Thesis (MSocialWork)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This exploratory and applied study was undertaken to compile a generalized profile, understand the target group's needs and to formulate a set of directives for an intervention program for adolescent children of alcoholics. The Christian Action for Dependence (CAD) views alcoholism as a factor that affects every member of the household and adopts a systemic approach for solving this problem. An earlier study proofed that the organization does not provide sufficiently for the intervention of adolescent children whose parents are members of the self-help groups. In order to address this shortcoming, the Teencads (Teenage Christian Action for Dependence) was established in 1997. It functioned as a penfriend's club. The current study was prompted by the need for greater clarity in planning programs for a group like Teencads. A literature study was undertaken to assess the effect of parental alcoholism on adolescents. The research focused on the developmental tasks of adolescence; looked into the child's emotional reaction to parental alcoholism; highlighted the child's reaction in respect of different relationships and determined the effect of parental alcoholism on the academic performance of the child as well as the connection between parental alcoholism and pathological behavior of the child. Classical adaptive behavior by the children of alcoholics was studied by focusing on the contrast between observed behavior and the adolescent's underlying emotional reaction to parental alcoholism. The purpose of the literature study was to look for effective methods of intervention and intervention strategies, and to examine the aims and objectives of international programs that are currently being implemented. The empirical study focused on the CAD in the Western- and Southern-Cape. Twenty seven adolescents were selected by cluster sampling and the snowball technique. They completed a questionnaire that was compiled from the studied literature. The results of the empirical study strengthened the hypothesis that parental alcoholism has a negative effect on the development of adolescents and that social work intervention is a matter of urgency. Based on the results of the study, the researcher proposed policy guidelines for intervention programs for adolescents in the CAD. Guidelines and suggestions for such programs have been formulated. The recommendations of this study are applicable to adolescent children of all alcoholics. Organizations other than the CAD, as well as other social workers, will be able to use these recommendations in the formulation of intervention programs for adolescent children of alcoholics. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Verkennende en beskrywende studie is onderneem om 'n veralgemeenbare profiel van die adolessente kinders van alkoholiste vas te stel, asook om te bepaal wat die behoeftes van hierdie teikengroep ten opsigte van 'n intervensieprogram is. Die uiteindelike doel van die ondersoek was om riglyne vir 'n intervensieprogram ten opsigte van adolessente kinders van alkoholiste te formuleer. Die Christelike Afhanklikheidsdiens (CAD) werk vanuit 'n sistemiese benadering en beskou alkoholisme as 'n probleem wat elke lid van die gesin beïnvloed. 'n Voorafondersoek het bewys dat die organisasie nie voldoende voorsiening maak vir intervensie van adolessente kinders wie se ouers lede van die selfhelpgroepe is nie. In 'n poging om hierdie leemte aan te spreek, is die Teencads (Tiener Christelike Afhanklikheidsdiens) in 1997 gestig en funksioneer dit onder leiding van die ondersoeker as 'n penvriendeklub vir hierdie teikengroep. 'n Behoefte aan meer rigting en duidelikheid ten opsigte van programinhoud, het hierdie ondersoek genoop. 'n Literatuurstudie is onderneem om die invloed van ouer-alkoholisme op adolessente te bepaal. Tydens die ondersoek is die ontwikkelingstake van die adolessente lewensfase in ag geneem; die kind se emosionele reaksie op oueralkoholisme ondersoek; die kind se reaksie in verskillende verhoudings waargeneem; die invloed van ouer-alkoholisme op akademiese prestasie en die verband tussen ouer-alkoholisme en patalogiese gedrag by adolessente vasgestel. Die klassieke aanpassingsrolle wat kinders van alkoholiste vertolk is ondersoek deurdat die navorser spesifiek op die kontras tussen waargenome gedrag en onderliggende emosies by die adolessent klem gelê het. In aansluiting by die doel van die navorsing is daar tydens die literatuurondersoek gefokus op die doelwitte vir 'n effektiewe intervensieprogram; metodes van intervensie; intervensiestrategieë, asook op die inhoud en intervensiemetodes van bestaande internasionale programme. Die empiriese ondersoek was op die CAD in die Wes- en Suid-Kaap gerig. Daar is 27 adolessente deur trossteekproeftrekking en 'n sneeubaltegniek geselekteer om 'n vraelys, gebasseer op die literatuurondersoek, te voltooi. Die resultate van die empiriese ondersoek bevestig die navorser se hipotese dat ouer-alkoholisme 'n negatiewe invloed op die ontwikkeling van adolessente het en dat maatskaplikewerk-intervensie noodsaaklik is. Op grond van die ondersoek en resultate, is 'n beleidsraamwerk ten opsigte van 'n intervensieprogram met kinders van alkoholiste, spesifiek vir die CAD geformuleer en volledige en omvattende riglyne en voorstelle vir sodanige program neergelê. Die aanbevelings van hierdie ondersoek is van toepassing op adolessente kinders van alle alkoholiste en kan dus met vrug deur ander organisasies en maatskaplike werkers gebruik word.

