Mary Adams and her family: Expanding the social support network
The Adams family consists of Frank and Mary (the parents) and two teenaged children,
Julie and Bill. The family was referred by CPS when Julie ran away from home following
an argument with her mother over chores which resulted in a beating from her father.
Confrontations over non-compliance with house rules and non-participation in church
activity have escalated over the past year. Frank and Mary are heavily involved in their
church, which has rules about how members should dress. They attend church
meetings four days a week. Julie and her parents have major conflicts over these rules.
While assessing the family’s social support network, you discover it consists almost
exclusively of church contacts. Mary’s network consists of five people, including Frank,
Julie, Bill, her pastor, and her pastor’s wife. The family has just moved to an apartment.
They know no one in the building. Mary agrees to work with you on expanding her
social support network.
Discussion:
● Brainstorm ways in which you might help Mary expand her social support
network.
● What skills might you teach her to enable her to expand her network?
● What might be an appropriate homework assignment?
● What might be a reasonable goal?
Which practitioner is best to deal with this case?
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Potential ways to help Mary expand her social support network:
1. Encourage Mary to engage in community activities and join local clubs or organizations. This could include things like volunteering, attending community events, or joining a book club or sports team.
2. Connect Mary with resources in the new apartment building, such as community groups or social events.
3. Encourage Mary to reach out to neighbors and introduce herself. Building relationships with nearby residents can provide a local support system.
4. Suggest Mary consider taking a class or workshop in a subject that interests her. This can provide an opportunity to meet new people with similar interests.
5. Help Mary explore online communities and social media groups where she can connect with individuals who share her interests or experiences.
Skills that might be helpful for Mary to expand her network:
1. Communication skills: Teaching Mary effective communication techniques can help her approach new people and build connections.
2. Assertiveness skills: Mary may benefit from learning how to express her needs and boundaries confidently in order to establish healthy relationships.
3. Active listening skills: Knowing how to actively listen to others will help Mary form stronger connections and build rapport with potential support network members.
4. Conflict resolution skills: As conflicts have been an issue within the family, teaching Mary how to resolve conflicts in a healthy and constructive manner can help her build and maintain relationships.
5. Networking skills: Assisting Mary in understanding the importance of networking and providing guidance on how to build and maintain connections can be beneficial.
An appropriate homework assignment for Mary could be to attend a local community event or join an online community group. This provides her with an opportunity to practice reaching out and connecting with new people.
A reasonable goal for Mary might be to establish at least three new connections within the community or online groups within a designated timeframe (such as three months).
The best practitioner to deal with this case would likely be a social worker or a counselor who specializes in family therapy and has experience in building social support networks. It would be important for the practitioner to be sensitive to cultural and religious factors, as well as skilled in addressing family dynamics and conflict resolution.
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