Turning Stones: My Days and Nights with Children at Risk - Assignment Example

Annotation #6- Mandatory Parent, Marc. “Turning Stones: My Days and Nights with Children at Risk.” New York: Fawcett Columbine, 1998. Print. In chapter three, it begins by description of the living and working condition in the city. Marc describes how he and his friend arrive home late from work. He also indicated how often they get tired after work. Marc also indicates that they share one room with James. On the other hand, Marc juxtaposes the living condition with one of the opulent in the city. He notes of a culture shock when he attends one of the evening event in which there was a performance by various dance groups. At the same time, Marc shed some light on Regina Jacobs that had a terrible nightmare. In the dream, she sees her five children Shaniece, Paul, Blein, Tisha and Keisha engulfed by the fire of the Satan. She appears unable to help her children from the raging fire. As a result, one weekend while seated in the chair devise ways of saving the children from the work of the devil. She urge the children to jump off the window so that they can be saved by the hands of God. Hence, Shaniece and Paul jump from the 23 floor. Shaniece dies instantly and Paul is described being in a critical condition. Regina is also described as being separated with her husband. In this section, I have come to realize how children can go through a challenging situation when a mother is mentally challenged. Moreover, the absence of father figure may have contributed to the problems that faced the family. In chapter four, the author begins by describing the working condition in the emergency care service. March describes how sometimes they joke with fellow workers when the condition is not too demanding. They also take and request tea and food together. There is also description of the commissioner complains on how unnecessary calls have been made in the office resulting to a huge bill. Moreover, there is a description of one of the workers known as Giles. He is shown to lie when given cases to follow. Marc also describes how the ECS tried to fire him for seven months without success and this led Giles demotion. There is also description of follow up on Mrs. Hayes as she that drinks every day. She has an eleven-year-old son known as Robby. Robby is shown to take most of the house responsibilities. At times, he pulls his mother into their building after she pass out on the streets. March and Diana follows this case and realize that Robby has managed to cope with the situation in the house. The house is also described as poorly lit. The mouth is also found in a drunken state unable to recall some of the events. This scenario demonstrates how children are forced to play a role not belonging to them due to the inadequacy of the parents. Chapter 5 begins by describing how the weather was in the streets of Manhattan. Once Marc arrives at the office, he describes the office as being unusually quiet. This is because most of the people were on the filed visits. In the office, a conversation begins between Laura and Marc. In the end of conversation, Laura informs Marc that she has a case of a mother engulfed in fear. The mother Delia Gammon believes that the house is under attack of Hex. The mother behaves strangely and fails to feed her two boys Rick and Chucky, as she is afraid of the food. The mother is said to believe that a stranger existed outside her house. Moreover, the report indicates a strange voice being heard from the house by an anonymous caller. The home is shown to be located on Staten Island. Once Laura and Marc arrive, they describe Gammon house as being poorly lit. She is also shown to be under hysterical condition noting the house as filled with blood allover. Gammon is suspicious that her ex was responsible for the ordeal. Laura is also shown to be lost in believe of Hex. This section indicates the strange situations faced by care workers. It is also clear that the cases they follow affect some workers as Laura indicates that she feels sometimes like quitting the job. Paragraphs 4 and 5 This case involves a mother Joan and who is a drunkard. She drinks everyday and returns home in wee hours. The mother has a son known as Peter. The mother is an African American. Peter is placed in a foster care at an age of 5 years. The total number of children in the foster care comprises of 6.8 % of the African American (p. 4). Moreover, in 2012, 48.5 % of the victims were younger than six years of age (p.3). Peter Was placed in the foster care due to neglect arising from the mother continuous indulgence in alcohol. In 2012, alcohol and drugs issues represented the largest single-family stress factor at 44.2 percent (p.12). The percentage of mothers as perpetrators of founded child neglect was 41.5% (p.11). Moreover, in the same year, it was established that 7.9% of children that entered the foster care had four or more reasons for removal from their homes (p.15). Peter was found taking care of the most of the in-house activities due to the lack of mother figure. Sometimes, peter could pull his mother from the doorstep as most of the time Joan passed at the door due to drunkenness. In 2012, 20.5% cases of children were founded for abuse or neglect (p.6). Parent represented 6.3% as the source of child neglect (p.6). The mother was enlisted in the state services meant to help her overcome the drinking problems. She acknowledged the importance of the services in helping her unite with Peter. As a result, the mother entered a detox program in early 2012. The mother entered into several services as part of overcomes the destructive habits. The services included drug treatment, psychological evaluation, and parenting classes. In one of the analyses, the mother pointed out having sexually abused by her father at the age of 12. The father was also constantly in jail. She noted this has affected her emotionally for a long time and hence the reasons for taking alcohol. The child was also born out of wedlock. Once, Joan demonstrated recovery, the DHS established it was safe for peter to return home. Joan had completed all the services and tested free of drugs and thus Peter returned in late 2012. In 2012, the number of children leaving the foster care comprised of 3,615 (p.16). As the children left, there was 58.1% reunification with the parent (p.22). However, Joan begun later to show some changes. She went back to her drinking habits she also failed to take care of Pater as planned. She was offered another service plan but failed to comply. As a result, Peter was placed adoptively. In page 22, it shows that those leaving the foster care 18.5% were adopted. In the same year, 667 adoption cases were finalized (p.23). YouTube. “The World Most Dangerous Drugs Methamphetamines Documentary.” Youtube.com. Web. 09 May 2014. . The documentary significantly builds on two stories. The stories are of young couple storyline of Michael and Jannelle and a recovering addict Colby Kempe. The young couple has had a first encounter with methamphetamine (Meth). The two had no history of drug abuse. They only took meth in a party organized by high school mates. Once they took the meth, it began to have an effect in their bodies. First, they are seen making a distress call to the police department for help based on an induced nightmare from the drug. This makes them get out of the car and moves to a dangerous snowstorm. The two are said to have taken a dangerous form of meth known as crystals meth, which is trafficked from Mexico. The young couple cannot be traced due to poor communication and they both are found dead after a long search. The recovering addict Colby Kempe is described as an accomplished boy in high school by one of his mate King. He had a bright future that was ruined by indulgence in meth. He is described as facing many arrests in a span of two decades. In fact, his problems of drug use make the parents happy once they get reports he is in prison. This is because they know that arrest provided a reprieve from impending danger. Colby is shown to be remorseful as he lags behind for 2o years due to taking of drugs. This is because he has spent most of life in prison while most of his age mates have a successful career, family, and have decent homes. There are problems in trying to reunify parents and children when parents are addicted to Methamphetamine (meth). The meth is shown to lead to a wasted life of addiction. As a result, the individual has no concern for other peoples life’s and hence a challenge in reunification of parents and children. The other problem is that those that have an addiction problem for meth finds it difficult to stop and is said to have a high rate of relapse. Moreover, the drug affects brain causing crime, chaos, and death and this make it difficult for sustenance of healthy living conditions in home and hence a challenge to reunification. This is different to other scenarios that can be easily solved and make it easy for reunification such as after provision of certain needs like resources. Read More