Denna studies syfte är att beskriva socialsekreterares upplevelse av utredningsarbetet när en eller båda föräldrarna har en intellektuell funktionsnedsättning. För att svara på studiens syfte har vi intervjuat sex socialsekreterare som arbetar med och har erfarenhet av föräldrar med en intellektuell funktionsnedsättning. Studiens empiriska material bygger på en kvalitativ semistrukturerad intervjuform. Studiens insamlade datamaterial har analyserats med hjälp av tidigare forskning samt socialkonstruktionism och stigma som är studiens två teoretiska perspektiv. Resultatet är uppdelat i två huvudtema, vilka är Föräldraförmåga och Utredningsarbete. Huvudtema A har två underteman och huvudtema B har tre underteman. Studiens resultat visar att samtliga av de intervjuade socialsekreterarna upplever att barnets bästa är ett komplext begrepp, då varje barn är unikt med unika behov. Resultatet visar även att det kan finnas svårigheter för en förälder med en intellektuell funktionsnedsättning att tillgodose sitt barns behov, men att det inte är knutet till den intellektuella funktionsnedsättningen utan alla bedömningar måste göras individuellt. / The purpose of this study is to describe the social secretary's experience of investigation work when one or both parents have an intellectual disability. To answer the study's purpose, we interviewed six social secretaries who work with and have experience with parents with an intellectual disability. The empirical material of the study is based on a qualitative semi-structured interview form. The study's collected data has been analyzed using previous research on social constructionism and stigma, which provide the study's two theoretical perspectives. Result are divided into two main themes: parental ability and investigation work. Main theme A has two sub-themes and main theme B has three sub-themes. The study shows that all of the interviewed social secretaries feel that the child's best interests are a complex concept, since each child is unique with unique needs. It may be difficult for a parent with an intellectual disability to meet their child's needs, but that this is not directly linked to the intellectual disability, therefor all assessments must be made individually.

It has become increasingly common for individuals with intellectual disabilities to choose to have children, but research shows that they often have difficulty assimilating the parental role. Historically society has mainly assumed that it is the intellectual disability that causes deficiencies in the parenting role. In recent decades research has begun to focus on other factors that may influence parenthood. Despite the development of research it does not appear that social work has developed at the same pace. In this qualitative overview study the purpose was to report on the research situation regarding parenting ability of parents with intellectual disabilities and the formal support. The research results are presented through a thematic analysis as parenting ability of parents with intellectual disabilities, the Peter Pan-metaphor, go into parenthood blindly and support for parents with intellectual disabilities. A theoretical connection to the stigma theory and empowerment theory has been made to shed light on how the surrounding structures affect the parenting ability of the intellectually disabled and to provide a deeper understanding and explanation of the study results. The results show that the view of intellectually disabled parents is largely based on dominant societal norms, which in turn lead to consequences for how the formal support measures are designed. The conclusion is that there is a need to focus more on the parents' strengths and abilities rather than their difficulties and incapacities. Thus, to make the support more effective, but also so that professionals and society can give intellectually disabled parents a fair and honest chance to both become and be parents. / Det har blivit allt vanligare att individer med intellektuell funktionsnedsättning väljer att skaffa barn, men forskning visar att de ofta har svårigheter att tillgodogöra sig föräldrarollen. Historiskt sett har samhället huvudsakligen utgått ifrån att det är den intellektuella funktionsnedsättningen som medför brister i föräldraskapet. De senaste decennierna har forskningen börjat fokusera på andra faktorer som kan tänkas påverka föräldraskapet. Trots utvecklingen av forskningen framstår det inte som att det sociala arbetet har utvecklats i samma takt. I denna kvalitativa översiktsstudie var syftet att redogöra för forskningsläget gällande föräldraförmågan hos föräldrar med intellektuell funktionsnedsättning och det formella stödet. Forskningsresultatet presenteras utifrån en tematisk analys som föräldraförmågan hos föräldrar med intellektuell funktionsnedsättning, Peter Pan-metaforen, går in i föräldraskapet i blindo och stöd till föräldrar med intellektuell funktionsnedsättning. En teoretisk anknytning till stigmateorin och empowerment-teorin har gjorts för att belysa hur de omgivande strukturerna påverkar intellektuellt funktionsnedsattas föräldraförmåga och för att ge en djupare förståelse samt förklaring till studiens resultat. Resultatet visar att synen på intellektuellt funktionsnedsatta föräldrar till stor del bottnar i dominerande samhällsnormer som i sin tur leder till konsekvenser för hur de formella stödinsatserna utformas. Slutsatsen är att det behövs fokuseras mer på föräldrarnas styrkor och förmågor snarare än deras svårigheter och oförmågor. Detta för att kunna effektivisera stödet, men även för att professionella och samhället ska kunna ge intellektuellt funktionsnedsatta föräldrar en rättvis och ärlig chans att både bli samt vara föräldrar.

