Question

First read the Harjo Case Study:

Mrs. Harjo and Tony: Mrs. Harjo is 65 year old female who identifies as Latina. She lives in Globe, Arizona, and subsists on Supplemental Security Income, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps), and her garden. Mrs. Harjo has been living alone since the death of her husband five years ago. She is the daughter of Mexican immigrants, and visits her hometown in Mexico for Semana Santa every other year. Mrs. Harjo identifies as Catholic by has not participated in organized religion since the age of 14, when she relocated to Globe, AZ.

A paternal grandson, Tony (age 13), recently moved in with Mrs. Harjo following his mother's death from cirrhosis of the liver due to alcoholism. Tony's biological father is serving five years in prison on a second conviction for possession of drug paraphernalia, a class six felony in Arizona (https://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/03415.htm) . Tony's biological parents were never married, and his mother did not obtain a legal divorce from her first husband. When Tony was born, the hospital registrar accidentally listed the first husband as the legal father on his birth certificate.

Mrs. Harjo went to Tony's school to give notice of a change of address and to put her name on file as guardian and emergency contact. School officials pointed out that Tony was not legally related to Mrs. Harjo, and that therefore she had no authority to authorize medical care, or to enroll Tony in school.

The principal referred Mrs. Harjo to an attorney, where she appealed for help in getting Tony's paternity corrected. The attorney advised that the biological father adopt Tony in order to change the legal parent, but refused to take the case because Tony's father was incarcerated, and the likelihood of an adoption by an incarcerated parent was too low (Garcia, Bain, Avera, Armenta, 2005).

Tony’s grades have dipped to a C average (he typically earns A’s and B’s) since the death of his mother. He is on the freshman baseball team, and cites this as one of his favorite activities, but will be barred from playing should his grades continue to decline. Tony has no specific academic interests but wants to remain eligible to play baseball. Teachers report that Tony has always been quiet, but has had difficulty concentrating in school since his mother' death two months ago.

Three months ago, he suffered a knee injury playing baseball and is slowly returning to practice, and was prescribed Percocet (an opioid) for the severed pain. Tony complains that he still has lingering pain and continues to take the prescribed Purcocet. He also shared a few of his pain killers with a friend.

Mrs. Harjo followed up with the principal for a recommendation to get Tony in to see a counselor, but has not received a reply. She is unsure where to go to find something she might be able to afford.Tony has no known medical issues, and has seen a doctor regularly. Tony reports he does not remember the last time he has seen a dentist, and is worried that he may need braces.

You need to address the following questions in your response:

1. What is 1 crisis or traumatic experience that has happened to your client, and how has it affected them? If you do not believe that your client has experienced trauma/crisis, what is one crisis/traumatic experience that could arise if the client does not receive proper care?
2. Discuss 2 self-care techniques you would use to manage the emotional stress you would face as a social worker (Ex: hobbies, socializing, diet, exercise, etc.). Why do you think those two would help you the most?
3. How does the criminal justice system play a role in your client’s life currently?
4. How would you work with your client to prevent any future legal/justice issues?
5. What is one question that you have about your case study/client and its relation to this week’s module material?

Posts should be no less than 300 words and no more than 500 words.

Answer 1

Mrs. Harjo already feels an attachment with Tony. But the crisis is that she is unable to admit Tony as he has no biological father. Mrs. Hajaro feels that such crisis may cause break down of her attachment with the child. She is desperate to get him admission. She thinks that id she is unable to get him admission then the child may be diverted. Therefore she is always in tension. She also thinks that Tony may bear some biological characteristics of his parents. Therefore he may face many disorders. Mrs. Hajaro lives aline. Tony's company helps him to be free from loneliness. Naturally she is in crisis how to solve the problem.

Mrs. Hajaro should have sufficient self-confidence. She needs to prepare herself so that she can help Tony to establish independently. Therefore she needs to think carefully. She also needs to discuss the matter with other efficient persons. She needs to consult with the lawyers to help Tony.

Tony may have criminal characteristics. He is also victim of memory disorder. He wants to leave study. He wants to continue basket playing. He wants to establish himself as a basket player. But his parental background may hinder in his way of development. He also feels inferiority problems for his identity crisis. Such identity crisis will haunt him in future. Mrs. Hajaro is also aware of this.

As counsellor one needs to use talk therapy to encourage and to provide mental support to the client. She needs mental support and she needs people to support her. So the counsellor must advise her to take legal help to get free from the crisis.

Such problems appear in the immigrants. She needs to take the help of the community leaders to overcome the problems.