Introduction
There has been a considerable increase in the number of child delinquents in the world despite measures that have been put in place to ensure that this tendency does not prevail. Notwithstanding the moral and character building aspects involved in the subject matter, there is need to delve into the family setting where there has been rampant discrepancies in terms of parental care and supervision of children.
A problem in the family setting would more than likely lead to the development of risk factors. Despite the involvement of both the child welfare and social services into the issue, their intervention has not been sufficient. In the case study on the Smith family discussed below, the importance of fostering a better environment for the growth and development of children has emerged. This can be achieved through the incorporation of the five elements of risk and resilience framework.
This is bound to instill more positive attributes in a child’s life, thereby helping him/her to avoid any future negative outcomes with the broader hope of totally eliminating delinquency. The essay also focuses on the various risk factors that children are exposed to and how they develop resilience. Additionally, the essay seeks to eliminate the occurrence of negative outcomes in children by proposing the enforcement of common risks and a resilient framework.
Analysis
Farrington and Welsh (2008) define risk factors in children as a variable that predicts increased probability of later offending. They continue to state that early risk factors among children lead to high delinquency rates and that a higher probability of offending is usually categorized into three namely, individual, family, and environmental factors.
In the case study of the Smith family, the children are exposed to a certain number of risks. For example, under the individual factor, Gary and Jay exhibit signs of low intelligence and attainment.
This is evidenced in the case study by the fact that both struggling academically. Farrington and Welsh (2008) further explain that personality and temperament factors are also a risk factor under the individual level and hence, a prediction of offending. The absence of their mother has also affected the temperamental behavior of the boys. Gary has anger control issues while Jay has been exhibiting symptoms of disassociation.
Additionally, the children have been constantly faced with a risk factor of associating with criminal and antisocial parents. Bob, the boyfriend to the boy’s aunt Alice and Ralph, their stepfather, are actually drug offenders. This could end up influencing their antisocial behavior in future on account of the association. The constant exposure to violence in their day to day lives may have detrimental effects on their growth and development, especially as regards the issues of morals and character building.
The fact that they are still young and view adults as an epitome of righteousness strengthens the idea that they will desire to learn from them and will actually copy and emulate their behavior. This is also another major risk factor facing the children. Farrington and Welsh (2008) concur that a large family size is also a factor that could predict offending. The children, Gary and Jay end up being abandoned by their mother at their Aunt Alice’s house.
There are a total of sixteen children and four adults in the new home. On one occasion, Gary left home to attend a school function and nobody actually noticed that he was missing until the school counselor brought him home. This could explain the recent defiant tendencies that Gary has been exhibiting by leaving home without permission. The fact that there are no controls to watch over all the children leaves room for discrepancies in terms of behavior and character.
The children are also simultaneously faced with the risk of poor parental supervision, parental conflict and a disrupted family. In the case study for instance, Gary and Jay are exposed to poor parental quality characterized by physical and emotional abuse. There is also continuous warring between Jackie and Ralph, with the allegations of physical abuse between the two. This was also worsened by the fact that their caregivers were constantly harsh towards them.
Perhaps this could explain why Gary was reluctant to go back home after the school function as he was scared of the repercussions, especially from Bob. In line with Jackie’s selective contact with both Gary and Jay, Farrington and Welsh (2008) further contend that poor parental supervision more than doubles the risk involved with offending ,as proven in the Cambridge study where its odds ratio versus convictions amounted to a total of 2.6%.
The poor housing conditions under which Gary and his brother Jay lived in at Alice’s house is an indicator of the abject state of poverty they are exposed to. There is no better way to term Alice and the environment in which she lived in. First, the house was a subsidy of the federal state.
Secondly, they could not even afford plumbing services, as their toilet was constantly full of human wastes. The constant exposure to such conditions meant that the children were faced with a potential disruption in their normal functioning and this could in turn result in future negative outcomes (Peters, Leadbeater & McMahon, 2005).
Peters et al (2005) have defined resilience as patterns which show positive adaptation in relation to past or present situations of adversity. In order to sufficiently determine resilience, it is important to determine whether an adversity has occurred in the life of an individual and whether their functioning or development is okay.
Duncan, Coatsworth and Greenberg (2009) emphasize that while evaluating resilience in children, it is necessary to assess their competence and related achievements in age salient developmental tasks. This could involve the general expectations required of them at a given time in accordance with a certain culture.
