Brian had cut off all
communication from Pam and he has stopped paying his child support. After being
divorced for 16 months, he is not helping to support his daughter Michelle. Pam
is fed up and after trying to reach Brian to get him to pay his child support.
After refusing to pay for several months, Pam decides that she is going to take
Brian to court because she is unable to pay for all of Michelle’s needs on her
own while living off a pay check from working at a diner. Since Brian has
showed up intoxicated before, Pam does not want him coming to see Michelle
under any circumstances because she does not trust him.
Pam is aware of the severity of
the financial struggle and she decides to look into taking the GED test. She
practiced with online tests and then she decided that she was prepared to take
the exam. She found a location near her, and Margaret the Grandmother decides
to watch Michelle the day of the test. Pam explains the situation to her boss
who lets her have the day off since it is a 7 hour test. Later that month, Pam
found out that she passed the test. Pam is thrilled, and is very proud of
herself, boosting her self-confidence. Every day when she comes home from
working at the diner, she researchers job and applies to all the jobs that are near
since she can’t really afford gas and she lives in a rural town (GED, 2004). Because
Michelle requires a lot of attention when Pam gets home from work, Pam has been
slipping up on the job search because she can’t find time to do it, nor does
she really know how to search for jobs, how to fill out applications, or how to
prepare for an interview. However, since Pam has been going to a single mom of
disabilities support group, she has found more positive coping strategies of
how to handle a child with a disability (Berry, 1998).
Michelle has begun babbling
more but most of her speech doesn’t consist of words. Unlike a typical three
year old, although Michelle is able to respond to her name now, she is unable
to create simple four word phrases, and ask simple questions. Michelle’s speech
delay is due to Down syndrome but Pam also has her suspicions that it may be
due to her inability to hear. Because of previous
lack of medical attention for her throat and ear infections, this has led to
severe damage to her hearing. Michelle has learned to say “mama” and “no”, but
she is unable to create other words. This is because she has yet learned the
ability to imitate an echo sounds, turn taking skills, visual skills, auditory
skills, tactile skills, oral motor skills, and cognitive skills (NDSS, 2014).
Pam tries to get Michelle
involved in early intervention, meaning a systematic program of therapy,
exercises and activities designed to address developmental delays that may be
experienced by children with disabilities. Michelle was able to get these
services because she is authorized under the federal law called the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This law obligates states to provide
early intervention services for all children who qualify, with the end goal of
improving the development of infants and toddlers and helping families
comprehend and meet the needs of their children. She was able to get a referral
from Michelle’s doctor. Once the referral was made, the program staff scheduled
and completed an evaluation within a specialized time and a case worker named
Laura was assigned to coordinate the various services that Michelle needs. She
decided to enroll her in speech therapy, and occupational therapy, and has set
up a plan for her to have regular doctor and dental visits to prevent her
health from declining (NDSS, 2014). The services that aren’t covered under IDEA
are being covered under the Children Health Insurance Program. Michelle qualifies because her family’s income is less
than $47,700/year (for a family of four). CHIP coverage also includes
eligibility, benefits, premiums and cost-sharing, and application and renewal
procedures. Some others services include regular check-ups, immunizations,
hospital care, dental care, and lab and x-ray services. Children get free
preventive care, but low premiums and other cost-sharing may be required for
other services (Medicaid, 2014).
Grandma Margaret is still in a
state of depression from being beaten 35 years ago by her husband. She just
sits in the house all day and does not even cook and clean anymore, putting
even more responsibility on Pam. Pam is already has enough stuff on her plate
and cannot handle living there anymore. Pam consults the Salvation Army which rental assistance to single
mothers and their children. Although she has now found an alternative place to
live, she does not have the time to move out, and she does not have anyone to
look after Michelle (Rental Insurance, 2014).
Questions:
1)
What places would you recommend that could
assist with career planning and preparation?
2)
Who or what service could look after Michelle
while Pam is at work?
3)
Does Pam have the responsibility of looking
after her Mother , Margaret, or getting help for her Mother since she is in a
bad state of depression?
Decision Point: Does Brian get
charged with not paying Child Support? If so, in North Carolina, what would the
consequences be?
References
What is Medicaid?. (2014). U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services.
Retrieved from http://www.insurekidsnow.gov/medicaid/index.html
Berry, J. O. (1998). Families as Systems. Lifespan perspectives on the family
and disability. Boston: pro-Ed, INC.
Early Intervention. (2014). -
National Down Syndrome Society. Retrieved from http://www.ndss.org/Resources/Therapies-Development/Early-Intervention/
General Education
Development. (2004). Center for
Execptional Educatoin. Retrieved , from http://www.cee.ac.ae/programs/ged.php
Rental
assistance for single mothers and parents. (2014). http://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/rental_assistance_for_single_m.html
Three to Four Years. (2014). American
Speech-Language Hearing Association. Retrieved from
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/34.htm
What is Medicaid?. (2014). U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services.
Retrieved from http://www.insurekidsnow.gov/medicaid/index.html
1) What places would you recommend that could assist with career planning and preparation?
