Category: Family

The extent of children’s exposure to domestic violence in Australia

Statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicate that about 444, 000 women in Australia were subjected to family violence. The graph below indicates the proportion of children who witnessed the family fighting in 2005.

• Current partner
• Previous partner
• Percentage of children (ABS, 2005, p. 40)

Impact of exposure to violence on children

When children are exposed to violence, they encounter numerous difficulties in their various levels of development.

Table 1: Impact of family violence on developmental outcomes for infants/toddlers, school-aged children, and adolescents

Impact of family violence (Holt, Buckley, & Whelan, 2008, pp. 802-803)

Risk factors associated with domestic violence

Table 2: The modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for family violence (both as a perpetrator and as a victim)

Risk factors (Bedi & Goddard, 2007, p. 7)

Impact of exposure on children’s emotional and biological development

Biological development

Domestic and family violence have far-reaching effects on the biological development of a child. The procedure of organizing some internal illustration of information relies on the structure, extent, and rate of the neuronal process through recognizing, relaying, and storing signals (Edleson, 1999). Normally, distressed children show deep sensitization of the neural response structures related to their disturbing incidents. The outcome is that full-brown response patterns can be evoked by seemingly minor stressors. Deficiency of vital experiences during growth is the most disparaging area of child abuse. This implies that there are different times during which various areas of the central nervous system are growing and hence these are the most receptive stages. Violence interruptions of neurochemical signals during these stages may result in permanent mental defectiveness in neurodevelopment (Kovacs & Tomison, 2003).

Emotional development

Lack of effective neurodevelopment in children due to violent disruptions has far-reaching adversities on a child’s emotional development. Studies have proved that a sensitive period exists during which certain sensory experience is needed for optimal organizational and growth of the section of the brain relaying a certain function. Anomalous micro-environment prompts and a distinctive structure of neural action during serious and susceptible stages can lead to an endangered function in brain-related activities of attachment, hilarity, regulation, and sympathy. Some of the most renowned medical cases of this experience are concerned with the lack of attachment experiences early in child maturity (AIFS, 2000). A child who has become psychologically abandoned early in life will show intense attachment difficulties, which are enormously insensible to any alternate experiences afterward, even treatment. These children may also find it hard to develop friendships for several reasons, such as fear of inviting their friends to their homes due to the violence and holding back from others. Children that observe family violence may also be at an increased likelihood of relationship troubles especially relationship violence.

Recommendations

The research proposes that efficient involvement strategies for vulnerable families should concentrate on minimizing modifiable risk elements and enhancing protective factors. Since risk and caring factors are habitually interconnected within families, the strengths-based intervention approach will effectively tackle numerous risks and factors. Interventions that concern several areas of functioning, for instance, the child, family, and society, potentially have a better impact on attaining better results (Clements, Oxtoby, & Ogle, 2008). Another effective model of solving modifiable risk factors is the signs of safety model to child defense. In latest years, this model has relished significant attention and power, both in Australia and globally (AIFS, 2000).

Reflection

As a future family counselor, I found that the topic “family and domestic violence” enhanced my understanding of the impacts of domestic violence on child development and this will be useful in family counseling. Children that observe family violence are normally impacted in different areas of their development. Information on the topic of domestic violence has evidenced that these children are affected in terms of physical, emotional, and psychological functioning. As a family counselor, I will ensure that apart from the programs aimed at approaching the different impacts of witnessing violence and interventions are needed to assist children who witness family violence (Holt et al., 2008). Attributable to the systematic orientation of counselors, I will be well suited for such work, and I will include domestic violence prevention as part of my clinical practice. Additionally, because family counselors are required to practice within the scope of their training and be experienced in matters about domestic violence, the knowledge from this topic will be of paramount importance in solving family and issues related to child witnesses of violence.

The knowledge about the impacts of violence on a child’s development has assisted me in understanding that the basic ethical consideration for a family counselor working with children who have experienced family violence pertains to the child’s safety and mandated reporting of child abuse. The knowledge about the impacts of child abuse on children is far-reaching, and the realization of this will assist me in correctly reporting any form of domestic violence based on its influence on the child. Additionally, to reduce the possibility of domestic problems arising from mandated reporting guidelines, as a counselor, I will make such requirements explicit to families and children quickest possible.

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2005). Australia: Government Press.

Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS). (2000). Exploring family violence: Links between child maltreatment and domestic violence. Issues in Child Abuse Prevention.

Bedi, G., & Goddard, C. (2007). Intimate partner violence: What are the impacts on children? Australian Psychologist, 42(1), 66-77.

Clements, C. M., Oxtoby, C., & Ogle, R. L. (2008). Methodological issues in assessing psychological adjustment in child witnesses of intimate partner violence. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 9(2), 114-127.

Edleson, J. L. (1999). Children’s witnessing of adult domestic violence. Journal of interpersonal violence, 14(8), 839-870.

Holt, S., Buckley, H., & Whelan, S. (2008). The impact of exposure to domestic violence on children and young people: A review of the literature. Child abuse & neglect, 32(8), 797-810.

Kovacs, K., & Tomison, A. (2003). An analysis of current Australian program initiatives for children exposed to domestic violence. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 38(4), 513.

Literary Body of Work: Imtiaz Dharker

Imtiaz Dharker’s collection of poems, Postcards from God, focuses on various topics about human challenges. The author seems to define fundamentalism as one of the major causes of such dramatic situations. She addresses the experiences of several nations, including Pakistan (her birth country), India, and Britain (her countries of adoption). The poems “Namesake” and “Living Space” from Dharker’s collection show what exactly children are forced to survive under the pressure of globalization and poverty, using their hopes for a better life.

