This qualitative research project reconceptualizes conventional and prescriptive views of family literacy as literacies in the context of family relationships, experimenting with data from the home visitor participants of one international family literacy intervention program (FLIP): Home Instruction for the Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY). Participants of the HIPPY program in Canada primarily include newcomer families. While the program targets conventional forms of literacy and education relating to children’s school readiness, in practice their work with these families goes far beyond this initial focus further engaging with issues related to settlement. For example, after completing HIPPY’s two-year program successfully with their own children, parents can be hired to become home visitors, receive professional development and guide newcomer families through the HIPPY materials they will use with their children. Using the theoretical and practical lens of Multiple Literacy Theory (Masny, 2006, 2009, 2013) this project asks what literacy practices home visitors engage in with newcomer parents, how these practices function in the relationship, and what these practices produce in these interactions. Lombard (1981) recognized the need for further research on home visitor experiences after program coordinators noted the “highly visible changes in home visitors’ level of understanding and performance” (p. 89). Since then, however, parents and children continued to be the main focus of research. This project seeks to to illuminate the under-researched experiences of HIPPY home visitors. Using the theoretical and practical lens of Multiple Literacy Theory (Masny, 2006, 2009, 2013) and the philosophy of Deleuze and Guattari (1987), qualitative observation and interview data were collected and analyzed through the process of rhizoanalysis, creating four mappings. The first mapping experiments with HIPPY not as an isolated program, but as part of a much larger assemblage of programs and services focused on newcomers in a Canadian community. The second mapping looks closely at HIPPY and English language acquisition. Mapping three experiments with conceptualizations of HIPPY home visitors as instructors of “Canadian culture”, and the fourth and final mapping delves into a more specific cultural focus on home and school connections. The final chapter of the dissertation is not a conclusion, but a look forward. This chapter introduces the concept of literacies in the context of family relationships as an integral part of not only early learning, but public and community health.

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Community Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Zululand, 2004. / The general aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the psychological intervention programs in the two schools of industries (SOf's) namely, Mimosadafe and Newcastle Schools of Industries. A third school, Bersig SOI was used for piloting the study and the results were incorporated in the main study findings. Twenty-seven educators, one social worker and one consulting clinical psychologist, and sixty-one learners participated in the study. The major findings of the study were as follows: the psychological intervention programs at SOI's are ineffective; learners are benefiting only partially by being at SOI's. According to educators, learners are benefiting partially because they bunk classes, reconstruction social workers are not supportive, Department of Education is not supportive, no follow up programs for learners post-SOl, emphasis is placed only on structure - not therapeutic programs. Only 15% of educators were found to be adequately trained to teach at SOI. Although psychological intervention programs exist at SOI's, they are not structured and they are only administered on a need-to-basis (reactive rather than proactive/preventive). Intervention strategies used at SOI's are based on individualistic, reactive, traditional mainstream psychology that is based on a disease/medical model. Based on these findings, the current study suggested a change of intervention strategies at these schools into strategies based on community psychological methods of intervention, ft was also suggested that the non-mental health professionals e.g. teachers and house parents should be involved in conducting psychological intervention. To be equal to this challenge these non-professionals should be trained.

“College Readiness” has been a phrase discussed across higher education and the workforce in most recent years. However, the perception of College Readiness has been debated throughout history as there is not a universal agreement on the philosophy of what it means to be College Ready. In Mississippi, the state has not even defined this phrase so there is not a way to measure the success of College Readiness. Because of this lack of universal philosophy, the purpose of this study is to understand the philosophy of college readiness programs in the state of Mississippi. The research question guiding this study will include: How do different stakeholders assigned to align college readiness programs between P-12 and postsecondary systems understand the philosophy of college readiness? Moreover, what influences the beliefs that shape philosophies about college readiness held by these stakeholders? Leaning on research from Thelin (2004), Conley (2007), and the Ecological Model of College Readiness as designed by Arnold et al. (2012), the literature review synthesizes research on the history of college readiness in American Higher Education, the definitions of College Readiness, and the most widely accepted conceptual framework to explain the factors that influence College Readiness among students. The design of this study included a qualitative comparative analysis and used focus groups to collect data from the perspectives of 16 directors or coordinators who are responsible for organizing or implementing college readiness programs across the state of Mississippi. As a result, the theme from the participant responses supported the consensus that college readiness is a complex and undefined phrase. However, each participant agreed that to be college ready, students need to have more than academic readiness. Instead, students must also have individual characteristics that yearn for a plan after high school. Another conclusion made was that college readiness is influenced by the students’ surroundings including people and politics. While the most current conceptual framework helps identify factors that influence college readiness, it does not precisely identify the relationships among the different layers or help explain when a student becomes college ready. Therefore, additional research should be conducted to determine the stages by which students pass through to become college ready.

Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The increasing number of isiXhosa learners in Afrikaans medium schools gave rise to this investigation. According to our Constitution, all citizens have the right to receive education in one of the official languages. Some isiXhosa parents exercise their democratic right by enrolling their children in English- or Afrikaans-medium schools. They are of the opinion that the level of education is of a higher standard in these schools. Consequently, some isiXhosa learners in Afrikaans-medium schools develop barriers to learning due to the fact that they have little or no knowledge of Afrikaans. The purpose of this study was to develop a literacy intervention programme to improve the vocabulary and reading comprehension of isiXhosa mother tongue speakers in grade 4 to 6 Afrikaans-medium classes. Secondly, the aim of the study was to determine whether the literacy intervention programme would lead to the improvement of the Afrikaans vocabulary and reading comprehension of isiXhosa learners in grade 4 to 6 Afrikaans-medium classes. The research was conducted in a previously disenfranchised Afrikaans-medium school in Stellenbosch. The research methods employed comprised a literature review supported by an empirical investigation that included pre- and post-tests with learners, interviews with educators and the development and implementation of a literacy intervention programme. A mixed method research design was used, because quantitative data alone would have supplied inadequate answers to the research question. The theoretical basis of the study was Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, as well as Vygotsky’s social constructivist language acquisition theory. Both Piaget and Vygotsky emphasised the importance of social interactions in cognitive development. They regarded the development and use of vocabulary as an integral part of these interactions. Research indicates that the field of second language acquisition is multifaceted and is not supported by a singular theory. Three theories of second language acquisition were explored in this study. They are the communicative approach, shared reading and the schema theory. The role that the language-in-education policy, motivation and social economic status play in second language acquisition was also investigated. Another goal of the literature review was to collect data to develop a literacy intervention programme in which the above-mentioned theories of second language acquisition were utilised. The marsh at the school served as the context for the activities in the programme. Twenty isiXhosa mother tongue speakers in grade 4 to 6 Afrikaans-medium classes were subjected to an intervention programme over a period of six months to determine the success of the intervention programme. Data gathering included quantitative data (pre- and post-tests) as well as qualitative data (interviews with Afrikaans educators) to determine whether the learners’ vocabulary and reading comprehension had improved. The results of the study indicate that the implementation of the literacy intervention programme can lead to the improvement of the Afrikaans vocabulary and reading comprehension of isiXhosa mother tongue speakers in grade 4 tot 6 Afrikaans-medium classes. This is substantiated by previous research. The results also support findings that the Afrikaans vocabulary and reading comprehension of isiXhosa learners in the Afrikaans-medium intervention school can improve if the appropriate intervention is offered timeously. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie ondersoek is onderneem weens die toenemende getal Xhosa-moedertaalsprekers in Afrikaansmediumskole. Volgens die Grondwet het elkeen die reg om onderrig in enige van die amptelike tale te ontvang. Sommige Xhosasprekende ouers oefen hierdie reg uit deur hulle kinders in Afrikaansmediumskole te plaas. Hulle is van mening dat onderrig van 'n hoёr gehalte daar plaasvind. Gevolglik is daar 'n toename van leerders wat struikelblokke tot leer ondervind, omdat hulle min of geen begrip van Afrikaans het nie. Eerstens, is die fokus van hierdie studie die ontwikkeling van 'n geletterdheidsintervensieprogram om die Afrikaanse woordeskat en leesbegrip van graad 4 tot 6 Xhosa-moedertaalsprekers in 'n Afrikaansmediumskool te bevorder. Ten tweede is dit om te bepaal of die geletterdheidsintervensieprogram 'n verbetering in die woordeskat en leesbegrip van graad 4 tot 6 Xhosa-moedertaalsprekers tot gevolg gehad het. 'n Voorheen benadeelde Afrikaansmediumskool in die Stellenbosch-omgewing is deur die navorser gekies vir die implementering van die geletterdheidsintervensieprogram. Hierdie projek het 'n literatuurstudie ondersteun deur 'n empiriese ondersoek wat voor- en natoetse met leerders, onderhoude met onderwysers en die ontwerp en toepassing van 'n geletterdheidsintervensieprogram ingesluit het, behels. Daar is van 'n gemengde navorsingsontwerp gebruik gemaak, omdat die gebruik van slegs kwantitatiewe data onvoldoende antwoorde op die navorsingsvraag sou verskaf. 'n Literatuurondersoek is gedoen om 'n teoretiese grondslag vir die studie te verkry. Piaget se teorie van kognitiewe ontwikkeling en Vygotsky se sosiaal-konstruktivistiese taalverwerwingsteorie is gebruik om die verwerwing van 'n tweede taal te beskryf. Beide Piaget en Vygotsky het die belangrikheid van sosiale interaksies in kognitiewe ontwikkeling beklemtoon. Hulle het die ontwikkeling en gebruik van woordeskat as 'n integrale deel van hierdie interaksies beskou. Die studie dui daarop dat die aard van tweedetaalverwerwing kompleks is en nie deur 'n enkele teorie ondersteun kan word nie. Drie verskillende benaderings tot tweedetaalverwerwing, naamlik die kommunikatiewe benadering, gedeelde lees en die skema-teorie, is ondersoek. Die rol wat die taal-in-onderwysbeleid (TiOB), motivering en sosio-ekonomiese status in tweedetaalverwerwing speel, is ook ondersoek. 'n Verdere doel van die literatuurondersoek was om inligting te versamel om 'n geletterdheidsintervensieprogram te ontwerp waarin bogenoemde benaderings tot tweedetaalverwerwing gebruik is. Die vleiland by die skool het die konteks geskep waarbinne die onderskeie aktiwiteite beplan is. Die geletterdheids-intervensieprogram is vir ses maande in 'n klas met 20 graad 4 tot 6 Xhosa-moedertaalsprekers toegepas om die sukses daarvan te bepaal. Datagenerering het bestaan uit kwantitatiewe data (voor- en natoetse) asook kwalitatiewe data (onderhoude met die opvoeders wat Afrikaans onderrig) om vas te stel of die leerders se woordeskat en leesbegrip verbeter het al dan nie. Die resultate van hierdie studie toon dat die toepassing van die geletterdheidsintervensieprogram tot die verbetering van die Xhosa-moedertaalsprekers in graad 4 tot 6 Afrikaansmediumklasse se Afrikaanse woordeskat en leesbegrip kan lei. Dit stem ooreen met bevindinge van vorige navorsing, naamlik dat die verbetering van leerders se woordeskat tot die verbetering van leesbegrip lei. Verder ondersteun die resultate die bevindinge dat Xhosa-moedertaalsprekers in die Afrikaansmedium intervensieskool se Afrikaanse woordeskat en leesbegrip kan verbeter, mits hulle die nodige, gepaste ondersteuning betyds ontvang.

