Social Work Children and Families: Placement for Adoption - Essay Example

Running Head: CW1 Case Study CW1 Case Study: Placement for Adoption CW1 Case Study: Placement for Adoption Question # 1 What are the legal and policy frameworks for this piece of work? Explain how they apply to this situation. Answer # 1 In the case under discussion, two years old Eli has been placed with Stephanie and Derek, who are his foster carers. The parents and sister of Jamaall (Eli’s birth father) live in Barbados. They had offered to take care of Eli, but later they withdrew. Now, the foster carers wish to adopt Eli. Clearly, this is a case where the foster carers are willing to adopt the child. Considering the legal framework, it must be borne in mind that the laws for child adoption have been reshaped by several pieces of legislation, covered under Children and Adoption Acts 2002 and 2006. The legal framework thus introduced makes inter-country adoption governed by statute (Contact Law, 2010). The Children and Adoption Act 2006 “is intended to assist in the implementation of the Green Paper ‘Parental Separation: Children’s Needs and Parents’ Responsibilities (Cm 6273)’, published in July 2004.” (HM Stationary Office, 2006, p.1). Hence the Act typically applies to Eli, since his birth parents practically live in separation. Hence Eli is born in UK; difficulties of inter-country adoption to circumvent restrictions on bringing children into the UK may be avoided. Still, nationality of Eli’s father remains an issue, particularly when his family from Barbados has expressed interest in relation to Eli and they may seek to maintain contacts in the future. However, “adoptions within countries still transfer the children of poor parents to richer parents.” (Douglas and Philpot, 2003). Since both of Eli’s birth parents suffer from schizophrenia, adoption of Eli by Stephanie and Derek appears to be legally feasible indeed. The policy frameworks applying to this situation is in direct relation to the practice of fostering. Fostering is all about looking after a child in one’s own home. For several reasons thousands of children are placed with foster carers by the social services departments. “Many of these children will eventually return to their families. In some cases this may take a matter of days or weeks in others it may take much longer. If a return to their families is not possible a decision may be made to find them a permanent new family, possible through adoption.” (Adoption and Fostering Information Line, n.d.). In Eli’s case, the existing policy framework can suggest a similar solution. Adoption in context and social work intervention planning for adoption and this is no less evident when it comes to decisions about particular children who are already placed in new families (Smith, 1984). UK policy framework in such cases helps social work practitioners to reach out the foster carers and assist them as support workers. This assistance would continue through the process of adoption as well. Moreover, the approach of finding a new family has also been recognized by the law as per the provisions of Children and Adoption Act (HM Stationary Office, 2006). Thus, in the context of the case under scrutiny, legal and policy frameworks are actually aligned with each other and favour the decision of Stephanie and Derek. Question # 2 What are the key structural inequalities that underpin this case study? Answer # 2 In order to understand the structural inequalities entailed in this case, the fact that Jamaall’s parents and sister from Barbados have tried to established contact with Eli should be given adequate importance from the African Caribbean family perspectives. Although Eli is born in Britain and is a UK citizen, the inter-country aspects in his case cannot be undermined. From the available information, it is yet not clear that how were the cultural relationships between Jamaall and Sarah, who are Eli’s birth parents. Did everything worked well between them in cultural terms? Or the schizophrenic illness of the birth parents has been the only reason behind Eli’s unfortunate situation? The question of cultural disparity deserves to be reflected on since an adoptive family has already been sought for Eli in Britain to try to match his cultural needs, but yet there has been no family found. To assess the cultural needs of the child in the view of his possible reunion with his relatives in Barbados, the context of Caribbean culture in relation to British culture becomes very significant. Along with culture, the socio-economic considerations also play a critical role. Understanding these facts, the structural inequalities underpinning this case study can be explored better. In the Caribbean islands, the very nature of colonialism has been complicated. Different colonial powers followed different policies. This resulted into “unequal development into every important field, from economic activity to political organization to social structure and race-relations” (Lewis, 2004, p. 10). Therefore, structural inequalities are bound to exist in Eli’s case too since Barbados is actually a former British colony. The colonial economy of the region has culminated at a developing one, and the economic condition of the Caribbean people is inferior than that of the British citizens. The culture, practices, beliefs and political organization are also diversified. Therefore, “enormous range and variation of present day Caribbean societies” (Lewis, 2004, p.10) will affect the interaction between Eli’s relatives and his foster carers (who are likely to adopt him soon). The key structural inequalities can thus be enumerated as the following: 1. Formerly, Europeans ruled over the African population of the Caribbean countries, who served the colonial powers as labourers, and sometimes, as bonded labourers. Hence undercurrents of bitter feelings due to historical factor may exist. When Eli’s birth mother and foster carers would interact with his Caribbean relatives, the difference between the ruler and the ruled may become copious. This sort of structural inequality hampers the assimilation of the emigrants from former colonies. 