Introduction
It is often challenging for individuals to accept the fact that there is something that needs to be changed. People approach such offers with anger that might turn into a physical or verbal conflict. As part of the provided scenario, there are two problems that are to be solved by a social worker. The first challenge is to explain adequately what events and arguments led to the judge’s decision to remove Cody and Jennifer from the custody of their parents. This might be difficult because of the emotional state of the parents and their unwillingness to accept the facts. The second problem is to provide the parents with measurable goals reaching which they will be able to have their children back at home.
Social Worker Goals
The two defined problems are associated with both parents and the social worker. However, it is up to the social worker how they are going to explain the inquired topics to the parents, and it is the parents’ responsibility to meet the judge’s requirements to bring their children home. For instance, the social worker must decide how they are going to define the terms “hazardous,” “unsanitary condition,” and “nutritional neglect.”
The second goal of the social worker is to explain the legal and health intricacies of the current problem. Incorporating such goals are an excellent strategy for achieving desired outcomes (Hepworth, Rooney, Rooney, & Strom-Gottfried, 2017). And lastly, the professional must provide the parents with the necessary means of accomplishing the requirements set by the judge. It might be specific steps, a roadmap, or the required training.
Parent Goals
The parents also have the three goals they need to reach to attain the expected outcome. The first goal is to get the necessary education to solve the problems. For instance, they must engage themselves in learning about nutrition, sanitation, and potential hazards for children. The second goal is to implement everything needed to meet the requirements of the court. This is essentially applying everything learned at the training in practice. The parents should provide clean accommodation free of any hazardous elements and proper food. And the last goal is to sustain the required quality of living and engage themselves in continuous learning and growth.
Challenges
There are certain challenges that are to be addressed by the social worker. Predicting the potential barriers to goal attainment and developing strategies to overcome them is a significant part of social workers’ day jobs (Thompson, 2016). For the discussed scenario, the possible issues that pose a hindrance to reaching the goals are the reluctance of the parents to take part in change activities, and the incompetence of the social worker to adequately explain the things necessary to achieve the aims. A competent social worker must be able to address these challenges and develop solutions. The parents must understand that without meeting the requirements, it is not possible to bring the children back.
Scores
All goals are linked to the target problem, so all receive 5 points. The first two goals of the social worker are as specific as possible, so they earn 5 points, but the last goal gets 4. No goal is defined in completely measurable terms, so all receive 3 points each. All goals are feasible and time-limited, so 5 points go to each goal. However, it is possible to reach the desired level of measurability by increasing specificity.
References
Hepworth, D. H., Rooney, R. H., Rooney, G. D., & Strom-Gottfried, K. (2016). Empowerment series: Direct social work practice: Theory and skills. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Thompson, N. (2016). The professional social worker: Meeting the challenge. London, UK: Palgrave.