Introduction
This report centers around conducting a thorough analysis of the challenges faced by Kylah’s family, as depicted in the documentary No Place to Call Home, and Jacob and Kristin’s family, as portrayed in Growing up Poor. The primary purpose is to identify the critical concerns of these families and investigate the fundamental factors contributing to their difficulties. Through thoroughly examining their socio-economic conditions, existing policies, and systemic influences, this report sheds light on their struggles’ root causes. Furthermore, the Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences (HOPE) framework will be explored to create evidence-based support systems for the children and their families. Both families, led by single mothers, can benefit from improved family-educator relationships, safe living conditions, and mental health support.
Introducing the Families
Kylah Jobson, a single mother, and her two small children reside in the town close to Bellingen on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. Kylah is packing up her life with her infant and 4-year-old to move to a motel where she works (Milligan, 2022). Applying a strength-based strategy is crucial when introducing this family: Kylah is a devoted mother who makes a concerted effort to protect the welfare of her kids (Milligan, 2022). Throughout the narration, it is clear that she loves her children and wants to give them a nurturing environment.
11-year-old Jacob and his family, led by single mother Kristin, live in a modest suburban area of Claymore. This thriving family unit includes Jacob, his younger sister Alana, and three other siblings (Ferguson, 2012). Jacob and his siblings have a strong kinship despite having different fathers and hailing from diverse backgrounds. The fathers do not actively participate in their children’s upbringing, and as such, all siblings rely on their mother as a sole source of support. As the matriarch of this household, Kristin is a single mother who is steadfastly dedicated to the welfare of her kids. She has adopted three of her sister’s children and is the primary caretaker for her two biological children (Ferguson, 2012). Through this act, she has proven her commitment to her family and ability to create a caring atmosphere.
Key Issues
Kylah’s Family
The family’s dire housing situation is the main problem they are dealing with. Their rented home has degraded to the point where mold and asbestos exposure pose a severe health risk (Milligan, 2022). Heavy downpours that left the house visibly damaged, including a leaking roof that wrecked her son’s bed, were the initial source of their problem (Milligan, 2022).
Kylah had already been informed of a rent increase by the property owner, which added to their problems (Milligan, 2022). Kylah decided to give notice in the hopes of finding a new apartment because she anticipated an increase in rent and the landlord’s lack of action in fixing the problems with the house (Milligan, 2022). Sadly, this choice put her in a housing dilemma: the problem of finding safe and cheap housing in Australia.
The soaring rental prices in Australia led to the fact that finding an inexpensive place to live has become incredibly challenging for people like Kylah. The main reasons are the rising cost of living and increased demand for rental homes (Milligan, 2022). Kylah is a single mother with a tight budget, making the property market even more challenging (Milligan, 2022). The fact that Kylah has applied for dozens of properties without success underscores the intense rivalry for rental properties in her neighborhood.
The housing crisis has an impact on their immediate living circumstances, as well as potential long-term effects on their health and education. Children’s physical and mental development depends on a safe and stable home environment, and the mold-infested, leaky property they live in threatens their health (Burstein et al., 2021). The children’s learning and emotional stability were also negatively impacted by the stress and unpredictability of their home situation (Murphy et al., 2021). These problems are made worse by Kylah’s inability to find her family a stable house despite working six days a week.
Jacob and Kristin’s Family
The family’s main problem is the children’s previous living arrangements with Amy, Kristin’s sister. Amy was battling drug addiction and mental health issues, which had an effect not just on her own life but also on her children (Ferguson, 2012). Her troubles had far-reaching effects, forcing the family to live in a single room and subjecting the children to psychological trauma and abuse (Ferguson, 2012). Toddler Alana was severely affected, and Jacob, her elder sibling, had to take on caregiving responsibilities to ensure they had food (Ferguson, 2012). Alana’s psychological trauma brings to light the long-term effects of abuse and neglect on children’s emotional health.
Additionally, Kristin faces difficulties upholding her dedication to her large family due to the lack of solid father support. She must balance caring for her children, including a five-month-old newborn, and giving her sister’s kids a secure and supportive home (Ferguson, 2012). She is already burdened by the absence of her father’s financial and emotional support (Ferguson, 2012). The family faced the prospect of being split apart when Kristin became seriously ill due to a blood clot (Ferguson, 2012). The extended family came to terms with the frailty of their existence as a unit, considering the possibility of dissolving and losing the crucial network of support they already had.
Understanding the political environment is essential to addressing these issues. The lives of the children may ultimately be affected by the absence of readily available, reasonably priced mental health care and addiction treatment (Tsantefski & Mcveigh, n.d.). The lack of active father involvement also highlights the need for regulations and assistance programs to improve fatherhood and responsible parenting. In the future, Jacob and his siblings may face significant learning-related effects of their trauma.
Theories
Ecological Systems Theory, which emphasizes the interdependence of individuals, families, communities, and society, guides the discourse by highlighting the many facets of human development (Guy-Evans, 2023) and providing a framework for the discussion. Educators can better tailor their interventions to the unique needs of at-risk families if they have a firm grasp on the interplay between the various factors at play (Barratt-Pugh et al., 2021). Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (Yurdakul & Arar, 2023) also provides valuable information about human wants and needs, from physiological demands to more abstract concepts like self-actualization. When basic needs like food, shelter, and safety are met, it paves the way for families to address more systemic concerns that contribute to long-term stability (Burstein et al., 2021). These theoretical models lay the groundwork for comprehending the challenges faced by vulnerable families, directing the creation of targeted initiatives to provide them with the required support.
