Il presente lavoro di ricerca si pone la finalità di approfondire l’approccio della participatory research dal punto di vista teorico e della sua applicazione pratica. La participatory research è un approccio di ricerca non convenzionale che consiste nel coinvolgere nel processo persone vicine al tema oggetto d’indagine in qualità di ricercatori, anche se non sono tali dal punto di vista professionale. La prima parte dell’elaborato è dedicata alla presentazione teorica della participatory research in cui vengono delineate le caratteristiche, le origini ed i principi. Sono poi analizzate le fasi di cui l’approccio di ricerca si compone e vengono esplorati gli aspetti ed i dilemmi etici cui il tema della partecipazione dà origine. La descrizione si basa sulla letteratura internazionale nel campo del Social Work, ambito in cui la participatory research si è particolarmente diffusa. Parallelamente è presentato il metodo Relazionale di Rete, un nuovo quadro epistemologico per il Social Work sviluppatisi in Italia in anni recenti. I suoi principi fondanti e le prassi operative da esso indicate risultano particolarmente affini e in sintonia con le caratteristiche della participatory research e possono dare suggerimenti e spunti di riflessione utili al ricercatore che voglia implementare tale approccio partecipativo. Nella seconda parte del lavoro è illustrata un’applicazione pratica dell’approccio della participatory research nell’ambito del fenomeno della povertà. Sono quindi descritte le fasi del percorso di ricerca implementato nella città di Reggio Emilia tra il 2015 e il 2017. Dato l’obiettivo dell’elaborato l’accento è posto sugli aspetti metodologici di tale sperimentazione al fine di descrivere il percorso di ricerca seguito mettendone in luce vantaggi e limiti. In conclusione è quindi data una descrizione delle potenzialità e del valore aggiunto che la participatory research può fornire al campo del Social Work e al futuro della ricerca in tale settore. / The purpose of this doctoral thesis is to present the participatory research approach from the theoretical point of view and to show a practical application. The participatory research is an unconventional research approach that involves as co-researchers in the conduction of the research and in the decision-making process those who are usually the object of the research itself. The first part of the thesis is devoted to the theoretical presentation of the participatory research, whose the characteristics, the origins and the principles are outlined. The phases of the research approach are then analyzed and the ethical aspects and dilemmas of the theme of participation are explored. The description starts from international literature in the field of social work, where participatory research is particularly widespread. At the same time, the Relational Social Work Method, a new epistemological framework for Social Work developed in Italy in recent years, is presented. Its founding principles and its operating practices have particular similarities with the characteristics of participatory research and may provide ideas and prompt reflections useful for the researchers who want to implement this approach. In the second part of the dissertation, there is a practical application of the participatory research approach in the field of poverty. The phases of this practical research path, implemented between 2015 and 2017 in the city of Reggio Emilia, are described. Given the purpose of the thesis, the emphasis is placed on the methodological aspects of such experimentation, by describing the research path followed and by highlighting the potentialities and limitations. In conclusion, a description of the usefulness and the added value that participatory research can provide to the field of Social Work and the future of research in this field is given.

Résumé : Problématique : Le trouble de la personnalité limite (TPL) est une condition psychiatrique touchant environ 1 % de la population et 20 % de la clientèle recevant des services en psychiatrie (Gunderson et Links, 2008). L’un des domaines du fonctionnement dans la vie quotidienne le plus touché chez cette population est le travail (Gunderson et al., 2011; Larivière et al., 2010; Zanarini et al., 2012). À notre connaissance, aucune étude n’a décrit de façon approfondie la participation au travail des personnes présentant un TPL. Objectif : L’objectif général de cette étude vise à identifier et à décrire les obstacles, les facilitateurs de même que les solutions possibles de la participation au travail des personnes présentant un TPL selon leur point de vue et celui de leurs intervenants. Méthodologie : Une étude de cas multiples a été utilisée (Yin, 2009). Neuf cas ont été étudiés selon trois contextes socioprofessionnels de la participation au travail : A. Réintégration (personne en invalidité), B. Retour (personne en absence maladie) et C. Maintien au travail. Pour chacun des contextes, trois dyades incluant une personne avec un TPL (âgée de 18 à 55 ans) et son intervenant soutenant la participation au travail ont été interviewées. Résultats: Les résultats qualitatifs (n = 18) ont démontré que la participation au travail des personnes présentant un TPL est influencée par des facteurs individuels (p. ex., la réaction face à la pression et aux relations de travail, la régulation émotionnelle) ainsi que des facteurs liés aux acteurs et procédures des systèmes de l’assurance, organisationnel et de la santé (p. ex., la collaboration et la communication entre les acteurs, l’alliance de travail entre les acteurs et la personne présentant un TPL, les mesures d’accommodement et de soutien naturel dans le milieu de travail). Conclusions et implication clinique : Cette étude met en lumière le défi important et spécifique que représente la participation au travail pour les personnes présentant un TPL. Elle implique des facteurs personnels et environnementaux qui doivent être considérés par tous les acteurs impliqués (les utilisateurs de services, les professionnels de la santé, les assureurs et les employeurs). Les programmes de réadaptation au travail actuels devraient être bonifiés et coordonnés adéquatement avec les thérapies spécialisées afin d’aborder de manière optimale les enjeux liés à la participation au travail des personnes présentant un TPL. / Abstract : Background: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) affects around 1% of the population and 20% of psychiatric service users (Gunderson & Links, 2008). Recent studies show that work participation is the most impaired occupational domain and should be prioritized in rehabilitation (Gunderson et al., 2011; Larivière et al., 2010; Zanarini et al., 2012). However, to our knowledge, no study has examined in depth the specific issues regarding work participation for people with BPD. Objective: The overall purpose of this study was to identify and describe barriers and facilitators as well as possible solutions for enabling work participation of individuals with a borderline personality disorder (BPD) from their perspective and the perspective of their service providers. Methods: Using a qualitative multiple case study design (Yin, 2009), three contexts of work participation were considered: 1) work (re) integration, 2) return to work (after a sick leave), and 3) job tenure. Within each context, three dyads including an individual with BPD (aged 18 to 55) and their service provider supporting work participation were met for individual interviews. Results: Qualitative results (n = 18) showed that individual factors (e.g., reaction towards pressure and relationships at work, regulation of emotions) and factors related to stakeholders and procedures from insurance, organizational and health systems (e.g., poor collaboration and communication between stakeholders, working alliance between individuals with BPD and stakeholders, work accommodations and natural support in the workplace) influenced work participation of individuals with BPD. Conclusions and implication for practice: This study highlights that work participation presents specific challenges for individuals with BPD, including several personal and environmental factors to be considered by all stakeholders (service users, health care professionals, insurers and employers). Current work rehabilitation programs need to be improved to address more optimally the work participation issues of individuals with BPD and be well coordinated with current specialized psychotherapies.

Il tema centrale del presente lavoro di tesi è l’affidamento etero-familiare di bambini e ragazzi, temporaneamente privi di un adeguato contesto familiare in cui vivere e, per questa ragione, affidati alle cure di un’altra famiglia, per un periodo di tempo determinato. L’affido familiare si considera un istituto giuridico complesso in quanto si fonda su un delicato intreccio di relazioni tra famiglia d’origine, bambino, famiglia affidataria, operatori dei servizi e autorità giudiziaria. La finalità che ha guidato il lavoro di ricerca quantitativa è l’analisi dei progetti di affido etero-familiare, disposti dal Tribunale per i Minorenni di Milano, mettendo a fuoco i passaggi chiave per il loro avvio e realizzazione e gli snodi critici che si incontrano lungo il percorso. La ricostruzione dei processi di affido familiare è stata realizzata a partire dalle indicazioni del “buon affido”, emersi da due importanti lavori di revisione della letteratura internazionale (Wilson et al., 2004; Raineri e Calcaterra, 2017). L’approccio di studio utilizzato è l’analisi documentaria e la fonte di informazioni scelta i fascicoli dei bambini e ragazzi per cui il Tribunale ha emesso tra il 2010 e il 2014 un decreto di collocamento in famiglia affidataria. Per analizzare i progetti di affido etero-familiari, è stata costruita una “scheda di rilevazione” mediante cui si sono “interrogati” i fascicoli, ottenendo dei dati che è stato possibile poi elaborare statisticamente, mediante analisi del contenuto di tipo quantitativo. La tesi si struttura in due parti: la prima pone le fondamenta teoriche del progetto di ricerca, offrendo una panoramica delle fonti giuridiche in materia di minori e famiglia e del sistema di protezione e tutela dei bambini e ragazzi, con particolare attenzione all’istituto dell’affido familiare e alle tappe operative per la sua promozione e realizzazione, mentre la seconda è dedicata all’illustrazione del disegno della ricerca e all’analisi dei dati raccolti mediante il lavoro di “intervista” a più di cinquecento fascicoli. / Foster care is a complex intervention in child protection and for social workers and Juvenile Courts it’s difficult to identify exactly the outcomes of this care experience. Although his thirty-year history, in the Italian context, foster care represents a challenge, not only for social workers, but also for the Court that decide it, for children and their families and for foster families. This thesis is about foster care projects decided by the Juvenile Court of Milan, in Italy. The research is firstly based on an international literature review of researches on foster care with the aim to identify factors for a “good foster care project” and to create a scheme of success indicators. Starting from the indications emerged from the literature review, the aim of the research was to realize a description of foster care projects decided by the Juvenile Court of Milan from 2010 to 2014. The data collected are analyzed considering the factors for a good foster care placement identified through the literature review. Following a quantitative method, the main part of the research focused on Juvenile Court’s case files analysis. The information about foster care project contained in the documents are collected by a questionnaire. The sample consisted of 308 children for whom the Juvenile Court decided foster care placement. The documentary analysis aimed to recognize and to describe the foster care projects, considering key aspects arisen from the literature review, such as the matching and planning the foster placement, the work with birth families, foster families and foster children, the contacts between the child and his family, the relationship between the two families, the support to foster placement, the project’s conclusion and the possible reunification. This study offers an overview on social work practice in foster care placement in Lombardy, a region of Italy, highlighting also the partnership among different welfare services and the Juvenile Court. The results encourage a reflection on aspects considered important in foster care by social workers in the child protection and the other protagonists of this important care experience.