Respond to the blog post of three colleagues in one or more of the following ways:
- Validate an idea in your colleague’s post with your own experience.
- Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting.
***Each response needs to be ½ page***
Be sure to support your blog posts with specific references to this week’s resources and provide full APA citations for your references.
References
Garthwait, C. (2012). The social work practicum: A guide and workbook for students (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Colleague 1: Mellissa
During one of the home visits with Paso Del Norte Children’s development center, I went to a home with parents of a child that has special needs. This child was in a car accident, and because of the accident he was left paralyzed from the whole right side. He was normal before the accident however, because of this he was not able to do the norm. This child was 16 years old getting ready to graduate high school. His mother was expressing some concerns about him wanting to leave once he was ready to graduate. The family was asking if there is anything they can do to prevent this from happening once he is of age. They did not feel like he was ready enough to leave on his own.
The social worker that I was working with expressed to the family some legal considerations that were available to them before the child turned 17 years old. She told the parents that they were more likely to be able to go to an attorney and sign a document saying that their son is not able to leave the house until they feel that he is able to be on his own once again. This is something that I had no idea anyone could do. But it just made perfect sense giving consideration to how the child was left under those difficult conditions.
Colleague 2: Laquinta
Any legal considerations during your field education experience that you may have had to address or that you might address
According to NASW code of ethics, importance of human relationship promotes positive change, successful and enhance well being. Building rapports is important in social work. At family children services, it is easy to get close to your clients especially the children. It is easy to feel sorry for the children are being removed from their parents. For example, one social worker felt bad for a teenager in custody. She was the only one consistent in the child’s life. She was her first social and the only one in her life right now after changing foster homes several times of the years. The social worker gave the young girl her cell phone number and accepted her friend request on face book. This could be a problem because the client has access to the social worker’s private life on social media. She now can see all the pictures on face book and her different views she post. I remember a judge in youth court telling the social workers they could not remove children from parents for drinking, drugs and clubbing all night and then tell the parents they have to stop to in order to get their children back and you in the same club doing the same thing with them. He pointed one they will turn on you in court. He suggested the social worker always present themselves in a professional manner. This is also the agency’s suggestion. I have been present for their staff meetings and it has been a constant reminder that when the social workers leave th office they are still representatives of the agency. It is always good to be mindful of your position at a job and in the people lives you serve. Being too close, too personal and accepting gifts can cause challenges to your character and cost you your job in some circumstances.
An explanation of potential challenges in adhering to legal considerations during your field education experience
My challenge would be taking gifts from children. For example, if a child wants to give a Christmas gift, I might feel bad telling a child I can not take their gift. I would not want to hurt a child’s feelings after they thought to give me a gift. This is a challenge for me. I would probably get too close to a client.
Colleague 3: Janice
The agency were I intern offers many services, peer to peer counseling services as well as teaming with local courts to assist and become mentors to veterans who are find themselves in legal trouble called VET Court. Vet Court requires “regular court appearances (a bi-weekly minimum in the early phases of the program), as well as mandatory attendance at treatment sessions and frequent and random testing for substance use (drug and/or alcohol),” for those who find themselves in trouble with the law, Justice for Vet, (2017) If I choose to participate in the Vet Court program, I would assist the vet as a mentor. If the veteran happen to get into more trouble and/or was rearrested while I am their mentor, I would most likely have to testify on their behalf and answer question pertaining to the veteran.
Another legal consideration I might have to address is if I choose to become the agency’s facilitator after completing the state and agency mandatory training, I would become the group facilitator. During group sessions, if a client discloses a plan to harm themselves or others I have a duty to warn, Garthwait, C. (2012). Since all of the clients who attend the group sessions are affiliated with the military, some are suffering from PTSD, (post- traumatic stress disorder, MST (military sexual trauma) and other issues, some are angry and full of rage and could carry out their plans to harm, therefor in order to try and keep someone safe it’s important to warn.
An explanation of potential challenges in adhering to legal considerations during my field education experience, is to become familiar with state local and military laws since the agency in which I intern cater to military, veterans and their families.
Reference
Garthwait, C. (2012). The social work practicum: A guide and workbook for students (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Justice for Veterans, (2017). What is Veterans Treatment Court Retrieved from website: http:// www.justiceforvets.org