Peters et al ( 2005) describe resilience factors as good health, an easy going and engaging temperament, utmost intellectual competence, self control, strong religious values aided with the ability to plan ahead. In relation to the case study, there is evidence of resilience predictor factors and consequent applicability.
In order for resilience to be acknowledged, the detrimental event in place should have had a positive impact on the receiver and not lead to negative outcomes. In the case of Gary and Jay, the first noticeable resilience predictor factor is the issue of acute stress and challenges that the children constantly have to cope with. Despite being constantly maltreated by Ralph, the children still hold him in high regard. Kumpfer (2011) states that challenges help one to grow from the stressing situations in order to face new stress.
This is a replica of what happened to the children. They have learnt to regard Ralph as their father despite all odds not knowing that they are actually making room to withstand more stress from Bob when the time comes. Kumpfer( 2011) continues to emphasize that people do not choose to undergo unanticipated negative stressors, but nevertheless, valuable lessons are learnt and these could help them in coping with other negative events of life in future.
The external environment in which the children live is also a contributory factor to the resilience element. Despite being exposed to risk factors at home, there was a balance at school where they encountered protective factors like proper care and concern. For instance, the teachers at school were concerned about the children’s welfare unlike their caregivers.
This positive protective factor could have led Gary to still want to attend school even though he could have just stayed at home, with the excuse that no one would accompany him. The resilient factor in this case is the irony of a child from a neglected background wanting to do things right (Kumpfer, 2011).
In relation to the person environment resilience factor, it is of paramount importance to ascertain how the child attempts to perceive, either passively or actively, the threats and challenges they continuously face (Kumpfer, 2011). In regards to the two children, Gary and Jay, they can be regarded as being very resilient in regards to their general self characteristics which comprise of such internal strengths like physical and emotional competency.
To term Gary and Jay as weak would be inappropriate. They are a perfect example of strength. Having to constantly face neglect at home, lacking parental supervision, living in a state of abject poverty and still finding a reason to go to school all typically exhibit high level of resilience. With the help of protective factors in protective situations, the children could end up displaying positive outcomes regardless of the numerous negative situations they were accustomed to.
To ensure that the two children, Gary and Jay have a possibility of a better future, it is entirely important to incorporate the common practice framework of risk and resilience to their situation. It is important that children are not constantly exposed to negative influences in their lives through repeated occurrences of risk. It is important that the government ensures that women, especially mothers are protected from physical violence from their spouses, so that the children will also be protected.
In the current case study, social services should have intervened to ensure that Jackie was safe from physical and mental abuse from Ralph. More importantly, it would have been better if Jackie reported Ralph and his violent tendencies to the authorities. Schether (2004) insists that it is extremely important that the community creates safety for both the mother and her children in terms of physical and material needs in order to eliminate the risk that they both face.
It is also important that children experience warm and nurturing relationships with their parents and other caregivers as such relationships could have a positive impact on their lives (Schether, 2004). Parents should be helped to understand how important the lives of their children are. In relation to the case study, there is a high chance that Jackie concentrated more on the challenges she faced than on the joy of raising her children.
It would have been very beneficial to Gary and Jay if their medical doctor or the teachers and other caregivers had stepped in to advocate for their rights and to also advise their mother on how to spend quality time with her children. On the other hand, the teachers and the school counselor tried their best to be warm and receptive to the children by giving them the attention they yeaned for. If Jackie and Alice had considered giving the children quality care, this would have possibly resulted in better performance at school.
Additionally, it is important to ensure that young children and the families have access to basic needs. Schether (2004) states that poverty in early childhood is more harmful compared with poverty in other ages. In this case, poverty refers to the state of being hungry or homeless.
Since it is not very possible to ensure that all members of the society are without poverty, it is important to ensure that their daily basic needs like food, shelter and clothing are adequately provided for. Economic issues like lack of employment could actually be the contributory factor to violence in men, meaning that joblessness could actually make a man resort to violent tendencies. In the case study for instance, there are no instances where it is mentioned that Ralph goes to work.
No wonder he had the time to constantly harass his wife and her children. In the case of Jackie and her children, social aid could have come in handy in terms of providence. This way, the children would be assured of at least a meal a day and Jackie would not have to worry by sticking to a man who violated her. Additionally, it was also very important for Alice to appeal for help to take care of the large family.
