Case Analysis 2 Competencies and Practice Behaviors: 7. Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
7.1. Collect & organize data & apply critical thinking to interpret information from clients & constituencies. 7.2. Apply knowledge of human behavior & the social environment, person-in-environment, & other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the analysis of data from clients & constituencies. 7.4. Select appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment, research knowledge, & values & preferences of clients & constituencies.
Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to provide you with an opportunity to utilize the conceptual frameworks and theories that we have discussed in class to assess a family system and individuals within the context of the family system. You will have the opportunity to explore and consider macro, mezzo, and micro level theories and issues in your analysis of this case. You will also have the opportunity to identify appropriate interventions and develop a plan to monitor the client’s or client system’s progress. 7-10 pg Case Information: The Landis Family The Landis family of Catonsville, Maryland is seeking help to cope with several recent family stressors. The family members are: Father – John (age 52), Mother – Maggie (age 50), Ted (age 21), Trisha (age 16), and Maternal Grandmother – Penny (age 77). The main stressor for the family is that Penny has recently moved in with them. The family is also dealing with the developmental changes of each family member and a transitioning of the family system. John Landis was born in Catonsville, Maryland to George (age 77) and Hannah Landis (age 75). He is the youngest of 3 male children. His brothers, Tom (age 54) and Jim (age 56), continue to live in Catonsville as well. John reports that he regularly visits with his brothers and their families. John’s parents relocated to Tampa, Florida 10 years ago. John reports that he has a good relationship with his parents and that they typically come to Catonsville every summer for a few weeks and during the Christmas holidays. John reports that he is grateful that both of his parents are in good health, are active members of a Catholic church, and enjoy golfing with their friends. John describes his childhood as being normal. His father worked for the US government as an accountant. His mother worked as a nurse, but took time off from her career to care for her children. Once all of her children were in school, Hannah resumed her work as a nurse. John describes his family as “an average middle class family”. He states that they were active in the local Catholic Church and the family was very close knit. He
and his brothers were active in community activity programs and played baseball. He states that his parents were strict, but not overly so. They expected the boys to do well in school and behave appropriately. Inappropriate behavior resulted in a spanking when the boys were young and being grounded once the entered adolescence. John holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs and is currently employed by the United States government at the Department of State. He is active in the Catholic Church and plays golf most weekends in the summer. John reports that he has gained weight since he turned 50 and does not feel as strong as he did when he was younger. He sometimes worries about getting older. Maggie Landis was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. She is the only child of Tim (deceased at age 78) and Penny Lewis (age 77). Tim Lewis was a cross country truck driver. Tim was frequently away from home due to his job. Penny was a homemaker. Maggie reports that her home life as a child was good when her father was on the road, but things were turbulent when her father was home. She reports that her father was an alcoholic and when he drank heavily he would argue with her mother. Maggie reports that she was frightened of her father when he drank. She denies that her father ever struck her or her mother. Maggie reports that she was always close with her mother and that they got along well. Maggie reports that her family lived comfortably in that they had enough money to meet their needs, but there was not much extra money for luxury items. Maggie did very well in school and was able to obtain a scholarship to college where she majored in business. She went on to obtain an MBA. She met John in college and they were involved in an ongoing romantic relationship for 4 years before they got married. Maggie is currently employed as the Director of Marketing at UMBC. Ted Landis is a full-time student at UMBC where he is a graduating senior majoring in computer science. Ted resides in an apartment in Catonsville with two of his friends from college. Ted plans to travel around Europe for the entire summer after graduation. He will be backpacking and staying in Hostels. He states he will seek employment when he returns from his trip. Ted’s parents are concerned about his travel plans. They fear that Americans are targets for attack outside of the US. They believe that Ted should take a vacation in the US for a few weeks and immediately seek employment. Ted and his parents have been in conflict about his travel plans for the past 2 months. Ted states that he is an adult and that it is his decision. Ted’s parents report that he was a normal child when he was growing up. He achieved developmental milestones within normal limits (talked at 18 months, walked at age 18 months, and was toilet trained by age 3). He did well in school where he received mostly A and B grades. He was also active in sports playing both baseball and football. There was some sibling rivalry between Ted and his younger sister, but Ted was also very protective of her outside of the home. Ted was disciplined for misbehavior by being sent to his room, losing computer and TV privileges, or being grounded. Trisha Landis is in the 11th grade at Catonsville High School. She performs well in school and participates in extracurricular activities including the school band and the
