Children and Families: Case Study Analysis of Gary and Bronwyn's Story

This case study analyzes the story of Gary and Bronwyn, focusing on the impact of domestic violence on their children, Luke and Sally. The assignment examines the children's experiences, developmental stages, and safety issues, referencing child development theories and children's rights. It assesses the parents' circumstances, including the impact of domestic violence on their parenting capacity and the parent-child relationships. An ecological assessment is employed to analyze the family's environment, including the microsystem, mesosystem, and exosystem, considering factors such as school, extended family, and the broader societal context. The analysis highlights the effects of the environment on the children's well-being, emphasizing the need for interventions to ensure their safety and development. The student applies social work principles to understand the family dynamics and propose potential solutions to address the challenges faced by the family. The case study also references attachment theory and the impact of domestic violence on the children's emotional and psychological development, including discussions on potential substance abuse and emotional problems.

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Title: Children and Families: Well-being and Protection
Assignment Name:
Student Name:
Course Name and Number:
Professor:
Date:

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Introduction.............................................................................................................................................3
The purpose of social work practice........................................................................................................3
Children...................................................................................................................................................5
Family.....................................................................................................................................................7
Environmental Analysis..........................................................................................................................9
Intervention...........................................................................................................................................12
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................15
References.............................................................................................................................................16

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Introduction
Social work practice contains principles and values in order to help people through
counseling and psychotherapy with individuals, family or groups helping the community
to obtain tangible services. Social work has 6 core values and 7 basic principles that
include Service, social justice, integrity and importance and certainly of human
relationships.
The purpose of social work practice
Identifying the problems and finding the solution to their troubles is what a social Worker
guides for and looks when it comes to counseling. In a situation which can be violence or
Substance abuse, which turns to a new level when it comes to couples who are already
parents. This may also lead to legal actions, in such situations, ecological assessment
offers to study how Child may function in different situations. The collected data can

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then be used to determine the best adjustment, the exchange of people with their
surroundings; applying natural balance as well. Social work practice in human beings
involves understanding a standpoint on which interaction depends on parameters like
physical, Social and Cultural surroundings. Thus, to get the best course of action by
applying ecological assessment and analyzing Gary and Bronwyn’s case, therefore we
can get the best way for the children through this Comprehensive review.
Clients:
Be the children of Gary and Bronwyn’s: Luke, who is 13 years old and Sally who is 11.
Family details:
Domestic violence is what comes into the picture with this case for Gary and Bronwyn’s
been Married for the last 13 years and is the parents of Luke and Sally. As the children
are raised by Coping with domestic violence within their family, it has affected them in
different ways. Being The elder brother Luke has no respect towards his mother and
possesses a disobedient behavior in Accepting anything and everything from his mother's
side. On the other side, Sally is The last born in the family is very adherent.

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Children
As Luke and Sully are yet not matured enough, Understanding there safety point of is
essential for Gary and Bronwyn’s children in this case. Among the two, Sally is very
closely attached to her mother and is only eleven years of age. Sally has Down syndrome,
which is a Mental disability, and are the most common distinctiveness with Down
syndrome. While Bronwyn’s mood is directly Subjective to Garry behavior which is what
usually happens with a family that copes through Domestic violence. Thus making her
attachment to her father comparatively lesser.
An individual gains a sense of security and stability by forming an emotional and
physical “attachment” to another person which allows taking essential to identify and
take risks, Explore, and grow and develop as an individual. The behavior displayed by an
anxious child in the urge for re-instating is called “attachment behavior” to a presently
absent caregiver. As attachment depends clearly on the response that is generated through
the parents. According to the Attachment Theory, there is always a strong bond of
attachment to at least one primary caregiver. It is crucial for personal development.
As per the Attachment theory, there are three broad Classifications that are applied to the
children of the family.
I. Secure attachment: where the child feels entrusted, strong and happy when she is
nearby her parent. As it says secure attachment, the child should feel loved and confident
II. Avoidant attachment: when the child avoids getting close to her caregiver, which can
be a social, emotional or physical relationship.

