Aussie Childcare Network Forum

Scenario:
Imogen (6weeks) has severe colic and as a result will not settle in to a sleep routine.
She often cries for long periods of time.
Her mother is a teenager single parent with no family support. She is also being evicted from her home.

Identify two factors related to the parent/child that may contribute to the risk of abuse.

Answer: child crying for long period of time, she may need medical treatment

Or they will be getting evicted therefore have no home to live in
I’m stuck with this one

Yes, being evicted may also indicate that the parent is having financial difficulties, and therefore may not have the money to get medical help for the child (no transport to get child to doctor, then no money for medication). No family support is a big issue. If the child is crying all of the time because of her condition, then the mother would also be sleep deprived, resulting in irritability, impatience, etc, with nobody else to care for the child to give the parent some respite time. Eviction from the home could result in the mother and child becoming homeless - sleeping on the streets, in hostels - so the mother and child would be placed at risk, or put in risky situations, especially having to sleep on the streets, or in places where the parent doesn't know the people well. The abuse may end up coming from others, not the mother.