Discussion: Parenting and Substance Abuse As a social worker, you will meet children and adolescents who

Discussion: Parenting and Substance Abuse

As a social worker, you will meet children and adolescents who are in complicated family situations and may require a variety of resources for support. There are many times when these situations involve drug abuse, domestic violence, child abuse, and/or neglect. If these factors are present within a child’s or adolescent’s environment, it will impact their development. As mandated reporters, social workers are legally required to report any suspicion they have of child abuse or neglect to local authorities in an effort to ensure a healthier environment within which they can grow.

For this Discussion, review the case study “Working With Clients With Addictions: The Case of Barbara and Jonah.” Consider this week’s reading in the Learning Resources.

By Day 3

Post an explanation of influences of Barbara's and Scott’s substance use on Jonah’s future development. Describe an intervention that you would use for Jonah if you were the social worker in this case. Please use the Learning Resources to support your answer.

Required Readings

Zastrow, C. H., Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hessenauer, S. L.  (2019). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (11th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Chapter 2, “Biological Development in Infancy and Childhood” (pp. 45-94)

Greil, A., McQuillan, J., Lowry, M., & Shreffler, K., (2011). Infertility and fertility-specific distress: A longitudinal analysis of a population-based sample of U.S. women. Social Science & Medicine, 73(1), 87–94.

Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S. M. (Eds.). (2014). Social work case studies: Foundation year. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].
Working With Clients With Addictions: The Case of Barbara and Jonah

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Child development. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/index.html

Guttmacher Institute. (2018). An overview of abortion laws. Retrieved from https://www.guttmacher.org/state-policy/explore/overview-abortion-laws

Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. (2014). Children exposed to methamphetamine before birth have increased cognitive problems. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140318113733.htm

Required Media

Tsiaris, A. (2011). Conception to birth—Visualized [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/alexander_tsiaras_conception_to_birth_visualized.html