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III. Anxious-ambivalent attachment: child suffers separation anxiety when is not with
her caregiver, On the other hand, does not feel reassured when her caregiver returns Soon
the comparison, Sally does not feel scared when she is around her father and as she is
Close to her mother and feels better whenever she is surrounded by her. This is the
Ambivalent Attachment that she goes through at her place (Farooqi, 2019).
Sally is younger to her brother Luke. Luke has a rebellious behavior towards her mother,
and this approach has recently developed, as Bronwyn’s has told during the counseling.
As the child has been a witness to violence, Luke has craved a mirror behavior as his
father towards her mother. On the other hand, Luke and Sally have developed a good
bond And being the elder one he takes care of her sister (Baldwin, 2005).
As a personality develops in a predetermined order which consists of eight stages
(Erikson).Being a teenager Luke is influenced by the actions and characteristics of his
surroundings, he sees himself always close towards his family. Luke is specifically
attached to his father and always keeps trying to understand her mother's response to find
out his own. Since his childhood, he had seen a lot of violence between his father and
mother always maintaining a chaotic situation, which has made him in a puzzled state of
senses.(Hickman, 2011).
The constant violence that happens around the children marks a major impact on the
development of both the children, Which is usually the situation of Gary and
Bronwyn’s,.Anxiety issues and emotional problems are faced whenever a minor is prone

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to domestic violence especially when is happens in there own family. Talking about
Luke’s nature is turning and changing at his age the way things have been he might soon
level of Substantial abuse. Sally being the younger one might face problems that are
much worse in her further life. She already has down syndrome, which might turn her up
side down in terms of her emotions and decrease her Development cycle. (Howe, 2010).
Family
Considering the real reason for the issues in this family, brings attention to two major
factors which are emotional abuse and domestic violence? As they are married for the last
13 Years. Bronwyn’s has been abused since the very beginning of their marriage this
makes her afraid for her safety. Garry has now developed this habit of mistreating
Bronwyn which naturally turns her self confidence to tumble. (Jones, LaLiberte &
Piescher, 2015).
Garry has this character of displaying his muscularity and tries to have power over her
marriage and he takes care of the families financial needs as well. Bronwyn has started
accepting it on collective norms as she is not financially Independent and has been
exposed to such treatment for a long time. Dr. Lisa Cameron’s feminist theory explains
where the male is considered superior to females as most of the feminist theory’s
mention. Domestic violence prevails in our society, even in the 21 century, which does
not allow us to create a Healthy relationship, especially between parents and children.

Extended
family
:
Gary's friends :
Gary
family
friends
Extended
family
:
Luk
e
:
Sall
y
Schoo
l
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The above Ecomap shows as this family is interconnected like every other, However as
things are not good between Garry and Bronwyn for a long time. Which make Bronwyn
more insecure and afraid about the outcomes that she would face if they get separated. As
physical and emotional abuse continues between the two caregivers, Being prone to such
situations children of the family form a fussy spirit which lasts throughout their life. With
Luke being more inclined towards Garry, and as he is violent on a regular basis He will
certainly acquire the same thinking towards society.

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On the other hand, Bronwyn is already concerned about her safety on top of it as she is
not self-independent makes her completely unsure and Sally is attached to her mother.
Due to this situation of her mother, there is a high index of emotional stress visible in
Sally.
The way his mother is being treated noticing it since a long time Luke has also got
the same code of conduct. The way thing has been her might address women the same
way through out this life and will have a superiority index in his character. (Lee, 2010).
In fact, Garry has no issues with Luke’s behavior towards her mother. In fact the Sally
and her mother attachment are going through emotional stress.
Environmental Analysis
Surroundings play a very vital role in the development of a child's character and
are the key reason for the way of life that particular child is going to get and will
visualize the environment, that shows us the process and understanding and recognition
of acts without any formal perception of it. Luke and Sally have been badly affected
because of their surrounding atmosphere and the acts of wrongdoings happening for a
long time (Melton, 2010).

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Children learn about the rules and authority at the conventional stage of life.
During this stage, as such, no distinction is drawn between moral and legal principles. At
this point of time, the judgment between right and wrong is only held by the authority
(Pandya, 2016). However, in this particular case, the reason for the entire situation of
family and children are the caregiver itself. The stage at which they are right now does
not provides them the privilege to guide their children. On the other hand, as children,
they both have a different attachment to their caregiver. Therefore to attain peace and
security and also to be loved they have turned into there role models respectively. (Peleg,
2013).
The current condition and the way there is always a conflict in the family,
Security of the family is at a stake. Children of the family will certainly attain the kind of
development he is not accepted for any kind as at a regular interval acts of violence and
conflict takes place between the caregiver in the family. They are of interaction for Luke
and Sally is at there school or is confined to there family. These spheres are equally
important and important in terms of their social and mental development (Willow, 2017).
Garry’s acts definitely contribute to the root unethical practice of violence being
accepted to their premature conscious. The access to Gun collection the caregiver posses
caters as which creates a bigger sense of threat to the kids and make changes to existing
behavior of kids, which they have been going through the same phrase towards his wife
as well. On the other respect that Garry has in the society give him an upper hand in his
family and over the children that creates a delusion to judge the action in a positive