school newspaper. Trisha began dating a boy her age in November. Trisha has told her mother that she is in love with her boyfriend and that he is her one true love. Maggie is concerned that Trisha is being naïve and fears that Trisha is sexually active. Maggie and John are both worried about the possibility that Trisha is having sex, but don’t want to bring it up to her. They are fearful that bringing it up may make Trisha think that they don’t trust her and that talking about sex may make her want to have sex. Trisha’s parents report that her childhood was normal. She began talking at age one, walked by 11/2 years of age, and was toilet trained by age 3. She was well behaved in school. Her behavior at home was appropriate. She sometimes misbehaves by arguing with her parents or missing curfew. Her parents believe that she is a typical teenager. Penny Lewis moved in with her daughter’s family approximately 2 months ago. Penny had been residing in her own home in Philadelphia, PA. Her husband died a year ago from a sudden heart attack. Penny had a difficult time after her husband’s death. She was intensely sad and frequently tearful for several months after he passed. In recent months Penny experiences periods where she feels comfortable, but also has periods where she feels a deep sense of loss regarding her husband. Approximately 6 months ago, Maggie went to Philadelphia to visit her mother and realized that her mother was unable to maintain the house that she was living in both physically and financially. When Tim died his pension benefits did not survive him. Consequently, Penny was trying to live on a Social Security check in the amount of $800.00 per month. Penny was skimping on food and medication in order to make ends meet. Maggie also noted that Penny was very lonely and still sad about Tim’s death. Penny is still mentally alert, but is physically struggling. She has developed arthritis and experiences pain from it. She has high blood pressure and high cholesterol that she is receiving medical treatment for. Since she has moved into Maggie and John’s household, Penny has been feeling better emotionally. She no longer feels lonely. She does worry that she is a burden on her daughter though. Penny does attend church with Maggie and John every Sunday, but resists Maggie’s efforts to involve her in the older adult activity group.
Analysis Questions:
1. If you were to conduct a family assessment, what factors should you consider?
List and explain each factor. 4. Consider the genogram, eco-map, and descriptive information that you have
about the family and present your analysis of the family in the context of the social environment. Discuss the family system utilizing eco-systems theory concepts.
5. Consider the marital dyad in the Landis family and discuss how marriage is
beneficial to the couple. 6. Penny is now widowed. Discuss the effects of being widowed on the well-being
of individuals. 7. Tim’s death has left Penny in poverty. Discuss the causes of poverty in general.
Describe the macro theories: functionalist, conflict, and interactionist as they relate to poverty.
8. Discuss how Maggie may be in the “Sandwich Generation”. 9. Maggie’s father was an alcoholic. Discuss alcoholism and its effects on the
dependent individual and his family. 10. Consider John’s age. What stage of life is he in? What physical changes might
he be experiencing? What are the psychological issues that he is facing (Consider Erikson, Peck, & Maslow)?
11. Consider Ted’s age. Discuss the developmental stage that Ted is in according to
Erikson. How might Ted’s developmental process impact his family? 12. Trisha may be sexually active. If she became pregnant she would be a single
mother. Discuss single parenthood and the implications of it for mother and child. 13. List the changes that the Landis family is experiencing and discuss how the
family system might be affected by each of them. 14. Identify at least three scholarly articles from the research-based literature that
would inform prevention or intervention strategies with this family or individuals in this family. Provide a brief critical analysis of the interventions and how they relate to the family or individuals in the family system. These articles should be
peer reviewed and cited per APA format. [This is the information from your CRAAP assignment].
15. Describe the prevention and intervention strategies would be most beneficial to
the family and/or individuals in the family. 16. Describe how you would evaluate the effectiveness of the prevention and
intervention strategies that you suggest above.