Child hope is one of the most precious things in the world because it consists of pure emotions and true feelings. In “Namesake,” lines 6-7 introduce Adam, who “gets up at four/follows his mother to the hotel/where he helps her cut the meat and vegetables.” Such obligations and expectations are not appropriate for a 10-year-old child. Nevertheless, he has to live his life, work with his family, and neglect the needs of an ordinary child. This narrative is full of angels and high powers that help the boy resist his family’s poverty and inability to enjoy his childhood. A similar atmosphere is conveyed by “Living Space,” dedicated to describing the child’s place of residence. Throughout the whole poem, including lines 2, 4, and 5, the author underlines that the building is dangerous and strange, with “not enough straight lines… flat or parallel.” Although the poem is not long, Dharker uses proper words to describe poverty in detail and underline feasible attempts to change something. In general, Postcards from God are not just evidence of child poverty as a serious global issue but the description of a road some nations cannot avoid despite their hopes and freedoms.

Non-Literary Body of Work: Kevin Carter’s Photography Portfolio

“Family,” a black-and-white photograph by Kevin Carter, depicts a forced famine slowly killing people. One of the individuals lies under a tree so thin that all the skeleton details are visible. The rest still retain the appearance of a human, but unhealthy thinness and lack of vitality are noticeable. Separately, the black and white filter of the photo is worth noting. It adds the feeling of the unambiguity that everything in the world is divided into good and bad. At the same time, a detailed review of people allows the viewer to notice a gray color, symbolizing significance. Human poverty might have many colors, and the worth of the chosen non-literary work is in the possibility of conveying the struggle in the face of inevitability.

Although the family is starving, people find the strength to look into the camera. In addition, they sit and chat, and one of them even smiles. This situation defines the moment of struggle and resistance when individuals do not give up in the face of such problems. They continue to forfeit their right to ordinary life, joy, and companionship. In addition, one cannot assert their sense of hopelessness. Separately, it is necessary to emphasize their tent, which performs the function of housing. People are next to her, protecting her and considering her the principal place.

It is also necessary to analyze the exposition chosen by the author. A man dying of hunger is depicted in the foreground, symbolizing the future that awaits the rest. It is noteworthy that the body next to the tree continues to grow and live, proving that the life of a human has become more unreliable and shorter than that of a plant. A particularly striking contrast is added by the fact that the trunk of the tree is several times wider than a person who was tortured by hunger. An understanding comes that young people are sitting in the background, namely children who are already facing starvation but not yet so critical. In this context, the interpretation of their gaze changes whether they fight or remain horrified by what they see. In the end, the photographer emphasizes how difficult and dangerous a child’s life in an impoverished country is and how many trials await such individuals. The future of such people is entirely devoted to the endless fight against hunger and disease and attempts to extend their lives.

Summary

The life of children in impoverished countries is full of challenges and the fight against hunger and low quality of life. These facts are reflected in art, both in the form of poems and photographs. The global problem of starvation and poverty is depicted in both art forms with the help of symbols and the characters’ beliefs. When analyzing two Dharker’s poems, it is impossible to establish that one of them reveals the topic more effectively or brighter. On the contrary, it is worth noting the general end to which the lyrical heroes come. Despite all the difficulties, they continue to fight and try to restore or save a life. Carter’s works show that human strengths are running out, and they have nothing to do but appeal to faith and higher powers. Studying this problem is vital since the works and photographs demonstrate the horror and danger that are relevant to people. It is the emotional urges that become motivators for starting actions. One of the principles of society is that life has the highest value and happiness. For this reason, it is urgent to care for people of any age who has to live in a developing country and deal with hunger and other serious global issues. It is not enough to recognize the problem but try to help them fight for their well-being.

Introduction

Acknowledging the formation of ethnic and societal identities is critical for successful counseling and mobilization. Psychologists can use cultural and racial character formation frameworks to examine within-group disparities. The approaches also enable therapists to properly comprehend client behaviors to treatment and deliver sociopolitical effects on identity formation to light. Although the approaches may aid in understanding cultural or ethnic identity formation, their stage-based structure limits their portrayal of a greater natural and complicated system that is influenced by other factors such as sexual preference, gender, and class. The case study will analyze the biopsychological characteristics, systematic dynamics and racial identity of members of the Carter family. Strategies for resolving conflict and promoting optimal wellness within the family are provided in this paper.

Biopsychosocial Characteristics and Systematic Dynamics

The discipline of bio-psychosocial psychiatric study emphasizes the relevance of the connection between biological, psychological, and social aspects of distress and the requirement of considering all of these elements when assessing the complete patient. The concept looks at how these factors influence everything from health and sickness to the formation of personal identity (Gentry et al., 2018). James experiences multiracial issues that make the boy’s biopsychosocial features poor in the Carter family case study. Raymond and Sarah would like to improve their son’s biopsychosocial characteristics; however, they appear to deny James the chance to interact with the African-American culture. Multiracial youngsters should be allowed to associate with both cultures so they can develop their identities.

In the United States, race dynamics have a powerful impact on multiracial households. Family counselors should be ready to fulfill the demands of this rapidly rising group while also advocating for racial fairness. The Carter family’s systemic dynamics are heavily influenced by age and gender. James has arrived at a point in life desiring to learn and participate in his African American heritage. James might confide in his father, but Raymond is white, so it is not easy, and thus they argue a lot. Sarah is of African descent; however, she is not the man in James’ life. Gender serves a more significant part since James needs an excellent male African-American character in his life, unlike his recent acquaintances. James wants to identify with the African American heritage but lacks a male figure to help lead him; therefore, James resents his parents.

