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Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University / Epilepsy which has the longest known medical history of any disease effects a large segment of our population. In the United States, there are about a million persons affected with this connition which is characterized by a seizure or fit. It has been said that about seventy five recent of this group can have seizures controlled by medication. However, other studies have shown that with control of seizures, it does not follow that the problems of this group are solved, The difficulties besetting this chronically ill group seem at times to be almost insurmountable. Our society, because of its fears and lack of knowledge about the illness, discriminates against the epileptic in employment, education and other social activities, There are even discriminatory laws relating to his employment, marriage, and driving a car.

Decades of data document that permanent placements of children in the welfare system has been a concern in Mississippi. As foster care rates increase, more children are awaiting placement. Researchers have linked child welfare workers' educational background to placement outcomes for foster care children; however, researchers have not addressed the relationship between child welfare workers' educational backgrounds and foster care placement outcomes in Mississippi. This quantitative study examined the educational backgrounds of social work and nonsocial work child welfare caseworkers and other factors such as children's gender and race as predictors in placement outcomes for children in welfare custody. Attachment theory was used to explain parent-child relationships and the importance of permanent, safe, and nurturing homes for children in the child welfare system. Secondary data were used from the 2017 archival records for 176 child welfare caseworkers' caseloads in the Mississippi Department of Child Protective Services (MDCPS). A simple linear and multiple regression analysis was used to examine child welfare caseworkers' educational background and children's gender and race as predictors for the length of stay in placement outcomes. The results revealed that caseworkers' educational backgrounds were not a significant predictor of placement outcomes but gender and race combined were significant in predicting the length of stay in placement outcomes for children in custody. Results from this study could promote positive social change within MDCPS by providing data to inform agency policy and procedures for child welfare practice, which could then result in more timely placements of reunification or adoption for children in the welfare system who are currently spending 36 months or more in traditional foster care.

This investigation was conducted for the purpose of developing and pilot testing an assessment center to determine job performance levels of caseworkers in essential job competencies.

Attitudes of caseworkers and supervisors in public welfare agencies were studied with regard to the following subjects: (1) the public assistance program in Utah, (2) the welfare recipient, (3) family planning as a means of dealing with poverty, (4) government participation in the public assistance program, (5) methods of rehabilitation, (6) community support of welfare agency, and (7) positive and negative aspects of casework. Data were analyzed statistically with regard to age , education , political preference, and sex. An analysis of variance was made, and the F test applied to determine significance levels . Caseworkers and supervisors responded positively toward the public assistance system in Utah with mean scores high enough to indicate approval though not complete approval of this system. Caseworkers and supervisors expressed a slightly positive attitude toward welfare recipients; they were generally favorable toward family planning as a means of dealing with poverty; and they expressed a positive attitude concerning government participation in the public assistance program. Df the three means of rehabilitation proposed, caseworkers and supervisors unanimously selected the use of individual therapy as their first choice, environmental change and direct financial aid as their second and third choices, respectively, by the majority of respondents . Caseworkers and supervisors felt a need for community support but did not feel they received it. In their opinion the public is poorly informed, has many misconceptions, and is, consequently, negative toward the public assistance system. Male and female caseworkers and supervisors indicated that working with people and helping them with their problems were the most enjoyable aspects of their job; whereas, clerical work and administrative rules and procedures were the least enjoyable aspects. Women liked more aspects of their work than they disliked; whereas, men disliked more aspects than they liked.

Foster care case managers are responsible for the wellbeing of foster youth in the foster care system. Teens (ages 13-17) in foster care are most vulnerable to serious risks, such as sex trafficking. Such risks have been heightened by the advent of internet-based technologies that connect foster youth with unsafe others at unprecedented frequency and speed. This thesis examines how case managers tackle the challenge of online safety as it relates to adolescents in the foster care system in the United States. I conducted 32 semi-structured interviews with case managers who worked with foster teens (ages 13-17) within the past 5 years. After each interview, I transcribed the recording and conducted qualitative data analysis to identify emerging themes. I found that foster teens face numerous online risks with sexual-related risks (e.g., sex trafficking) and contact-related risks (e.g., unsolicited contact) being most prominent. However, case workers may not be prepared to address all of these challenges because of lack of online safety training and support from foster parents. Also, case workers are overburdened with many responsibilities that make online safety a secondary priority. This thesis identifies the gaps in which case managers are trained and highlights the need for more support to handle online safety challenges. Therefore, this thesis recommends that the foster care system must place a higher priority in establishing support groups and collaborative training among foster parents, case workers, and foster children to fully manage foster youth online safety.

