Freedom and security are two of the greatest ideals man ever had. Put together they both represent the biggest problem and conflict in the history of mankind. The great Russian, F. M. Dostoevski whose artistic understanding of the human spirit has never been surpassed, dealt with the relationship between these types of liberty in the famous scene "The Grand Inquisitor" in his book "The Brothers Karamazov". [...]

This is a study of the play and recreation of a number of families in which at least one person from each family is a member of the University Settlement of Montreal. Through this study an attempt will be made to determine whether the University Settlement can be of greater benefit to the family by providing a play and recreational program for them.

This thesis is concerned with an exploratory study and analysis of the recreational and informal educational experiences of a sample of ten juvenile delinquents selected from the Girls' Cottage School. The purpose of the study is to examine the sample's recreational experiences with a view to drawing implications for the role of recreational and informal educational agencies in delinquency prevention.

Objectives. Explore and describe the impact of premature life-threatening illness, stigma, multiple loss of significant others, decreased vocational choice and mobility and decreased financial security among young gay men living with AIDS. It was hypothesized that young gay men with AIDS and the elderly experience similar physical, social, and psychological changes, but the cognitive adaptation to these changes are hindered by the non-normative timing of these events. / Methods. Thirty-two self-identified gay men with AIDS between the ages of 22 to 44 years were recruited from an out-patient clinic in Montreal. These participants were asked to complete a comprehensive questionnaire, which assessed the respondent's daily stress, impact of HIV, health-related quality of life, ways of coping, multiple loss, dependency on informal and formal supports, and preparation for death. Quantitative methods were used to analyse the data. / Results. The hypothesis was confirmed. Respondents reported relatively low levels of health-related quality of life, significant concern over health and financial security, considerable multiple loss, increased dependency on informal and formal supports, proportionally greater use of active coping strategies, and significant concern about discrimination. / Conclusions. A comprehensive method of intervention which addresses all of the biopsychosocial aspects to care is proposed. It is suggested that a coordinated multidisiciplinary approach to clinical and research endeavors should be adopted to address the multidimensional obstacles facing young gay men with AIDS.

Tourette's syndrome (TS) is a chronic movement disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics. This report looks at TS through the eyes of three families and two adults diagnosed with the syndrome. The social and psychological reactions and adjustment to the disorder are examined. Three approaches were used to explore the issues: a literature review; field notes and unstructured biographical interviews. Social and psychological reactions include: depression, withdrawal and suicidal ideation. Unresponsiveness on the part of the health care and social service systems contributed to feelings of anger, powerlessness, guilt and shame. The families' and individuals' ability to lobby for services was an important factor in enhancing adjustment. TS is a multi-faceted disorder; it serves as a paradigm for issues and problems that are best served by a multi-disciplinary approach. Services must be coordinated; a case management approach would facilitate efficient coordination and delivery of services.

Much debate on the conceptualization of race and racism currently exists in the literature. By applying a critical approach to the study of the racism, it will be the basis from which to embark on a theoretically informed review of the literature, and to be able to apply my theoretical framework, which is composed of the following concepts: culture, power and dominance to the problem of racism in social service agencies. Specifically, an examination of current approaches, and the introduction of anti-racism strategies as a viable solution will be documented. It is concluded that there is a need to (1) challenge and modify the current knowledge base on racism in social service agencies; and (2) a need to provide social workers and policy-makers with the necessary tools to combat racism in social service agencies.

In this study, an attempt was made to determine if alcoholism counsellors tend to view their clients' wives negatively. For this purpose, a self-administered questionnaire was designed. Of the 284 questionnaires mailed to counsellors in Quebec, Ontario and New York State, 176 were returned. Several statistical tests were used to determine which factor(s) affected their opinion. It was found that American counsellors and counsellors who are recovering alcoholics tend to agree with the disturbed personality theory, adopt the codependence concept more readily, and view wives of alcoholics as more pathological than do the Canadian counsellors and the counsellors of a professional background. Further research is suggested to explore the possible cultural differences in the two countries as well as the apparent benefit of having counsellors of a professional background in treatment centers.

Statistics corroborate the substantial and deleterious impact of substance abuse to both client and client systems. Social workers are regularly exposed to clients who are directly or indirectly affected by substance abuse. A random survey of social workers working with Anglophone and Allophone populations on the island of Montreal was conducted to evaluate the workers perceived ability to recognize and respond to the needs of this client group. Links were drawn to the various ways in which social workers developed their knowledge about addiction and to the worker's formal social work education. The study demonstrates the inadequacy of the formal social work program to address the problem of substance abuse. The implications for schools of social work and the need to develop core curriculum as well as specializations in substance abuse are presented.

Ten front-line maternal social workers were interviewed to determine how they are managing in terms of combining their work and family responsibilities. Supervisor support, and the effectiveness of family-friendly work place policies were explored. All agreed, that motherhood, has had a positive impact on practice including increased empathy and understanding, for both parents and children. The following workplace initiatives were determined to be helpful: flexible and predictable work hours; part-time options; and compressed-work-week. Despite half feeling unsupported by their supervisors, the majority indicated that they are managing well primarily due to flexible work hour scheduling. The attitude of supervisors, regarding the value of parenting, appears to be the key factor relating to their level of support. There was some indication of role conflict and much evidence of accommodation, including turning down supervisory/management positions, postponing education and restricting types of practice.

Children placed in foster care are at an increased risk for attachment difficulties due to the maltreatment they may have suffered, the separation from their primary caregivers, as well as the possibility of repeated moves to various foster homes. This raises questions as to the extent to which child welfare workers incorporate attachment theory in planning for children in care. Replicating a study originally conducted by R. K Grigsby (1994) in the United States of America, worker's use of attachment theory was examined through a review of a sample of 30 files belonging to children between the ages of 0 and 3 currently in foster care with Batshaw Youth and Family Centres. The results of the file review indicate that concepts related to attachment are generally included in most files. However, relatively few cases include comprehensive attachment assessments. Practice implications including the need for increased attachment training are also discussed. / Les enfants placés dans les foyers d'accueil courent un risque élevé de difficultés d'attachement affectif dû au mauvais traitement qu'ils peuvent avoir subi antérieurement, à la séparation de leur parent, ainsi qu'à la possibilité de déménagements répétés entre plusieurs différents foyers. Ceci pose la question : dans quelle mesure les travailleurs sociaux incorporent-ils une théorie de l'attachement affectif dans la planification des soins d'un enfant? Reproduisant une étude menée aux États-Unis par R.K. Grigsby (1994), l'utilisation par les travailleurs sociaux d'une théorie de l'attachement a été examinée par moyen de l'analyse d'un échantillon de trente dossiers d'enfants âgés de 0 à 3 ans et présentement dans des foyers d'accueil des Centres de la jeunesse et de la famille Batshaw. Les résultats de l'analyse démontrent que des concepts liés à l'attachement affectif sont généralement contenus dans la majorité des dossiers, mais que peu des cas poursuivent des évaluations complètes de l'attachement. Les incidences sur la pratique, y compris le besoin d'une augmentation de la formation en attachement, sont aussi considérées.