Sexually Abused Child in Foster Care Setting | Case Study

Sexually Abused Child in Foster Care place setting cause StudyThe sexually abhorrenced child in the foster settingCurrent researchers believe the majority of children entering the foster system micturate been traumatized physically and emotionally and now require care the foster system was not originally created address1. Additionally, foster children are reported to have three to septette beats as many acute and chronic health conditions, developmental delays and emotional adjustment problems as their non-foster peers2. The care provided in foster care is of captious importance, as research emphasizes the remaking of an attachment based dealinghip, such as the foster parent-child relationship, is the focal emotional need during the foster experience3. When a child has been sexually abused, the care required is of paramount importance, however, a careful and comprehensive assessment of the child is required as childishness sexual abuse affects different children entirely di fferently, displaying a range of symptoms or lack thereof4. Cicchetti and Toth5 emphasize the individual differences that abuse has on individuals is most often based on the childs take aim of functioning at the time of the sexual abuse, such that the sexual abuse and/or other forms of con on-line(prenominal) child abuse will be understand by one child differently from another. As the child matures, the abuse will also carry different meanings, therefore Cicchetti and Toth6 tell us that foster caregivers must readily adapt to the changing issues the child is dealing with and manner in which he/she relates.This essay will present a brief case resume followed by an examination of the foster parent skills, qualities and understanding needed to engage in a relationship with a child who has been sexually abused, critically reflecting on actions taken with the child.For purposes of this paper, the child discussed is an adolescent who suffered repeated sexual abuse in an intra-familial setting. Issues relating specifically to infants, preschool or younger children victimized by sexual abuse and set in a foster care setting are considered beyond the current scope of this essay. Additionally, issues pertaining to the legalities implicit in a childhood sexual abuse case, abuse by an extra-familial individual or issues pertaining to abduction and violence perpetrated upon a child in conjunction with sexual abuse are considered beyond the scope of this essay.Case studyJ is a 14-year-old female who was repeatedly sexually abused by her step-father from the age of five years. Js mother was an alcoholic and ineffective to hold a job. Js step-father threatened that hed kill her mother and J if she told anyone. J remained silent for the first eight years, displaying a variety of emotional and physical problem that doctors and school officials put off to developmental disturbances. When J finally told her mother when she was 13 years-old, her mother said it was because J was such a pretty girl and to just go along with it because after all, he provided for them all and theyd be on the street otherwise. When J was called to the principals office for disruptive and aggressive behaviour towards a boy who made sexual advances to her in the hallway, J finally told her principal what was outlet on at home and family service and police officials were called in. J was removed from the home and placed in foster care.J was 15 by the time she was placed in this writers foster care. J exhibited many of the common mannerisms common to adolescent females victimized by intra-familial sexual abuse including adopting sexually promiscuous and extremely flirtatious behaviour with other males, engaging in self-injurious behaviour such as cutting coupled with distancing herself from trusting authority figures. in like manner noted by this writer were Js frequent depressive episodes and affect. It was important to note, consistent with current research, that the Briti sh child welfare authority over two-thirds met current diagnostic criteria for at least one or more psychiatric disorders7, emphasizing that older individuals in foster care have a higher(prenominal) rate of invigorationtime and past year psychiatric disorders, frequently onset prior to the initiation of the foster situation.Fostering JConsistent with research by Yancey8 an appropriate combination of mentoring and role-modelling for J was an integral part of her fostering. Role modelling does not necessarily necessitate personal interaction, whereas mentoring also includes deliberate support, guidance and an trial to help shape the adolescent, as in the case of J where she had not developed the appropriate skills with which to weather thorny periods in her life or ingest sense of what had happened to her in real world terms9and examine the skills, qualities and understanding needed to engage in a relationship with that child.Js brain contour was modified by the repetitive abuse , accounting for much of her depression and other personality disorders10 through the L-HPA axis impact11. Explaining this to J in terms she would understand was difficult as she was not overtly trusting of authority or parental figures the information only seemed to fuel her rage at her role of helpless victim and further emphasize her own role in the abuse process rather than appropriate place of blame externally on her step-father. Similarly, research highlights the tenacity of depression and other emotional areas of dysfunction up to and extending beyond five years following childhood sexual abuse12. Given the goal of foster placement as the reunification of the family unit13 occasional visitation with Js mother caused greater depressive episodes and more dramatic episodes of self-injurious behaviour, which is consistent with the literature stating further abuser match within five years can be used to predict higher levels of depression in the abused child14.Significant ment oring with J focused on building her sense of self-esteem and orienting her towards healing her own inner hurt child, mothering it in ways that were not provided to her in her critical early childhood years. For example, it was important to help J search for solutions and focus on how to overcome her current issues and for her to admit problems exist with her normal day to day actions. Rather than elicit her childs mind questioning why did this happen to me, this writer had to stress that she is responsible for her own thoughts, feelings and behaviour at this point in her life and as it moves forward, that she can construct her own destiny, especially since she is within years of adulthood15. It was difficult explaining that