Jack
You are a Case Management Worker within an Intensive Case Management Service providing support to young people aged 12 to 17 who are in out-of-home care.
Jack is 16 years old, on a child protection order and living in a residential unit. Four weeks ago Jack was transferred to you, and you are now Jack’s allocated case manager.
You have met with Jack 3 times over the past 4 weeks. Whenever you meet with him he is respectful but illusive and guarded. You get the sense that he doesn’t trust you at all.
Jack’s case history informs you that he not been in a day program for the past 3 years, that he regularly uses illicit substances (marijuana and inhalants). The residential workers where Jack lives say that Jack absconds regularly from the unit, that he usually disappears for 2 — 3 days at a time with no explanation about where he has been or what he has been doing. When you talk to Jack about where he goes he just says he hangs out with friends but he is unwilling to provide any details about who the friends are, how old they are, or what he does with them. He says he occasionally smokes marijuana but no other substances.
