Sierra Hernandez – Week Four
Now 6 ½ years of age, Sierra was enrolled in the local
public school. Technically, she was still in foster care, but the family was
trying to adopt. She had done exceptionally well in Kindergarten, and now she
was in the 1st grade. Sierra’s biological mother continued to be in
and out owing to her migrant status, and she had to keep making sure she wasn’t
caught since she didn’t have papers. She was making it OK, though. Sierra was
confused about who this woman was in her life, and she had a vague
understanding of the relationship.
Sierra was at the top of her class in the local school – she
always got the top level of the school’s behavioral system, and she was headed
for another great year socially and academically. Around November, however,
things started to change. Sierra became alternatively despondent and angry,
seeming to change from moment to moment. Her participation in classwork was
non-existent, and everyone at the school knew that something major was going
on. It wasn’t until Sierra started to mention sexual topics that no 1st
grader should know that the school counselor contacted Child Protective
Services.
An investigation ensued, and it was found that the foster
father had been sexually abusing Sierra for several months. Information varied
as to whether or not the foster mother knew about the abuse. Sierra was again
removed from the home and placed with another foster family. The former father
was placed under arrest and put in jail until the hearing.
Sierra’s biological mother, upon hearing the news, was
horrified. She blamed “la sistema”
for taking her child from her in the first place. She was intent on finding a
way of getting her child back.
* Based on Sierra’s level of cognitive development for a 6 ½
year-old, describe how she is likely to regard her biological mother. Assume
that her foster/adoptive parents have shared with her her foster/adoption
history. (This would be prior to the abuse).
* What is the prevalence of children being abused in foster
care in Virginia currently? In the past ten years? What typically happens if
the abuse comes to light?
* What is the local agency that deals with child sexual
abuse?
* What services should be in place for Sierra at
this point? What level of qualification should the persons have who provide
these services? 
As a 6 ½ year old, Sierra will be growing more independent, yet still be slightly insecure, begin to crave attention from adults, will grow upset due to criticism, can be unwilling to adapt, does not yet understand ethical or moral behavior, could be fearful of the unknown, and is becoming aware that other people think differently than she does (Destefanis, 2011). Also, as a 6 ½ year old, Sierra will begin to understand the relationship that the “kind woman who comes to visit” is actually her biological mother, though at this age, she will not completely understand the concept. She will begin to see the foster family as the caregivers, and the “kind woman” is her mother. With the sexual abuse, everything that happened with her foster family could confuse her and make her more insecure, and possibly blame herself. With being taken from the previous foster family and sent to another foster family, she is of the age that she will understand more of what is going on, and yet still be terrified of the unknown. This could cause her to have attachment issues with both the new foster mother as well as her biological mother. Sierra could begin to blame the birth mother as well, due to the stress that the situation of being abused and subsequently moved to another foster home has caused.
ReplyDeleteDestefanis, Joyce. "Developmental Milestones: Your 6 Year Old Child." GreatSchools. N.p., 2011. Web. 3 Oct 2011. .
According to the Virginia Department for Social Services, in 2011, 5.15% of children were removed due to sexual abuse, and 14.8% are removed for physical abuse. These numbers have increased since 2007. In 2007, sexual abuse was at 3.95% and physical abuse was at 9.01%. Once the abuse has been brought to light, “local social services departments are responsible for receiving reports of abuse and neglect and for conducting investigations or family assessments for valid CPS reports; and for providing services that enhance child safety and prevent further abuse” (Virginia Performs, 2011). After the abuse has been reported, Child Protective Services and Child Welfare services will get involved and do an investigation. They will do an extensive investigation to determine if abuse was present in the household. The child may be removed from the household during this investigation period. The court will determine the level of abuse (Child Welfare Information Gateway). If abuse was found, then the child would be removed, and the foster parent’s custody of the child would be terminated (Foster Parent Rules and Regulations).
ReplyDeleteAssessing foster care in virginia. (2011, June). Retrieved from http://vaperforms.virginia.gov/indicators/healthfamily/fosterCare.php
Turning point. (n.d.). Foster parent rules and regulations. Washington, UT: Retrieved from http://www.turningpointfamilycare.com/forms/7_foster_parent_rules.pdf
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Child Welfare Information Gateway. (n.d.). How the child welfare system works. Washington, DC: Retrieved from http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:0rd3dj61HVAJ:www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/cpswork.pdf what happens if child is abused in foster care&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgQQbY2JmVidWckRsRbJU-1P40dwr-wVe6EY65KSBvhnDRwJROSZ8aUCbFgQcurMVTsWp324vW6NYNSRiRYhigVIJIhiLmK268I8Y1SnuCOkH6zakJQ4sQacpoxeOuRcAO3bIxr&sig=AHIEtbQDHjhWVBLY1zjLkw0IrVOK1HAMrA
Virginia Department of Social Services, (2011). Snapshot of children in foster care in virginia Retrieved from http://www.dss.virginia.gov/files/about/reports/children/foster_care/2011/monthly_snapshot/snapshot_fc_2011_08_01.pdf
According to the Virginia Department of Social Services website the local department is responsible for receiving and investigating reports. For example reports in our area would be sent to Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Department of Social Services.
ReplyDeleteChild Protective Services. (2011). Virginia Department of Social Services. October 4’th, 2011, From http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/cps/index2.cgi
At this point Sierra needs to go through treatment. To provide this treatment, the sexually abused child needs to go through an intervention. The intervention team “consist various professionals directly involved in the case and their consultants and begins its activity at the time of case investigation” (Jones, 2001). The active members at the treatment stage include “Child Protective Services, foster care workers, therapists treating various family members, professionals providing other services, representative from the prosecutor’s office, and relevant consultants” (Jones, 2001). Another service that could be provided for Sierra is counseling. An example of a counseling service is WOAR, which stands for Women Organized Against Rape. WOAR provides free counseling services and “the sessions are focused on sexual abuse that has occurred and the effect it may having on the child’s life” (“Counseling Services”, 2011). Masters level clinicians that specialize in trauma-focused counseling provide these treatment sessions.
ReplyDeleteFor someone to provide services in the Child Protective Services, the person must have a “bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in social work or a degree in a closely related field; they must ensure that the workers have regular and appropriate training and specialized skills necessary to provide quality services” (“Learning About Child Protective Services”, 2010). For a psychologist that is providing services for children who have been sexually abused, they need at least a Master’s degree. For a psychiatrist who is providing services for children who have been sexually abused, they need a Doctoral degree so that they could provide the child with medication if needed.
Jones, F. (2001, November 16). Treatment of child sexual abuse. Retrieved from
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuels/sexabuse/sexabusef.cfm
“Children services.” (2011, January 11). Retrieved from
http://www.woar.org/counseling/children-services.php
“Learning about child protective services.” (2010, January 13). Retrieved from
http://www.cwla.org/childwelfare/fg02.pdf
Group 3's Questions:
ReplyDelete1) Would it be beneficial for Sierra to be back with her biological mother? Given her mother’s history, would Child Protective Services let her be Sierra’s guardian even though she is her biological mother?
2) How is Sierra’s sexual abuse going to affect her as she gets older?
3) How is Sierra’s sexual abuse going to affect her relationship with a new foster family that she might get?