Various methodologies that can are applicable in advocating for families at risk or youth

Various methodologies that can are applicable in advocating for families at risk or youth

Introduction

This paper will aim to present various methodologies that can are applicable in advocating for families at risk or youth. The paper will also present a case study of Sally who is a teenager in an abusive family. Possible methods of how Sally can receive help will be analyzed for her to live a normal life. Finally, the paper will conclude by indicating the importance of intervention in Sally’s case and families at risk.

Methodologies used in advocacy working with at risk families or youth

According to Watson et al (2007), youth and risk families usually require special attention in order to resolve some of the issues that they affect them. It is important to note that families and youth are inseparable. This is because the family acts a starting point of the lives and activities of the youth. It is from the family that some of the behaviors and habits develop. Consequently, some of the behaviors and issues can be fixed if the families of deviant youths can change if members of the family receive relevant help.

One of the methodologies used is applying prevention strategies. According to McWhirter et al (2012), prevention initiatives should be thorough, comprehensive and constant to yield desired results. This should incorporate using applying methods that keep the youth and families safe from matters such as drug addiction, violence and different forms of abuse among others. According to McWhirter et al (2012), school prevention programs can be very effective in ensuring that students exposed to drugs and substance abuse learn the dangers of engaging in such vices. This is made possible by holing youth focus meetings whenever possible. Youth focus meetings usually enable the youth to disclose matters that may be affecting them and act as counseling sessions. These sessions are beneficial as the youth may air their concerns and have issues solved before they become unmanageable.

Another methodology used is intervention. Monti et al (2012) indicates that intervention is usually important in finding out the cause of the problems that families at risk and youth undergo. McWhirter et al (2012) further argues that parents who do not monitor their children consistently contribute to their children engaging in drug abuse. Intervention acts a method of evaluating turn of events and finding a possible lasting solution to different matters. McWhirter et al (2012) further indicates that community intervention programs aimed at focusing on the youth can help to combat drug abuse. McWhirter et al (2012) argues that methods to assess parents’ parenting practices help to find out how parents can fight substance abuse. Delving deeper into issues may be important in order to establish the most suitable method to intervene.

Alexander (2012) indicates that functional family therapy can be while used as mode of intervention for a short duration. This kind of intervention procedure is carried in 12 sessions either at home or in clinics. However, the services can be made accessible to students in schools and welfare facilities.

Treatment is another methodology that is used while dealing with families at risk and youth. According to Testa and Smith (2009), treatment for drugs and substance abuse commences when the individual affected allows and seeks treatment. This means that individuals cannot be forced to have treatment without their consent. Testa and Smith (2009) further indicate that treatment is geared towards ensuring that the families and youths affected are healthy in all aspects.

Roles of an advocate in assisting youth and families at risk

To help the youth and families, there has to be advocates that follow up on the progress of youth and families at risk. Advocates give advice and any help that would assist the youths and families at risk is in recovering from various issues and ways of making their lives better. For example, a human services worker may assist individuals that are struggling financially to access welfare and community services that are available to them.

An advocate also assists in giving advice to parents in various instances. For example, the advocacy services of a human services worker may be essential in advising parents and youths that struggle with addiction.

Sally’s case study

Sally is a high school student aged 14 years. Her family consists of her father, mother and three siblings. Her brother, who is the first-born, is in his final semester pursuing studies in Business Administration at a nearby college. Ben does not engage in social activities or other activities that he does not find interesting. He intends to pursue a career in management so that he may be a top manager in one of the large organizations. The reason behind this is that in his childhood his parents had financial struggles. As a 26 year old, Ben has goals that he wants to accomplish in his life and career.

Her other sibling is Collie, who is 23 years old, is in her second semester pursuing a degree in nursing. She dedicates most of her time to her studies and does not attend parties as most of her friends do. Collie is a very jovial individual and has a healthy relationship with her parents. Collie can talk freely to them and seek her advice in matters she feels that she requires their guidance.

Sally’s parents, Mark and Anne, have jobs that do not allow them to have time for discussing family matters. Mark is rarely at home, as he is out of the country for business trips and job commitments. Anne is nurse and her working shifts change frequently according to the amount of work to be done. Ben and Collie do not live in their parents’ home therefore Sally is alone most of the time.

Sally, who is the lastborn, is different from the rest. As early as 11 years, Sally had already begun going out to nightclubs with her friends and classmates. Sally cannot get along with her family members in the way they would desire. At the age of 8 years Sally, begun to display behaviors that could not be understood by her parents and siblings. Sally is rude to her neighbors, some friends and her schoolmates. She does not complete her assignments and does not seem to care. One time, her mother searched her room and found few rolls of marijuana and cigarettes and a powder in a small transparent paper. Sally’s mother did not know how to approach her but rather decided to dispose the substances she had found in her room. Her parents no longer care since she cannot pay attention to them or have a conversation to identify what is happening in her life. Consequently, her performance in school has been regressing every term. Recently, Sally was brought home drunk by cab driver and when asked the reason for such behavior, Sally could not express herself well. Sally has now joined a group of other teenagers in her home area that engage in binge drinking and wild partying.