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manner, Thus the identification and judgment are not easy for under matured kids.
(Stoecklin, 2017).
The best for Luke and Sally is microsystem that grants the children to provide
another sphere by moving them away from the stressful condition is to take them to
school. At the school, they get surrounded by different energy coming in contact with
their teachers and students and it clear the negative energy that usually covers them at
their home (Cook, Rivera-Aguirre, Cerdá & Wintermute) 2017. This school works as the
best place for the children and further helps them to escape the violent environment that
the children goes through while they are at their home.
Mesosystem proposes as stated by Urie Bronfenbrenner, The family environment
plays an important role and due to that children are influenced to a much large extent
from it – Thus they develop their character significantly by the means of the environment
in which they grow up. The situation fails to protect and safeguard Luke and sally at their
home and not been reported to the school. (Yan, 2016).
Ecosystem plays a very important role in the positive and negative growth of the
child. It provides the level of an evolving person’s ecology neighboring relationship and
processes between at least one set that contains that person and another set that does not
(Panter-Brick & Leckman, 2013). Gary, being the superior upper hand and the financial
source of the house, Thus Garry has a strong repo in the family and can not be questioned
by any of the family members. Further, This becomes the reason for a sense of fear that

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the children in the house develop towards him. This refrains them to get involved with
the social world as they need approval and financial backup for any type of expenditure
that occurs for any such gathering (Luthar, Cicchetti & Becker, 2000). This allows them
to be socially independent neither in the present nor in the future.
Macrosystem is the fourth level in this case study, Thus when Luke finds that his
father is not around, he tried to act superior in the family and consider him as the whole
and soul to the family, especially around the females. Garry behavior gives Luke a boost
because of the consequence and authority he has been gathering from his father and his
unconditional control (MASTEN & OBRADOVIC, 2006).
The system that drives the reaction of any child towards his social surrounding is
defined as Chronosystem which can either be internal or external. The children can easily
judge that family is being separated is well received by Sally but not by Luke (Kohlhaas,
2014). All his actions work as the expression to get back to his father and anguishes
against his mother. These ecological challenges should be taken into a concern to apply
rightful intervention.
Intervention
Children are directly and indirectly affected by the traumas that happen in their
surroundings and is directly related to the situations that they go through, I propose the

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FGC model.FGC model i.e. Family Group Conference make sure that all the connected
individual such as family members and other people who have direct access to the
children’s daily life are working together at a particular level establishing the busted ends
and lucidity with a wisdom of legal accountability and leads to the decisions with the
children’s say in it too. Relationship and binding the member is drawn and works like an
aspiration agent in the situation. (Kiraly & Humphreys, 2014).
Children's safety is the prior duty of a social worker. As Sally and Luke have
witnessed violence Sally throughout there lives, Thus the social worker has worked for
the safety of children through effective involvement in family conflicts. If the parents get
separated then Bronwyn safety is also a concern as the idea of turning violent in order to
get his family back and certainly come into Garry mind. Safety planning is vital for the
family and making sure that the children are kept way if any such situation occurs, Thus
keeping the entire family safe. In fact, children should be Put in the center of the process
of safety planning. For safety sigh, each one must be taken on the assessment table and
discuss the positives and the negatives, while at the same time recognizing strength and
safety as well.
It is significant to address children best interest to take useful decisions that will
be contributing to the hale and hearty development of the children. I will advise both
Gary and Bronwyn to constrict down the most apposite plan for Sally and Luke. In order

