The purpose of this study was to discover and record the present dental conditions of the pupils in the Wolflin Elementary School, Amarillo, Texas, and to use this as an informative basis for the establishment of a concentrated dental program.

published_or_final_version / Dentistry / Master / Master of Dental Surgery

This is a qualitative research project conducted on children in institutional care who have incarcerated parent(s) in China with the purpose of exploring the subjective living experiences and self-identity of these children. A homogeneous sample of seventeen children in institutional care who have incarcerated parents, a sample of seven institutional staff, three school teachers, and four family members who were these children’s previous caregivers, were included according to purposive sampling procedures. This study employed narrative analysis as the method used to analyze the data collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews. / With the assumption that identity formation is a process of social construction, the study proposes a theoretical framework consisting of Chinese social and cultural contexts, the family, the societal context, and the children’s subjective experience and identity. This comes after a comprehensive review of the literature on empirical services, polices, and research on children with incarnated parents, theories concerning identity and identity development, and the dominant ideologies about incarceration in the Chinese context. / This study finds that parental incarceration eventually changes these children’s lives so that they suffer helplessness, abandonment and uncertainty. Grateful feelings emerge when they enter a charitable institution that provides them with a relatively stable and secure living environment. There children are referred to or refer to themselves as “children of the institution”. This public label covers their status as inferior, as service recipients of an institution, and the misunderstood status of “orphan. These children develop paradoxical feelings towards these different labels and their self-identity is actually incarcerated in the parent-child relationship along with the incarcerated parents. The internalized ignominy of being children of incarcerated parents further enhances their feeling of inferiority as service recipients of an institution. / To understand the self-identity of these institutionally reared children with incarcerated parents (CIP), as well as its formation process in the Chinese socio-cultural context, the study develops a model that includes elements such as the Chinese moral censure of criminals, familial belief, and the individual-familial responsibility and the concept of “Bao”. These three ideas not only directly impact these children’s self-identity, but also comprise the basis for discourses in the three sub-contexts in which these children derive their living experiences and develop their self-identities. These socio-cultural beliefs are generally held by actors in various situations, and cultural messages are conveyed to these children by those actors through interaction with the children, and these cultural messages shaped the children’s’ subjective experiences and identities. / Based on the findings of this research, the researcher proposes suggestions for social works services for children with incarcerated parents from both micro and macro perspectives, and suggests directions for future research. / 置身中國社會文化語境、以建構主義為理論嚮導，本是一項探索機構照料的服刑人員子女的主觀生活經驗和身份認同及其形成過程為目敘事研究。通對以往服刑人員子女相關務與研究、身份認同理論以及中國社會於"服刑"的敘說進行較為全面回顧與梳理，研究者提出一個囊括中國文化、家庭、社會語境、機構環境及服刑人員子女主觀經驗的互動過程框架用以指導研究。該研究採用目的抽樣，從中國大陸某專門資助、代養服刑人員未成年子女的民間慈善機構選取符合條件的17名服刑人員子女 、7名機構工作人員 、3名學校老師和4名兒童親屬。 通過半結構化的深入訪談收集資料，使用 Nvivo 軟件對訪談資料進行細緻編碼，最後總結顯著主題并撰寫報告。 / 該研究發現，父母服刑給其子女帶來諸多負面後果。被訪兒童在父母服刑后都經歷生活困難、無助與被拋棄，由此產不安全感。入住該機構，他們遇上相對穩定全的生活，也自賦或被予一個“公共身份” —— 機構的孩子。對這一身份他們有著複雜而糾結的情感，一方面這身份昭示其作為服務受助者低人一等并隱含被誤解為“孤兒”的尷尬；另一方面，這公共身份也像個保護傘，使其"服刑人員子女”這一身份在某種程度上得以掩蓋。他們都強烈感知并內化作為服刑子女的羞恥以及作為服務受助者的低人一等。從此意義而言，他們自我被禁錮其中。 / 文章最後得出包含社會化因素、主流言論、家庭、機構以及服刑人員子女等因素的多方互動模型用以呈現和解釋他們主觀生活經驗與自我身份認同及其形成過程。中國社會三個主要觀點 —— 對罪犯的道德譴責、家庭主義和個人、家庭主義和個人 -家庭負責的福利理念、報 —— 相互作用，共同造就社會主流論述對服刑人員子女的歧視、 家庭成員的羞恥感以及機構中對於恩回報期待；進而，服刑人子女通過與這三個系統中的人進行互動，也感知和內化對他們負面看法，形塑主觀經驗和身份認同。 / 基於這些發現，本文在最後就服刑人員子女社會服務改善提出建議，認為微觀層面，機構應該改變服務理念；而在宏觀層面，政府應該介入，且整個社會文化的導向也應該有所調整。本文最后指出未來研究的可能方向。 / Xia, Lili. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 269-296). / Abstracts and appendixes also in Chinese. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on 20, December, 2016). / Xia, Lili. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only.

