Thank you for your insightful discussion post analyzing the cases of Susanna and Tiffani. The political strategy you selected consists of several meaningful steps to alter the current policy that caused harm to the girls and their families. I agree that it is not the best practice to separate an underage person from parents and initiate court action, which might result in a misguided ruling. Considering Susanna’s dependence on her mother, her good school record, and the family’s financial stability, it was not necessary to remove her from home and transfer to a Catholic school (Plummer et al., 2014). The case of the Bradley family demonstrates that the new policy did not ensure protection for Tiffani since security should be prioritized in human/sex trafficking cases. Jansson (2018) states that policy advocates should collaborate with existing advocacy groups to reach policy goals. Thus, the multidisciplinary initiative you proposed is viable, as it supports the distribution of resources through the use of several outlets (mass media, social workers, advocates).
Based on my social work and advocacy experience, I might suggest that adolescents might benefit the most from individual counseling in resolving emotional or mental health problems. Parents can also improve their communication with children by attending parenting classes or support groups focusing on specific issues. Thus, the policy changes you offered might be extended to include the requirement for psychological assessments for the child and the parents before any court hearings to prevent unnecessary separation. Moreover, I support your position that education is vital to protect children and prevent prostitution and sex trafficking issues. Community awareness might be raised by amending government policies to encourage family unity, avoid child removal from home, and provide legal support for affected individuals and populations.
References
Jansson, B. S. (2018). Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice (8th ed.). Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning Series.
Plummer, S.-B, Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. (Eds.). (2014). Social work case studies: Concentration year. Laureate International Universities Publishing.