Gender responsibilities in society refer to the way people are groomed, talk, act, dress, and behave according to their given sex. Women and girls, for example, are required to dress in traditionally feminine styles and be pleasant, sympathetic, and caring (Gentry et al., 2018). Sarah’s brothers want her to transfer their mother into her home in the Carter family case study since the mother is experiencing problems. Sarah is a working parent, and balancing work and family life is a constant struggle. When the requirements of children and other family members conflict with employment, women usually alter their schedules and accept commitments. Therefore, gender becomes a powerful systemic dynamic that professional counselors should help families understand the roles of each member to prevent conflicts in the household.

Racial and Cultural Identity

Multiracial adolescents transracially adopted children, and foster kids nurtured in households with more than one ethnic or cultural ancestry have a distinctive perspective within and beyond the house. The cultural identity model is a framework for comprehending and collaborating with members of ethnically incorporated homes (Lee et al., 2018). This takes into account racial and cultural variations among children and parents and the effect of parents, colleagues, extended families, social help systems, and the larger community’s perspectives and behaviors on child psychology. The racial identity development model was the first comprehensive guidance for practitioners working with ethnically and regionally blended households.

Acknowledging James’ conduct is one of the advantages of the racial and cultural identification paradigm. Using the approach, one may determine the degree of awareness James is feeling due to his race. Furthermore, because therapists investigate everything James is experiencing and assist the family throughout the process, the approach helps to produce a favorable household outcome (Lee et al., 2018). The model can assist the Scottish-Irish father to comprehend James and offer his son an excellent father figure.

Sarah has a greater sense of James’ situation; however, she is frightened of allowing him to interact with African-American culture for fear of getting shot for being in the wrong area at the wrong moment. On the other hand, Raymond’s experience through the stages of awareness is utterly different from Sarah’s and James’. These constraints may impact James’ therapy response and connection with the parents. James has a lot of hatred toward his parents and Raymond’s and Sarah’s reactions and assistance are crucial to James’ development. It is critical to work with both parents to comprehend James’ state of awareness and explore it in family counselling.

Strategies For Resolving Conflict and Promoting Optimal Wellness

In today’s culture, conflict frequently arises in multicultural households. When two or multiple ethnic groups come together, there is a risk of conflict owing to differing viewpoints. Although it may appear like resolving the disagreement is the best option, managing it may be a better one. Professional psychologists dealing with multiracial families in the home must be familiar with the many forms of disagreement and conflict resolution approaches needed to guide family members toward good results properly.

The Carter family will be able to sort out difficulties and express their goals and desires by meeting with a family counsellor. Working through difficulties as a household will offer the Carters a venue to communicate openly while also allowing a therapist to ensure that everyone is recognized. The use of African-American ethnic identity concepts will aid James and his parents in comprehending his perspectives (Gibson et al., 2021) and, as a result, resolving their family issues. The strategy will help the parents become aware of ways to engage with James’ influence behavior. These models are critical in therapeutic mental health treatment because they improve cultural competency knowledge.

The gender equality paradigm focuses on being aware of current cultural norms around gender identity and expression. These standards, seen in linguistic and pronoun patterns, encourage a binary gender interpretation, such as man versus woman. The gender equality module is divided into five sections: work-life balance, inclusive hiring, voice equality, equal compensation for equal labor, and work atmosphere. Employing the gender equality model will enable Sarah’s brothers to understand that both genders are equal and the whole responsibility of taking care of their mother does not need to fall on Sarah only (Gibson et al., 2021). Furthermore, Sarah will explain the situation in her household of her and Raymond working full time; therefore, there would not be anyone at the house with their mother all day. The model of gender equality will solve conflict and create an understanding in households and promote optimal wellness.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Carters have a lot of space for progress and development. The family’s recovery will be aided by utilizing Riverbend City’s facilities and effective tactics. With an understanding of racial developmental approaches and applying the personal self-model to foster wellbeing and resilience, their problems as a multiracial household will diminish. The gender equity model will serve an essential part in creating an understanding between Sarah and her siblings concerning their mother’s problem. Family counselling can assist multiracial families in strengthening strained relationships with children or other family relatives.

References

Gentry, K., Snyder, K., Barstow, B., & Hamson-Utley, J. (2018). The biopsychological model: Application to occupational therapy practices. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 6(4), 24-36. Web.

Gibson, M. D., Pence, C., Kennedy, S. D., Gerlach, J., Degges-White, S., & Watson, J. (2021). Development of the counselor wellness competencies.Journal of Counselor Leadership and Advocacy, 8(2), 130-145. Web.

Lee, E., Tsang, A. K. T., Bogo, M., Johnstone, M., & Herschman, J. (2018). Enactment of racial microaggression in everyday therapeutic encounters.Smith College Studies in Social Work, 88(3), 211-236. Web.

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to analyze critically a quantitative study. This objective will be accomplished by critiquing the research questions, hypothesis, research background, methods used, results, and ethical aspects. An overall evaluation of the study, including the appropriateness of the methodology, as well as its strengths and limitations will also be provided.

The study critiqued in this paper is titled, “Gender differences in work-family guilt in parents of young children”. Its authors are Jessica L. Borelli, Katherine Nelson, Laura M. River, and Sarah A. Birken. The research question examined was how does guilt related to work-life balance affect mothers compared to fathers? (Borelli et al., 2016). Two hypotheses were tested: mothers would report more “work-family guilt” and “work-interfering-with-family guilt” than fathers would (Borelli et al., 2017). The study’s background information includes a comprehensive review of literature. It emphasizes gender and cultural beliefs encountered in our daily life. The general assumption is that men are bold and independent. The authors then describe the consequences of violating this gender-based norm, including feelings of inadequacy that affect the mother (Borelli et al., 2017). The authors acknowledge the limited attention paid to quantitative research on work-family guilt. This forms the purpose of the paper, addressing widespread nature of this phenomenon.

