The thesis deals with the concept of family conferences, which are a support tool for the functioning of families. The paper' s objective is to present information about the character, implementation and difficulties of the practice of family conferences. The text is divided into a theoretical and practical part. The theoretical part focuses on the topic of family, its functioning and possibilities of its support within the Czech system of social care. Furthermore, it provides information about the benefits and the process of family conferences. The research part presents and evaluates the research of documents presenting the reasons for the implementation of family conferences, its impact and development in New Zealand, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. The research part includes qualitative research carried out in the form of an interview. It provides information about some problem-solving processes in the families. The research findings suggest that we can benefit from experience from other countries during the implementation of family conferences in the Czech Republic and that the families involved in the research are inclined to solving complex situations by their own efforts. Key words: family, vulnerable family, family group conferences, empowerment, support

Background: In Canada, failure to disclose HIV+ status before sex can result in incarceration and status as a registered sex offender for life. In 2012, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that there is no legal mandate for HIV disclosure before sex if (i) a condom is used and (ii) HIV viral loads are extremely low. There is very little known about how the legal mandate for HIV disclosure might inequitably affect the health and safety of sex workers. Purpose: This study critically interrogates the interplay between the legal mandate for HIV disclosure and the routine health-conscious practices (e.g., HIV testing, condom use) of HIV-negative survival sex workers, with particular attention to inequitable health and safety outcomes. This study also qualitatively investigates the structural and social forces that mediate vulnerability to HIV infection and transmission among sex workers, their clients, and their non-commercial, intimate partners. Method: This study employed an adapted grounded theory approach to conducting and analyzing (n=9) open-ended, in-depth interviews with a convenience sample of currently working and recently exited sex workers who were clients at PEERS, an NGO offering services and support to sex workers in Victoria, Canada. Findings: The criminalization of HIV nondisclosure had no discernable influence on behavioural HIV risk factors or HIV testing. Participants lacked accurate knowledge of the legal mandate for HIV disclosure. HIV-related health literacy was low. Participants strongly supported HIV disclosure as a legal obligation – but only for exacting justice, and not for reliably offering protective health benefits. The uptake of high-risk sexual practices was driven almost exclusively by (i) extreme needs when servicing clients (e.g., drugs, childcare, money) and (ii) the rich symbolism of condomless sex in non-commercial, intimate partnerships. Participants reported differential degrees of entrenchment in the sex trade at various times in their working lives due to extreme needs. Participants emphasized the importance of ongoing HIV testing as a personal responsibility in order to monitor and maintain their sexual health. Participants identified increased uptake of HIV-related knowledge as affording the most significant protective health benefits against HIV infection. Implications: Lower levels of HIV-related health and legal literacies in the sample call for greater scrutiny of the impacts of initiatives such as ‘Seek and Treat for Optimal Prevention of HIV/AIDS’ (or STOP HIV/AIDS®) which target vulnerable populations across British Columba [BC]. Deeply entrenched sex workers have little recourse to exit the sex trade immediately upon receiving an HIV+ test result, especially in under-resourced social assistance milieux. Targeting this population for HIV testing facilitates the creation of a new caste of HIV+ potential criminals, despite the well-established, beneficial health outcomes at the individual and population levels from early commencement of antiretroviral treatment. Conclusion: Survival sex workers require special considerations in HIV pre-test counselling. The empowerment of sex workers can come firstly through the enhancement of HIV-related health – and legal – literacies. Full knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of HIV testing will allow the consent for HIV testing to be truly informed. New HIV testing guidelines make BC the first province to recommend regular HIV screening for all adults. These guidelines also recommend exclusion of discussions of the criminalization of HIV nondisclosure in pre-test counselling for all patients. Re-thinking the consent for HIV testing among sex workers is crucially important for their immediate health and safety. / Graduate

The researcher has identified an aspect of the practical implementation of the social services rendered to vulnerable children that required attention. This was that a child’s emotional wellness is influenced by the circumstances in which the child is raied. Children removed from the care of their primary caregiver and placed in alternative care tend to be emotionally needy. Without efficient stimulation, the cycle of unhealthy emotional intelligence will continue from one generation to the next, as children cannot stimulate their own children appropriately when they become parents, if they were never stimulated appropriately themselves. This study dealt with the influence that group work may have on the emotional intelligence of vulnerable children in middle childhood. A literature study was conducted, which contains information regarding group work and the emotional development of children in middle childhood. This information also formed the basis of a questionnaire. The empirical study involved group work with five vulnerable children in middle childhood placed in places of safety under the auspices of Tsenang Homes of Safety. The study was conducted in the onegroup- pre-test-post-test context of the quasi-experimental design. Therefore a pretest was conducted to gain an understanding of the group members’ pre-existing emotional intelligence. After eight group work sessions, two post-tests, utilising the same questionnaire as was used during the pre-test, were conducted by each group member. The pre-test and post-tests results were compared and illustrated in the findings. The empirical data obtained in this study revealed that group work can be utilised to enhance the emotional intelligence of vulnerable children in middle childhood. Therefore, from this study conclusions and recommendations for future studies and practice were formulated. / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