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka familjerättssekreterares upplevelse av att verkställa dom om umgänge med umgängesstöd där det förekommit våld. Genom tre kvalitativa fokusgruppsintervjuer med verksamma familjerättssekreterare med minst tre års erfarenhet har ett antal frågeställningar besvarats. Frågeställningarna handlar om barns rättigheter och åsikter och hur dessa tar sig uttryck i utredningar gällande umgänge samt i efterföljande dom från tingsrätten, i relation till hur det påverkar verkställandet av umgänge med umgängesstöd utifrån familjerättssekreterares uppdrag. Intervjumaterialet har därefter analyserats utifrån tidigare forskning om verkställande av umgänge utifrån barnets bästa när det förekommit våld kopplat till Michael Lipskys teori om gräsrotsbyråkrater samt teori om barnets perspektiv. Resultatet visar att familjerättssekreterare upplever det tidskrävande och svårt att verkställa umgänge med umgängesstöd när det förkommit våld, särskilt då barnet i den familjerättsliga utredningen utryckt en ovilja till att träffa den våldsutövande föräldern. Informanterna uttrycker att barnets åsikter framkommer i utredning och lyfts fram i risk- och konsekvensanalys, men att det i dom från tingsrätten sällan framgår hur det blir utifrån barnets perspektiv att mot sin vilja tvingas träffa en våldsutövande förälder. Barnets bästa upplevs av informanterna fokusera på föräldrarnas rätt att träffa barnet. Vidare framkom det att informanterna upplever att de hamnar i en svår situation där umgänge med umgängesstöd ska ske mot barnets vilja, både känslomässigt i förhållande till barnet, men också i relation till vårdnadshavares ansvar att skydda sitt barn från att fara illa samtidigt som en dom ska följas för att inte få andra oönskade effekter. Slutligen visar resultatet att möjligheterna för familjerättssekreterare att verkställa dom om umgänge med umgängesstöd där det förekommit våld är begränsade och upplevs inte tillfredsställande. / The purpose of this study was to examine the experience of family law representatives in enforcing access orders with access support where violence has occurred. Through three qualitative focus group interviews with practicing family law caseworkers with at least three years of experience, a number of questions were answered. The questions concern children's rights and views and how these are expressed in investigations concerning access and in the subsequent judgment of the district court, in relation to how this affects the enforcement of access with access support from the perspective of the family law caseworkers mission. The interview material was then analysed on the basis of previous research on the enforcement of access in the best interests of the child in cases of violence linked to Michael Lipsky's theory of grassroots bureaucrats and the theory of the best interests of the child. The results show that family law caseworkers find it time-consuming and difficult to enforce access with access support in cases of violence, especially when the child has expressed a reluctance to meet the violent parent in the family law investigation. Informants expressed that the child's views are expressed in the investigation and highlighted in the risk and impact assessment, but that it is rarely clear from the judgment of the district court what it would be like from the child's perspective to be forced to meet an abusive parent against his or her will. The best interests of the child are perceived by the informants to focus on the parents' right to see the child. Furthermore, it emerged that the informants feel that they end up in a difficult situation where access with access support has to be against the child's will, both emotionally in relation to the child, but also in relation to the guardians' responsibility to protect their child from harm while at the same time following a judgment so as not to have other undesirable effects. Finally, the results show that the possibilities for family law caseworkers to enforce access orders with access support where there has been violence are limited and not perceived as satisfactory.

Utifrån de teoretiska begreppen handlingsutrymme och paternalism undersöker studien handläggares hantering av gravida kvinnor med missbruksproblematik med fokus på samverkan och hänsyn till graviditet. Urvalet består av sex handläggare med erfarenhet av gravida klienter med missbruk. Hälften av intervjupersonerna arbetar i stadsdelsförvaltningar och kommuner i Stockholm medan den andra hälften arbetar i andra kommuner. Det empiriska materialet insamlades genom semi-strukturerade intervjuer med utgångspunkt i en vinjett. Därefter analyserades materialet utifrån en tematisk analys. Resultatet visar att handläggarnas hantering av klientgruppen varierar i stor utsträckning. Vissa handläggare anpassar insatserna på grund av klientens graviditet medan andra inte låter sig påverkas av det. Dessutom skiljer sig handläggarnas uppfattning kring vad som krävs för att tillämpa LVM när det gäller en gravid klient. Tidigare forskning visar att det är framgångsrikt att samla insatser för att tillgodose klientgruppens behov. Samtidigt visar studiens resultat att detta inte går att uppnå om det inte finns en god samverkan mellan kommun och region. Handläggarnas fokus på samverkan varierar vilket också påverkar klientgruppens möjlighet att få heltäckande behandling. / Based on the theoretical concepts of room for action and paternalism, the study examines caseworkers' handling of pregnant women with substance abuse problems with a focus on collaboration and consideration of pregnancy. The selection consists of six caseworkers with experience of pregnant clients with addiction. Half of the interviewees work in district administrations and municipalities in Stockholm, while the other half work in other municipalities. The empirical material was collected through semi-structured interviews based on a vignette. The material was then analyzed based on a thematic analysis. The results show that the case managers' handling of the client group varies to a large extent. Some caseworkers adapt the interventions due to the client's pregnancy, while others are not affected by it. In addition, case managers differ in their views on what is required to apply compulsory care when it comes to a pregnant client. Previous research shows that it is successful to gather efforts to meet the needs of the client group, the results of the study show that this cannot be achieved if there is no good cooperation between municipality and county council. The case managers' focus on collaboration varies, which also affects the client group's ability to receive comprehensive treatment.