Mental health is a major child public health issue in Sweden. The overall aims of this thesis are to explore girls’ and boys’ perspectives on mental health and on mental health-promoting initiatives, and to deepen the knowledge of disclosure and support for ado-lescents at risk of abuse and neglect. Four studies are included in the thesis, and a qualitative descriptive design was chosen. In three of the studies (Studies I, II, and III), adolescents in Sweden were interviewed individually or in focus-groups. In the fourth study (IV) officials and politicians in nine municipalities in Sweden were interviewed, and documents were analysed in a multiple-case-study design. In study I the adolescents were asked about the mental health-promoting dialogue with the school nurse. The results reveal that what the adolescents found important were trustiness, attentiveness, respectfulness, authenticity, accessibility, and continuity. The adolescents also had certain views on what issues to talk about in the health dialogue; physical and psychological issues should be included. In Study II, the adolescents perceived “mental health” to be an emotional experience with positive and negative aspects of internal and relational feelings. Family, friends, and school were regarded as important determinants of mental health by the adolescents. Neither girls nor boys thought that there were any major differences in mental health between girls and boys, but did think they were subject to different expectations. In Study III the results show that adolescents with families with alcohol problems are unsure whether to disclose their home situation to an adult; the adolescents seem to make a risk assessment when looking for trustworthy adults. It is a disclosure process. Friends are confidants and supportive, and sometimes facilitators for contacting adults, when support from adults is needed. Study IV show that even small grants to municipalities for children-at-risk projects lead to more activities for these children and adolescents. But children or adolescents were not involved in the planning or decision-making of the activities. The studies in this thesis show that most important thing for adolescents’ mental health is the relation between adolescents and adults, foremost parents, and between adolescents and friends. In addition, gender and age, adolescents’ perspec¬tives and par-ticipation, and society’s support, including the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, have an impact on adolescents’ mental health, both for ado-lescents in general and for adolescents at risk of abuse and neglect. The results are viewed in relation to the bioecological model, to illustrate how all levels in society influence mental health among adolescents, on an individual and a population plane. The findings have implications for adults: to learn more about adolescents and puberty, and about the home situation for children and adolescents at risk of abuse and neglect; to listen to suggestions from children and adolescents; to include friends in support to adolescents at risk of abuse and neglect; and to include girls and boys in all matters concerning them.

This study uses a qualitative research design to examine the skills and knowledge that both CPS (Child Protective Service) workers and Foster Care Professionals have regarding AOD (Alcohol and Other Drug) issues. It includes information on professionals' perceptions of whether or not more education in this area is needed, and the impact that these AOD issues are having upon the child welfare / foster care systems.

Using both qualitative and quantitative research designs, this study focused on the knowledge of Children Protective Services (CPS) social workers for identifying Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) risk factors in their clients, and the impact that these AOD issues have on the child welfare system in San Bernardino County, California.

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.