Overview
For this assignment, you will apply knowledge of trauma-informed treatment approaches to a case study. Be sure to review this week’s readings and lesson content before diving in!
Details
First, review the following case:
Alfredo is a 68-year-old Hispanic male. He has been hospitalized for several weeks due to declining health from late-stage liver disease. You are a social worker in the hospital setting and Alfredo has been assigned to your case load.
Alfredo has been an active alcoholic for most of his adult life. His prognosis is poor and he has only been given a short time to live. He asks for your help in reconnecting him to his adult son, whom he has not had contact with for the last 11 years. In assessing Alfredo, you find that his history is significant for trauma and PTSD. He reports that he was born in New York City and that at the age of seven, he witnessed the murder of his mother and father. While attending a family birthday party, his parents, along with other family members, were shot by an uncle after a family altercation.
Since there were no family members available or willing to take him in and care for him, Alfredo was placed in foster care and put up for adoption. At age 10, he was adopted by a family in Wisconsin. It consisted of his adoptive mother, father, and their biological daughter, who was 15 years old at the time. He reports that although he was physically cared for, he never felt close to or loved by his adoptive family. He further reports that he felt like an “outsider” and that Wisconsin was “another world and he could not relate to kids in school and that he was often bullied by other kids.”
Alfredo attended high school but did not graduate. He primarily worked as a farm or factory worker for all of his adult life. He married at age 28 and had one son at age 32. He states that he was a “terrible” husband and father because of his active drinking. He reports that he was emotionally abusive toward both his wife and son and that his wife left him after 20 years of marriage. His son has been estranged from him following an argument that occurred 11 years ago. He reports that he never attempted to repair the relationship or reconnect with his son, but wishes to do this now so that he can apologize for being such a terrible father before it is “too late.”
Now write a reflection in response to the following: As a social worker assigned to Alfredo’s case, what would you consider the priorities? Given Alfredo’s medical prognosis, is trauma-informed care appropriate? Why or why not? If his son agrees to reconciliation, how will you help Alfredo and his son successfully work through this situation together?
Procedural Notes
Your reflection should be one to two pages long.
Use APA format for any in-text citations