NCJ Number
192121
Journal
Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2000 Pages: 19-27
Date Published
January 2000
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Many single mothers from Caribbean countries have migrated to the United States while leaving young children behind until the mother's situation is stable in the United States; upon reunification of child and parent, there are reports of marked adjustment difficulties; this paper examines one such case, so as to explore issues related to family dynamics, impact on a child, and intervention strategies from both a clinical and administrative perspective.
Abstract
Jerome was eight years old when he was reunited with his mother Pauline in the United States after having been left by his mother in the Caribbean with his maternal grandmother. Pauline's legal status had been achieved through an arranged marriage for a fee, and she worked as a nurse's aide in the United States. She had a two-year-old son, Sean, and lived with his father Michael, who was also a Caribbean immigrant who worked at a variety of low-paying jobs as an unskilled laborer. Jerome had little notice and little knowledge about what was happening when he was placed on a plane by his grandmother and then escorted by a flight attendant to his waiting mother. In the United States, Jerome had difficulty in school, both because of his poor social skills and his lack of age-appropriate academic intellectual skills. School maladjustment led to behavioral problems. Out of frustration with all the problems posed by Jerome's behavior, his mother attempted to physically punish him, at which time Jerome slipped and cut his forehead on the edge of a table. He ran to another room and telephoned the police. Upon observing the gash on Jerome's head, the officers removed both children from the home, and charges were filed against both parents. The boys were placed in foster care and were visited by their parents every 2 weeks. The parents participated in a variety of programs, including parenting classes, conflict resolution, and family therapy. In addition, Jerome received individual counseling and academic tutoring. Both boys were returned to their parents after 9 months in care. The home was supervised for another 6 months, after which the case was closed. This article examines the case material from two perspectives: an exploration of the parents' world view with regard to selected themes and exploration of the thinking behind the major therapeutic interventions made with this family system. 18 references