The Olivares Case Study

Joaquín Olivares, a 38-year-old Mexican immigrant, and his 35-year-old wife presented to a family services agency with the complaint of "family problems." The Olivares have been married for twelve years and they have two children (a son aged 6 and a daughter aged 8). They have lived in the U.S. for eight years. He worked as a machine worker in a factory for five years before being recently "laid off." He presently works as a day laborer. Mrs. Olivares works as a housekeeper for a family.

Mr. Olivares complains that his wife has recently started "to nag" him about his drinking. He admits that during the last few months he has increased his intake of alcohol, but denies that this is a problem for him, as he drinks "only on the weekends, and never during the week." He drinks

every weekend, but is vague about the actual amount.

Mr. Olivares and his wife speak of the difficulties they experience in living in the U.S. Neither speaks much English. Mr. Olivares admits to being quite worried about his previous lay off, adding that he didn't want to "let the family down" in his responsibilities. As a result, he works long days in order to make ends meet. His weekend drinking is, for him, his way of relaxing, which he feels that he deserves.
1. Identify and sort through the relevant facts presented by the Olivares.
2.

Identify the problems, issues, concerns that arise with the Olivares.
2a. How would you classify Mr. Olivares' drinking?
3. Identify the positive and strengths aspects of the Olivares' situation.
4. Analyze the issues in terms of knowledge presented in the training modules.
5. Use training materials to develop a list of options and an initial plan of action for social work intervention with the Olivares.
6. Identify any additional information, research knowledge, and resources that are needed to develop and select options; identify ways to gather what you need; gather what you can.
7. Develop a strategy for social work practice with the Olivares. Be sure that you have a concrete and specific strategy for how you would address alcohol-related issues with the Olivares. Consider what kinds of reactions you might expect from each of the Olivares, and develop a plan for how to respond to them. What kinds of referrals in your practice community would you make and why? What are the intervention goals?
7a. Does the Olivares' original nationality matter to the case?
8. Identify methods for evaluating outcomes of your plan and next steps/revisions of the plan, depending on various possible

outcomes.
9. Discuss implications for community intervention, prevention planning, social policy reform, and advocacy that are associated with the Olivares' situation.