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From Brown, Child Welfare: Case Studies

Guatemala. She speaks both English and Spanish, but mostly Spanish. Her English is not as good as she would like it to be. She describes herself as a Christian woman and is totally against any kind of “wrong-doings.” She often comments to her son about how bad drugs are in Guatemala and that she is so glad that she and her children never used drugs. She lives on her own in a small senior citizens’ apartment complex nearby. She often babysits the girls when the parents have to go out. However, she cannot keep the girls for long, because of the rules of the building—only the person whose name is on the lease can live there. Others can come to visit, but not for more than thirty days. She loves her son and his family and is very upset, as she was not aware that they were using drugs. She is always bragging to her friends and family in Guatemala about how successful they are. Her grandchildren love her very much.

Helena and Jose Messina are the maternal grandparents. They live in a city nearby that is approximately three hours’ drive from the Bernardez’s. They have four children, two older boys and a daughter younger than Marisa. They too are from Guatemala and are a very proud Latino family. Marisa called them to come and get the children. When they arrived, they demanded to know what was going on. Lena told them everything. They have been very supportive of the family, but they are very angry about this situation. They are disappointed in Mr. Bernardez, and they feel it is all his fault. Mr. Messina said, “What kind of man would allow his wife to use drugs?” Mr. Messina says that he is so angry with them that he does not know what to do. They had a very good relationship with Mr. Bernardez up until now. Mr. Messina has often told Felix how much he respects him and appreciates his taking care of his daughter and grandchildren.

THE PHILLIPS FAMILY

Student Instructions

You are employed as a social worker with the Society for Children. Your agency’s primary focus is family preservation. You have been assigned to work with the Phillips family. The family was referred to your agency by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) for family preservation services. The family has been served by other social service agencies, but after a review of the case the committee felt that this family needed more one-on-one direct services. An assessment of the current family situation is needed.

Family Composition

The Phillips family consists of the mother, Keisha, age 22, and her three chil- dren. She has one son, Jeremy, age 4, and two daughters, KeKe, age 7, and Alexia, age 15 months. The family resides in the Third Chance Shelter for

From Brown, Child Welfare: Case Studies

families. Ms. Phillips reported that before first coming to a shelter, she and her family had been living with her aunt, Erline Phillips, in Jackson, Mississippi. She suggested that her aunt has played many roles in her life, and said that her Aunt Erline was the person who raised her.

Current Situation

The Department of Children and Family Services referred Ms. Keisha Phillips to your agency after her case was substantiated for inadequate shelter and inadequate supervision of her children. Ms. Phillips and her three children were residing at the Holy Sisters Shelter. However, the case worker at the shelter requested that Ms. Phillips and her children move out, after repeated warnings to supervise the children appropriately. Reports from the shelter staff noted that Ms. Phillips would be upstairs while the children were downstairs (or vice versa), and she was unable to keep her 4-year-old son, Jeremy, from leaning out the second-floor window. After Ms. Phillips was asked to leave, no shelter was available to accommodate her and her children. She placed an application at the Good Samaritan homeless shelter, but she was told that there would be no openings for six months. However, Third Chance Shelter was able to accommodate her and her children, though under very strict rules. Ms. Phillips agreed to the rules of the shelter. She has been there only two weeks, but the shelter has repeatedly discussed consequences with her and informed her that if the problem of supervision of her children continues they will give her seventy- two hours to vacate.

According to the social worker, the communication patterns between Ms. Phillips and her children are nontraditional. For example, she talks to her children as though they are adults. She is not affectionate or nurturing with any of the children, although she will hold them to stop them from crying. Ms. Phillips believes that the only way the children will listen to her is if she spanks or punishes them. She feels the “no hitting” rule at the shelter is causing problems with disciplining the children, and that the children refuse to obey her because they are aware that she cannot hit them, and therefore they tend to push her to the limit. She wants to get out of the shelter so that she can regain control over her children.

Family Background

The Phillips family is not new to DCFS. There are previous substantiated child abuse and neglect reports in regard to the children. Other reports include the fact that Ms. Phillip’s uncle, Cecil Phillips, was arrested for sexually abusing Ms. Phillips’ oldest daughter, KeKe, who is now 7 years old. Also, Ms. Phillips’ grandmother was arrested a year ago for physically abusing all of Ms. Phillips’ children. All of the children sustained severe cuts, welts, and bruises all over

From Brown, Child Welfare: Case Studies

their bodies. Ms. Phillips was advised not to leave her children with her mother. No other services were recommended to the family at that time.

