Hi Anneice,
I just had a chance to review the family plan; well done, thank you! I want to take the opportunity to acknowledge your efforts and outstanding performance on behalf of these children. I was impressed that you managed to have both parents present to talk re: their children’s needs; helped Casey understand the integral role she plays in the children’s lives (which kept her from cancelling the morning of the meeting); and convinced Mandy and Jen of the benefits of inviting friends for support at the meeting. Both you and Whitney (Berrio) helped the family delve into difficult topics that clearly needed to be discussed, but were ignored to avoid any conflict. Whitney addressed the fact that the children were the product of an affair between dad and Jen while maintaining a ‘committed’ relationship with Casey. I think this allowed Casey to validate her feelings caused by her partner’s betrayal and focus on caring for the children.
And you were incredible with how skillful you were addressing dad’s intoxication during the meeting. The family clearly did not plan to include this as a concern and you helped them realize the importance of doing so despite the discomfort it caused. You maintained your professionalism with dad when he became irate and started to leave the meeting. I was impressed that you were able to convey to dad that it was not alright for him to attend the meeting while intoxicated; address his anger when confronted; and finally, convey the importance of him remaining to finish what the group had started. By you addressing the concern in a respectful and professional manner, you allowed dad to maintain a sense of dignity, making it easier for him to rejoin the group after only a brief disruption. Thank you again for doing such outstanding workJ Julie (Lehigh County Caseworker)
Thank You Julie for your positive feedback. We appreciate the hard work that this family has put in to the process of Family Group Decision Making and the improvements they’ve made to their lives. We value the expert guidance and professionalism provided by our Anneice Pratt, and Whitney Berrio.