Researchers have documented the increasing role of grandparents who provide care for their grandchildren; however, few have studied extended family reconciliation after grandparents assumed their primary care. This study explored the reconciliation experiences of 12 grandparents who were primary caretakers of their grandchildren. Using Moustakas's phenomenological research approach, the participants were interviewed about their experiences of the relationship triad (grandparent-grandchild, grandparent-adult child, parent-child). Attachment theory and family systems theory were the conceptual frameworks to explore the central research question, which addressed the meaning of extended family reconciliation for grandparents who become primary caregivers of grandchildren. Using NVivo, the interview data were coded and grouped into themes of shared meaning. The results revealed 4 distinct themes: watching my adult child struggle; recognizing challenges; my grandchild's wellbeing; and communicating with my grandchild. Further, the lived experience revealed that extended family reconciliation was largely dependent upon the adult child's willingness, readiness, and capability to participate in the reconciliation process. Results of this study have the potential to benefit children in their grandparents' care by providing insights into the reconciliation experience, with meaningful results to be shared with the professional community and grandparents who care for their grandchildren.

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[pt] Esta dissertação de mestrado pretende discutir a vivência de pais separados que disputam a guarda dos filhos na justiça. Considerando o aumento do número de processos judiciais nas Varas de Família quanto à disputa de guarda dos filhos bem como o litígio presente nestes casos, foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa da qual participaram cinco homens e quatro mulheres de diferentes classes sociais, sujeitos independentes, com idades entre 25 a 50 anos. Os dados foram obtidos através de entrevistas com roteiro semiestruturado e analisados a partir do método de análise de conteúdo. Verificou-se que o exercício da parentalidade pós-divórcio é diretamente influenciado pela forma em que ocorreu a dissolução da conjugalidade e como cada membro vive esta experiência. Sendo assim, as divergências quanto aos cuidados com os filhos neste momento passam a ser critério para a busca do Judiciário para resolução da lide familiar. Evidenciou-se ainda que os filhos advindos dessa união são os principais prejudicados pela intensidade do litígio vivido pelos pais. / [en] The purpose of this master s thesis is to discuss the experience of separated parents who dispute the custody of their children in court. Considering the increase in the number of lawsuits in Family Courts regarding child custody disputes as well as the litigation present in these cases, a qualitative research was carried out in which five men and four women from different social classes, independent subjects, aged between 25 to 50 years. Data were obtained through interviews with a semi-structured script and analyzed using the content analysis method. It was found that the exercise of parenting after divorce is directly influenced by the way in which the dissolution of the conjugality occurred and how each member lives this experience. Therefore, the divergences regarding the care of the children at this time becomes a criterion for the search by the Judiciary to resolve the family dispute. It was also evidenced that the children arising from this union are the main ones affected by the intensity of the litigation experienced by the parents.

Death in custody elicits accusations and emotional outbursts by the victims' families, community, activists and the general pubic. These controversial cases have become a regular feature in the news. Using thematic analysis, I examine news reporting on the deaths of two racialized individuals with mental illness at the hands of law enforcement officers in Ontario in 2016. This study draws on the concepts of framing and narratives to examine how news media reporting of law enforcement deaths involving racialized men suffering from mental illnesses may produce conflicting narratives and frames. The news media's coverage of such incidents presents various narratives and frames in an attempt to assist the general public in making sense of the incident. Journalists' quoted sources and their messages resulted in the frames that were found in this study. These frames included opposing views on the use force, the influence of race and mental illness, injustice, and uniqueness of the event. Similarly, the narratives included comments and discourses on the event, how people make sense of what happened and why it happened the way it did, and what can be done to prevent these issues from recurring. Narratives about the identities of both victims and law enforcement agents, the nature of law enforcement work, and system change were also included. The different narratives and frames that appear in news reports of law enforcement brutality cases may create a polarized community with a section of the citizenry agreeing with and supporting these frames while the other section opposes them. The use of force, a contentious issue, is visible to the public and frequently elicits competing claims that serve to frame it as a necessary part of law enforcement work or as brutality that primarily targets the vulnerable in society. This study is significant because it investigates narratives and frames in order to fully comprehend and appreciate the contrasting discourses surrounding the use of deadly force by law enforcement against racialized men with mental health issues in Ontario.

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a type of substance use disorder characterized by repeated use of opioid drugs. These drugs are known to be rapidly addictive with severe withdrawal symptoms, making death due to overdose a rising concern. In this study, we took a closer look at a specific population of women, all of whom had children and were incarcerated for opioid use. Our goal was to better understand the factors that would impact success among this group seeking medication-assisted treatment for OUD. We developed a set of questions focused on a variety of factors including stigma surrounding the disorder, influence of the disorder of parenting, approaches and barriers to treatment, and potential motivation for seeking treatment. We then virtually interviewed women participating in the Orange County Corrections Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Program, specifically in the Methadone Clinic, to better understand their experiences with OUD and methadone treatment. The purpose of this study is to give better insight into existing treatment options in order to suggest revisions to current policies. By doing so, we hope to increase rates of recovery from OUD and to provide better future outcomes.

This study focused on the experiences of professionals in drafting and implementing parenting plans with high-conflict separating and divorcing families in the South African context. The primary aim of the study was to explore the participants’ personal and professional experiences through an in-depth and sensitive inquiry. The data was collected from five participants using face-to-face, semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. The results of this study indicate that professionals experience various challenges when working with high-conflict separating and divorcing families. The participants also shared their perceptions regarding parenting plans. Further research on the challenges specific to drafting and implementing parenting plans with high-conflict separating and divorcing families in the South African context is recommended / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

This study focused on the experiences of professionals in drafting and implementing parenting plans with high-conflict separating and divorcing families in the South African context. The primary aim of the study was to explore the participants’ personal and professional experiences through an in-depth and sensitive inquiry. The data was collected from five participants using face-to-face, semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. The results of this study indicate that professionals experience various challenges when working with high-conflict separating and divorcing families. The participants also shared their perceptions regarding parenting plans. Further research on the challenges specific to drafting and implementing parenting plans with high-conflict separating and divorcing families in the South African context is recommended / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

The purpose of this study is to investigate what family law court secretaries take into consideration in investigations regarding custody where domestic violence and possible mental illness because of the violence are present. Since it is primarily women who experience domestic violence, this study chose to focus on the mothers parenting abilities and her possible mental illness. To answer the study's research questions and purpose the approach was qualitative and the method used was semi-structured interviews. Semi-structured interviews allow a more in depth and nuanced understanding of the social problem which is being studied. The result was interpreted by using thematic analysis and then analyzed through a theoretical framework, which was Marianne Hester's "Three planet model". The theoretical framework consisted of three planets which are called domestic violence, child protection and child contact. The results of this study show that family law secretaries struggle to discern whether domestic violence has occurred or not, since there rarely are any police rapport that supports claims of domestic violence. Regarding the mother's parenting abilities, she is considered not being able to fully parent the child, due to the domestic violence she has been exposed to. Furthermore, the results show that mental illness in investigations of custody focuses on whether the mother is still capable of raising the child. The results also show that mental illness is broad and difficult to define, since the spectrum for mental illness is quite broad.