Hernandez Family: Comprehensive Client Family Assessment

Background Info Hernandez Family

Part 1: Comprehensive Client Family Assessment

Demographic information

Juan Hernandez Junior is an 8-year-old, Latino, male.

Presenting problem

Juan Hernandez Junior described a punishment at school that led to them calling the ACS. The school social worker was told of how the Hernandez parents made him kneel on his knees for hours while holding two heavy encyclopedias in each hand as a form of punishment. He reiterated that this punishment had been used on them on several occasions and this led to the ACS sending a worker to their home. The ACS worker thought that the concern was credible since this form of punishment was abusive and suggested that they start attending family sessions and visit the local community mental agency to complete a parenting group.

Medical history

Parents report that Juan Jr has been healthy. However, his mother has been diagnosed with diabetes recently.

Juan Jr is quite sociable. He and his parents go to the beach and the park near their home on weekends to socialize and play.

History of abuse/trauma

Prior to the current problem that involves the form of punishment that the Hernandez are using on their children, there are no other abuse incidents that Juan Jr. has experienced.

The whole family comes to the appointment since they have to do both family sessions and a positive parenting program for the parents. Juan Senior comes on with a lot of anger and resentment towards the counselor a she sees no point in attending the classes.

Differential diagnosis

The parents grew up too fast and are projecting their feelings on their children.

Diagnosis

Anger Management issues

Case formulation

The Hernandez parents, Juan Senior and Elena are brought for sessions by the ACS as a result of their son’s abuse allegations. Juan Hernandez is a 27 year old Latino man who works as a casual worker at the airport with back problems due to the amount of heavy lifting he has to do on a daily basis. He has no drug abuse problem but a criminal history of juvenile petty theft that has since been expunged. Additionally, he takes approximately six to eight beers every weekend. On the other hand, Elena is a 25 year old Latino woman born in Puerto Rico but raised in New York who was recently diagnosed with diabetes. She has no drug abuse problem nor a criminal history. She drinks 1 or 2 drinks a month.

Treatment Goals

The weekly parenting classes and family sessions will teach the parents effective and safe discipline skills, the importance of recognizing age-appropriate behavior, managing one’s frustrations, and the child development techniques that boosts child’s self-esteem and their sense of confidence. It will also help the family as a whole come to terms with the situation at hand.

Objective #1

The parents will be able to discipline their children effectively and using safe options.

Treatment Strategy / Interventions: This will be done through teaching the parents the most effective and safe discipline skills they can use. These may include techniques such as setting limits like taking away their privileges and using time-out. This can only be successful if the parents fully understand the age appropriate behavior of each stage s they do not cross boundaries and punish them unnecessarily.

Estimated Completion: 3 Months

Objective #2

In the end, the parents should be able to find child development techniques that will boost their children’s self-esteem and ensure they have a strong sense of confidence. They should also be able to manage their frustrations as a family.

Treatment Strategy / Interventions: Through role playing, both the parents and the children are able to find a way to understand the feelings of the other so they can rectify any issues they might have had. This will help ensure order at home is maintained without the need for discipline and that the parents do not put unrealistic expectations on their children.

Estimated Completion: 3 Months

Social Support system:

Friends and family

Part 2: Family Genogram

Genogram includes Juan Hernandez Junior’s family.

Hernandez Family Genogram

Juan Hernandez Senior (Father)

Juan Hernandez Junior (8 years old) (Son)

Alberto Hernandez (6 years old) (Son)

Elena Hernandez (Mother)