This investigation examined the effect of a biochemical and parent education program emphasizing the physiological aspects of the hyperkinetic disorder and the effect of a parent education program teaching parenting skills found in Systematic Training for Effective Parenting on the behavior of hyperkinetic children. The following conclusions are presented as a result of these findings: 1. The intake of nutrients in conjunction with parent education groups which teach physiological reasons for hyperkinesis has an effect on the behavior and physiological symptoms of hyperkinetic children. 2. The education of parents using Systematic Training for Effective Parenting is effective in changing the behavior of hyperkinetic children. 3. Aberrant behavior in children, in some cases, may be due to a condition, or conditions, subject to manipulation.

Parents have reported decreased well-being due to events in parenting, and parenting support programs such as the Circle of Security aim to strengthen parenting and have shown improved health in parents. This study aimed to explore parents' experiences of participating in the parental education program Circle of Security and how it promote their well-being. The study's approach was inductive, with data material consisting of nineteen qualitative semi-structured interviews that were analysed using qualitative content analysis.  The analysis resulted in one main category: Parents´ enhanced parenting knowledge, and five subcategories: Parents´ understanding of children’s needs, Parents ‘avoiding conflicts and setting boundaries, Parents ‘ability to reflect, Parents ‘inner security, and Parents’ reduced stress. The result showed that the parents had received developed parenting that promote their well-being. A parental support program such as Circle of Security strengthens parenting and improves parents' well-being. It is an excellent alternative to a parental education program because parents' upbringing and well-being affect children's lifestyle. / Föräldrar har rapporterat försämrad hälsa på grund av svårhanterliga händelser i föräldraskapet. För att stödja och stärka föräldrar i sitt föräldraskap finns i Sverige så kallade föräldrastödsprogram. Trygghetscirkeln är en av dem och programmet har visat på en förbättrad hälsa hos föräldrar. Syftet med studien var att utforska föräldrars erfarenheter av att delta i föräldrautbildningen Trygghetscirkeln och hur den har främjat deras välbefinnande. Studiens ansats var induktiv med ett datamaterial bestående av nitton kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer som analyserades med hjälp av kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultatet av analysen blev huvudkategorin: Föräldrarnas förstärkta föräldrakunskap och fem underkategorier: Föräldrars förståelse för barns behov, Föräldrar som undviker konflikter och sätter gränser, Föräldrars förmåga att reflektera, Föräldrars inre trygghet och Föräldrars minskade stress. Resultatet visade att föräldrarna hade fått ett utvecklat föräldraskap som främjade deras välbefinnande. Ett föräldrastödsprogram som Trygghetscirkeln som både stärker föräldraskapet och främjar föräldrars välbefinnande är ett bra alternativ som föräldrautbildningsprogram då föräldrars uppfostran och välbefinnande påverkar barns livsstil.

