2017 SWK313 Case Studies for Assessment 2 Case study 1: Max Organisation type: Youth support service Max is 16 years old and left home 8 months ago. Since leaving home Max has stayed with various friends and tried living with his grandmother (Thelma). He has spent time on the streets, and is no longer attending school. A friend told him about the youth support service as a place for food and to charge his phone. After visiting several times for emergency assistance, Max has been referred for support and case management services. At this time he has no accommodation and is not working or attending school. He mentions his mother (Justine) and stepfather (Michael) live in a town close by. His biological father lives in Thailand and he has not had contact with him since he was 3 years old. Max has an older sister, Verity (age 21) who attends university interstate. Max has told the youth service the reason he does not return home is because he does not get along with his stepfather, and has had many arguments with his mother about his use of marijuana at home and at school. He used to see the school counsellor when he attended school but had never told his mother about this. Max has recently received a text from Justine saying she would like to see him and work things out. Max is not sure what to do. Case study 2: Mena & Iqbal Organisation type: Refugee & Migrant Support Service Iqbal & his wife Mena are a couple with two children (ages 10, 8). The family are from Afghanistan and arrived in Australia 5 years ago as part of the Humanitarian and Refugee program. Iqbal’s brother had been politically active in Afganistan and after he disappeared, local authorities began to target Iqbal and other extended family members. After a long and arduous journey the family travelled to a refugee camp in Pakistan before being accepted to come to Australia. After receiving some support when they first arrived, the children attend school and Iqbal found work as a mechanic. However some months ago he witnessed a violent crime at the business next door. He was involved in providing a witness statement to the police, however since then he has not been able to return to work and lost his job. He is increasingly spending time at home and does not allow visitors. Mena’s English is limited and she does not have employment. They have received a letter from their landlord and Mena is not sure what has been happening with their rent payments. Case study 3: Marion & Dave Organisation type: Family support service Marion and Dave are aged in their 60s and have the full time care of their 5 year old grandson, Sean. Their daughter, Penny has been unable to look after Sean due to a violent relationship and extended periods of drug use leading to the involvement of Child Protection services. No formal orders are currently in place and Penny occasionally visits Sean. There have been some times in the past when Penny has visited when she is under the influence of drugs or made threats and they have needed to call the police. During her most recent visit she indicated she wanted Sean to live with her, however Marion is not aware if Penny has left her partner. The couple had moved to a quiet coastal area 3 years ago when Dave retired. Six months ago the family’s house was damaged in a once in 100 year flood event that has impacted on the whole area. The recovery process is still underway and repairs are yet to be made to their house. It was not insured. Dave has just been diagnosed with early onset dementia. Case study 4: Jeanie, Tom & children Stephen & Mary Organisation type: Government child protection agency (remote service team) Jeanie (aged 28) and Tom (aged 32) are Aboriginal and live in a remote community during the wet season and an outstation during the dry season. A notification from the local health clinic within the remote community has been received, advising Stephen and Mary will be air lifted to Hospital due to weight loss (each averaging 200 grams per week). Jeanie is pregnant and is also considered to be severely malnourished so will also be flying in with the children for treatment. Within the notification, information suggests the application of the World Health Organisation classification for malnourishment indicates both children are within the ‘severe’ category and this is unusual for children of this age. The notifier has stated they have continued to experience difficulties in following-up health issues for the children because family spends large amounts of time at their Outstation and there is no service outreach to this location. Stephen and Mary have had two prior hospitalisations for failure to thrive and each time their weight had increased on their return to community however contact is lost when family moves to the outstation. Jeanie has disclosed that there is often little to no food available at the Outstation as it runs out quickly and her nutritional needs take low priority in the family. Tom has never attended the health service with Jeanie or the children. When the Centre has used a local interpreter to discuss family issues, Jeanie is even less forthcoming with details of her family life however a staff member at the health centre has told the notifier that she saw Tom driving around the community recently in a new 4-wheel drive.