The Aggression Replacement Training Program (ART) is an approach to reduce aggression in Young Offenders. This program was implemented with a sample of youths on probation and living in the community (N = 21). The goal was to evaluate the efficacy of the program, and to measure changes in aggression, skill acquisition and recidivism rates. A quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design was used. The Aggression Questionnaire and Skillstreaming Checklist were the main source of data and results were compared pre- and posttest. Recidivism rates were determined six months after the start of the program. An improvement in aggression scores was found in the ART sample, but this was not statistically significant. Only 5.8% of the total sample that had recidivated, committed an aggressive crime. Recommendations are made to maximize the efficacy of the ART program for the future.

This thesis critically surveys the dynamics of social work modernization in the state of Indonesia. The study examines the polarization, characteristics and trends of social work throughout the history of Indonesia. The survey begins by reviewing the two contexts of the historical developments of social work in both the developed and developing countries of the Third World. This historical overview is pivotal to place the context of social work development in Indonesia. Tracing the origins and the nature of 'social work' in Indonesia under the pre- and colonial rule will further highlight the course of its development. The adoption of modern social work in the post-colonial is examined afterward. The historical examination of social work in Indonesia is particularly relevant in underscoring the roots of the present criticism leveled at Indonesian social policy and work.

An exploratory, qualitative study on the experiences of Polish older adults who made a transition from independent living to an ethno-specific residential care facility in Toronto is presented. Using the framework of Continuity Theory of Aging, the impact of ethnic/cultural identity on the process of relocation and subsequent adjustment to a nursing home environment was investigated. A purposive sampling strategy was used to select 2 male and 4 female participants. The data was collected using long interviews that were tape recorded and transcribed verbatim. The findings of this study indicate that the subjects employed specific coping strategies that stem from traditional value orientation and life experiences hence suggesting that ethnic/cultural identity may have played a role in their successful adaptation to residential care setting. Although this research study is limited to one group of older adults and cannot be generalized to other ethnic groups, it has a potential to contribute to increasing the body of knowledge about the dynamics of residential care placement among ethnic minority seniors. Implications for social work policy, research and practice are discussed.

This qualitative study investigated what factors impact Home-care professionals' ability to effectively discuss and intervene with older adults on the topic of intimacy and sexuality, and to generate a theoretical model for methods in which professionals deal with the subject matter. In depth interviews with nine Home-care professionals (social workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nurses, home-care workers, team coordinators) from a Montreal CLSC who regularly intervene among older adults and utilize the Multiclientele Autonomy Assessment form, documentary evidence, and grounded theory analysis were utilized. Interviews centered on the professionals' conceptions of their roles and experiences as health and social service providers with regards to sexuality in later life. A theoretical model was developed describing (a) Home-care professionals' discomfort in inquiring and/or discussing the topic of sexuality with older adults, (b) phenomena that arose from those causal conditions, (c) strategies for facilitating intervention on the topic with older adults, (d) the consequences of those strategies. Implications for future research and practice are addressed.

Most theoretical and methodological research addressing victimization, social support, and loneliness has focused on early childhood and adulthood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the link between victimizing behavior and lack of social support that may lead to loneliness in adolescents. / A cross sectional survey with 152 students ages 12-16 years from grades 8-10 was conducted in a Montreal public secondary school in September 2004. Three empirically validated tools were used: the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russell et al., 1980), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet et al., 1988), and the Bullying - Fighting and Victimization Scale (Espelage and Holt, 2001). Results of regression analysis indicated that absence of family and friends' support and victimization are highly significant predictors of adolescent loneliness (p ≤ .001). / There remains a need to increase support available for victimized and lonely adolescents at school, at home, and in the community.

The goal of this study was to learn more about the experience of Canadian military fathers who participated in a fathers' support group entitled "With Dads Around, Kids Are Sound." An explorative, semi-structured, qualitative design was applied to gain understanding of the participants' perspectives. The sample consisted of seven military fathers. The researcher also interviewed three wives in an attempt to corroborate some of the findings. The two main reasons that brought fathers into the group were role conflict and wanting to prevent family problems. Based on comments received, the program was found to be effective in supporting military fathers. Key elements noted by participants include normalization, peer support, and learning ways to prevent dysfunctional family patterns. Recommendations to improve the program include making it a continuous opportunity---including a specific chapter on military lifestyle---and being more flexible with the content to allow for more peer support-type discussion. Implications for social work practice, policy, and research are also discussed.

Five immigrant single mothers were interviewed to explore the dynamics of the relationship between immigrant single mothers and their children when they reunite in Canada. Difficulties, in attachment, parenting, and the transition into the new culture were identified. Immigration policies about foreign domestic workers and delays in emigration process were factors that prolonged separation between mothers and their children. The mothers agreed that separation from their children contributed to the difficulties, but physical and psychological preparation before reunification lessened the challenge. Loving and listening to children, and involvement in the Christian mono-ethnic community churches were identified as effective coping strategies. Culturally sensitive approaches by social workers with these clients are recommended.

