This research attempted to examine the reasons why children and youths disclose their sexual victimization, as well as the manner of their disclosure, specific to the school setting. An original questionnaire was developed, and given out to all the school social workers from one social service agency. Each worker chose, non-randomly one case of sexual abuse disclosure. / It was hypothesized that if a child or youth had decided to disclose their sexual victimization in the school setting they would do so in a planned and overt manner, choosing an adult with whom they had a close, positive and trusting relationship; a positive authority figure. Both hypotheses were borne out, although the strongest predictors of planned disclosure in this study, were that the victim had a positive relationship with the adult they told, knew them fairly well, and that they were being abused by their natural father or live-in father-figure.

This study examined the introduction of a Child Sexual Abuse Protocol, supported by a specialized training program, in a large social service centre, to determine effects on social work practice and case outcomes. The sample (N = 261) represented referrals during two years, one before and one after introduction of the Protocol. Data sources were agency files, supplemented by interviews with five key informants. It was found that the Protocol and training had little effect on worker practice or case outcomes. An uneven and ambiguous implementation process, combined with the lack of coordination of the social service, police, and judicial systems, were contributing factors. The conflicting views of managers were important influences. Interagency coordination, and application of consistent standards, are recommended. Effective intervention in child sexual abuse cases requires a revision of the Protocol, which takes into account the experiences and limitations of the participating systems.

This is a study of 77 cases which were served by the Jewish Immigrant Aid Society for a six months' period, and then referred to the local Jewish family welfare agency. lt is the purpose of this study to examine the major problems of this group, in order to provide facts on the basis of which present needs and services can be accurately evaluated, and future plans realistically considered.

Throughout the ages there have been many theories to explain functional mental disorders and many forms of treatment prescribed to help the psychotic individual return to health and peace of mind. One of the most recently developed therapies is the surgical treatment of mental disorder. Freeman and Watts describe psychosurgery as "a destructive surgical attack upon the brain in attempt to relieve distressing symptoms", and contrast it with the "passive, mysticism of psychoanalysis in its search for truth in the fundamentals of the developing personality". [...]

Academic literature abounds with work on the objects of racism, and on the effects this system of domination has on racialized populations. Yet, this literature is limited when it comes to those who maintain and profit from racism. In Québec, literature about whiteness is almost absent in English, and inexistent in French. Historically, whiteness has been constructed as superior through the process of racialization, where racialized others are excluded from humanity. This exclusion becomes the justification for the exploitation of their labour, their resources, their land. Through the constant construction of otherness, whiteness remained -and remains- invisible. This thesis seeks to understand how whiteness was deployed in Québec as a system of domination. How do white Québécois understand the white identity, along with their relationship with racialized groups? White Québécois college students were interviewed about their interpretation of whiteness, of otherness, of racism and of their participation in the system of racism. Their interpretations were analysed in light of critical white studies, critical pedagogy, and post-colonial writers. This study reveals that not only whiteness has remained invisible in Québec, but that it shapes the vision whites have of racialized populations and of racism. Furthermore, this study illustrates how racism and white privilege are maintained at the core of Québecois/Canadian society. / La littérature académique abonde d'écrits portant sur les objets du racisme, ainsi que sur ses effets en tant que système de domination pour les populations racisées. Par contre, on retrouve peu de textes qui traitent des populations qui maintiennent le racisme et qui en profitent. Au Québec, les écrits sur la « blancheur » sont très rares en anglais et inexistants en français. Historiquement, la blancheur a été construite comme étant supérieure à travers un processus de racialisation, où l'autre racisé était exclu de toute humanité. Cette exclusion était justificative de l'exploitation de son labeur, de ses ressources et de sa terre. Dans sa construction constante de l'autre, la « blancheur » restait –et reste- invisible. Ce mémoire cherche à comprendre comment la « blancheur » s'est installée en tant que système de domination. Il tente de découvrir comment l'identité blanche est comprise au Québec et quelle est sa relation avec les populations racisées. Afin de répondre à ces questions, des cégépiens blancs ont été questionnés sur leur interprétation de la blancheur ainsi que sur leur participation au système du racisme. Leurs interprétations sont ensuite analysées à la lumière des études critiques de la « blancheur », de la pédagogie critique et des auteurs postcoloniaux. Cette étude révèle que non seulement la « blancheur » est restée invisible au sein de la société québécoise, mais qu'elle façonne la vision que nous avons des groupes racisés et du racisme. Cette étude démontre également que le racisme et les privilèges blancs sont au centre de la société québécoise/canadienne.