For the past 60 years, American citizens have turned to international adoption as a way to build their families. Unfortunately, international adoptees often spend the first months or years of their young lives in conditions of poverty and/or institutionalized care. Additionally, current U.S. immigration laws dictate that the children receive only a cursory health screening before arrival. As a result, many of the children adopted by Americans arrive to the United States with significant physical, emotional, behavioral, and developmental health problems. Twelve mothers who had adopted children internationally were interviewed for this study. Their stories of obtaining health care for their newly adopted children were shared in descriptive narratives. The themes that emerged from the data analysis were seeing healthy children despite the challenges, struggling to help the children, needing help, missing lost pieces, being different, and wanting more from providers. The overall essence derived from the mothers' experiences was that seeking health care for their newly adopted children was one of hope to achieve wellness for their children and normalcy for their families within the context of loss and a desire for more support. These findings have significant implications for the health care providers who care for them. / by Natalie L. Murphy. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2010. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2010. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

The aim of this thesis was to explore the key care factors that influence the educational achievement of children looked after at home and away from home in Scotland. Traditionally there has been less research conducted in Scotland than in the rest of the United Kingdom. The research analysed a large new sample - one fifth of the care leaving population in Scotland - and spans a five year period. The thesis makes an original research contribution. A unique features of the research is that it investigates the experiences of children looked after at home, alongside those looked after away from home. In addition, the research involved two large local authority areas in Scotland that had not previously participated in such research on looked after children. What emerged from the research was that the Corporate Parent (local authorities and partner agencies) had not yet successfully prioritised the educational achievement of looked after children in policy and practice, despite education being identified by the government as a mechanism for combating social exclusion. The key findings of the research demonstrated that looked after children perform less well academically than the general school population. In particular, placement type, the reason for becoming looked after and the age on becoming looked after were significant factors in determining educational achievement. Other factors such as gender and number of placements were also found to be associated with educational achievement. Empirical results further indicated that looked after children suffered from discrimination and social exclusion in all aspects of their lives, including school and where they lived. This was a significant finding as the disadvantage experienced by many looked after children continues to impact on their lives into adulthood, making them some of the most socially excluded adults in Scotland and the United Kingdom today.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research investigates the indicators, different role players and the assessment process of intentional physical injuries to children who are hospitalized. The basic premise for this research is the importance of professionals working with children in acquiring skills and knowledge on handling physically abused children. Physical abuse affects and requires the involvement of the entire family of the physically abused child. It is therefore necessary to consider the physically abused child as a part of the larger family system, and not assessed or treated in isolation. The purpose of this research is to broaden the theoretical knowledge of professionals working with children, and specifically social workers, in identifying and assessing physically abused children. This research report includes an investigation of risk factors, consequences and the adjustment process