2. Political differences give rise to social differences. Eli’s Caribbean relatives come from a different socio-political order. When Eli will grow up, he may seek to reunite with his relatives in Barbados. Structural inequalities due to socio-political differences will be significant at this point of time. 3. Currently, Eli is just two years of age and he has been in the custody of the foster carers since he was four months old. Therefore, the question of socio-cultural adjustments from Eli’s side is still not significant. However, as Eli will grow up he will have to go to school and other places where he will come across different racial groups. The structural inequality in the context of cognitive assimilation may manifest at this stage, since eventually Eli will have to communicate with the outside world on his own. 4. Social status of the emigrants from the former colonies is an issue of debate in UK. There are racial elements which question the credibility and acceptability of the settlers. Since Eli belongs from a mixed heritage, structural inequalities in racial context cannot be overlooked. Eli, his relatives and foster carers may have to face racial issues. 5. The process of evolution of Britain as a multicultural and multiracial society is not without its ups and downs. Accommodation and neighbourhood are the important considerations in Eli’s environmental surroundings. Attitudes towards Britain as a multicultural and multiracial community from the perspective of the foster carers are very critical. Even it is assumed that emotional attachment has outweighed the racial issues, can the foster carers help Eli to fight the possibilities of alienation in the long run? The issue of social attitude towards Eli emerges as another key structural inequality. 6. Most possibly, Jamaall’s economic condition is not as good as that of Eli’s foster carers. The per capita income of a Caribbean emigrant is supposed to be lower than that of an average British. Monetary differences thus comprise another structural inequality. Monetary differences would further deepen due to the medical expenditure of Jamaal and Sarah, since both are serious mental patients. In such a state of affair, monetary issues will exist although the foster carers have good relationships with Eli’s birth mother and father. According to Julios (2008, p. 105), “the diverse nature of British society, the roots of racism, educational underachievement, ESL education policy, the employment of ethnic minority teachers, multi-ethnic and religious education” are important considerations when the public discourse on contemporary British identity is taken into account. The British foster parents, who are planning to adopt Eli, have displayed considerable emotional intelligence. However, structural inequalities due to the several emigrant-related issues in the British society may categorize Eli in the group of ethnic minority due to his mixed heritage. In sum, the case under scrutiny reveals significant structural inequalities in the form of the influence of colonial history, socio-political differences, racial issues, issues regarding social acceptance, and most importantly, monetary differences. Stephanie and Derek therefore will have to embark on a multi-factor approach to develop a proper British identity for Eli. From the perspective of a social work practitioner, this will involve behavioural, cultural and material synchronization between Eli’s anthropologically mixed background and the mainstream British society. Proper cognitive approach, ample emotional intelligence and tolerant social attitude can help to overcome the structural inequalities underpinning this case. Question # 3 Using theoretical perspectives to support your arguments, describe the social work practice you would be undertaking in this case study. Answer # 3 The policy framework in Britain provides ample scope for a social work practitioner to engage himself/herself in the process of fostering, adoption and related childcare issues. This involves a wide range of options and responsibilities. “There are a lot of reasons why families are unable to look after their children. Many of these reasons will only apply for a short time. For instance, some children may come into foster care for a few weeks when their parent has to go into hospital. In other cases children might need to be fostered for much longer. It may take two or three years before a child is able to return home while social workers and others try to resolve the more serious problems within the family.” (Adoption and Fostering Information Line, n.d.) However, in Eli’s case, there are fewer chances that he can be placed with his birth parents even in remote future. So, in the case he is adopted by his foster carers, feasible solutions to he material needs can be obtained. In such a state of affair, as a social work practitioner in UK, it becomes my duty to render proper advice to and explore the available options for Stephanie and Derek in the way of adopting Eli. Family is the unit of society, and socio-psychological development of Eli to obtain a proper British identity will greatly depend on the kind of family care Stephanie and Derek provide him. As a social work practitioner based in UK, I would suggest Stephanie and Derek to develop more attachment with the child, particularly as he grows up. He is only two years old and he should be assisted to attain his full potential right from now. What he perceives must be sorted out and he should be taught and helped to think logically. In the process of providing social