Assignment : Hernandez Family Assessment

Running Head: ASSESSING CLIENT FAMILY 1

ASSESSING CLIENT FAMILY 6

Assessing Client Family

A comprehensive family assessment entails a practice that continuously tend to enlighten the process of decision making via the identification, consideration as well as weighing the dynamic which impact children and their families. The families are known to be the security of the children as well as attention givers. In that case, the comprehensive family assessment is done in order to know the welfare of children and their families during circumstances such as their safety issues, dangers of future treatment, capacity of parent protectiveness and during the compromise of a child’s well-being. In short, it is used to gather information that will aid in finding out where a particular problem comes arises from.

Demographic information: The patient’s lives with his two parents together with his brother. They are of Hispanic origin and both his parents were raised by their biological parents. His brother is six years old and the patient eight.

Presenting problem: A social worker visited their home and was not satisfied with the living conditions of the patient and his family. The social worker believes that the environment is not conducive for child growth

History or present illness: The patient was diagnosed with a severe case of typhoid which captured the attention of the social worker. The condition of their home was not at all as required hence the cases needed intervention.

Past psychiatric history: The patient had no psychiatric history. None of his family member had the condition as well.

Medical history: The patient has been known to be healthy for a long time. He never had any serious issues when it comes to his health.

Substance use history: I assessed the parents of the patient and found out that the child had not had any experience with drugs, but the mother admitted taking alcohol when she was pregnant. But she claims it was neither for long nor repeatedly. However, the father is a smoker, but he does not smoke inside the house.

Developmental history: There is no evidence of any developmental problems noted in the Hernandez family. The parents and kids appeared well nourished. The kids are observed playing with toys within their developmental stage.

Family psychiatric history: There were no cases of psychiatric conditions in the family, from their parents to the great grandparents of the patient.

Psychosocial history: The parents reported that they are hardworking and providing for their family is their priority; they appeared to have a healthy spouse relationship. The couple tends to have a mutual understanding of themselves. The patient and his brother normally play together and sometimes even with their neighbor’s children.

History of abuse and/or trauma: The patient as his brother had no signs of abuse or trauma. However, the father claimed he was brought up with strict parents that would punish them harshly. They came to the U.S and they believe that that is not necessary whatsoever.

Review of systems:

Physical assessment: There is no evidence of physical abnormality. Their children seemed within the specified stage of development and there is no signal of mishandling or negligence noted. Their behavior and appearance are within their average age; they are well-groomed and healthy. The couple is also well groomed and well nourished.

Mental status exam: The parents and their children are capable of speaking English fluently; they know their rights and they know that they have to care for their children in the best possible way. They are also aware that if the government realized negligence then they may lose their children.

Differential diagnosis: The patient who was diagnosed with typhoid was taken to hospital and is undergoing treatment. The case was investigated, and it was found out that he had contacted the disease from the school he was attending. The parents took good care of the patient and his brother.

Case formulation: The two parents are immigrants in the U.S., and they came to find greener pastures. The parents are not in any way solely responsible for the contraction of the disease by their child, and because they took him to the hospital, and he is being treated it means that they are responsible. There parenting style is also commendable because the patient and his brother are well behaved, smart, and healthy.

Treatment plan: I recommend that the patient continue with his medication without fail, and this will be the responsibility if the parents. They will ensure that the medicines are taken every day and in time, just as the doctor prescribed. They should also ensure that they eat healthy and have access to clean drinking water.

2nd son

1st Son

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Paniagua, F. A. (2018). ICD-10 versus DSM-5 on Cultural Issues. SAGE Journal, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018756165

Valdez, J. N. (2012). Psychotherapy with bicultural Hispanic clients. Psychotherapy Theory Research & Practice, 37(3), 240-246. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0087712}

Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice. New York, NY: Springer.