Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1974.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1991.

Thesis (M.S.)--Eastern Illinois University, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-138).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Santa Cruz, 1995. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 191-201).

Thesis (M.S.)--Nova Southeastern University, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 111-115)

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1991.

Thesis (M.Arch.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes special study report entitled : Palliative design for terminal ill patients. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2006. / Advisor: Charles Barrilleaux, Florida State University, College of Social Sciences, Dept. of Political Science. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed June 12, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains xi, 147 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

O objetivo desta dissertação foi investigar os Cuidados Paliativos. Por tratar-se de profissionais que propõem e se dedicam a uma modalidade de assistência que colocam como diferenciada em relação aos outros tipos de assistências ofertadas, o exame dos elementos que os diferencia em relação aos demais poderia iluminar questões nos outros tipos de assistências prestados que antes passariam despercebidos, apontando as aproximações e os distanciamentos entre os cuidados paliativos e as outras abordagens. Procurou-se, para tanto, múltiplas entradas e abordagens do Cuidado Paliativo: (1) uma pesquisa crítica dos manuais e dos documentos estruturantes dos Cuidados Paliativos, a fim de obter-se melhor aproximação em relação ao objeto, a partir de uma perspectiva histórica e teórica, e (2) um trabalho de campo, que acompanhou reuniões de trabalho regulares de duas equipes distintas em instituição pública de saúde: o grupo de Cuidados Paliativos e um segundo grupo, de outra especialidade, para auxiliar, por meio de comparação, o exame dos Cuidados Paliativos. Por meio do exame dos documentos e do que ocorria nas reuniões, foi possível delinear, por meio de comparação, os elementos de aproximação e de distanciamentos entre distintas abordagens e cuidados à saúde, que iluminaria em quais momentos e em que aspectos poderiam ser apontadas diferentes formas de atenção e abordagem à assistência oferecida. Apesar de se acentuar as competências humanitárias e de personalidades individuais para o exercício da prática paliativa, procurou-se por uma abordagem que explicitasse as competências e as especificidades deste campo profissional em relação aos demais, que justificariam o reconhecimento dos Cuidados Paliativos como um campo de conhecimento e como uma área de atuação ou especialidade diferenciada. / This dissertation aims investigate the Palliative Care. As it is moved by specific professionals, who propose and dedicate to a specific care modality dissimilar to the other ones, the exam of elements that distinguishes them from the others may highlights some aspects that would pass unnoticed. This approximation was by multiple entrances and approaches to palliative care: (1) a critical lecture of the manuals and documents that structure the palliative care, in order to obtain better approximation to the object from a historical and theoretical perspective, and (2) a field study, which followed the regular meetings of two different teams working in public health institutions: the palliative care group and a second group from another specialty, that, by comparison, could bring us better examination of Palliative Care. Through the examination of the documents and what occurred at the meetings, it was possible to outline, by comparison, the elements of closeness and distances between different approaches and health care, which would illuminate at what time and in what aspects could be identified different forms of care and approach to assistance offered. Although they emphasize humanitarian and individual personalities to the exercise of palliative practice skills is sought by an approach that expose skills and the specifics of this professional field in relation to the other, that would justify the recognition of palliative care as a field of knowledge and as a practice area or specialty differentiated.

This dissertation addresses gaps in the child welfare literature from a systemic perspective. The extant literature focuses primarily on children in care, which excludes 90% of children and families involved with the system. In addition, foster parent retention has become an area of primary concern because there are fewer individuals who are willing to foster. Research that examines all children involved with the child welfare system and ways to improve foster parent experiences is imperative to address these areas of need. The two studies herein address these gaps in the literature by examining children who are in contact with the child welfare system but largely remain out of care, children who are in care, and foster caregivers. The first study compared two groups of children in the Ontario child welfare system: those who remain with their natural family and those in out-of-home care. The emotional and behavioural functioning, prosocial behaviour, education, health, and resources (internal and external) of these two groups of children were examined and relatively few significant differences were identified. However, it was found that, despite having comparable mental health and educational functioning, children who remained in their natural homes had significantly fewer external resources than children in out-of-home care. Children in out-of-home care may have increased access to community resources despite having similar needs to children who remain in their natural home environments. Additional research is needed to replicate and better understand these findings so that the child welfare system can best meet the needs of its children. The second study examined how foster child characteristics, as well as other foster parent and agency factors, impact Canadian foster parents’ experience of fostering, particularly related to agency workers, the fostering system, training, and foster children and their placements. Results identified that foster children’s needs and maltreatment histories, as reported by foster parents, were not significantly associated with perceptions about fostering. The factors that were the most highly associated with positive perceptions about fostering were increased practical and emotional support. These findings indicate that child welfare agencies can improve foster parents perceptions about fostering by providing sufficient practical and emotional support. A monitoring system that allows foster parents to provide regular feedback would be beneficial in continuing to evaluate their fostering experiences, assess the impact of interventions targeting foster parent support, and address any areas of concern. As a whole, the results of this dissertation highlight the importance of providing both children and foster parents in the child welfare system with appropriate supports that promote positive child functioning and foster parent experiences.