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Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology / Daniel U. Thomson / Cattle health and welfare are of utmost concern to producers, packers, processors, and consumers of beef. In addition, poor animal welfare can lead to decreases in economic return, in the form of production losses, product losses, or even live animal losses. Two major contributors to such losses include carcass bruising and cattle fatigue, or Fatigued Cattle Syndrome. Bruising in fed beef cattle costs the industry millions of dollars annually, and cattle fatigue leads to production losses and animal death during and after transport. Much research in cattle welfare is focused upon the more vulnerable classes of cattle in the industry, such as small calves, cull beef cows, and cull dairy cows. Limited research exists on the animal welfare concerns in fed beef cattle, likely because these animals are considered healthier and better fit for transport compared to other classes. The overall goal of this research was to assess the health and welfare of fed cattle after transport to commercial slaughter facilities by addressing two large concerns in the industry: 1) bruising in fed cattle and 2) Fatigued Cattle Syndrome and its prevalence and physiologic characteristics. The first objective of this research focused upon bruising, and was to determine whether a relationship exists between trauma incurred during unloading and prevalence of carcass bruising in finished beef cattle at commercial slaughter facilities. In addition, other risk factors which may contribute to carcass bruising in finished beef cattle are addressed. The second and third objectives focused upon Fatigued Cattle Syndrome in the fed cattle population. The second objective of this research was to determine the prevalence of abnormal mobility scores and the clinical signs associated with to abnormal mobility in finished cattle in six commercial slaughter facilities across the United States. The third objective was to determine if mobility score and clinical signs reflect concurrent changes in physiologic parameters such as blood concentrations of specific biochemical markers and biomechanical integrity of hooves. This information is both valuable and novel in the fed beef cattle industry. Along with the implementation of practices that will promote better health and welfare of fed cattle presented to slaughter facilities, gathering such information will help improve animal welfare, increase economic returns, and strengthen consumer confidence in the industry.

The development of fin damage in Atlantic salmon parr was investigated using social network analysis of behavioural interactions occurring under different feeding and stocking conditions. Four separate experiments were carried out in which groups of fish were subjected to a long food restriction period (30 days) described in Chapter 2, high (30 kg/m3) or low (8 kg/m3) fish stocking densities (Chapter 3), predictable or unpredictable food delivery regime (Chapter 4) or a short food restriction period (10 days) described in Chapter 5. Dorsal fin damage (erosion, splits and fin index) was significantly higher in groups of fish subjected to food restriction periods (short and long), held at high stocking density (30 kg/m3) or with an unpredictable food delivery regime. No other fins were found to be affected by fin damage irrespective of the treatment. The social networks based on aggressive interactions showed higher centrality, clustering coefficients, in-degree centrality, out-degree centrality and less dense networks in groups subjected to food restriction (short and long), low stocking densities 8 kg/m3), and unpredictable food delivery. The high centralities and clustering coefficients indicated separation of fish within the groups into initiators of aggression and receivers of aggression. This separation of roles was seen only in the food restricted group, high density groups and unpredictable food delivery groups. Initiators had higher out-degree centrality while receivers showed high in-degree centrality. Also, initiators of aggressive interactions had less fin erosion, higher final weights and higher body lengths than receivers of aggression. The severity of fin damage was significantly higher when this role differentiation occurred, and it was highly correlated with fin biting events. Additionally, overall aggression was higher in food restricted groups, low density groups and unpredictable groups. The dynamic analyses of networks over time (Chapter 6) showed that fish classified as initiators of aggression did not change this behaviour after normal/control environmental conditions were restored (i.e. ad libitum food delivery, low stocking density or predictable food delivery). The latter result indicates that individual fish maintained their behaviour irrespective of their social context, which is consistent with the definition of behavioural syndromes, personalities or temperament defined for other non-human animals. Overall these studies demonstrated the importance of using social network analysis to clearly identify and quantify roles that individual fish assume within their network group and through time based on their behavioural interactions leading to dorsal fin damage and differential physical characteristics. The results are potentially applicable within the commercial aquaculture industry as a valuable technique to evaluate and improve the welfare of farmed fish.

