I just need a genogram and ecomap for this family based on this one case study, no specific rules, due TONIGHT.
Case study: Reason for referral:
The Johnson Family
The department recently started a new program to work with families dealing with substance abuse. This program aims to work with families in which substance abuse is the primary problem. The Johnson’s have voluntarily agreed to work with the program as an alternative to having their children removed from the home. They have been arrested for possession of cocaine and domestic violence. They asked the judge to give them a chance to keep their family together. The judge placed both parents on probation, contingent upon getting drug treatment, marital counseling for domestic violence, and working with your program. If they fail to comply with treatment and complete their substance abuse program, they will go to jail and possibly lose their children. You will meet them on Friday. They have completed one week of treatment.
Family Composition
The Johnson family consists of Brad (Caucasian), age 32, and Melissa (Caucasian), age 30. They have two sons, Michael, age 12, and Nicholas, age 10. The paternal grandmother, Leslie Johnson, is involved with the family but does not live with them.
Current Situation
Since they started dating in high school, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, and using cocaine. About six months ago, Mrs. Johnson went out with a few friends after getting into a big fight with Brad and experimented with crack cocaine and found she liked it. About two months ago, Mr. Johnson found out that she was using crack, and he was very angry. As a result, they stopped using substances together. He has asked her to stop using drugs altogether. She refuses to stop, and Mr. Johnson feels their marriage is in trouble. He states that she cannot handle crack because he has come home on two occasions and found their two children hiding in their bedroom, scared of mom acting “weird.” He has asked her to get some help or leave the house. Mr. Johnson stated that he came home one evening and found Mrs. Johnson doing drugs in front of the children. He said that he was so angry that they started to fight. Their oldest son, Michael, age 12, took his brother, Nicholas, age 10, and ran across the street to a neighbor’s house. The neighbor called their paternal grandmother, who lives only a block away; she came and picked up the children and then called the police.
The police took both parents to jail. At their bond hearing, the judge told them to either go to treatment and try and get their family back together or go to jail. They agreed to go to treatment. Mr. Johnson called his mother, and she agreed to keep the children while they are in treatment. No one knows how long they might have to stay in treatment, and Leslie is unsure how long she can manage taking care of the boys. During the intake interview, the counselor advised them that she would have to make a referral to DCF. They are furious because they do not want anyone to know about their family problems. They fear losing their jobs and everything they have worked so hard for.
Family Background
The Johnson family is a middle-class family living in a working-class neighborhood. Their annual income is about $100,000 a year. Brad and Melissa’s parents never graduated high school and worked in blue-collar roles. Brad and Melissa acknowledge they had a hard time growing up, with their basic needs barely being met and fathers who were abusive alcoholics. They met in high school and started dating when Melissa was a sophomore and Brad was a junior. They connected with each other partially because of their similar backgrounds and began using drugs and alcohol to help cope with the pain they experienced growing up. Melissa got pregnant with Michael when she was a senior and had the baby shortly after graduating. Brad had started at a community college but dropped out to find a job to support Melissa and their baby. They got married one year after Michael was born.
Brad Johnson
Mr. Johnson is employed as a computer programmer. While he never graduated college, he was always good with computers and learned enough programming languages to get low-level programming jobs. Brad has been with his current company for two years and is frustrated because he feels he can’t advance without a college degree. He smokes marijuana regularly to ease his anxiety but doesn’t feel he’s addicted. He uses cocaine when out with his friends. He does not see himself as an addict but says that he often wishes he could stop using drugs because he knows it is not good and is not setting a good example for his children. He has a good reputation at his job and does not want anyone to know what is going on. However, he only has two weeks vacation, and everyone at his work thinks he is on vacation. He does not know what he will do about the next two weeks or if he will have to leave treatment. He does not want to leave because he does not want to lose his children or go to jail.
Melissa Johnson
Mrs. Johnson works as a teacher’s assistant at a local elementary school. Having Michael when she was 18 was very difficult for her. She had plans to go to college to become a teacher, but couldn’t once she had the baby. Melissa had post-partum depression after both children were born and had difficulty connecting with them. Melissa felt frequently overwhelmed and struggled to soothe them when they were upset.
She has used drugs with her husband socially since high school. However, in the last six months, she has tried crack occasionally and finds that she likes it. Mr. Johnson is upset, as he thinks she is addicted. She disagrees, and this is causing marital problems. She states that it is not affecting her job yet, but she is in charge of the “say no to drugs” program at school. She feels guilty for using but thinks she can stop any time she wants. She is very emotionally upset, as she cannot believe that she and Mr. Johnson had a fight and that their children saw it. She has called her school and asked to take two weeks of sick leave. Melissa must bring a doctor’s note to the principal when she returns. She does not know what to do, and she fears that if the school board finds out, they will fire her. She is disappointed in herself, as she feels many kids look up to her in the school because of the “say no to drugs” program.
Michael
Michael is 12 years old and is a very intelligent child. He attends the same school where his mother works. Michael is an A student and is well liked by his teachers and other students. His teacher has recently noticed a change in her behavior and is wondering what is wrong with him. Michael wants to tell his teacher what he saw at home and that his parents are in a drug program, but he is afraid to say anything, as his grandmother told him not to say anything to anyone because her family will be in trouble. Michael is becoming very sad because of his home life. He does not play with his friends at school and is becoming more withdrawn every day. He has a best friend and thinks he can share the secret with him, but is too afraid.
Nicholas
Nicholas is ten years old and usually very friendly. However, lately, he is often agitated and frequently breaks classroom rules. He used to laugh all the time. He attends private school because his parents thought he might need more attention. Nicholas seems to have some learning difficulties and regularly gets in trouble with school staff. He does not know specifically what is going on in the family. Nicholas plays on a baseball team and has a close relationship with his coach. He’s been getting very down on himself when he doesn’t play well and has started to tell his grandmother that he doesn’t want to play anymore. After observing the domestic dispute between his parents, Nicholas has become more withdrawn and sad. He is close to his father, but now, he does not want to talk to him or show him any affection.
Extended Family
Leslie Johnson is the paternal grandmother with whom the children are currently staying. She is a widow and has guilt about how her husband treated her and Brad through the years. Leslie describes herself as a Christian woman and is totally against any kind of “wrong-doings.” She often comments to her son about how drugs are ruining the country and that she is so glad that she and her children never used drugs. She lives on her own in a small senior citizen’s apartment complex nearby. She often babysits the boys when the parents have to go out. However, she cannot keep the boys for too long because of the rules of the building – only the person whose name is on the lease can live in the apartment. Others can come to visit, but not for more than thirty days. She loves her son and his family and is very upset, as she was not aware that they were using drugs. She is always bragging to her friends and about how successful they are. Her grandchildren love her very much.
Helen and John Grant are the maternal grandparents. They live in a city nearby that is approximately three hours drive from the Johnson’s. They have four children, two older boys and a daughter younger than Melissa. Mr. Grant still struggles with alcohol and has a distant relationship with Brad and Melissa, and Melissa tries to limit how much her parents see Michael and Nicholas.