Methods of advocacy that would be helpful in Sally’s case

In order to help Sally, various methods of advocacy need to be applied to ensure there is change in her character and way of life. McWhirter et al (2012), indicates that ”second chance” approaches should be used while planning treatment interventions for individuals who are already engaged in substance abuse. One of the forms of advocacy that would be ideal is advocacy services from a human services worker. A human services worker would assist Sally to deal with her addiction problems and ensure that Sally recovers from substance abuse. Advocacy services from such a worker would also help in advising Sally’s parents on how to cope with her and assist her in her recovery process. Advocacy services of counselors may be useful in establishing the cause of her behavior. A medical counselor would study her behavior and line of thoughts in order to establish treatment for Sally. A peer counselor would be instrumental in approaching Sally from a friendly point of view. A peer counselor is usually an individual slightly older but trained to give advice to individuals in a particular age group. If Sally is able to open up to either the medical counselor or peer counselor, it would be possible to establish the cause of her behavior.

According to McWhirter et al (2012), school based prevention programs can be an ideal way to assist Sally to recover from drug addiction. This is because teachers would help in keeping track of her recovery from and ensure that she does not engage in substance abuse. However, this means that other professionals such as a doctor or school nurse need to be involved in her recovery process.

Although dealing with Sally’s condition will help her recover from substance abuse related issues, her environment is equally important. This is because her environment consists of friends that she associates with most of the time. Community advocacy services can be of value in such a case. This is because it will help create an environment that does not have individuals that engage in substance abuse. Advocacy services of a community health worker would be essential in sensitizing her friends and other youths the dangers of substance abuse. A community health worker would not only communicate to the youth about the dangers of substance abuse, but also help the youth and teenagers take care of their personal health.

Advocacy services of the local police and law enforcers would be essential. When police receive information on such matters, they would assist in finding individuals that sell substances and drugs to under age individuals. The police would also ensure that business owners do not sell alcohol to under age individuals. The law enforcers in such locations would ensure that laws pertaining to substance and alcohol abuse among teenagers are upheld at all times.

Ethical and legal issues that pertain to Sally’s case

When dealing with such a sensitive case, it is important for the advocates involved to act with utmost confidentiality. According to Corey and Callman (2010), confidentiality while dealing with individuals ensures that there is trust. In the case of a peer counselor, he or she should not relay any information to any third parties that would disrepute Sally in any way. As peer counselor’s main aim is to act as a confidant to the other individual in order to establish methods of assisting the individual in need. In this case, any peer counselor that Sally would confide in should not disclose any information she relays. In the case of a medical counselor or psychologist, information regarding Sally’s condition should be for the specialists use only. Both medical and peer counselors may only reveal information that they feel would endanger her life or the lives of others.

If Sally chooses to reveal information to any of the advocates on an agreement that it should not be disclosed to certain individuals, revealing it would be unethical. This is because Sally would feel betrayed may lose trust in the advocates involved. This would affect how Sally receives help in order to recover from her situation. According to Corey and Callman (2010), information pertaining clients or information should not be disclosed to other parties unless the law makes it a requirement.

Conclusion

McWhirter et al (2010) advocates that that school, community and family should collaborate to combat substance abuse. However, this calls for committed interdisciplinary approach to dealing with some of the cases that youths and families at risk present. According to McLaughlin (2009), an interdisciplinary approach can be beneficial in providing care and treatment to a range of patients. An interdisciplinary approach not only involves different professionals but also ensures that professionals contribute in the best way possible.

References

Alexander, J. (2012) Functional Family Therapy. (Online) Available from: http://www.fftinc.com/about_model.html (Accessed: 31st March 2014)

Corey, G., Corey, P & Callman, P. (2010) Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions, Carlifornia: Cengage Learning

McLaughlin, C & McLaughlin, D. (2009) Health Policy Analysis: An Interdisciplinary Approach, New York: Routledge

McWhirter et al (2012). At risk youth: A Comprehensive response for counselors, Teachers, Psychologists and Human Service Professionals, California: Cengage Learning

Monti, P et al .(2012) Adolescents, Alcohol, and Substance Abuse Reaching Teens through Brief Interventions, New York: Guilford Press

Testa, M & Smith, B. (2009). Prevention and Drug Treatment. Journal of the Future of Children, 20(2), pp. 147-168

Watson, D et al (2007) The Life Interventions for Family Effectiveness (LIFE) Project: Preliminary Findings on Alternative School Intervention for Adolescents , Journal of Correctional Education, 58( 1) , pp. 57-68