Comprehensive Medical
616 W. Lehigh Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19133
Date of Birth: 03/29/1950
Date of Evaluation: 05/04/2001
Age at Evaluation: 51 Years Old
Psychotherapist: Henry I. Balogun, Ph.D.
Affiliation: American Counseling Association
Reason for Referral:
To provide the result of mental health evaluation with regard to the emotional stability, impulse control and the ability of Ms Vernetha Glover in relation to the adoption issue of Janis and Khadijah Torrance. Ms Glover is a 51-year-old African American female who is seeking to adopt two female children whom she has fostered reportedly since they were infants. The two children are: Janis Torrance, DOB 11/04/1990 and her sister, Khadijah Torrance, DOB 11/25/1988.
Evaluation Procedure:
Clinical Interview; Observation of interaction between Ms. Glover, and Khadijah Torrance and Janis Torrance; Soteriological orientation of Ms. Glover.
Background Information:
General Observation: Ms. Vernetha Glover, presented herself as a 51 years old African American female. She appeared responsible, neatly dressed and well groomed. She came across as a warm and happy person very active, alert and oriented. Maintaining good eye contact, she spoke clearly and fluently with confidence punctuating each sentence with phrases like “thank God,” “praise the Lord,” “the Lord brought me out,” and “I’m thankful to God.” No evidence of gross irregularities of posture, eye contact or gait. Both her mood and affect were appropriate,
History: Ms. Glover revealed that she is one of eight siblings. According to her, she was sexually molested as a child. She became pregnant at age 15. Prior to her pregnancy, as declared by her, she was labeled among her sibling as the “shining star” of her family due to high academic performance at school. However, report of molestation and her pregnancy changed that. She lost the support of her family and left high school prematurely. At age 17 years, shortly after she was raped and gave birth to her second child, she went for counseling in a psychological treatment outpatient clinic. According to her, no medication was involved and that treatment at the psychological treatment facility lasted approximately six months. Concerning treatment modalities, she stated she was involved in some form of group therapy for a short time followed by individual therapy for a brief period of time. She reported that she had a “nervous breakdown” and was hospitalized at Temple University Hospital. Later on, she received treatment for depression and anxiety-conditions not totally unexpected from someone who was sexually molested and later became pregnant at an early age with no hope of ever going back to school to complete her highly anticipated dream. Although she was not permitted to return to school, according to her, she was able to obtain GED (High School Equivalency) thereby, secured employment.
For a while, Ms. Glover’s life was filled with many unresolved emotional issues from childhood, as well as her past relationships. As revealed by the Sobel Report, her oldest child, Stefan Manbozo, birth date 06/29/1965, was raised by Stefan’s paternal grandparents. Her second child, Gavin Lamont Glover, birth date 01/31/1967,was the result of a rape experienced when she was almost 17years old, therefore had no contact with the child’s biological father. Her third child, Latovia Pearce, is a former foster child whom Ms.Glover adopted. She is 31, married, and has three children. She is both a high school and business graduate. Her fourth child is Shawn Bishop, age 30, who has been married and separated twice. He obtained a GED and is going to nursing school. Her fifth child, Lynn Dyches, age 28, is married to an individual by the name “Frank,” and has three children- John, age 12, Jasmine (Sunshine), age 10, and Dalisha, age 7. Lynn, like her mom, obtained a GED and went to an undeclared community college. She is currently employed in position of high responsibilities.
Current Functioning:
Ms. Glover, as revealed by the Hyman report “is now retired and on disability due to a lower back problem and degenerative arthritis for which she takes pain medication. However, she is able to operate a successful small child care service in her home and is currently fostering four children in addition to Janis and Khadijah.” The youngest of whom is a little over one year old.
Interaction with Janis and Khadijah Torrance:
Janis and Khadijah have been in Ms. Glover’s home on a constituently on going basis since they were both in infants. Khadijah, as reported by Sobel Associates, came to Ms. Glover when she was 3 months of age and Janis placed with Ms. Glover when she was 11months of age. Khadijah is now 12years old and Janis is 10 years old. Their biological mother (Ms. William’s) problems were reported to include substance abuse, severe neglect, and history of incarceration.
