Chapter 6: Client Goals and Change
Remember! No identifying information when discussing clients.
Please answer the following questions when creating your journal entry. Feel free to use references, share links, media, pics, and other items that you feel would help your teammates.
- Please watch the following video of a family experience a conflict. What would one goal, two objectives, and 2 action steps be for this family?
- For reference: If I have a goal of passing my exam (a broad statement), 2 objectives may be to study by reviewing modules, and participating in a study group (2 strategies to reach my goal). Action steps are very measurable actions taken, and most often involve frequency of behaviors (for example, “Robin will study for 1 hour for 5 days to pass the exam” & “Robin will attend a study group on Tues. and Thurs. nights for 2 weeks to pass the exam)
2. How would your goal planning be different, if the father was not in agreement with your goals, objectives, and action steps?
Student Name: Celia
Site: HOPE Helps
- One goal is to complete a parenting course within a mouth. The objective is for the dad to complete a (one) parenting module each week. The second objective is for the dad to reflect with the mom on the topics. The action steps are for the dad to register for the parenting course by this Friday. The dad will notify his wife of the date and time of the course so that he may have alone time to complete the module each week. Saturday nights, the parents will reflect on that week’s topic which will include appropriate discipline and child abuse.
- If the dad is not in agreement then therapy will be recommend and a call to social services will be discussed and completed.
Reply (Lauren): Hey Celia, I definitely agree with your course of action and I like the parenting coaching that you recommend. Within the dependency court system that I intern with, often times, the parents have to attend counseling and parent coaching classes so I think this is a great start! 🙂
Student: Lauren Frank
Site: Office of Civil RegionalCounsel and Criminal Conflict.
The goal would be to resolve the conflict between the father and the family. Two objectives for the family as a whole would be to attend family therapy and begin to have designated family time . Lastly 2 action steps would be to achieve family therapy once a week for at least 3 months and do family dinner or once a week or something that could substitute as family time and interaction.
If the father is will not work with the family and will not leave the family home then there is the option of social services. If social services is called on the father and it is followed through, then the child will be taken from the mother and most likely placed with a relative but possibly a foster parent and they parents will have a shelter hearing. Recommendation would be for the mother to push for a case plan and follow through with it for reunification.
Reply (Celia): Lauren, thank you for explain the possible repercussions for involving child services. I was not aware of the possible outcomes. Considering your input, I agree that a case plan would be best.
* Thank you! With my internship, I have learned a lot about this process and it is very interesting. It is hard to watch as parents go through the process but awesome so I can help them as well by getting them the resources and services they require. 🙂