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to grants the best psychological health and a tally for the stress that they go through on a
regular basis. (Bronfenbrenner, 1986).
The three house theory will help Luke, As he is the oldest one in the family and
would help him understand the situation well. This will ensure and help him to evaluate
his worries, Thus giving him the opportunity to find his strengths and finally his hopes
and dreams. It is important for the social worker to help him identify his strengths so that
he visualizes and work for the positive side of life and grant him the privilege to hope and
find a safe and secure prospect with his parents. However, it is important for him to
understand his doubts and issues that need to be addressed and changed. Resolution to the
issues and understanding the gap is the prime focus within the practice framework by
utilizing a comprehensive loom. Thus identifying and exploring his pros and cons and
also allow him to look into the strengths and safety that can be proposed and worked
upon.
Sally, on the other hand, has Down syndrome, thus the use of fairy and wizard
theory has to be used cause she is younger than her brother and the tool also works on the
same parameters. As this will help her to identify new ways to counter the problem and
will also help the social worker to generate a great sense of general security in her mind.
Therefore this will allow her to demise the issues and troubles and would further help her
to find a positive environment. Sally would further get the strength to cope with the
situation in the best possible way. This will provide her a cheerful and positive approach

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towards the issue and would further help her to boost her self confidence. In fact, it will
allow her to spot the problems that she is going through right now.
Sally and Luke have been through a great amount of stress, because of the
separation, If the violent environment that they have been through, after the end of 13
years of togetherness, Cognitive behavioral therapy is what I will propose to extremely
research for them (Henshaw, 2004). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is put together with
the impression that actions like emotional, mental, physical sensations and actions as all
these actions are interrelated. As negative thoughts and feeling are in a never-ending
cycle because of the atmosphere that they have lived in since a long time. This will
provide a goal-oriented approach on top of it an understanding of the Problem and will
further grant an approach to succeed. Both the caregiver can analyze the effect of their
behavior through each others understanding the reason for the issues and the means
through which it can be fixed once and for all. (Biggeri, Libanora, Mariani & Menchini,
2006).
Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive developmental theory applies best to this state of
affairs. The most prominent reason being that the theory deals and helps children to
understand their growth rather than addressing the learning of information or specific
behaviors. In general, the outcome of ecological experience through cognitive
development is a mental process that forms as an outcome of the best environmental
experience (Benzies & Mychasiuk, 2009). Thus, making sure that their relationship with

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the children improves get better with time. Both Luke and Sally have been affected in
different ways by the conditions that they have been through while growing up and the
worst part is that it stills exits in their life, They have largely impacted their emotional
and mental sensations due to the situation that has been left unnoticed since a long time.
Solutions-focused treatment and Family group conference and solution-focused
treatment can clear the picture that the member of the family is facing in their everyday
life and can also help to identify the root cause and further generated problems. Thus the
family can identify their role when it comes to the production of problems as well as the
measured steps that need to be in place in order to resolve them. Once the family is under
an assessment table they can identify their role and can certainly walk an extra mile after
they have focused on the solution and working as a family will acquire the best of result
using this approach.
Garry and Bronwyn have two distinct personalities, however, it is the role of the
social worker to provide them a reflection of their image, As the financial issues of the
house are managed by Garry, who is has been very violent and disrespectful towards
Bronwyn. In fact, this removes the Bronwyn impact of behavior that leaves a blow on the
children in the family as well. On the other hand, Garry is the cause of domestic violence
since the very beginning. The responsibility of a social worker makes her confident and
show him the path through which she can step out of the zone and make a difference.

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Luke and Sally will get help to be vocal and identify the issue they have been
facing within themselves subconsciously. Also, the caregiver has to identify the best
interest of the children which will also help them to understand their role as parents and
would further help them to provide the right direction to their kids. The social worker
should take Bronwyn through therapy so that she can get over with the trauma and stress,
she had faced in her past. After the therapy, She will emerge as the wall for her kids and
provide then love and affection to attain the maximum emotional support (Axford, 2009).
Conclusion
A social worker plays an important role and works as a path provider for the
family to help them to identify their problems and making them responsible to help each
other to cover and cope with the issues they faced in their lives to improve their standard
of living, Here The most and prime responsibility is to protect the children through
efficient intervention in family divergence. As Garry and Bronwyn have been separated
but as the kids have eyewitness a number of clashes of interest and domestic violence, it
is utmost significant that the family should accept each other under a specific agreement
In order to leave an impact on the mind of both the children so that they can develop and
prosper in their lives and creating a better future and become a role model the rest of the
world . The first and foremost work of the social worker is to provide safety to the
children and help the family to come up with a solution to mold the situation and make
their lives better. Thus concluding that in order to resolve and improve the family

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condition the social worker should primely focus on the safety of children and secondly,
the caregiver is supposed to bring under a mutual agreement for the betterment of the
family.
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