Meeting with the Family

Scenario 3 A: Meeting with the Family

In this session, I met Benita (Jade’s maternal grandmother) and Jade’s maternal grandmother. The meeting aimed for Jade to disclose his relationship with Ericka and his gender identity. From the meeting, it was evident that Benita was a bit unwilling to accept Jade’s identity as a transgender person. Her fears come primarily from her religious beliefs, societal perceptions, and cultural background. Benita is afraid that her friends, relatives, and church members may discriminate against her due to Jade’s identity. On the other hand, Jade is disappointed with Benita’s lack of willingness to accept his gender identity. Jade quickly suggests that he be taken to foster homes instead of staying together with his grandmother.

Scenario B: Scenario Three, Part Two-Making a treatment plan

In the treatment plan, it is vital to appreciate the position of each of the clients. Based on the first meeting, the problem is that Benita is partly unwilling to accept Jade as a transgender person due to her religious, family, and cultural beliefs. However, two notable strengths from Benita are her resilience and composure even when she feels disturbed. These strengths may be essential in implementing the treatment plan. On the other hand, Jade appears an enduring transgender youth who sees purpose in life even in the face of difficulties. Jade wants to be separated from his grandmother so that he is far from the feeling of guilt whenever he sees Benita. Jade is fifteen-years-old and in a relationship with Ericka. The goals of interventions are to ensure Jade is not affected by disclosing his gender identity while Benita accepts the revelations. As an SW, there are two interventions to achieve the objectives. First, the SW must convince Benita that Jade’s identity is average. If Benita accepts, then she can continue living with Jade. The alternative is assigning Jade foster parents. The approach will ensure that Jade lives with LGBTQ+ parents and escapes from the feelings of guilt from his grandmother’s home. The best treatment method for the situation is using the strength-based approach of social work. The process recognizes the uniqueness of individual service users and utilizes these innate abilities to help them. Benita (resilient and composed) and Jade (enduring and seeing life’s purpose) should focus on their strengths to handle their differences.

Scenario 4: The Follow-Up

Both Benita and Jade present themselves on time as agreed during the last session. During this time, however, Benita, though tense, seems undisturbed, as was the case when Jade disclosed his identity at the first meeting. Benita assures that she is willing to accept Jade’s identity, but she still feels worried about how her fellow church and family members perceive her. On the other hand, Jade is pretty happy about Benita’s admission but still feels guilt over his identity. More concerning is that Benita keeps informing her grandchild that the church will reject her for living with him.

Scenario 5: Wrap Up

Jade’s case represents multiple issues on social justice and human rights. Social justice constitutes equity, participation, access, and fairness. At the micro-level, Jade has faced discrimination and denial by family members because of their identity. During the first session with the family, Benita denied Jade as a transgender youth. Also, the client was sexually abused by their grandmother’s lover. Jade faces discrimination from the community at the macro level due to gender orientation. At the mezzo level, members belonging to LGBTQ+ groups are discriminated against both in private and public institutions. Some of the current policies or legislation affecting LGBTQ+ members in the USA are Single-Sex Facility Restrictions in some states, Prohibiting healthcare for transgender youth, and excluding transgender youth from athletics (Legislation affecting LGBTQ rights across the country 2021, n.d). The SW must confront these policies and laws when helping LGBTQ+ clients at all levels. Also, the professionals will have to handle family, community, and institutional discrimination against Jade.