Category B - Sole Parents
Exploring the Four Specific Groups within the Community - Terminology
Discuss the impact that particular terminology may have on the sole parent’s wellbeing. (6 Marks)
Positive Impact
The use of positive terminology such as ‘single parent’ and ‘independent’ can positively impact upon a sole parent’s emotional wellbeing by making them feel empowered and strong being able to raise their children without the support, or lack thereof, of their children’s other parent. Similarly, using politically correct terms such as ‘sole parent’, ‘divorcee’ and ‘widow/er’, being said in a positive manner can also feel empowering and allow them to embrace their situation and make the most of it, which could improve on their physical wellbeing if this takes them on a course to improving all areas of their life including their physical health.
Negative Impact
Alternatively, calling a sole parent a ‘broken family’ or ‘disadvantaged’ or even politically correct terms in a negative tone can impact negatively on these parents’ wellbeing in several ways. These parents’ physical wellbeing can be negatively impacted upon by way of stress because the terminology is affecting their belief in themselves and being able to handle the pressure of raising their children alone, which could also result in the parent’s neglecting their own health such as not eating properly, further deteriorating their physical wellbeing. Furthermore, emotional wellbeing is compromised through stress as well, moreso if the parent feels they have failed their children as a mother/father. This can also impact upon spiritual wellbeing by way of they feel they have failed in their purpose if that is what their whole life is focused upon.
The use of positive terminology such as ‘single parent’ and ‘independent’ can positively impact upon a sole parent’s emotional wellbeing by making them feel empowered and strong being able to raise their children without the support, or lack thereof, of their children’s other parent. Similarly, using politically correct terms such as ‘sole parent’, ‘divorcee’ and ‘widow/er’, being said in a positive manner can also feel empowering and allow them to embrace their situation and make the most of it, which could improve on their physical wellbeing if this takes them on a course to improving all areas of their life including their physical health.
Negative Impact
Alternatively, calling a sole parent a ‘broken family’ or ‘disadvantaged’ or even politically correct terms in a negative tone can impact negatively on these parents’ wellbeing in several ways. These parents’ physical wellbeing can be negatively impacted upon by way of stress because the terminology is affecting their belief in themselves and being able to handle the pressure of raising their children alone, which could also result in the parent’s neglecting their own health such as not eating properly, further deteriorating their physical wellbeing. Furthermore, emotional wellbeing is compromised through stress as well, moreso if the parent feels they have failed their children as a mother/father. This can also impact upon spiritual wellbeing by way of they feel they have failed in their purpose if that is what their whole life is focused upon.
Issues of Concern - Satisfaction of Needs
Justify the two most significant needs for sole parents and discuss the implications if these needs are not met.
Adequate Standard of Living
For a sole parent, to have an adequate standard of living not only for themselves but for their children is paramount as this then opens the door for all the other needs to be fulfilled. To ensure that the home is free of negative environmental health factors for both illnesses and injury is one assurance for the children’s and parent’s health, thus being required to ensure health can later be fulfilled. Additionally, safety and security cannot be met if the sole parent and their children are living in an unsafe home where there are security risks such as faulty locks and broken windows. With this need having been met, all of the other needs can be addressed by the parent, which will have a follow on affect to the children and improving overall wellbeing, though emotional and physical most particularly due to the physical health and stable state of mind being in place.
Without this need having been met, however, the following needs cannot be met and some health and wellbeing implications may follow such as insomnia and paranoia from the lack of adequacy within the home posing a health, safety and security risk to both parent and children.
Safety and Security
Feeling safe and secure is important as if the parent feels unsafe or insecure they will be unable to properly care for their children, who are the focus of their day-to-day lives. If the parent is able to provide safety and security not only within the environment but emotionally and mentally the child will be not only easier to care for but more understanding and content with their life in general. This is immensely beneficial for the child and parent’s emotional wellbeing as it allows for a stable state of mind and a general depletion of stress and worry in both parent and child.
However, if the parent feels unsafe and insecure, this will generally make their children feel unsafe and insecure as well, making the parent’s feeling worse with their inability to fulfil this need for their children and creating an insecurity cycle.
For a sole parent, to have an adequate standard of living not only for themselves but for their children is paramount as this then opens the door for all the other needs to be fulfilled. To ensure that the home is free of negative environmental health factors for both illnesses and injury is one assurance for the children’s and parent’s health, thus being required to ensure health can later be fulfilled. Additionally, safety and security cannot be met if the sole parent and their children are living in an unsafe home where there are security risks such as faulty locks and broken windows. With this need having been met, all of the other needs can be addressed by the parent, which will have a follow on affect to the children and improving overall wellbeing, though emotional and physical most particularly due to the physical health and stable state of mind being in place.
Without this need having been met, however, the following needs cannot be met and some health and wellbeing implications may follow such as insomnia and paranoia from the lack of adequacy within the home posing a health, safety and security risk to both parent and children.
Safety and Security
Feeling safe and secure is important as if the parent feels unsafe or insecure they will be unable to properly care for their children, who are the focus of their day-to-day lives. If the parent is able to provide safety and security not only within the environment but emotionally and mentally the child will be not only easier to care for but more understanding and content with their life in general. This is immensely beneficial for the child and parent’s emotional wellbeing as it allows for a stable state of mind and a general depletion of stress and worry in both parent and child.
However, if the parent feels unsafe and insecure, this will generally make their children feel unsafe and insecure as well, making the parent’s feeling worse with their inability to fulfil this need for their children and creating an insecurity cycle.
Issues of Concern - Access to Services - Characteristics of the Sole Parent
Explain how the characteristics of sole parents affect their access to services
Age/Education
The age of a sole parent is significant, particularly in younger sole parents, in accessing education services or having the life skills to properly care and nurture their child/ren. These young sole parents who may be recently out of high school or still attending school have little opportunities to complete their schooling or get a degree to enable them to go on to find suitable employment to earn an income, though there are a number of services available for these individuals. In terms of life skills, however, the knowledge of how to care for a child in terms of nutrition, vaccinations and general daily tasks for the child, a teenager or young person would have limited to no knowledge of these things aside form perhaps their participation in younger siblings’ upbringing. The sole parent’s age affects their access to education opportunities and knowledge, most particularly in young parents.
Socioeconomic Status/Legal Aid
Due to the cost of raising children, many sole parents have a rather low socioeconomic status, which makes finding reasonable legal aid at an affordable price difficult to find. This legal representation may be necessary in settling divorce settlements, arranging custody, setting child support, dealing with instances of abuse, etc. and, without a dependable and competent legal representative, the parent of the child may end up with less than what they hoped for for their children and thus making the raising of said children more difficult for this parent, particularly in regards to finance and time with the children. Due to these parents’ low socioeconomic status and lack of access to high-end legal representation, cheaper or government solicitors may do poorly by these individuals and make their life difficult.
Type of Disability/Accommodation and Housing
For sole parents, finding suitable and affordable accommodation is a hard enough task, however, factoring in disability needs for either parent or a child makes it exponentially harder. In terms of physical disabilities, modifying the home the family already has may prove problematic, moreso if the family is in a government housing house where most modifications are restricted and therefore is rendered unlivable. In order to find another home, it must both be suitable for the number of children, suitable for the individual in the family with a disability and within a close range of local shopping centres and schools that also cater to the needs of a child with a disability if that was the case. With some psychological or intellectual disabilities, carers or counsellors may need to visit the home regularly to check on the individual with a disability as well as the family’s wellbeing in general and this must therefore be added to the criteria for a suitable home, narrowing the search field considerably.
The age of a sole parent is significant, particularly in younger sole parents, in accessing education services or having the life skills to properly care and nurture their child/ren. These young sole parents who may be recently out of high school or still attending school have little opportunities to complete their schooling or get a degree to enable them to go on to find suitable employment to earn an income, though there are a number of services available for these individuals. In terms of life skills, however, the knowledge of how to care for a child in terms of nutrition, vaccinations and general daily tasks for the child, a teenager or young person would have limited to no knowledge of these things aside form perhaps their participation in younger siblings’ upbringing. The sole parent’s age affects their access to education opportunities and knowledge, most particularly in young parents.
