(MSW 517 / Module 6) Immersion Preparation

 Immersion Preparation

Student's Name:

Course:

Instructor's Name:

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Scenario 1: Preparing to Come out

Before the first session, it is essential to master good listening and rapport-building skills. As a social worker, excellent listening skills will help understand Jade's situation, feelings, and experiences (Bulletins for Professionals, 2021). On the other hand, rapport-building skills will enhance collaboration and cultivate trust between the social worker and the client (Jade).

Based on the immersion scenario, Jade feels comfortable about his transgender status. He has disclosed to some of his close friends and teachers as transgender. The teachers and friends have accepted his identity and work closely with him. Jade has also accepted all the stereotypes and biases regarding the LGBTQ+ community (Bulletins for Professionals, 2021). Currently, Jade has not disclosed his identity to Benita, their maternal grandmother. He hopes to tell Benita that he is transgender and identifies with a new name (Jade) and not Isabel. The task during the immersion will involve helping Jade disclose his identity to his grandmother and dealing with any issues that may emerge from Jade’s disclosure.

Benita may reject or accept Jade because he currently identifies as a male. Consequently, when coming out about his situation, Jade should be aware that rejection happens to everyone in life regardless of one's identity. He also needs to validate his feelings and develop self-worth irrespective of how Benita perceives him. In many instances, internal stressors can be problematic for many clients and inhibit healing. Further, the social worker will have to connect Jade to LGBTQ parents if the situation at their home becomes tougher after disclosing his present gender identity to Benita. Research shows that LGBTQ+ parents may be potential placement options for LGBTQ+ youths (Bulletins for Professionals, 2021). The social worker will collaborate with Benita to help Jade if his transgender identity is accepted. If Benita neither rejects nor accepts him, the social worker will work closely with both parties to help Jade and Benita move on.

Scenario 2: Ethical and Diversity Issues

There are inherent ethical issues that would arise when working with Jade and must be identified first using the prior information Jade shared. The LGBTQ group faces discrimination in meeting basic needs such as educational opportunities, housing, food, medical care, and access to mental health services. Social workers handling the population may also face barriers from the community due to societal perceptions. The ethical considerations needed while working with Jade will include social justice, dignity, and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence (American Psychological Association, n.d). These values will be defined in the process of dealing with Jade's situation. Further, the SW must uphold personal values; understand the faith traditions and cultural inclinations of Jade and Benita to solve their problem adequately.

Regarding diversity, many issues manifest. First, Jade and Benita support different political ideologies. While Benita is a conservative, Jade is a socialist, so both differ on the rights of LGBTQ. The political diversity of the clients may need to be considered in the coming meeting. The community and cultural issues also impact the situation since different cultures have different perceptions towards the LGBTQ+ group (American Psychological Association, n.d). Jade has experienced sexual abuse in the past. During the meeting, the SW must understand the connectedness of Jade’s past to the present. Government policies on the population both within the state and at the Federal level will influence the decisions made during the intervention. Laws on LGBTQ+ create barriers as they differ from one state to another. For instance, couples' adoption laws based on their genders are loose, and their interpretation depends on the SW.

I hold some biases against the LGBTQ+ due to my religious beliefs, and I need to confront them when dealing with Jade. Moreover, before dealing with the assigned clients, I will need a bit of research like understanding how their gender identities affect their physical, emotional, and mental development. I would wish to work with Benita in helping Jade. The advantage of working with Benita is that we shall help Jade collaboratively. However, it could also be risky working with Benita if she rejects Jade's gender identity as a transgender youth.

Scenario 3 A: Meeting with the Family

In this session, I met Benita (Jade's maternal grandmother) and Jade's maternal grandmother. The meeting aimed for Jade to disclose his relationship with Ericka and his gender identity. From the meeting, it was evident that Benita was a bit unwilling to accept Jade's identity as a transgender person. Her fears come primarily from her religious beliefs, societal perceptions, and cultural background. Benita is afraid that her friends, relatives, and church members may discriminate against her due to Jade's identity. On the other hand, Jade is disappointed with Benita's lack of willingness to accept his gender identity. Jade quickly suggests that he be taken to foster homes instead of staying together with his grandmother.

Scenario B: Scenario Three, Part Two-Making a treatment plan

In the treatment plan, it is vital to appreciate the position of each of the clients. Based on the first meeting, the problem is that Benita is partly unwilling to accept Jade as a transgender person due to her religious, family, and cultural beliefs. However, two notable strengths from Benita are her resilience and composure even when she feels disturbed. These strengths may be essential in implementing the treatment plan. On the other hand, Jade appears an enduring transgender youth who sees purpose in life even in the face of difficulties. Jade wants to be separated from his grandmother so that he is far from the feeling of guilt whenever he sees Benita. Jade is fifteen-years-old and in a relationship with Ericka. The goals of interventions are to ensure Jade is not affected by disclosing his gender identity while Benita accepts the revelations. As an SW, there are two interventions to achieve the objectives. First, the SW must convince Benita that Jade's identity is average. If Benita accepts, then she can continue living with Jade. The alternative is assigning Jade foster parents. The approach will ensure that Jade lives with LGBTQ+ parents and escapes from the feelings of guilt from his grandmother’s home. The best treatment method for the situation is using the strength-based approach of social work. The process recognizes the uniqueness of individual service users and utilizes these innate abilities to help them. Benita (resilient and composed) and Jade (enduring and seeing life’s purpose) should focus on their strengths to handle their differences.

Scenario 4: The Follow-Up

Both Benita and Jade present themselves on time as agreed during the last session. During this time, however, Benita, though tense, seems undisturbed, as was the case when Jade disclosed his identity at the first meeting. Benita assures that she is willing to accept Jade's identity, but she still feels worried about how her fellow church and family members perceive her. On the other hand, Jade is pretty happy about Benita's admission but still feels guilt over his identity. More concerning is that Benita keeps informing her grandchild that the church will reject her for living with him.

Scenario 5: Wrap Up

Jade's case represents multiple issues on social justice and human rights. Social justice constitutes equity, participation, access, and fairness. At the micro-level, Jade has faced discrimination and denial by family members because of their identity. During the first session with the family, Benita denied Jade as a transgender youth. Also, the client was sexually abused by their grandmother's lover. Jade faces discrimination from the community at the macro level due to gender orientation. At the mezzo level, members belonging to LGBTQ+ groups are discriminated against both in private and public institutions. Some of the current policies or legislation affecting LGBTQ+ members in the USA are Single-Sex Facility Restrictions in some states, Prohibiting healthcare for transgender youth, and excluding transgender youth from athletics (Legislation affecting LGBTQ rights across the country 2021, n.d). The SW must confront these policies and laws when helping LGBTQ+ clients at all levels. Also, the professionals will have to handle family, community, and institutional discrimination against Jade.

References

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Guidelines for psychological practice with lesbian, gay and bisexual clients. American Psychological Association. Retrieved February 2, 2022, from https://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/guidelines

Bulletins for Professionals, (June, 2021). Working With LGBTQ+ Families in Foster Care and Adoption

Legislation affecting LGBTQ rights across the country 2021. American Civil Liberties Union. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2022, from https://www.aclu.org/legislation-affecting-lgbtq-rights-across-country-2021