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.

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Ninety-six child protection files were scrutinized according to the Holland Complex Care Case Review Data Collection Instrument in order to verify the applicability of the instrument to determined the variables influencing social workers in the determination of bringing an adolescent in need of protection into care. Results show that school related issues seem to influence workers in determining the need to remove the child from the family. Statistical analyses indicated numerous correlations supporting the link between case complexity and the need to bring an adolescent into care.

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The intent of this study was to gain an appreciation for the experiences of mothers whose parental rights have been permanently severed through child welfare court orders of Crown Wardship with No Access. The study utilized an explorative, qualitative design approach and included semi-structured, in-depth interviews with four women. Participant text and found poetry presented the voice of mothers, something not often the focus in the child welfare literature. Themes of betrayal, loss, anger, and disenfranchised grief were reported in the research findings. The role of the social worker emerged as an important factor influencing the mothers. This study found that mothers need acknowledgment for their losses and support for their grief. Consideration for social work implications and further research are also discussed.

This study analysed why children under four years old were admitted to care, and whether they suffered harm due to abuse or neglect, based on file documentation regarding all 175 admissions, involving 129 children and 93 mothers, by one Ontario Children's Aid Society between 1992 and 1996. Using the Ontario Child Welfare Eligibility Spectrum to classify reasons for admission, more admissions were due to risks defined under Caregiver Capacity than Harm by Commission or Omission. Mothers' background and lack of resources were common factors. Evidence of harm was often hard to establish but was rated as clear or extreme in 12% of cases. Differences related to fathers' status, number and age of children in the home, and history of agency involvement were found between cases where children suffered severe harm due to abuse or neglect, and cases where they did not, but these differences were not statistically significant.

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No description available.