The Ridge and its residents had many problems. However, Tamara had learned to utilize a strengths perspective, knowledge she gained in her BSW studies. What strengths and assets could be identified within the Anderson family? Within The Ridge community?

Question

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.

Answer 1

Whatever Tamara may have suspected about Mr. Anderson, he was a father who had not abandoned his three children, even after his wife left him as the sole caretaker and provider. He somehow managed to provide for the children’s basic needs through his internet business. While Mr. Anderson was less than friendly on the occasion of Tamara’s home visit, he did allow her to come in and talk about Sarah Jane’s problems. To Tamara’s request to work with Sarah Jane, he did respond with “suit yourself,” which was an agreement for services.
The Ridge itself did have strengths. As she worked within the community,
Tamara found a tight system of informal support. For example, neighbors took neighbors to the grocery store, watched neighbors’ children, and loaned food when food was scarce. There seemed to be a certain resilience, despite the sense of hopelessness and desperation. Even though some of the older children had already dropped out of school and entered low-paying jobs, the younger children for the most part did attend school. Some of the roads were impassible on the rainy days, and yet children walked several blocks to meet the school bus. There were two local churches, a fire department, and a fishing camp which provided social opportunities for families of The Ridge.