There was an apparent bias in the choice of most materials used in the review. The report did not also capture the different notions portrayed across the US about the childrearing and parenting responsibilities of mothers and fathers. Most of the literature materials used on gender norms, work-family conflict, and guilt were of cultures very dissimilar to the study sample.

Summary of Methods

The quantitative study used a non-experimental approach. In this research design, research variables are not manipulated; instead, they are measured as they occur naturally (Leatherdale, 2019). The study was correlational as it sought to discover the relationship between gender roles and their effect on work-family guilt.

The researchers used convenience sampling approach. The researchers used a sample of full-time workers in the US who were parents of children aged 1-3 years. The study participants had responded to an emotional study of their experiences announced online and through flyers in public spaces. They were recruited via social media platforms, parenting websites, emails list, and even fliers circulated in Southern California City and other metro areas in the US.

The researchers collected data using open-ended questions about the work experiences of the participants who then filled a report of their measure of guilt. The study obtained information related to general guilt using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule-Expanded Form (PANAS-X). The participants rated the extent to which they experience the said emotion on a 5-point Likert-type scale. Their demographic data were also collected.

The researchers used the Pomona Work and Family Assessment (PWFA) to assess the coder’s rating for guilt. It comprised four open-ended prompts that participants responded to keeping in mind all their employment aspects. Both the PANAS-X and PWFA had been validated by previous studies as reliable measures of general guilt and coders’ ratings of guilt, respectively. Data analysis involved the Spearman rank-order correlation that was used to assess the inter-rater reliability to capture the ordinal nature of data (Borelli et al., 2017). Linear regression was also utilized for hypothesis testing.

Validity and reliability of the research methods were achieved through the evaluation of the internal consistency (α =.86) of the 5-point Likert-type scale items. A test-retest procedure was applied to the measures over a standard period of two months, demonstrating their convergent and discriminant validity (α =.68). In general the study showed a good reliability (full sample: α =.89; mothers: α =.89; fathers: α =.91) (Borelli et al., 2017). They used coders not who were not part of the sample team to develop the PWFA.

Summary of Results

Work-family guilt was significantly correlated with distress among working parents. However, the researchers concluded that preliminary evidence of gender differences was not so big but further research was needed. No practical significance nor effect size of the results was estimated. The researcher’s conclusion shows evidence of gender differences in work-family guilt. It is drawn from the results obtained in this study. When using the self-reporting (PANAS-X guilt scale), mothers generally expressed stronger feelings of guilt than fathers did. The data shows that work-family guilt and work were interfering with family guilt (Borelli et al., 2017). The researchers also concluded that general guilt did not differ significantly between women and men.

Ethical Aspects

The researchers did not explicitly address ethical issues. However, the study was designed to have a minimal risk for the participants. The survey was completed online, which may be deemed convenient for working parents. Further, there was no extra effort to maximize the benefits for the subjects. The researchers also did not express how they preserved the anonymity of the participants. There was no mention of them acquiring consent prior to data collection. The researchers did not mention whether they had institutional review board approval. Some practices raise ethical questions. The researchers could have obtained informed consent and offered to protect the participants’ identifying information secret. Alternatively, they would have not collected such data during the survey.

Evaluation of Study

Overall, the methods used were appropriate for examining the research question. The researchers used a large sample of parents (N = 255, 140 mothers), giving insights into work-family guilt. Another strength of the study was the quantitative (correlational) approach used, which enhanced the external validity of the results (Newman, 2016). Additionally, the use of validated measures (PANAS-X and PWFA) ensured the reliability of the data collected.

The authors mention that due to the correlational and cross-sectional design used, they were unable to determine cause-effect relationships related to gender differences. A second limitation stated is the biased method used to recruit participants. The inclusion criteria – full-time employees and parents of children aged 1-3 – may have revealed the study’s purpose to the respondents, creating bias. The sample was also not representative of all demographic segments of US population, making generalizability of the findings difficult. A possible limitation relates to sampling. Including only parents in the US limited the external validity of the findings to other non-Western societies.

The study recommended implementing a paradigm linking social factors to high work-family guilt among mothers. The authors also suggested that future studies be done to explain whether work-family guilt can account for gender differences in anxiety (Borelli et al., 2017). The quantitative approach used was the right method. However, a random sampling approach should be used to enhance the representativeness of the sample. The researchers should also include other mediating social factors that moderate gender differences in guilt experience.

Conclusion

In most US family setups, both parents are working. Work-family guilt has the potential to impact the psychological health of the parent. This study used a quantitative approach to research this social problem. Overall, the study provided great insights into the topic. However, problems with the sampling approach resulted in a biased sample that limited the generalizability of the study findings. A recommended research question for a follow-up study is; do mothers in conservative societies experience more guilt than those in liberal cultures? A stratified sampling approach and hypothesis testing methods are suggested.

References

Borelli, J. L., Nelson, S. K., River, L. M., Birken, S. A., & Moss-Racusin, C. (2017). Gender differences in work-family guilt in parents of young children. Sex Roles, 76(5-6), 356-368. Web.

Leatherdale, S. T. (2019). Natural experiment methodology for research: A review of how different methods can support real-world research. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 22(1), 19-35. Web.

