Students who withdraw from high school before graduating constitute a group of increasing public concern. The present thesis is a "reconnaissance", to gain some idea of dimensions, and of factors associated with school "drop-outs", with special reference to superior students, (1) The Permanent School Record cards of every student who had left school during the 1959-60 school year were reviewed for seven Vancouver secondary schools. Excluded from the study were (a) involuntary "drop-outs", over which the school had no control, and (b) transfers to other school systems, including some situations where there was insufficient information. (2) As the second stage of the study, record cards of fifty students who had intelligence ratings of 120 or over were examined for indications as to their performance (a) at school, (b) at home, and (c) in the community. (3) Twelve students in one school were then selected for more intensive exploration, this being done through interviews with students, parents, grade counsellors, special counsellors, school nurse, and social agencies. Examination of the total group of "drop-outs" indicated that their general level of intelligence was somewhat lower than that required for high school graduation. More than half the group were retarded for their age and grade. The largest number of "drop-outs" occurred in Grade XII and among the 18-year-olds. More boys than girls left school prematurely. Among the special group of superior children the largest number also occurred in Grade XU and among the 18-year-olds. But unlike the total group, they were not retarded for their age and grade. More than half were children of manual workers, both skilled and unskilled. An equal number of boys and girls were involved. In nearly every case the student had had some previous experience of failure in his school career, which in this group could be interpreted as an indication of malfunction, (personal, social or educational) rather than lack of ability. Absence from school for more than ten days in the year also appeared to be associated with failure to complete graduation. Geographic mobility did not appear to be a cause. Most of the children who left school prematurely had families who were experiencing varying degrees of stress, but who claimed to value education highly. There is evidence that these students, typically, had personality difficulties. They lacked the discipline necessary to postpone recreation in order to study. With a few exceptions they seemed to be getting along well in every area of their life except that of student. They were successful in finding work, although below their capacity, even in a period of high unemployment. They did not make use of the counselling services that were available to them. The degree of understanding and acceptance of social and personal problems apparently varies widely among the school staff. They are able to recognize under-achievement, but in general do not refer this problem to the special counsellor service. While the number of seriously disturbed adolescents is small, the need for adequate treatment facilities for them is urgent. More uniform recording of information about school "drop-outs" is needed for future research. Financial assistance, where necessary, should be provided at the high school level in cases of proven capacity. The need for appropriate extensions of counselling service is apparent. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

The proportion of women in the Canadian labour force has grown steadily in recent decades. Many of these, however, are younger women who retire from gainful employment after marriage. Married women who work are a special section of the population; they have been the subject of social studies in several countries, but not so far in Canada. This thesis is a supplementary study, influenced by the national survey of married women who are gainfully employed now being undertaken (1956) by the Women's Bureau of the Canadian Department of Labour. The facts reviewed in this present report are obtained from only fifty of the women Interviewed in one of the sample cities (Vancouver); but the opportunity has been taken to make them the basis of all the pros and cons of the situation, including the reasons for working, the types of work, and the effects on family life. The schedule used for the interviews is a standardized, comprehensive one worked out with the assistance of a national advisory committee including the research directors of the Schools of Social Work in Canada. Only a minimum of statistical tabulation is undertaken for this limited sample; a few other schedules obtained from university students were added, and there is no intention to present the information as statistically representative. A systematic review of the qualitative material is attempted, however, to illustrate the differentials which must be considered in a definitive assessment. After experiment with other classifications, it was found most effective to distinguish three main groups (a) families composed of husband and wife without children (or younger dependents); (b) "complete" families with husband and wife and children in the home, and (c) "broken" families, in which the working mother was a widow, separated or divorced, or with dependent or partially dependent husband. The significance of these differences is readily apparent from the views recorded. It was also apparent that the socio-economic differences associated with different levels of income and grade of work (e.g., professional, clerical, service, factory) are of direct importance in modifying the consequences for the family; but these could only be indicated illustratively. In a final section, an endeavour is made to bring together all provisional findings, distinguishing broadly the implications (a) for the woman as a person and as a marital partner, (b) for the children, and parental aspects of family life, and (c) for the community as a whole. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