Contexte: La supervision de visites représente une pratique complexe pour l’intervenant qui doit composer avec la souffrance des enfants, des parents et des parents d’accueil, en plus de composer avec les défis et contraintes associés au contexte de visites supervisées et aux conditions de pratique plus larges de la protection de l’enfance. À ce jour, les études se sont surtout intéressées à l’expérience subjective des parents, des parents d’accueil et des enfants. Elles ont permis d’identifier certaines limites dans les services offerts aux jeunes et à leur famille, de même que certains défis dans le travail des intervenants qui œuvrent auprès des enfants dans ce contexte. En contrepartie, nous en connaissons peu sur la pratique des intervenants entourant les visites supervisées et les stratégies mobilisées dans l’accompagnement des enfants. Objectif : L’objectif du présent mémoire de maîtrise est de documenter, à partir de leur discours, la pratique professionnelle des intervenants de la protection de la jeunesse dans l’accompagnement offert aux enfants qui vivent des visites supervisées avec leur(s) parent(s). Plus précisément, il vise à mieux comprendre, comment ceux-ci préparent et soutiennent les enfants aux différents moments des visites supervisées et quels gestes concrets sont posés pour y parvenir. Les retombées du recours à un outil destiné à l’accompagnement de l’enfant dans l’exercice de la pratique de supervision ont également été abordées. Méthode : Des entrevues semi-dirigées ont été réalisées auprès d’intervenantes (N=10) du CIUSSS CSSMTL issues des équipes enfance. Les entretiens réalisés ont été soumis à une analyse de contenu thématique. Résultats : Les résultats de la recherche révèlent que la pratique d’accompagnement en contexte de visites supervisées se construit à partir d’une interaction entre différents facteurs comme la nature de l’accompagnement offert, la posture de l’intervenant et sa compréhension de l’expérience de l’enfant (en termes de vécu et de besoins). Ainsi, les intervenantes ont généralement rapporté avoir recours à une pratique diversifiée aux multiples visages afin de répondre aux particularités des situations rencontrées et aux besoins identifiés chez les enfants qu’elles accompagnent. L’analyse a également permis de faire émerger le thème de la place occupée par les enfants dans la pratique professionnelle en protection de la jeunesse dans un contexte qui tend à les occulter. Des éléments liés aux caractéristiques personnelles des intervenants et aux aspects cliniques et organisationnels du métier ont émergé du discours des répondantes. Discussion : Cette recherche apporte une meilleure compréhension de la pratique professionnelle des intervenantes qui accompagnent des enfants dans leurs visites supervisées avec leur(s) parent(s). Elle offre des pistes de réflexion pour développer une pratique d’accompagnement et des outils cliniques qui répondent davantage aux besoins des jeunes et qui font sens pour eux. Elle soutient également la pertinence de s’intéresser davantage à la place des enfants dans le travail direct auprès d’eux en protection de la jeunesse et de leur redonner la parole dans la recherche future. / Background: Supervised visits represent a complex practice for caseworkers who have to deal with the suffering of the child, the parents and the foster parents, as well as dealing with the challenges associated with the context of supervised visits and the broader conditions of practice in the child protection services. To date, studies have mainly focused on the subjective experience of parents, foster parents and children. They have identified certain limits in the services offered to young people and their families, as well as challenges in the work of those who accompany children in this context. On the other hand, we know little about the professional practice of caseworkers during supervised visits and the strategies they use to support children in that setting. Objective: The objective of this Master's thesis is to document, from their discourse, the professional practice of caseworkers who support children experiencing supervised visits with their parent(s) in the context of child protection services. More specifically, it aims to better understand how they prepare and support children at different moments of supervised visits, as well as explore what concrete actions are taken in order to achieve those tasks. The outcomes of using a tool designed to support children in foster care experiencing supervised visits with their parent(s) was also discussed. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 caseworkers from the CIUSSS CSSMTL. The interviews were subjected to a thematic analysis. Results: Results reveal that the practice of accompaniment of the child in the context of supervised visits is built from an interaction between different factors such as the nature of the support offered, the caseworker’s attitude and their understanding of the child's experience (in terms of general experience and needs). Overall, caseworkers reported using a diversified practice in order to respond to the particularities of the situations encountered and the needs identified in the children they support. The data analysis also brought out the theme of the place occupied by children in the youth protection system, in a context where practice tends to overshadow them. Elements related to the personal characteristics of the caseworkers and to the clinical and organizational aspects of the profession emerged from interviews. Discussion: This research provides a better understanding of the professional practice of caseworkers who accompany children in their supervised visits with their parent(s). It offers food for thought in order to develop a professional practice and clinical tools that better meet the needs of young people in a way that makes sense for them. It also supports the relevance of taking more interest in the place of children in the youth protection services and in giving them a voice in future research. Keywords: professional practice, direct work with children, caseworkers discourse, supervised visits, child protection.