Obwohl mittlerweile gesichert ist, dass Angehörige von Patienten mit zerebralen Schädigungen hochgradig belastet sind, findet in den meisten Rehabilitationseinrichtungen keine systematische Angehörigenarbeit statt. Im vorliegenden Forschungsprojekt wurde ein psychoedukativer Kurs für Angehörige von Schlaganfallpatienten entwickelt und in einem Längsschnitt-Kontrollgruppen-Design mit 3 Messzeitpunkten (N = 52) evaluiert. Ergänzend zu den quantitativen Erhebungsverfahren wurden im Rahmen einer qualitativen Studie auch Interviewdaten erhoben und analysiert. In der quantitativen Studie kamen als Messinstrumente Selbstbeurteilungsverfahren zu Depression, Angst und körperlichen Beschwerden zum Einsatz. Außerdem wurden die globale subjektive Belastungswahrnehmung, das Schlaganfall-spezifische Wissen, die Nutzung psychosozialer Entlastungsangebote und der subjektiv erlebte Nutzen des Kurses erhoben. Die Kursteilnehmer zeigten im Gegensatz zur Kontrollgruppe eine signifikante Zunahme des Schlaganfall-spezifischen Wissens und nutzten mehr Entlastungsangebote. Die subjektive Belastung nahm nur bei der Treatmentgruppe im zeitlichen Verlauf ab, während sie bei der Kontrollgruppe konstant blieb. Der Nutzen des Kurses wurde von den Kursteilnehmern als sehr hoch eingeschätzt. In den standardisierten Skalen zum psychischen und körperlichen Befinden konnten allerdings in keiner der beiden Gruppen signifikante Veränderungen im zeitlichen Verlauf festgestellt werden. Dies wird u. a. darauf zurückgeführt, dass emotionale Verarbeitungsmuster resistenter gegenüber Veränderungen sind als Verhaltenskomponenten. Mit einer Teilstichprobe von elf Angehörigen wurden im Rahmen des qualitativen Untersuchungsteils Interviews durchgeführt. In vertiefenden Fallanalysen wurden die Formen und Strategien der Bewältigung analysiert. Außerdem wurde untersucht, inwiefern sich der bisherige Bewältigungsstil moderierend auf die Effekte des Kurses auf das Belastungserleben der Angehörigen auswirkte. Hier zeigte sich, dass der Kurs Angehörige mit einem bereits funktionalen Bewältigungsstil weiter zu stabilisieren vermag. Bei Angehörigen mit eher dysfunktionalem Bewältigungsstil muss das Veränderungspotential hinsichtlich der Reduzierung des Belastungserlebens auf niedrigerer Ebene angesiedelt werden. / Although numerous studies have shown that caregivers of patients with cerebral diseases are highly burdened, most rehabilitation clinics do not offer systematic intervention programs for caregivers. A psychoeducative seminar for carers of stroke patients was developed and evaluated by means of a pre-post control group design with fifty-two subjects. Self-rating scales measuring depression, anxiety and physical complaints were employed. Additionally, subjective burden, knowledge regarding stroke, use of social services and subjective gains resulting from the seminar were measured. The treatment group showed a significant increase in their knowledge regarding stroke and used more social services which was not found for the control group. Also, only the treatment group revealed a decrease in subjective burden. High satisfaction with the seminar was reported by all members of the treatment group. However, concerning the standardized instruments measuring psychological and physical well-being, no significant changes were found for both groups. One reason for this finding might be that emotional processes are more resistant to changes than behavioral aspects. In addition to the quantitative data interviews were carried out with 11 caregivers from the original sample and analysed by means of qualitative methods. It was analysed which coping-strategies caregivers used and in which way the coping-style moderated the effects of the intervention program. The in-depth case-studies revealed that carers with a generally more functional coping style were further stabilized. Caregivers with a more dysfunctional coping-style previous to the intervention showed less potential for change regarding the reduction of stress-levels. However, changes were observed concerning their ability and willingness to employ services.