Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oklahoma, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-157).

The purpose of this study was to investigate the administration and management of local Child Welfare Agencies. Appropriate and relevant knowledge and skills in administration and management processes are essential to ensure that Child Welfare Agencies function within the normative foundations of public administration. The Board ofManagement of the Agencies are voluntary in nature. The smaller and embryo agencies depend on untrained volunteers to provide both administrative and management leadership. Basic democratically determined administrative and management processes are necessary to make welfare services more economical, efficient and effective. The major objectives of this study were: - to examine the existing administrative and management structures and processes and their functions. - to determine the role of the Board of Management Committee structures and senior personnel in administration and management. - to determine the foundation principles of administration and management that guide the functioning of Child Welfare Agencies. This Study provided an opportunity for agencies to express their views on the existing situation and what the future ought to be like. The study viewed Public administration as a vast field of activity which can be classified into four (4) main groups viz: a. generic administrative and managerial, b. auxiliary, c. instrumental, and d. functional also referred to as line functions. Although this study focused separately on administrative and management functions, it should be noted that both dimensions ofgeneric administrative functions are performed along with the functional, auxiliary and instrumental activities. (v) In a Child Welfare Agency the Board of Management together with the middle and upper management of staff will determine the administrative and management processes of policy making, organising, staffing, financing, determining work methods and procedures and control. The aim of public administration is community welfare, therefore the administrative and management processes must be founded on normative foundations of public administration. The findings ofthis research will not only contribute to the established agencies but will be of great help to the embryo and developing agencies. / Thesis-(M.A.)-University of Durban-Westville, 1995.

This thesis is an investigation of adolescents’ perceptions of their relationships with staff members working in their group home. Past research has found the majority of youth who have lived in care often experience greater hardships later in life compared to those youth in the normative population (Schmid et al., 2008). Resiliency promoting factors such as long-term positive relationships with nonparental caregivers have shown to protect some youth in care from future adversities (Masten, 2000). A cross-sectional exploratory survey was conducted using a convenience sample of 17 adolescents (Male n= 9) currently living in group home settings in Southern Ontario. Youth reported that they best got along with staff who made them laugh, had similar interests, were caring and consistent. Youth reported that positive relationships with staff are developed through continual interactions, open communication and trust. Reasons as to why relationships with staff are difficult were also reported by youth.

This qualitative study presents findings from interviews with ten front line social workers employed at a small, eastern Ontario Children's Aid Society. The interviews explored the implementation of the Ontario Risk Assessment Model at this agency from the perspective of these social workers. The findings of this research identify perceived impediments as well as supports to organizational change within this context. Analysis of the data revealed that both the manner in which ORAM was implemented and the content of the model itself resulted in confusion, frustration and anxiety on the part of the workers. The research also sought to determine the potential fit between effective child protection organizational change endeavours and strategies inherent in the action research model. Implications for change management policy, practice and future research within child protection systems are also discussed.

Given the high prevalence rates of mental health difficulties among child welfare clients, this study attempted to map psychological services for such individuals in New Zealand and Australia. In conducting semi-structured interviews with Principal/Senior-Regional Psychologists and Directors from government departments and non-government organisations working alongside child welfare clients throughout Australasia, this study obtained information pertaining to the nature and scope of psychological services provided by such agencies. The most comprehensive data was obtained for New Zealand and New South Wales, while incomplete data described psychological services in Western Australia and Queensland. The findings of this study highlight the absence of a ‘best practice’ model among such services in addition to the disparities that exist between the number of care and protection notifications received by the government child welfare departments in New Zealand and New South Wales, and the development of psychological services within these departments. Furthermore, the lack of acknowledgement of the mental health needs of child welfare clients among both government child welfare departments and non-government organisations in these jurisdictions needs to be addressed before such services can be effectively delivered to these vulnerable children and young people.

The following qualitative study explored self-reported iatrogenic effects of intervention with data collected through semi-structured interviews. This small clinical sample consisted of four female adult "survivors" between the age of 34 and 47 who had experienced childhood sexual abuse perpetrated by at least one caregiver. The findings indicated significant iatrogenic effects particularly for the victims who disclosed in childhood that included a strong theme of betrayal by the systems that were supposed to protect them. One woman continued to be sexually abused, while another woman was returned to the home where she had been physically abused, following no intervention and/or protection by child protection services. Although other services such as police, crown attorney, medical and therapeutic systems were involved in some of these situations, the survivors perceived these as inadequate and leading to strong distrust of intervention. In contrast, those survivors who disclosed again in adulthood reported a significantly improved experience with less iatrogenic effects. The iatrogenic effects of intervention require further research with a larger and diversified sample in order to identify current iatrogenic effects of each intervention for children and survivors.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Greifswald, 1935. / Includes bibliographical references (p. vii-xi).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, the School of Social Service Administration, June 1999. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Catholic University of America, 1941. / "List of laws of Rhode Island relating to children in need of special care": p. 289-302. Bibliography: p. 323-333.

Thesis--Catholic University of America, 1937. / At head of title: Catholic University of America. School of Social Work. Bibliography: p. 361-375.