Agency/Case Management

1. Crisis Methods

1. Define the roles of everyone involved so those who need to be involved in preventing the crisis from occurring or reoccurring are prepared and know what is expected of them (A Field Guide on Case Management, 2004, p. 36).

2. Assess the extent of the substance use of the mother and set expectations that she needs to go to substance use counseling or her son will be taken into the agency’s custody if there’s a drug related crisis. The mother’s current mental state and her drug use is impairing her ability to properly care for her child at the moment. “Substance abuse not only impairs the parent’s ability to function but may also predispose the family to financial and housing insecurity” (Crosson-Tower, 2020, p 90).

3. After assessing safety, there must be some sort of plan if the child is to be taken out of home or to stay in home. There must be research on who they are able to stay with if needed, or a way to stay more vigilant while child stays at home (Graduate, 2021).

2. Safety Methods

1. Define the steps to prevent a crisis so if it occurs, all involved know what measures to take to shut it down as quickly as possible and protect the child involved (A Field Guide on Case Management, 2004, p. 37).

2. Set up regular home visits at both the father’s and mother’s homes. “Through visiting the client’s home, the quality of relationships may become more clearly discernible; the children’s unpredictable behavior and their parents’ candid response to them provide workers with valuable information” (Crosson-Tower, 2020, p. 265).

3. Interviewing/visiting other adults in Vincent’s life such as educators and others who may be seeing him on a regular basis (Maryville, 2020).

Clinical Treatment Facilities (therapy and counseling)

1. Crisis Interventions

1. The worker must assure the child (Vincent) they believe them and are seeking help for them to keep them protected in the future (Crosson-Tower, C., 2020, p. 364). Vincent should be able to feel safe and that no other adverse events will occur to him.

2. Therapy should focus on trauma informed care and providing emotional support for Vincent. Focus on his stress response during times of crisis. According to Collins & Collins (2005), the goals in therapy should include making sure the client is safe, establish stability and short term mastery of the crisis, and connect the client with appropriate resources

3. Practicing parent intervention with parent-child interaction therapy, if deemed safe and appropriate. This is a good way of analyzing their dynamic and correcting any underlying abusive thoughts and behaviors (NICE, n.d).

2. Safety Interventions

1. The worker should work with the non-abusing parent or caretaker to understand how this affects them and their ability to protect the child. This should include but not be limited to identifying resources for coping with depression, group therapy, social skills, etc. (Crosson-Tower, C., 2020, pp. 371-372). With resources like these, Andrea should be able to cope and manage her stress to keep Vincent safe.

2. Work with both parents in counseling to come up appropriate coping skills to prevent further abuse or neglect. Currently, Andrea is reflecting her stress on her son by verbally abusing and physically harming him. It is also suspected that the father is physically abusing the child as well. “With encouragement, support, and a focus on the problem-solving process, they will soon regain their coping skills and stabilize” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d., p.3).

3. Implement parent training sessions in order to help Andrea better her judgment and inform herself on how to make safe and stable decisions for Vincent. This will also help her learn how to properly discipline Vincent (NICE, n.d.)

A field guide on case management for children with serious Emotional Disturbances And Their Families - Utah. (2004, May). Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://dsamh.utah.gov/pdf/case_management/cm_field_guide_children.pdf

Collins, B.G. & Collins, T.M. (2005). Crisis and trauma: Developmental-ecological intervention. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Publishers.

Crosson-Tower, C. (2020). Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect (10th ed.). Pearson Education (US). https://online.vitalsource.com/books/9780135170915

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children, Youth and Families National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect. (n.d.). Crisis Intervention in Child Abuse and Neglect. Circle Solutions, Inc., McLean, VA.

Graduate, S. W. (2021, September 26). Crisis intervention. SocialWorkGraduate. Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://www.thesocialworkgraduate.com/post/practice-model-crisis-intervention

Child abuse prevention, identification, & intervention. Maryville Online. (2020, January 13). Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://online.maryville.edu/blog/a-guide-to-child-welfare-for-educators/

Therapeutic interventions after abuse and neglect. NICE. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2023, from https://www.nice.org.uk/about/nice-communities/social-care/quick-guides-for-social-care/therapeutic-interventions-after-abuse-and-neglect.