Newman, M. (2016). Research methods in psychology. (2^nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education.

Problem Definition

In the U.S., needy families use the Temporary Assistance (TA) program to facilitate cash benefits as financial support. New York’s TA, a state program, provides such benefits that amount close to $31.3 billion for children and family sustenance (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities [CBPP], 2020). In comparison to the general population, the number of individuals receiving such state support is drastically small, yet the program’s roll-out has been facilitated and funded by state agencies. This calls for the question of the program’s efficiency, efficacy, and effectiveness in mitigating poverty amongst the children and their families.

The Policy Goal

The primary goal of the implementation of The New York TA is to assist needy families with children so that they can live in their own homes or the homes of relatives. The program also aims to end dependence of needy parents on government benefits through work, job preparation, and marriage. Consequently, the program helps in reducing out-of-wedlock pregnancies and promoting the formation and maintenance of two-parent families

The Policy Proposals

To establish feasible policy proposals based on the problem of the New York’s TA poverty mitigation impacts, such evaluation of the effectiveness of New York’s TA program through assessing the percentage of successful interventions in comparison with benchmark standards is important. Additionally, it is imperative to assess the adherence to the goals set by the TANF and the sustainability of the achieved results. As such, the values obtained will help in establishing strategies that are both effective and sustainable.

Findings

Does the New York TA program provide adequate improvement of needy families’ employment status across New York?

Positive Outcome –. It is suggested that TANF benefits would help to improve a family’s economic state through cash benefits as well as earned income through employment. It is also suggested that with this income, the effects on the family may improve the quality of time and activities that a family may engage in, the quality of child care available, and decreased financial stress on parents who are now able to assist children in completing homework and attending school functions (Falk, 2017).

Does New York’s TA program provide effective interventions to improve enrollees’ quality of life?

Negative Outcome-Majority of enrollees experienced no improvement in their quality of life especially those with mental disabilities compared to the general population. It was found that both current and former welfare recipients have poorer health status as compared to the general population. TANF leaves families below the federal poverty line with a poverty ratio of below 20% (CBPP, 2021).

Are the effects of the interventions provided to enrollees of the TA program in New York sustainable?

Neutral Outcome – Though the cash benefits provide financial benefits as well as employment to most needy families, other families engaging in these activities would need the disposable income that is not typically available with TANF requirements. As such, neither TANF’s income nor employments display any significance to child-wellbeing and family poverty-line upsurge (Spencer & Komro, 2017). Such parents receiving TANF and complying with its policies for work may be required to spend more money on such work-related costs as fare, child-wellbeing, and clothing. The long-term effect is an increase in family revenue which decreases the cash benefits of TANF, hence such families are left in a fixed economic state.

Recommendation and Course of Action

The recommendation encompasses the policy gaps that result in incomplete TANF roll-out and complete mitigation and address of the child welfare and families poverty issues. For instance, such factors as job-related policy requirements and rules can be made flexible to enable many families that are locked out of the program to benefit. Therefore, I will advocate that the social workers, based on their moral duty, be aware of the rules that marginalize needy children and families go through. Moreover, I will advocate for a law to be effected which would relieve such social problems that promote social justice.

References

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (2021). Chartbook: Temporary assistance for needy families. Web.

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (2020). Policy basics: Temporary assistance for needy families. Web.

Spencer, R. A., & Komro, K. A. (2017). Family economic security policies and child and family health. Clinical child and family psychology review, 20(1), 45-63. Web.

Social Support

The first goal is to help families that are working to recover from substance abuse to develop social support in their efforts to change. Those who abuse substances have their social interaction mainly centered on using. The sources of social support and customary activities will be disrupted by making efforts to stop usage. The efforts by the clients to change may also be threatened.

A better way of dealing with this is to enhance social support and recreation by helping clients and family members that are affected in devising events that are not associated with use of drugs. Drug-free activities may already be part of the clients’ agenda and counselors can find out from the families regarding the things they used to be actively involved in before they got engaged in substance abuse. In other cases, nearly every aspect of the client’s life is attributed to substance abuse, and for such situations, new activities are supposed to be devised (McCollum & Trepper, 2001, p. 111).

Helping the clients get employment

The other goals are: giving motivation to the clients to look for employment, teaching them how to ask for job interviews from potential employers with efficacy, and obtaining employment. Research shows that individuals who abuse substances are likely to quit their jobs compared to those who do not. These individuals also find it difficult to get jobs that are fulfilling and those that are in line with their treatment program. There are several steps to the fulfillment of these goals. First, there is an assessment to verify the interest of the client in getting a satisfactory job. If this is the case, the client is requested to explain how important the satisfying job will be while the MHP checklist has information that reinforces the significance of the job. It is normally important to implore the aspects of a career and its related benefits (Donohue & Allen, 2011).

Another thing worth inquiring in meeting these goals is the contribution of the client towards making a dream job come to pass. This entails how to deal with hindrances that may hamper the attainment of a dream job. The purpose of these queries is to motivate the client to pursue a job opportunity client that have been referred for employment often lack.

Another thing that clients are made aware of is that job getting helps them to effectively get ready for interviews. This also includes skills that are in line with being interviewed for the jobs. It is also vital to let the clients know that classified adverts contribute a small percentage of jobs and that besides using it they should also embrace telephone networking with their prospective employers. Moreover, “clients are told that job getting has been successful in achieving employment for others and they are asked to indicate how job getting would be helpful to them” (Donohue & Allen, 2011).

