CASE VIGNETTE: Kara is a 15 y/o female who is originally from Colombia. She immigrated to the United States with her parents at the age of four years old. She and her parents present for support to address communication concerns in their family. During the first appointment we learn her mother approaches parenting from what we have described in this class to be responsive (also known as authoritative) parenting. Her father has an authoritarian approach to parenting and expects his teenager to follow the rules and guidelines he sometimes expects her "just to know".

Ever since she was a little girl Kara has always loved animals. She was given her own cell phone at the age of thirteen and through personal interests was exposed to online information about the reality of our industrialized food system, especially related to the treatment of animals. Kara approached her mother two years ago and expressed a desire to eat a plant-based diet and not buy beauty or fashion products that involve the harm of animals. Her mother has been accommodating to her request and has been receptive to integrating healthy food options for the family. Her father, on the other hand, has been very upset with his daughter Kara for declining to consume food with animal ingredients at home and social gatherings. He described her preferences and requests to be "extreme" and has been resistant to understanding his daughter's worldview. He stated, "Because we are Latino eating meat is a big part of our traditions. We have eaten like this for generations and since she lives in my house and does not pay for the groceries I do not think she has a say in what she can eat. Either you eat what is available or she can just be hungry". Kara has become withdrawn from many family members as result of feeling misunderstood about personal ethics and choices that are important to her regarding animals and desire to make changes to support global sustainability. Due to concerns about her dietary choices, she has been seen by a doctor and was informed that she is in very good health, is meeting all developmental milestones and based upon her medical labs has no nutritional deficiencies. Her father, on the other hand, has a history of hypertension, diabetes and is overweight. Her mother reported she has a past history of reproductive disorders, and since she has been amenable to making lifestyle changes such as eliminating dairy from her diet to support her daughter she has been in remission with past medical diagnoses. In addition to family communication issues, Kara has also experienced social withdrawal from her peers at school, sharing during the first appointment that her level of empathy for all living beings is often misunderstood and/or minimized by classmates when the topic arises.Kara shared that when she grows up she would like to be a veterinarian. Her mother has been supportive of her goals and she is completing community service hours for college admission at Mina's Mini Farm in Miami, Florida (https://www.minasminifarm.com/about-usLinks to an external site.). She has enjoyed feeling that she is making a difference in helping others and has developed a positive social support system outside of school related to her passion.

Her parents reason for seeking support is to address differing parenting styles as it relates to raising their daughter.

Inquiry One: Other than communication, what others issues do you think are affecting the role of parenting in this vignette?

Inquiry Two: What culturally responsive strategies and interventions do you think would be helpful to support the parents and their teenager Kara in addressing the presenting issue(s)?

Inquiry Three: How do you think parents can support open, honest communication about important topics with their children/teenagers? How does one's parenting style inform communication practices, including sensitivity and responsiveness to children/teenagers who may have different values and beliefs from family members and peers?