Case Presentation

Molly Tuttle
SWK 4910 Fall 2022
 Background Information

 Name: Dolly Parker

 Sex: Female
 Age: 25
 Ethnicity/Race: Not Hispanic, African American
 Problem Statement
 Per the report received to DSS:
 A police officer called and reported to DSS that three children under the age of
6 had been left home alone.
 The children had walked to the main office of the apartment complex where
the office manager called the police reporting the children appeared dirty and
hungry.
 The office manager escorted the children back to their apartment where they
discovered the mom was not at home nor had she left food that the children
could access.
 The mother was gone for approximately 40 minutes and when the children
were asked where their mother was, they stated they didn’t know.
 Services
 Although not yet in case management,
the plan is to move the case from
investigations to case management and
request/order intensive in-home
treatment.
 Dolly and her children also entered
into a temporary safety agreement
which allows Dolly and her children to
stay together but requiring supervision
at all times, rather than Dolly’s
children re-entering into foster care.
Strengths &
Limitations
 Strengths
 Has previously completed parenting courses
 No known substance abuse concerns
 Has transportation
 Limitations
 Has previous history with CPS, including
children being in foster care
 Unemployed
 Little to no support system, therefore, no
reliable childcare
 Doesn’t see a problem or concern leaving her
young children home alone
 Assessment Goals
 Working on anger management
and mood swings (may need to
be seen by a PCP).
 Identifying a support system.
 Recognizing the problem at hand.
 Figuring out ways DSS can help
prevent recurring cases with
Dolly.
Specific Interventions
with Timeframes
Ideally, the timeframe for
closing the case would be as
soon as possible which happens
when all goals have been
completed successfully and
Dolly has shown signs of
improvement. An actual
timeline has not yet been
determined.
Framework and Competencies
 Systems theory is especially critical in this case presentation because the client
repeatedly identified her lack of support as the reason for her actions. Systems
theory states that a social worker must consider all the factors within the system that
impact the client and work to make that client’s system healthy and supportive.
 Person in the environment or PIE could also be used for this case presentation
because PIE considers mental health and environmental factors such as background,
family relationships, education, income, and race as circumstances that impact well-
being. Dolly, who lacks family relationships and support, is unemployed, and is
African American, has circumstances that directly impact her and her children in
significant ways.
 Competencies used: 1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.3, 5.1-5.3, 6.1-6.2
 Questions and Reflection
1. What are some biases you had going into the interview?
• At the beginning of the report (initiation), the only information I had been told was that children had been left
home alone. My first thoughts were “what kind of parent leaves their children home alone?” but also, “what is
the big deal?” because I didn’t yet know the ages of the children and I grew up and turned out fine staying home
alone.
2. What were some value differences between you and the client?
 The most significant value difference between me and the client was parenting. I was thinking of all the things I
would or wouldn’t do as a parent but I have no children compared to the client so I really don’t know for sure
what I will and will not do. I have no way of knowing how my life will turn out and if it will be any different than
hers, other than the color of my skin presenting me more opportunities than her based on American society.
3. What events or life experiences have shaped them into the person they are?
 Dolly grew up in the system and has had previous encounters with DSS. I know this because one police officer
stated that he remembered her from when she was a little girl and made an additional statement about him
having received calls about her parents. Additionally, Dolly is a young single mother with three young children
who she was not prepared to raise and still does not seem prepared to raise.
 Questions and Reflection
4. What is the staff recommendation about diagnosis, Interventions or treatment?
 Staff recommendations include moving the case from investigations to case management and intensive
in-home therapy. Once the case is reassigned from investigations to case management, a formal case
plan will be completed.
5. What does research say on their diagnosis/problem/treatment?
 Not applicable at this time.
6. What changes do recommend for the agency or service (Needs of agency, changes, and rights issues)?
Report those to supervisor.
 From a personal and professional point of view, the community needs more resources. Social Services is
limited to the help they can provide if the community support/services are simply unavailable, usually
due to insufficient funding. Additionally, government assistance policies for programs such as
subsidized childcare assistance (SCCA) should be revised to include special loopholes for individuals
who have active cases with CPS. Specifically, in cases like this where a single parent lacks support and
childcare, the parent is unable to get a job because they cannot attend job interviews because they don’t
have childcare, however, they cannot get childcare assistance without a job.