support, I would personally join Stephanie and Derek at least on certain occasions to help Eli reduce jealousy, cope with frustration and stress and develop conscience. In the light of attachment theory, attachment can be considered as a protective mechanism that helps the child to explore the environment under the umbrella of affection of the significant adults around him or her. According to Aldgate, this theory was given by Bowlby in 1958, who noted, “Divorce has had its impact on the lives of many children; although there have always been reconstituted families, today the pattern of those families is more flexible,” (Aldgate, 1991, p. 13). Further, it should be noted, “attachment theory still holds a central place in the social worker’s repertoire of basic theory although it has been refined from the early days.” (Aldgate, 1991, p. 13). Hence, I would like to utilize attachment in the context of the recent alterations in social work practice. In Eli’s case, attachment becomes a critical factor from Stephanie and Derek’s point of view. Moreover, I would seek to utilize a narrative approach too so that Stephanie, Derek and Eli can sort out the problems they face, assess their effects in their lives, realize how these problems work in social context, relate them to personal history and finally attain a strong position to encounter and solve these problems. These problems can arise from alienation, historical contradictions, anthropological dissimilarities, racial undercurrents and behaviour of the neighbours. Since narrative approach holds that identity is mainly framed by stories or narratives, whether exclusively personal or inclusively cultural, I believe that this approach will help Eli to solve both his personal and cultural problems that he is likely to come across in the way of his social assimilation in the British society. Identity performances and conclusions which are problematic to groups or individuals imply the dominance of some sort of problem saturated story (White, 2009). Developmental approach on the basis of such stories can provide Eli and his family with a way to overcome not only the socio-anthropological conflicts but also the basic therapeutic needs entailed in the process of adoption. Although Eli is a very little child right now, with the lapse of time he will mature and the relationships between Stephanie, Derek and Eli will slowly become multidimensional. During adolescence, many children show contradictions with their parents. Sometimes, they may enter in a conflict with the family. In Eli’s case, his trans-cultural and diverse anthropological backgrounds may make his teen-age more complicated. I would apply family therapy rather early to properly prepare for these future issues. The theory of relational analysis entailed in family therapy may give rise to stronger bonding among the individuals of the family. I would try to build an analytical and perspective framework to construct healthy patterns of habitual interaction at home between Stephanie, Derek and Eli. Mutual relations should be strengthened in such a way that can support the family. Family therapy amply utilizes communication theory, systems theory, relationship therapy and reality therapy to reinforce the process of family bonding. (Minuchin and Fishman, 1981) Besides the family processes, I consider Eli must develop interaction with other children of his age in his neighbourhood and school (Eli is likely to start schooling in the next one or two years). Hence, he would learn to create and share meaning through communication. I will help the child to develop communication with children from different ethnic groups and with the lapse of time ideas will be invented through the basic social process of cognitive interaction and related communication. I will advise Stephanie and Derek to take on a similar approach. This practice can be endorsed in the light of the researches conducted by Craig and Muller (2007), according to whom communication theory can transcend through different traditions and culminate as a social process which is a social constructionist approach within the communication theory framework. I will encourage Eli to communicate with others as much as possible. Reference List Adoption and Fostering Information Line. N.d. Fostering Basics. Available: http://www.fostering.org.uk/information/fostering_basics.html. Lat accessed 30 April, 2011. Aldgate, J. 1991. Attachment theory and its application to child care social work – An introduction. In: J. Lishman, ed. 1991. Handbook of Theory for Practice Teachers in Social Work. London: Jessica Kingslay Publishers. Ch.1. Contact Law. 2010. Child Adoption Laws: Child Adoption Solicitors/Lawyers in UK/London. Available: http://www.contactlaw.co.uk/child-adoption-laws.html. Last accessed 29 April, 2011. Douglas, A. and Philpot, T. 2003. Adoption: Changing Families, Changing Times. London: Routledge. HM Stationary Office. 2006. CHILDREN AND ASOPTION ACT. Available: http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/e/explanatory%20notes%20to%20children%20and%20adoption%20act%202006,pdf. Last accessed 30 April, 2011. Julios, C. 2008. Contemporary British Identity: English Language, Migrants, and Public Discourse. Farnham: Ashgate Publishing Ltd. Lewis, G.K. 2004. Main Currents in Caribbean Thought: The Historical Evolution of Caribbean Society in its Ideological Aspects, 1492 – 1900. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. Minuchin, R. 1985. Families and individual development: Provocations from the field of family therapy, Child Development, Vol. 56, No. 2, pp. 289-302. Minuchin, S. and Fishman, H.C. 1981. Family Therapy Techniques. Boston: Harvard University Press. Smith, C.R. 1984. Adoption and Fostering: Why and How. New York: McMillan. White, M. 2000. Reflections on Narrative Practice. Adelaide: Dulwich Centre Publications. Read More