CASE PRESENTATION

By Stacey Thompson

Social Work Practice

Frameworks

Strengths Perspective
Ecosystem Perspective
Conflict Perspective

Background on Client

30 years old
African American Female who is married
3 children
Client and her children are living with
clients mother
DSS was called by grandmother (Clients
mother)
Domestic violence
Father is accused of sexually abusing
daughter

Problem Statement

There is concern for the safety of the children as

well as the client due to domestic violence
between client and husband. In addition, the
father/husband is sexually abusing children.
Grandmother said it has been going on for some
time.

Client was referred to our shelter for temporary

housing.

Father/husband can not be located in order to be

served with protective order.

SERVICES

Friend to Friend has offered the following

services:
Temporary housing for client and children
Peer counseling
Court advocacy
Protective order assistance
Outside referrals
General information regarding child
sexual abuse and its impact

Strengths

Strengths
Family support
No drug abuse
Determination
Taking necessary steps to protect herself &
children
filed protective order
Moved into shelter

Limitations

Health back problems

Employment
Housing
Finances

Goals & Interventions

Long-term goals
Client states that she wants to have a permeant
home for her children, find a job, and become
financially stable on her own. Client also stated that
she wants to divorce husband.
Short-term goals
Court process should be done within 3 months
Client will learn and practice parenting skills to
enhance her understanding of her children.
Client will participate in peer counseling during 1 st
month. Client will contact unemployment and
start looking for a job.

Biases

Safety of children should come first!

I strongly feel that children should not be

afraid of their home environment. In
addition, they shouldnt have to witness
domestic violence or be put in a situation
where they are in danger(sexual abuse).

Personal Values

My personal values relating to this situation

are that I would not allow violence/sexual
abuse around my children.
However, it is not my job to judge. As a
social worker, It is my job to:
Help people in need and address their problems
Challenge social injustice
Respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person
Recognize the importance of human relationships
Behave in a trustworthy manner

NASW Code of Ethics Core Values

Clients Life Experiences

Poverty in childhood
Father left her at young age
Domestic Violence
Family history of mental illness
Support from mother

Staff Recommendation

The staff is in agreement with the clients

intervention and treatment
recommendations. They feel that a
protective order is essential for this
situation. Also, staff feels that counseling
for the client and children will help them
cope with the situation.

Research Shows.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic

Violence, an estimated 1.3 million American women
experience DV each year. Women make up 85% of the
victims of DV. Despite this, most cases are never reported
to the police and most women are victimized by people
they know.

African American women also face employment

disparities, earning less than African American men and
Caucasian men and women. This wage disparity limits
available options and leaves many African America
women, particularly mothers, feeling trapped in bad
relationships where financial needs trump all.

Changes for Agency

It would be beneficial to client if these were
offered inside the agency:

Therapy sessions
Substance abuse counseling
Specialty child services

Competencies Used
Core Competencies Used:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Practice Behaviors Used:
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2,
3.3
4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1,
7.2
8.1, 8.2, 9.2
10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7,
10.8, 10.9, 10.10, 10.12, 10.13

References

National Association of Social Workers. (2008). Code of Ethics of

the National Association of Social Workers. Retrieved from
http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (2014).

www.ncadv.org