HUM 5300 Week 2 Journal

Week 2 Journal

prior to beginning work on this journal entry,

· Read Chapters 10 and 11 from the textbook  American Social Welfare Policy: A Pluralist Approach.

· Read the article  Effective Policies for Single-Parent Families and Prospects for Policy Reforms in the United States: Concluding ReflectionsLinks to an external site. .

· Review the interactive  Navigating Public Assistance: A Single Parent’s Journey.

NAVIGATING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE: A SINGLE PARENT’S JOURNEY

Jay is a single parent with two young children, an 8 yr old daughter and a 5 yr old son. He recently lost his spouse, whose employment provided the family’s sole income. Initially, Jay was reluctant to apply for public assistance programs. However, his spouse did not have a life insurance policy and they had no savings or other financial resources. Jay and the children are currently living with his parents, who are on a fixed income and unable to provide financial assistance.

In your role as a public assistance case worker, you meet with Jay for the first time, and he tells you that he is embarrassed to ask for help but has nowhere else to turn.

He knows he needs assistance, and his goal is to further his education to provide a good life for his children. You listen to Jay’s concerns, and together, you crate a plan that addresses Jay’s immediate and basic needs, as well as his short and long-term goals.