The movie, based on the novel Push by Sapphire, describes the difficult childhood and adolescence of Clarissa “Precious” Jones. She is constantly exposed to emotional and physical violence from her unemployed mother, Mary, and has been sexually abused by her father. Precious has a pregnancy and a child with Down syndrome from him. The movie narrates Clarissa’s school and family life being a vivid illustration of child maltreatment demonstrated in various forms. This paper discusses the examples provided by the movie by Florida’s Child Maltreatment Index (FCMI) and analyzes possible approaches to intervention using Florida’s Child Welfare Practice Model (FCWPM).
Child Maltreatment in the Movie
Clarissa’s relationship with her mother undoubtedly included elements of mental and physical injury. Mary constantly verbally insulted her daughter, accused her of some fictional misdemeanors, and did not express any signs of care and love. For instance, the mother blamed Precious for the visit of the school principal and punished her with verbal abuse and beating. Besides, at the beginning of the movie, she threw a book in Clarissa’s head for not buying cigarettes. According to FCMI, “an action that is likely to cause physical injury” equates to physical injury (A-44).
This behavior should also be considered as mental harm, inadequate supervision, and failure to protect. The mother forced Precious to do household chores and collect social welfare, which can be regarded as child labor (FCMI A-26). The nature, content, and application of Mary’s sanctions correspond to the bizarre punishment and threatened harm. It bears remembering that Clarissa was also sexually abused by her father.
The maltreatment of the main character in the movie had many consequences. In terms of physical damage, Clarissa was overweight, had two early pregnancies, and became infected with HIV. In addition, Precious suffered from cognitive development impairment and learned to read and write only at the age of 16. She had numerous emotional traumas, felt unloved and abandoned, and often resorted to mental escapism in daydreaming.
Application of Florida’s Child Welfare Practice Model
The situation described in the movie is already hazardous and harmful for a child, which makes the provision of family support services inefficient. According to FCWPM, “when children are determined to be unsafe, safety management and case planning is non-negotiable” (1-2). All the necessary circumstances related to the child’s situation in the family and the possible dangers in the future are analyzed through the Family Functioning Assessment process.
Until this procedure is completed, the investigator develops and applies a Present Danger Plan to monitor all possible threats to the child’s condition. In this case, it could be weekly visits, written and oral reports of Clarissa on the family situation, and targeted use of social welfare. FCWPM states that “when an investigator concludes at the end of the Family Functioning Assessment that a child is unsafe an Impending Danger Safety Plan is developed” (1-3).
This plan is managed throughout the life of the case and may even require the removal of the child from the family. The Plan for Family Change could also be developed to improve the situation with Clarissa’s mother. This could include, for instance, Mary’s employment and consultations with a psychologist and a social worker.
Conclusion
The movie describes the precarious situation of child maltreatment, including mental and physical injury, sexual abuse, bizarre punishment, threatened harm, failure to protect, and inadequate supervision. Such behavior on the part of the mother caused Clarissa’s physiological problems, numerous emotional traumas, and impaired cognitive development. In this case, there is a severe danger to the physical and psychological condition of the child. Possible approaches to intervention provided by the FCWPM that should have been taken in assisting Clarissa in the current environment were demonstrated.
Works Cited
The State of Florida, Department of Children and Families. Child Maltreatment Index CFOP 170-4. Office of Child Welfare, 2018.
The State of Florida, Department of Children and Families. Florida’s Child Welfare Practice Model CFOP 170-1. Office of Child Welfare, 2017.