What are possible plans of action for Tamara?
Tamara Simms, a 32-year-old school social worker, had worked in a rural community called The Ridge for more than six years, since 1997. She was assigned a case which caught her off balance. There was something going on in the Anderson home that she couldn’t quite grasp. She had concluded from a home visit that the father was neglecting the children. The home had unsanitary conditions. Sarah Jane, a third grader, had the worst case of head lice Tamara had ever encountered and her lips were severely blistered, a condition that hadn’t healed despite treatment. Furthermore, Tamara sensed that there was something more serious going on in the Anderson home. She suspected that Mr. Anderson was involved in internet pornography and she feared he may have involved his children in some way. In spite of her “hunches” she had no clear evidence to report to Child Protective Services. As seasoned as she was, Tamara still “brought her work home” with her. Although her own family needed her, she could not stop worrying about Sarah Jane and her two siblings. Written for a bachelor’s- level capstone or integrative seminar in social work, the case may also be useful for courses in macro- or micro-level practice, diversity, or international social work. The case situation may be useful for discussion of multiple topics such as social work ethics, policy issues (including policy related to crime victims and to undocumented clients), diversity, language, agency settings, crime victimization, and professional use of self. The case also may be appropriate for MSW foundation courses dealing with these topics.
First, Tamara may provide intensive case management with the family so that she can continue to observe Mr. Anderson’s behaviors in regard to Sarah Jane’s health care concerns. She may target the apathy and sense of hopelessness she discovers in this home, continuing to try to engage Mr. Anderson so that he will become more motivated for positive changes on behalf of his children.
Second, if Sarah Jane continues to suffer physically from lice infestation and from blistered lips, Tamara should call Child Protective Services for an investigation of possible neglect. Because the child is in pain, has the potential to miss school because of her illness, and is putting other children at risk, a brief time frame (a matter of days, rather than weeks or months) would be most appropriate.
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