We often wonder why two cases so exact in there backgrounds may have two vastly different outcomes. We take a look deeper into backgrounds and again the roads are almost twin like in reading. The next is family support, backgrounds etc again a familiar documentation is seen. So why then the difference in the end result of where cyfs are directing the future of the children in their care?
In part this could be the children's own coping and their ability to form attachments with their current caregivers. How they are dealing with school and other outside activities or even the way they dealt with the emotions that brought the case to the attention of cyfs in the first place. It is often seen in some long term cases that the assessment on a childs view fails to take into account the possible outside influences that past social workers may have also had in the input to a child's views or ability to express themselves. A child whose life has been directed and controlled over a long period of time loses the ability often to be able to make their often deeper felt views known, after all were they listened to in the past, other than when an allegation made presented the child with an unlimited level of attention. Of course only until the collection of such evidence was no longer needed. So now the child would voice or behave only in the manner in which cyfs have carefully trained the child to reflect. Like an abuser trains or grooms a victim, so also can a child be who is subjected to the controls and expectations within the system. These children are also often labelled easily thus should they voice concerns it can be quickly blamed on the child's own behaviours or disabilities such as a form of mental illness.
Back to first impressions of Parent/family/caregiver...
The other possible difference is of course the social workers own perception of both the case and the family concerned. How do social workers insure their own judgements etc are not clouding their vision or dealing on families and caregivers.
The reality of such cases can be very clear to advocates of PANIC working with these kinds of cases just how much such an influence can have. We see personalities playing such a heavy role that it is almost impossible to direct clients on the best change that needs to take place.
The difficulty of First impressions