Ms. Glover or “ Big Mamma” as the children like to call her maintains an open line of communication with the children. “Don’t be afraid to talk to me about whatever is on your mind” is one of many things the children like about her. No sense of inadequacies noted neither is there any negative sense of overwhelming ness exhibited by Ms. Glover. If anything, she projected (during many noted interactions) a clear and adequate sense of direction and goal. The teasing, laughing and what Janis described as “kidding around” are very impressive and clearly indicative of a loving and caring parent. Ms Glover is very sensitive, calm, compassionate, and secure enough to understand and tolerate the children’s teenage criticism and adulation. As revealed by the Sobel report, she is certainly positively connected with the Torrance children and very supportive of them.
Janis Torrance: Janis, a 10 years old African American female. She appeared active, alert and oriented full of energy and always like to tease “Big Mamma.” She is a very intelligent individual with keen interest in Math as her favorite subject. Although she likes to play a lot, she is a very attentive and well-focused child. When asked to read children book written for her age group she was able to demonstrate a good reading and comprehension ability. There was no evidence of hallucination neither did she project an image of self-destructive child. When playing the feeling identification game, she indicated that she is a very happy child. She stated that one of her wishes is “that Big Mamma don’t die.” When asked to explain what she meant, she stated, “Because I want to take care of her and buy her a lot of things.”
Khadijah Torrance: Khadijah, a 12 years old African American female came across very intelligently. She is a well-focused and highly determined individual. Although she seldom speaks a lot in the presence of strangers, she is however, not afraid to express her mind. She speaks softly. As noted by the Hyman report, “Her speech featured a low level of articulation of letters and words as well as a paucity of articulation of ideas. Her mood appeared depressed, and range of affect was constricted.” She sometimes likes to have her ways and if that is impossible, she is not afraid to retreat and withdrawn with a little display of anger and resentment. There was no evidence of hallucination neither did she project an image of self-destructive child. She expressed a genuine love and concerns for “Big Mamma and stated “I can’t understand why I have to remain a foster child, why can’t Big Mamma” adopt me and my sister right now?”
Soteriological Orientation of Ms. Glover:
Ms.Glover is a very deeply religious person who believes that “without God, I wouldn’t have made it this far.” She also believes that doing God’s will is not simply an entertaining rhetoric coming from the pulpit every Sunday but a way of life divinely ordained by God for those who genuinely believe in following in His (Christ’s) steps. “I know I’m not perfect” she once said during a psychotherapy session, “but I’m trying not to intentionally disappoint Him (God).” There is nothing in her demeanor to suggest membership of an extreme religious sect. There is no indication of intent, expressed or implied, to deny herself or the children in her care of secular help such as necessary medical, mental or nursing care because of religious affiliation or believe. Interaction with Janis and Khadijah Torrance are age appropriate and clearly indicative of the care and concerns of a loving and caring parent.
Comparative Assessment
Both Hyman and Sobel reports revealed that:
Janis and Khadijah are well adjusted
Both children have developed a sense of security in the Glover home and that they felt loved by their foster mother.
They appeared to be comfortable with plans for adoption
They appeared to have no sense of loss concerning relationship with their biological mother
They are well bonded to their foster mother/pre-adoptive mother, Ms. Glover
Janis and Khadijah’s biological mother, according to the Sobel report, revealed that:
“Ms. Williams (the biological mom) was apparently supportive of the adoption and feels at this point that the girls emotional and developmental needs are being well served in the Glover home.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that the adoption of Janis and Khadijah Torrance by Ms. Glover be considered and approved in accordance with the law of the State of Pennsylvania. This is necessary in the best interest of the children. According to their biological mom, as reported by Sobel Associates, “the girls emotional and developmental needs are being well served in the Glover home.” I find no evidence to suggest otherwise.
It is also recommended that Khadijah continue to receive individual and family psychotherapy focusing on age appropriate and socially acceptable behavior and interaction with opposite sex. The family psychotherapy portion of Khadijah’s treatment modalities should include Janis and Ms. Glover to avoid Khadijah developing unnecessary anger and resentment. “Why am I the only one left in psychotherapy?”
No individual psychotherapy is recommended for either Janis or Ms. Glover.
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Henry I. Balogun, Ph.D.