Assess and identify the presenting child safety issue in the vignette

The issues in this case are those of abuse and many types of neglect. Andrea has verbally

abused Vincent by threatening to “punch him in the face” when he “misbehaved.” There are also

signs that Vincent’s father, John, has physically abused him after Vincent has visited him. There

have been many suspicious bruises including one below his eye that a Doctor states could not

have been an accident. The most obvious injury in this case was the quarter sized circle on

Vincent;s arm which he refused to talk about. Vincent tells the social worker that his mother is

best to him when he is good, quiet, and watches the T.V.. This is a form of neglect in the way

that his speech must be extremely limited, he also has learning disabilities so this is not helpful to

him whatsoever. His mother has exposed him to trauma due to her instability, such as suicide

attempts and other dangerous situations that can deeply scar a child.

Identify safety risks associated with the vignette

During childhood, a child should constantly be focused on learning and growing. When

neglected or abused, the activity of learning is not often prioritized nor cared for which

ultimately keeps them from developing correctly. This is especially true for abuse, when a child

is hit or emotionally abused for doing something wrong, their understanding of cause and effect.

Along with that, when a child between the ages of four and eight is accustomed to physical

repercussions to behavior that is wrong, they will confuse the importance of behaving and not.

For example, “Whether you get caught is often of more concern than any inner morality. Getting

caught is symbolic of failure, and there is little remorse about the actual deed” (Crosson-Tower,

2020). When a child is not nurtured properly, their morality and other important life skills are

compromised.

What is causing the problem?

First, it is important to note that Andrea herself experienced maltreatment in her home as

a child. Maltreatment can significantly impact a child’s brain which in turn can result in a variety

of symptoms and difficulties (Crosson-Tower, 2020). Therefore, her trauma as a child may be

contributing to her inability to adequately care for her child. Andrea suffers from a variety of difficulties. She has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, major depression, and

epilepsy. Because of these added stressors, Andrea is emotionally unavailable for Vincent.

Vincent also has autism and chronic asthma. Statistically, children with disabilities are at a

higher risk for maltreatment. Andrea’s diagnoses and the special needs of Vincent, are added

stressors for Andrea.

Strengths or Protective Factor

Vincent has been going to school in a special needs classroom. He has been receiving

services such as speech and occupational therapy, and counseling. He seems to have good

resources at school and has been going. We also have evidence that Andrea does love her son but

is unable to care for her son because of her mental state. With medication and counseling, she

can improve and learn coping skills to care for Vincent. Andrea’s sister, Elizabeth, seems to be a

good support for the family as she has expressed that she wants to be a resource for Vincent.

Additionally, Vincent’s father, John plays an active role in his life and takes interest in

connecting with his son. He and Andrea have a good relationship. He sees Vincent three times a

month and engages in various activities with Vincent, which he seems to enjoy. John’s interest in

Vincent’s life can be built on with services to help John learn adequate parenting skills.

Recommend next steps to review with your supervisor

There have been multiple signs of abuse and neglect within Andrea’s care of Vincent. When he

is with his Aunt Elizabeth he appears to do fine and is healthy and cared for. Both Vincent’s

maternal grandmother and aunt reported him being protective of his mother so talking with a

supervisor to see if there is a way Vincent could potentially open up more about his care with his

mother could be useful information; is it an attachment issue? His mother parentifies him a great

deal and at nine years old, he should not have to care for his mother. To assess the child’s safety,

asking for spontaneous drops to occur could show the actual environment of the house without

giving time to clean and save face. Vincent is in a malleable stage of brain development and

being on the spectrum makes it even more perceptible to the effects of abuse and neglect.

Moving him to his aunt’s house and then having him visit his mother daily could be a great test

of what things could look like if he needed to be moved from his mother’s house and placed in

the custody of his aunt.

Additional questions with needed answers to continue the assessment

➢ Why did Andrea stop going to see her psychiatrist?

➢ How would Andrea feel if Vincent was placed in Elizabeth’s care with daily visitations

until he could be transitioned back into Andrea’s care?

➢ Why does Andrea not want her mother or sister to be in contact with Vincent unless they

consult Andrea first?

➢ Does Andrea feel safe?

➢ What do Andrea and Vincent’s daily routines look like? (Ask Vincent and Andrea the

same question separately)

Crosson-Tower, Cynthia. Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect. Available from: VitalSource

Bookshelf, (10th Edition). Pearson Education (US), 2020.