Three Empowerment Case Studies 1. Ted is 15 years old. He identifies as Latinx and had been a scholarly student until about one year ago. Ted has been expelled from school 7 times over the last year, for behaviors such as smoking in the building, coming to school intoxicated, three times for fighting, once for taking another student’s sandwich at lunchtime, and once for using profanity toward his female teacher. You have been working with Ted for the last two months and you have a respectful and professional relationship. You have been unable to determine what happened to Ted that made him change his behavior. You decided to gather some of your co-workers to brainstorm ways you can assist Ted. Here are some of my student’s ideas: Encourage him to write – draw – ecomap – music… Find someone he can vent with – someone he feels comfortable speaking to, such as a Coach? Big Brothers program (or something similar) Match him with a mentor from his culture Find a sports game that might be about something he likes to do Take him to a basketball court and talk while meeting with him – (he makes a shot and must answer a question – he misses – he can ask me a question) Feed him – teen age boys often are more talkative when they are fed Talk to his teacher – maybe look at some of his classwork – to see what interests him Talk to his family – did something change at home Ask him what happened to him? Consider puberty – may be difficult for him to express his emotions – especially to a female How was this exercise empowering for you? For your co-workers? For Ted? How can you use a similar approach to empower your clients? What if the client provides only impossible responses to this exercise? 2. Chris is a 32-year-old single mother of three young children, ages 2, 5, and 9. She lost her job as a supervisor at the movie theatre when it closed due to Covid19. Chris is seeking work. She does not have any family in the city, and she is having difficult finding a sitter so that she can look for a job. Her unemployment income ends in one month and she is feeling discouraged and anxious. What are some things you may do to help empower Chris? Here are some of my student’s ideas: Play the role of a Broker – connect her to a staffing company Help her identify daycare assistance funding and apply She may be entitled to an unemployment extension…help her with this She may be eligible for TANF after unemployment DHR has a jobs program – and may provide a gas voucher Churches may help with bills for a month – no past due amounts Call 211 for assistance Three Empowerment Case Studies Find her strengths to help her find a good job – or career path CMA – Childcare management agency – income-based payments/ sliding scale Take out a loan – YMCA may provide emergency childcare Barter – use her talents to trade for what she needs Check her school district for after care programs Try Babysitters.com Scan for neighborhood babysitters – Church, community recommendations, salons 3. Marcia is a student at AAMU. She is enrolled in a master’s program for social work; however, the campus is closed down due to Covid19. Marcia is rooming with a cousin, but she is not working and feels she is not pulling her weight. She wants to work but she is afraid her classwork might suffer, but she needs to contribute to the household. Her cousin, Rita, is not putting pressure on Marcia, and she continues to pay all of the bills she paid before Marcia moved in. In addition, Rita’s food and utility bills have increased by a little over $300 per month. What might empower either or both of these roommates? Have Marcia apply for Covid19 relief funds Maybe she can apply for food stamps Rita may get a part time job or telework (work from home) Check for unemployment (Rita) Apply for scholarships, school loans Pay with her CARES ACT check Tell cousin to check Community Action for help with light bills Food banks – once a month Call 211 Try the Manna House in Huntsville Apply for AAMU’s scholar help program – apply for $200
