HB 2. DB Week 2
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DBResponses.Week2.docxStudent 1 response. Y. Smith.
The theme that appears to be most useful to my practice is the Developmental Risk and Protection, which mentions how experiences with one life transition can impact the course of one's life trajectory . Working in the child welfare system involves determining how to assist and protect children from being negatively impacted from the experience which led them to being placed in foster care and how to prevent future risks from occurring. The theme is helpful in analyzing what traumas are present and how to locate resources so it does not limit families once they are discharged from the system. It also involves constantly being mindful of the resilience needed to face such adversities.
The concept that felt least applicable to my practice was the Timing of Lives, more specifically with the utilization of social age. The concept of social age also involved age norms, which are indicators of the behaviors expected of people of a specific age in a given society at a particular point in time. Though the concept of age norms are important to indicate how a child is performing, the life experience of being an at risk youth with certain experiences can alter what the norm is for one's age. It wouldn't mean that all children are capable of being able to act in a particular manner just because they are at a particular age. My role would also involve coming up with resources that best suit the child's needs, not letting the age norms limit that child from receiving assistance.
Student 2 response. E. Rodriguez
After reading chapter one, I found that life events and turning point concepts were very useful, along with the themes of human agency.. I work with a population who are diagnosed with chronic illness, some who have severe mental health conditions and a few who have a dual diagnosis.
Life events immediately became the first concept I can relate to my clients. My clients have experience loss of their loves ones, changes in residence whether it is from supportive housing to independent living, getting diagnoses with major illness, suffering from injury or undergoing major surgery. Turning point is also another concept that I find very useful. The majority of my clients are in their late 50s, 60s and some in their 70s. Unfortunately, I was not there to witness these turning points events with them, but I hear their stories and one of the major theme is how for some being part of our organization was a turning point in the their lives. Similar to the reading, I can also say there are quite a few clients who view their HIV diagnosis was a positive turning point in their lives. Nevertheless, I have a encounter some clients who view their diagnosis as having a negative impact and some who after many years are still struggling with the diagnosis.
Last but not least is human agency. I couldn't agree more with the importance of this theme, especially in my field of work. My clients use their personal agency to battle through their health conditions while working through issues around their income, housing, and other family issues. In a similar fashion, they seek our services using proxy agency so that we can assist them with advocacy in navigate the system and getting their needs meet.
One of the concepts that does not necessarily apply to my practice is cohort since the majority of my clients vary in age, and while they might of grown up in the same city or share the same diagnosis and experience, my clients come from different cultures and backgrounds. Some were immigrants; others were from different part of the coun
