Assessment Assignment Social Work

ASSESSMENT ASSIGNMENT

Social Worker/Assessment Assignment

Description of Person

Ebony (not her real name) is a 24-year-old African American female. She, alongside her 2 children (both girls, aged 4 months and 3 years respectively) live with her mother. Ebony’s children are by the same father. Ebony does not possess any advanced academic qualifications. Having dropped out of high school, Ebony completed her formal education at a lower school level. The salary that she is currently paid as a cashier at a gas station is inadequate to enable her further her education. Further, she is the sole provider for the household. Although she owns and drives a car, Ebony has no driver’s license. She has no access to either health or dental benefits.

Description of Family of Origin

Ebony was brought up in a single-mother household. She has never met her father. Ebony’s mother only got as far as 9th grade. The larger family has grappled with drug abuse – with various family members being active drug users. The death of two of Ebony’s uncles and one cousin has been linked to drug overdose. There is also a repeated pattern of incarceration within the larger family. At present, there are three close relations who are serving time for various felonies.

Social Environment

Ebony’s mother is a crack cocaine addict. She is not gainfully employed and lives on disability payments. Ebony’s mother provides child care for Ebony’s two children while she is at work. The household in which Ebony grew was not particularly religious. Thus, at present, she maintains no affiliation with any religious organization. Ebony has no close friends. Further, she maintains no contact with the father to her two children.

Physical Environment

The area in which Ebony, her mother, and two children live could be described as very poor. Her mother’s apartment has two bedrooms and is situated in a block that has 11 other houses. In addition to having a relatively high crime rate, the said area is poorly served by various amenities. Criminal gangs lurk and drug dealing has over the past few years become a serious concern.

Strengths and Concerns

a) Strengths

1. Ebony wants the best for her two children. She is committed to doing whatever it takes to secure a better life for her children. To a large extent, this drive could be deemed her greatest strength. This is more so the case given that it is this same drive that propels her to make changes in her life that need to be made.

2. Yet another strength that ought to be highlighted on this front is the move to seek help. This is a clear indication that Ebony identifies and has come to terms with the fact that she in an unfortunate situation that needs to be adapted.

b) Concerns

1. Ebony has a daring attitude that has the potential to complicate her life even further. For instance, she insists on driving without a valid driver’s license, oblivious of the fact that this could put her on a collision course with law enforcement officers.

2. At 248 pounds, Ebony is overweight. This puts her at risk of acquiring various chronic illnesses – such as diabetes and hypertension – which have been linked to overweight and obesity. This would put greater strain on her resources due to the cost of healthcare. The family has no access to health insurance.

3. Drug addiction also happens to be a major concern on this front. With Ebony’s mother being a crack cocaine addict, she cannot be deemed a competent caregiver to the two children. The fact that they live in an area where drug dealing and use is rather common means that it would be difficult for Ebony’s mother to kick the addiction. Ebony’s children are also at risk of acquiring the habit as a consequence of their proximity to this particular environment.

Target Problem

The problem area that I feel most concerned about is Ebony’s lack of education. This is more so the case given that without meaningful academic qualifications with which she could settle in a better job, Ebony is likely to be stuck in a cycle of poverty and debt. Education would on this front be a ticket to economic empowerment. Financial stability would also enable Ebony to address some of the key concerns highlighted above. For instance, in addition to enrolling her mother into a rehabilitation facility, she would be able to move the family to a better neighborhood and enroll her children in a decent educational facility.

Recommendations

a) Pursue Education

Education, as has already been indicated, would be instrumental in efforts to turn Ebony’s fortunes around. I would recommend that Ebony pursues education at a community college or via Job Corps. The latter alternative would be more ideal given the present financial situation and the significant familial responsibilities she bears. It is important to note that in addition to housing, Job Corps also provides single mothers with free day care and various training program options. On this front, there are a wide range of vocational training options that Ebony could select. The said training programs are designed to equip those who enroll with meaningful skills and capabilities that would enable them to not only gain employment, but also explore various other career pathways.

b) Religious Affiliation

There is need for Ebony to join a church or other religious denomination so as to better address various other needs in the interim period. This is especially useful because such formations often have extensive resources to help members in need of assistance. For instance, there are some church assistance programs that seek to extend tailored or directed assistance to single mothers. It is important to note that as Sheldon and Macdonald (2010) point out, “each local church assistance program has its own set of eligibility requirements and application considerations” (211). Ebony could qualify for single mom grants. Religious organizations also offer free counseling services. To secure her mental wellbeing, Ebony would also be in need of spiritual nourishment. According to Bozek, Nowak, and Blukacz (2020), past studied have indicated that there exists a positive relationship between psychological wellbeing and spirituality.