Child Mental Health Program By Carol Alden

“I just knew the phone would ring some day and Joshua would be dead,” stated social worker Ann Kemmeter regarding Joshua DeShaney and the ongoing abuse he endured from his father. Joshua’s father brutally and repeatedly abused his four-year-old son Joshua (Wichenbach). The State of Wisconsin was aware of this abuse, but still did nothing to intervene and stop the mistreatment of this child (Wichenbach). The State’s inaction led to the Supreme Court case DeShaney v. Winnebago Department of Social Services, in which Joshua’s mother, Melody, sued the Winnebago Department of Social Services claiming, “the social worker deprived Joshua of his liberty without due process of law” (Alexander). In order to fully understand the DeShaney case, one must conduct thorough background research, delve into the court case itself, and analyze the impact the case has yet today.

The facts in this case are regarding the petitioner, Joshua DeShaney and the respondent, the county department of social services. In 1979, Joshua DeShaney was born and in 1980, a Wyoming court granted his parents a divorce and awarded custody to his father, Randy DeShaney. In January of 1982, Randy DeShaney’s second wife complained that he had previously “hit the boy, causing marks, and was a prime case for child abuse” (DeShaney v. Winnebago County). This would turn out to be the first of many complaints against Randy DeShaney regarding the abuse of Joshua DeShaney. Winnebago County Department of Social Services interviewed the father, and when asked if he abused his son, he denied such accusations and they did not pursue him any further. In January 1983, one year later, Joshua was admitted to a local hospital with bruises and abrasions, because of which, the physician suspected child abuse and notified the DSS. The DSS subsequently placed Joshua in temporary custody of the hospital but decided there was insufficient evidence of child abuse. They then recommended that Randy DeShaney enroll his son in preschool, provided Joshua’s father with counselling, and encouraged

158-159). “In reviewing the literature, the focus was on identifying the impact of parental mental health, the associated risks, the difficulties with the interface working, and proposed solutions” (Duffy et al., 2010, p. 159). Some of concerns expressed for the program to be effective were how mental health and child care services work together, communication between the two, role clarity, and the outcome hoped to be achieved by the development of this program was to provide holistic interventions which could not be provided by just one agency, earlier intervention which was more effective, to decrease staff stress, and to obtain a better outcome for the families involved (Duffy et al.,

A report was received on 06/05/2017 alleging that the mother (Hermionne) left Ashante (C-V 17) with a non-relative since 02/2017 without any legal rights. According to the report, the mother refuses to take her child back home and will not engage with Ms. Aarons (caretaker) to provide legal documentation for the child to be enroll in school and taken to a Primary Care Physician. Ashante has not been is school for the past 4 months and are unable to enroll in school without paperwork. According to the report, Ashante self mutilates her arms, and the mother refuses to get counseling. The report indicates Ashante was to follow-up with a Cardiologist for a chest pain and the mother refuses to take her to the doctor.

In order to fully understand the outcomes of this case, it is necessary to briefly review the legal issues that prompted the appellants and respondent to pursue legal action. The initial factor was the apprehension of a six week old infant named Leticia Grace Woods, on October 20th, 1976, by C.A.S. of central Manitoba. Upon removing her from her mother’s custody, in an effort to protect her, she was placed in a foster home as stipulated in the Child Welfare Act, C.C.S.M., c. C80. After several months in foster care, Mrs. Woods’,

The mental health professional I interviewed was Carol McClelland of Freedom House Recovery Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Carol has worked with Freedom House for a year as the directory of outpatient services and is licensed as a LPC, LPCS, LCAS, CCS, and MA. Carol’s job requires her to be responsible for the direct oversight of all clinical operations and clinical integrity for outpatient services at Freedom House. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm, along with a crisis and detox center that is available for contact 24/7. Carol has plenty of experience in the mental health field, such as working as a dual diagnosis/substance abuse outpatient therapist, working with the severely mentally ill, working as a criminal justice outpatient therapist, and also working in a methadone clinic. She chose this career after her experiences in working with mental health, and her extensive education in psychology and counseling. Carol stated that outpatient services was the most interesting out of her job experiences, so when she was offered the job at Freedom House, she accepted.