In this small qualitative study, the researcher explores how four families involved in resource foster care services conceptualize concurrent planning in the child welfare system. Analysis of the four semi-structured transcribed interviews revealed four dominant themes: hope and optimism that resource foster care could be a rewarding alternative to further infertility treatment; anger and fear of disruption related to birth family visits; identification of the foster child as their own; and uncertainty regarding resource foster care team rules, roles, and responsibilities. Each theme was influenced by an attachment to the child they were fostering and the fear of losing that child. / The findings suggest that resource foster parents do not fully embrace concurrent planning as a philosophy of care that supports and works towards the best interests of children. Practice principles central to concurrent planning were often abandoned as a result of intense identification with adoptive parenthood status. / The researcher has included a number of recommendations with respect to future studies, training needs, and recruitment strategies. The conclusion states that in the best interests of children, resource foster parents must fully embrace the concept of concurrent planning defined within child welfare context and legislation.

Policies and programs aimed at combating social isolation for community residing older adults are commonplace. Strikingly, these policies and programs are based on a body of literature that largely excludes the voices of older adults. Understanding how older adults perceive, experience and respond to social isolation is important if current policies and programs aim to better meet their needs. This qualitative phenomenological study sought to fill this gap in the literature by exploring how six older adults perceived and managed their social isolation. All participants resided in a rent-geared-to income complex in Montreal and all were identified as socially isolated by their service providers. The study revealed that older adults actively protect themselves from social isolation by engaging in purposeful activities within their homes and housing communities, and by engaging in low-risk social interactions. Policy and practice implications emerging from these findings include the significance of critically examining notions of aging well and the potential importance of fostering safe common spaces within housing facilities. / Nous pouvons constater une augmentation des politiques et programmes qui ont pour mission de briser l'isolement social. La plupart de ces programmes sont centrés sur des études qui n'incluent pas le point de vue des personnes âgées. Il est primordial de considérer la perspective unique des aînés pour s'assurer que les besoins de cette population soient répondus. En utilisant une approche phénoménologique, cette étude qualitative a comme but de remplir cette lacune méthodologique, en explorant la façon dont six personnes âgées gèrent leur isolement social. Tous les participants résident en logement social à Montréal et ont été identifiés comme personnes isolées par leurs fournisseurs de services. L'étude effectuée a démontré que les aînés s'auto protègent de l'isolement social par le biais des activités ciblées, surtout à l'intérieur de leurs logements ou bâtisses, et aussi par la rétention des relations sociales à bas risques. Les résultats rapportés possèdent des implications politiques et pratiques, tels que le besoin de porter un regard critique ses les notions de bien vieillir et d'accommoder les personnes âgées dans leur milieu de vie avec des espaces accueillants et sécuritaires.

This study explores the ways in which the intersections of sexuality and identity are experienced and understood by a queer woman living with a disability. Through a narrative account of critical moments and turning points in the participant's lived experience of disability, sexuality and gender, this study examines the ways in which intersecting identities both shape and are shaped by context and experiences of the body as both complex and fluid. The participant's narrative provides a rich account of her experiences embodying multiple marginalized and intersecting social locations. The points at which her queer and disability identities intersect and diverge illuminate findings important to gaining a deeper understanding of the ways in which sexuality, queer identity and disability interact to produce particularized experiences of health, agency and resistance in daily life. The participant articulated how pain, visibility/invisibility, and the changing body contributed to her understanding of her own identity as queer and disabled. Agency and resistance were important lived concepts for her, particularly with respect to interactions with health care providers and systems and among communities in which she both located support and challenged hegemonic practices of gender presentation and discrimination. She described how support, knowledge and faith in her body, control and experimentation helped her maintain strength. This research provides insight into areas for future study, as well as recommendations for social work practice and social policy. / La présente étude se penche sur la façon dont la sexualité et l'identité s'entrecroisent et sont intimement vécues et comprises par une lesbienne présentant un handicap physique. À travers un compte rendu des moments clés et des tournants du vécu de la participante, cette étude examine de quelle façon le croisement des identités détermine et est déterminé par le contexte, l'expérience et l'intériorisation des concepts d'infirmité, de sexualité et d'identité à travers un corps à la fois malléable et récalcitrant.Le récit de la participante fournit une riche description de ses expériences en tant que marginale ayant été amenée à endosser de multiples identités et à incarner différents rôles en société. À la croisée des chemins de ses identités gay et handicapée -qui se recoupent et se séparent- ressortent des conclusions significatives dans l'optique d'une compréhension plus profonde de la façon dont les identités sexuelle, gay et handicapée interagissent pour donner lieu à une expérience intime unique des notions de santé, d'autonomie et de résilience au quotidien.La participante dépeint comment les notions de douleur, de perceptible et d'imperceptible ainsi que les transformations imposées à son corps par son handicap l'ont menée à une meilleure compréhension de sa propre identité en tant que lesbienne et handicapée. Sa force de caractère et sa capacité d'adaptation furent des tuteurs de résilience importants, tout particulièrement en ce qui concerne les nombreuses interactions avec le système de santé et ses différents acteurs ainsi que dans la vie communautaire en général. Elle affirme y avoir trouvé le soutien nécessaire pour combattre l'hégémonie et les préjugés liés à l'orientation sexuelle et lutter contre la discrimination subséquente à ceux-ci. Le soutien des pairs, l'acquisition de connaissances, l'expérimentation et la créativité dont elle a su faire preuve pour reprendre possession de ce corps indocile sont autant de facteurs lui ayant permis de rester forte et courageuse tout au long des épreuves.Cette étude fournit des pistes intéressantes pour la recherche future, ainsi que des recommandations utiles à la pratique du travail social, à l'application des politiques sociales et au développement de ressources destinées aux personnes handicapées.