Au Québec, le tiers des enfants en situation de vulnérabilité socioéconomique (SVSE) commence la maternelle avec un retard dans au moins un domaine de développement. Les retards de développement (RD) peuvent engendrer des conséquences négatives sur l’enfant, sa famille et la société. Les interventions précoces et de soutien aux parents peuvent contribuer à réduire les effets du statut socioéconomique sur le développement. Or, différentes barrières réduisent l’accès des familles en SVSE à ces interventions. Cette recherche participative a pour but de co-développer un outil d’information pour soutenir les parents dans le développement de leur enfant de moins de cinq ans adapté aux familles en SVSE. Les objectifs sont : 1) explorer les besoins d’information des parents en SVSE que pourrait combler un outil sur le développement du jeune enfant ; 2) cibler les informations prioritaires à aborder dans l’outil (contenu) ; 3) déterminer le format d’outil le plus approprié pour rejoindre ces familles. Des parents, des professionnels de la santé, des intervenants communautaires, une gestionnaire et une conseillère scientifique ont participé à un processus de prise de décision en groupe structuré avec la Technique de Recherche d’Informations par Animation d’un Groupe Expert(TRIAGE) pour déterminer en consensus le contenu et le format de l’outil. Ces participants et des experts externes ont été impliqués dans un processus itératif de production, validation et modification de l’outil. En accord, les participants ont décidé de présenter des informations sur les signes d’alarme, la porte d’entrée des services, les ressources de soutien et les stratégies de stimulation de l’autonomie dans un outil prenant la forme d’une échelle croissance. L’outil peut être considéré comme une nouvelle piste de solution pour contribuer à prévenir l’apparition et la progression des RD. Cette étude soutient l’utilisation de TRIAGE comme méthode participative de recherche permettant l’obtention d’un consensus en groupe. / In Quebec, 33% of children from low socioeconomic families have a delay in at least one area of their development at kindergarten. Developmental delays (DD) are associated with negative consequences on the child, its family and the society. Early intervention and parent-based interventions can reduce the effect of socioeconomic status on child development. However, several barriers limit the access of low socioeconomic families to these interventions. The purpose of this participatory research study is to co-develop an educational tool adapted to low socioeconomic families that could inform parents on early child development and strengthen their capacity to create a stimulating home learning environment. The objectives were to 1) explore which parents unmet information needs could be addressed in a tool on early child development, 2) identify which parents’ unmet information needs should be addressed in priority in the tool (tool content) and 3) which format would be the most appropriate to reach our target population (tool format). Parents, pediatric health professionals, community workers, managers and scientific advisers participated in a two phases consensus-seeking process (Technique of Research of Information by Animation of a Group of Experts (TRIAGE)) to reach an agreement regarding the tool content and format. These participants and external experts collaborated in the iterative process of production, validation and modification of the first version of the tool. Participants unanimously decided to present information about red flags, referral resource, support resources and autonomy stimulation strategies on an original, appealing and accessible format of a life size growth chart ruler. The tool developed could be used in primary healthcare and community settings as an intervention to contribute to the prevention of developmental delays. This study reinforced the effectiveness of the TRIAGE method in enabling a group of different stakeholders to reach a consensus

Thèse (M.Sc.inf.)--Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 2007. / Essai - Maîtrise en Sciences infirmières. "Essai présenté à l'Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières comme exigence partielle de la maîtrise en sciences infirmières". CaQQUQ CaQQUQ Comprend des réf. bibliogr. (f. 105-110).

