Applying Human Service Research Principles to Florence's Situation

This case study analyzes the situation of Florence, applying concepts from human service research, including the pyramid model of social work, self-determination, and the social welfare system. It emphasizes the importance of empathy, patience, and self-awareness for social workers supporting individuals facing mental health problems and social isolation. The study explores how Florence's isolation following her partner's death and her family's rejection impacted her ability to care for her child. It suggests interventions such as encouraging family contact, job training, and parental education to enhance Florence's self-determination and reintegration into society. The role of the social welfare system in providing education, job opportunities, and parenting skills is highlighted, while also acknowledging challenges like Florence's rural location. The case underscores the long-term impact of adverse childhood experiences and the importance of family support and education for positive outcomes. This document provides insights into the practical application of human service research principles in addressing complex social issues and is available on Desklib, a platform offering study tools and resources for students.

Running head: HUMAN SERVICE RESEARCH
Human Service Research
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Pyramid model social work is coined by British Sociologist named Paul Halmos (1996).
It is used to analyze the social problem and to help social worker who is engaged in giving
support to the society. Self-determination is a process by which a person can improve her own
condition of life. Social welfare system refers to the assistance provided by the government to a
needy individuals. In this discussion, all the above mentioned concepts are discussed relating
with the case study of Florence.
In case of helping a person, it is very important for the social worker to know about the
attitudes, skills and values of social works. The social workers are responsible for giving
emotional support to the people who are suffering from any mental health problem. The attitudes
and values that can be followed by a social workers are empathy, patience, self-awareness
willingness to give help and taking feedback, power of taking risks and dealing with ambiguity,
skepticism, open-mindedness and rejection of stereotypes, capacity to change the system and
believing people (Summers, 2016). In case of Florence a social worker may use the attitudes and
values like empathy as it is required to listen to Florence very carefully and it is very crucial
because Florence is very much alone after the death of her boyfriend. In addition she had no
contact with her family. The next value that can be used is asking for help as she had no
knowledge about parental care. However, there are a few attitudes that cannot be used in case of
Florence. They are taking risks as she is very much depressed, taking feedback about Florence’s
condition as she lives in a remote area.
Self- determination is the way of improving someone’s life. In the case of Florence it is
seen that, she ran away with Dave at the age of 18 and they had a child. As a result, all her
family member refused to accept her. When her husband died in an accident, she was very much
alone. There was no one to support her. Due to living with Dave, she was isolated from her

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family and there was no attempt from her family’s end to get in touch with Florence. After,
Dave’s funeral, Florence became very much depressed and she ceased to herself from going out.
Even, she had grown fear to do any kind work. As a result she had lost all the social relations. To
maximize the self-determinations in case of Florence, firstly, she should be encouraged to
contact with her family members so that, her feelings of loneliness can be reduced. Along with
this, in order to increase her social attachment she should be engaged in work. That will help her
to get back her daughter Crystal as the home would not return Crystal to Florence until she had a
job and a proper child care practices. According to the case study it is seen that, her neighbor
were also not happy with the child care practice of Florence. This was another reason of
Florence’s isolation from the society. In order to resolve this, she should have the parent training
and this will help her in two ways (Summers, 2015).
In case of Florence, social welfare system is very much helpful. As Florence had not
completed her education, it is very important for her to gain proper knowledge and education.
Although, she had been listed as a single mother, she had not got any job offers till yet. The
social welfare system can make her job ready. As a result, she might get job offers from various
services. It will help her in interactions with different kind of people. As a result she may get rid
of her Depression (Summers, 2016). Along with this, she had not have a proper parenting
knowledge and due her failure, Crystal had not developed correct behavior. Crystal was removed
from home due to her abusive nature as his mother failed give her proper parental care. In this
scenario, social welfare system can give Florence a proper training to gain knowledge about
parental care. However, if Florence had a job and a proper parental training she could have her
daughter back from the child care home and social welfare system can back her by giving her
parent training and job training. In this context, the primary hindrance, which was received by

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the social welfare system, was location of Florence. As Florence lived in a rural area, it would be
a great challenge for the child- care members to give training in that location.
Lastly it can be concluded that, lack in proper development in childhood, could affect the
life a person in future. Along with this, adherence to family and a proper education is also
important. Lack in proper parental care knowledge will affect also affect future of the offspring.

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References
Summers, N. (2015). Fundamentals of case management practice: Skills for the human
services. Nelson Education.