It is estimated that around 200,000 children in the UK experience the imprisonment of a parent. Imprisonment has been described as a family affair, as families suffer the brunt of the punishment supposedly directed at the offender. Despite an awareness of this impact there is a distinct lack of community-based support services for families affected by parental imprisonment, and no central support strategy from government. This practitioner-researcher study aimed to discover how ‘whole-families’ affected by parental imprisonment (children, parents/carers and parents who are/have been prisoners) experience community-based support. A collective case study approach was utilised. Eight families who were supported by the UK based charity, Person Shaped Support (PSS) contributed their experiences; this comprised 18 participants; 5 children, 8 parents/carers, and 5 parents who had been in prison. All participants took part in one audio-recorded in-depth interview, either at PSS or in their own home. Some participants offered further insights via conversations with the researcher, which were recorded in the form of handwritten notes. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis; they were analyzed individually and then considered as part of their family grouping. Early themes from each family were then compared and contrasted from family to family. Four major themes were identified: (1) ‘Isolation and Someone to Talk To’; (2) ‘Feeling Understood and Being Judged’; (3) ‘Power, Secrets and Lies and Fighting Back’; and (4)’ Loss, Contact and Change’. Participants spoke of feeling isolated and marginalized, which some described like ‘being in bubbles’; they also described the ‘brick walls’ they experienced which reflected their frustrations of being judged and their conflict with statutory services, members of their communities and members of their own families. A tentative model centered on ‘Personal Connectivity’ is presented in which personal connectivity is seen to be the over-riding support need for these families. With enhanced personal connectivity, the families reported being able to form and maintain meaningful relationships, which helped them to better cope. Some participants also reported personal growth. Recommendations are that practitioners who aim to help families affected by parental imprisonment should adopt a ‘whole-family’ systemic approach to practice and provide support through non-judgmental listening, conveying understanding, sharing knowledge (of the criminal justice system), providing opportunities for safe family contact, and opportunities for affected families to meet peers.

The increasing incidence of unemployment in recent years (1960-62) has again brought the problem to the attention of governments and citizens, many of whom are attempting to reduce the consequences of unemployment in a mariner appropriate to their authority. One of the methods of dealing with the result of unemployment is through the administration of public welfare services. This study was designed to determine the requirements of the unemployed, the public welfare services they receive and to evaluate the adequacy of these services, using a suburban municipality of Vancouver as a case example. The history of public welfare of the Dominion, provincial and municipal governments is reviewed; and attention is then directed to the detailed organization of public welfare services in the Municipality of Surrey. Within the municipal structure of the Department of Social Welfare, the administrative controls, the size of case loads and social work staff were reviewed. The services available include the financial aid granted under the Social Assistance Act, health services, casework services, and the Winter Works programme. The unemployed employable persons in the municipality are identified by such characteristics as age, size of family, education, occupation, work history, financial assets, housing, and personality problems. The method of study is both historical and analytical. The literature pertinent to the historical development and present status of public welfare programmes is reviewed as background. An analysis is then made of cases requiring services, and the services given are evaluated. Information required for this study was received from the records of the Municipality of Surrey Social Welfare Department, current and past literature, interviews with administrative leaders, and the personal experience of the writer. The employable man without a job presents many severe problems which are only partially handled by the local social welfare department. The basic administrative organization is able to cope with the difficulties presented; but the interpretation of legislation and indecisive attitudes to welfare and rehabilitation programmes make the implementation of an adequate service practically impossible to attain. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

