Margaret (age 38), identifies as a Mexican American homemaker, is seeking services

from a local service agency. Margaret tells the caseworker that she feels overwhelmed with her

usual responsibilities with the additional pressures of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, she feels depressed, doesn't sleep well or eat much, and is irritable much of the

time. She has eliminated most of her social interactions and the only outside activity she feels

comfortable doing is attending Sunday Mass with her family. Recently, Margaret’s father (77) a

retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant, had a fall, and is no longer able to live alone. Margaret helped him

move into a local assisted living, but is struggling to ensure his emotional needs are met. She was

able to sign him up for food stamps to assist with the cost of food. Margaret lives with her family

in Yuma, AZ (for history of Yuma https://www.yumaaz.gov/about-yuma for census information

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/yumacountyarizona/PST04521).

Her partner Jenna (age 42) also identifies as Mexican American, is an architect who

works long hours and often unwinds after work by enjoying a few drinks. Margaret

communicates that Jenna’s drinking upsets her because her father was an alcoholic and she is

concerned about the few times Jenna has picked up the kids after she had a few drinks. Jenna is

passionate about her architecture work and was awarded the Yuma Architect of the year in 2019.

Due to COVID-19 Jenna moved her architecture practice to her home and now all four family

members are under the same roof for the bulk of the time together. In talking with the case

worker, Jenna reports the line between family and work has been blurred due to COVID-19, her

drinking has increased after work to destress. She reports her work load has increased since

working from home and she has no energy left to engage with her children or partner at the end

of the day. She says that when she tries to cut back drinking during special events or during Lent,

she finds that she is irritable and craves alcohol. She believes that if she wanted to, she could

probably cut back but feels alcohol helps her relax. Jenna reports she is concerned about Lisa’s

inability to focus and her struggling grades.

They live with their 2 children Lisa (age 15) who is capable of caring for herself and

helping around the house, but prefers to hang out with her friends and be involved in sports and

other extracurricular activities; and their youngest son, David (age 9), who has Down's

Syndrome and needs assistance in self-care and day-to-day activities.

Lisa (15) is very socially active in extracurricular and athletic events. In school

she fidgets and has a hard time sitting still. She also struggles with time management and tends

to be disorganized. She chronically misplaces everyday objects like her backpack, mask and cell

phone. She will often be late to volleyball practice and her friends comment on how forgetful she

is. Although she wants her school work to be perfect, she is prone to making careless mistakes.

The struggle for perfection makes starting a new assignment feel very stressful, leading her to

procrastinate starting in the first place. As a consequence, she recently failed a big test, which

has led to her acute fear of failing 10th grade, and not being eligible to play volleyball. She

recently made the varsity volleyball team as a 10th grader.

David (9) is thriving in his current school environment. He has great support in his

special education classroom and is mainstreamed for several classes. Margaret and Jenna keep a

consistent schedule for him throughout his entire day that sets him up for success.

The case worker receives a call yesterday from Margaret that Jenna was pulled over for

driving under the influence two blocks from their house. Jenna was on her way home with the

kids. Jenna was arrested and Margaret was called to pick up the kids. As of today, Jenna is

currently in jail and Margaret came home to a card on the door from child protective services.

Jenna is facing an aggravated DUI because of her blood alcohol level and because both children

were in the car.