Transition Plan
Joseph Lansing is a second year student (eight years old) who is currently studying at Samuals Elementary School. He has been recently removed from his mother who had been accused in abuse and torturing the children (Joseph and his sister) and put into the foster care Mr and Mrs Smith family for two months so far. Joseph's sister stayed with the family members, that, according to the corresponding authorities' check had not enough place and conditions to host both children. It is reported that the siblings have not seen each other for almost two months (since the time they had been separated). The problem arose when Joseph told the peers that he was going to bring the gun to school. Students reported it to the teacher, who reported it further to the principle office. The boy did not regret his saying about the gun and explained, that the purpose was to see his mom in jail. No gun has been found in the boy's things, but the possibility of Joseph having access to the gun could not be rejected. According to the teacher's report, the boy missed the first year and needed to repeat it, though perfectly coped with this task. Being academically gifted, the boy was doing great with the studies. No abuse from the side of other students towards Joseph had ever been noticed. Contrary to that, peers were always positive to Joseph and even sometimes invited him to play together. Nevertheless, the boy preferred the company of himself and had often been noticed playing alone in the school garden. Adults are now hesitating what to do further with the child and how to help him. A major concern is the safety of other students and Joseph's emotional health.
Taking all of the mentioned above into account, the following course of action can be proposed to help Joseph to recover:
Arranging weekly meetings for Joseph and his sister. The boy is lacking communication with his family and wants to know that his sister is doing well. Communication with the family (sister in this case) calms the boy down and will help him to share his emotions and to understand that he is not alone in this world (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2013).
More time with foster family. Smiths family is an important factor in Joseph's well being. Spending more time with family, sharing emotions, cooking, eating, traveling together should be an essential part of the foster care. The new family has to treat the child as their biological child and express as much sympathy and understanding as possible.
More activities with the school psychologist could solve some problems. Professional help from the psychologist will help the boy to express his emotes and to develop trust.
Involving the boy into team sports in school. This will help Joseph to get the team spirit and the feeling of belonging to the team, which is of an incredible importance for the boy. Team sports will empower new contacts with the peers, sharing common wins and failures creates the emotional link among the students. This is exactly the core of Joseph's needs.
Overall, it is very important for Joseph to stay in contact with other students and to build strong relationships with the foster family.
Recommendation 1. Pay more attention to the Joseph's personality and make him understand that he is not alone and that the teacher and the principal are not enemies but friends. The school should be an inevitable part of boy's life and make him feel there like at home. Separating Joseph from classes as per principal and teacher's point of view will definitely increase the level of his frustration and make to go deeper into himself. School is associated for a boy with silly active life, and communication. Being an inevitable part of it, is highly important.
Recommendation 2. The corresponding authorities should asses the level of her harmfulness. If the mother is not harmful, she could be brought into contact with the boy. Joseph is seeking his mother's attention. Therefore, arranging such meetings would be great, but only if the mother fulfills the needed criteria. There is also lack of information about the biological father of the boy. Maybe this connection can also be beneficial. Any familial commitment will have a positive effect on Joseph's mental health.
Recommendation 3. Do not overwhelm the child with too many activities and attention at a time. The goal of the transition plan is not to make the child feel special and different form other, but to make him feel part of a team and develop family relationships. Managing the balance is the first priority.
Summing up, Joseph's situation requires further research and involvement of all above-mentioned parties in the process of child's recovery. The main aim of the treatment is to make the boy feel needed and loved, strengthen his emotional intelligence and health. The implementation of this plan is the responsibility of the school authorities with the psychologist, and the foster family.
References
Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2013). Sibling issues in foster care and adoption. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau.
