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Once Jake’s initial
evaluation was completed, a family planning team meeting was arranged. The team consisted
of Jake, his mother, his primary therapist at the treatment center, a child protective
service case worker, his maternal grandparents, the school counselor, Jake’s best
friend, his former basketball coach, and his favorite math teacher. The results of the
BERS served as a catalyst for generating many solutions for addressing Jake’s needs
and the family’s challenges. The following is a summary of the family planning
team’s recommendations.
The team members initially focused on how to promote and preserve Jake’s
strengths. After reviewing Jake’s intrapersonal and academic strengths, the team made
several recommendations to support Jake in pursuing his positive interests, including
joining the high school basketball team, becoming a peer tutor in math, pursuing volunteer
work, and structuring free time with peers through participation in supervised community
activities.
Areas targeted for skill development included improving interpersonal and affective
skills as well as increasing family involvement. The team agreed to work on the former
through participation in an intensive anger management program for youth and their
families. Jake also agreed to meet with the school counselor on a weekly basis to discuss
problems he may be having with peers and to establish concrete goals in an effort to
increase his understanding of the consequences of his actions.
Providing support to Jake’s mother in developing her behavior management, problem
solving, and communication skills through in-home family preservation services interrupt
the pattern of escalating conflict in the family and thus increase family involvement.
Family communication would also be enhanced by making a commitment to have a family meal
together at least three times per week, and hold family meetings at least once a week.
Also, Jake’s grandparents agreed to spend time with Jake’s younger brother
so that Jake and his mother could begin to go on weekly outings. They agreed as well to
occasionally take both boys for a day or an overnight visit to give his mother a respite
from the challenges of being a single parent.
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