The purpose of this study was to make an assessment of social work services extended to putative fathers as part of the administration of the Children of Unmarried Parents Act. This study was undertaken because comparatively little attention is given to the putative father and services he might need. Because the Social Welfare Branch in Vancouver retains a social worker specially for work under the Children of Unmarried Parents Act, this was a relevant setting for the study. Legislation relative to illegitimacy and paternity in some European countries, in the United States and in British Columbia is reviewed. For the Province Of British Columbia, the administrative setting and the legal framework within which the social worker has to operate is described. A series of cases are then reviewed; first, by comparison of brief service cases and continued service cases; second, by comparison of "co-operative" and "non-co-operative" cases, the latter being reviewed (a) statistically and (b) by case examples. The provisional findings of this study are that these differentials are less important than differences in the circumstances of the clients and the quality of the casework which is possible. The exception that shows up statistically is that working out of a lump-sum settlement needs more than one face-to-face interview. Suggestions for further exploration and methods of improving service are made in a concluding section. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

This study concerns itself with the pros and cons of placing children whose adoptability is questioned on a boarding or foster-home basis. Because of the growing recognition that early, continuous and warm parental relationships offer the most security for a child, it is important that children should reach their permanent homes early, and that the home be well chosen. This is of particular consequence for children those adoptability is obscure in infancy. For exploratory purposes, fourteen wards of the Vancouver Children's Aid Society were selected for study. Each child was in good health when taken into agency care at the age of a few weeks, and each was eventually adopted. The child's file, the relevant foster home files, and the adoption file were studied in every case; and the material was considered in the light of child welfare standards and principles. An attempt was made to distinguish systematically the pros and cons of the procedure and its effects on all the parties to the situation--natural parents; foster parents and/or adoptive parents; the agency and the workers and, above all, the child. The assessment indicates clearly the hazards involved when decision for adoption is delayed. The natural parents (many of whom are unmarried mothers) may react by trying to plan for the child themselves. If these plans do not materialize, the result is unnecessary moves for the child. The refusal of the parents' request for adoption may lead to difficulties later in obtaining consent to the adoption. The child's uncertain status may prejudice the development of enduring affection for him. Lack of decision about adoption makes the social workers' tasks more difficult in interpreting the child's needs to substitute parents, supervising the home, and planning consistently. What stands out as significant from the point of view of the children's development, is that finding a suitable final home can be more critical than the generally-disapproved fact of several foster-home placements. Implications for policy and practice are considered in a final chapter. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

The purpose of this study is to examine the socio-economic adjustment of Finnish immigrants in Vancouver with a special reference to their use of social welfare services. It surveys the Finnish immigrants' living conditions, housing, interpersonal relationships and their knowledge of the English language. It focuses on Finnish immigrants' use of social assistance, social group work and recreation services, their opinions of, and attitudes toward, social welfare matters and their knowledge of social welfare services. The method of the study consists of three related parts: a) interviews with the personnel of Finnish associations and churches and with individual Finns, b) examination of the records of Vancouver City Social Service Department and some social group work and recreation agencies, and c) distribution of a questionnaire among the sample group of Finns. The sample group of 200 was selected from 800 adult Finns as indicated by the Vancouver City Directory 1954. This study shows that social welfare services are not used by the Finns in Vancouver except in extreme need. Social assistance is the most commonly used service. Finnish immigrants become dependent on social assistance because of sickness and lack of savings. Ethnic societies and churches play an important role in welfare of the Finns. The study seems to indicate that a number of Finns have difficulties in their adjustment to Canadian society. Difficulties arise from their lack of knowledge of the English language and their meagre economic resources on their arrival in Canada. These hamper the Finns in their social relationships. This study seems to suggest that if the difficulties of immigrants are to be alleviated, a more active program of selection, pre-migration preparation and follow-up services must be initiated by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration. Ethnic societies and churches must also take more responsibility in acquainting newcomers with the Canadian manner of living and attempt to bridge the gap that seems to exist between native Canadians and immigrant populations. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

This study is part of a survey of all wards of the Children's Aid Society of Vancouver, B.C. who were not in foster homes in 1954. Those in Agency group homes or subsidized boarding homes comprised a group of thirty-nine children, eighteen girls and twenty-one boys, ranging in age from one month to fifteen years. The purpose of the study was to determine some of the reasons for this type of care for children, since the Children's Protection Act requires children be placed in foster homes and puts limitations upon any other type of care. The case records of these children were examined to determine whether or not this type of care was meeting their needs. Further, it examined the existing resources in Vancouver for child care to see if they were adequate to meet the needs of all children in care. From the records for each child certain material has been summarized (appendix) and developed for descriptive use in the text. A detailed summary of case records of four of the children is also used to point out areas that need special attention in any child welfare programme. Many factors in the lives of these children appear to have contributed to a special placement other than foster homes. Each child has come from a home that does not constitute a stable family unit. Many had several foster home placements. The majority came into care before the age of seven years. Group homes are meeting the needs of some, but not all such children. In particular, the needs of disturbed children are not being met as adequately in group homes. The needs of babies do not seem to be best served in subsidized boarding homes which in effect are institutions. In general, there is evidence that community services are not adequate to meet the needs of all children in care in Vancouver. The recommendations include the provision of additional services to meet the needs of children as well as further co-ordination and co-operation between existing resources so that together they may offer better service to children. Additional trained staff are needed. And, finally, the study reinforces the need for further research into child dependency. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