ReplyDeleteThere are many different places Pam can go to in order to figure out what she wants to do with her life. There are different websites that you can go onto which helps you choose the right career path for you, in addition to showing you which jobs you would be the most successful in. A popular test that people take as a first step to planning their future and career is by taking the Myers-Brigg Type Indicator which is a personality inventory that shows you which careers would match well with your personality (McKay, 2013). Another way that Pam could get assistance with finding a job is going to a career counselor or planner. There are many locations around the world that have these counselors who are there for you and to help you find the right job. All Pam has to do is go online and look at nearby career planners and then set up an appointment. Again, their job is to help people find a job that they would love. There are a lot of companies out there that are there for you and want to help, you just have to put in the effort when asking for help and they will assist you.
2) Who or what service could look after Michelle while Pam is at work?
There are many programs out there that Pam could use to help take care of Michelle while she had to work. Having a child with Down syndrome gives Pam more opportunities to seek help at almost no cost due to the different Acts that have been passed in the United States. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal law, enacted in 1990, that provides child care professionals with an exciting opportunity to serve children with special needs or disabilities. The law guarantees that children with disabilities cannot be excluded from “public accommodations” simply because of a disability (ADA, 2009). Since Michelle is registered and is qualified to receive the services of these companies who only specialize in working as a caregiver for people with disabilities, Pam should look into these services and reap to her benefit.
3) Does Pam have the responsibility of looking after her Mother , Margaret, or getting help for her Mother since she is in a bad state of depression?
Pam definitely does not have the responsibility to look after her mother, Margaret. Pam has a child with Down syndrome and possibly a problem hearing, therefore she has enough on her plate. Yes, Margaret is Pam’s mom and you should always do what you can to make sure your family is taken care of, but Pam needs to put her daughter first. There are many places where Margaret could go for help or to talk to someone about her problems. A popular place to go see a psychologist is The Women’s Center. The Women's Center provides easy access to highly trained professionals and therapists, and ensures a high level of counseling and care to different communities and at affordable price. (Women’s Center, 2012). Pam could suggest to her mother that she look into talking to someone that could really help with her depression and past that has scarred her for life. Once she gets the appropriate care and help, her psychiatrist could give Margaret the necessary medication to help her cope with her depression.
Decision Point: Does Brian get charged with not paying Child Support? If so, in North Carolina, what would the consequences be?
ReplyDeleteSince Bryan decided to stop paying child support for Michelle, Pam is doing the right thing by taking him to court since she doesn’t have a lot of money either to be spending on all of Michelle’s medical bills and other expenses. Below are several things that a court in North Carolina can do to enforce a child support order but other ways may be available as well (womenslaw.org, 2008). The judge can do one or more of the following:
1. order the paying parent to post a bond (leave a sum of money with the clerk of superior court) that could be given to the parent receiving child support if the support isn't paid;
2. order the paying parent to have his/her employer deduct the money from his/her wages, income or salary and have it sent directly to the parent receiving child support. This is known as an “assignment of wages” or "income withholding;"
3. order the paying parent to give to the parent receiving support certain personal property and/or land/real estate;
4. have the paying parent arrested and be required to post bail in an amount set by the judge;
5. "attach" the paying parent’s assets, which basically means that the parent receiving support becomes a creditor and gets a lien against the paying parent’s assets. The parent can enforce the lien just as any creditor could. (A lien is a legal claim upon the property of another person to secure the payment of a debt). Note: The child can also become a creditor against the paying parent if the parent fraudulently gives away property or assets in order to hide them from being used to pay off his/her child support arrears;
6. issue an injunction to order the paying parent to do something or to not do something. For example, the paying parent may be ordered not to sell certain property or remove money from bank accounts, etc.;
7. appoint a "receiver," which is a person the judge chooses to control the paying parent’s money and property and see that the support is paid;
8. hold the paying parent in civil contempt for failing to make payments (if you file a petition for contempt) and the judge can sentence the parent to the punishments available for criminal contempt,* which is a fine of up to $500, imprisonment up to 30 days (or up to 120 days if the sentence is suspended as long as the parent pays), or both;** and/or
9. suspend the paying parent’s license(s) after s/he becomes one month behind in support.***
• Our Services. (2010, August 8). Our Services. Retrieved June 25, 2014, from http://www.thewomenscenter.org/content.asp?contentid=59
• McKay, D. (2012, February 3). How to Get Professional Career Help. About.com Career Planning. Retrieved June 25, 2014, from http://careerplanning.about.com/od/careerchoicechan/a/career_couns.htm
• Hope, T. (2009, March 6). Child Care and the Americans with Disabilities Act . . Retrieved June 25, 2014, from http://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/articles/child.care.pdf
Get Rent Assistance for Single Moms
ReplyDeleteThere are various options available for single mothers who need rent assistance. The first option is the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, a federal initiative that provides financial assistance to low-income families. Single mothers can also apply for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which offers financial aid to families with dependent children. Non-profit organizations such as Catholic Charities, The Salvation Army, and United Way also offer rent assistance for single moms in need. Additionally, some cities and counties provide rent assistance programs for low-income families, including single mothers. With these options, single mothers can find the support they need to afford safe and decent housing.