This qualitative research study explores female circumcision within the Canadian community perspective. / Issues examined in the literature review include: the historical background of the practice, its cultural and religious implications, its effects on health, existing social pressures to continue or discontinue the practice and the subjective constructions of majority and minority identities, perspectives and interactions in Canada's multicultural society. / For the purposes of this study majority/minority relations are explored in terms of the interactions between an immigrant community from a FC practicing country and the mainstream community in Canada. The Somali community has been chosen for this case study as the one best known to the author and as one in whose country of origin available statistics indicate a 98% prevalence rate of FC. Canadian mainstream reactions to this practice are analyzed through media reporting and statements from Somalis in Canada describing their interactions with the mainstream community on this issue. / Members of the Somali community in Montreal, Quebec and Ottawa, Ontario were interviewed in order to cover as wide an area as possible, including difference in provinces. The following six themes were chosen after data analysis: the Effects of FC on Health, the Cultural Orientation of FC, Religious Beliefs Regarding FC, Social Pressures, A Sense of Differentness and Efforts to Discourage the Practice of FC. These themes are discussed with special attention being paid to 'differentness' and the mechanisms or coping skills developed to deal with this complex social phenomenon which involves opposing values, beliefs and perceptions. / In its final section, the study examines the social work implications of the findings which address intercultural fears, anxieties and the dynamics of power involved in the way the FC issue has been addressed in Canada. / Practice, program and policy recommendations with regard to discouraging FC practice are made at the end of the thesis. / The study concludes with the observation that the debate around FC in Canada is much wider than the issue itself and that the practice has been sensationalized in a manner which has emphasized perceptions of differentness which exist in our society. No constructive dialogue will be possible around this issue until the issue of differentness is addressed, and mutual fears and anxieties evoked by the perception of differentness are dealt with in a sensitive manner, in both immigrant and mainstream communities.

The goal of this descriptive/exploratory study was to examine the behavior and attitudes of eleven white and five non-white mothers involved in raising multiracial, preschool-aged, biological children. A theoretical framework based on research carried out with multiracial individuals was used to define interracial parenting strategies that promoted strong racial and personal identities in their children. Through individual interviews, using a questionnaire, an opinion survey, and four vignettes that described racially complex situations, two areas of parenting were examined: contact maintained by mothers with the child's minority background, and the mothers capacity to effectively problem-solve. / Little difference was found between the responses of white and non-white mothers. However, among white mothers, the younger, less educated mothers had considerably more contact with the minority culture than did the older, highly educated mothers. The latter, however, performed significantly better than their younger counterparts in providing responses that displayed more of the attitudes and parenting strategies recommended in previous research.

Social work is a profession that espouses respect for the value of diversity. However, diversity is limited in social work programs as these programs focus primarily on the teaching of verbal methods of connection for social workers to engage with clients. Non verbal methods of communication are limited in social work programs. This inhibits diversity as research has demonstrated that many clients for various reasons are unable to communicate through verbal dialogue. This present study explored social workers attitudes towards the use of art in their therapy. Six social workers from a children's mental health agency were interviewed and the results indicated that social workers used art in their work and found it beneficial for their clients. The social workers limited education in non-verbal modalities of communication however, prevented them from using the art effectively. The study recommends that social work programs include nonverbal methods of communication to ensure diversity and best practice for the profession of social work.

Stress is inherent in our daily lives and it is debilitating to our mental health. My assumption is that racism and stress are intertwined. The purpose of this research is to explore the narratives of Black social service workers who are working in mainstream social service agencies. I will explore whether, and how, they experience racism and how their experiences might result in a range of stressors in the workplace. This paper is based on the premise that the amount of stress Black social workers are subjected to is directly related to the social and structural forces within the agencies, in terms of racism, sexism and domination. / In particular, I am arguing that it is stressful for Black social workers to work in an agency that perpetuates and condones racism and this may bring about added tension to the working environment. By focusing on everyday forms of racism and its' impact on the mental health of Black social workers, the analysis will also reflect my experiences of personal and institutional racism, the effects of internalized racism and coping strategies aimed at retaining a mental stability and competency on the job. Exploratory interviews were conducted with six social workers, five of whom were front-line workers and one manager, in three social services agencies in Canada, to examine their experiences of racism, their responses and coping strategies which they have adopted to deal with the day-to-day stressors in their jobs. In addition, an examination of current policies, practices and procedures will be interpreted within the organizational structure of the agencies.

During the last fifty years, family life has noticeably changed in industrialized countries. Among many changes, it appears that there is a shift from a "family dominated" society to a more "individualistic" society where the concept of family loses its importance, family ties weakens, and elders lose their essential roles within the family because the continuity between generations in respect to family traditions and values is stopped. Ethnic-elders have different expectations from their family members based on their ethnic-identity, family values, and the extent of their acculturation. These value differences might also influence the accessibility and provision of psycho-social services. Therefore, the purpose of the present cross-cultural study was to understand and compare different ethnic-elders' expectations from their family members and from psychosocial service providers based on their concept of perception of family values. An instrument was designed for this study implementing a 4 point-scale and vignettes. Data were collected from seniors from South Asian (Sri-Lanka), Korean, Hungarian and Jewish communities and from a group of Social Worker (N = 94). Significant differences were found between group values: overall the Social Worker group was the most individualistic/non-traditional with the Jewish group next; the South Asians and Koreans were the most family-oriented/traditional; and these attitudes were the most different from those of the Social Workers. These particularities have important implications for the delivery of social services.