Descriptive studies of family living were part of many of the classic "social surveys" and there was a revival of such studies during the depression years. Today, statistical "minimum budget" studies continue, and there are many professional studies of aspects of family case work: but post-war prosperity has obscured the need for up-to-date descriptive accounts, seen from the family's point of view, of actual living-conditions among families on social assistance and mothers' allowance, and the physical and emotional effects, especially on children, of years of such marginal living. The study begins with a brief survey of previous poverty studies, chiefly those made during the depression. To obtain the material for a local descriptive study, twelve families were visited who had been on public assistance in Vancouver City for periods ranging from three-and-a-half to fifteen years. All were families with children, and four families had both parents in the home. The families were interviewed, and sizeable questionnaires completed giving information on housing, food clothing, education, recreation, health, budgeting, and general feelings about the situation. City Social Service files were read for pertinent information about the families and social workers' knowledge of them. School nurses and a Metropolitan Health nutritionist were also consulted. Although all the families were having difficulties in managing on the allowance, it became apparent that some were managing better than others. For convenience of analysis (not because the line of division is sharp), the families were divided into two groups. Each group is discussed in a separate chapter, and an attempt has been made to assess the factors involved in good and poor adjustment. Many of the effects found in previous poverty studies were found in these families. Housing is often very poor, especially among tenant families, who are worse off than home-owners. Clothing is difficult to obtain, and much of it is second-hand or received as gifts. It is difficult for children over the age of sixteen to continue their education. Recreation is restricted and life tends to be drab and monotonous. There is some feeling of humiliation on the part of most of the families. On the other hand, the regularity of the income provides more security than many families had during the depression. The provision of medical services has apparently prevented the health of public assistance recipients from deterorating as it sometimes did in depression families. As each family was interviewed only once or twice, this study is not extensive. Nevertheless it offers a realistic picture of life on public assistance, and indicates some lacks in the present program. The fact that none of the twelve families studied was living on the allowance without help from friends, relatives, or some organization or social agency is among the evidence that the allowances are too low. The case for study of the situation with regard to clothing and dental care is particularly indicated among needs inadequately provided for. It is clear that the person-to-person quality of case work can prove helpful; but also that material deprivation can limit the response. More thorough and long-term study would be necessary to assess more accurately the personality factors which are the most important variables in adjustment to marginal living. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

This study is a comparative analysis of apprehensions and committals made by the Children's Aid Society of Vancouver, British Columbia, in the years 1938 and 1952. Only cases both apprehended and committed within the year period were analyzed, and committals of children from unmarried mothers were excluded. The purpose of the study was to determine the causes or reasons for apprehension and committal, with reference to the legislation employed, and such changes as may have occurred in the kinds of neglect or dependency, their frequency of occurrence, and in the parental status of committed children. A distinction was drawn between conditions of neglect and conditions of dependency, in congruence with formulated definitions of the neglected and the dependent child. A classification of ten conditions of neglect and dependency was devised, based on an analysis of the sixty-eight committal cases studied. The kinds of neglect included: (1) Rejection, (2) Physical Neglect, (3) Moral Neglect, (4) Desertion, (5) Desertion and Moral Neglect, and (6) Desertion and Rejection. Dependency included conditions arising from: (1) Death of the Only Legal Parent or of Both Parents, (2) Physical Illness of Parent or Parents, (3) Mental Illness of Parent or Parents, and (4) Inadequacy of Parent or Parents. Of the twenty-three cases (involving fifty-two children) studied from the year 1938, sixteen committals or 69.59% of the total were for reasons of neglect. Seven committals or 30.41% of the total, were for reasons of dependency. In 1952, of the forty-five cases (comprising seventy-seven children) studied, thirty-two cases, or 71.11% of the total committals were for reasons of neglect. Thirteen committals or 28.88% of the total were for reasons of dependency. The study revealed that the proportion of committals for neglect and for dependency in 1938 and 1952 were approximately the same. The frequency of specific kinds of neglect, however, was found to differ proportionally, as did the frequency of specific kinds of dependency. With reference to status of parents of committed children, it was found that committals from married couples and from families with illegitimacy were greater in 1952, while committals from broken homes or incomplete families were fewer. The changes are revealed and are discussed in reference to the disruptive effects of the war period, and in relation to the development of better social services and resources within the community since 1938. These factors are found to have significantly affected the pattern or character of committals. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