Conclusion

Designing goals for the intervention plan of a family with substance abuse requires a clear understanding of the clients. The first goal is social support. This entails devising drug free activities that will substitute the ones they were using previously. The other goals are motivating clients in seeking employment, teaching them how to secure interviews from prospective employers and getting employed. These goals are geared towards helping the clients get into employment. This is done by motivating them to pursue their careers, know how to get jobs, win interviews and get them to appreciate the value of being employed.

References

Donohue, B. & Allen, D., (2011). Treating Adult Substance Abuse Using Family Behavior Therapy: A Step-by-Step Approach. NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Retrieved on 20 May 2011.

McCollum, E.E, & Trepper, T.S., (2001). Family solutions for substance abuse: clinical and counseling approaches. NY: Routledge. Retrieved on 20 May 2011.

Introduction

Low-income families living in megapolises have always struggled to maintain their life quality on a decent level. Large urban areas oftentimes set high price levels and have increased competition for resource availability. Even though big city centers usually get relevant financing, residents with low incomes cannot afford access to the wide spectrum of possibilities their city provides. In New York, one of the largest cities in the US, the poverty level was estimated as 17.9%, which is significantly higher than in all of the US: 10.5% (United States Census Bureau, 2019). A high poverty level leads to diversity in society, influencing on economy and citizens’ quality of life. To raise a decent population of the young generation, society needs to keep affordable medicine, education, food, and other resources available according to the average salaries of humans in poverty.

Household income influences several social, economic, and financial factors that might have a negative impact on the education level of society, health, and food sustainability of people in need. Gennetian et al. (2018) monitored within four years the educational characteristics of students from low-income families using the Opportunity New York City-Family Rewards study. The authors of the research figured these students experienced changes in volatility from four to fifteen times higher or lower compared to their initial condition (Gennetian et l., 2018). Such results show that pupils from families with low household incomes struggle to keep a decent level of attendance and school outcomes. Social levels influencing the personal progress of the young generation is a major issue that can be solved by estimating resource availability to the poor segment of the New York population and the information spread to them.

Low income also limits the access of families and their children to healthy products. Fast foods and lack of vegetables and fruits are one of the main issues causing overweight, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and some chronic diseases. Setting healthy food behavior from childhood is essential for the general health of the population and profitable in terms of state and private clinics’ spending on disease treatments. Another influencing factor on dietary habits is the scale of New York, which has fast life and shortens time on proper food intake and cooking. A study by Seguin et al. (2017) proved that socioeconomically disadvantaged clusters of the population have a lower intake of fruits and vegetables and poorer diet quality. Providing decent quality food to children at schools and organizing social help for low-income families might reduce current and future health disparities.

As one of the solutions to the general issue, the government creates a variety of programs offering help and support to families in need. Such organizations include, for instance, New York City’s Administration for Children Services, New York City’s Department of Education, New York City’s Housing Authority, and Child Care and Development Fund. It is essential to estimate eligible services and functions to be aware of the current condition of low-income families and their access to the programs. Oftentimes, the central problem of limited resource availability takes its basement in the data spread to the population, their comprehension of the possible help, and the ways they can get it.

Problem Definition

The main issue of this project is the problem of resource availability for low-income families in New York and their awareness about it. The population of a large megapolis might not receive the information about available help for them due to inadequate advertisement and other sources spreading data. Both public and the government should have appropriate communication allowing them to cooperate and function together. State finances should be planned for social advertisement and people’s education. A clear understanding of human rights in various conditions will let New York citizens receive fast and efficient help from governmental organizations and community partners.

Research Goal

Researching the current situation of help provided to low-income families and their knowledge about it are the main concerns of this work. Getting a full picture of the issue can help enhance the data spread to the individuals, estimate the spheres of provided help that need the most improvement, and how it can be accomplished.

About This Research

The project will be done in close cooperation with community partners and support organizations estimating their programs and statistics. Depending on how many citizens receive the customs and help, further analysis will be implemented. Families with low household incomes will be surveyed to receive feedback about their awareness of the social help they can get. The primary benefit stands for the poor segment of the population; however, organizations and community partners can be interested in developing a better availability to people if the positive outcomes are described in detail. For instance, saving costs on health insurance, improving education level in the country, and, more down to earth, reducing the level of poverty and their work amounts.

Current Policies

There is a variety of organizations solving the major issue of the project, such as New York City’s Administration for Children Services, New York City’s Department of Education, New York City’s Housing Authority, and Child Care and Development Fund. According to their programs’ implementation and the results of surveys, the main issues of the topic will be highlighted, and a possible solution for solving them will be proposed.

References

Gennetian, L. A., Rodrigues, C., Hill, H. D., & Morris, P. A. (2018). Stability of income and school attendance among NYC students of low-income families. Economics of Education Review, 63, 20-30.

Seguin, R. S., Morgan, E. H., Hanson, K. L., Ammerman, A. S., Jilcott Pitts, S. B., Kolodinsky, J., Sitaker, M., Becot, F. B., Connor, L. M., Garner, J. A. & McCuirt, J. T. (2017). Farm Fresh Foods for healthy kids (F3HK): An innovative community supported agriculture intervention to prevent childhood obesity in low-income families and strengthen local agricultural economies. BMC Public Health, 17(306), 1-10.

Unites States Census Bureau.Quick Facts. New York City. Web.

Introduction

Thousands of soldiers serve, protecting their country from all types of threats, and ensuring its security. Unfortunately, not all people value such care, and instead of showing respect, they are prejudiced. The purpose of this essay is to study the impact of the problem of insufficient respect for military families on society and individuals and to find solutions to this issue.

