Case Study: The Johnson Family

Family Background and History

This case refers to a Black/Jamaican Canadian family. The Mother, Novella Johnson is 36 years old. She is a single parent, and has a job working for Food Basics on Pine Street in Sault Ste. Marie. She is a unionized employee, and works the late afternoon and evening shift. There are three children in the family. The children are Celeste, (age 17) Benjamin, (age15) and Celina (age 6). Novella has a two- bedroom apartment with Pine Allard Properties. Celeste and Benjamin have been attending St. Mary’s College, and Celina attends the St. Paul Catholic School.

Novella was married to a Jamaican Canadian man, Jeremias Johnson, and they resided in Toronto in the Jane and Finch area. Both Novella and Jeremias immigrated from Jamaica in their late teens settling in Toronto, and became Canadian citizens. They met each other in Toronto, being introduced at a family gathering. Jeremias had a job working in a factory, and Novella worked at a local grocery store. They were a devout Christian couple, and attended the House of Praise Tabernacle in Toronto. Attempting to raise the children with Christian values, they decided to send their children to the Roman Catholic educational system.

Jeremias was tragically killed in a drive by shooting. Novella was concerned about raising the children in the Jane and Finch area. Novella’s sister, Auntie Tasha had been attending Sault College Esthetician Diploma Program, and encourage Novella to move the family to Sault Ste. Marie. When first arriving in Sault Ste. Marie, Novella and the children lived with Auntie Tasha in a crowded Pine Allard apartment. Eventually there was an opening for a two-bedroom apartment in the same building, and Novella moved herself and the children into the two-bedroom apartment. Since living in Sault Ste Marie, Novella and the children had been attending the Elim Pentecostal Church on McNabb Street.

Novella is a very good cook, and is able to purchase within her budget a variety of meats, fruits and vegetables at the Food Basics where she works. Before going to work, Novella cooks the children a meal that is ready for them when they return in the afternoon from school.

You have become involved in this case because you work as a social worker in St. Mary’s College. A teacher has informed you that Benjamin has been showing signs of depression, and has been frequently missing school. While identified as a boy at birth, they have told teachers at school that they are transgender, preferring to be referred to as Denique. Denique’s preferred pronouns are they and them. Denique reports to their teachers that there is conflict at home with Novella. Denique says that Novella is trans phobic, and refuses to acknowledge their transgender identity. Denique states that trans phobia attitudes are supported at the Elim Pentecostal Church, reporting that the head Pastor has stated that Denique is “possessed by a demon.” Denique reports that they refuse to go to church, and their refusal to attend church has also being creating conflict with Novella.

Denique has also been subject to ongoing bullying at school, and has been repeatedly beaten up by older white boys in the school. The Principal is unsupportive of transgender students, and believes that the fault lies with inadequate parenting. That is, the Principal has stated “that is there is not a dominant male figure in these families.” The Principal has intimated that CAS should be called to investigate what has been going on in the Johnson family, and has stated the he has concerns that the children have experienced neglect due to Novella’s work schedule. 
The critical components of Case Study 1 will include:

An identification of what you view as the presenting issues in this case. Is there any evidence to support CAS involvement? Substantiate your claim by explaining why, or why not? Substantiate your argument with evidence from the Eligibility Spectrum standards, Ontario Child Protection Standards (2016), and the Ontario Child Protection Tools Manual (2016), or literature.