2nd Assignment

My client is struggling with many issues at home and in school.  My client is absent one day out of the week since school started in September. She explained the reason for her being absent once a week is  because she stays home whenever she feels to tried to go to school. Another issue she is struggling with is her relationship with her mother. She is at the development stage where her relationships with her peers are important. She lies to her mother about her whereabouts so she can spend time with her best friend. She also is having a difficult time accepting responsibility for her action in school and at home. My client has the responsibility of taking care of her mother due to an illness and this causes conflicts between them.One of the behaviors I will be helping my client to change will be to decrease the amount of classes she cuts in a day. I will be using a weekly behavior log to monitor that behavior.
Currently she is lacking the amount credits she needs to get her promoted to the 11th grade. My client is willing to work on changing her behavior. She has accepted the contact to improve her class attendance. During our session we discussed the amount of credits she needs to obtain so that she will be a 11th grade student in September. She explained that she didn't realize how close she is to graduating from high school. She explained that she really needs focus on obtaing the credits she needs because June is getting closer.
I explained the process of the evaluation and research purpose to her. She said she feels important to know that she will be having so much of my attention, she also said she was willing to do whatever it takes for her to make the changes.

1st Assignment

My internship site is at the New York City Department of Education. The high school is located in the Bronx. The school is in its second year servicing 156 ninth and tenth graders. The high school occupies the 3^rd floor in the build with three other high schools. The community where the high school is located has is a history of drugs and violence. The school is also located one block away from a public park and projects that attracts alcoholics, drugs addicts, and homeless people.

            The school is a career-based and focuses on internships to help students gain skills and education needed to enter college. The students are placed in an internship that connects to their desired careers. In class students’ work in groups, discuss questions and debate on what they have learned. According to NYC choice enrollment high school directory (2009-2010) “Students are required to wear causal business attire”. However many students have a difficult time respecting the dress code. Their admission practices are to give priorities enrollment to student who first attend an informational session, secondly to residents of New York City (NYC Choice Enrollment High School Directory, 2009-2010). There are special education services delivered to the students which includes, integrated co-teaching (ICT) Special Ed. Teacher Support Services (SETSS) 100%, Special Class (NYC Special Education Service Delivery Report, 2009-2010).

Since the school is very new the data I obtain came from their business manager who was reluctant to give me accurate figures. However the “NYC Galaxy Allocation FY (2011) states the school budget to be $1,328,642”.The business manager claims the school receives funding from city and the state, a general education student receives about $2000.00 for their instruction and other school wide needs. He said a special education student receives $3000.00 for their education instruction; counseling; SETSS and other mandated services (O.Gay, personal communication, September 24, 2010). 

According to the administrative manager most of the students come from a single parent households. She said the school is a title 1 school which means that because the majority of its students recent free or reduced lunches the school is entitle for additional funding. The administrative manager also explained that 90% of the student at the school are entitle to free or reduced lunch (A. Guzman, personal communication, September 24, 2010).

The school is facing many problems. However their main issue is violence.

There are many fights especially among the females. The fights are the results of the females gossiping about each other. Cyber bullying is also an issue the principle is dealing with. Students are creating web pages to post disrespectful and damaging rumors about their peers. There was a time when my client had a negative repetition she had to live down.

My client comes from a low income family. She lives with her mother, grandmother, and two sisters. Her mother is unemployed because of her illness. My client’s grandmother is also unemployed because of her illness too. Her mother and

Grandmother depends on her to assist them in getting their needs met. Although she has two sisters they are out and about doing their own thing. One of her sisters resides in a group home because her mother could no longer manage her behavior. Her other sister pretty much do her own thing and does not make herself available to assist their mother and grandmother. My client is unhappy that she is unable to have a social life because of the responsibilities her mother places on her. She admits that she lies to her mother about her whereabouts so she can spend time with her friends. Since she has been caught in her lies her mother has a very hard time trusting her and this puts a strain on their relationship. My client disclosed how she argues with her mother and uses very disrespectful language in the heat of the moment. She is also struggling with her peer relationships. She explained on occasion that she feels she is not liked, or that she has ugly hair. She also has an attendance problem. She comes to school late everyday and she is absent at least once a week.

Reference

National Association of Social Worker (2002) NASW standards for schools social work

services. Washington. DC: Author.

New York City Department of Education public school. (2010). Special education service  delivery. Retrieved from                                                ttp:schools.nyc.gov/ChoiceEnrollment/high/Publucations/default.htm

New York City Department of Education. (2010). Choice enrollment high schools directory. Retrieved from http://schools.nyc.gov/choice/enrollment/high/directory/school/?sid=445

      

New York City Department of Education ( 2011). Galaxy Allocation FY. Retrieved from                http://schools.nyc.gov/AboutUs/fundings/schoolbudgets/GalaxyAllocationFY2011.htm?BS.     

New York City Department of Education. (2009-2010). School survey report. Retrieved                                 from http:// schools,nyc.gov/Accountability/tools/report/default.htm

Social Work volume 39, number 5, September 1994.