Main body

Although military men are strong personalities, their relatives are often affected by many factors. In addition to high army demands and trials, the family has to cope with common everyday problems, such as financial ones (Trail et al. 2132). People do not show respect to military households for many reasons, one of which is a banal lack of knowledge about the army. Other people do not respect military families, believing that they are in a privileged position. All this translates into prejudices about such families, which only increase the complexity of life for the defenders of the country. Soldiers should be in the most comfortable conditions to fulfill their duty as efficiently as possible. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the number of negative factors affecting them.

This problem can be solved, first of all, by increasing the education of people and disseminating accurate information about military families. It is necessary to raise the prestige of the army, forming the image of heroic defenders. Advertising campaigns should be conducted that tell about the hardships of life for the military and their families to attract public attention to this problem. As an alternative method, this difficulty can also be solved by providing support to military relations from the state. At the moment, there are many diverse programs to support military families. However, many of them require improvement and a more focused approach, which at the moment cannot be achieved due to a lack of data (Trail et al. 2130). Hence, by supporting households and eliminating weaknesses, the state can make military families more durable, which will also help improve their image in society.

Conclusion

Thus, in the modern community, there is a problem of disrespect for military families. It can be solved in several ways: either by social or state methods. However, regardless of the program, this issue should be addressed and resolved as soon as possible, since its negative impact affects not only the military itself but also indirectly affect the whole country.

Work Cited

Trail, Thomas, et al. “Patterns of vulnerabilities and resources in US military families.” Journal of Family Issues, vol. 38, no. 15, 2017, pp. 2128-2149.

Family homelessness is a vital issue in the United States, as it is created by the combination of internal and external factors. Some of them include lack of affordability on a housing market, poverty, poor state support, domestic violence, and more. However, this issue is not purely economic, but also medical, as people are more vulnerable and are struggling to get appropriate treatment. Thus, nursing, as an essential part of the care system needs to ensure quality support for the most in need. Overall, studying three recent academic articles addressing the issue of homeless families can provide a better comprehension of how they can be treated in nursing practice.

The study by Cronely et al. (2019) explored the lives of individuals belonging to homeless families. These units defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as an entity that includes one or more adults and at least one child that is under 18 years of age (Cronley et al., 2019). Moreover, these individuals experience the following circumstances: living in a place not appropriate for the human environment, such as shelter, transitional housing, or a prison (Cronley et al., 2019). Additionally, these people might be losing their primary residence within two weeks and cannot afford to keep the housing (Cronley et al., 2019). Lastly, a family’s current house is temporary and unstable, or individuals are fleeing from domestic violence and cannot obtain another residency (Cronley et al., 2019). Statistically, in 2018, individuals under 18 years of age create about a third part of an entire homeless population in the country (Cronley et al., 2019). Moreover, the research suggests that the numbers are equally high within children and teenagers that experience living in a homeless family across all cities and states.

Moreover, the article explores the contemporary data associated with homeless families. In Los Angeles, the number of under-aged individuals experiencing homelessness is about 5000 (Cronley et al., 2019). Furthermore, in a metropolis like Seattle, children and adolescents represent 22% of the overall homeless population (Cronley et al., 2019). However, the statistics are incomplete, as most homeless shelter providers do not accurately differentiate between children before 12 and teenagers, as it is not required from HUD. Overall, adolescence is a necessary period of human development, both physically and socially (Cronley et al., 2019). Besides, a body is experiencing essential changes of puberty and the time of socialization is particularly intense. Therefore, the inconveniences and stress related to homelessness can negatively influence children and teenagers during the vital developmental stage by “affecting the neurobiological structure of the developing brain as it relates to metabolism and social functioning” (Cronley et al., 2019, p. 132). Overall, individuals under 18 that live in homeless shelters are more likely to experience a health-related problem than children residing in permanent households.

Moreover, homeless school-age individuals are more exposed to damages in long-term emotional and physical health due to stress and impoverishment. The primary reason for such negative consequences is the lack of adequate access to appropriate quality health institutions (Cronley et al., 2019). For instance, there is a connection between stressful lifestyles among kindergarten-age kids and the probability of being admitted to a hospital (Cronley et al., 2019; Cutuli et al., 2017). However, there is still a lack of scientific research regarding the effects of poor nutrition and physical activities among the homeless population.

One of the highlights of the existing studies is the idea of a “hunger-obesity paradox” determined by the body mass indicator of homeless adults and the rest of the people. Another similar research in Minneapolis presented that 45% of children staying in the homeless shelter were severely overweight or obese (Cronley et al., 2019). Moreover, the national survey among the homeless population determined that a quarter of individuals experienced food insufficiency (Cronley et al., 2019). Similarly to the United States, Canadian scholars discovered that residents of homeless shelters consumed not a sufficient amount of daily calories intake.

Another article addressing the issues of homeless families in America by Chatterjee et al. (2017) suggests that the problem remains vital for the public health sector. Even though the HUD indicated that the number of this type of families from 2007 to 2015 has declined, the overall progress varies because seventeen states still experienced an increase in 2016 (Chatterjee et al., 2017). Furthermore, the amount of families that belong to a homeless category in the United States is higher than in any other developed country with over two million children statewide (Chatterjee et al., 2017). Family homelessness is especially detrimental for families because almost half of them include young children under six.

Furthermore, such individuals usually have unstable, temporary places to stay that are far from an appropriate support network, which makes it difficult to access proper medical care. Despite malnutrition, as was mentioned in the previous article, children tend to experience other serious health issues. Some of them are discovered to be “chronic illness, internalizing and externalizing behaviour problems, and dental decay” (Chatterjee et al., 2017, p. 2). Additionally, children are struggling socially, as they tend to perform worse academically and have problems with socializing than children with permanent houses (Chatterjee et al., 2017). In terms of parents, there are also health associated dangers, as they tend to be more exposed to sexually risky behaviour, high smoking rates, and mental illnesses (Chatterjee et al., 2017). Overall, the study explored the negative consequences of long-term poverty in children’s early life by emphasizing the vulnerability of homeless families.