her sexually aggressive behaviour was not considered normal, but an affect of her abuse16 as she continued to seek the physical intimacy with a male as an expression of their love for her rather than simply sexual gratification17, still replaying her step-fathe rs vocal expressions of his love for her, how attractive she was, etc.Given Js level of problems with attachment relationships, it was instrumental working with her coming from the transactional analysis framework emphasizing relations needs both current and in the archaic ego, emphasizing Js need for security and protection experienced within a relationship18. sensation of the most difficult issues relative to providing care for J was to nurture her commitment to positive change, as considered a fundamental principle of transactional analysis based endogenetic therapy19 as J demonstrated oppositional and defiant behaviours on a regular basis.Js continual behaviour issues emphasized the need for working with her as a role model and mentor rather than being directly confrontational with her regarding her dysfunctional behaviour or inappropriate thinking. This emphasized keeping ascendance of Js life in her hands, considered by research as critical for survivors of sexual abuse20. Research demonstrates that combining therapy in the foster setting can reduce stress for the child and caregiver, increase the development of positive attachment relationships and corresponds with an increase in positive behavioural change21.While the interaction with J was a positive, albeit difficult one, upon reflection, however, one major change would have been to mutually establish Js goals for growth into an integrated and intact adult. This would have helped establish a foundation and framework for working together.BibliographyAlfaro, Jose, Fein, Edith, Fine, Paul, Halfon, Neal, Irwin, Martin, Nickman, Steven, Pilowsky, Daniel K., Rosenfeld, Alvin A., Saletsky, Ronald, Simms, Mark D. Thorpe, Marilyn. Foster Care An Update. daybook of the American honorary society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1997.Auslander, Wendy F., McMillen, J. Curtis, Munson, Michelle R., Ollie, Marcia T., Scott, Lionel D., Spitznagel, Edward L. Zima, Bonnie, T. Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorder s Among Older Youths in the Foster Care System. Journal of the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2005.Baird, Frank. A Narrative Context for Conversations with Adult Survivors of childhood Sexual Abuse. Progress Family Systems Research and Therapy, 1996.Black, jam E., Haight, Wendy L. Kagle, Jill Doner. Understanding and Supporting Parent-Child Relationships during Foster Care Visits Attachment theory and Research. Social Work, 2003.Chamberlain, Patricia, Fisher, Philip A., Gunnar, Megan R. Reid, John B. Preventive Intervention for Maltreated Children Impact on Childrens Behaviour, neuroendocrine Activity, and Foster Parent Functioning. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2000.Cicchetti, Diane Toth, Sheree L. A Developmental Psychopathology Perspective on Child Abuse and Neglect. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1995.Erskine, Richard G. A Gestalt Therapy Approach to Shame and Self-Righteousness Theory and Methods. The British Gestalt Journal, 1995.Green, Arthur H. Child Sexual Abuse Immediate and Long-Term effect and Intervention. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1993.Oates, R. Kim, OToole, Brian L., Swanston, Heather Tebbutt, Jennifer. Five Years after Child Sexual Abuse Persisting disfunction and Problems of Prediction. Journal of the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1997.OReilly-Knapp, Marye Erskine, Richard G. Core Concepts of an Integrative Transactional Analysis. Transactional Journal, 2003.Temple, Susannah. Transactional Analysis Philosophy, Principles and Practice. Temple Index of Functional Fluency, 2006. Retrieved from http//www.functionalfluency.com/articles_resources/Philosophy_Principles_Practice.pdf Cited 10 September 2007.Yancey, Antoinette, K. Building official Self-Image in Adolescents in Foster Care. Adolescence, 1998.Footnotes1 J. Alfaro, E. Fein, P. Fine, N. Halfon, M. Irwin, S. Nickman, D. J. Pilowsky, A. A. R osenfeld, R. Saletzky, M. D. Sims M. Thorpe, Foster Care AN Update, Journal of the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.2 Alfaro et al.3 Alfaro et al.4 A. H. Green. Child Sexual Abuse Immediate and Long-Term cause and Intervention. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1993.5 D. Cicchetti S. L. Toth. A developmental psychopathology perspective on child abuse and neglect. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1995.6 Cicchetti Toth.7 W. F. Auslander, J. C. McMillen, M. R. Munson, M. T. Ollie, L. D. Scott, E. L. Spitznagel B. T. Zima. Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders among Older Youths in the Foster Care System. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.8 A. K. Yancey. Building positive(p) Self-Image in Adolescents in Foster Care. Adolescence, 1998.9 Yancey.10 J. E. Black, W. L. Haight J. D. Kagle. Understanding and Supporting Parent-Child Relationships during Foster Care Visits Attachm ent Theory and Research. Social Work, 2003.11 P. Chamberlain, P. A. Fisher, M. R. Gunnar J. B. Reid. Preventive Intervention for Maltreated Preschool Children Impact on Childrens Behavior, Neuroendocrine Activity, and Foster Parent Functioning. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2000. The limbic-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis shows different responses on maltreated children, disabling their exponent to regulate their emotions appropriately following the developmental disruption.12 R. K. Oates, B. L. OToole, H. Swanston J. Tebbutt. Five Years after Child Sexual Abuse Persisting Dysfunction and Problems of Prediction. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1997.13 Black, Haight Kagle.14 Oates et al.15 S. Temple. Transactional Analysis Philosophy, Principles and Practice. Temple Index of Functional Fluency. Retrieved from http//www.functionalfluency.com/articles_resources/Philosophy_Principles_Practice, 2006.16 A. H . Green. Child Sexual Abuse Immediate and Long-Term Effects and Intervention. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1993.17 Green.18 M. OReilly-Knapp R. G. Erskine. Core Concepts of an Integrative Transactional Analysis. Institute for Integrative Psychotherapy. Retrieved from http//www.integrativetherapy.com/en/articles.php?id=40.19 OReilly-Knapp Erskine.20 F. Bard. A Narrative Context for Conversations with Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse. Progress Family Systems Research and Therapy, 1996.21 Chamberlain et al.