The purpose of this study was to provide a greater understanding of what the child's perspective means in child care investigations when the parent has an intellectual disability. Five interviews with social workers who are or have been active in child care investigations were conducted. The results showed that the social workers often noticed that parents with an intellectual disability had a lack of parenting skills. The results also showed that there were difficulties in keeping focus on the child's perspective regarding children of parents with an intellectual disability. The most important finding was that all the interviewees considered it difficult to maintain focus on the child's perspective when the parents had an intellectual disability. / Studiens syfte var att ge en större förståelse kring vad barnperspektivet innebär i utredningar av föräldraförmågan hos föräldrar med en intellektuell funktionsnedsättning. Fem intervjuer med socionomer som är eller har varit verksamma inom en utredningsenhet för barn och familj genomfördes. Resultatet av studien visade att samtliga socionomer ansåg att föräldrar med en intellektuell funktionsnedsättning hade en bristande föräldraförmåga. Resultatet visade vidare att det fanns svårigheter att beakta barnperspektivet gällande barn till föräldrar med en intellektuell funktionsnedsättning. Studiens viktigaste resultat var att samtliga intervjupersoner ansåg att barnperspektivet var mer komplicerat att tillämpa vid utredning av föräldrar med en intellektuell funktionsnedsättning.

Assistance to young, single, African American mothers requires adaptation to their environmental stressors along with reliance on social support. Further information is necessary for developing and supporting an appropriate model for delivery of that assistance. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine potential correlations between general social support and parenting skills and disciplinary practices amongst low-income, African American single mothers. Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory model supported this study to further develop an accurate perspective of African American families to inform more effective approaches to parenting. The participants for this correlational research design study were 78 mothers who had preschool age children, between the ages of 2 and 5. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Parents' Child-Rearing Behavior Interview Questionnaire, and the Attitudes Toward Spanking Children Questionnaire were used to measure the variables under study. Ordinal regression was used to examine the correlations between social support, parenting skills, and disciplinary practices. A significant interaction between social support, parenting skills, and disciplinary practices was not found with the tools used in this study; however, there was only a relationship determined between general social support and disciplinary practices. The knowledge gained from this study can be useful to researchers and practitioners in developing culturally appropriate parenting support and education, positively impacting the delivery of parenting by single, urban, African American mothers.

Parent training programs are widely used to remediate ineffective strategies being used by parents of children with maladaptive behaviors. While there are a multitude of parenting workshops available, it has been estimated that over half have no established effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to advance our knowledge regarding the effects of modeling and role-playing (in an experimentally controlled design), used to supplement the parent workshop called “Winning at Parenting” and enhance development of adaptive parenting skills of participants. This study trained parents in the behavioral techniques of clear communication, differential attention, and time-out procedures via modeling by the instructor, roleplaying with the parents, and instructor feedback to parents. A multiple-baseline design across four participants was used in an experimentally controlled manner to demonstrate the positive effect of modeling and role-playing on the development of these adaptive skills in a parent training program. Two research questions were analyzed. The first considered whether participants would increase their use of adaptive parenting strategies via modeling, role-playing and instructor feedback, within the multiple baseline design. The results clearly showed a mean increase in correct demonstration of each target behavior for each parent only after the treatment condition was introduced, indicating a significant treatment effect. Furthermore, because there was no overlap of data points from baseline to treatment, changes in level were evident, providing a strong case that behavior was changed due to treatment effects. Although trend of the behaviors in baseline varied, data points in the treatment phase for each target behavior for each parent made such a dramatic and immediate jump that they each were indicative of a treatment effect. These findings are consistent with previous research demonstrating that the use of modeling and roleplaying are superior to readings and lecture-style for parent training programs. The second question considered whether or not parent’s ratings of competence, depression, and life stress, as measured on the Parenting Stress Index (PSI), would change as a result of the intervention. Results showed no clear trends in data for the effects of treatment on the PSI scores.

