HSW2220 Health and Wellbeing Across the Lifespan Assignment

Task information:

Preamble: The needs of individuals and groups across the lifespan in various contexts and locations are met by social workers and human service professionals. People's requirements change throughout their lifespan, and professionals must be aware of these changes in relation to the stage or phase of development, while ensuring they critically apply appropriate developmental theories to their assessments of clients.

Tasks:

1. Read the case study
2. Choose ONE phase/stage in Mia’s life course from the list

• Early childhood - Her first two years of life
• Middle childhood - (up to 6 years)
• Late childhood (up to12 years)
• Adolescence

3. Then, discuss the specific developmental phase/stage from the physical, psychological, cognitive, social, and emotional perspectives on your chosen stage, using examples from her life course, explaining the implications of the changes/challenges for her and interpret what the professional practice implications are, of working with
4. In addition, please ensure your work is presented and formatted with the following (see also Week 1 materials):
   1. Total 1500 words; +/- 10%.
   2. Follow an essay format –
      1. Introduction - setting the scene, this is what I want to do (150 words)
      2. body (pls. do not write the word ‘body’ as a heading), it comprises of paragraphs where you develop your arguments/explorations

• Conclusion – what you have done, no new information (150 words)

1. Double line spacing – Times new Roman (12 font size) or Arial (10)
2. Adheres to APA 7th referencing style (in-text citations and reference list – no bibliography).
   1. Here is a link for further help with Essays, following APA 7th format - https://youtu.be/-V-zLpTxIWA
3. Title page: Course code/name; name/student no; course examiner’s name; Assessment title; Word count; Due date (Extension date if applicable).

SCNERIO

Mia is 15 years of age, living on a large inner-city estate which has a reputation for anti-social behaviour from young people, with use of alcohol and other drugs. Over the last few months her school attendance has been sporadic. Nathan (37), her father, is currently serving a ten-year jail sentence for burglary and drug offences. Mo (66), Nathan’s mother supports the family as much as she can but has poor physical health. His father (Nathan senior), died in a car accident when he was four years old; his mother remarried when he was 6. Cole, Nathan’s stepfather has a history of violence towards his mother and now lives in a different part of the country with a new family. Megan (34), Mia’s mother, was introduced to alcohol and drug very early in life, is now a regular user of alcohol and other drugs, supporting her habit by dealing in soft drugs and petty theft.

She suffers from anxiety and severe depression, accompanied by binge drinking, leading to frequent hospital outpatient treatments. As a child, she and her siblings spent time in care because of neglect by their mother. Her mother, Mariam, died seven years ago of causes linked to alcohol dependency and suspected drug overdose.

At the age of 16 Megan gave birth to Mia. Following this Megan and Nathan began to live together, living in a series of bed and breakfasts and a hostel for homeless people. Nathan would steal and dealing in drugs, and Megan would work occasionally as a prostitute for them to survive and have money for their increased drug use. Megan suffered from serious postnatal depression after giving birth, which escalated into clinical depression when Nathan was imprisoned for two years for a drug-related offence, at that time, Mia was only three months old. Megan’s depression has been accompanied by binge drinking, leading to various periods of outpatient treatment and hospitalisation.

Mia was placed in the care of a series of relatives. Her parents finally obtained a council house when Mia was three years old. By the age of 6, Mia had two brothers and two sisters. Although her parents are still together, they have a volatile relationship. The family continue to have an erratic lifestyle, largely due to her parents’ drug and alcohol use. Since Nathan was sent to prison, Megan has been earning money to fund her drug and alcohol use through prostitution in her own home; one of the men recently tried to kiss Mia; this frightened her, especially, because this had happened once before, when she was 11 years old. Mia has been attending school on a regular basis and is considered an ‘able’ student. Lately, however, her attendance has been giving cause for concern. Mia is a member of a local ‘gang’, a group of young people who are involved in shoplifting, using alcohol, and experimenting with ‘soft’ drug use. They hang out at a local park, verbally abusing and bullying the children who come to play there.

Six weeks ago, two months away to her sixteenth birthday, Mia found out she has fallen pregnant. She thinks the pregnancy could be Jason’s, if not, it would be Belen’s, her Mediterranean boyfriend. Jason and Belen are part of the ‘gang’.

Glossary of terms:

Analyse - Break an issue into its constituent parts. Look in depth at each part using supporting arguments and evidence for and against, as well as how these interrelate to one another.

Define: Provide a precise explanation

Discuss: Present a point of view and provide a critical account noting the advantages and limitations. You must develop a logical argument

Explain: Provide an account of why or how a particular situation occurs, with the aim of clarifying reasons, causes and effects.

Explore – Question and consider a variety of different viewpoints. Where possible bring together opposing views by presenting a final line of argument.

Evaluate - Give your verdict as to what extent a statement or findings within a piece of research are true, or to what extent you agree with them. Provide evidence taken from a wide range of sources which both agree with and contradict an argument. Come to a conclusion, basing your decision on what you judge to be the most important factors and justify how you have made your choice.

Identify - Determine what are the key points to be addressed and implications thereof.

Interpret – Apply to practice and /or explain the meaning of information or actions to workable application (understanding in practice).