The purpose of this bachelor's thesis in sociology is to understand and reflect on how blue-light professions such as police, ambulance, emergency services and other professions such as social services and leisure leaders work with young people based on the project the Man behind the uniform. The sociological problem being studied is the disbelief young people can create towards the blue light professions as well as professions such as social services and leisure leaders. The study is based on the theories of social ties, organizational culture, shame and pride, over-, under- and optimal differentiation, habitus and segregation. Through a qualitative method in the form of eight interviews, the purpose has been to answer our question: In what ways can the project The Man Behind the Uniform strengthen the relationship and mutual trust between young people and those who work in the blue light profession? The result indicates that the attitude towards uniformed officials as well as professions such as social services and leisure leaders may be disturbed by many young people and that this is due to the ongoing negative effect of society on, among other things, vulnerable areas. The segregation that exists in the vulnerable areas is also a factor of the prevailing circumstances against officials.

The aim of this study was to examine Region Uppsala's health communication during the COVID-19 pandemic by answering the following research questions: In what ways have Region Uppsala practiced health communication during the COVID-19 pandemic to communicate with immigrant groups in Uppsala county? How has Region Uppsala collaborated with civil society and local actors to practice health communication during the COVID-19 pandemic? How can Region Uppsala's communicative efforts be understood from a culture-centered perspective on health communication?   A qualitative analysis was conducted on empirical data gathered through qualitative interviews with Region Uppsala employees and representatives from SIU (Samarbetsorganisationen för Invandrarföreningar i Uppsala), Röda Korset (the Red Cross) and the cultural function Gottsunda Kulturhus provided by Uppsala Kommun (Uppsala Municipality. The data was analyzed from the theoretical framework of a culture-centered approach to health communication as described by Mohan Dutta.   From this perspective, I found that Region Uppsala adopted a linear perspective on communication where the main objective has been to provide citizens with information. Region Uppsala has identified different obstacles that could determine whether they reach immigrant groups in vulnerable areas or not. Region Uppsala does, however, reinforce the gap between the organization and immigrant groups since there is a lack of understanding of how context, agency, and dialogue can be implemented in Region Uppsala's health communication to enable participation. Through collaboration with civil society and local actors, Region Uppsala has provided arenas where immigrant groups could engage in a dialogue. This has been facilitated by the local knowledge and relationship ties that the collaborators have in vulnerable areas in Uppsala. The results implicate that Region Uppsala's health communication efforts during the pandemic have been limited to this crisis when they could have been practiced with a broader scope of social change.

No description available.

El cambio climático es atribuido directa o indirectamente a la actividad humana y se considera como la mayor amenaza a la salud pública del siglo XXI. Tiene impactos sobre el acceso al agua, la alimentación, en la agricultura y medios de vida, y en la salud de las personas. El objetivo de este texto es evaluar las percepciones del cambio climático en niños, niñas, adolescentes, autoridades y representantes de organizaciones juveniles, de mujeres y que trabajan con la niñez en las regiones de Cusco, Loreto y Piura, en Perú. Para ello se realizó un estudio cualitativo que utilizó la técnica de Fotovoz con doce adolescentes y entrevistas a profundidad con veintidós actores clave. Para el análisis se utilizaron las narrativas en las fotos y el análisis temático de las entrevistas. En las tres regiones se identificaron cambios extremos en el clima. En la región de Cusco reconocieron el cambio de temperatura con sequías y heladas, mientras que en Loreto y Piura manifestaron aumento en la intensidad de lluvias. En general, estos cambios afectaron la agricultura. El cuidado del agua como recurso, tanto en su acceso y calidad, fue una gran preocupación para todos los participantes. El estudio concluye que no se identifica el concepto de cambio climático como tal, sin embargo, describen cambios y variaciones en el clima que afectan sus actividades diarias, en particular la agricultura. Un tema transversal a todas las regiones fue el cuidado y uso del recurso del agua. Además, los jóvenes se mostraron particularmente entusiasmados en colaborar en iniciativas futuras contra el cambio climático.

