A Decision-Making Model
Select one of the following scenarios and use the 7 steps of the General Decision-Making Model to work it out (see page 73 in the text). Please give a brief summary of your thought processes and or answers, as the step may require, for each of the 7 steps. Please put the Scenario name and number in the title of your post. This will allow all of us to know which Scenario you are writing about.
NOTE: choice is scenario #2: Report Drug Paraphernalia or Not?
Zachariah Jones is a professional (Human Services) worker in a child development program run by a Beach County voluntary social agency for children. The program has a liaison relationship with the local child protective services but is not part of the Department of Social Services. This morning, Zachariah was assigned to visit the home of Virginia Dabney to make an assessment of the situation: Virginia’s daughter, Beatrice, has not attended the early childhood program for three days, and phone calls made to the home were unanswered. This morning when he visited the home for discussions with Virginia, Zachariah observed what appeared to be illegal drug paraphernalia. Virginia showed no signs of being on drugs and it was unclear whether she uses drugs or not. It turned out that her daughter was sick with a virus, and the doctor she consulted told her to keep her daughter home until the illness cleared up.
Obviously, she was not neglecting her child. During his training period, Zachariah was told that if he is on a home visit and observes illegal drugs in the home, he is not to report the presence of the drugs to either legal authorities or child protective services because to do so would destroy any possible constructive relationship with the client and cost the agency reimbursement for its service.
Furthermore, the word would go out in the neighborhood and interfere with serving other families. The training personnel and his supervisor suggest that the relationship with the client takes priority over all else because the relationship is necessary for the good of the child. The problem Zachariah perceives, however, is that he knows the law demands that he report the paraphernalia.
What should Zachariah do to ensure the safety of Beatrice: Does he observe the letter of the law? Does he ignore the law for the sake of the therapeutic relationship? Does he face the consequences of the law?
Explain the impact/tradeoffs that the situation presents.
