Florida State University, College of Social Work Case Library
Library Details
Organization
Florida State University
Date Created
19 Aug 2024
Public
Public
Authors
Shalay Jackson
Description
The Florida State University College of Social Work Case Library provides a collection of case studies designed to help students explore various professional areas within social work. These cases are specifically created to prepare students for real-world social work projects and clients by offering practical scenarios that simulate real challenges. Each case focuses on different aspects of social work, allowing students to deepen their understanding and develop the skills necessary for their future careers in the field.
Relevant Topics
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Case Management
Community Organization and Social Action
Courts, Corrections, and Law Enforcement
Crisis and Disaster Management
Economic Development, Work and Occupations
Facilitation, Mediation, Conflict Resolution
Individual and Family Advocacy
Mechanical Engineering
Political Organization, Policy Change, and Advocacy
Public Administration
Research & Development
Research, Analysis, Evaluation
Substance Use, Addiction, and Recovery
Skills & Expertise
AI Technology Evaluation
Data Analytics
Energy Consumption Analysis
Executive Presentation Design
Financial Modeling
Mechanical System Integration
Python
Risk Mitigation
Stakeholder Engagement
Strategic Planning
Sustainability Strategy Development.
Florida State University
The Case of Duke Davis
Duke Davis is a 74-year-old Vietnam veteran who witnessed the death of a family member, as well as crimes against humanity while serving his country. He suffers from multiple forms of PTSD, which along with substance abuse, has led to the breakdown of the family unit and other key relationships resulting in homelessness, food scarcity, and additional mental health issues. He has struggled throughout his life with formative relationships, bonding/supporting others, and money management/fiscal choices. He has a long history of anger management issues within the workplace, difficulty engaging and/or maintaining family ties, and his substance abuse has caused additional distance from his family members. He tends to choose being alone vs addressing issues in personal relationships, as well as, his community. Duke left his wife, Lyla, and their children over 20 years ago after the VA provided an official diagnosis of PTSD and granted him full disability. In his second relationship, Duke and his partner, Janelle, parted ways after she became very ill and Duke was unable to commit to assisting her while she was sick. Mr. Davis’ main form of companionship over the years has been animal rescues.
Florida State University
The Case of Maxine Cramer
Maxine Cramer is a 24-year-old multiracial female who identifies as bisexual. She has three children all under the age of four - Joseph (3), Timothy (15 months), and Noa (6 months). Maxine is a single parent to all three children. She lives in public housing and receives government assistance, but it is not enough to cover all of their expenses. Maxine tried to work multiple jobs to earn the money they needed to survive, but had difficulty finding consistent, reliable, affordable daycare. After Joseph was born, Maxine turned to sex work. She has three long-term customers that are all married men. Maxine’s mother, Joanne, recently learned of Maxine’s occupation. She is concerned for the safety of her grandchildren especially because one of the men visits Maxine at the home. Without talking to Maxine, Joanne decides to report her daughter for child neglect and endangerment.
Florida State University
The Case of Trevor Johnson
Trevor Johnson is a 19-year-old black male. He is a second-year out-of-state public college student who resides in one of the dorms with his two roommates, Mark and Jack who are both white. Mark is also a 19-year-old second year. Jack is an 18-year-old first-year college student. All three arrived at the counseling center last night due to the fact that the roommates were concerned about Trevor experiencing auditory hallucinations (AH). Mark and Jack reported that recently Trevor shared that he hears voices and has for several years. In addition, according to the roommates Trevor has become increasingly irritable and started isolating himself. One of Trevor’s roommates, Jack, stated that he heard Trevor responding aloud to the voices yesterday, which made him feel even more concerned. Jack’s brother developed similar symptoms about two years ago. Mark is worried about Trevor, but is also growing uncomfortable with his behavior and is a little afraid of what Trevor might do.
Florida State University
The Case of Tim Smith
Tim Smith is a 33-year-old, white, heterosexual, and married male. He has been married to his wife Rachel, 26, for a little over five years. They have four young children - Timothy Jr. (4), twins Emanuel and Grace (2 ½), and their youngest - Daniel who just turned one. In addition, Tim and Rachel just found out last week that they are pregnant with their second set of twins. The family is of strong religious faith and they hold a strict adherence to the tenants of their religion.
Tim was recently involved in a physical altercation at his workplace. His company suspended him and has required that he attend a program that will provide anger management services before he will be allowed to return to work. He has been referred by his job’s HR (human resource) department to help with his anger management. During intake, Tim is assigned to the open anger management group for men at the agency which is led by a male social worker, Mark. Tim is also referred to concurrent individual therapy sessions to complement group counseling services. The group consists of five other men. Tim has never received or voluntarily sought mental health services. He is skeptical of a bunch of men sitting around “crying” and “sharing their feelings.”