During the intake interview on this current situation, Ms. Phillips reported using marijuana approximately three to four times a week and crack cocaine on occasion. The investigator referred her to an outpatient recovery center for a substance abuse assessment. However, she did not keep the appointment.

Ms. Phillips has no income, due to her inability to comply with the De- partment of Human Services. This is her third reported sanction, and she has not received cash assistance in two years. She is expected to comply with the child support division and obtain her GED in order to have her cash assistance reinstated. Ms. Phillips’ public assistance case worker has informed the agency that until she complies with the rules, she cannot qualify for housing or cash assistance. Ms. Phillips has been told that she will also need to find employment for TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) to continue with cash assistance when this is reinstated.

In addition, all of Ms. Phillips’ case workers and social workers have concerns about her continued inability to provide appropriate supervision of her three children. Ms. Phillips was asked to leave the first shelter (Holy Sisters), because of her repeated failure to ensure supervision of her 4-year-old son, Jeremy. Since she moved to the Third Chance Shelter, the case worker has had consistent reports from the staff and residents regarding the same problem of lack of supervision. On one occasion while at Third Chance Shelter, her oldest daughter, KeKe, fell and needed fifteen stitches to the top of her lip. The social worker at Third Chance has discussed appropriate supervision plans with Ms. Phillips numerous times. The shelter has repeatedly discussed consequences with the client and has informed her that should the problem continue, they would give her seventy-two hours to vacate. To compound the issue of inadequate supervision, the social worker has discussed with Ms. Phillips the need to meet for individual counseling at least three times a week. The social worker is also concerned about the overwhelming history of incest in this family. Ms. Phillips has indicated that her father sexually abused her from age 7 until age 14. However, there is no record with DCFS of a call to the hotline or any intervention on Ms. Phillips’ behalf. Just recently, she revealed that her paternal uncle sexually abused her as well.

Ms. Phillips has also indicated that she was sexually abused by other family members. She also told the social worker that she would not want her to know who KeKe’s father is. When the social worker asked her why not, she said that she did not want to discuss it. The social worker asked Mrs. Phillips if it was a family member, and she said “yes” but would not identify the person. KeKe was also sexually assaulted for two years by her uncle, Cedric Phillips (a registered sex offender, according to Ms. Phillips), and the social worker has reason to believe that Jeremy may have been subjected to sexual abuse as well, given his behaviors.

From Brown, Child Welfare: Case Studies

Ms. Phillips states that all three of her children have different fathers and she is not aware of where any of them live. Jeremy’s father’s name is Melvin Wilson and is believed to live somewhere in Detroit, Michigan. Keisha has not been able to contact him. Mason Farmer, who is Alexia’s father, lives and works in eastern Michigan. Holy Sisters Shelter reports state that Mr. Farmer has come to the shelter and picked Alexia up and kept her for a few days. The social worker was concerned because Ms. Phillips never asked Mr. Farmer where he lived or when he was bringing Alexia back to the shelter. When Ms. Phillips was confronted, she told the social worker that he was Alexia’s father and he would take care of her. She said, “Even if he does not bring her back, she will be with her father.” She reported that Mr. Farmer assists her financially on occasion by providing money and clothes for Alexia.

Recently, Ms. Phillips reported that she has a new boyfriend, whom she met since she has been living in the Third Chance Shelter. The social worker does not have his name, but was informed by Ms. Phillips that he is over the age of 40. Ms. Phillips reports that she is unable to have more children.

Keisha Phillips

Ms. Phillips is 22 years old. She has never been married. Her last name at birth was Stephens. Her mother, Daisy, married Kirk Phillips, and Kirk adopted Keisha. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and lived there most of her life. She said that she moved to Jackson, Mississippi, shortly after the birth of KeKe and lived there with her aunt, Erline Phillips. She has two younger brothers who also reside with Erline and her husband, Levy Phillips.

Ms. Phillips parents, Kirk and Daisy Phillips, reside in Jackson, Mississippi. She stated that they live in a “crack house.” According to Ms. Phillips, both her parents sell and use drugs (cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine). She states that she cannot live with them because they do not have water, electricity, or a phone. She indicates that her mother is under her father’s thumb and reports that her mother does not know how to read or write and her father typically controls everything her mother does.

