Although participation has been the focus of numerous studies of children and youth with Cerebral Palsy and few other chronic health conditions, very little is known about the participation of children and youth with epilepsy. The goal of this thesis is to derive primary components from a set of theoretically-derived variables thought to be related to the intensity of participation of children and youth with epilepsy. Sixteen variables were originally identified. This study uses a database of n=506 children with epilepsy to perform an exploratory factor analysis of relevant child variables from the Qualité study, a longitudinal pan-Canadian study on outcome trajectories of children with epilepsy. Results located four principal components that together, accounted for 63.41% of the total variance: Behaviors that Facilitate Interactions with Others is made up of four child social skills variables and accounts for 32.042% of variance; Behaviors that Challenge Interactions with Others, is made up of 3 variables on child externalizing behaviours and accounts for 12.058% of variance; Anticipatory Reaction to Distressing Stimuli, is made up of variables related to submissiveness, victimisation and anxiety and accounts for 9.414% of variance and Child's Social Self, comprises variables related to social support and self perception and accounts for 8.408% of variance. Further study is required to examine the relationship and impact these components have to the participation of children and youth with epilepsy. / Bien que la participation ait été étudiée comme objectif de résultat chez des enfants atteints de paralysie cérébrale ainsi que d'autres conditions chroniques de la santé, très peu est connu au sujet de l'expérience de participation des enfants atteints d'épilepsie. L'objectif de ce mémoire est de déterminer les composantes principales de variables issues de théories liées à l'intensité de la participation des enfants et des adolescents atteints d'épilepsie afin de susciter une discussion qui approfondira notre compréhension de la participation de ce groupe. Seize variables ont été identifiées. Cette étude utilise une base de données comprenant n=506 enfants atteint d'épilepsie afin d'effectuer une analyse exploratoire de facteurs des variables pertinentes liées à l'enfant issues de l'étude QUALITÉ, une étude longitudinale à travers le Canada sur les objectifs de résultat d'enfants atteints d'épilepsie. Quatre composantes principales ont été extraites des résultats, totalisant 63.41% de la variance. La composante Comportements qui facilitent les interactions avec autrui est constituée de quatre variables d'habiletés sociales chez l'enfant et représente 32,04% de la variance. La composante Comportements qui restreignent les interactions avec les autres est constituée de trois variables sur les comportements extériorisés et représente 12.05% de la variance. La composante Cycle de réaction anticipée de l'enfant à des stimuli bouleversants est constituée de variables liées à la soumission, à la victimisation et à l'anxiété et représente 9.41% de la variance. La composante L'être social de l'enfant comprend trois variables liées au soutien social et à la perception de soi et représente 8.40% de la variance. Une étude plus approfondie est nécessaire afin d'examiner la relation et l'impact de ces composantes sur la participation des enfants et des adolescents atteints d'épilepsie.

Efforts to keep children in their own homes when they are found to be at risk within the meaning of child protection legislation have resulted in the creation of family preservation programs. Typically, these services are crisis-oriented. Short-term, intensive work with families is offered with a goal of maintaining the child in his or her own home. A family support program which provides these services in the anglophone community of Montreal was examined. / The data for this qualitative study were obtained through indepth interviews with the program staff and through an examination of agency files. The findings suggest that service is limited to those families who are assessed to be motivated--that is compliant with the objectives of the program and accepting of the intensive nature of the service. The interventions focus on individual parenting, most often the mother's parenting. For the workers, the dual role of support and scrutiny is managed within a relationship of trust. / The findings further indicate that families who are experiencing severe problems, often related to alcoholism, family violence and extreme poverty are not served by this program.

This paper will examine the policy of multiculturalism using a Marxist perspective. This will be achieved through an analysis of the policy of multiculturalism in two aspects. The first will be concerned with examining a set of objective factors, such as the social milieu in Canada and the activities of the state when the policy of multiculturalism was institutionalised. A historical approach as well as the examination of the policy of multiculturalism as a federal parliamentary act, between the years 1972 to 1987 will be undertaken. The second aspect of social policy analysis, in this paper will be concerned with the analysis of the subjective response of an ethnic community, the Ismaili community to the policy of multiculturalism. This will be achieved through a discussion and analysis of a quantitative study conducted to assess the attitude of the Ismaili community in Toronto to different aspects of the policy. Key Marxist concepts as well as Berger and Luckmann's paradigm on social constructionism will be utilised as a framework through which the analysis of the policy of multiculturalism will be conducted.

An exploratory study was conducted to examine the effects of parental child protection employment on the children of the employees. Semi-structured interviews were conducted of eight children, who had one parent employed in a child protection agency in Eastern Ontario. The analysis of the interviews demonstrated perceived impacts on identified areas of the participants' lives: family transactions within the community; internal family functioning; and the impact on the individual participant. The interview results were also examined along four variables: gender of the child protection worker parent; gender of the participant; age of the participant; and position held by the child protection worker parent. Of these, only the gender of the child protection worker parent appeared to have a differing trend between groups. Further research is suggested to generalize these results beyond the participants in the study.

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences and needs of families during the admission of a child to a paediatric ward in an acute care hospital. Qualitative research methods were used to access the caregivers' and professionals' perceptions of the culture that families experience in a paediatric in-patient setting. For this project, data collection methods included a review of the literature in the area, individual interviews with caregivers, and focus groups with paediatric health care professionals. / In the study, both parents and paediatric professionals described a multitude of experiences and needs of families during a child's admission to a paediatric ward in an acute care setting. Understanding the experiences and needs of families is important for professionals. The information collected in this study provides some insight into the culture that families experience when their child is admitted to a paediatric ward in an acute care hospital.

Cultural Competency has become a concept central to the professional practice of social work. It is endorsed because it is perceived that cultural competency of social work practitioners results in encounters with their clients that are more appropriate in manner, and more helpful in outcome. Originally a critique of failures of conventional practice, cultural competency has become so widespread that its meaning has become obscured. / This study examines the literature on Cultural Competency. It includes the preceding work on cross-cultural, multi-cultural and diversity literature. It examines definitions of culture in the context of competency and what is included and excluded; historical and regional development and its relationship to concepts such as ethnicity, race, class, identity and cultural indices. It also reviews what is considered best Social Work practice at this time and what problems can develop from this perspective.

The purpose of this research was first, to identify why males sexually abused as children under-report their experiences of child sexual abuse. Secondly, the disclosure experiences of males sexually abused as children were examined and analyzed, with a particular emphasis placed on exploring the links between low disclosure rates, gender role socialization, and homophobia. Qualitative data were gathered during semi-structured interviews of men sexually abused during childhood. Issues and themes arising during interviews were generally consistent with those identified in the literature. However, the sample size was small and additional research---employing larger samples---should be completed in order to collect further qualitative data regarding the disclosure experiences of males sexually abused as children. Despite its limitations, this research does provide valuable insight into the experience of disclosure for male victims of child sexual abuse.

The ultra-Orthodox (haredi) Jewish community includes the Hasidim and misnagdim who believe that they are the true followers of God's commandments, as He intended them to be followed when presented at Sinai, and as interpreted and codified by the Mishnah, Talmud, and other Rabbinic works. Little research has examined deviance within this group. This thesis delves into types of deviant behaviors taking place among haredi adolescents, as well as their causes, so that effective interventions, sensitive to the virtually unique needs of this group, can be implemented. Theoretical definitions of deviance are examined as they relate to this community and its emphasis on religious observance. Ultimately, deviance is defined as matters that can distract the individual from expected levels of religious observance. / Using Urie Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Model of Human Development, this thesis also explores the environmental factors contributing to a rise in deviant behavior in segments of the Montreal ultra-Orthodox community. From an analysis of data obtained from numerous interviews with community members as well as with mental health professionals familiar with this group, four contributing factors to the rise of deviant behavior among adolescent boys are identified. These factors test current haredi methods of maintaining strong cultural boundaries and may suggest that changes are necessary to cope with current challenges. The lure of mainstream culture is a strong draw for adolescents and advances in technology allow these individuals to easily engage in secret deviant behavior while remaining in good standing within the community. Moreover, the rigid structure of the school day with its long hours and intensive curriculum makes it difficult to accommodate the needs of all students. Changes in family structure, dynamics, and composition, as well as an increasingly stringent interpretation of religious law have also contributed to a rise in deviance. Finally, community financial weakness is explored as it relates to adolescence and a loss of religious identity.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether focus groups with participation from key stakeholders in the community could identify specific areas that required change in a non-profit community organization. Findings would also provide important feedback for the Board of Directors of a non-profit community organization. Two focus groups were held. One group consisted of nine community stakeholders and in the second focus group six past users of the service participated. Participants gave their comments on program strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in a semi-structured interview using grounded theory in a qualitative format. Program strengths included the community residence for teens and interventions with the family. This thesis will discuss the key findings from the research, its impact on the management of a non profit agency and the challenges for the researcher. This study will also discuss the use of focus groups as a methodology for conducting organizational research, implications for social work practice and future research.

For some Aboriginal people, healing is a relatively new word that seems to have emerged and taken on a life of its own only after the 1990 Mohawk Crisis and the ensuing Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP, 1996). In spite of the massive 4000-page RCAP report, some mainstream authorities (Brasfield, 2001) still believe that the meaning of Aboriginal healing has not been fully explained. In this study, an attempt will be made to widen the meaning of Aboriginal healing by examining ancient Haudenosaunee (People of the Longhouse) philosophy, historical cultural upheaval, and narratives from First Nations survivors of Indian residential schools and a Holocaust survivor. The results have shown a connection between Aboriginal healing and Canadian society. Healing can only occur if the wound is not continuously reopened such as when long-standing land claims remain unsettled, Indigenous language and culture programs are neglected, and a People are ignored.