Retention of experienced workers is an ongoing challenge in child protection social work. The purpose of this study is to understand more about the permanence of frontline child protection workers, where permanence is defined as ten or more consecutive years of frontline practice. Using a qualitative narrative methodology, supported by anti-oppressive theory, conversational interviews were conducted with experienced frontline child protection workers. Through narrative analysis of these interviews, I uncover some of the impacts and influence on worker permanence. / Graduate / 0452 / 0700 / 0630 / 0628

This thesis examines how the British Columbia child protection system permeates the lives of the mothers it investigates. Dorothy Smith’s generous notion of work (1986) and Arlie Hochschild’s emotion work (1983) were combined to explicate the unpaid labour mothers contribute to the child protection process. Smith’s textually mediated relations of ruling (1987) revealed how a contracted child protection agency uses various texts to organize these women’s everyday activities. These texts are linked to others in work locations representing the institutional priorities of government and professional bodies, which uphold societal expectations of mothering. Ten interviews and a focus group with mothers revealed the ‘core competencies’ necessary to successfully navigate the child protection system. Mothers also identified risks inherent in the system with the potential to negatively impact their children, themselves and their family’s resiliency. Interviewing an experienced child protection counselor informed a textual analysis of the requisite paperwork within contracted agencies.

Indigenous Nations, like the Secwepemc, look to their Creation Story to describe how we came to be on our land. The Creation Stories describe and define who we are as Indigenous Peoples living with laws which guide our conduct among each other and with others. The Creation Stories of each of the Indigenous Nations, and the Secwepemc Nation, is our Constitution. These Constitutions speak to the powers and authorities that are exercisable by those within the Secwepemc Nation, like the St’exelcemc. The family units are the foundation of the St’exelcemc. For the purposes of this thesis, these family units, individually and collectively, exercise the powers and authorities over St’exelcemc child safety. For a long time now, the St’exelcemc child safety laws have been eroded by federal and provincial authority to make it seem like the St’exelcemc abide only by state child welfare law. This thesis sets aside this Canadian legal mythology and demonstrates the continued exercise of St’exelcemc child safety laws despite their erosion by state law. And, this thesis is also about the necessity of reviving and revitalizing the customs, traditions and practices of the St’exelcemc in every area of our lives as a nation-building movement. In order to achieve this vision it is important to draw on the ‘living sources’ to help identify and define these laws. In this thesis, the St’exelcemc child safety laws are drawn from the stories and memories of St’exelcemc living sources, the Elders and Junior Elders, who are transmitting their knowledge for the benefit of the stsmémelt and im7imts of future generations. The legal concepts and principles of structure, observation, discipline, stories, listening, respect, sharing, helping, spirituality and silence are captured in the Secwepemc term ctk’wenme7iple7ten which means law or rule. The literal translation of ctk’wenme7iple7ten is “all the law, all the power one might have.” Custom adoption is one special area of St’exelcemc family law which is a familiar and demonstrable exercise of St’exelcemc jurisdiction in the area of child safety. St’exelcemc custom adoption ensured the safety of children: by tradition where they were placed with grandparents as a form of old age security, endurance of the traditional economy, and transmission of cultural and traditional knowledge; in the event of a marital breakdown, neglect, or abandonment; and where a couple may have been unable to conceive, or where the birth father gave up his parental responsibilities. Custom adoption also played a major role in maintaining the hereditary lineage for the governance of the St’exelcemc, which continued until 1958. The St’exelcemc law of banishment for the safety of children and families is implemented today by deliberation at general band meetings and band councils meetings, and formally recorded in band council resolutions. This revival and revitalization of child safety law is essential for St’exelcemc individuals, family and government to ‘put things right’ for the health and well-being future generations – like Coyote and Old One did in the Secwepemc Creation Story. / Graduate

Retention of experienced workers is an ongoing challenge in child protection social work. The purpose of this study is to understand more about the permanence of frontline child protection workers, where permanence is defined as ten or more consecutive years of frontline practice. Using a qualitative narrative methodology, supported by anti-oppressive theory, conversational interviews were conducted with experienced frontline child protection workers. Through narrative analysis of these interviews, I uncover some of the impacts and influence on worker permanence. / Graduate / 0452 / 0700 / 0630 / 0628

Over the past few years, attachment theory has taken on increased significance in academic and professional discourse, particularly in the field of child welfare. While this appears to be a relatively new area of interest in social work, the history of attachment theory dates back over five decades. This thesis aims to identify some of the reasons behind the resurgence of attachment theory, in particular, in child welfare practice. This renewed interest in attachment theory is tied to the current social climate and context for social work practice. This context, it is argued, contributes to the tendency for attachment theory to become a tool of social control. The thesis concludes by exploring how attachment theory might be used instead as a means to empower families in relationship-based social work.

The work of balancing the role of child welfare worker and mother is often a challenging one, particularly during times of high stress. In this study six women with young children employed in children welfare settings were interviewed about their experience of burnout. The interviews explored their understanding and personal experience of combining both motherhood with their employment as child welfare workers. The centrality of supportive supervision in modifying the experience of burnout is addressed. The unpredictability, responsibility and risk women face in front line child welfare produces extreme stress, which often becomes extremely difficult to manage, in particular when coupled with the task of raising young children.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2007. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-89). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Virginia Commonwealth University, 2008. / Prepared for: Center for Public Policy. Title from title-page of electronic thesis. Bibliography: leaves 105-112.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-140).