Moreover, the facilities and institutions that are providing medical care for such families are excellent in meeting the guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). However, more improvement is needed in terms of integrating extensive care into intense visits, as well as legal partnerships (Chatterjee et al., 2017). The study suggests that the extension of the most successful practices is regarded to be the most efficient way in achieving more significant results in this field. Overall, the most recommended tools were electronic medical records, diverse team of professionals, and partnership with homeless organizations and communities (Chatterjee et al., 2017). On the other hand, the most notable obstacles to successful care were patients’ immigration status, as well as lack of knowledge about the topic, time, and resources.

Lastly, the study that was done by Cutuli et al. (2017) focuses on the emergence of mental health issues in children living in homeless families. Children that experience residential instability are struggling with age-salient development duties, including low quality of academic performance and behavioural health issues (Cutuli et al., 2017). Therefore, the overall stress increases the possibility of poverty-relates health risks to occur. Another finding of the research suggests that possible health disparities are present for both low-income families and racial minorities (Cutuli et al., 2017). Thus, the overlap of homeless children, living in a low-income family that belong to a minority group are more likely to struggle from the abovementioned illnesses. The connection between homelessness and mental health can add to a discovery of new avenues for forwarding various appropriate contributors to health outcomes with several other services. This includes “case management, evidence-based mental health care, and supporting families” (Cutuli et al., 2017, p. 6). Overall, acknowledging the relations between stress and negative health consequences allows nurses to achieve better-integrated care for homeless families.

After analyzing contemporary research done on a topic of health-related problems within homeless families, it is clear to me that the free medical care sector needs improvement. Nurses play an essential role in choosing the most effective approach toward assisting children and other members. The research suggests that homeless individuals should be treated with respect and caution about the previous experiences that they might have had. Patients might be experiencing health issues because of the stressful lifestyle; a collaboration between various health specialists should be required. In my opinion, if a child has chronic illnesses, it is vital to examine the main reasons why such outcomes occurred in the first place. Overall, I should think critically while providing care to patients without a permanent house because the core values of medical staff are to ensure the highest quality aid.

In conclusion, families without permanent residence is a significant contributor to the homeless population of the United States. Children and adolescents under the age of 18 constitute the third of that number. The reasons why these individuals cannot afford permanent houses vary from poverty to the fact that they need to flee their previous homes due to domestic abuse. Studies show that situations of uncertainty and instability are contributing factors to the emergence of stress in the early-age, which leads to further psychological problems. Apart from that, individuals from such families tend to be subjected to other serious health issues, including malnutrition, obesity, chronic diseases, and more. Overall, the seriousness of the matter suggests that care professionals, including nursing staff, should take into consideration all the possible contributing factors and provide improved medical experiences to such patients.

References

Chatterjee, A., So, M., Dunleavy, S., & Oken, E. (2017). Quality health care for homeless children: Achieving the AAP recommendations for care of homeless children and youth. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 28(4), 1376–1392. Web.

Cronley, C., Keaton, C., Hopman, D. D., & Nelson, L. P. (2019). “I run inside the buildings”: Adolescents’ perceptions of physical health and nature in family homeless shelters. Journal of Children and Poverty, 25(2), 131–149. Web.

Cutuli, J. J., Ahumada, S. M., Herbers, J. E., Lafavor, T. L., Masten, A. S., & Oberg, C. N. (2017). Adversity and children experiencing family homelessness: Implications for health. Journal of Children and Poverty, 23(1), 41-55. Web.

Jenni’s Story

Introduction

To provide adequate support and establish a clear understanding between a family and a professional, it is vital to assign the right person for the task. There are many nuisances and communication gaps that practitioners could encounter, and they must be ready to deal with unexpected difficulties. This essay examines the case of Jenni, her family, and the professionals who helped her.

Main text

Children with special needs can require knowledge outside of profession-specific social skills, and this case shows a successful intervention that helped a child to develop a crucial ability. In this video, the ENRICH Project has shown cultural responsiveness by putting Roxanne Patterson in charge of communication with Jenni’s family to overcome the language barrier. It is crucial to consider culture when appointing practitioners to families (Gargiulo & Kilgo, 2018). The appointed specialist has been able to observe how Jenni has interacted with her family and peers and used this knowledge as a foundation of the relationship.

Through collaboration, Jenni’s physical therapist, Jeannemarie Fagan, and Dr. Patterson had established the course of development for their patient and found which opportunities to communicate when Jenni was the most receptive. Gargiulo & Kilgo (2018) state that “effective communication between families and practitioners involves a clear understanding and knowledge of the expectations, obligations, and responsibilities of each party” (p. 76). In the video, they have shown a collaborative effort to help Jenni to learn how to walk by examining the best way she receives information.

Conclusion

This intervention has been occurring at Jenni’s house, with the presence of her family. They have studied her behavior and found a suitable strategy to boost her development. These visits were also vital for the family, as they have learned how to support and encourage her. I think that this partnership is an effective method of intervention as Patterson’s continued support allowed Jenni’s family to discover a way to communicate with her, and Jenni learned how to walk.

Reference

Gargiulo, R. M., & Kilgo, J. L. (2018). An introduction to young children with special needs: Birth through age eight. SAGE Publications.