The Protection of Children Act in British Columbia makes provision for the removal and the restoration of guardianship to natural parents. This process, which is designed to safeguard the rights of both parents and children, involves the two disciplines of social work and the law. The social worker is directly concerned with the decision to apprehend a child and, subject to the decision of the court, separate him from neglectful parents. He is also concerned with enabling the parents to ameliorate the circumstances of neglect, and to assist them to apply to the court for the restoration of parental rights. The social work process thus goes on before the apprehension, during the court hearing, and after the committal of the child. The final disposition in both the removal and the restoration of guardianship is made by the judge of the juvenile court. This study is undertaken to illuminate the elements involved in social work responsibility in this area of child welfare practice. A sample group of families was selected, and their experience assessed for analytical and illustrative purposes. The study concentrates on two sets of factors: (1) those present at the time of removal of guardianship, and (2) the circumstances which enabled the restoration of parental rights. The data are evaluated on the basis of (a) parental strengths, (b) the nature of community concern and action, (c) the role of the social agency, (d) the nature of the client-social worker relationship, and (e) the part played by the juvenile court. Parental strengths are rated on the basis of objective and subjective criteria, developed from concepts pertinent to social diagnosis. The study brings out the need for definitive criteria on which to rate parental adequacy, in order that the grave decision to separate the child from his parents may he made with the greatest possible accuracy in diagnosis. There is responsibility for social workers to define the type of neglect which embraces psychological as well as physical factors, and to interpret this definition to the larger community for incorporation into legislation. Changing trends in child protection theories should be made known to the judges of the juvenile court in order that the socio-legal process is conducted to the best advantage of both parents and children. The social agency must maintain contact with natural parents after the removal of their children, as it has been shown that change can take place in parental capacity, or parental circumstances such as remarriage. This is an area clearly worthy of further research. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

"Non-ward Care” refers to a child for whom the Superintendent of Child Welfare has assumed responsibility temporarily at the request of the child’s parent or guardian. The primary function of non-ward care is the protection of children within their own family unit, the importance to the child of having his own parents accept responsibility for him being recognized as a principle basic to child welfare services. Non-ward care, as described in this thesis, is an important service for treating certain family situations in the hope that this treatment will make it possible for children and parents to help themselves. In the final analysis, the real assessment of the use of the resource of non-ward care depends on the preservation of the family unit. This study was undertaken in an attempt to examine descriptively and analytically the casework services involved in the provision of the resource of non-ward care to families, and to note how the families were being benefited by the resource. The analysis of the fifteen cases used in this study suggests some correlation between the evidence of improvement in the family situation and the quality of the social work methods and techniques exhibited by the worker during the course of the agency's contact with the family. This is judged by the rating of the progress made by the families as related to the quality of the worker's relationship, and also the extent to which basic social work methods and techniques were used by the worker. In both instances, the cases which showed much improvement in the family situation, showed proficient use of the basic social work methods and techniques. The cases which made little progress showed weaknesses in some areas of social work methods, particularly the areas which require diagnostic skill, evaluation, and the making of a plan based on the diagnosis. The findings of the study are that, in the majority of instances, the resource of non-ward care was being used towards the preservation of the families; and that, from the beginning the plan was for the children to be returned to their parents’ homes when the situation had been alleviated. There were a few cases, however, in which the original plan for the family seemed to have been lost sight of and children had remained in care longer than had been envisaged, while no improvement had occurred in the family situation. The implications here are significant not only for this type of service, but for all fields of the social work profession. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

The Social Service Exchange began in Boston in 1873 at the same time that the art and the practice of social work were developing. The exchange grew out of the need to prevent duplication in giving among the social agencies, and as the thinking in the field of social work changed so the exchange varied in its function. It has now come to facilitate prevention of duplication in helping clients to solve their problems. This has been fostered by the growing schools of psychological thought which have emphasized that all practice must center on the client. The exchange organization in Vancouver has followed much the same pattern as the majority of the exchanges in North America by coming under the auspices of the Community Chests and Councils. As the town grew in size the exchange grew also. In addition there were numerous mergers until the Vancouver exchange was the clearing center for the whole province of British Columbia. At first the Vancouver Exchange was the 'hub of the social services' but by 1930 it became a tool of social planning under the auspices of the Community Chests and Councils. The Index has tended to become a mechanical process but recently it has begun to re-evaluate its function, only to find itself faced with innumerable problems in the fields of financing, registration policies and the like. There next follows a descriptive analysis of the present operation and function of the Vancouver Index. Starting with its place in the Community Chest and Council organization as a ‘service committee', the function of the Index Committee and the staff is outlined, together with the problems they face. Following this the methods of enrollment are dealt with, then the criteria for enrollment and the operation of the clearing process itself. Statistical facts are introduced to indicate the degree of efficiency of operation, followed by a review of the changing methods currently in use. The third section concerns the problems currently facing the Index. What is the reason that agencies are reducing their clearings, and is it the best policy? Why are the costs of clearings rising steadily, and is the price for this service more than the agencies can afford? The question of agency relationships and attitudes towards each other soon develops as a paramount factor and before this is evaluated it is impossible to determine whether there should be an Index or not. No attempt is made to determine the cause of the apparently negativistic attitudes of the agencies but its effects are considered as it is one of the most vital factors in the efficient functioning of the Index. Lastly, the use of the Index is shown as being beneficial to the client, the worker and the community. There is an evaluation of the present policies of registration currently followed and rather strong reasons presented why they should be shortly altered. It is felt that the present policy can lead only to the dissolution of the Index. The concluding section makes specific recommendations concerning the Index, both from a policy point of view and in the area of specific operation. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