Ms. Phillips reported that her adopted father, Kirk, sexually abused her from age 7 up until she was 14 years old. She says that she forgives him and still talks to him, but would never leave her children alone around him. Her adopted father, Kirk, has two brothers, Levy (who is married to Erline) and Calvin. Calvin lives with Erline and Levy. According to Ms. Phillips, Calvin is a registered sex offender and was arrested for anal penetration of her daughter, KeKe, when KeKe was 3 years old. Ms. Phillips does not think that Levy Phillips, unlike his two brothers, would ever sexually abuse her children. She states that he is very loving to the children and would love for her and the children to move back and live with them.

From Brown, Child Welfare: Case Studies

Ms. Phillips reports that she did not graduate from high school. She says that she dropped out in tenth grade and started working at a fast food restaurant, but could not save any money because her parents were taking all of her money to support their drug habits. She stated that she was never encouraged to finish school and had to sneak to school because her parents wanted her to drop out and work to support the family. She states that she has had a hard time keeping a job because people on the job have always tried to take advantage of her, so she quits. She hopes to go to college one day to become a certified nurse’s assistant. She would like to go to college so she can buy a house for her children.

KeKe

KeKe is 7 years old and in the second grade. According to Ms. Phillips, KeKe’s teacher reports that KeKe has difficulty concentrating on schoolwork and spends most of her time daydreaming. The teacher also reports that KeKe makes Ds on most of her work, but she believes that KeKe is very smart. According to the teacher, KeKe appears to be a very needy child and loves attention and seeks praise. She states that KeKe is consistently late for school, often arriving after 10:00 a.m. Ms. Phillips says that this is her fault, because she has difficulty waking up in the morning. She says that if it were up to KeKe, she would be at school before the school opens. KeKe says she loves school.

Ms. Phillips says that KeKe is very disobedient to her and does not respect her. She says she always has to argue with KeKe over everything. Ms. Phillips says that KeKe cries all of the time and it gets on her nerves. She says that KeKe cries for no reason. KeKe has also had a lot of medical problems. She has been sexually abused all of her life and has sustained many injuries from the sexual abuse. She has also had a hernia behind her belly button since birth and will need to have surgery to have it repaired.

Jeremy

Jeremy is 4 years old and quite energetic. Jeremy does not listen to Ms. Phillips at all and typically misbehaves whenever he is with her. Jeremy has been observed engaging in inappropriate sexual behavior while at the shelter. Jeremy will often slap females on the buttocks or grab their breasts. The social worker states that on one occasion Jeremy crawled under the table and put his face between her legs. Ms. Phillips states that Jeremy has sex with KeKe’s doll and she has told him to not do that. She states that she is not sure why he does it and she has punished him for it. The social worker has asked Ms. Phillips if it is possible that Jeremy has been sexually abused, and Ms. Phillips has stated that she does not think he has. The social worker has concerns that Jeremy may have been sexually abused as well. Keisha stated that Jeremy was questioned by the

From Brown, Child Welfare: Case Studies

police and a social worker when KeKe was sexually abused, but he did not give any indication that he had been abused. After questioning the sleeping arrangements of the children, the social worker learned that Jeremy and KeKe sleep together.

Jeremy’s fine motor and gross motor skills all appear to be within normal child development guidelines. Jeremy’s communication/speech is a concern. He has a limited vocabulary for his age, and what speech he does demonstrate is typically slurred.

Alexia

Alexia is 15 months old and appears to be within the normal developmental guidelines for her age. Alexia walks fairly well. Alexia prefers her mother’s sole attention, and is quick to draw away from or slap someone who approaches her. Alexia does not hesitate to get her mother’s attention by crying if the older two siblings are treating her unfairly.

THE KIMBALL FAMILY

Student Instructions

You have been assigned to work with the Kimball family. You are a foster care case worker. Your caseload consists of cases where the parent or care taker has not complied with the treatment plan. You have been asked to assess this case and develop grounds for termination of parental rights due to continued environmental and physical neglect of the children.

Family Composition

The Kimballs are an African American family. The family consists of the parents, Jessie, age 30, and Delois, age 28. They have four children, Michael, age 8, Katerris, age 5, Marie, age 3, and Edward, who is 7 months old. Mr. Kimball is incarcerated and has been for six months. The family is receiving public assistance for all of the children. They are renting a two-bedroom house.

Current Situation

The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) went to the Kimball residence and found the home filthy and unfit for human habitation. The house was infested with roaches and mice, there was trash all over the floor, and the children stated that they did not have any running water. It was observed that there was exposed wiring running between two televisions and this presented an

Neglect