Socioeconomic Status/Legal Aid
Due to the cost of raising children, many sole parents have a rather low socioeconomic status, which makes finding reasonable legal aid at an affordable price difficult to find. This legal representation may be necessary in settling divorce settlements, arranging custody, setting child support, dealing with instances of abuse, etc. and, without a dependable and competent legal representative, the parent of the child may end up with less than what they hoped for for their children and thus making the raising of said children more difficult for this parent, particularly in regards to finance and time with the children. Due to these parents’ low socioeconomic status and lack of access to high-end legal representation, cheaper or government solicitors may do poorly by these individuals and make their life difficult.
Type of Disability/Accommodation and Housing
For sole parents, finding suitable and affordable accommodation is a hard enough task, however, factoring in disability needs for either parent or a child makes it exponentially harder. In terms of physical disabilities, modifying the home the family already has may prove problematic, moreso if the family is in a government housing house where most modifications are restricted and therefore is rendered unlivable. In order to find another home, it must both be suitable for the number of children, suitable for the individual in the family with a disability and within a close range of local shopping centres and schools that also cater to the needs of a child with a disability if that was the case. With some psychological or intellectual disabilities, carers or counsellors may need to visit the home regularly to check on the individual with a disability as well as the family’s wellbeing in general and this must therefore be added to the criteria for a suitable home, narrowing the search field considerably.
Creating positive social environments - Organisations within the community that support the group
Analyse the extent to which organisations within the community assist in satisfying the needs of sole parents (8 Marks)
Parents without Partners
Sense of Identity
The Parents Without Partners organisation allows single parents and their children, which would primarily include those feeling like they are struggling with their position and need reassurance, to gather together and settle these worries and help them. This therefore allows the parent to feel more secure in their role and more in control of their situation and this will have a flow on effect to the children, who will feel more comfortable with their mother/father now that their nerves and uncertainty has settled and will be better able to grow as their own person rather than just ‘the kid from a broken family’. Thus, this organisation is a significant assistance for sole parents in securing their inner security and also in assisting the whole family rise above the stigma attached to their family structure. This is beneficial for both emotional and social wellbeing as the family, the parent in particular, wont be feeling guilty or upset that they’re in a family structure that is considered ‘broken’ or ‘unstable’ and therefore feel better about themselves, which can project onto others around them and improve their view on the sole parent family structure, allowing these families to better mingle with the rest of society.
Without this service available, the implication would be a significant negative impact on the whole family’s emotional and social wellbeing, opposing the positive effect noted above, but will be more extensive as the parent in particular may feel uncertain or insecure in their position and unsure of how to navigate their new role. This can then impose on the children’s self worth as their mother/father’s feelings can reflect on the child and stunt their development of their sense of individual identity.
St Vincent de Paul Women’s Refuge
Adequate Standard of Living
The St Vincent de Paul women’s refuge assists young women, particularly those who are victims of domestic violence and result in them becoming single mothers by providing safe and adequate housing in conjunction with counselling and education services. By providing a private room that has access to a shared bathroom, kitchen, dining room and laundry, these women have all they need to live in a healthy environment where there are adequate facilities for living with their children and with other women who understand their situation and can help them both in and outside of counselling. From attaining this adequate standard of living, the way is paved for both parent and child/ren to satisfy the rest of their needs and, therefore, the refuge is a remarkable assistance for sole parents. This service also allows for sole parents and their children to improve upon their physical and emotional wellbeing as they are able to find a safe and healthy home that will ensure they do not fall ill or remain victims of abuse, which is also improving emotional wellbeing as they process their feelings about their past experiences.
Alternatively, without this service their overall wellbeing is negatively impacted upon as many of these families would either be living in poor accommodation or victims of abuse, which is poor for physical, emotional and social wellbeing. Without first fulfilling this need, all of the other needs are also unlikely to be met by parent or child and, therefore, they will be living a very poor-quality life without the assistance this refuge provides.
Sense of Identity
The Parents Without Partners organisation allows single parents and their children, which would primarily include those feeling like they are struggling with their position and need reassurance, to gather together and settle these worries and help them. This therefore allows the parent to feel more secure in their role and more in control of their situation and this will have a flow on effect to the children, who will feel more comfortable with their mother/father now that their nerves and uncertainty has settled and will be better able to grow as their own person rather than just ‘the kid from a broken family’. Thus, this organisation is a significant assistance for sole parents in securing their inner security and also in assisting the whole family rise above the stigma attached to their family structure. This is beneficial for both emotional and social wellbeing as the family, the parent in particular, wont be feeling guilty or upset that they’re in a family structure that is considered ‘broken’ or ‘unstable’ and therefore feel better about themselves, which can project onto others around them and improve their view on the sole parent family structure, allowing these families to better mingle with the rest of society.