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Non-biological caregivers often take children into their care when their own biological caregivers have failed to provide them with a safe and loving home. These children are often also affected with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Learning of a child’s disability can be a big shock to non-biological caregivers especially if it is misunderstood, available professional help is scarce and intervention resources are not readily available. These non-biological caregivers are often not prepared for the financial, emotional and physical investment that is required to fully support the children and their development. This can cause various emotional reactions and implications that are challenging for the caregivers. It is critical to recognise parenting experiences and challenges as a means of developing and promoting intervention strategies and support that will respond to the needs of the children with FASD and their non-biological caregivers especially from a South African perspective. There is a need for social workers to take on responsibility for addressing FASD as they have the professional capacity to help families living with FASD to develop and maintain stable and nurturing households. One way in which this can be achieved is through the initiation and facilitation of support groups. The goal of the study was to gain an understanding on the experiences of non-biological caregivers of children with FASD and of the utilisation of support groups to help them cope better. The researcher made use of a combination of an exploratory and descriptive research design. By using both a quantitative and qualitative approach in a complimentary manner, the researcher was able to gain an in depth insight into the lives of the non-biological caregivers and how they experience this disability and support groups that are utilised as a means of helping them cope. Permission to conduct the study was granted by the committee for Human Research at the University of Stellenbosch. The literature study firstly investigated the implication of FASD on affected children. Secondly, the extents to which non-biological caregivers are affected by the consequences of this disability were discussed. After this the utilisation of support groups as a method of supporting non-biological caregivers, with the emphasis on a mutual-aid and educational approach as theoretical underpinning was described. The empirical study was completed with 16 participants through face-to-face, semi-structured interviews. An interview schedule based on the findings of the literature study was utilised. The criteria for inclusion were that participants had to have attended at least 5 support group sessions and had to be a non-biological caregiver of FASD children who had attended the support groups specifically related to this disorder. The results of this study mostly confirmed the findings from the literature study which showed that support groups play a vital role in providing necessary support to non-biological caregivers who are often unprepared for the realities of caring for a FASD child. Recommendations are aimed at the social work profession in South Africa who need to align itself in providing necessary support to non-biological caregivers through the use of support groups and various other methods of service rendering. Suggestions for future research are also made in line with how non-biological caregivers can be supported in their unique caregiver responsibilities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Nie-biologiese versorgers neem dikwels kinders in hul sorg wanneer kinders se biologiese ouers versuim om vir hulle ‘n veilige en liefdevolle huis en omgewing te skep. Hierdie kinders kan ook ly aan of geaffekteer word deur Fetale Alkohol Spektrum Versteuring (FASV). Dit kan ‘n groot skok wees wanneer versorgers uitvind dat die kind geaffekteer is daardeur, veral as hierdie versteuring misverstaan word. Professionele hulp is skaars, en intervensies en hulpbronne is nie vryelik beskikbaar nie. Versorgers is dikwels nie voorbereid op die finansiële, emosionele en fisiese eise wat nodig is om ten volle die kind se ontwikkeling te ondersteun nie. Dit kan dit lei tot verskillende emosionele reaksies met verskeie gevolge wat opsigself ook verskeie uitdagings vir die nie- biologiese versorgers veroorsaak. Dit is van kritieke belang om die ervarings en uitdagings van ouerskap te verken in die bevordering en ontwikkeling van intervensiestrategieë ter ondersteuning van die behoeftes van die kinders met FASV en hul versorgers, veral vanuit ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse perspektief. Daar word vereis van maatskaplike werkers om verantwoordelikheid te neem vir die aanspreek van FASV, aangesien hulle die professionele kapasiteit het om families wat geaffekteer is te help, en om hulle by te staan sodat ‘n stabiele en koesterende huishouding ontwikkel en volgehou kan word. Een manier waarop dit bereik kan word, is deur die vestiging en fasilitering van ondersteuningsgroepe. Die doel van hierdie studie was om ‘n begrip te ontwikkel oor die ervarings van nie-biologiese versorgers van kinders met FASV se benutting van ondersteuningsgroepe. Die navorser het gebruik gemaak van ‘n kombinasie van ‘n verkennende en beskrywende navorsing. Deur die gebruik van beide ʼn kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe benadering, is die navorser in staat gestel om ‘n indiepte insig in die lewens van die versorgers te bekom, en ondersoek in te stel oor hul ervarings van die versteuring/gestremdheid deur ondersteuningsgroepe wat as intervensie aangewend is. Toestemming om die studie te doen is deur die Etiese Komitee vir Menslike Navorsing aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch bekom. Eerstens is die literatuurstudie voltooi waarin die navorser ondersoek ingestel het oor die implikasies van FASV op geaffekteerde kinders. Tweedens is daar bespreek hoe nie-biologiese versorgers geraak word deur die gevolge van hierdie versteuring/gestremdheid. Daarna is ondersteuningsgroepe as ‘n metode van ondersteuning aan versorgers ondersoek, en klem is gelê op ‘n wedersydse hulpbenadering en ‘n opvoedkundige benadering as teoretiese grondslag. Die empiriese studie is voltooi met 16 deelnemers deur middel van individuele, een-tot-een, semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude. ‘n Onderhoudskedule, wat gebaseer is op die bevindinge van die literatuurstudie, is gebruik. Die kriteria vir deelname aan die studie en groep het ingesluit dat deelnemers ten minste vyf sessies van ‘n ondersteuningsgroep moes bywoon en ook ‘n pleegouer wees van ‘n FASV kind. Die resultate van hierdie studie het meestal die bevindinge uit die literatuurstudie bevestig en het getoon dat ondersteuningsgroepe ‘n belangrike rol speel in ondersteuning aan nie-biologiese versorgers, wat dikwels onvoorbereid is op die werklike problematiek van die versorging van ‘n kind met FASV. Aanbevelings word gerig aan die maatskaplikewerk-professie in Suid-Afrika, ten einde ondersteuningsgroepe en ander metodes van dienslewering te bied, ter ondersteuning aan die versorgers van FASV kinders. Voorstelle vir verdere navorsing word ook gemaak sodat daar ‘n ondersteuningsnetwerk opgebou kan word vir die versorgers van ‘n FASV kind ten einde aan hulle unieke versorgingsbehoeftes te voorsien.

