Cultural Influences of Social Policy
Discussion #1 – Due 7.15.20
For this Discussion, review this week’s resources, including the Hernandez Family video case. Consider how cultural considerations might affect child welfare policy. Then, think about what your responsibilities, as a social worker, might be in supporting the Hernandez family in addressing their child welfare needs through the accessibility of services.
Post an explanation of how cultural considerations might affect child welfare policy. Then, explain what your responsibilities, as a social worker, might be in supporting the Hernandez family in addressing their child welfare needs through the accessibility of services.
Child Welfare and Family Preservation
Discussion # 2- Due 7.16.20
For this Discussion, review this week’s resources. Consider the role of family preservation in child welfare, the research regarding family preservation, and the assumptions about foster care. Think about whether you agree with the research, and whether there are any gaps in your state foster care system that might contribute to the assumptions. Reflect on the benefits and shortfalls of permanency planning and family preservation and which approach you prefer
Post an explanation of the role of family preservation in child welfare. Then, explain whether research supports the assumption that foster care is harmful for children, as presented by the cornerstone argument for family preservation. Be sure to include whether you agree with this assumption and why you agree or disagree. Subsequently, identify the gaps in your state foster care system that contribute to the idea that foster care is harmful to children. Then, compare the benefits and shortfalls of permanency planning and family preservation. Finally, provide a description of whether you prefer the permanency or the family preservation approach as a child welfare social worker and why you prefer it
References:
Transcript from The Hernandez Family case.
Hernandez Family Episode 3 Program Transcript JUAN HERNANDEZ:
Do you have any idea how hard it is for us to get to these classes?
ELENA HERNANDEZ: And there’s only one class a week. We don’t have a choice when to come.
FEMALE SPEAKER: That is why we offer the parenting class at night, to make it easier for working families to attend.
ELENA HERNANDEZ: That’s fine for some people, but that’s when Juan gets his overtime. He can’t do both. Every time we come here it costs us. We lose money. And the way things are, we can’t afford to lose a dime.
FEMALE SPEAKER: I understand that missing overtime is having a big impact on you financially. And I understand what you’re saying about the class only being offered one night a week. If we could offer it several times a week, that would probably be more helpful. But in the meantime—
JUAN HERNANDEZ: Look, let’s stop dancing around what’s really wrong here. We appreciate what you’re doing. You want to help parents do a better job with their kids. But we’re good parents. We love our kids. Yes, they get punished when they need to be punished, just Elena and I when we were growing up. But we don’t hit our boys. We do not hurt them. If anything, you hurt them by making us come here when I could be out there making extra money, money that the family needs. Do you hear me? This class this, whole policy is the real problem. That is what needs to change, not us.
Popple, P. R., & Leighninger, L. (2019). The policy-based profession: An introduction to social welfare policy analysis for social workers (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
· Chapter 10, “Child Welfare: Family Preservation Policy” (pp. 214-244)
Plummer, S. -B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. (Eds.). (2014). Sessions: Case histories. Baltimore: MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].
· Part 1, “The Hernandez Family” (pp.3–5)