Without this service available, the implication would be a significant negative impact on the whole family’s emotional and social wellbeing, opposing the positive effect noted above, but will be more extensive as the parent in particular may feel uncertain or insecure in their position and unsure of how to navigate their new role. This can then impose on the children’s self worth as their mother/father’s feelings can reflect on the child and stunt their development of their sense of individual identity.
St Vincent de Paul Women’s Refuge
Adequate Standard of Living
The St Vincent de Paul women’s refuge assists young women, particularly those who are victims of domestic violence and result in them becoming single mothers by providing safe and adequate housing in conjunction with counselling and education services. By providing a private room that has access to a shared bathroom, kitchen, dining room and laundry, these women have all they need to live in a healthy environment where there are adequate facilities for living with their children and with other women who understand their situation and can help them both in and outside of counselling. From attaining this adequate standard of living, the way is paved for both parent and child/ren to satisfy the rest of their needs and, therefore, the refuge is a remarkable assistance for sole parents. This service also allows for sole parents and their children to improve upon their physical and emotional wellbeing as they are able to find a safe and healthy home that will ensure they do not fall ill or remain victims of abuse, which is also improving emotional wellbeing as they process their feelings about their past experiences.
Alternatively, without this service their overall wellbeing is negatively impacted upon as many of these families would either be living in poor accommodation or victims of abuse, which is poor for physical, emotional and social wellbeing. Without first fulfilling this need, all of the other needs are also unlikely to be met by parent or child and, therefore, they will be living a very poor-quality life without the assistance this refuge provides.
Category B - Youth
Issues of Concern - Satisfaction of Needs
Discuss the implications if these top TWO significant needs are not met.
EDUCATION
Negative implications on the youth if THE FIRST significant need is not being met are that the young individual will not have a higher opportunity to receive any employment offers, as in today’s society employers are looking for individuals who have at least completed year 12 which can result in the individual leading to low self-esteem and sense of identity as they have limited options and constantly receiving rejection letters for various jobs. However, if this need is met it will have the following positive implications for the youth, they would have the ability to gain positive information and knowledge on what is needed for their future employment goal and crucial knowledge in regards to their health, sense of identity and employment.
SENSE OF IDENTITY
Negative implications on the youth if THE SECOND significant need is not being met are that the individual will be lost in navigating who they are as a person in these difficult years, which can result in many adverse conditions such as depression or other mental affliction. Additionally, without a sense of identity, the individual may find finding employment and choosing career moves as they are unsure of what they want in their own life as deciding who they are is a prerequisite to deciding who they want to be. However, if this need is met it will have the following positive implications for the youth, that they are better able to navigate their future including making career moves and being better able to socialise in the real world as they know who they are, what they expect from themselves and how to express this to other people, making them more able to function in a social and communal setting.
Negative implications on the youth if THE FIRST significant need is not being met are that the young individual will not have a higher opportunity to receive any employment offers, as in today’s society employers are looking for individuals who have at least completed year 12 which can result in the individual leading to low self-esteem and sense of identity as they have limited options and constantly receiving rejection letters for various jobs. However, if this need is met it will have the following positive implications for the youth, they would have the ability to gain positive information and knowledge on what is needed for their future employment goal and crucial knowledge in regards to their health, sense of identity and employment.
SENSE OF IDENTITY
Negative implications on the youth if THE SECOND significant need is not being met are that the individual will be lost in navigating who they are as a person in these difficult years, which can result in many adverse conditions such as depression or other mental affliction. Additionally, without a sense of identity, the individual may find finding employment and choosing career moves as they are unsure of what they want in their own life as deciding who they are is a prerequisite to deciding who they want to be. However, if this need is met it will have the following positive implications for the youth, that they are better able to navigate their future including making career moves and being better able to socialise in the real world as they know who they are, what they expect from themselves and how to express this to other people, making them more able to function in a social and communal setting.