The purpose of this study is to enquire into the policies and methods of staff development followed by the Social Welfare Branch with respect to its Field Service staff. The survey involves understanding its generalized, multi-service program, the philosophy and goals of the social legislation of British Columbia, and the administrative organization which brings these social welfare services to citizens. The concurrent development of professional social work practice, and the planning of staff development opportunities as a means of obtaining qualified personnel are outlined. Related to the Agency's role in continuing the professional growth of staff on the job are standards of practice and the appropriate use of personnel. The implementation of a costly welfare program places responsibility upon the Social Welfare Branch to ensure that these services are administered by qualified personnel. In common with other professions that of social work is continuously using new knowledge to refine practice. As it is the personnel who give life to a service program research was first directed to the qualifications, professional and otherwise, of staff employed on the survey date, February 1, 1952. Because of the key position of the District Supervisor, a job analysis to show time distribution by type of work performed was completed. While not a true indication of the quality of work, it is suggestive of the availability of District Supervisors to staff. As a supplementary means of gauging the way in which District Supervisors work the survey questionnaire requested information concerning supervisory procedures. Other data concerning staff development methods was obtained from Branch files, and interviews with administrative personnel: Division Heads, Regional Administrators, Field Consultants, District Supervisors, the Training Supervisor, and the Assistant Director of Welfare. The study showed that it is the objective of the Social Welfare Branch to offer professional services,to employ qualified personnel, and to promote their professional development on the job. The findings confirmed what was already known about the excessive volume of work placed upon the Field Staff which makes it difficult to maintain satisfactory standards of practice. It is apparent the administrative function of the District Supervisor limits unduly the teaching requirements of this position. In order that a well-planned staff development program be carried out it is recommended administrative responsibility and additional personnel for function be given to the Division of Training, and a budget for this program be allocated. To raise the qualifications of Field Staff to a desirable professional standard the extension of bursaries and educational leaves with pay especially for District Supervisors, would have permanent results. Administrative reorganization to separate out the function of Personnel would facilitate better focus upon the staff development program. Several suggestions concerning the In-Service Training Plan are referred to in the text. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

The Family Welfare Bureau of Greater Vancouver has now been in existence for twenty-five years, and it is the purpose of this study to trace its development from its origins in the recommendations of the British Columbia Child Welfare Survey of 1927, to the present day. Material for this purpose was collected from the minutes of the Executive Board of the Bureau, 1927 to 1952; the annual reports of the Director for the same years; personal interviews with the Director and other staff members; other related records and literature of the agency; and numerous pamphlets and publications of the Family Service Association of America. This latter body is a standard-setting association of family agencies to which the Bureau has belonged from its inception. In the course of its life, the agency has been faced with many unforeseen difficulties, the more drastic of these being the depression years of the 1930's and the war years of 1939 to 1945. These two periods of economic and social stress are reflected clearly in the workload of the agency, and it would have been understandable had this new organization strayed from its original objective, which was to do family casework. An appraisal of the work of the Bureau shows clearly, however, that: (1) it has filled a definite need within the overall framework of agencies in the community, and (2) it has steadfastly maintained its original purpose of providing family casework, services. In addition, (3) it has constantly striven to improve its standards of professional competence, and (4) it has followed the traditional role of private agencies in experimenting in the provision of new services. The record also indicates that, even though the community is showing increasing acceptance of casework services, continued and careful studies will have to be made to determine the most effective way of interpreting to the public, on which the Bureau depends for its financing, the meaning and value of these non-material services. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate