This two-study dissertation aimed to develop a comprehensive understanding of mental health need identification, service referral process, availability of services, and type of mental health services in Ontario for children who have experienced maltreatment with a specific focus on childhood sexual abuse (CSA). The first study was descriptive and involved an email questionnaire completed by Directors of Service in each of the 53 Ontario Children’s Aid Societies (CAS). While the primary purpose of study 1 was to inform the sample for study 2, it also provided information about the identification of mental health needs and the referral process to mental health services for children who have experienced maltreatment. Based on the finding that the majority of mental health service referrals are made to community-based psychologists (80%), study 2 was designed to assess the availability, type, and empirical support of treatments provided by Ontario psychologists and psychological associates to children who have experienced CSA. Through the first provincial census of child and adolescent psychology clinicians registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario, this study addressed the following questions: (1) What are the demographic, work setting, and treatment provision characteristics of these clinicians? (2) Within this population, what is the proportion and distribution of clinicians who provide treatment to children who have experienced CSA?; (3) To what extent do these treatment services map onto empirically-supported treatments (ESTs) for children who have experienced CSA?; and (4) How do clinicians’ demographic, work setting, treatment provision characteristics, and attitudes toward ESTs predict their approach to intervention? Results indicated that clinicians who worked with children who have experienced CSA differed significantly from other clinicians in terms of age, work setting, self-reported theoretical orientation, and clients’ primary presenting problems. Moreover, clinician age, self-reported theoretical orientation, time devoted to clinical training activities, and general attitudes toward ESTs predicted the use of ESTs among clinicians who work with children who have experienced CSA. Limitations and implications for future research are addressed within each study.

Objectives: Concerns have been raised that child welfare systems may inappropriately target poor families for intrusive interventions. The term “neglect” has been critiqued as a class-based label applied disproportionately to poor families. The objectives of the study are: to identify the nature and frequency of clinical and poverty-related concerns in child neglect investigations and to assess the service referral response to these needs; to examine the contribution of poverty-related need to case decision-making; and to explore whether substantiated cases of neglect can be divided into subtypes based on different constellations of clinical and poverty-related needs. Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of data collected through the 2008 Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS‑2008), a nationally representative dataset. A selected subsample of neglect investigations from the CIS‑2008 (N = 4,489) is examined through descriptive analyses, logistic regression, and two-step cluster analysis in order to explore each research objective. Results: Children and caregivers investigated for neglect presented with a range of clinical and poverty-related difficulties. Contrary to some previous research, the existence of poverty-related needs did not influence case dispositions after controlling for other relevant risk factors. However, some variables that should be, in theory, extraneous to case decision-making emerged as significant in the multivariate models, most notably Aboriginal status, with Aboriginal children having increased odds of substantiation, ongoing service provision and placement. Cluster analyses revealed that cases of neglect could be partitioned into three clusters, with no cluster emerging characterized by poverty alone. Conclusions: The majority of children investigated for neglect live in families experiencing poverty-related needs, and with caregivers struggling with clinical difficulties. While poverty-related need on its own does not explain the high proportion of poor families reported to the child welfare system, nor does it account for significant variance in case decision making, cluster analysis suggests that there exists a subgroup of “neglected” children living in families perhaps best characterized by the broader notion of social disadvantage. These families may be better served through an orientation of family support/family welfare rather than through the current residual child protection paradigm.

Globalization is increasingly considered an important influence on the determinants of health. Globalization, for the purposes of this study, was defined as a process of greater integration within the world economy through movements of goods and services, capital, technology and (to a lesser extent) labour, which lead increasingly to economic decisions being influenced by global conditions.(1) Although there have been many conceptual and theoretical explorations of the globalization and health relationship, only a limited number of empirical studies have sought to link the processes of globalization to health effects in a specific context and/or for a particular population such as children. The objectives of this thesis were two-fold: to investigate primarily the economic pathways and related political pathways by which globalization influences the determinants of health and health outcomes in low-income children ages zero to five in a mid-sized Canadian city (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan); to identify and analyze the policy responses at various levels (national, provincial, and municipal) that address the effects of globalization on determinants of health such as household income and distribution, employment and education for parents, housing, and social programs.<p> This study was a case study that used mixed methods. The case in this research was Saskatoon, a mid-size city located in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The analytical framework used to guide this study was developed by Labonte and Torgerson.(2) Methods included: a demographic profile for the City of Saskatoon; an environmental scan of federal, provincial, and municipal policy that has direct relevance for child health; process tracing; semi-structured interviews with low-income parents of young children (n=26); and trend analysis of child health outcomes among children ages zero to five.<p> The current phase of globalization in Canada and Saskatchewan is inextricably linked with the implementation of neoliberal policies such as tax restructuring, trade liberalization, privatization, deregulation, and greater integration in the global economy. This phase of globalization contributed to changes in the determinants of health that affect children and their families in Saskatoon. For instance, globalization has involved retrenchment of the welfare state in Canada and Saskatchewan. As the welfare state diminished in size and responsibility, poverty tended to deepen among those that were already poor. The retrenchment of the welfare state also led to diminished program access. In addition, globalization has emphasized the restructuring of the labour market to be more competitive and flexible. A restructured labour market and reduced access to services and programs contributed to greater inequalities in income in Canada, Saskatchewan, and Saskatoon. Finally, globalization contributed to declining housing affordability in Canadas cities such as Saskatoon.<p> Trend analysis at the neighbourhood-level to determine the linkages between changes in the determinants of child health and changes in child health outcomes was inconclusive. Further research is required to determine if the disparities in the determinants of child health that have been exacerbated by the economic and political processes of globalization have contributed to increasing disparities in child health outcomes.<p> This study indicated that the economic and political processes of globalization influenced the determinants of health among young low-income children and their families in Saskatoon through a number of pathways, but this is not to suggest that globalization was the only phenomenon at work. Although it was very difficult to draw any conclusions regarding the globalization and health relationship with certainty, this study offered a logical and a multi-prong approach to examining the effects of globalization on childrens health and health determining conditions. Studies of this nature are important for contributing to our understanding of the complex structures that influence health and for building up the linkages between globalization and health on a case-by-case basis.

