The need for social work with the family appears, as a rule, when children reach adolescence. Most often, a change in the behavior of a teenager necessitates building new relationships in the family, and most families cope with this on their own or with the help of psychologists. However, if the problem is not solved, social workers intervene in the life of the family.
Instructions
Step 1
Problematic behavior of a teenager is caused by problems in relationships with people around them - teachers, neighbors, peers. Repeated summons to the commission on juvenile affairs, absenteeism at school, drinking alcohol, aggression - all this cannot be ignored by parents. However, for various reasons (their own problems, alcoholism, material difficulties, etc.) they do not consider it necessary or cannot properly respond and influence the child's behavior. This is where the need for family social work arises.
Step 2
The main goal of a social worker is to help all participants in a conflict situation and resolve it, taking into account the interests of each participant. Each situation is unique and depends on many factors, but it is nevertheless possible to identify the main stages of social work.
Step 3
The work begins with receiving a request from a social institution - a school, a commission on juvenile affairs. Usually, at this moment, all available means have been used: educational conversations with the child and parents, various punishments and sanctions. The request describes the problematic behavior of a teenager or parents, specific requirements for him, deadlines for fulfilling the requirements and possible consequences in case of non-compliance. The family is informed about the referral of a social worker, this can happen at a meeting of the Commission on Juvenile Affairs, at school, by phone or by official letter.
Step 4
Further, the specialist makes an appointment, most often on the territory of the family. His goal is to establish contact with parents, discuss and understand the situation. It is necessary to treat the opinion of each family member with respect and at the same time clearly identify the fact of contradiction. The family can refuse the help of a social worker, in which case he will inform the referring source of the refusal.
Step 5
When clarifying the situation, the employee may ask different questions, including “uncomfortable” ones, but family members decide for themselves whether to answer them. It is important for the employee to feel the atmosphere in the house, as well as the context of the conflict situation. During the conversation, the social worker tries to translate the parents' complaints into a specific form of the problem, it is rarely possible to cope with this in one go. Often, parents see the roots of the situation only in the behavior of a teenager, without admitting guilt - in this case, it is important that they see and admit their mistakes.
Step 6
Once a problem is identified, it is the social worker's job to work with the family to develop an action plan to resolve the problem. It is important that all family members take part in this, offering their input. An oral or written agreement is concluded, in which the actions of all participants are clearly spelled out: a teenager, parents, social worker, other family members or specialists.
Step 7
An important stage in working with the family is the implementation of the program. At the same time, the social worker should support the activity of family members and help them to carry out their actions. However, the responsibility should not be on him - the specialist only prepares the family to resolve the conflict situation, and does not resolve it on his own. For example, if the mother is afraid to talk with the school principal, the social worker can arrange this meeting, talk with the mother and the principal in advance, send her to a psychologist, even be present at the meeting - but the content of the conversation should be left to the parties to the conflict.