Implications
Two families with difficult circumstances—Kyla and her family in New South Wales and Jacob and her family in Claymore—are both headed by single mothers. Housing, mental health, addiction, and family structure are all problems that both families are battling. Children in these households are significantly impacted, which may have an effect on their education and general well-being. Each of the four components of healthy development listed in the HOPE framework can be turned into a plan to help these families (Burstein et al., 2021). A variety of tactics can be used, drawing on evidence-based methods, to assist these kids and their families.
Family-Educator Relationships
Both situations highlight the significance of close connections between families and educators. A critical tactic for helping Kyla and Jacob’s families is to fortify the ties between parents and educators. This is consistent with HOPE’s first significant conclusion, which highlights the importance of relationships as child protective factors (Burstein et al., 2021). This can be accomplished by using regular communication techniques like direct, honest conversation, email updates, and in-person encounters. Parents’ concerns should be addressed, and educators should actively involve parents in their children’s educational process.
Safe and Stable Environments
The absence of secure and permanent living arrangements is a major problem in both families. According to the second important conclusion of HOPE, in order to solve this, the emphasis should be on locating safe and affordable housing solutions (Burstein et al., 2021). Families can receive critical assistance from community-based support agencies and organizations that specialize in housing aid to find stable and mold-free houses. In order to connect families with the appropriate resources, schools and educators might work with such programs.
Mental Health Support
Both stories clearly demonstrate the difficulties with mental health and addiction, with Amy’s troubles having an effect on Jacob and Alana’s psychological health. According to HOPE, encouraging positive childhood experiences can lessen the impacts of toxic stress and adverse childhood experiences (Burstein et al., 2021). Community-based support agencies that specialize in mental health treatment should be enlisted to address this (Aylward & Williams, 2023). Teachers and school counselors can collaborate with parents to help them locate these programs and assist children in getting the appropriate therapy.
Coping Strategies
Significant pressures and a lack of father support are issues for both families. It is crucial to assist parents in developing resiliency and coping mechanisms. This is consistent with the research on social/civic participation and emotional and social development (Burstein et al., 2021). Schools can provide training and workshops on stress management, coping mechanisms, and resilience-building for parents (Twum-Antwi et al., 2019). In order to assist parents in overcoming these difficulties, community-based support agencies should offer parenting programs and support groups.
Educational Support
Both families’ children’s educational outcomes are significantly impacted. Schools should employ teaching methods that take into account the students’ emotional and psychological health to address this (Murphy et al., 2021). Jacob and Alana can receive emotional assistance from school counselors, who can also assist them in making up for lost learning opportunities (Taukeni, 2019). This is consistent with the conclusion’s emphasis on the necessity of addressing the connection between adversity and toxic stress.
Conclusion
The vulnerable families discussed in this report need a support system that is grounded in evidence-based practices; strategies include closer parent-educator relationships, help with the search for better living arrangements, and mental health support. Educators can establish inclusive learning environments by leveraging community resources and implementing trauma-informed teaching practices. The timely identification of students through dedicated support teams and the utilization of efficient communication strategies are essential components of this approach. Educators effectively address educational and socio-emotional needs by incorporating these elements into their instructional practices. Through this unwavering dedication, a collective commitment to students’ achievement is manifested, thereby enhancing the quality of life for families and fostering the cohesion of the school community.
References
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Burstein, D., Yang, C., Johnson, K., Linkenbach, J., & Sege, R. (2021). Transforming practice with HOPE (healthy outcomes from positive experiences). Maternal and Child Health Journal, 25(7), 1019–1024. Web.
Ferguson, S. (Presenter). (2012). Growing up poor (Season 52, episode 28) [TV series episode]. In P. Williams, J. Holmes, S. Lipski, R. Raymond, J. Temple, & J. Power (Executive Producers), Four Corners. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
Guy-Evans, O. (2023). Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. Simply Psychology. Web.
Taukeni, S. G. (2019). Addressing multicultural needs in school guidance and counseling. IG Global.
Milligan, L. (Presenter). (2022). No place to call home (Season 62, episode 33) [TV series episode]. In P. Williams, J. Holmes, S. Lipski, R. Raymond, J. Temple, & J. Power (Executive Producers), Four Corners. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
Murphy, C., Matthews, J., Clayton, O., & Cann, W. (2021). Partnership with families in early childhood education: Exploratory study. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 46(1), 93–106. Web.
Tsantefski, M., & Mcveigh, M. J. (n.d.). Engaging with Families. Commonwealth of Australia.
Twum-Antwi, A., Jefferies, P., & Ungar, M. (2019a). Promoting child and youth resilience by strengthening home and school environments: A literature review. International Journal of School and Educational Psychology, 8(2), 78–89. Web.
Yurdakul, G., & Arar, T. (2023). Revisiting Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: Is it still universal content?Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 1–28. Web.
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