Case Presentation

Lauren Medlin

Background Information
Nine year old Male in fourth grade
Has transferred schools three times
Mother is Caucasian and father is African
American
Mother has three kids with one on the way (all
with different fathers)
Mother had to place her kids in kinship care
because of DSS involvement (drug use).
Child is currently living with father.

Problem Statement
Child has a number issues due to home
environment, lack of parenting skills,
family dynamics, and parents substance
abuse. The childs issues range from
separation anxiety from mother and
siblings as well as mental and academic
concerns.

Services
CFST meetings/ case management
services
Referrals to outside mental health
agencies
Mobile Crisis Unit

Strengths and Limitations

Child is smart and has the ability to do his
school work; funny when he wants to be
DSS is now helping push mental health
counseling for the child
Father has a stable job and housing
__________________________
Mothers drug use
DSS involvement
No contact with siblings

Assessment Goals
Child will be able to conduct himself in an
age appropriate manner in the classroom.
Child will take accountability for his
actions
Child will establish a routine schedule with
a mental health provider and father will
remain in contact with them.

Interventions

Daily contact by social worker and school

psychologist in classroom and/or office
Referral for mental health services
Contacting DSS to see if arranged contact
with siblings is possible

What are some of the

biases I had going into the
interview?
If his parents would actually parent maybe
he would not act this way.
The child is nothing but trouble.
I am not going to be able to help him
because I have no way to relate to him or
his problems.

What were some value

differences between the
client and I?
He does not value his education
He values attention; whether it good or
bad
He does not value accountability

What events or life experiences

have shaped them into the
person they are?
Mothers drug use that resulted in the
placement of her children, including my
client, in kinship care.
Lack of stable housing/permanent
employment for the mother
Mother and father splitting up
Transferring schools multiple times

What is the staff recommendation about

diagnosis, interventions, or treatment?
As stated by the school social worker and
psychologist, the child suffers severe
separation anxiety as well as anger issues that
have become more frequent since his
separation from his mother. Further, the social
worker and psychologist believe the best
interventions/treatments for the child are
outside mental health services as well as more
frequent contact between himself, the mother,
and his siblings (eating lunch together at
school).

What does research say on their

diagnosis/problem/treatment?
The treatments and diagnosis proposed by the
school social worker and psychologist are
backed by research.
Children separated from parents are more
likely to suffer from separation anxiety as well
as anger issues. Likewise, this is further
backed by research that shows children who
have separated/divorced parents are more
likely to show signs of separation anxiety and
anger.

What changes do I recommend

for Laurel Hill Elementary?
Use of positive reinforcement as of
now the only reinforcement the child is
receiving is negative. The incorporation
of positive reinforcement for good
behavior could help motivate the child
to remain calm throughout the day.

Competencies Used
Apply critical thinking to inform &
communicate professional judgments.
Engage diversity and difference in
practice.
Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate
with individuals, families, groups,
organizations, and communities.

Practice Behaviors Used

Analyze models of assessment, prevention,
intervention, and evaluation.
Gain sufficient self-awareness to eliminate the
influence of personal biases and values in
working with diverse groups.
View themselves as learners and engage those
with whom they work as informants.
Collect, organize, and interpret client data.