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:31:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-12-15Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:02:17Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 mezzaroba_smb_dr_mar.pdf: 330552 bytes, checksum: 2aa12da4f30003b96b599bca034a4518 (MD5) / De acordo com o V Levantamento Nacional realizado pelo Centro Brasileiro de Informações sobre Drogas Psicotrópicas - CEBRID, em 2004, a média de idade do primeiro uso de bebidas alcoólicas foi de 12,7 anos. Podemos concluir desse dado que os adolescentes têm adquirido o hábito de beber cada vez mais cedo. Sob efeito do álcool, o adolescente pode envolver-se em situações de risco pessoal bem como acarretar injúrias a outrem. Considerando que a conduta de beber é construída socialmente, o conhecimento de como adolescentes categorizam essa conduta e quem consideram autoridade para regular o seu uso, é importante na elaboração de programas preventivos e de intervenção. A partir da constatação dessas questões este trabalho foi desenvolvido tendo como objetivos: identificar os adolescentes (de uma escola pública e de uma particular) que faziam uso abusivo de álcool e analisar como os mesmo viam este hábito e quem eles reconheciam como autoridade para controlá-lo. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que os jovens entrevistados não associam o hábito de beber abusivamente com questões morais. Acreditam que o comportamento de beber abusivamente está ligado aos domínios pessoais e prudenciais, ou seja, dizem respeito apenas a eles, e mesmo que as conseqüências advindas deste comportamento sejam prejudiciais a outros, não teriam relação com questões morais. Têm a crença de que necessitam passar por experiências próprias de bebedeiras e situações de risco para perceber a gravidade da situação. Portanto, propagandas, conselhos familiares, iniciativas das escolas da forma como têm sido desenvolvidas são de pouca repercussão ou mesmo não efetivas. / According to the V National Research carried out by Centro Brasileiro de Informação sobre Drogas Psicotrópicas - CEBRID in 2004, the average age for alcoholic drinking consumption initiation was 12,7 years old. According to these data, the habit of drinking starts earlier every year among teenagers. Those facts should be treated as a public health issue. Under the effect of alcohol the teenager can be involved in situations of personal risk as well he/she can hurt other people. Taking into consideration that the habit of drinking is built socially, the knowledge on how teenagers classify this behavior, and who they consider an authority to keep the use under regular basis it is important for the creation of prevention and intervention programs. The results among the interviewed volunteers showed they didn't associate the habit of drinking abusively to moral issues. They believe this behavior is connected to personal and prudential domains, in other words, the problem is personal and even the consequences arisen from this behavior may be harmful to others they are not considered moral issues. They are true believers that this is part of the growing process and they need to face risk situations to evaluate how serious and dangerous they are. Therefore, we can conclude that advertisements, family advice, school orientation in the format they are being developed today are considered of low repercussion or even ineffective.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:45:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissLL.pdf: 1032133 bytes, checksum: ee98e2d93739a161ab041e6e00ae16c8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-09-01 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / Literature about childish aggressiveness has evidenced importance of schools prepare to cope with aggressive students more effectively, that demand a lot of teachers instructional and behavior management skills. The continuation of punitive practices, used in schools, can be result of teachers lack of skill to cope with children who show aggressive behavior. Otherwise that, application of proper behavior management strategies and the development of positive relationships among teachers and children contribute to promote social and academic success, especially to children at risk. Several authors have argued a comprehensive intervention applied in the preschool is the more effective method to divert these children of antisocial pathway. Necessary conditions in the school context to support teachers to cope with aggressive children have been the object of several researches. International literature has indicated positive effects by the application of intervention programs in the school context on aggressive behavior. These effects are: the decrease of aggressive behavior rate and improvements social and academic skills in children, and the teachers acquisition of skills to cope with aggressive children. It was verify the necessity of identify characteristics relative to teacher s role in intervention programs, referring to knowledge and skills required to support students, and relative to teaching strategies that are offered to teacher act properly. The present research intended to elaborate a capability proposal, derivative of successful school-based intervention programs revision, that promote the improvement of