Sociology 3, University: Family Intervention and Advocacy Plan

This sociology assignment presents a comprehensive family intervention and advocacy plan, focusing on a family where the father has an intellectual disability and potential autistic tendencies. The assignment analyzes the presenting issue of the child's mental and physical development, considering the father's ability to provide care. A detailed family description, including a genogram, illustrates the family unit. An intersectional analysis explores how the father's mental health and social factors, such as societal perceptions, impact the family. The intervention strategy involves micro-level interventions, including guidance counselling and support. The advocacy strategy emphasizes including and assisting mentally challenged individuals, with potential policy changes to provide extra income or employment. The assignment also highlights community partners and the family's capacity for change. The project is based on the movie 'I am Sam'.

University
Family Intervention and Advocacy Plan
Engaging and Promoting Healthy Family
Student Credentials
3/28/2020

Sociology 1
Presenting Issue
It is the mental and physical growth of the child. Since the child is under the care of a
disabled father, everyone’s concern is if the father will be able to take care and assist with
mental and physical growth of the child.
Family Description
The unique thing about the family is that the father despite being
mentally challenged has all the traits for becoming a good father and taking care of his
daughter.
Intersectional analysis of Family
Being mentally challenged has impacted on Sam’s employment opportunities and his
ability to be a good father is being questioned on every step. The social factors as in the way
Father
(Sam)
Mother
Lucy
No Medical History apart from
a few instances of Drug abuse
Mental Illness
Traces of Autistic
tendencies
Intellectual
Disability

Sociology 2
children talk about Sam in front of Lucy affects how Lucy thinks of her father a lot and has
impact on her behaviour.
Family Intervention Strategy
First of all in order to understand the situation, a party will have to closely monitor the
day to day lifestyle of such a family and if required, a support can be provided by the
authority in the form of a guidance counsellor whom the family members have to meet from
time to time.
Advocacy Strategy
In this case all the mentally challenged people such as Sam, his friends and other
members of the community shall be included and provided assistance. Certain policy change
can be done such as providing extra income for them or employment opportunities can help.
Community Partners
Employment network, student nutrition, teaches for Canada can be a few that can
assist these individuals (Community Partners, 2020). When micro study is done in such
families, their talents are observed as well. Referrals can be made on that basis (Community
Partners, 2020).
Family capacity for change
 Attitude, bond and ability to problem solve.
 Formal: therapy, governmental assistance as in a policy change, counsellor
Informal: Assistance from friends, advocates
 Being together as a family
 Growth for the child and probably for the father as well.

Sociology 3
 In the movie, Sam was not part of any organization.
Bibliography
Community Partners. (2020). Student Nutrition Ontario. Retrieved March 28, 2020, from
Community Partners: https://studentnutritionontario.ca/programs/community-
partners/
Community Partners. (2020). Teach For Canada. Retrieved March 28, 2020, from
Community Partners: https://teachforcanada.ca/en/community-partners/our-
community-partners/