Types of Family Maltreatment in the Family Members - Essay Example

VIDEO VIGNETTE: I am Sam Strengths in the Family The presence of love is one of the strength of this family. Sam Dawson, portrayed by Sean Penn, is a mentally-incapacitated man who has sired a daughter named Lucy, as played by Dakota Fanning. Their love for each other binds them together through good times and bad times. The love of Lucy to her father as well as her persistence to see him gives enough courage to Sam to loving and caring for her daughter more. This family is also not easily swayed and discouraged. When the daughter turns seven, a social worker proposes for Lucy to be put in a hospice. Winning Sam’s custody case seems hard, but Sam and Lucy’s courage are unshaken. Some defended his claim for custody of his daughter. The welfare of his child inspire Sam to pursue his case, to fight the legal system, to fight for his and his child’s right to a family. Care from friends is also one of the strengths of this family. A friend, Rita Harrison, portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer, is high-spirited, courageous lawyer who initially takes Sam’s case pro bona. This case has been a major challenge to this lawyer’s strength. She tried her best to help Sam and Lucy win their difficult battle. Even the other mentally-challenged friends show compassion and genuine friendships despite their inadequacies. The neighbors play important roles in contributing to the strength of this family. Communication is another family strength. Despite being mentally –challenged of the father and being young of the daughter, communication between them is open. This communication is continuous and effective. The lines between the father and the daughter are burning. The time that the father and daughter spent together is another strength that nobody can take away from them. Seven years was such a fruitful years for them. This time for each other is being threatened by the proposal of the social services department. This, however remain strong. The physical health is one strength of the family. This family has satisfactory health and wellness condition. The economic health, support and spirituality are also this family’s strength. Types of Family Maltreatment in the Family Members The type of family maltreatment in the family members is the deprivation of the right to custody. Putting a child in a foster home may be unbeneficial to Lucy. Studies show that a child grow to be good citizen possessing strong character and discipline when that child grow in a normal home and environment. A home of love with the presence of parents will provide the child with good learning environment. The type of nurture provided by the parents is very different from the kind of nurture in foster homes. Putting a child in a foster home without the approval of the surviving parent, or the child is one form of abuse against the child, against the parents and against the family. The legal system may sometimes be unrelentingly rigid. Some legal processes are sometimes unfair. These injustices are not fair to this family. The social welfare department is supposed to look into the welfare of children and the underprivileged. The irony in this situation is the social welfare department is antagonizing this family in the process of their service. Insisting on putting Lucy to foster home is an injustice to a child and her father. Family Members I. Sam a. Type of Maltreatment Experienced The type of maltreatment experienced by Sam is the threat of deprivation of his right to custody of his child. The agony experienced by Sam in the course of the custody trial is torturing him. In this situation, the legal system seemed to base competence of being a parent on usual cognitive development. During the court hearing, Sam could not provide sufficient evidence to support his claim of custody of his child. There was no observed effort by the legal system to help Sam communicate his side in a manner that the underprivileged or mentally-challenged could be assisted. Sam could not give sound reply to complex questions. There was no observed effort to cross-examine Sam during these instances in order for Sam to better express himself. b. Indications of Maltreatment I am strongly convicted that Sam has been maltreated. He is slightly mentally-challenged. So basically, he is slightly disabled person. He is also underprivileged since he was not gifted with the complete faculties. Deprivation of his rights to custody would further put him to misfortunes. His child is his only wealth, his world revolves around his child. It will be unfair for the state to intervene in his privilege to live peacefully and happily with his child. Indicators of maltreatment are mainly behavioral, such as depression, uncertainty and trauma. c. Effects of these Maltreatments The effects that this maltreatments can have on Sam is lost of self-confidence as a father, fearing the threats of future interventions of his family affair due to his being mentally-challenged and fearing the possible lost of his only child under his care. Being a mentally-challenged person, exposure to traumatic events have direct effects on his disposition and psychological condition. II. Lucy d. Type of Maltreatment Experienced The type of maltreatment experience by Lucy is the threat of being put on a foster home and the treat of not being with his father for the rest of her growing-up years. Undergoing the custody trial is one form of trauma to children. This will have a psychological effect that may influence her personality at present and in the future. The emotional maltreatment experience by Lucy ranges from the threats to her having a complete family up to the anxieties and fears brought about by the intervention of the social welfare department into the family. Just a few visits of the social worker to their home will not be enough basis as to the real home environment that Lucy have. This can also be a traumatic experience for the child. Lucy my feel that visit from authorities would lead to possible drastic change in their family life. e. Indications of Maltreatment Indicators of maltreatment to Lucy are mainly behavioral. These are her signs of depression, uncertainty and feeling dragged into a situation, such as the process of court hearing, which is not yet fit to her age. The pity that he felt for her father shows in the way some changes are observed in her behavior. I strongly believe that this child is maltreated because she was made to undergo such a difficult situation at a tender age. f. Effects of these Maltreatments Effects of these maltreatments to Lucy would be directed to her psychological, neurological and cognitive development. Lucy is still in the tender age. Hence, these traumas that she experiences will have great effects on her psychological and physical growth. Dynamics The dynamics that is present for both adult and child victim are Sam’s and Lucy’s feeling of uncertainty. Sam feels uncertain because he is unsure of being granted his rights due to his being mentally-challenged. Lucy feels uncertain since she is unsure that she will get to stay with his father. Both Sam and Lucy felt helpless. Sam feels helpless because of his condition. Lucy feels helpless because she is only seven years old. Sam and Lucy are prone to unfairness. They are sometimes taken advantage of due to the condition of Sam and the youth of Lucy. They are also experiencing some biases as a result of heir situation, Sam being mentally-challenged and Lucy being a child. Before this difficult time for Sam and Lucy, Sam saw how Lucy grew from a toddler to a seven-year old fine daughter. This evolution of his daughter shows a feeling of connection. This connection between then is what binds them. Sam appreciates his daughter's growth and efforts made. Inspiring descriptions of his daughter suggest the sense of fulfillment of Sam as a parent. He has this great experience of seeing his daughter grow and learn in school, in the neighborhood and in their home. Recommendations The Hands of Hope is one social service institution that can help Sam in terms of landing a job. This organization is assisting the mentally-challenged by alleviating the quality of life of this mentally-challenged while getting them through the difficult phases in their lives. This organization may help some in getting employed or starting up a livelihood. The incomes that will be generated by Sam will help him increase his capability as a father to support his child. The National Social Welfare Agency can help Lucy in Sam since they are in need of counseling as a result of their inherent situation and the trauma brought about by the custody hearings. Due to the tender age of Lucy, she needs to have psychological, psychiatric and medical evaluation as to the impact of the recent trail to their family. American Public Health Initiatives promotes health and foster well-being of Americans via provision of education, advocacy, prevention, services and outreach programs. They promote suitable education and health support, creation of livelihood opportunities and advocacy for access to care. Sam and Lucy will benefit a lot on counseling and family support given to families with mentally-challenged members. Read More