teachers skills, directed to prevent and/or minimize preschoolers aggressive behaviors. Method was divided in four stages: (1) search and identification of successful school intervention programs; (2) a wide description of each intervention program; (3) a specific description of skills and tasks that are related to participants and responsible professionals performance in the programs; and (4) the elaboration of a capability proposal for the improvement of teacher skills in coping with aggressive preschoolers. The main results consisted in four products: (a) identification of relevant skills to be developed by students; (b) identification of proper strategies to development of these skills; (c) proposition of a set of the teachers skills required toward implement teaching strategies which aim at prevention of aggressive behavior in classroom; and (d) proposition of conditions to be offered toward teachers. The aim of this study is to make available a capability proposal to preschool teachers, based on successful theoretical and experimental foundations provided by programs described in the literature. This product is considered to be important in the development of future investigations on the necessary teaching conditions related to the improvement of teachers skills in coping with children who exhibit aggressive behavior problems. / A literatura sobre agressividade infantil tem evidenciado a importância das escolas estarem preparadas para lidar com alunos agressivos de forma mais efetiva, os quais exigem muito das habilidades instrucionais e de manejo dos professores. A perpetuação de práticas punitivas utilizadas nas escolas pode ser resultado da falta de habilidades dos professores em lidar com crianças que apresentam comportamentos agressivos. Por outro lado, a aplicação de estratégias adequadas de manejo do comportamento e o desenvolvimento de relações positivas entre professores e crianças contribuem para promover o sucesso acadêmico e social, especialmente para crianças consideradas de risco. Diversos autores têm argumentado que uma intervenção abrangente e aplicada na pré-escola é o método mais efetivo para desviar essas crianças de uma trajetória antisocial. As condições necessárias no contexto escolar para auxiliar os professores a lidarem com crianças agressivas têm sido objeto de várias pesquisas. A literatura internacional tem apontado efeitos positivos com a aplicação de programas de intervenção no contexto escolar sobre o comportamento agressivo. Dentre esses efeitos encontram-se: a diminuição da taxa de comportamento agressivo e melhoras nas habilidades sociais e acadêmicas das crianças e a aquisição pelos professores de habilidades para lidar com crianças agressivas. Verificou-se a necessidade de se identificar as características relativas ao papel do professor em programas de intervenção, no que se refere aos conhecimentos e às habilidades necessárias para auxiliar os alunos e às estratégias de ensino oferecidas para que o professor atue de modo apropriado. A presente pesquisa pretendeu elaborar uma proposta de capacitação, derivada da revisão de programas de intervenção escolar bem-sucedidos, que promova o aprimoramento das habilidades de professores, voltadas para prevenir e/ou minimizar a apresentação de comportamentos agressivos em alunos de pré-escola. O método se dividiu em quatro etapas: (1) busca e identificação de programas de intervenção bemsucedidos no contexto escolar; (2) descrição ampla sobre cada programa de intervenção; (3) descrição específica sobre as habilidades e as tarefas referentes ao desempenho dos participantes e dos responsáveis pelos programas; e (4) elaboração da proposta de capacitação para o aprimoramento das habilidades de professores para lidarem com préescolares agressivos. Os principais resultados obtidos consistiram em quatro produtos: (a) identificação das habilidades relevantes de serem desenvolvidas pelos alunos; (b) identificação de estratégias adequadas para o desenvolvimento destas habilidades; (c) proposição de um conjunto de habilidades do professor requeridas para implementar estratégias de ensino que visem à prevenção dos comportamentos agressivos em sala de aula; e (d) proposição das condições de ensino a serem oferecidas aos professores. Espera-se disponibilizar com esse trabalho uma proposta de capacitação para professores de pré-escola, baseada em fundamentação teórica e experimental bemsucedida, proporcionada pelos programas descritos na literatura. Considera-se esse produto importante para o desenvolvimento de investigações futuras sobre as condições de ensino necessárias para o aprimoramento das habilidades dos professores para lidarem com crianças que apresentam problemas de comportamento agressivo.