of physically abused children. Knowledge of these indicators of physical abuse will increase the awareness and the ability of the social worker or other professional to identify the injury as intentional. The assessment process by the multi-professional team in the hospital is also examined, focusing on the central role of the social worker in managing cases of physically abused children. The phases of the assessment process, the role of each team member, the various techniques applied as well as factors influencing assessment are described. The empirical research involved the use of both qualitative and quantitative methods in order to explore the theoretical part of the research. This section can be divided into three phases. The first phase included setting up a profile, over a period of four months, of physically abused children under the age of five, who were admitted to the hospital and their families (N = 24). Of this sample, the characteristics and circumstances of four parents/perpetrators (n = 4) were investigated in the form of interviews, which formed part of the second phase of the empirical research. The third phase included conducting a survey with the social workers (n = 5) that assessed physically abused children in the hospital. This was done III the form of questionnaires, which included closed and open-ended questions. The findings and responses of the respondents were analyzed and compared with the findings from previous studies undertaken by various authors. The findings of this research can be used as guidelines for professionals in general who work with children, and more specifically social workers in a hospital that assess children presenting with intentional physical injuries. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing ondersoek die aanduidende faktore, die rolspelers en die asseseringsproses van fisies mishandelde kinders wat gehospitaliseer word. Die uitgangspunt is die noodsaaklikheid van professionele persone wat met kinders werk, en veral maatskaplike werkers, om kennis en vaardighede te hê, ten einde kinders wat fisies mishandel is te kan hanteer. Omdat die hele gesin van die mishandelde kind geaffekteer word en betrokke is, is dit belangrik om die fisies mishandelde kind nie in isolasie, maar as deel van die familie sisteem te kan benader. Die navorsingsondersoek het ten doel om die teoretiese kennis basis van professionele persone wat met kinders werk, en spesifiek maatskaplike werkers, oor die identifisering en assesering van fisies mishandelde kinders uit te brei. Ten einde maatskaplike werkers se kennis van die probleem onders aandag uit te bou, vervat die navorsingsverslag 'n bespreking van die risiko faktore, gevolge en aanpassingsproses van die fisies mishandelde kind. Kennis van hierdie aanduiders sal die bewusdheid asook die vermoë van professionele persone om die fisiese mishandeling te identifiseer, verhoog. Die asseseringsproses deur die multiprofessionele span in die hospitaal word ook ondersoek, met fokus op die sentrale rol van die maatskaplike werker in die hantering van fisies mishandelde kinders. Die fases van die asseseringsproses, die rol van elke spanlid, verskeie tegnieke en faktore wat assesering beïnvloed, word bespreek. Die teoretiese doel van die verslag word uitgebrei in die empiriese ondersoek, deur 'n bespreking van die bevindinge wat deur veskeie metodes verkry is. Kwalitatiewe asook kwantitatiewe metodes is benut tydens die drie fases van die empiriese ondersoek. Die eerste fase was die opstel van 'n profiel wat oor 'n tydperk van vier maande geneem is, van fisies mishandelde kinders wat toegelaat is in die hospitaal en hul gesinne (N = 24). Vanuit hierdie streekproef, is die eienskappe en omstandighede van vier ouers/oortreders (n = 4) ondersoek deur middel van onderhoude, wat die tweede fase van die ondersoek bevat. Die derde fase was om 'n opname te doen met die maatskaplike werkers (n = 5) wat die fisies mishandelde kinders in die hospitaal asseseer. Die bevindinge en response van die respondente is geanaliseer en vergelyk met die bevindinge van vorige studies wat deur verskeie outeurs onderneem is. Die bevindinge van hierdie navorsing kan as 'n riglyn gebruik word deur professionele persone wat oor die algemeen met kinders werk, en meer spesifiek maatskaplike werkers wat fisies mishandelde kinders in 'n hospitaal asseseer.

