Protective Factors

This week I endured yet another mammogram that yielded the same results: spots that shouldn't be there. But WOW, look at all of the protective factors I have going on. I have parents who remain calm and collected (when I'm about to burst inside), I have friends who are always my prayer warriors, I have children that are sweet enough to pray for "mommies boobies" before our evening meal, and I have a husband that makes sure I have the health insurance. And I have a God that knows the master plan. There are also genetic protective factors (do genetics count as that?). No history of breast cancer seemed to make the surgeon feel better.

Even with all of these protective factors, I have utilized the assistance of a therapist. How could I, a middle class, everything going for me woman need help.? So lets look at the single parent, the uninsured, the mentally ill, the unemployed, those with unhealthy/dysfunctional relationships. How do they endure? Are those the ones who might abuse/neglect their children, look to self medicate, commit crimes, become abuse victims themselves? What will we as social workers be able to provide to them? What protective factor can we be for them? We can be their advocate, educator, counselor, and motivator.

Abuse and Brain Changes

Severe abuse and neglect in childhood, can sadly produce changes in the development of the brain. It is unlikely that these changes can be reversed. Nurturing a child is not an innate skill. But every time a mother, or primary caregiver, looks into the eyes of her infant, neurological connections are taking place. Brain development taking place in infancy through toddler hood is rapid and intense. When I was a young mother, I never fully realized the important connections that were being made. I frequently see parents who prop their babies bottle so that they may do other things. I am a multi-tasker, but this is precious time that makes a difference in the growth of little brains.

In 2000 McLean Hospital researchers identified four types of brain abnormalities linked to child abuse and neglect (http://www.mclean.harvard.edu/). "These changes are permanent," says Teicher. "This is not something people can just get over and get on with their lives." Another study by Harvard University concluded that the corpus callosum in abused and neglected children is smaller than normal in abused children. With a minimized ability for the two sides of the brain to communicate, shifts in mood and personality could be likely.

I went to a conference with Dr. Bruce Perry (visit his website if you get a chance: http://www.childtrauma.com/) and was enlightened in the ways that constant fear can bring about physiological and neurological changes. Many, if not most, can not be changed. A person does have the capability of learning how to manage their symptoms. The other day, I was reaching to get the salt from the kitchen table when my hand passed by my adopted son's face. He just about hit the floor. Even though he has been free from abuse for almost four years, there are automatic responses that he struggles to control to this day. There have been many corrective experiences to shape new responses, but it takes time. However, my son and our family have had the benefit of therapy to understand the resulting effects of abuse. I do not believe that many victims of abuse and neglect receive proper treatment. When that does not occur, individuals may look at self-medicating, engage in violent behavior, suffer from depression or entertain suicidal thoughts. If the time between the abuse/neglect and treatment is minumal, than the chances for brain recovery is greater. When looking at the life course perspective, it is important to recognize that there are neurologial causes for some behaviors.

Foster Homes

Oh...... where do I begin. A comment from Jaclyn really got me thinking. She asked why protective factors cannot be made up for in a foster home. I will attempt to answer that from my point of view. As J- mentioned, this is just a vicious cycle. These biological parents came from disfunction and know no other way. There are many reasons why these factors cannot be addressed in a foster home. First of all, these children bring with them all of the anger and chaos that they experienced in their family of origin. A "normal" (I use this term loosely) household will look nothing like the one they knew. So to make it make sense to them, they will work hard to change it to what they know. Foster children bring much chaos with them. If we assume that a foster home should provide protective factors, than we must assume some other things as well. We must assume that the foster parents have a strong support system, that their social workers are informative and knowledgable, and that they are themselves motivated to go to any lenghts for the children in their care, and that the agency will provide services to the children as they need them.

As much as I would like to dog the system, I would like to say how displeased I am with other foster parents. I know many foster parents who make their "foster children" eat at different times than the rest of the family, or they don't take the "foster kids" on family vacations. I am all about preserving the family unit, but give me a break. These kids don't have a chance. People often ask we who is my "real" child and who is not. My answer is "I just don't remember any more". Foster parents should identify themselves as "a Foster" (as my daughter always says), but these kids should just be "kids".

I want to pause for a moment to say that I was not always the model foster parent (just ask the social workers who had to deal with me). But I did and will continue to do what I believe is in the best interest of the children I care for.

I recently had a discussion with someone about creating a Foster Parent Code of Ethics. As I pondered ethics this week, I thought of all the different perspectives people have when it comes to helping abused and neglected children. There are religious opinions, financial gains, etc. There needs to be higher standards for the substitute care givers in the lives of these broken chidlren. When I got into fostering, I was clueless (that 10 week course doesn't prepare you for a thing. Its kindof like childbirth prep classes teaching you how to breath calmly through 23 hours of labor-yeah right!). I think one goal of good foster parenting is that as an abused and neglected child reaches adulthood, they will be able to look back and remember that one time that someone loved them and they knew what a family looked like. And the greatest hope, is that they will aspire to that themselves. That might just be the greatest protective factor of them all.

Young Adulthood Effected by Childhood Abuse and Neglect

I think the topic for this blog came rather naturally. I find myself feeling overwhelmed when I think about the statistical future for children who have a history of abuse and neglect. I am the adoptive mother of four children with these delightful futures ahead of them. And then I think about the foster children I have known through professional avenues. Will these children have the same future? Just a few minutes researching this topic can prove overwhelming when I think about all the children in foster care. All the children who can't get the services they need due to budget cuts, uninformed caseworkers, uneducated foster parents, biologicals who can't improve. And what do these children deserve???? A greater risk of being addicts, convicts or abusers. The perverbial cards are stacked against them.

As the brain continues to develop into adulthood, individuals are left with the issues from many years past. I know that I have put many protective factors into place for my children who have suffered abuse and neglect. But I will not know if it is enough until it might be too late. As a social worker, will I be able to educate, inspire, advocate, counsel enough to effect the statistical data for my clients. Will the protective factors be enough?

Young adulthood can be a trying time for anyone. I wasn't abused or neglected, but this time of coming into one's own can prove more difficult than expected. The newfound independence may be difficult to moderate. My hope is that through this blogging experience, I can come to terms with the difficulties that may lie ahead for my clients, and my children, and determine the best way for me as a social worker, and a mom, to help them through it.