Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, School of Social Work, 2006. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 354-386).

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

<p>The Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) that leads to Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is considered to be spreading at a high rate in South Africa. Research indicates that this disease is highly prevalent among people 15 and 49. It is estimated that one in five adults in South Africa is HIV positive. Community or home-based care nurses manage the treatment of sufferers at their homes while under the care of their family members, friends, spouses and significant others. The present study explored the experiences and coping strategies of HIV/AIDS primary caregivers.</p>

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to examine participants' perceptions on the effectiveness of the "Parents in Partnership" program (PIP) of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Parents in Partnership (PIP) is a collaborative effort between the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and parent partner paraprofessionals toward facilitation of safe reunification and permanency through education, support and mentoring of birth parents. The program's sole goal is the timely and safe reunification of children and their families. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with fourteen participants in the PIP program. Both mentors and mentees were interviewed.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Social Service Management / Master / Master of Social Sciences

The goal of this international study was to gain insight into a little-known approach to family home visiting: programs that make use of both volunteer and paid visitors. Using a qualitative embedded multiple case study design, I interviewed volunteers and staff at three such programs regarding the development of the service, and the strengths and challenges of this approach. Key findings suggest that this approach allows programs to provide preventative, universally available services; and to serve a greater number and broader range of families. These were important features given the local targeted, reactive service delivery systems. Common challenges included funding difficulties and some limited communication and workload issues. This approach shows promise as a way to increase program accessibility and impact. Considerations for program planners include the costs of qualified staff to coordinate volunteers and do home visiting, and organizational readiness to deploy volunteers effectively in home visiting roles. / A preliminary exploratory study of three family home visiting programs involving volunteer and paid home visitors.

Efforts to keep children in their own homes when they are found to be at risk within the meaning of child protection legislation have resulted in the creation of family preservation programs. Typically, these services are crisis-oriented. Short-term, intensive work with families is offered with a goal of maintaining the child in his or her own home. A family support program which provides these services in the anglophone community of Montreal was examined. / The data for this qualitative study were obtained through indepth interviews with the program staff and through an examination of agency files. The findings suggest that service is limited to those families who are assessed to be motivated--that is compliant with the objectives of the program and accepting of the intensive nature of the service. The interventions focus on individual parenting, most often the mother's parenting. For the workers, the dual role of support and scrutiny is managed within a relationship of trust. / The findings further indicate that families who are experiencing severe problems, often related to alcoholism, family violence and extreme poverty are not served by this program.

Through this Peace and Conflict Studies autoethnography, I relate my stories in relationship to the First Nations lands and peoples of Northern Manitoba within the context of Child and Family Services. The stories identify relationships between social work interventions and peace-building interventions with examples of my contributions to the structural violence of colonization through assimilation, and my interventions that are consistent with peace-building to reverse the assimilation of colonization. The theories of structural violence, colonization, assimilation and genocide provide the framework to tell the anecdotal stories to identify the complex relationships. My stories describe my emotions of inner conflict and turmoil as I identify the day-to-day challenges ingrained within the system to build peace by reversing the tide of removing children from their families, communities, cultures and identities. The stories also identify some successes of peace-building by strengthening and unifying families and communities in response to experiences of colonization.