HSE-310_7-2_Final Project

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1 Final Project Southern New Hampshire University HSE-310: Family & Community Systems Professor Robin Harrington 25 February 2024 1

2 Case Study - The Riverez Family The clients in this scenario are the Riverez family, Julio (father) and Quianna (mother), and their five children (1, 3, 4, 7, and 15). The family resides in the Englewood area of Chicago, the area as a whole struggles with violence, poverty, and a lack of employment opportunities. The Riverez family is directly facing financial hardship, trauma from experiencing violence firsthand and witnessing violence, mental and physical fatigue, language and education barriers, and a lack of support. Despite Julio working two jobs, the family struggles to meet its basic needs, such as utility disconnections and the inability to afford food and public transportation. Both parents are experiencing mental and physical fatigue as a result of the violence they deal with, which impacts their ability to cope with and navigate their challenges. Both parents have a low level of education, which limits their ability to secure better-paying jobs. Julio also struggles with English, which creates a barrier to employment within his family as a husband and a father. Julio and Quianna are estranged from their parents, resulting in a lack of extended family or potential financial support. Despite the challenges faced by the Riverez family, strengths are apparent in the family and the community that could be leveraged to address these issues. There is a clear display of resilience with Julio and Quianna, individually and as a couple. Additionally, both parents are committed to raising their family. Within the community, several residents have organized to address the issues faced by the community and its residents; there is a desire and commitment to improve the community. Regarding small groups that may facilitate change, community organizations like Teamwork Englewood, which is partnered with community organizations, schools, faith-based organizations, and local businesses to improve the quality of life for Englewood residents 2

3 (Teamwork Englewood, n.d.). Additionally, the Englewood Portal provides access to resources such as social and community service programs, employment opportunities, and health services such as counseling (Englewood Portal, n.d.). Teamwork Englewood and the Englewood portal offer access to vital resources that the Riverez family could use to address several of their challenges. Systemic Analysis of the Family The culturagram was used to analyze the Riverez family. The culturagram addresses the cultural background of individuals or families (focusing on ten aspects of culture: time in the community, legal status, reasons for relocating, languages spoken at home and in the community, health benefits, holidays and special events, the impact of crisis events, values about education, work, and family, and cultural and religious institutions) (Missouri Dept. of Social Services, 2013). In the case of the Riverez family scenario, key aspects are revealed, including their cultural identity (Julio is Cuban, and Quianna is African African), traditions (family and church- related events), values (family and communication), and interactions with the extended family (estrangement by both Julio and Quianna with each of their parents). Additionally, its noted both parents dropped out of high school when Quianna became pregnant with their oldest son, Rico (15). The culturagram also revealed communication barriers due to the family predominately speaking English except for Julio; this has created additional stressors for the couple and the family. Despite Julio working multiple jobs, the family faces financial struggles. Additionally, the family faces mental and emotional health issues as a result of personally experienced and witnessed violence within the neighborhood. Rico is experiencing his own behavioral and educational struggles, adding to the family's challenges. 3

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4 Addressing communication barriers is crucial, as they impact multiple aspects of the family's challenges. Connecting Julio with free adult education classes at City Colleges of Chicago for English as a second language (ESL) and General Education Diploma (GED) will help Julio improve his relationship at home and potentially open doors for improved employment opportunities. Additionally, attending counseling through the emotional wellness and behavioral health programs offered at Metropolitan Family Services (n.d.) can aid Julio and Quianna in addressing trauma and improving communication. At-risk youth counseling and school-based interventions could also benefit Rico in navigating his challenges. Connecting the family to government aid programs such as SNAP and WIC (Metropolitan Family Services, n.d.), along with local non-profits that provide bill pay assistance and food pantries (Englewood Portal, n.d.), can provide stability for the family's essential needs. This approach aims to provide resources for improved communication and emotional well-being for the family and improve employment opportunities. The ESL and GED classes for Julio will reduce barriers at home and enhance employment opportunities. Additionally, counseling will improve family coping and communication skills and foster healthier relationships while continuing to strengthen the family's resilience. Using resources such as SNAP, WIC, and local non-profits, Julio and Quianna can provide necessities for their family. These interventions offer a holistic approach to addressing the Riverez family's needs. Systemic Analysis of the Community The Eco Map was used to analyze the Englewood community. The eco map helps human services professionals understand various systems and resources influencing or impacting an individual client or family (Missouri Department of Social Services, 2013). In the case of the Englewood community, the ecomap included elements that contribute to the overall community 4

5 dynamics, like community organizations, education, and religious institutions, and support organizations to include problematic elements such as gang violence and their impact on and relationships with community members like the Riverez family. In the case of the Englewood community, there is a large number of residents that have limited education, and a significant portion of families face poverty or low income. The significant gang presence in the area adversely affects the physical and mental well-being of these individuals, as the violence associated with the gangs impacts every aspect of the community. Despite these challenges, the community is very interested in building up Englewood and addressing the issues that negatively impact its residents. Providing accessible mental health and counseling services addresses trauma while establishing parenting support and childcare assistance programs aims to strengthen family dynamics and alleviate stressors. Job training and education fairs offer opportunities for skill development and employment, and engagement in violence prevention efforts enhances community safety. Additionally, resource awareness campaigns and community forums aim to increase awareness and utilization of available support services. Several organizations offer services and resources that could benefit the community. For example, Teamwork Englewood is a website that provides access to programs such as Englewood Women's Initiative (EWI), which provides job skills and tools to improve economic security for women, and Safe Passage, which works with Chicago Public Schools to reduce violence incidents around schools (Teamwork Englewood, n.d.). Another example is that, through the Englewood Portal, there is access to various support agencies and organizations that provide financial aid and housing support, as well as a list of food banks and pantries within the 5

6 community (Englewood Portal, n.d.) that can assist families that may be struggling to meet their basic needs. This approach aims to leverage available resources and collaborate with community members and organizations to cultivate a brighter future for Englewood residents. Practitioner Reflection As someone who grew up in a home where, despite my mom working multiple jobs to provide for myself and my three siblings, there were times when we went without food or maybe without power or water for a day or two, I empathize with Julio and Quianna Riverez in that despite Julio working two jobs; they still struggle to make ends meet. This personal connection can impact how I address this case, and I recognize its potential to affect my well-being as a practitioner. Specifically, I am aware of how repeated exposure to clients' trauma can lead to secondary trauma, burnout, or compassion fatigue over time (SAMHSA, 2014). These risks can present in my personal life as decreased motivation, feelings of hopelessness or strained relationships (personal & professional), and decreased effectiveness in supporting clients (SAMHSA, 2014). By completing the self-care assessment worksheet (Saakvitne et al., 1996), I aim to gain insights into my risk factors, resilience factors, and areas of self-care that require attention. In order to enhance my awareness, maintain balance, and foster connection, I will adopt trauma- informed strategies while adhering to ethical standards within the field, particularly Standards 34 and 35 from the National Organization for Human Services (NOHS). These standards emphasize the responsibility of a human service professional to remain mindful of their cultural background, beliefs, values, and biases and to prioritize personal growth and well-being to ensure optimal service delivery (NOHS, n.d.). 6

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7 Creating and maintaining healthy self-care habits during times of ease establishes a foundation for resilience when faced with stress or feeling overwhelmed, especially in demanding times or roles like working in human services. This includes establishing clear boundaries between work and personal life to prevent emotional exhaustion or bringing work home or my home life to work. I will regularly check in with my peers and supervisor when working with challenging cases. Additionally, I will incorporate mindfulness practices such as meditation into my daily routine, to promote reflection, emotional regulation and self-awareness. By implementing these strategies and regularly revisiting my self-care plan, I aim to mitigate the potential negative effects of vicarious trauma and maintain my well-being as a practitioner. 7

8 References City Colleges of Chicago. (n.d.). Adult Education Programs. https://www.ccc.edu/site/Pages/adult-education.aspx. Englewood Portal. (n.d.). Community Organizations . http://www.englewoodportal.org/directory/category/351?PageIndex=2&PageSize=25. Good Therapy. (n.d.). The Cost of Caring: 10 Ways to Prevent Compassion Fatigue. Good Therapy. https://www.goodtherapy.org/for-professionals/business-management/human- resources/article/cost-of-caring-10-ways-to-prevent-compassion-fatigue Metropolitan Family Services. (n.d.). Behavioral Health Programs . https://www.metrofamily.org/programs-and-services/emotional-wellness/behavioral- health/. Missouri Department of Social Services. (2013, October 7.). §7CH25: Diagramming families for Assessment | Missouri Child Welfare Manual . https://web.archive.org/web/20161109144026/http://dss.mo.gov/cd/info/cwmanual/ section7/ch1_33/sec7ch25.html. National Organization for Human Services (NOHS). (n.d.). Ethical standards for HS Professionals . https://www.nationalhumanservices.org/ethical-standards-for-hs- professionals#self. Saakvitne, K. W., Pearlman, L. A., & Staff of TSI/CAAP. (1996). Transforming the Pain: A Workbook on Vicarious Traumatization. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2014). Trauma- informed care in behavioral health services. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) 57 . Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 8

9 Something Good in Englewood, Inc. (2023, October 18). What we do . https://www.somethinggoodinenglewood.org/charity-organization-what-we-do. Stoerkel, E. (2023, September 18). What is a strength-based approach? (incl. Examples & Tools) . PositivePsychology.com. https://positivepsychology.com/strengths-based- interventions/. Teamwork Englewood. (n.d). Programs. https://teamworkenglewood.org/englewood-womens- initiative/. 9

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