Florida State University
The Case of Talia Ashid
Talia Ashid is a 19-year-old heterosexual female of Iranian descent and a practicing Sunni Muslim. She is a first year college student who lives in an all-women dormitory on campus. Talia excelled her first semester at the university earning a 3.89 GPA and Dean’s List recognition. She has a work study position at the college gym. In addition, Talia is a member of a sorority on campus whose philanthropic focus is women’s physical and mental health wellness. After a conversation with her sorority sister, she spoke to the Chapter Advisor who offered support and accompanied Talia to the on campus rape crisis services office.Talia’s family lives two hours away. Her father, Mohammad, age 43, has retired from the military and now works for a home security company. He has always taught Talia to be cautious and aware of her surroundings. Her mother, Manha, age 40, is a hairdresser and works at a neighborhood salon where she is very popular. Her clients often have to book out weeks in advance. Talia also has two younger siblings, her sister Zoya who is 16 and her brother Amir who is 14. She loves her family deeply. She is aware of the sacrifices her parents have made so she can attend the school of her dreams. She works hard academically to make everyone proud of her. Talia has not shared the sexual assault with her family members.
Florida State University
The Case of Stella Thi Pham
Stella Thi Pham is a first-generation Vietnamese American. She is a 12-year-old female. Her parents Jonathan Thao Pham and Nancy Duc Pham took refuge in the United States of America in the late 2000s due to religious persecution. They are highly involved in Stella’s extracurriculars at school. Stella plays soccer and is a member of the music program. Stella has started to receive attention in the soccer community. Last month, she was asked to become part of the city All-Star team, which is separate from the school team. In addition, she recently began her menstrual cycle and her parents elected to use cupping, an alternative therapy, to assist her. A few days ago, the school soccer coach - Coach Richards, noticed bruising on Stella’s arms and her abdomen when she lifted her arms. When Coach Richards approaches Stella about it, Stella is nervous, vague, and hesitant in her reply. After Coach Richards meets with the School Social Worker, a child abuse hotline phone call is made.
Florida State University
The Case of Chand Family
Susan Chand, or Susie as her friends and family call her, is a 39 year old white woman of Eastern European descent. For the last several years she has worked at a fairly large local nonprofit. The organization provides various programs to assist with on the job training. Susie is an excellent employee and she absolutely loves the company she works for. She has been promoted multiple times and is currently up for a new promotion in the human resource (HR) department.Susie’s husband, Derek Chand, who is originally from Fiji, is a 37 year old male. They met in their twenties and have been married for ten years. They have three children together. Their son is the oldest, RJ, who is nine years old. They also have two six year old twin girls, Simone and Nina. In addition, Marilyn Jansen, Susie’s mother moved in with them four years ago when Susie’s father, Thomas, died.Derek’s job requires him to travel quite often - now more than ever. He is often gone even on the weekends and has begun missing the children’s extracurricular activities. Marilyn does assist Susie, but not the way she did in the beginning. Her mother’s physical health has deteriorated over the last few years and her mental health seems to be struggling also, which is impacting the quality of care of the children. Susie knows her mom loves her grandkids. She is simply not sure if Marilyn is still capable of taking care of them by herself anymore.
Florida State University
The Case of Marcus-Behr Family
Samuel Marcus is a 37-year-old white male. He is married to Matthew Marcus-Behr. They have been in a committed relationship for the last 17 years and officially married seven years ago when Gay marriage became legal in the United States (U.S.). Sam has a high-paying position as an executive at a major corporation. Matt is a freelance artist who works from home. Although he is well-known and respected in his field, Marcus has yet to land a major private commission or gallery installment. He is hopeful about the latest project he is working on.Sam and Matt have two children. Jackson, 13, is their eldest. They became foster parents to Jackson when he was three years old. After several years in the foster care system, Jackson’s biological parents, Chris and Jennifer, had their rights to Jackson terminated due to neglect and substance abuse violations. Sam and Matt marry and adopt Jackson, who is 6 at the time, shortly thereafter. Recently, Jackson has had difficulty at school primarily for not turning in his homework and last week he was caught smoking a cigarette.Max, their second child is two years old. They adopted him at birth through open adoption. Max’s biological mother, Monica, is welcome into the family’s home and has visitation at designated times. There is no relationship with the biological father. Recently Max has become aggressive while at daycare causing the family to be referred to a social worker (SW) for family counseling.
