Cassie is a 35-year-old white female, who lost custody of her two children. Cassie has been a heroin addict for 10 years, but for the last 12 months has been in recovery and is now drug free. Cassie's absence from her children included a six-month incarceration for committing burglary at a convenience store. It was during that six-month period in jail that she started her recovery.

Cassie's mother and father have custody of Cassie's 12-year-old son, Austin and her 8-year-old daughter, Amber. Austin and Amber have different fathers. Both were placed in the care of the state (Department of Child Safety (DCS) for custodial/legal support but have been in the residential home of their grandparents for the past 5 years. Cassie has made an effort to call both kids weekly and also writes to them regularly. Austin responds well to his mother, but Amber hesitates to talk to her mom on the phone and does not answer her letters.

Neither of the kids' fathers is involved in their lives. However, Austin's paternal grandparents take him every other weekend and occasionally Amber goes on these weekend visitations. Austin has met his aunts and uncles and goes to school with a few of his cousins. Austin's grandparents are both actively involved in their church and both kids enjoy Sunday school classes, church picnics, and have church friends they communicate with during the week. Both kids have been excelling in school. Cassie's parents take Austin to Little League and Amber plays soccer.

Lyndia is the Social Worker from DCS assigned to Austin and Amber. Lyndia reports that both children are doing well developmentally, doing well in school, and socially adjusted, but Lyndia thinks that it is time for Cassie and her children to be unified. The grandparents have some concern that Amber has anger and resentment toward her mother. The grandparents are working with Lyndia to achieve unification, however the grandparents desire to act in the best interest of the children.

Explain how Austin's and Amber's well-being has been affected by the grandparents

Explain how Austin and Amber's needs have affected the grandparents?

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