Running head: Populations at risk

Populations at Risk
Katie Brogan
Wayne State University, SW 4997

Populations at risk

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Abstract

Children from birth to the age of three are a vulnerable group for maltreatment. Children
during the first years of their life are predisposed to having an array of problems that will
continue with them through adulthood. Children that
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Populations at risk

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Populations at Risk

A referral was received from child protective services for an Early On assessment for a
20 month old female African American, Jill. (pseudonym) Jill was removed from her mother
and placed in relative care by child protective service for maltreatment. Prior to this placement
Jill lived with her mother, occasionally seeing her father randomly. Jills mother Sarah is a single
African American living in Detroit, MI. Jills mother is currently unemployed, relying on family
members and random men to meet her finical wants. Child protective services became involved
when Jill was dropped off by a man to Sarahs former foster parents. No one knows who this
man was and it is believed that he had Jill for a few days before finding Sarahs foster parents.
During this time the man had Jill, Sarah was in jail. While in jail Sarah never mentioned leaving
her daughter with a man she only knew for a short period. When Jill was found she had no signs
of physical or sexual abuse. Due to Jills young age and inability to communicate only parts of
her life can be accurately accounted for. During the Child protective service workers
investigation it was determined that the home Jill was living in a home that was not suitable, she
was not receiving her recommended well child doctor examinations, she was being left
unattended, and showed signs of developmental delays, along with psychological concerns.
Jill already in her early life has several factors making her part of the at risk population.
Maltreatment can have effects on Jills health, mental health, substance use, criminal behavior,
cognitive development, academic achievement, along with future employment and earnings.
(Berger & Waldfogel, 2011) Individuals that were exposed to abuse participate in health risk
factors that put them at risk for diseases. The more forms of abuse the great occurrence of
participating in health risk behaviors was recorded. The more health risk behaviors increase
diseases the individual was diagnosed with or self-reported. The health risk behaviors are using

Populations at risk

illicit drugs, injecting drugs, having more than fifty sexual partners, having a sexually
transmitted disease, or considering themselves an alcoholic. When individuals use health risk
behaviors to cope with prior abuse have an increased probability of ischemic heart disease,
chronic bronchitis or emphysema, diabetes, hepatitis or jaundice and self-report their health
being fair or poor. (Felitti, et al., 1998)

Populations at risk

References
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