Florida State University
The Case of Hunter James
Hunter James is a 36-year-old white male who resides with his family in a rural county in Northern Florida. He was recently referred to a social worker associated with his primary care physician’s (PCP) office based on results from his depression and mood screening. Hunter has never sought or received mental health (MH) or case management services (CMS). He continually denies symptoms associated with possible mental health issues even after his doctor has identified elevated risk for depression.
Hunter is currently married to his wife, Roberta, age 34. Together they have two sons, Gunner, age 11, and Donald, age 8. Roberta has become increasingly concerned about Hunter’s recent withdrawal from family outings and activities. Roberta has also noticed that Hunter has been more irritable towards their two children and has demonstrated less patience than usual with their kids. The family is very involved in the local church and it has traditionally been their main support system. Although both parents were brought up in the church, Hunter is far more involved and consults with the male elders before any major decisions are made.
Florida State University
The Case of Veronica Charles
Veronica Charles, 42, is originally from Buffalo, New York. She has been living in Florida (FL) for the last several years. She came to Florida to work for a prominent art gallery in St. Petersburg. A few months after moving to FL Veronica met Sondra Myers who is 40 years old. They immediately hit it off and quickly became a couple. They dated and lived together for three years. During that time they fostered a young boy, Dwayne, who is now 5 ½ years old. As Sondra and Veronica were planning to get married an unexpected opportunity to adopt Dwayne arose, so they chose to legally adopt him.
A year into the marriage Sondra left Veronica for another woman, Jan, age 28, who Sondra and Dwayne now currently live with. Sondra drops Dwayne off to visit with Veronica when she needs childcare. Veronica has asked Sondra to work out a consistent schedule for Dwayne to stay with her. This has not been honored and is becoming a source of contention that is impacting Veronica’s ability to maintain a relationship with her son and to earn a living.
Florida State University
The Case of John Douglas
John Douglas is a 51 year old African American. He is a military veteran who served during the Gulf War. He has trouble sleeping, experiences nightmares, and struggles with ongoing financial insecurity. In addition, the recent increase of media coverage and conversations concerning police brutality against people of color (POC) has been very triggering for John. He recognizes that this could happen to him and the fear keeps him up at night. Due to his lack of sleep, he is also concerned about losing his job and then losing his home. John is an only child and has never been married. He is close to his mother, Adele Douglas, but he does not want to burden or worry her with the issues. She has often struggled in the past to fully grasp the impact of his military experience. Adele has stated on more than one occasion that at least John got to come home after his military service. John’s father, Richard, died while serving in the Vietnam War. Adele never remarried and raised John by herself. She was vigilant about instilling in John the importance of being independent and never asking anyone for help.
Florida State University
The Case of Canal Commons (River Oaks Community)
Canal Commons is a public housing complex located in the Carrie Meek neighborhood. The neighborhood as a whole has fallen on hard times. In the 1970 and 1980’s it was a vibrant community with good jobs, several small businesses, and community engagement. That has all changed, impacting the neighborhood and the housing complex. Canal Commons was a community driven living space until it was bought in the late 1980’s and turned into public housing. The manager, Laurin, works diligently to be engaged, present, and provide a quality living space. Services from the state are provided, but there is little extra money to cover the maintenance and repairs that Canal Commons greatly needs.
In addition, as jobs and businesses have moved out - drugs and violence have moved into the Meek neighborhood. Many residents blame the Canal Commons complex. Data has shown that the Commons is not responsible for drugs and violence, it has not stopped individuals in the neighborhood from contacting government officials and/or organizing campaigns concerning the complex.
Residents at the public housing complex believe they are being used as a scapegoat for the Meek neighborhood's current state. Many Canal Commons residents hold college degrees, go to work everyday, and are parents who are involved in their child’s education/schooling. Laurin, the manager at Canal Commons, and the Community Council in the complex are determined to find a way to change the narrative in the community and work together to find funding and opportunities for the neighborhood as a whole.
Florida State University
The Case of Canal Commons (River Oaks Community)
Canal Commons is a public housing complex located in the Carrie Meek neighborhood. The neighborhood as a whole has fallen on hard times. In the 1970 and 1980’s it was a vibrant community with good jobs, several small businesses, and community engagement. That has all changed, impacting the neighborhood and the housing complex. Canal Commons was a community driven living space until it was bought in the late 1980’s and turned into public housing. The manager, Laurin, works diligently to be engaged, present, and provide a quality living space. Services from the state are provided, but there is little extra money to cover the maintenance and repairs that Canal Commons greatly needs.
In addition, as jobs and businesses have moved out - drugs and violence have moved into the Meek neighborhood. Many residents blame the Canal Commons complex. Data has shown that the Commons is not responsible for drugs and violence, it has not stopped individuals in the neighborhood from contacting government officials and/or organizing campaigns concerning the complex.
Residents at the public housing complex believe they are being used as a scapegoat for the Meek neighborhood's current state. Many Canal Commons residents hold college degrees, go to work everyday, and are parents who are involved in their child’s education/schooling. Laurin, the manager at Canal Commons, and the Community Council in the complex are determined to find a way to change the narrative in the community and work together to find funding and opportunities for the neighborhood as a whole.
Florida State University
The Case of Canal Commons (River Oaks Community)
Canal Commons is a public housing complex located in the Carrie Meek neighborhood. The neighborhood as a whole has fallen on hard times. In the 1970 and 1980’s it was a vibrant community with good jobs, several small businesses, and community engagement. That has all changed, impacting the neighborhood and the housing complex. Canal Commons was a community driven living space until it was bought in the late 1980’s and turned into public housing. The manager, Laurin, works diligently to be engaged, present, and provide a quality living space. Services from the state are provided, but there is little extra money to cover the maintenance and repairs that Canal Commons greatly needs.
In addition, as jobs and businesses have moved out - drugs and violence have moved into the Meek neighborhood. Many residents blame the Canal Commons complex. Data has shown that the Commons is not responsible for drugs and violence, it has not stopped individuals in the neighborhood from contacting government officials and/or organizing campaigns concerning the complex.
Residents at the public housing complex believe they are being used as a scapegoat for the Meek neighborhood's current state. Many Canal Commons residents hold college degrees, go to work everyday, and are parents who are involved in their child’s education/schooling. Laurin, the manager at Canal Commons, and the Community Council in the complex are determined to find a way to change the narrative in the community and work together to find funding and opportunities for the neighborhood as a whole.
Florida State University
The Case of Sarah Jacobs
Sarah Jacobs is a 45-year-old Caucasian female referred to case management services by a child protection investigator (CPI) following concerns about Sarah’s mental health and the impact this is having on her two young kids. Sarah has been married to her husband Jordan for nine years, and they have two children together: Mia, daughter, age eight, and Stephen, son, age five. Sarah is a stay-at-home mom. She does not work outside the home. She has been receiving supplemental security income (SSI) for the past ten years following her mental health diagnosis. Sarah was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder 1 four years ago, and about ten years ago, she was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), severe, with suicidal ideations. Over the last several months, she has noticed similar behaviors in both of her children. This is triggering and, at times, causes her to avoid engaging with her children.
Florida State University
The Case of Janine Jones
Janine Jones is a thirteen-year-old African American female. Janine lives with her mother, Mykala Smith, and her mother’s boyfriend, Jared Thomas. Janine’s father, Jeffrey Jones, is incarcerated. She recently was referred for services by the school social worker due to self-harming behavior. Janine has small patches of missing hair on her head along with open sores. In addition, her eyebrows are almost non-existent and sparse eyelashes due to her constant pulling. She is currently in the eighth grade and has struggled academically over the last few years. She has difficulty focusing on her studies in class and often falls asleep during class, which is impacting her academically.During intake, Janine shared that she had been struggling academically and now self-harming due to being sexually assaulted by her mother’s boyfriend. Janine stated, “the touching happened a few times a week since I was like nine I think.” When questioned about this information, the mother stated that she was unaware of the sexual assault. Mykala believed that Janine was self-harming because she had taken her phone away.
Florida State University
The Case of Nayati Locklear
Nayati Locklear is a 10-year-old, male who is currently in the United States of America (U.S.A.) foster care system due to a history of behavioral health issues and possible neglect by his biological mother. He was recently placed in an intensive foster care home and appears to be thriving by child welfare standards. This progress has prompted the current foster parents to seek legal rights to adopt him or, at the very least, a secure permanent placement in their home. In preparation for the upcoming court hearing to terminate parental rights of Nayati’s mother, Seke, (Nayati’s father is deceased), the social worker discovered Nayati’s biological family is primarily Native American including both parents and several grandparents. All are part of the Coharie Tribe, which is a federally recognized Indian tribe. This data was not documented in any of Nayati’s previous case records. Based on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978 this impacts several aspects of his case including, but not limited to the terms of his ability to be adopted and/or placed with a non-Native family, as well as, rights and responsibilities of the State.
