PRELIMINARY PHASE PRACTICE ASSIGNMENT 1
Preliminary Phase Practice Assignment
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
Preliminary Phase Practice Assignment
Introduction
I feel for the safety of the children and empathy for Maria, because she seems to care
for her children. She is doing the best she can while being undocumented and trying to balance
work and provide for her family. At the same time, there are critical safety concerns, such as
unsupervised young children, poor living conditions, and a lack of a reliable support network.
This situation underscores the complexity of working with families who are caught between
systemic barriers, cultural fears, and the deep desire to protect and provide for their children.
In this paper, I will explore how I would approach the preliminary phase of practice with the
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Rodriguez family, including who should be present at the initial meeting, how I would prepare
emotionally, potential obstacles, the worker skills I would use, safety considerations, cultural
reflections, and the outcomes I hope to achieve.
Who, What, Where
A. The initial meeting should be with the pertinent members of the situation. The
pertinent members would be Ms. Rodriguez, her children, who are Juan and Alena,
and the case worker. I do not believe the father of the children should be there since
he has not been present for some time. I also do not believe the landlord should be
in attendance since he is not an immediate family member. I also believe that since
Mr. Garcia, who is the landlord, reported the situation, it would only add
unnecessary emotions that are not beneficial to the situation.
B. I would like the visit to occur at the home of Ms. Rodriguez alongside Juan and
Alena. Visitation at the home would allow each member of the family to feel
comfortable. Being in the home of the family would also open the door for the case
worker to monitor each member in their own environment and get an organic
perception of the home dynamic. If the family were in the office of the case worker,
the family may be afraid of being deported, and the facts of the home environment
would not be explored.
Tuning In
A. I am concerned about Maria and her family. I would acknowledge my feelings about
the situation in regard to concern for the situation. I would try to balance my
empathy with the best decision for this situation. I would put my judgment aside and
focus on the best possible outcome. I would also find the balance in the fact that I
believe Maria`s circumstances were not because she did not do what she needed to
do as a mother, but because of a lack of financial support and resources.
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B. If this were a real case, I would be concerned about that Maria is undocumented,
and if this case goes any further, she could be deported, and the children may suffer
from separation from their mother. The safety of the children, regardless of the
factors that Maria put into place, is my first concern because she does not have
adequate child care. I also realize how I grew up and the concerns one may have
looking into how my village parented the neighborhood children, so I would have to
keep my own bias in check.
C. Maria may feel inadequate in her parenting. She may also feel defensive because
someone is coming into her home and trying to make corrections. She may be fearful
that someone is potentially taking her children away and deporting her. I would do
my best to make her feel that I am not there to judge her, but only to be a support
for her family.
Potential Obstacles and/or Assets
A. There may be an obstacle of the language barrier. A language barrier can hinder
communication as Maria may not be able to express herself, and I fully comprehend.
Another obstacle would be Maria not fully trusting that I am there to support her
family and not break it up. Maria or her children may not understand that I am not
with a deportation crew and do not have the authority to deport her or her children.
B. Clarification is paramount. I would ask Maria questions to get a better
understanding. I would also lay the foundation for her or her children to ask me
questions. I believe communication is a two-way street and allows both parties to
feel heard. Asking questions when the other party is not direct shows respect and
that active listening is taking place.
Worker’s skills
According to Shulman (2016), social workers use a range of skills to help clients
manage feelings and problems. I would try to understand Maria`s perspective by
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considering her circumstances. I would look at her situation as a whole and not only
focus on the negative by incorporating her strengths alongside the weaknesses. I would
also tackle the situation by breaking things down into smaller pods. Sometimes when we
look at a situation, it can become overwhelming, and people will shut down. I would
take one problem at a time.
Shulman (2016) encourages workers to ensure that words, voice tone, gestures,
facial expression, physical posture, and touch (when appropriate) all match and
communicate respect and concern for the individual and the individual’s situation. I do
not foresee any issues with what Shulman suggests. I have an excellent poker face, and I
truly have a balance for non-judgmental actions. I am not perfect and have my own vices
and plights.
What skills will you use to help Ms. Rodriguez manage her feelings? The skills I
would use would be reaching inside of silences. I believe that I can read the room. I
would not want to impose my thoughts on the situation on Maria. I would want her to
express herself freely. I would also ask for clarification because I would not want to
misinterpret her feelings or ideas. I want her voice to be heard, and that creates a sense
of trust, which may alleviate her fear of deportation. I would also allow her to be heard.
Most times, people are not truly heard, and that creates a problem.
Safety and Support
A. I do not have any safety concerns. I would follow my company`s policies, which I
would do on any home visit. Perhaps letting a co-worker or supervisor know when I
arrive and leave the residence for safety would be an option.
B. Maria may feel as though her home is not prepared for a professional visit and may
feel saddened or ashamed. She may also fear being deported. I may feel uneasy
about the condition of the home, and for my own comfort, after assessing the inside
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of the home, I may conduct my interview outside while the children play, so all
parties will either be distracted or more comfortable not inside the home that is
messy and infested with pests.
Cultural Considerations
I grew up as a young child, home alone to fend for myself while my mother
worked, so I understand that Maria had to make things happen under those
circumstances. I do not agree with the conditions of the home because, despite my
family`s working schedule, the house was always clean. I would find the balance and not
use my own circumstances, which were not necessarily right.
I feel sad for Maria and her family. Life is hard enough, and then financial
struggles and having no true support add the cherry on top. I would be uncomfortable in
the living space, yet would put that aside to find the greater good and help the family
because that is what I believe I am called by God to do!
Outcomes
A. I want Maria and her children to feel safe and build trust with me for a long-term
plan for the family unit to be successful and thrive. Important factors to achieve this
would be to show that I am competent and empathetic while helping the family stay
together and be fruitful in their time here on this earth.
B. I want Maria and her family to understand that she is not a bad parent, yet she needs
guidance on tools to help them thrive in their environment. I would ensure that the
proper resources are available to help the family be the best that they can be.
Conclusion
A. This case study shows how undocumented families face challenges to provide for their
families just as legal citizens do. This case also shows that sometimes looks can be
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deceiving and that sometimes parents are truly giving it their all, and the odds
seemed to be stacked against them. Initially, I will focus on building the family`s
trust, checking my own feelings, while using empathy and my social work skills to
ensure that the family has all the resources, they need to be successful. I will address
potential obstacles, be mindful of cultural considerations, and work toward
establishing a foundation for safety and stability while allowing Maria and the
children to express their concerns.
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Reference
Shulman, L. (2016). The skills of helping individuals, families, groups, and communities. (8th ed.).
Cengage.
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