Scenario Analysis
BSHS/407
Paula Krasstlet
The number of child abuse and neglect cases is steadily on the rise and as a professional working in this field, a service worker may have quite a time trying to distinguish the differences between the different types of abuse. We must also try in our understanding that in addition to this the fact that the laws may vary from state to state. In adding this to the mix of things can make that despite the effort in knowing the differences, the task has somewhat become even more so a tedious job. However, in the end it is rewarding to know that if we have a clear understanding that we can prevent yet another child from continuing to suffer from the abuse of any kind. It is also this understanding that makes our efforts just that much more satisfying.
Scenario One- Neglect or Bad Parenting
Situation 1: Howard is babysitting his eight-month-old daughter while his wife works nights. Howard is a smoker and has run out of cigarettes. He checks the baby, sees that she is sleeping, walks over to the neighborhood store, and buys a pack of cigarettes. Has Howard committed child neglect? In this case this can be an issue of both neglect and bad parenting, in seeing that the parent in this situation may have thought the neighborhood store was close enough to leave the child alone, it could have been proven a dangerous one. He failed in his decision to the fact in knowing that the child could have awakened at any moment. The thought of leaving her alone even for a short period could have proven fatal if there was the case of a fire or other emergency thus leaving the child’s safety coming into question while he was away. Howard could have chosen a better means of retrieving a pack of cigarettes and the fact that he decided to go himself this could classify as a sign of neglect in that he put the child in danger in leaving her alone. While it was a bad parenting decision that he made as he...