Florida State University
The Case of Janice Murphy (Washington)
Janice Murphy is a 41-year-old white female who identifies as heterosexual. She is currently in a relationship with Thurston Bishop, a 33-year-old African-American Iraqi war veteran. They have lived together for three years. Janice has a six-year-old son, Zane Thomas, from a previous relationship who also lives in the household. The family recently moved to a large city far away from the small town where Janice grew up. Thurston got a good-paying job and it appeared to be a good decision for the family as a whole. Since the move, Thurston has lost his job after an argument with his new boss. He has become increasingly fiscally controlling and is abusive towards Janice often with Zane present. Recently, Zane began experiencing stomach aches, which has required Janice to miss work. Janice followed up with a pediatrician, but the doctor could not identify anything physical causing Zane’s ailments. Due to Janice missing work and having difficulty focusing at work, Janice’s boss at the local hospital, Kelli, recently referred Janice to the company’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Kelli is not only concerned about Janice missing work but also about her overall well-being.
Florida State University
The Case of Hernandez and Lopez Family
Ana Lopez, is a five-year-old U.S. citizen born to undocumented immigrant parents. Her mother, Lizzette Hernandez and father, Tomas Lopez Sr, migrated with Ana’s brother, Tomas Jr., eight years old, from Guatemala.Ana started school this year and has had severe health issues. The school nurse referred Ana to a local pediatrician, which the parents did not follow through on. Ana’s condition continued to worsen. She was recently rushed to the hospital emergency room by her parents due to her non-stop vomiting over multiple days. She was admitted to the hospital and, following a series of medical tests, diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. Ana was subsequently released from the hospital with a medication regimen, which the parents did not follow. When Ana was once again in the hospital for dehydration, the doctor questioned the parents about her treatment implementation. Based on their response and Ana’s condition, the physician made a report to Child Protective Services (CPS) on the suspicion of medical neglect.
Florida State University
The Case of Cathy Alverez (Swarwenson)
Cathy is a 26 years old Latine and African-American woman with four school-aged children: Paul (11), Jacob (9), Robbie (8), and Jae (6). She is in a long-distance relationship with Jae’s father Jeb (37), who is working in the oil fields in the state of Wyoming. Recently, Cathy's former foster mother, Lottie, called child protective services because of her concerns about possible homelessness. Cathy and the children slept in the car for a few nights when there was a problem with their new house. When Cathy and her children moved into the new house, they discovered it had a pest problem. Cathy immediately reported the problem to the landlord, who said he was unaware of the issues and that it would take a few days to hire an exterminator. With no assistance from family and friends and lacking the financial resources for a multi-night stay in a hotel, Cathy decided she and the children could ‘camp out for a few nights in the family car until the new house was ready.
Florida State University
AI-Driven Campus Energy Optimization at Florida State University
Florida State University operates as a leading educational institution with a multifaceted revenue model that includes tuition fees, government funding, donations, and research grants. Its competitive moat lies in its strong brand reputation, comprehensive academic programs, and commitment to research and innovation. In the market, FSU is perceived as a forward-thinking institution that embraces new technologies to enhance its educational offerings and operational efficiency.
The broader industry landscape is shaped by several macro trends, including increasing regulatory pressures on sustainability, rapid advancements in AI and ML technologies, and a growing emphasis on sustainable practices in higher education. Universities are under pressure to reduce their carbon footprints while maintaining the quality of their services, and FSU is no exception. Technological change presents both opportunities and challenges as institutions strive to keep pace with evolving AI capabilities and integrate them into their operations.
This moment is strategically important due to several recent developments. The increasing cost of energy and heightened awareness of climate change have made energy efficiency a critical priority for FSU. Additionally, advancements in AI and ML technologies now provide viable solutions for optimizing energy management. The cost of inaction could result in higher operational expenses and missed opportunities to enhance FSU's sustainability credentials.
FSU faces several strategic options in optimizing campus energy efficiency. It can choose to implement off-the-shelf AI solutions, develop custom AI systems tailored to its specific needs, or partner with technology firms for a hybrid approach. Each pathway involves trade-offs in terms of cost, control, and scalability. Leaders may disagree on the best approach, weighing the benefits of quick implementation against the long-term advantages of a customized solution.
The strategic risks include potential implementation challenges, such as integration with existing systems and ensuring data security. Conversely, the upside is significant: successful implementation could reduce energy costs, enhance campus sustainability, and elevate FSU's standing as a leader in innovative campus management. Success includes measurable reductions in energy consumption, cost savings, and improved sustainability metrics.
The core decision revolves around selecting and designing the AI-driven solutions that best meet FSU's energy management goals. The question students must answer is: What is the optimal AI strategy for FSU to achieve its energy efficiency objectives while maintaining operational effectiveness?
Exploring this challenge is meaningful for students as it connects directly to real-world career skills in technology consulting, operations management, and strategic planning. They will engage with complex decision-making processes, modeling, and stakeholder management, preparing them for roles that require technical expertise and strategic acumen in technology-driven environments.