time watching television alone.

Verna is a 3-year-old African-American girl who appeared well-fed and adequately clothed. No marks or bruises could be observed on her person. Verna demonstrated age-appropriate behaviors including a great deal of activity generally and attempts to get hold of any object within her reach. She appeared to want affection from her mother, trying to cling to Mandy as Mandy spoke with the social worker. Verna has a few old dolls with which she sometimes plays alone.

History of Child in Placement

DJ is an 11-year-old African-American boy who appeared well-fed and adequately clothed. He appeared jittery, and his eye contact with the social worker during interview was poor. DJ currently attends Goodbridge School, the neighborhood school in his aunt Julie’s neighborhood. He was placed in Julie’s care following a second removal from his mother’s care. DJ said he likes the school and its teachers. He tends to make C grades.

DJ said he argued with his mother, Mandy, frequently, which he attributed to his distaste for helping with chores in Mandy’s home. He said he does not like Mandy’s nagging him about chores in front of his friends. He also said he wanted Mandy to give him more money to spend.

DJ reported that Mandy often left him, James, and Verna alone at night. He said that at such times, he had sometimes hit the younger siblings with his hand and with a belt for doing something wrong (e.g., being noisy, not sitting down when told to, jumping on the bed, and fighting). He said he hit them in a manner that did not really hurt them and that, when his mother was home, he did not hit them at all. DJ denied any substance use. He denied having threatened to kill Mandy and to jump out of a window (Howard confirmed that the latter reported threat had been a joke on DJ’s part).

DJ said he enjoys staying with his aunt Julie because she gave him a dog, a bicycle, clothes, and toys. He reported that Julie helps him with homework, makes him laugh, and plays video games with him. DJ said he also gets along with Julie’s children.

A year ago, DJ was hospitalized for five days with fractured ribs and a broken leg resulting from physical abuse at the hands of Mandy’s then-boyfriend. His mental health was also assessed in the hospital, and he was diagnosed with Exposure to Domestic Violence by History, Impulse Control Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, and Bipolar I Disorder. A physician recommended DJ begin individual psychotherapy immediately. While living in foster care, DJ had a manic episode requiring 10 days’ hospitalization. From the time of his hospitalization until he was returned to his mother, DJ took medication prescribed for his mental illness and he also attended outpatient therapy.

Caseworker’s Role

Pretend that you are the caseworker assigned to provide in-home counseling for Mandy’s family. What treatment plan would you develop to help them? How, precisely, will each element of the plan further the objectives established for Mandy and the children?

Copyright © 2017 by Tyrone C. Cheng

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