Jadira Jackson is a 23 year old African American mother of two children, both female and ages 6 and 6 months. Currently, Jadira’s oldest child resides with her father in Maryland. Jadira first came to the attention of Richmond City Child Protective Services when it was reported by an in-home agency that her 6 year old daughter was the victim of severe mental abuse because she is biracial. Jadira’s second referral to Richmond City Child Protective Services was due to a domestic dispute between her and her now 6 month old daughter’s father. During the incident, it was reported that Jadira dropped her 6 month old daughter, Jasaya. Since starting services with the family, it has been discovered that Jadira has severe mental health issues that impact

PER REPORTER: Ariyanna is in DHS custody. Reporter was in a session with the child today. She said a neighbor (Ann Moore) is at the home often with her children. Ann has two children in her home. Ann choked Ariyanna on two different occasions, pushed her head into the washing machine, and screamed at her. This has happened twice. Reporter observed a scar on the child's neck today. She said it was from Ann's long fingernails when Ann scratched her. Ariyanna said she didn't know where the foster parent was at first then said she was in her bedroom. She didn't tell the foster parent. Reporter did speak with Ariyanna's case worker. Ariyanna will change homes within a week. She doesn't need immediate medical

Javon was placed in therapeutic foster by order of the court on October 2, 2015. His previous guardian, Ms. Terrell had sought psychological testing for Javon on numerous occasions, but never felt she was able to access the community resources and after-care appropriate help for Javon’s diagnoses. She reports not being able to obtain SSI benefits for Javon that would allow for additional treatment and supervision in the community. There is no prior involvement with the Department of Social Services or Child Protective Services.

In this one case alone we can track this incidence from the mother all the way to the role society played. First, the patient had three children from three different fathers, all of whom did not provide any support for her. The first father could have been written off as bad judgment, but to attempt to write off three would be an injustice to her. It is evident due to some emotional attachment to the idea of not wanting to be alone she was able to rationalize her decisions based on that concept. Because of self deception she refused to even entertain the thought of whether these man had any qualities that would make good fathers. Had she not refrained from making judgement on these man father the first father she would have been able to recognize the signs that this man might not make a good father in a nutshell she would have been able to learn from her prior mistakes. However, father she decides to better herself and her children we see society impede this improvement. After she is hospitalized, Social Services sent the two year old to live with his father whose daily routine consisted of a life of "drinking, whoring and fighting." Enlight of all the evidence pointing to a bad home situation Social Services stated "it was wrong to pass judgement on a man like this." The contradiction however is shown after the father and his girlfriend kill the two year old and as a result

Were any preliminary parenting fitness evaluations done to ensure that the custodial parent was fit to raise the child in an emotionally healthy, stable, and safe environment? If not, why had this not been addressed? Secondly, if either of the parents were struggling with a mental illness why were no treatment plans being put into place? These are the types of questions that I would ask myself, as I would read through these cases. However and unfortunately, I could do nothing about it; I was not qualified to do so.

The concept of infant-mother attachment is as important to the child as the birth itself. The effect this relationship has on a child shall affect that child for its entire life. A secure attachment to the mother or a primary caregiver is imperative for a child’s development. Ainsworth’s study shows that a mother is responsive to her infant’s behavioral cues which will develop into a strong infant-mother attachment. This will result in a child who can easily, without stress, be separated from his mother and without any anxiety. Of course the study shows a child with a weak infant-mother relationship will lead to mistrust, anxiety, and will never really be that close with the mother. Without the

The original version of COS involved a pre-intervention assessment, in which the qualified mental health specialists evaluate the type of parent-child attachment. Recreating the ‘Strange Situation’, parent and child are recorded on video in brief parental departures and reappearances to assess the child’s response and relationship (Yaholkoski, Hurl & Theule, 2016). Following this assessment, the parents join a therapy group, learning about attachment theory and reflecting upon different video recordings (focusing on one parent and their child to provide feedback each session) (Yaholkoski, Hurl & Theule, 2016).

Child abuse and neglect are considered a social phenomenon that plays a crucial role in American society as well as in the American criminal justice system. All types of ages, genders, ethnicities at some point or another are represented as victims or perpetrators of child abuse or neglect. Child abuse includes physical, psychological and sometimes sexual abuse to a person who is below the age of 18. Child abuse or neglect victims tend to grow up with long terms consequences such as low self-esteem, depression, and other major consequences such as engaging in criminal behavior as adults, teen pregnancy and not to mention the severity of physical child abuse consequences can end up in a death of an innocent victim. This literature

Facilitating Developmental Attachment by Daniel A Hughes is an in depth look at the work of Dr Hughes, a clinical psychologist who specialises in child abuse and neglect, attachment and works with children in foster care or adoption. Hughes discusses every facet of his practice including the theory and research surrounding attachment, the qualities and expectations required by each of the people involved in the therapeutic process as well as including four case studies. Hughes states the book is written for those working with children who have “…severe forms of attachment problems that correspond to