This master's thesis is focused on the problematic associated with family remediation. It offers a view into the issues connected with working with a family in which there is a child whose biological, social and psychological development is endangered. The thesis consists of a theoretical and practical part. In the theoretical part we can find an insight into the problematic of family remediation. This part of the thesis also explains the term family remediation, neglect and children at risk. I have focused on family, its function and typology. One of the chapters is focused on families which were included in the family remediation program. The thesis also mentions the course of family remediation, strengthening of parental skills and the social and legal protection of children.In the research part of the thesis my goal is to find out the elements of preventive action in the case of a threat to the development of the child and how in practice parental skills are applied. Consistent with the goal of the thesis three research questions, relating to the function of a multidisciplinary team, questions on how parental skills are strengthened, and what improvements are possible in the context of preventive work with the family, were established. Quantitative research was chosen in order to find the goal. It was realized using the pooling method and using the semi-structured interview technique. The subsequent data analysis was evaluated using the data classification method.In conclusion, both the aim of the thesis and the research questions were fulfilled. From the results we can ensure that case conference is useful in the area of preventive work with family but it's both organizationally and time demanding in small frequencies of realization and in relation to the needs of employees and families. Another finding was that developing an individual child protection plan takes up a lot of time and is the cause of worker's work efficiency deterioration.The gathered information can be beneficial for general public but also for the students of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences as a study material. Also the gathered information could help workers of social and legal protection of children as feedback of their work.

This diploma thesis deals with the analysis of parental competence of mothers with psychiatric disorder, with an emphasis on the difficulties such diagnosis can have on the family's functionality. The most severe, in practice, seems to be the necessity to place the children in institutions, away from their families, in cases where no other family member can take care of these children during the mother's absence as a result of the attack. Due to the nature of the disorder, periodicity can be expected, which significantly disturbs the child's development and relationships within the family. The real impact was observed in the empirical part via a case study focusing on six families that have a mother diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. The needs of these families were mapped through interviews and were later compared to the current offer of non-profit organizations. The results were used to find out, which services are offered and in which areas do these families require support. Due to the nature of this problem and the necessity for systematic solution when it comes down to the provided psychiatric care, I reached out to the current Minister of Health, who commented on the present situation. The presumption that the biggest impact is observed in families with single mothers proved to be right,...

Une proportion significative de mères d’enfants pris en charge par la protection de la jeunesse souffrirait d’un trouble de personnalité limite (TPL). En effet, les difficultés parentales associées à ce trouble prédisposent davantage à des situations d’abus ou de négligence envers leurs enfants. Cependant, il existe peu d’information sur les difficultés et les besoins de ces mères dans ce contexte particulier. Cette étude qualitative a été réalisée auprès de 30 mères avec un TPL et dont au moins un enfant était suivi par le Centre jeunesse de Montréal-Institut universitaire. La présente étude a permis de mieux décrire les difficultés des mères en lien avec leur TPL, leurs enfants et leur situation conjugale. Leurs expériences des services en protection de la jeunesse ont révélé des suivis instables et peu adaptés à leurs difficultés. Les mères ont abordé l’importance des qualités relationnelles des intervenants à l’établissement d’une collaboration de la part des intervenants et l’importance de mettre en place des services spécifiquement dédiés aux parents. Il semblerait pertinent d’adapter les services de protection de la jeunesse afin d’inclure des interventions qui ciblent les difficultés spécifiques des parents qui ont un TPL, notamment en ce qui a trait à leurs habiletés parentales. / A significant proportion of mothers who have children in the care of the Youth Protection Services have borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, there is very little information on the needs and difficulties of these mothers in this special context. This qualitative study was conducted among 30 mothers who have BPD and who have at least one child followed by Centre jeunesse de Montréal-Institut universitaire, a Youth Protection Service. The study provided a description of the difficulties those mothers have associated with their personality disorder, their children and their couple relationship. Their experiences of services offered by Youth Protection suggested that the follow up received were unstable and not suitable for their difficulties and their needs. Mothers have addressed the importance of interpersonal skills of caseworkers to develop better collaboration and the importance of putting in place specifically dedicated services to parents. It would appear pertinent to adapt Youth Protection Services in order to include interventions that target the specific difficulties of parents with BPD, notably regarding parenting skills.