She could not even afford to hire an attorney and on one occasion, she failed to seek for medical help for the children. This should not have taken place if she declared her status openly and sought for help. This way, her income would have greatly improved therefore leading to an improvement in the cognitive, social and emotional competencies (Schether, 2004).
According to one of the risk and resilience issues, it is important to ensure that young children along with their families have access to culturally respectful and welcoming service systems. In addition, there is also the need to ensure that such service providers have the necessary skills, cultural knowledge and positive attitude to assist such children and their families.
Schether (2004) is of the view that the psychological consequences of domestic violence in all women are similar. In the case of Jackie and her family, it is evident that she comes from a background where women are maltreated and treated with contempt. This explains her delinquency during her childhood years. Her marriage history and that of her sister also come into light regarding the same perspective. Both their boyfriends are violent and abusive.
In the case of Gary and Jay, the exposure to this kind of life systems actually negatively impact on them. What they actually need is a home full of love and positivity to help them grow up as responsible beings in the community. The environment in which they currently live in is not in any way helpful to them. To solve this problem, it is important that agencies come in. Through careful assessment of the situation, it is possible to train the family, mainly the care givers, on cultural competence.
It is important that young children who are exposed to violent and risky behavior receive the right intervention strategies early enough. Knitzer (2000) states that there is need to promote positive parenting so as to ensure that children have an access to good health care and other specialized services.
To ensure that the child protection services are not involved, it is extremely important that early intervention be is sought for children who are experiencing domestic violence. In the case of Gary and Jay, It could be a little too late to avoid the intervention of the child protection services. First; their mother abandoned them without any regard for them. In order to ensure that her children would be safe, she could have instead gone to the authorities to seek for help as she continues to care, love and support them.
Schether (2004) contends that through participation in groups or mother child dyadic, there could be a reduction in the child’s aggression and anxiety levels, while simultaneously reducing depression and improving their social relationships with other children.
Secondly, while at Alice’s Place, the children experienced lack of proper medical care which could have actually been very detrimental to them even to the extent of death. As if that was not enough, they were constantly being exposed to violent and physical threats from Bob and their cousin who even once threatened them with a gun.
These are potential risks to crime. Being that no one really cares for the children in all the dimensions of the family perspective, it would only be fair that they are taken under the custody of the Child protection services and a foster home is sought for them. This way, they would be sure of access to a better life and good parental care. Despite guarantee of help from the child protective services, many families are afraid that through disclosing violence, their children will be taken away from them.
Conclusion
The case study brings into light the elements of risk and resilience in children in relation to the presented case study of the Smith family. It has been observed that the major risk factor attributed to the highest negative outcome is indeed parental supervision. Although there are other factors like socio economic status and so on, quality parental care is very important in the positive upbringing of a child.Notably, children tend to develop resilience towards the stressing factors in their lives in order to be able to cope to change and other situations.
However, resilience is as a result of a child’s exposure to protective factors like warmness in terms of people and surrounding. The writer has also conclusively applied the theoretical framework of risk and resilience to the situation of Gary and Jay in a quest to provide solutions to their detriments.
Through fostering the five elements of the framework, it is assumed that both the children and their care givers are in a better position to be successful in life in terms of confronting challenges in the future. These are to ensure they receive their basic needs, trained in a good cultural environment and encouraging parents to positively up bring their children, among other factors.
Reference List
Duncan, L, G., Coatsworth, J. D., & Greenberg, M. T. (2009). A model of mindful parenting: Implications for parent-child relationships and prevention research. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 12, 255-270.
Farrington, D. P., & Welsh, C. B. (2008). Saving children from a life of crime: Early risk factors and effective interventions. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Knitzer, J. (2004).Toward a Developmental Risk and Resilience Framework for Research and Intervention. Web.
Kumpfer, K. (2011). Factors and processes contributing to resilience. Web.
Peters, R. D., Leadbeater, B., & McMahon, R. (2005). Resilience in children, families and communities. Linking context to practice and policy. London: Springer.
Schether, S. (2004). Early Childhood, Domestic Violence, and Poverty: Helping Young Children and Their Families. Young children’s exposure to adult domestic violence. Web.