Analyzing Interrelated Social Issues Through Community Case Studies

This assignment presents four case scenarios to illustrate the interconnectedness of various social issues and their impact on individuals' ability to function in society. The scenarios cover issues such as unemployment leading to family violence and mental health problems, a family's struggle with health issues and poverty leading to a teenager's involvement in theft, religious differences causing family conflict and disruption of medical support for a sick child, and addiction resulting in homelessness and health problems. Each scenario highlights how these issues interrelate and exacerbate the challenges faced by individuals and families, affecting their well-being and social integration. The assignment emphasizes the importance of understanding these complex relationships in community service interventions.

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COMMUNITY SERVICE
Student Name
Name of the Course
Professor Name
Name of the School
City or State located
Date

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Scenario One
John, a father of two kids, a boy and a girl, has been tarmacking for one and a half years
without employment. For some time now, John’s wife has been taking care of the house rent and
bills since John has not been able to pay the bills due to unemployment. John’s wife has taken
this situation to be a burden for her since she makes no savings for herself. In different
occasions, the issue of unemployment has brought about family violence between the two. The
wife’s behavior has also changed drastically, and she does not respect John at all. John resulted
in the use of alcohol and other drugs due to the stress. Due to the pressure, his wife packed out
and left the house leaving John and the kids. This affected him mentally hence leading to more
usage of alcohol and other drugs. As a result, he began neglecting his children who were between
the ages of five and six. John has been warned by the local authorities that if he doesn’t stop his
behavior his children will be taken to child protection hence being given to foster parents.
Issues in the scenario: Unemployment, family violence, mental health, child protection, alcohol
and other drugs.
How they interrelate to one another: John’s unemployment has negatively impacted his family
which has later affected his mental health. Due to the stress, he has turned to alcohol so as to
alleviate the negative feelings he is going through.
Scenario Two
Rodriguez is a young teenager from Mexico. He and his family have recently moved into
the United States in search of a better life. In the first six months after arriving in the United
States, Rodriguez mother’s health was negatively impacted since a heart condition she had
before arose again. On the other hand, Rodriguez’s father is disabled due to an accident he had
back in Mexico and therefore his wife has always acted as the bread winner. It has been a
struggle for them and therefore all the savings to be used in starting a new life in the United
States were used in paying for the medical expenses. This situation has profoundly affected
Rodriguez; therefore, he looked for ways to earn some extra money to help his father. Being only
thirteen years old, he began stealing vegetables from his neighbor’s backyard and selling in the
closest grocery store. However, after some time, he was caught and warned that he would be
imprisoned if caught again.

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Issues in the scenario: health, behaviors of concern, disability, imprisonment and poverty.
How they interrelate to one another: After coming to the United States, a heart problem
Rodriguez’s mother had before manifested again. Since the father is disabled and there is no
extra cash gained, the money available is consumed in medical expenses hence leading to
Rodriguez being involved in theft. This exposes him to imprisonment.
Scenario Three
For some years now, Muhammed has been battling with Sickle Cell Anemia. His parents
have not been able to cover his medical expenses due to poverty. However, the Islam
Community around them has been aiding with the medical bills and other needs. Muhammed is
still a teenager and still lives with his parents who are also Islamic. Due to personal reasons,
Muhammad’s mother decided to change from their Islamic religion to Christianity. His husband
was not happy about the change hence this resulted into violence in the house due to their
different opinions. Some of the Muslims around them took this change positively since it’s a
personal decision. However, the other radical Muslims took the step as a betrayal to their religion
hence influencing the others to stop helping with the support towards Muhammed’s illness. This
has negatively impacted Muhammed’s parents hence causing them to be depressed due to
pressure of their son’s illness.
Issues in the scenario: health, culture and religion, poverty, mental health, family violence.
How they interrelate to one another: Muhammed’s mother change of religion has caused a
series of effects. One, violence in the home. Two, disconnect with the community and lastly the
discontinuity of his son’s medical support. This has caused depression among the parents due to
the pressure of Muhammed’s illness.
Scenario Four
Lisa became a cocaine addict when she was sixteen because of the kind of friends she
entertained while in College. After graduating, her parents tried to help her, but Lisa was hard
headed due to the behavior she had acquired from school. Therefore, they gave her a house and
some money to start her life. Since Lisa was an addict, she sold her house in order to support her

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cocaine provision and started living with her friends. After using up all the money, her friends
threw her out since she had become so dependent on them. She was now homeless and without
money at the same time. She became depressed since she didn’t know how to approach her
parents after misusing her possessions. This then led to a series of sicknesses that led to her being
admitted to the hospital.
Issues in this scenario: Drugs, health, homelessness, mental health, and behaviors of concern.
How they interrelate to one another: Lisa’s addiction impacted her life negatively which also
affected her health. The addiction causes her to spend all that she has in order to satisfy her
thirsts for cocaine while destroying her relationships.