The French Connection

i. [Fake] Names, Family Composition, Language

Ava K. Family of 3. From Mali. Language of communication with volunteer: French

ii. Case Concerns/Presenting Issues

* Needed someone to accompany her to NYCHA (New York City Housing Agency) to help her speak with the case worker in charge of her public housing application, whom she had had trouble communicating with in the past.
* Job training/ Placement

iii. Medical Info

1. What brings them to the clinic?

medical checkup for her newborn child

2. How does their present living/family situation affecting their health?

family lives in a basement 1 bedroom apartment, had to move temporarily to her brother in law's after the child's birth because of sanitation issues, but have now moved back in because they do not want to burden her brother any longer.

iv. Social/Work history

Does not have a valid visa (overstayed her tourist visa). Has applied for a working permit, will have a hearing in mid-December. Until then, is barred from many job-training programs and job offers.

vi. Story

I accompanied my client to NYCHA, where we lined up for two and a half hours before being called. Despite the fact that my client had brought all the various documents she was asked to bring, the case worker was still unwilling to approve her application, allegating that a document was still missing. After a frustrating discussion with the case worker, I asked to speak with the supervisor, who declared that all was in order, and told the case worker the application. My client is currently waiting for an answer on whether or not her request for public housing has been granted.

My client has also enrolled in a free home attendant training program, which will be starting in January. This program takes place in the afternoon, which allows her to continue attending her morning ESL classes.

v. Action Plan

Continue calling the client regularly to see progress on her housing application. Call her in January to remind her of the start of the home attendant training program. In the meanwhile, look for temporary, part-time jobs for my client (client is undocumented)

--Anna Law, BC '10

A Bronx Tale

Family Composition:

Ms. Jones* is a 67 year old female who lives with her 21 year old son, Billy Roberts*, and her four grandchildren. The granddaughters’ ages are 16 and 8 and the grandsons’ ages are 6 and 1. All family members speak English and are American citizens. All six family members live in an apartment together.

Case Concerns:

Main concern is finding enough food. Second concern is finding employment.

Medical Information:

All family members are healthy and have no chronic illnesses or health problems that affect work. The son, Billy, does have an anger management problem, but is working to control the issue. She is in the clinic for an annual check-up for a grandchild.

Action Plan:

In order to get food immediately, Ms. Jones was going to go to some local food pantries and get food for the next week. While waiting for the doctor’s appointment, she filled out a food stamp application and she was going to go to apply sometime within the week. She was also sent a job resource sheet and she was going to go to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau: Bronx Works to see if they could assist her in her employment search. A follow-up call revealed that the food stamp application process had been slowed, but she was put in touch with a man who could interview for food stamps over the phone. She was then unable to show up for a scheduled meeting for food stamps. Further steps will be taken to reschedule the meeting.

Social/Work History:

Ms. Jones has had some college education as well as many jobs in various fields such as secretarial work and care giving. However, now she is the primary caregiver for her grandchildren. Although she is healthy, she does get tired because she “running around” for her grandchildren. The living situation is suitable and Ms. Jones does not have a problem with their apartment. Ms. Jones desperately wants to obtain a job and hopes to do so in an area in which she has experience.

Story:

Ms. Jones and her son live with four children. They are both unemployed and they are not able to afford enough food to adequately feed everyone in the household. As the month goes on, the finances get tighter and food gets scarcer. Because both Ms. Jones and her son are unemployed, there is no steady income for the family. She is willing to travel for her job and/or receive specialized training. Her son is also willing to do the same in order to find a job. The first guardian to gain employment would keep his or her job and the one remaining unemployed would provide care for the children of the home. The main issue is the one concerning food. Ms. Jones was able to get food from food pantries and the food stamp application is still pending. The job application is still pending, but she has been put in contact with various resources. When Ms. Jones was last contacted, she was having trouble obtaining specific medical records for her grandson. She was helped with that and has since been out of contact. However, when further contact is established, a follow up on all issues will be made.

--Kathryn McCaleb, CC '11