In this paper, the Justice Practice framework as developed by Finn and Jacobson (2003, 2008) will be used to analyze a client situation as well as plan for the future session to help her through the change process. Just practice concept/framework is based on five key themes which include meaning, context, power, history and possibility. These themes will be used to structure this paper.
Meaning
How do people give meaning to the experience they encounter in life? Well, people are different and have different experiences in life. Therefore, every individual sees or interpret things they encounter, hear or experiences in their life in their own unique way. As pointed out Finn and Jacobson (2008), the interpretive process and the subjective nature of our understanding of the social world determine the meaning we give to our experience. Factors such as culture, race, sexual orientation, gender and class also impact on the meaning we give to experience. The things my client, Alexia, has previously encounter into her life have shaped the way she views the world and also influence the way she is treated within it. She actually finding meaning in her past bad memories including being taken aware from her biological mother and oppression by a social worker
Context
In what contexts did the experience occur?
According to Finn and Jacobson (2008), contexts are the background and set of conditions that surround and influence an occurrence. Taking time to look at the contexts in which an occurrence or event took place is crucial for social worker as it help look beyond the obvious hence being able to unearth issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. In my client case, there are some contexts which has surrounded and influenced her experience. During her early age, social-political context surrounded and influenced her first experience which affects her to date. She was actually taken away from her biological mother into a foster care and later adoption. As a result, her sense of belonging has been irregular and weak. She grew in the absences of her biological mother meaning she did not have a good role model in her life. The lack of good role model has made result to her making decision that has made her the woman she is today. She is a single mother, living on a minimum wage. This social political context has created anxiety and depression which are cyclical and at one time had led her to alcoholism.
Power
In the basic term, power refers to the ability to influences behavior of others. According to Finn and Jacobson (2008) within social work context, there are different forms of powers that determine the behavior of individual and shape their life. These are power over, power with, Power from within and power to do. In my client case, she is experiencing ‘Power Over’ her from various source both internally and externally. Internally, she experiences power over her from substance abuse. When confronted by a difficult situation, she in some case indulges into drinking/alcoholism and as result she lost control over her life. Equally, she also experiences power over her from external system including child protection system and school system. For Instance, she feels powerless against child protection and as such she is afraid that like it happened to her before, social worker may take her daughter away.
History
Everybody has his and her own history which shapes their current life. As stated by Finn and Jacobson (2003), paying attention to client’s history is crucial as it help to examine structural, practices and assumptions that has shaped their current circumstances. However, as Finn and Jacobson (2003) put it, the fact of history never comes to us in its pure form. It is always refracted in the mind of recorder. After listen to Alexia, her history is full of neglect, abuse, oppression and poverty. However, I have only listened to her history over the phone and such the facts are likely to be refracted by her mind. Therefore, before I practice good social work, I will have to explore possible recurring family problems and the influence they have on the client. By doing so I would in a better position to engage the client in proper ways in the change process.
Possibility
How does understanding client history help us claim a sense of possibility in the practice of social work justice? As Finn and Jacobson (2003) states, a sense of possibility helps us look at what have been previous done, what can be done and what exists. In other word, a sense of possibility involves reflecting on the past and looking for way in which someone can make something out of themselves other than what history has made them. Unfortunately, Alexia is not aware of any possibilities out there that can make her someone else other than what her history make her. As her social worker, it would therefore be important for me to give have possibilities of a better future. However, pursuing those possibilities are not always easy due to constraints. As her social worker it would therefore be upon me to empower her as much as I can so that she can stand firmly on her feet and pursue those possibilities.
Reflection
Engagement
In social work practice, the social worker and the client must engage at one point. As defined by Finn and Jacobson (2008) engagement is the process in which the social worker enters into the world of client. It involves the process of listening, speaking, interpreting and connecting to the client. Although engagement for the first time is not always smooth and easy, it is crucial for social worker to have the ability to engage the client from the beginning because the opportunity to do so is always limited. For instance, In Alexia case, she actually made initial contact with agency because she was not sure on how to support her daughter who was sexually harassed. However, she was very reluctant to engage with social workers due to the fear that her daughter might be taken away from her just as she was taken away from her biological. There was therefore a very small opportunity to engage her and establish trust between the two of us. I personally have never experience what Alexia had experienced. I can only assume it. However, in order to establish trust, I did let her know that despite my differing positionalities, I will not let my assumption judge her and I will be respecting the differences throughout our engagement. This assurance made Alexia agrees to engage with me physically in our next session and when that time comes, I will actually not let my assumption judge her and I will respect our differences throughout.
Teaching /learning
As Finn and Jacobson (2008) suggest, a social worker must assume the role of teacher as well as that of learner. Unfortunately, in the first session which was conducted through over the phone. I feel like I played the role of a teacher only. I was obsessed in not only establishing trust between me and Alexia but I was also in passing knowledge and skills to her. In our future engagement, I will try to be leaner as well. As Finn and Jacobson (2008) suggest, assuming the role of learner help open ourselves to alternative explanation of action or circumstance.
Action and Accompaniment
When an individual is oppressed and betrayed, they feel ashamed and develop low self-esteem (Finn and Jacobson 2008). This is exactly what Alexia is feeling given all she had gone through the past. She is at the lowest point of her life. Although, I was able to establish trust between me and her in our phone conversation, I was not able to make her see that a recovery process is achievable. In the next section, it will be crucial for me to let her see that her state of affairs is changeable and better life is achievable. Finn and Jacobson (2008) suggest that this can be done by helping the client reducing self-blame, developing critical conscious, taking a leading role in the change process and enhance self-efficacy.
Evaluation/critical reflection/celebrate
Acknowledging client’s past as well as celebrating their strength is very crucial in social work. In first session I did let Alexia know that I acknowledge her past. I was also celebrating her abilities and effort to raise her daughter and be a good role model to her. As finn and Jacobson (2008) state celebrating event little accomplishment help empower the clients. So, in our future session, I will continue to acknowledge and celebrate Alexia strength as a woman in an effort to empower her