The Case of Gabriel Fernandez – Students are to research the case of Gabriel Fernandez, an 8-year-old child who was subjected to multiple forms of abuse and neglect over several months while in the care of his biological mother and her boyfriend. The sustained abuse ultimately resulted in his death.
Trigger warning: The content related to this case may be disturbing. Students should be prepared to encounter graphic images and detailed descriptions while conducting their research. It is strongly recommended that you begin your research early and take appropriate breaks as needed.
Purpose/Expectation: the purpose and expectation of this project is for students to demonstrate their understanding of the various forms of child abuse and neglect covered over the course of the semester as it relates to this real-life case. In addition students must demonstrate their understanding of the systems involved, warning signs and the responsibilities of mandated reporters.
Instructions: Students are required to create a PowerPoint presentation not to exceed 15 slides based on their research into the case. The title slide and reference slide do not count toward the slides requirement. Each slide must include written content in the form of bullet points and/or complete sentences (refer to slide expectations below for further information regarding this requirement). Visuals, images, and charts are not permitted.
IMPORTANT NOTE: I will not read beyond the maximum slide requirement which can result in a loss of points unnecessarily. Don’t lose points unnecessarily!
In-text citations are required: All factual information included in the presentation must be supported by in-text citations on the corresponding slides.
· In-text citations should appear on the same slide as the information being cited.
· Use APA author–date format for in-text citations (e.g., Fernandez & Aguirre, 2013 or Smith, 2020).
· Place citations at the end of the bullet point or sentence in parentheses.
· If multiple sources are used on one slide, include a citation for each source.
· Direct quotes must be placed in quotation marks and include the author and year.
Important notes:
Students must identify three specific forms of abuse and/or neglect present in the case. Each form must be named individually and supported with clear details from the case. General statements such as “abuse” or “neglect” are not sufficient. There are different types of abuse and neglect, and each must be addressed separately.
For each identified form, students should briefly explain their understanding of that type of abuse and include details from the case that support their conclusion . For example, if child sexual abuse is identified, students must explain what child sexual abuse is and describe the case details that indicate it occurred.
Required Slide Structure (sample template provided for use or as a reference)
Title Slide (does not count toward slide requirement)
Same requirements as per homework assignments/syllabus
Background Summary
Brief summary of the case ( complete sentences only – no bullets)
Timeline Overview
Must include from the time Gabriel was born until his death
Form of child abuse and/or child neglect #1
Understanding of the form (complete sentence(s) only – no bullets)
Details from case to support the form chosen
Form of child abuse and/or child neglect #2
Understanding of the form (complete sentence(s) only – no bullets)
Details from case to support the form chosen
Form of child abuse and/or child neglect #3
Understanding of the form (complete sentence(s) only – no bullets)
Details from case to support the form chosen
Background Information (mother)
Details regarding the mother’s background and its relevance to child abuse
Mandated Reporter(s) Actions/Roles
Must include your understanding of the responsibility of a mandated reporter
Must identify mandated reporter(s) involved in the case
CPS/Agency Failures
Systemic Barriers
Legal Outcomes
Your personal reflection
Reference Slide (does not count toward slide requirement)
· Minimum of 3 references required
· Does not replace the requirement for in-text citations on individual slides.
· Wikipedia is not permitted
· Textbook is permitted
