Reference no: EM133910369

Assignment:

Reflecting on the family vignette below, reflect on each family member and the challenge/stressor you might see if you were a HMSV provider working with this person individually.

In a bustling urban neighborhood, the Ramirez family resides in a small brownstone apartment. Consisting of grandparents, parents, and children, the Ramirez family lives intergenerationally.

The matriarch is Maria, a retired schoolteacher from Puerto Rico, exudes warmth and wisdom. Her husband Miguel, a first-generation immigrant from Mexico, works as a chef in a nearby restaurant, infusing their home with the aroma of his culinary creations.

Their daughter, Ana, is a Certified Nursing Assistant, juggling long shifts at the hospital with caring for her two young children, Sofia and Diego. Her boyfriend James also lives with them, and works as much as he can (gig work being the only employment he could secure during this past year).

One day, Miguel injures his back at work, leaving him unable to cook or contribute financially to the household. As the primary breadwinner, Miguel's injury creates a ripple effect throughout the family system.

Ana, already stretched thin with her responsibilities, feels overwhelmed by the added pressure of caring for her father while managing her own family and work obligations. James steps up to help with household chores and childcare, but his gig work opportunities suffer due to the increased demands at home.

Meanwhile, Maria, who relies on Miguel's support for her own health issues, experiences heightened anxiety about the uncertainty of their financial situation. Sofia and Diego, sensing the tension in the household, become more clingy and anxious themselves.

Now looking at the whole family through the systems perspective:

1. Reflect on how looking at this family's stressors through a systems perspective expands your understanding. Did you have any reactions or insights as you zoomed out from an individual lens to a systems one?

2. How do you see the bidirectional influence play out in this family?

3. What do you see as the advantages of conceptualizing or intervening at the family level as opposed to the individual level alone?