Walden University LLC Adapted From Plummer S B Makris

2022 Walden University Llc Adapted From Plummer S B Makris

Analyze the case of Tiffani Bradley, a 16-year-old girl with a history of sexual exploitation, trafficking, and abuse, who has been placed in a court-mandated teen counseling program. Develop a comprehensive social work assessment and intervention plan that addresses her complex needs, including trauma, safety, family dynamics, mental health, and legal considerations.

Paper For Above instruction

The case of Tiffani Bradley encapsulates the profound challenges that social workers face when working with adolescents who have experienced trauma, sexual exploitation, and longstanding family dysfunction. A holistic and trauma-informed approach is essential to effectively assess her needs and develop an intervention plan that prioritizes her safety, emotional well-being, and pathways toward recovery and resilience.

Initially, a thorough assessment must be conducted to understand the multifaceted dimensions of Tiffani's experiences. This includes gathering detailed information about her history of sexual abuse, familial environment, mental health status, and current safety concerns. Given her history of familial abuse, neglect, and exploitation, the social worker should apply trauma-informed care principles, emphasizing safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment. Using validated assessment tools like the Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ) and the Strengths and Needs Assessment can help gauge her traumatic experiences and resilience factors (Briere & Elliott, 2019).

Addressing her immediate safety is paramount. Tiffani's disclosures of physical abuse, sexual molestation, and ongoing trafficking underscore the necessity for protective measures. Collaboration with child protective services and legal authorities ensures her safety and adherence to the Safe Harbor for Exploited Children Act, which prioritizes her protection without resorting to detention. Medical evaluation and treatment for her STIs, injuries, and kidney infection are crucial components of her health care plan, alongside ongoing mental health support for trauma, anxiety, and depression.

Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is widely recognized as an effective intervention for adolescents with complex trauma histories (Cohen et al., 2017). Tiffani’s therapy should focus on helping her process her traumatic memories, develop coping skills, and rebuild a sense of safety and trust. Given her relationship with Donald, who she perceives as her savior but who is also a perpetrator, therapeutic work should explore her attachment patterns and the phenomenon of trauma bonds, which often develop in abusive relationships (Cummings, 2018).

Family therapy and a social network assessment can evaluate the possibility of reunification or rebuilding family support structures, if safe and appropriate. Since her family environment appears highly dysfunctional, with evidence of substance abuse, domestic violence, and neglect, family intervention may be limited but useful if it can be safely facilitated. Creating a safety plan for her to recognize and respond to abuse, along with education on healthy relationships, empowers Tiffani to make informed choices and establish boundaries (Mitchell, 2020).

Educational and vocational support are critical to her holistic recovery. Engagement with school counselors or alternative educational programs can help reintegrate her into learning environments that accommodate her trauma. Establishing mentoring programs and peer support groups for trafficking victims can foster a sense of community and belonging, which are essential for resilience (Deutsch et al., 2020).

Legal advocacy is another vital component. Advocating for Tiffani’s rights, ensuring confidentiality, and navigating her status as a juvenile victim of trafficking without criminalizing her are essential. Engagement with legal services can assist her in understanding her rights and accessing resources such as housing, education, and employment opportunities in the future.

Addressing her substance use and health issues involves collaboration with medical and mental health providers. Given her current treatment with antibiotics and injuries, psychoeducation about substance use and health maintenance bolsters her overall well-being. Providing her with life skills for self-sufficiency, including communication, stress management, and decision-making, further supports her autonomy.

Finally, implementing a strength-based approach emphasizes her resilience and potential for recovery. Recognizing her as a survivor with strengths such as her capacity to seek help, her perseverance, and her desire for safety guides the intervention. Developing a tailored, culturally sensitive plan that respects her autonomy and promotes empowerment is fundamental to fostering hope and resilience in her journey toward healing.

References

  • Briere, J., & Elliott, D. M. (2019). Trauma assessment and treatment principles. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 32(1), 1-9.
  • Cohen, J. A., Mannarino, A. P., & Iyengar, S. (2017). Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy for children and adolescents. Guilford Publications.
  • Cummings, T. (2018). Understanding trauma bonds and attachment in abuse victims. Journal of Family Therapy, 40(2), 130-143.
  • Deutsch, C. E., McCarthy, S., & White, B. (2020). Peer support and resilience building among trafficking victims. Social Work in Public Health, 35(4), 251-262.
  • Miller, S., & D’Cruz, H. (2020). Addressing complex trauma in adolescent survivors. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 37, 563–575.
  • Mitchell, C. (2020). Safety planning for adolescent abuse victims. Child Abuse & Neglect, 107, 104563.
  • Plummer, S., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. M. (2014). Sessions: Case histories. Laureate International Universities Publishing.
  • Song, L., & Pate, T. (2019). Holistic approaches to adolescent trauma recovery. School Psychology International, 40(3), 273-291.
  • Wilcox, P., & Peterson, J. (2021). Legal issues in adolescent trafficking and victim advocacy. Child Welfare Journal, 99(5), 59-76.
  • Zlotnick, C., Johnson, D., & Miller, K. (2018). Trauma treatment and recovery in adolescent survivors. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 41(2), 225-238.

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