Noncompliant behavior in children may be due to the developmental stage the child is going through, but persistent noncompliance can have long-term effects on the child ranging from academic problems to relationship problems (Forehand & Wierson, 1993; Kalb & Loeber, 2003). Parents' response to noncompliant behavior may be influenced by their parenting style. Parental tolerance is one factor that may differ among parenting styles. Parental tolerance can be defined by how annoyed the parent becomes by disruptive behavior displayed by children and the affect it has on the parent-child interaction (Brestan, Eyberg, Algina, Johnson, & Boggs, 2003). One new measure of parental tolerance is the Child Rearing Inventory (Brestan, et al., 2003). The present study examined the validity of the Child Rearing Inventory (CRI) and investigated whether or not tolerance differs based on type of parenting style. The participants of this study are 109 parents with children aged 1 to 5 years old. Individuals completed a series of questionnaires. The results of the present study illustrate that the CRI is a measure of parental tolerance. Parents who were less tolerant of the child behaviors as described in the case vignettes endorsed higher scores on the CRI. The study also found that parents' tolerance levels do not significantly differ based on the parenting styles they endorse.

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 was enacted to protect the United States' most vulnerable students and was signed into law in January 2002 (U.S. Department of Education, 2002). For many years, black, Hispanic, special education, and limited English proficient students were not achieving at the same level as their white, middle-class counterparts because schools were not held accountable for their individual progress. The achievement gap is well documented in previous research at all levels of education. Scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) from 1996 to 2000, obtained from a national sample of 8th- and 12th- grade students indicated that for each grade level, black and Hispanic students scored significantly lower than whites in reading, mathematics, and science (Braswell, Lutkus, Grigg, Santapau, Tay-Lim, & Johnson, 2001; Grigg, Daane, Jin, & Campbell, 2003; O'Sullivan, Lauko, Grigg, Qian, & Zhang, 2003). In Kentucky, the Minority Student Achievement Research Project (MAP) is an educational initiative formed to address the achievement gap and progress all students toward proficiency within the state. Seven school districts (partnership sites) were selected for participation in the program, and individual schools within the districts were selected for participation based on the criteria that at least 25% of their student population was minority (KDE, 2000). This study was designed to determine if the implementation of reading programs as a MAP strategy impacted 4th" and 7th" grade students' reading scores on the Kentucky Core Content Test (KCCT) of achievement, as well as the 6th" grade level of the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills 5 (CTBS/5). The researcher was also interested in how the implementation of these programs may affect the achievement gap between black and white students in the sample. The sample was comprised of 338 4th" grade Kentucky students enrolled in a public elementary school within MAP participating districts during the 2002-03 school year. Archival data of 4th" grade students' scores on the KCCT reading section from 2000 through 2005 were requested and obtained from the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE). Analyses revealed that MAP students did not perform significantly better than Non-MAP students on the KCCT at any grade levels. Likewise, results showed that MAP students did not obtain significantly higher Percentiles on the reading test of the CTBS/5 at the 6th" grade level. The analyses also did not show a convergence of achievement scores between black students and white students regardless of MAP participation on either the state reading test or the norm-referenced test across administrations. The implications of the findings are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to examine the similarity between same-grade and different-grade friendship pairs compared to randomly paired children in the same grade and in different grades. Previous research has focused primarily on examining same-grade children's friendships and has not examined friendships of children differing in grade. This study examined similarities between same- and different-grade friends on teacher-rated behaviors and peer relations variables. Children in 78 ungraded primary classrooms (N = 908) participated in a socio-metric interview and were rated by their teachers using the Teacher-Child Rating Scale (T-CRS, Hightower, 1986). Friendship pairs were composed of children who mutually selected one another as friends. The ungraded classrooms made it possible for children to have friends who were either one grade higher or lower. Randomly paired children were matched on age and gender and compared to the friendship pairs using teacher-rated and peer relations variables. The results indicate that common ground is an important basis for friendship, regardless of whether the friends are matched in grade level.

