GeorgeSample Page

George is a 13 year old boy who lives with his father, mother, and two older brothers. George’s older sister, Toula, is married and lives away from home with her husband and two year old daughter. Toula had been worried about George for some time. She remembers that her father was very strict with her and her brothers, however it seems that her father “is going too far” with George. George has told Toula that he has been locked out of the house at night at least four times a week for the past year. He is told to sleep in the shed in the back yard. George has also been continually told by his father that he cannot wait for him to leave home. However, when George says that he wants to leave home, his father yells at him and then will not talk to him for a week.

Toula has noticed that George has been losing a lot of weight and has not been attending school regularly. Toula also thinks that George is depressed, as at times he won’t get out of bed for days despite his father yelling at him. George’s mother does not seem to be able to do anything to stop George’s father from treating him the way he does. Toula rang the local Child Protection Service and discussed her worries with a protective worker. With Toula’s help the protective workers organised a family meeting to discuss the concerns with George and his parents. George’s father was at first very angry about people interfering with his parenting of George. George told the meeting that he could not go on living with his father while the bad treatment continued. It was agreed that George live with Toula while the assessment by the protective worker continued. After a number of family meetings George’s father agreed to see a family counsellor to discuss the way he treats George. The rest of the family also attended. After two months George’s father said he wanted George back home and that he would not treat him the way he did in the past. A trial period is arranged, and things do seem to have improved. George know that he can contact the protective worker or the family counsellor if things get worse again with his father.

Taken from Child Protection DHHS Practice Guide