Many educators are experiencing challenges in educating autistic learners, with the media reporting incidents of autistic learners being denied access to their local schools. This case study investigated how effective the TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication Handicapped Children) model is, in helping autistic learners to learn in an inclusive environment. The data collection instrumentsused included a literature review, questionnaires, interviews and artefacts. The collected data were analysed statistically, and descriptively. It seems as if there is perception that autism is increasing. Teachers need to be taught about full support mechanisms to deal with the challenges of teaching autistic learners. The research revealed that teachers were struggling to implement the TEACCH program owing to a lack of support programs for teachers, as well as a lack of continued use by other teachers. It was revealed that the teachers felt that for intervention programs to be successful, autistic learners should learn separately. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

This research is a cross-Atlantic study of Sure Start and Early Head Start program directors' perceptions of parent involvement in their early intervention programs, with a focus on the provision and take-up of parenting and employability-focused services. The review of the literature, which informed the survey design and the later data chapters, focuses on poverty and parenting, working parents, welfare reform, and early intervention programs, including early childhood education and care policies in England and the United States. Data was collected via an online survey, administered to all those individuals directing either a Sure Start Local Programme (including those that had been designated as Children's Centres) in England or an Early Head Start program in the USA. There was a 40.3% response rate (231 English and 236 American directors, resulting in a total of 467 respondents). The survey questioned directors on their background, and also sought their views of the area in which their program operated, characteristics of their programs and their perceptions of the families accessing the parent-focused services offered by their early intervention program. The resulting data was used to address the primary theme of parenting and employability, drawing associations between reported parent involvement and directors' perceptions of area, program and family characteristics. The findings also led to the establishment of secondary themes: the targeting and catchment area approach to service provision, engaging disadvantaged families, relationships with partner agencies, issues of funding and resources, particularly for staff, and the expansion of Children's Centres. A summary report was sent to all participating directors. It is hoped that this research has benefited program directors, providing insights into the local-level experiences had by their colleagues both within their own country and across the Atlantic, particularly with respect to parent involvement in early intervention programs.

Depuis 2006, le Programme Hors Normes (PHN) dicte une nouvelle marche à suivre que doivent privilégier les équipes de santé au travail (SAT) lorsque des travailleurs sont exposés à des concentrations environnementales de produits chimiques supérieures aux valeurs d’exposition admissibles, c’est-à-dire à des « hors normes ». Le PHN encadre les activités de signalements des hors normes aux instances concernées et demande des suivis plus rigoureux en établissements. Ce faisant, il redéfinit les rôles des infirmières et des membres des équipes SAT. Dans le but de mieux comprendre l’implication des infirmières dans le cadre du PHN, sept entretiens individuels semi-dirigés ont été réalisés afin d’explorer et de décrire leurs représentations. L’analyse qualitative de ces représentations, par catégorisation et comparaisons constantes des discours, révèle que les infirmières se représentent de diverses façons leur pratique dans le cadre du PHN. En effet, les résultats de l’étude montrent qu’afin de comprendre l’implication des infirmières dans ce programme d’intervention, il importe de considérer les quatre éléments suivants : l’organisation du travail, les aspects relationnels (dynamique de relations), les cibles d’intervention et l’utilité du travail des infirmières (sens donné au travail). Afin de faciliter leur participation dans les programmes d’intervention et d’encourager la collaboration, tant intersectorielle qu’interprofessionnelle, il est suggéré en premier lieu de favoriser l’implication des infirmières dans les processus d’élaboration et d’implantation de programmes d’intervention. En second lieu, il est proposé de mettre en place une formation continue interprofessionnelle permettant une meilleure harmonisation des pratiques professionnelles. / Since 2006, the Programme Hors Normes (PHN) (Standards Non-compliance Program) of the “Direction de santé publique de Montréal ”, has set new guidelines for Occupational Health Teams with regard to workers who have been exposed to environmental concentrations of chemical agents that exceed permissible exposure levels, in other words, that are “standards non-compliant.” The PHN oversees the reporting of non-compliance to the relevant authorities and ensures that employers conduct rigorous follow-up. In doing so, the program has redefined the roles of occupational health team nurses. This exploratory study aims to describe the representations of these nurses with regard to the PHN and to better understand how they represent their practice into the PHN. Individual semi-directed interviews were conducted among seven nurses. Qualitative analysis of the data, through categorization and consistent comparison of narratives, reveals the various ways nurses represent their practice in the PHN. Their representations of their practice appear to derive from four elements: work organization, work relationships, intervention target, and work satisfaction. To increase nurses’empowerment, to take into account the ways in which he PHN has prompted them to reflect on their practice, and to promote cross-sector and cross-professional cooperation, the study suggests that nurses should participate in the planning and implementation of intervention programs and that on-going training should be provided in order to further harmonize professional practice.