April 2: Arnold's Case

Please read the following case vingette (borrowed from http://cssr.berkeley.edu/pdfs/vignettes.pdf) and answer the questions below.

Arnold is an eight-year-old boy who has lived with his grandmother since birth in a low-income, urban
neighborhood. He is physically small and shows signs of cognitive delay. While Arnold frequently talks
on the phone with his mother, he has not seen her in two years. Arnold believes that he will never live
with his mother because “she won’t be out of prison until I am 21.” Arnold has met his father once, but
does not have any contact with him. While Arnold does not live with his biological siblings, he sees them
regularly and appears to have positive relationships with them.

Arnold has known about and witnessed considerable violence over the course of his life. When he was
younger, his mother shot herself in the leg with a handgun. His fourteen-year old cousin was recently
killed. He sees relatives take drugs on a regular basis. He reported that he feels unsafe at school because
children often make fun of him and occasionally beat him up. Finally, Arnold reported a high level of
exposure to drug deals and violence in his immediate neighborhood.

Arnold reported feeling happy “almost all of the time” with his grandmother. He feels safest in his
grandmother’s home and doesn’t generally go outside. He is glad that his grandmother always knows
where he is and never leaves him alone. He told us that his grandmother “respects me, buys me clothes,
cooks for me, takes care of me when I am sick, plays games with me, helps me with my homework, and
lets me sharpen my own pencils.” He likes having his own room with his own television, home video
game system, toys, and games. He is also proud of the awards that his grandmother has displayed around
the house to remind the family of Arnold’s school achievements. Arnold identified a couple of things that
he doesn’t like about living with his grandmother: the roaches (in the kitchen and top drawer of his
bedroom dresser) and the strong smell of cigarettes.

1. What are the positive aspects of Arnold’s experience in out-of-home care? 

2. What are your concerns? 

3. How would you address your concerns?