Tuor

Question # 1

“We are products of our environment.” This phrase has been uttered tirelessly and continuously over time. Perhaps, it is a simple explanation, but the central meaning does offer answers to a person’s behavior. Garbarino and Abramowitz stated that systems theory “looks beyond the individual organism to the organism’s environment for questions and explanations about the organism’s behavior and development (2004, p13). This is particularly evident in Cordalia, whose life recently was ravaged by the events of Hurricane Katrina. She subsequently lost her family and home, she is left bewilder and angry, in search for answers and confirmation. Her situation will show how a system (micro, mezzo, and macro) interacts with three different environments as they develop. No system whether small or large is independent of one another. The concept from Anderson and Carter is by definition both part and whole (2007). No single system is determinant, nor is system behavior determined at only one level, whether part or whole.

The way Cordalia (micro system) was affected by macro-the government is that they were facing racism and oppression. Furthermore, incompetence in areas of leadership and influence greatly affected those in impoverished communities New Orleans. Governmental officials in FEMA and in New Orleans were aware of the fact that a large percentage of New Orleans people did not own cars, therefore could not escape on their own. The government essentially failed to provide assistance to its people and as a result lead to lots of fatalities leaving thousands individuals and families living in inhabitable conditions, such as shelters and trailers. Although media reports covered a variety of issues associated with the storm’s aftermath most constant were the images of citizens primarily Blacks, children, the infirm the poor suffering and seemingly abandoned, especially by their government (Potter, 2007).

Cordalia’s coping and defense mechanisms could have been severely impacted by the events of Hurricane Katrina. When people experience severe cases of trauma or difficulty the tendencies is an attempt to return to normalcy so to avoid experiencing the pain. As expressed by Germain and Gitterman, (1973, p.817) part of our survival in over environment is relatedness terms of kin relationships and a sense of belonging to a supportive social network. In Cordalia’s situations, she regressed her emotional feelings of grief and anger by solely focusing on finding her Verdon and dogs. She wanted to avoid the conflicts experienced by returning to compliance and safe time in her life (Goldstein, 1995; Lesser and Pope, 2007 p.54). In addition, as results of the crisis, she may repress her feelings, which consist of withholding or expulsion of an idea or affect from the conscious ego (Freud, 1936 p.51). What may occur by Cordelia not expressing her feelings or pain, it may manifest itself inappropriate time.

There were many different social forces present in her community (mezzo) that affected Cordalia. There was a clear presence of a residential segregation. It was clear that racial inequalities in education, health care, and workforce weighed heavily on Cordalia. Because of residential segregation, black and white neighborhoods differ dramatically in availability of jobs, family structure, and opportunities for marriage, educational quality, and exposure to conventional role models. They also differ in the quality if life and access to resources and amenities that sustain health (Williams, 1999 p.181-182). In Cordalia’s community, many young students would have realized the chance to progress and turn to a life of crime and selling drugs. As Patillo illustrates, the undecorated life of the teacher next door never inspires such awe, but money and power however achieve will boost their status. In addition, many youth of the New Orleans have internalized the idea that was said indirectly by the government prior to Katrina, we don’t care. This is evident because of attention and monetary funds allocated for the community. In education, black students are disproportionately allocated or tracked into low-ability and non-college preparatory classes, (Williams 1999 p.179). In leaving the black students in this community without a firm basic education or proper mentorship to obtain work, it sets them up for failure. For example, many members of the New Orleans Police Department came from these under funded public schools with poor writing skills (Baum 2006 p. 52). The visible inequalities and social forces in Cordalia’s community created arduous and complex situation for one to receive the proper response and medical attention she need to during the Hurricane Katrina.

As Social worker in the shelter, I would first establish a relationship with Cordalia and build a sense of trust and honest flow communication. Personally,