Handout 4:
Role Play:
Achieving the Greene Family's Goals
Facilitator's Instructions
Ask your group for five volunteers to role play 1) Ms. Roxy White, a Head Start staff member; 2) Mr. Jon Greene, janitor and father of three; 3) Mrs. Tania Greene, homemaker and mother of four; 4) Wesley Nash, age 13; 5) Ellen Greene, age 10. Distribute the role play name tags and the pre-cut role play scripts (depicted below) to each volunteer, making sure role players do not see each other's scripts. Give the role players a few minutes to think about their roles and establish the scene in the Greene family home. State that the purpose of this visit is to help the family develop a plan to achieve its goals, based on the information provided in the role play and using handout 5. Tell the volunteer playing the role of Ms. White to plan to take the lead in initiating the visit. Refer remaining group members to handout 6, which provides guidelines for observing and discussing the role play. Ask observers to separate themselves from the role players by moving their chairs outside the role play area. Allow about 20 minutes for the role play, being sure not to stop the visit at a critical point, and allow 25 minutes for discussion. (You may want to appoint a timekeeper.) During the discussion, make sure all role players and observers have the chance to share their reactions to the role play.
Role Play Scripts
Ms. Roxy White, Head Start Staff
Over the last several months, you believe that you have established a partnership with the Greene family built on mutual trust and respect. You see the Greene's as a kind and caring family with many strengths. Recently, you have been working in partnership with the Greene's by exploring family growth and identifying goals. At your last home visit, the Greene's identified three family goals. The family will 1) move into a larger living environment (at least three bedrooms) by next year; 2) enroll Mr. Greene into next month's job training course for auto mechanics; and 3) get medical advise within the next two weeks on controlling Wesley's increasing asthma attacks. This visit is devoted to developing a plan with the Greene's to achieve the family's goals. Start by reviewing the family's previously identified goals.
Mr. Jon Greene, Janitor and Father of Three
You want nothing more than to support your family and make all your wife's dreams come true. Unfortunately, all of your hopes for the family have evaporated. You would like to move to a bigger apartment, but you feel that you just can't afford this goal. Moving, you believe, would require setting aside your life long dream of becoming an auto mechanic. To make matters worse, you and your wife have been having arguments over money. However, you just know that things would be easier if Ricky Nash paid his child support. You are considering swallowing your pride and taking the little extra money that is always offered from your mother-in-law. You are very proud of Wesley and work with him as often as possible on his homework because you hope he will go to college someday. Yesterday, you quit smoking in order to help Wesley with his asthma. However, you just don't know how to help the other children. You are impressed that Roxy was willing to meet with the entire family.
Mrs. Tania Greene, Homemaker and Mother of Four
You are extremely tired and overextended. You feel that you are responsible for Michele being unable to speak in complete sentences. Once Jim was born, you had only limited time for her. In the past, you have refused to enroll Jim in Early Head Start. However, Roxy recently linked you with a new home-based education program offered by the community. For the last several weeks, you have been trying new developmental techniques with Jim, but nothing seems to be working. You worry continually about Ellen. You don't want her to repeat your mistakes and become pregnant at age 16. However, you have been unable to bring up any life discussions with your daughter. You wish that Ricky would either pay his child support or just disappear altogether. The fights between your husband and Picky are upsetting to Wesley and driving you crazy. You fear that if you don't get out of the house and talk with other adults, you may start talking in one word sentences. You don't blame your husband. He works extremely hard in order to provide for the family. You know that he is worried about being able to afford new housing, but you know that you can cut down on some expenses and move to the house of your dreams. More importantly, if your husband succeeds in the job training program, your family will not need to worry about money. You are prepared to do whatever it takes to make life better.
Wesley Nash, Thirteen Years Old
Everything makes you cry. The kids tease you at school, and you feel embarrassed that you can't control your emotions. You want nothing more than to move so that you can have your own room. You realize that if your father provided consistent support, the family would have the money it needs to move. Nonetheless, you want to help your mother find a house in a new neighborhood away from your real father. You love Jon and wish that he could be your father. In the past, you have offered to baby-sit for Jim in order to give your mother a break. However, your mother refuses to leave Jim with anyone. Because Michele looks up to you, most afternoons you work with Michele on homework aimed at improving her sentences. Ellen, though, refuses even to be seen with you.
Ellen Greene, Ten Years Old
You don't know why everyone is so upset with you. You haven't done anything wrong. But one thing is for sure: If the family moves, you are NOT GOING!! You have told your mother this time and again. You recently got a navel ring and showed some boys at school. Everyone thought it was really cool. Now, the popular girls want to be your friends. However, you are worried because next year you will be in the same school with Wesley. Everyone calls him a geek. You hope that no one thinks that he is your brother. You know that you haven't always been an angel, but you hope that if you show a little more effort by doing some housework, Mom will listen and pay attention to you.
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