The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to give voice to an underserved and vulnerable population in Uganda, Africa to advocate for health priorities. Nineteen members of the village of Namagera, identified as a leper colony, were selected by community members and volunteered to participate in every element of this study. Descriptive phenomenology was the guiding philosophy and community-based participatory research methods and photovoice provided the lens for social action. Leininger’s theory of culture care diversity and universality (Leininger & McFarland, 2006) anchored the study in cultural caring and the community nursing practice model (Parker et al., 2020) kept the researcher grounded in the purpose of advancing the science of caring in community nursing. The research team included the researcher, the 19 participants, and six research assistants, who also served as language facilitators. Using photovoice methods, participants identified strengths and needs and used digital cameras to capture health concerns in the community. Eighty photos were analyzed by the participants and priorities were determined. The selected photos were placed on a photo board and shared with the whole community for input. Community members selected the health priorities and ranked them in importance: access to clean water, sanitation, disease, challenges for the elderly and disabled, lack of medical treatment, transportation, unemployment, and protection of the environment. The participants categorized the health priorities into three clusters of themes: basic needs, safety, and social/environmental. The themes were further incorporated into action plans identifying impeding factors for which the community would require outside assistance and promoting factors for which the community could solve themselves. Findings of this study illuminate the emergence of community empowerment: Community members found their voices, identified health priorities, and advocated for solutions. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2020. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The lifetime prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) ranges from 1 to 14 percent in the general population. Diagnosis is based on criteria that address hallmark symptoms of the disorder from re-experiencing the trauma to hyperarousal, emotional numbing, and avoidance of memories, thoughts, or feelings associated with the event. PTSD is particularly prevalent in vulnerable populations and comorbid with substance use disorders, serious mental illness, or both. Psychological treatment options are more strongly recommended than pharmacological treatment by the American Psychological Association (APA); however, the efficacy of psychotherapy is less studied in vulnerable populations for fear that substance use or mental health outcomes will worsen. Prolonged exposure (PE) therapy and cognitive processing therapy (CPT) are the most investigated forms of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in vulnerable populations and involve overcoming the trauma through repeated exposure for PE or processing with a clinician for CPT. A review of all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that have evaluated the effect of either form of CBT on non-combat PTSD, substance use disorder (SUD), and mental health outcomes found that PE administered alongside SUD treatment had the greatest positive impact on PTSD and SUD outcomes. PE also had a better impact than CPT on PTSD outcomes in individuals with PTSD and serious mental illness (SMI); however, neither form of CBT performed substantially better than the other with respect to mental health outcomes. In future studies, the impact of psychological treatments on PTSD and other health outcomes needs to be assessed on the same variables in larger populations of vulnerable individuals that are inclusive and representative of those receiving care for SUD and SMI in community health care settings.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements and the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Library and Information Science at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2013. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the information needs and seeking behaviour of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and caregivers, and to examine the role of service providers in disseminating information to OVC and caregivers in Namibia. Although several studies focusing on different aspects of the OVC situation have been done, the researcher could not identify any study that focused on the information needs and seeking behaviour of OVC and their caregivers in Namibia and how the two groups satisfy their information needs at present. In order to obtain data from the respondents, the study adopted qualitative and quantitative research methods for data collection. A questionnaire was mailed to the sampled service providers, while interviews were conducted with OVC and caregivers. Focus group discussions were also held with caregivers and key informants in order to explore the general attitudes, feelings, beliefs, experiences and reactions of the research population with respect to information needs and seeking behaviours. The study took place in the rural community of Ohangwena and the urban setting of Khomas. A total of 566 OVC, 70 caregivers, and 18 services providers from both regions took part in the study. A total of eleven focus group discussions took place; eight focus group discussions were held in Ohangwena, while three were in the Khomas region. Both rural and urban OVC indicated that they needed information in order to access financial vii assistance/grants, child care/support, feeding schemes, and health services. The most important information required, according to the OVC from Ohangwena, was information on school development fund exemption, financial assistance or grants, health services, child care/support and training opportunities. The OVC from Khomas had similar priorities with the exception of training opportunities, which was replaced with counselling. Both rural and urban OVC consulted relatives, teachers, and friends to satisfy their information needs, indicating that people were their most important source of information. The findings from focus group discussions (FGDs) with caregivers and key informants indicated that there are disparities between rural and urban areas in terms of information access and use based on literacy and education. For example, the rural dwellers cited their need for information on educational support, psychological and counselling services, child care/support, and job opportunities. In the urban setting of Khomas, educational support and the establishment of small businesses featured as prominent needs. The FGDs revealed that the radio, traditional leaders, regional councillors, friends and relatives were the most important sources and channels of information in Ohangwena, while in Khomas, friends and relatives, community leaders, and regional councillors were the most popular channels. Social workers and the television were also popular channels in Khomas. The findings of the study indicate that service providers provide a range of services to OVC and caregivers in both rural and urban areas. In the rural areas, the majority of the supporting organisations had health-related programmes focusing on feeding schemes and nutrition, and HIV/AIDS awareness. In urban areas, service providers provided psychosocial support, counselling, and resilience services. The findings reveal that the majority of the service providers used community meetings and public forums to communicate their own information and to create awareness of their services in both regions. The channels that were most frequently used in Ohangwena were community meetings and open forums, while the use of volunteers featured prominently in Khomas. The OVC and caregivers encountered various problems in accessing information, including: long distance to access information and services; language barrier for printed materials; shortage of service providers in rural areas; lack of coordination of service providers; and viii bureaucratic red tape from government departments. Major recommendations stemming from the study include: the need for service providers to provide clear information on how to access the different services that target OVC and caregivers; service providers should collaborate and use mass media channels to disseminate information; the need for a “one stop shop” where all information related to OVC services would be made available; and the need to provide information in local languages. The study concluded that information provision is a crucial resource for OVC and caregivers because it helps them identify and take advantage of available services. Conversely, lack of information leads to the lower utilization of available services and increased poverty and disempowerment. Several recommendations are made on how to improve the flow of information to OVC and caregivers to help them easily locate and use facilities and services that have been set up for them either by the government, or by non-governmental organisations and other service providers. The study also proposes a model to improve the provision of information to OVC and caregivers in the two regions. / University of Zululand