1. Informational Interview Jose Sanchez Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)

2. Services Organization Offered: DCFS social workers are contacted when a child's health or safety is at risk. DCFS social workers develops a plan to reduce the risk and improve the skills of the parent. As a social worker, managing a the case of the client is needed, which usually refers the client to services of: Drug and Alcohol Classes Mental Examination Parenting Classes Domestic Violence Anger Management Family Preservation Classes (FPS) Intensive Family Preservation Classes (IFPS)

3. Duties: “My number one priority is to make sure the child's safety is not in harm with the parent/guardian/foster parent.” “One major duty is managing case's, making sure the client is in compliance of the service plan they have.” Home visit's take place to observe the environment of the child, to make sure they are safe. Documentation while observing a client either in home setting or in the office, usually takes place 99% of the time, to make sure you have enough information needed for a case, to fulfill the service plan to the best extent.

4. Typical Day: “Phone calls, both incoming and out coming is what I usually what I do both make sure that everything is going as planned.” Client appointments, as clients come to the office he meets with them to fulfill any needs they might need, also observing the client of any changes they have had since the last appointment. Paperwork, documentation is what your job is being a social worker. Some of the paperwork that I do is: Court Forms Case Notes Intake Forms Community networking with different sources helps the case become well documented. Some of the sources that Jose contacts on a daily basis includes: Schools Mental Health Police Department Etc...

5. Likes and Dislikes: Likes: The networking with others to aid the clients and their families to the best of their profession. Having clients that he helps come back with a story of success on how they may have gotten their children back from CPS. Being able to help clients in both high need and moderate, having a wide range of clients. Dislikes: Not having enough time to guide everyone who comes into his agency. Knowing there is children out their who are victims of abuse and not being able to help out every child. Trying not to take certain things from work home is very difficult.

6. Recommended Changes about his Job: The availability of Foster Parents are limited, causing many of the children to be placed in foster homes, which is limited as well. “It is very hard to find placement for a child now, many parents don't want to be foster parents or are and do not have enough room for another child in their home” Informing families of the positive outcome that will happen when having a plan and complying with the services that are included. Many of the parents going through the DCFS think they are going to have their children taken away, but by educating them that they are their to service them then they will be more willing to comply.

7. Causes of: Child Abuse and Neglect: “The dependency of drugs and alcohol is a main component of child abuse and neglect. Many abuser's that I have seen have a problem with drugs and alcohol” Domestic Violence: “Much of the Domestic Violence that takes place in homes, was learned or practiced in the abusers home previously. This aspect is passed down from generations.” Elder Abuse: “The vulnerability that most of the elders have, is what is the cause of Elder Abuse. Elder's have many conditions that may not have them to the full belief of what takes place, but is true most of the time.”

8. Elements of Intervention: “The client must be comfortable when trying to aid a client.” Support of the client helps them open up and actually be able to help them even more when they know how much support agencies give. “The first step in helping a client with a problem, is making the client realize they actually have a problem.” If a client denies the he/she has a problem, then it will be impossible to unite a family.

9. Elements of Prevention: “Educating people on family violence, and how it is taken serious with consequences that will lead if the children are in harm, will help people who are not familiar with family violence ” “Family violence, has an effect on all the family members. Children soak up everything they see, and are effected by everything in some way. Most children have no signs of effect physically, but emotional effect is just as important.”

10. Advise for the Future Social Workers: “Don't discriminate against anyone. Abuse happens in any shape or form towards people who may be poor, rich, Mexican, African American, short, tall, anybody can be a victim of abuse. To all the social workers coming up, make sure you are ready to expect the unexpected. No two days are similar.” “Things you experience over your future career of being a social worker can take a toll on you personally, but you have to be able to divide your own personal life from work. Also, it is perfectly okay to know your boundaries when working with touchy situations. It is better to separate yourself from those situations rather than the client suffering from your lack of commitment.”