6200WK2 DISCUUSIN1

Each day in the United States, 80 newborns are diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome, in which they experience withdrawal from a drug they have been exposed to in the womb (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Researchers know now that parental smoking, drinking, and drug use put a fetus at increased risk for disabilities and health disorders. However, adults who are addicted to these substances may not have the capacity to quit and/or may not be fully educated in the risks.

As a social worker, you will meet families in complicated situations that may require a variety of resources for support. These situations can involve parental drug use and the short- and long-term effects on children and the family. In this Discussion, you learn about one such family.

Reference:  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, August 13).  Data and statistics about opioid use during pregnancy. https://www.cdc.gov/pregnancy/opioids/data.html

RESOURCES

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity. Click the weekly resources link to access the resources. 

WEEKLY RESOURCES

TO PREPARE:

· Review this week’s Learning Resources on biological development and development theories.

· View the video case introducing new parents Jim and Sarah in the Learning Resources.

BY DAY 3

Post your initial response to the video case:

· Identify 1–2 developmental challenges that baby Jane may exhibit as a result of parental substance abuse. Explain how these challenges may impact typical developmental milestones. 

· Describe how the dimensions of the person-in-environment perspective can be applied in this case.

· Identify two practice skills that you as the social worker could employ in working with the parents.

BY DAY 5

Respond to  two colleagues by describing the following:

· A strategy your colleague could use to assist Jim and Sarah with an identified developmental challenge 

· A support resource available to parents to address a developmental challenge your colleague has identified

REFERENCES

Required Readings

· Zastrow, C. H., Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hessenauer, S. L. (2019).  Understanding human behavior and the social environment (11th ed.). Cengage Learning.

· Chapter 2, “Biological Development in Infancy and Childhood” (pp. 45–94)

· Cohen, A., & Mosek, A. (2019).  “Power together”: Professionals and parents of children with disabilities creating productive partnershipsLinks to an external site. .  Child & Family Social Work,  24(4), 565–573. https://doi.org /10.1111/cfs.12637

· O’Sullivan, A., & Monk, C. (2020).  Maternal and environmental influences on perinatal and infant developmentLinks to an external site. .  The Future of Children: Three Trimesters to Three Years: Promoting Early Development,  30(2), 11–34.

Required Media

· Tsiaris, A. (2010).  Conception to birth–visualizedLinks to an external site.  [Video]. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/alexander_tsiaras_conception_to_birth_visualized

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 9 minutes.

· Walden University, LLC. (2021).  Meet Ray [Video]. Walden University Blackboard. https://waldenu.instructure.com

Time Estimate: 1 minute