Two million school-age children are believed to manifest symptoms of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In recent years, educators have increasingly been called upon to provide services to children with ADHD either through special education or through Section 504. Much has been written describing "best practices" for the assessment of children with ADHD. Little is known, however, about what roles school psychology practitioners are taking with regard to ADHD. The purpose of this research was to determine common ADHD assessment practices of school psychologists and how they relate to practices recommended in the literature. A survey was developed and sent to a randomly selected national sample of 400 school psychology practitioners. The results of the research indicate that, in general, school psychologists are using a multi-method approach that includes appropriate assessment techniques. Based on the results of the survey, it is concluded that an increased emphasis, however, is needed on assessment methods such as interviews, rating scales, and systematic observations. The results also indicate that school psychologists should rely less on methods such as behavior during standardized testing, projectives, and pattern analysis. With regard to interventions, more monitoring of the behavioral effects of medication needs to be done and more systematic interventions should be implemented.

This study examines the effect of mood and fairness of treatment on children's generosity toward peers. Thirty-one third and nineteen fourth grade males participated. A positive or negative mood was induced using recorded stories. Each child then played a ring toss game for which he had been promised a certain number of tokens for playing. Three equity conditions were established by under-, over-, or properly paying the amount promised. Children were given the opportunity to anonymously donate to non-present peers who would not have a chance to play. While the mood manipulation had an effect on observed facial expression in third graders (p < .05), there was no similar effect for the fourth graders. There was no significant differences for mood, equity condition, or grade on donations. A marginally significant (p < .08) interaction did occur between the three variables for amount donated. The results of this study suggest that generosity to others involves both cognitive and affective components. / Graduation date: 1987

This two-study dissertation aimed to develop a comprehensive understanding of mental health need identification, service referral process, availability of services, and type of mental health services in Ontario for children who have experienced maltreatment with a specific focus on childhood sexual abuse (CSA). The first study was descriptive and involved an email questionnaire completed by Directors of Service in each of the 53 Ontario Children’s Aid Societies (CAS). While the primary purpose of study 1 was to inform the sample for study 2, it also provided information about the identification of mental health needs and the referral process to mental health services for children who have experienced maltreatment. Based on the finding that the majority of mental health service referrals are made to community-based psychologists (80%), study 2 was designed to assess the availability, type, and empirical support of treatments provided by Ontario psychologists and psychological associates to children who have experienced CSA. Through the first provincial census of child and adolescent psychology clinicians registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario, this study addressed the following questions: (1) What are the demographic, work setting, and treatment provision characteristics of these clinicians? (2) Within this population, what is the proportion and distribution of clinicians who provide treatment to children who have experienced CSA?; (3) To what extent do these treatment services map onto empirically-supported treatments (ESTs) for children who have experienced CSA?; and (4) How do clinicians’ demographic, work setting, treatment provision characteristics, and attitudes toward ESTs predict their approach to intervention? Results indicated that clinicians who worked with children who have experienced CSA differed significantly from other clinicians in terms of age, work setting, self-reported theoretical orientation, and clients’ primary presenting problems. Moreover, clinician age, self-reported theoretical orientation, time devoted to clinical training activities, and general attitudes toward ESTs predicted the use of ESTs among clinicians who work with children who have experienced CSA. Limitations and implications for future research are addressed within each study.

The purpose of the study was to determine whether the self-perceptions of mothers who remained at home with infants differed from self-perceptions of mothers who were employed outside the home with infants. Selected aspects of the mothering role and employment orientation were examined. The sample consisted of seventy-five mothers of twelve- to eighteen-month-old infants. The subjects resided in northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio.A survey instrument was developed through a pilot study to gather information needed to test the null hypothesis. All subjects were interviewed personally in their own homes to obtain data for the study. The .05 level of significance was established as the probability level for the nonacceptance of the hypothesis.The subjects were placed in one of two groups, mothers who remained at home with their infant and mothers who were employed outside the home for more than twenty hours a week. Those employed outside the home must have been employed for the six months before and including the month of the interview. A multivariate analysis of variance and associated univariate analysis of variance were used to test the study hypothesis.The two groups of mothers were found to differ significantly from one another on one of the six measures of self-perception. The six measures statistically analyzed were:(1) self-esteem, (2) childrearing behavior, (3) guilt, (4) employment orientation, (5) monetary consideration relative to employment and intrinsic motivation relative to employment, and (6) effect on the family. The measure that contributed to the rejection of the hypothesis was the variable "effect on the family." There was no difference between the. two groups on the remaining five variables.A descriptive analysis of open-ended questions yielded further information: (1) mothers with infants preferred their present roles, whether they remained at home or were employed outside the home; (2) mothers enjoyed their roles whether at home or at work outside the home; (3) mothers employed outside the home were more likely to express feelings of guilt when leaving their infants than mothers who remained at home; and (4) mothers were supported by their husbands in their decisions to remain at home or to be employed outside the home.