The Case of Trent

In this case, Trent is a 5 year old African American boy whom just moved in with his father after
living with his mother most of his life. Trent was acting aggressively in his Kindergarten class
and the teacher and teachers aid were having a difficult time handling Trent. The teacher selfdiagnosed Trent as having a sever behavioral disorder and wanted to have him tested. The school
social work intern, Jo, stepped in one day when she seen the teachers aid was having a hard time
with Trent in the hallway. Jo then decided she would try and help Trent. Jo then decided to meet
with Trents family and teachers to help create a behavioral intervention for Trent in hopes of
preventing a behavioral diagnosis and Trent being placed in a self-contained classroom. Jo knew
that in public schools African American children are treated differently than the rest of the class
and many are diagnosed with having behavioral issues when they do not. This diagnosis will
follow the student the rest of their lives. By Jo using her cultural competence, she was able to
prevent this diagnosis from happening. Trent began to do better in school and at home with his
new behavioral intervention created by Jo and the family. Jo still was worried after working with
Trent because she knew that he would face this discrimination the rest of his school years as well
as other African American children in the school. Jo then used her evaluation and research skills
to perform research to understand why these children are targeted and what she could do to help
prevent that in the school setting she will ultimately work in.

Empowering Adolescent Girls in Foster Care

This was a study that consisted of eleven different African American females whom are currently
in the foster care system who met in a group setting for seven sessions. This study was to find
different experiences these girls have faced and to help empower them to keep doing the right

thing. The main themes included developmental concerns, sexuality, school, work, drugs,
drinking, identity, adult authority, issues related to experiencing oppression as African
Americans, as girls, and as foster children and the problems involved in being a foster child. I
think some of the themes used in this study are group therapy and practice, social diversity, and
cultural competence. The group leader was a 27 year old white female. The leader knew from the
start she would have to be culturally competent in order to understand and get through to these
girls. The social worker grew up in a predominantly African American neighborhood so she felt
like she would be able to relate to these girls on some of the issues they would be facing. I think
the group leader did a great job with these girls and they seemed to open up well with her. She
made sure to let the girls lead the group but to interrupt as she felt necessary. She also did a good
job keeping them on topic but still allowing them to have freedom of the group.

Using the Ecological model in Generalist Practice: Life Transitions in Late Adulthood
Mrs. Lilly Goodman is a 77-year old woman whom after living in her home for 30 years, has
been admitted to a long term care facility after she suffered two strokes. A long-term care social
worker has been called in to assess if Mrs. Goodman would be able to return to her home on her
own or if should will need to stay in long term care. An ecological perspective was used by the
social worker. It is determined that she is in a state called life transition according to the
ecological perspective. A multi-disciplinary team worked with Mrs. Goodman to figure out if she
is capable of living on her own after her strokes. The team worked together to help find Mrs.
Goodmans many strengths she has such as being able to cook for herself, set up a daily routine
for herself, find resources to help support her, and many others. After a great deal of planning

and assessing the home for Mrs. Goodman, she ultimately decided that she needs more assistance
and stayed at the nursing home.

Overall I enjoyed reading these articled which helped to remind me of the many things I have
learned in the social work program here at WSU. I think these articles helped me to think more
about these populations and how they are affected daily. I also think this helped me to continue
to learn more cultural competence.