A protective service (PS) case has been opened on the Debbie B family as a result of a complaint of neglect (lack of adequate supervision, food and clothing). You have been assigned to work with the family.
Debbie B is a 23 year old single parent living in a low income housing area with her children, ages five, three and one. She has never been on AFDC or Food Stamps, and does not receive any child support from the children's fathers (there are three different men but none were married to Ms. B, nor were they listed on the birth certificates). She has a high school education and has held down several minimum wage jobs in the past, but each time had to quit due to pregnancy, lack of affordable child care arrangements, or missing work due to "problems with the kids."
Ms. B began prostituting about six months ago to earn a living. Neighbors suspect she may also be involved in drugs. She often is gone for several hours at a time, but always manages to get home by early evening. Ms. B has asked various neighbors to keep an eye on the kids while she is gone. Recently she seemed to just assume someone will supervise them and doesn't bother to "make arrangements.'1 Several of the neighbors have indeed taken it upon themselves to watch after the kids, often inviting them into their homes and making sure they have food.