Thesis (MTech(Public Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2006 / One of the challenges facing the South African community is the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The epidemic not only disrupts the economy but one of its emerging impacts is through the children who are left orphaned. The challenge has come at a time when economic circumstances are making it difficult for extended families to lend a helping hand to children who are orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS. The children left behind are usually left on their own or are absorbed through care and support centres which are being becoming popular. The challenge of these care and support centres has come at a time when an increase in abuse by the personnel of care and support centres has emerged internationally. Communities can no longer turn a blind eye to the atrocities that are being experienced by the children within these centres. This challenge is double edged as communities feel isolated by the care and support centres which are based within their communities. The challenge is how communities can breach the gap between children within care and support centres and children who are left on their own. The care and support centres available for HIV/AIDS orphans in Khayelitsha are predominantly run by foreign donors, which limit community participation. This has led to the isolation of community members and care and support centre staff and the core problem of this study will address the evaluation of the care and support centres. Questions such as what happens to children's properties after their parents' death, and do they belong in care and support centres or within their communities arise. These are the areas which will be scrutinized in the study. Areas in which this thesis will attempt to provide insights and make concrete recommendations. Simultaneously with the extensive exploration of care and support centres available for HIV/AIDS orphans theories include the : • Available care and support centres • Community participation within care and support centres • The concept of "ubuntu' in relation to family existence It is hoped that the focus on the care and support centres available for HIV/AIDS orphans will make some contribution to effective care and support centres in this areas, thereby increasing community participation which in turn will revive the concept of ubuntu within communities. Finally, recommendations such as the direct involvement of community members is required to attain which services the care and support centres can offer to the community and how the community play an active role within care and support centres will be offered in this thesis, as informed by the survey results, to effectively manage care and support centres for HIV/AIDS orphans in Khayelitsha.

This study explores the experiences of Hispanic grandmothers who are parenting a second time around. This study looked at the strengths, needs, services, within their kinship arrangements. Child welfare workers could gain an in-depth understanding in cultural context that could influence their practice and service delivery.

Thèses (M.A.)--Université de Sherbrooke (Canada), 2000. / Titre de l'écran-titre (visionné le 20 juin 2006). Publié aussi en version papier.

Thèse (M. Serv. Social)--Université Laval, 2004. / Bibliogr.: f. 130-136. Publié aussi en version électronique.

Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The study aimed to explore and describe the experiences, perceptions and needs of unmarried adolescent fathers and to assess the attitudes and attentiveness of selected social workers and organisations that provide services to adolescent parents. In view of the position in which teenage fathers find themselves and with regard to stereotyping and the disregard for their role as fathers, no concerted attempt is made by organisations to provide services to them. They are marginalized and despite changes in legislation and a Bill of Human Rights their needs are not attended to. A mixed research methodology was employed in conducting this exploratorydescriptive study. The study was advertised in the waiting rooms of relevant organisations, in consultation with pregnancy help centres, social work agencies and youth services. Those who responded were interviewed according to inclusion criteria for the study and those who did not qualify were referred to appropriate services. Confidentiality was assured and consent to participate in the study was discussed. A non-random sample of 32 participants was identified, ranging from 13 to 19 years were located of who 15 agreed to participate. Further attrition resulted in the sample being reduced to 12. Interview schedules were used to facilitate the discussion and to ensure that all participants were asked the same questions. The second part of the study explored the attitude and attentiveness of services to adolescent parents. All organisations providing such services were invited and seven eventually agreed to participate. Of these, four indicated that they were participating in their personal capacity. Interviews were guided by an interview schedule which aimed to explored attitude, attentiveness and capacity to provide services to unmarried teenage fathers. The findings of the study revealed that teenage fathers want to be involved with their children, but social stereotyping, unrealistic expectations of partners and family, and social discrimination militate against them. However, the support of family and the natal partner and her family, are factors that determine continued involvement. Services were perceived and experienced as negative and dismissive of their role as fathers.

Thesis (M Social WOrk (Social Work)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / This research provides an overview of foster care and investigates the support and training of foster parents as well as the issues foster parents need to manage on a regular basis. The basic premise for this research is the importance of social workers becoming aware of the issues foster parents manage on a regular basis as well as the support and training needs of foster parents. It is important for foster parents to receive support as well as social workers and family care organisations to develop and implement appropriate training programmes for foster parents on an ongoing basis. Fostering affects and requires the involvement of the entire foster family as well as relevant role players and professionals. It is therefore necessary to consider the foster parents and foster family as part of the larger fostering arena, and not to be supported and trained in isolation. The nature of the foster placement will inevitably influence the development of the foster child, meeting the needs of the foster child as well as the effect that the placement has on the foster family. The purpose of this research is to broaden the theoretical knowledge of professionals working with foster parents, and specifically social workers and family care organisations, in identifying foster parent’s training and support needs. This research report includes an investigation of the issues foster parents and foster families manage on a regular basis as well as the nature of and benefits of support and training for foster parents. Knowledge of these issues foster parents manage while fostering will increase the awareness and the ability of the social worker or other professionals to provide training and support to the relevant foster parents.

This study investigated foster parents' reasons for deciding to continue their careers as foster parents. The participants were obtained from Koinonia Foster Homes, San Bernardino office. In addition, an effort was made to determine what unmet needs foster parents had that had those needs been addressed by the agency might have encouraged them to continue fostering children.