Family dynamics and relationships in applied contexts

Family Project

The Jacques family seems to have functioned very well until the husband began abusing drugs and alcohol. This was a problem before, but things have stabilized when the appropriate help was obtained. The relapse occurred directly after the wife and children left for a visit to the wife's family. Hence, it might reasonably be assumed that the presence of the family has a positive effect upon the maintenance of the treatment regime. Because Jean (the husband) functioned at a very high level before his relapse into the cycle of abuse and the abandonment of the treatment regime, it might be assumed that he will once again respond to intervention. Because there is as yet no physical danger to the family, the treatment and intervention program will be administered under strict official supervision, with regular monitoring sessions. However, while the aim is to keep the family together, a contingency plan should be in place to ensure the safety of the wife and children should Jean become physically violent.

The first step in the plan should be assessment. The assessment should focus on the root of the problem, which in this case is Jean and his dual disorders. According to Moore (2005, p. 231), more than half of mental disorder sufferers also have substance abuse disorders. Yet, there has been little social work attention to co-occurring issues. The tendency is to treat these conditions in isolation (Brown, 2010). For Jean's specific situation then, Moore (2005) suggests that an integrated treatment plan might work better than two separate treatment plans designed to handle his substance abuse and mental problems in isolation. In addition, the effect of his family's absence on his relapse should also be assessed. The first phase of the assessment should therefore be focused upon Jean himself, primarily on the occurrence of his mental problems, and secondarily on his substance abuse issues. Finally, there should also be residual focus on Jean's relationship with his family and their influence on his ability to retain the treatment regime.

For this assessment, it is recommended that Jean visit the local outpatient mental health clinic, where a social worker should assess the three components that contributed to his current condition. Recommendations should be made on how his situation will be handled and whether this treatment could viably occur in the home environment. Because Jean's history shows a very high level of functioning when his family was with him, it is recommended that his treatment occur in the home environment, with regular monitoring and a contingency plan.

The second assessment should focus on the rest of the family; Mrs. Jacques and her children. Mrs. Jacques herself has mentioned that the continuous emotional abuse of her and her children has caused her to be worn out to the degree that she is unable to provide adequate care for her children. An assessment of neglect should therefore be conducted, as well as an assessment to determine the effect of the abuse. These services are usually provided by Child Protective Services (CPS). It is recommended that the assessment be done in the Jacques home, to determine the ability of the parents to create a safe and healthy environment for the children. The state of cleanliness, provision of regular meals, and educational situation of the children should be assessed. According to the findings, recommendations should be made.

There are various components that play a role in this assessment. Because one parent has a mental condition and substance abuse problems, the effect of this on the home environment should be assessed. The initial steps of the child care assessment should include the following (De Pfanfilis, 2006, p. 43): First, the relationship between the strengths of the home environment and its risk factors should be considered. In the Jacques situation, the mother is aware that she wants the situation to change for the better. She is aware of the circumstances that created the family's former prosperity and well-being. She is likely willing to recreate these circumstances with the help of professionals. Second, changes must be considered in terms of changes required to keep children safe, protect them from future abuse and neglect, ensure permanency, and enhance their well-being, as well as the well-being of the family as a unit. In order to ensure this, various factors need to be considered.

The first of these is the ecological perspective (De Pfanfilis, 2006, p. 45). This perspective considers human behavior according to the environmental context within which it occurs. For Jean, the problem began with the absence of his family. When his family was with him, he maintained his treatment regime, did not abuse any substances, and was able to hold a well-paying job. This changed when they left. Once his treatment regime is re-established, it should be ensured that his family lends a supportive environment to his healing process.

For the children, their current environment is toxic. Neither their mother nor their father has the emotional prowess to provide proper care for them. However, with the proper help, their mother can be assisted by means of therapy and possibly medication. Once the mother and children are stabilized, Jean can be provided with a home environment that is favorable for his healing process.

From a theoretical perspective, a developmental perspective will be taken. First, the family's history will be considered. There appears to be three phases to this: first, the initial stage of the Jacques marriage, where they functioned as highly functional partners and parents. The second is the first breakdown, where Jean began to be abusive towards his wife and child. The third is after his therapy, during which he received help in the form of counseling and medication. This created a sound and healthy home environment, and the family was able to move into a bigger house. The factors that played a role in this high level of functioning should be taken into account.

Because it appears that Jean's family had a very positive effect upon his ability to maintain his treatment regime, it is recommended that he not be completely removed from the home environment. Instead, it is recommended that the first step towards healing is counseling sessions for Mr. And Mrs. Jacques together. She should monitor his response to medication and his adherence to the treatment regime. If necessary, Mrs. Jacques should receive therapy and medication to help improve her depression levels. It is recommended that the dosage be initially small. During the first weeks of treatment, it is recommended that a social worker make regular visits to the house to determine the level of improvement and the safety of the children.