Vulnerable Client Population Report, Research Paper Example

Outline

Introduction

• Definition and Scope
• Key Characteristics

Background

• Origin and History
• Current Needs
• Available Services

Conclusion

• Future Needs of the Population
• Skills and qualities required by Social Service Worker
• Personal views

Abstract

Vulnerable client populations emerge from social structure dysfunctions whereby subsets of the population are put at risk when there are inadequate mechanisms to address the growing survival demands. This can occur if the population is considered insignificant when social administration is designing polices or bypassed merely from the premise of prejudice. In discussion embraces an analysis of teenage mothers as a vulnerable client population with respect to key characteristics; origin and history; current needs; available services; future needs of the population; skills and qualities required by Social Service Worker in addressing these needs as well as my personal views on ther issue of teenage parenting.

Definition and Scope

In defining teenage parents inevitably concepts related to teenage pregnancy, teenage fathers and mothers as well as teenage parenting are taken into account. As such, the concept teenage parent is perceived from the premise women being under the age of 20 becoming pregnant and deliver their babies before their 20^th birth date and the fathers of these children who are also teenagers.

However, research has shown that while, there are statistics revealing the number of teenage pregnancies with the potential for teenager parenting among women; figures showing male teenage parents have been limited. These factors create the vulnerability of this group since it is highly likely that children born from these sexual encounters could be raised by a single parent (Fagan, 2003).

Key Characteristics

Research has shown where in England 50% of teenage mothers were 19 years old and 6% 16 or under. In United States of America where there has been a significant decline in teenage parents over the past decade the predominant age range has been 16-19. Predisposing factors are culture and inadequate sexual education. This has caught my interest because studies have associated teenage parenting in developed countries with the key characteristic sequel of poverty; poor parenting skills, increase in high school drop-out rates; likelihood of relying on public assistance and children being raised in a difficulty socio- economic environment by single parents. Incidences in developing countries are fewer and far less stigmatized (Hoffman & Maynard, 2008).

Background

Origin and History

According to the encyclopedia of Social Work, in 1976 the first estimates related to teenage pregnancy/parenting were revealed in 1990. United States of America figures showed that there were 116.3 pregnancies per1, 000 teens indicating 11.6 % of teens 15-19 years old gave birth to live children who had to be parented. By 2002 it declined to 76.4 per 1,000 teens indicating 7.6% of females 15-19 became parents. Further reports have been that while there is a consistent decline of first pregnancies in United States of America the repeat rates have remained stabled. This means that teenagers are parenting more than one child within the household (Encyclopedia of Social Work, 2010).

However, in developing nations such as India, Indonesia, Pakistan and certain Caribbean territories teenage parenting is part of their cultural orientation. As girls reach menarche they are encouraged to marry and begin a family. In developed counties such as United States, Canada and United Kingdom stigmatization is related to teenage pregnancy and parenting to the extent that it is illegal for a male to have sexual intercourse with a female below the age of 16 (Hoffman & Maynard, 2008).

Society has tried to control teenage parenting through limiting teenage pregnancies. Massive sex education in schools as well as distribution of contraceptives has been conducted. Organizations such as Planned Parenthood have been effective in channeling services for contraceptives and foster parenting. Other interest groups have contributed education on abstinence or values pertaining to waiting until marriage to engage in sexual intercourse. This ensures that there would be a more stabled family relationship for more effective parenting to occur.

Current Needs

Therefore, the non-acceptance of teenage pregnancies in United States of America has created a social issue regarding this phenomenon. Nonetheless, this country continues to have the highest teenage parent rate among industrialized nations in the world. As such, over the years numerous problems are being encountered by this vulnerable group. Teenage age parents often emerge as young girls who are still at home with their parents; at school or just out of school.

On many occasions fathers contribute nothing or very little to the parenting process. They are not employable and in situations where they are only a minimum wage jobs are often available to them due to limited educational qualifications. In some instances they are even turned away from their parental homes and have to struggle in homeless shelters either during pregnancy or after delivery. Another potential danger without a job and home is that they may be forced to give up their parenting opportunity to the state or foster parents.

Available Services

One available service for teen parenting is the UCAN teen parenting network. This network caters specifically towards pregnant teens and teen who have become parents. These teens have to be under supervision of the Department of Children and Families (DCF). They provide alternative therapy; Clinical Consulting; Clinical Therapy; Educational Mentoring & Support; Family Support; Location Monitoring; Therapeutic Monitoring; Parenting and Recreational Groups and Real Talk Self-esteem Workshops are among the vast interventions of this program (UCAN, 2013).

Department of Human Services in many states across the county administers teen parent programs under the Bureau of Child and Adolescent Health. To qualify for these services teens had to have not competed high school; be receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

Conclusion

Future needs of the population include opportunities to go back to school or further education; adequate day care facility programs inclusive of financing and continuing parenting educational skills. Skills and qualities required by Social Service Worker is empathy regarding the plight of teenage parenting. In some cases it is the teen’s disobedience of appropriate parental guidance. In another case socio-economic factors may lead to this dilemma and again the social environment could be a predisposing factor beyond the control of the adolescent. Regardless the prevailing circumstances the social worker should be articulating the identifying the predisposing element and plan for a smooth resolution of the issue be it safety of the adolescent or counseling in behavior modification.

My personal views are that while society cannot inhibit the sexual drives of adolescents introducing contraceptives before teaching the establishment of stable relationships could be introducing another social issue. Sexually transmitted diseases are highest among adolescents who engage in unprotected sex with several partners. Pregnancy is a sign that this is happening. Therefore, more than merely making more contraceptive available to this vulnerable population ought to be embvraced.

 References

Encyclopedia of Social Work (2010) (20th Edition). NASW. Oxford Press.

Fagan, J. Barnett, M. Bernd, E., & Whiteman, V. (2003). Prenatal involvement of adolescent unmarried fathers. Fathering 1 (3), 283.

Hoffman, D., & Maynard, R. (Eds.). (2008). Kids having kids: Economic costs and social consequences of teen pregnancy (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: Urban Institute Press.

UCAN (2013). Teen Parenting Services Network. Retrieved on 25^th March, 2013 from http://www.ucanchicago.org/tpsn/