Reflection #5

For this final module, I really appreciated the fact that all of the case studies focused on
different subjects. I began with The Case of Trent: Revisited, which looked back on the case
study from the second module, further explaining Trents progress, including a behavioral
intervention plan the Jo developed with help from her field seminar classmates. It was interesting
to see the usage of positive reinforcement to modify Trents in-class behavior, and how
something as simple as encouraging targeted behaviors with stickers or other small rewards
could be enough to see an overall increase in Trents functioning. I found the advice from Jos
field coordinator Janet to be very valuable, because in order to achieve real change it is important
to emphasize positive behaviors for the client rather than push them to avoid negative behaviors.
I would have never considered that including the avoidance of negative behaviors on the
behavioral plan would have negative effects, but the phenomenon that Janet described sounds
like a form of response bias, in which the research subject responds in a way that they think the
researcher wants to see, in this case Trent increasing the frequency of the behavior he knows is
being measured.
The second case study No Mad Dog Looks: Group Work and Mediating Differences was
also very fascinating and informative to me, especially because I have always been interested in
working with the Hispanic/Latino population. Last year I worked with a Hispanic/Latino parentinfant group for my SW 3010 service learning assignment. Through that experience, I was able
to gain an understanding about the important norms and values for the Hispanic/Latino
population, which in turn increased my overall cultural competence. I think it was a good idea on
Sandys part to contact her Hispanic classmate Maria who would be able to assist her in the
cultural barriers she may have experienced if she were to facilitate the group alone. It is always

easier to get through to someone when you have a solid understanding of what he or she is going
through, and culture is one of the most influential parts of an individuals environment. I also
appreciate the format of this group because it was part crisis intervention, part peer mediation,
and part cultural support (similar to the format of the support group for African American girls in
foster care). I think that it was good that Sandy did not force the girls to be friends but
encouraged them to avoid confrontation and find common ground with each other by remaining
open and honest. Having the girls brainstorm the criteria for the agreement was also a good idea,
because usually people are more apt to follow the behavioral standards that they came up with,
which also follows the NASW ethical principle of client self-determination.
I found the final case study In the Best Interest of the Child, to be one of the most
valuable case studies that I have read over the duration of this course, mainly because it was one
of the only case studies I have ever read that did not have an entirely positive outcome, which
happens more than we like to acknowledge in social work. Reverend Sutter was a particularly
frustrating client who was very stubborn and resistant to change, and it was hard for me to justify
Jeannie being returned to her family home, even after the six months of parenting classes for Mr.
and Mrs. Sutter because it was clear to me that Rev. Sutter only went because he was being
forced to, not because he felt that he needed to change. Still, from my understanding of CPS, the
ideal ultimate goal is always to reunite the family rather than permanently remove the child from
the home, so Linda and the agency have to do everything they can to ensure a safe environment
for Jeannie in her family home. The Sutter familys religious culture made this case particularly
tough to work with because theres a fine line between respecting an individuals religious beliefs
and following the law, especially when those religious beliefs are leading to the harm of another
person. Linda had her fair share of cultural and ethical dilemmas to address in this case.