This study is concerned with protective services for children as they have been developed in the U. S. and Canada over the past eighty years. An effort has been made to discover general trends amidst variety. Canadian developments are compared with those in the U. S., and one agency, the Children's Aid Society of Vancouver, B. C, is reviewed as an example that lends concreteness and meaning to the broader picture. Questions are raised in regard to future operations of the Vancouver society, but are not answered. The history of protective services in the U. S. and the analysis of trends has been developed from an examination of the literature on protection and related topics. Canadian children's aid societies are an integral part of the developing protection movement, and writings of early leaders in the Canadian CAS movement have been consulted. The account of the Vancouver agency has been developed from an examination of various records of the Society, and has relied heavily on a history written by Anne Margaret Angus. Interviews with former executives and board members were another source of information. The writer was employed for three years as a staff member, and this, too, contributed to an understanding of the Society. The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the first social machinery created for purposes of child protection, was organized in 1875. The idea spread rapidly. In the 1890s and early 1900s, Canadian communities began organizing children's aid societies to act as protection agencies. Although trends are similar to those in the U. S., there are some special characteristics. Canadian children's aid societies made extensive use of placement in free family homes while protection agencies in the U. S. were depending almost exclusively on institutional placements. In Canada, from the beginning, there was an integration of protection services with other services in behalf of children that was longer delayed in the U. S. Canadian protection agencies have been given continuing guardianship responsibility when the courts have deprived parents of their children; other patterns have been followed in the U. S. The Children's Aid Society of Vancouver, B. C. is a representative example of Canadian protection agencies. When it was organized in 1901, the protection of children was the primary motivation. Later, as the burden of caring for children increased, the original purposes of child protection were somewhat forgotten. During World War 1 and the early 1920s, as problems multiplied and the quality of care deteriorated, a ferment of new ideas in child welfare was at work. Eventually, difficulties of the Society and disagreements as to its future course contributed to a decision that the community should take a look at itself and its child-caring practices. Thus the B. C. Child Welfare Survey of 1926-27 was brought about. Extensive changes in the functioning of the Vancouver CAS were recommended. During the years from 1927 to 1931, recommendations were carried out and the agency was effectively reorganized. In the succeeding years there has been no radical change in direction or focus - only growth in size and a refinement of practices. Recently questions have been raised regarding the future functions of the Society and future provisions for the protection of children in the Vancouver community. Various changes have been advocated, and a careful consideration of alternative possibilities and of future directions will be needed. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

In this study, emphasis has been placed on the fact that case work treatment with mothers depends upon the mother's personality. The analysis is made from 40 case records of mothers of pre-school children who were, because of problems of one sort or another, treated at the Child Guidance Clinic at Vancouver in 1950. The study analyzes case records for the above group of mothers, and it was noted that the mothers could be classified according to their personality type and a four-way classification is derived. The classification of the four groups is based upon the degree of adequacy of the mothers in terms of such factors as feelings of worth, security, self-confidence and several others. The mothers are described as "better than average", "average", "less than average", and "incomplete information". The latter group represents those mothers who were seen only once, and therefore, insufficient material is available to classify them according to the "adequacy rating" criteria. Mothers who were "better than average" were found to benefit most from treatment. The "less than average" mothers benefitted least. Treatment methods have been described descriptively. This study has employed the classification of treatment methods as derived by Mr. Geoffrey Glover in a previous study of a similar nature. Deviations from Mr. Glover's classification system are noted in the text of the study. Statistics are presented to show with what frequency the individual methods are employed by the social worker. The emphasis of the study is upon the way the mother's personality influences the worker's choice of treatment methods. It is noted that treatment in general falls into different, but over lapping phases. About 90 per cent of the treatment is found to be of a supportive nature, and 10 per cent of a more intensive kind. Mothers received more interviews than children, 58 per cent and 31 per cent respectively. Fathers received only 11 per cent of the interviews. A suggestion is made that additional training may be necessary if workers are to work on more intensive levels and to meet their accepted responsibility in treating very severely disturbed and upset clients. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate