Preliminary Phrase of Social Worker

Rodriquez Case Study

Juan and Alena Rodriquez Mother: Maria, age 25, Hispanic (undocumented) Father: Mateo, age 30, Hispanic (uninvolved) Children: Juan age 5 Alena, age 4

Presenting Situation: Mr. Garcia, Ms. Rodriquez’s landlord, went to Ms. Rodriquez home Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. to make some repairs and discovered that the children were left home alone. When Mr. Garcia entered the home, he observed Juan giving Alena a glass of Robitussin because she had a "head hurt." Juan stated that his mother told him to give Alena some Robitussin today, because she had not been feeling well the night before.

While at the home, Mr. Garcia also noticed that there were dirty dishes in every room, clothes strewn throughout the house, roaches in cupboards, and mice in the pantry. Mr. Garcia also noticed that there was an opened box of cereal, from which the children were having lunch, according to Juan.

There was no phone in the house, but Ms. Rodriquez had left her work number posted on the fridge and had instructed Juan to go next door to their elderly neighbor, who is wheelchair bound, and call if there were any problems. Mr. Garcia called the number from his cell phone and left a message for Ms. Rodriquez, saying that she needed to return his phone call immediately. Mr. Garcia then called the police department, who immediately responded and contacted the Department of Social Services

When the on-call worker arrives at 3:00 p.m., he observes that the description given above of the home is accurate, as evidenced by dirty dishes, strewn clothing, roaches, and mice. While being interviewed by the worker, with Mr. Garcia translating- Juan stated that his mother made breakfast for them before she went to work. Juan stated that she has instructed them to eat cereal throughout the day when they are hungry, as she does not allow them to cook or use the microwave. Shortly after the worker's arrival, Ms. Rodriquez contacted Mr. Garcia, who brings her "up to speed" on the situation. Ms. Rodriquez spoke to the on-call worker and said that she would explain the situation to her employer and ask for him to let her off at 4:00 p.m., instead of 8:00 p.m.

At 4:00 p.m. Ms. Rodriquez called the worker and stated that she was on her way home. The worker agreed to wait for her arrival. When Ms. Rodriquez arrived, the worker observed that Ms. Rodriquez was driving her own vehicle. The worker also noticed that Ms. Rodriquez responded to and interacted with the children appropriately and observed that they seemed to have a close bond with her. The worker noticed Ms. Rodriquez spoke English very well but spoke Spanish to the children.

During the initial interview, Ms. Rodriquez appeared to understand the need for Family Services to be involved and agreed to cooperate in any possible way. Ms. Rodriquez works in a factory, where she earns $4.85/hr. Ms. Rodriquez illegally crossed the U.S./Mexican border and has no legal U.S. identification. Last month she was required to work seven-hour days, six days each week. As of last month, her employer is now requiring her to work twelve-hour days, five days each week.

Ms. Rodriquez is afraid to object because she is afraid that her employer will either report her to Immigration Enforcement or fire her. Her childcare provider could care for her children when she was working seven-hour days, but not when she is working twelve-hour days.

Ms. Rodriquez stated that she has to work so she can pay her bills and provide food for her family. Ms. Rodriquez admitted that she has been leaving her children at home alone, since her employer required her to increase her hours. She stated that on her off days she tries to clean the home and attend to her children as much as possible but stated that it is difficult because she is often so tired. The on-call worker stated that there were some immediate safety issues in the home, such as the cleanliness of the home and the fact that Ms. Rodriquez has been leaving her young children alone for extended periods of time for the past month. Given their ages and the fact that Juan was giving Alena a glass of Robitussin, instead of the proper dosage, it is clear that these children are not able to adequately care for themselves.

Mr. Garcia, who has known Ms. Rodriquez since she came to the U.S. six years ago, agreed that he and his wife would care for the children. Ms. Rodriquez, Mr. Garcia, and the on-call worker agreed to this plan and signed a Safety Plan. Ms. Rodriquez undocumented status was not mentioned to the police department.

Current Situation: A worker interviews Juan, Alena, and Ms. Rodriquez the next day in their one bedroom, one bath mobile home located in a poverty stricken neighborhood near downtown San Antonio, Texas.

Background Summary: Ms. Rodriquez stated that she was raised in an upper-class Mexican neighborhood with a large sibling group. She grew up Roman Catholic and attended services weekly with her family. Religion played an important role in the family life.

She stated that she met Mateo Rodriquez, the father of her children, when she was seventeen and fell in love with him. Ms. Rodriquez stated that her parents strongly cautioned her against dating Mr. Rodriquez because his family status was "below" their own. Ms. Rodriquez stated that she defied her parents and moved into Mateo’s one-bedroom shack - an act for which her parents later disowned her.

After one year of living together, Ms. Rodriquez stated that she agreed to come to the U.S. with Mr. Rodriquez. Ms. Rodriquez stated that she left without her family's knowledge as they had disowned her. She was determined to show her parents that she could make it without their help. Ms. Rodriquez illegally came into the U.S. with her boyfriend, Mateo Rodriquez, six years ago. They lived with Mr. Rodriquez relatives until Mateo got a job and moved them into their own place six months later.

Ms. Rodriquez stated that shortly after their move, she became pregnant with Juan. She experienced issues during her pregnancy due to a history of hypertension and heart disease. Ms. Rodriquez stated that after Juan was born, she began to suspect that Mr. Rodriquez was in an intimate relationship with another woman when he began staying out later than usual and withdrawing from her and their child. There were also episodes of verbal abuse and fights that led to Ms. Rodriquez being pushed and shoved by her husband. Ms. Rodriquez stated that she confronted Mr. Rodriquez with her suspicions of infidelity, and he admitted to having an affair with his American co-worker.

Strengths • Ms. Rodriquez is employed. • Ms. Rodriquez has transportation. • Ms. Rodriquez cooks breakfast for her children before she leaves in the morning. • Ms. Rodriquez loves her children. • Ms. Rodriquez has informed Juan how to call for help in case of an emergency. • Ms. Rodriquez does not allow Juan and Alena to cook or use the microwave in her absence. • Ms. Rodriquez goes over the ground rules with her children every morning before she leaves for work. Juan and Alena have a strong bond with their mother. • Ms. Rodriquez is willing to collaborate with this agency regarding her children's safety. • Ms. Rodriquez realizes that leaving her children alone is dangerous.

Running head: TITLE OF PAPER 1

1

PRELIMINARY PHASE PRACTICE ASSIGNMENT

Preliminary Phase Practice Assignment

Name

School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University

Author Note

I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to

Email:

Preliminary Phase Practice Assignment

Introduction

Write an introductory paragraph discussing your initial thoughts and feelings regarding the Rodriguez Case Study. The last sentence is to be a thesis sentence explaining what the reader will find in the rest of the paper.

Who, What, Where

A. As you prepare for the initial meeting with Maria Rodriquez, discuss who should be present at the meeting and why?

B. Explore where you would like the meeting to occur and the reasoning behind this location . (Rodriquez family home, office, public location, etc.)

Tuning In

A. Discuss how you will tune in to your feelings and the clients’ feelings? ( Involves the worker’s effort to get in touch with actual and potential feelings/concerns/beliefs/values that the worker him/herself brings to the helping encounter as well as the worker’s thoughts of what the clients’ feelings may be about the encounter.)

Rodriquez Case Study

Juan and Alena Rodriquez Mother: Maria, age 25, Hispanic (undocumented) Father: Mateo, age 30, Hispanic (uninvolved) Children: Juan age 5 Alena, age 4

Presenting Situation: Mr. Garcia, Ms. Rodriquez’s landlord, went to Ms. Rodriquez home Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. to make some repairs and discovered that the children were left home alone. When Mr. Garcia entered the home, he observed Juan giving Alena a glass of Robitussin because she had a "head hurt." Juan stated that his mother told him to give Alena some Robitussin today, because she had not been feeling well the night before.

While at the home, Mr. Garcia also noticed that there were dirty dishes in every room, clothes strewn throughout the house, roaches in cupboards, and mice in the pantry. Mr. Garcia also noticed that there was an opened box of cereal, from which the children were having lunch, according to Juan.

There was no phone in the house, but Ms. Rodriquez had left her work number posted on the fridge and had instructed Juan to go next door to their elderly neighbor, who is wheelchair bound, and call if there were any problems. Mr. Garcia called the number from his cell phone and left a message for Ms. Rodriquez, saying that she needed to return his phone call immediately. Mr. Garcia then called the police department, who immediately responded and contacted the Department of Social Services

When the on-call worker arrives at 3:00 p.m., he observes that the description given above of the home is accurate, as evidenced by dirty dishes, strewn clothing, roaches, and mice. While being interviewed by the worker, with Mr. Garcia translating- Juan stated that his mother made breakfast for them before she went to work. Juan stated that she has instructed them to eat cereal throughout the day when they are hungry, as she does not allow them to cook or use the microwave. Shortly after the worker's arrival, Ms. Rodriquez contacted Mr. Garcia, who brings her "up to speed" on the situation. Ms. Rodriquez spoke to the on-call worker and said that she would explain the situation to her employer and ask for him to let her off at 4:00 p.m., instead of 8:00 p.m.

At 4:00 p.m. Ms. Rodriquez called the worker and stated that she was on her way home. The worker agreed to wait for her arrival. When Ms. Rodriquez arrived, the worker observed that Ms. Rodriquez was driving her own vehicle. The worker also noticed that Ms. Rodriquez responded to and interacted with the children appropriately and observed that they seemed to have a close bond with her. The worker noticed Ms. Rodriquez spoke English very well but spoke Spanish to the children.

During the initial interview, Ms. Rodriquez appeared to understand the need for Family Services to be involved and agreed to cooperate in any possible way. Ms. Rodriquez works in a factory, where she earns $4.85/hr. Ms. Rodriquez illegally crossed the U.S./Mexican border and has no legal U.S. identification. Last month she was required to work seven-hour days, six days each week. As of last month, her employer is now requiring her to work twelve-hour days, five days each week.

Ms. Rodriquez is afraid to object because she is afraid that her employer will either report her to Immigration Enforcement or fire her. Her childcare provider could care for her children when she was working seven-hour days, but not when she is working twelve-hour days.

Ms. Rodriquez stated that she has to work so she can pay her bills and provide food for her family. Ms. Rodriquez admitted that she has been leaving her children at home alone, since her employer required her to increase her hours. She stated that on her off days she tries to clean the home and attend to her children as much as possible but stated that it is difficult because she is often so tired. The on-call worker stated that there were some immediate safety issues in the home, such as the cleanliness of the home and the fact that Ms. Rodriquez has been leaving her young children alone for extended periods of time for the past month. Given their ages and the fact that Juan was giving Alena a glass of Robitussin, instead of the proper dosage, it is clear that these children are not able to adequately care for themselves.

Mr. Garcia, who has known Ms. Rodriquez since she came to the U.S. six years ago, agreed that he and his wife would care for the children. Ms. Rodriquez, Mr. Garcia, and the on-call worker agreed to this plan and signed a Safety Plan. Ms. Rodriquez undocumented status was not mentioned to the police department.

Current Situation: A worker interviews Juan, Alena, and Ms. Rodriquez the next day in their one bedroom, one bath mobile home located in a poverty stricken neighborhood near downtown San Antonio, Texas.

Background Summary: Ms. Rodriquez stated that she was raised in an upper-class Mexican neighborhood with a large sibling group. She grew up Roman Catholic and attended services weekly with her family. Religion played an important role in the family life.

She stated that she met Mateo Rodriquez, the father of her children, when she was seventeen and fell in love with him. Ms. Rodriquez stated that her parents strongly cautioned her against dating Mr. Rodriquez because his family status was "below" their own. Ms. Rodriquez stated that she defied her parents and moved into Mateo’s one-bedroom shack - an act for which her parents later disowned her.

After one year of living together, Ms. Rodriquez stated that she agreed to come to the U.S. with Mr. Rodriquez. Ms. Rodriquez stated that she left without her family's knowledge as they had disowned her. She was determined to show her parents that she could make it without their help. Ms. Rodriquez illegally came into the U.S. with her boyfriend, Mateo Rodriquez, six years ago. They lived with Mr. Rodriquez relatives until Mateo got a job and moved them into their own place six months later.

Ms. Rodriquez stated that shortly after their move, she became pregnant with Juan. She experienced issues during her pregnancy due to a history of hypertension and heart disease. Ms. Rodriquez stated that after Juan was born, she began to suspect that Mr. Rodriquez was in an intimate relationship with another woman when he began staying out later than usual and withdrawing from her and their child. There were also episodes of verbal abuse and fights that led to Ms. Rodriquez being pushed and shoved by her husband. Ms. Rodriquez stated that she confronted Mr. Rodriquez with her suspicions of infidelity, and he admitted to having an affair with his American co-worker.

Strengths • Ms. Rodriquez is employed. • Ms. Rodriquez has transportation. • Ms. Rodriquez cooks breakfast for her children before she leaves in the morning. • Ms. Rodriquez loves her children. • Ms. Rodriquez has informed Juan how to call for help in case of an emergency. • Ms. Rodriquez does not allow Juan and Alena to cook or use the microwave in her absence. • Ms. Rodriquez goes over the ground rules with her children every morning before she leaves for work. Juan and Alena have a strong bond with their mother. • Ms. Rodriquez is willing to collaborate with this agency regarding her children's safety. • Ms. Rodriquez realizes that leaving her children alone is dangerous.