In Jordan, residential care institutions (RCIs) for children in conflict with the law are identified as various specialised state institutions which constitute a state formal response to youth crime, and specialise in taking care of children. This thesis examines the objectives of RCIs’ programmes for children in conflict with the law in Jordan, as they attempt to reduce offending by convicted children, and whether these objectives meet children’s needs, according to the view and experiences of children themselves (12-17 years). This study is based on qualitative methods, using data from individual and focus group interviews with institutional staff, and participant observation and individual interviews with children. Exploring the divergent claims made within childhood and youth crime theoretical perspectives, this thesis develops a nuanced understanding of institutions’ crime-reduction programmes by drawing upon key theoretical concepts from these frameworks: children as ‘socially becoming’ and ‘social beings’. RCIs provide four rehabilitative programmes to help reduce children’s problematic and offending behaviour; namely, a family guidance programme (FGP), a poverty reduction programme (PRP), an educational programme (EP) and a child behaviour modification programme (CBMP). To a large extent, these programmes tended to provide polices of crime prevention which focus on re-socialising children according to the normative and cultural system of behaviour in which children were generally perceived as incompetent social actors, and where their best interest was not always acknowledged. To a large extent, children’s own perspectives and experiences of institutional rehabilitative programmes revealed the institutional failure to treat their familial, economical, educational and behavioural problems. Overall, children thought such failure happened either because the institutional aims were not actually implemented, or because the methods of delivering the institutional programmes per se were ineffective. This finding reflects a contradictory picture between the RCIs’ objectives and their actual practices, reflecting the institutional departure from a set of theoretical ideas regarding the prevention of youth crime. Focus group discussion with key informant staff referred to a variety of obstacles that contribute to their inability to address children’s wider needs within the existing institutional aims. Parental refusal to participate in child abuse and supervisory neglect interventional sessions, short-term intervention for chronically abused children and institutional reliance on talking methods in promoting parental supervision over children’s behaviour were all issues hindering effective institutional intervention within the familial environment. The institutional failure to meet children’s educational and career training needs occurred because these programmes are scheduled at the same time. The seriousness of some children’s crimes and the inability of some families to accompany their children to school were other issues preventing children from attending school. The lack of staff motivation, along with staff’s interrelated roles, prevented child monitoring staff from fully carrying out the intended intervention of modifying children’s negative behaviours. Ultimately, the findings from this study indicate the inconsistency between RCIs’ principles of rehabilitating children in conflict with the law and their actual practices, including the lack of policies in place to meet the institutional objectives. This in turn meant that RCIs do not actually operate to rehabilitate children in order to reduce reoffending, but are largely punitive and operate to criminalise children and separate them from society.

The problem of the present study is to investigate the consequences of an institutional program planned to develop positive interpersonal relations on the educational achievement, mental, health, and attitudes and outlook of a group of dependent and neglected children. The experimental group was composed of children in a home for dependent and neglected children in a large southwestern city. These children were compared to a control group whose parents were in the same socio-economic class, and who attended Sunday School for lower income families in a large Southern Baptist church in the same locality.

Expectations in six areas of concern were explored by means of a questionnaire distributed to parents, staffs, and directors of three day care centers. These included physical setting, educational activities, social development, staff relationships with children, staff relationships with parents, and parent relationships with the center. Responses averaged over 50 per cent in each category of respondent. Analysis showed that although there were areas of almost total agreement, there were a number of statements that demonstrated a wide divergence in the expectations of the respondents. This study and the related literature indicate that there is cause for concern that children's needs for consistency in child-rearing practices are not always being met.

Children heart diseases can be divided into congenital and acquired heart defects. The acquired heart defects can be further divided into acquired heart defects, heart rhythm disorders, including hypertension, inflammatory heart diseases and heart failure. Children heart diseases can occur at any age, even if it is a congenital heart defect that is less severe. The goal of this thesis was to find out the specifics of nursing care of children with heart diseases who are hospitalized at ICU and to find out the most common nursing diagnoses according to NANDA II taxonomy, and their treatment in case of children with heart diseases who are hospitalized at ICU. During the realization of the research part, a qualitative research survey was conducted using semi-structured interviews with the nurses, participant observation and the method of content analysis, which provide a more complex view of the composition of the children with heart disease hospitalized at ICU. The interviews were conducted with the nurses at the children's ICU, where the participant observation and the method of content analysis took place as well. The results of the research show that nursing care differs in the case of cardiologic disordered children and otherwise disordered children in some areas, as well as the needs. In the research part it was found out what the most frequent nursing interventions in case of these children are and how much they differ from the interventions of children with other diseases, who are also hospitalized at ICU. Furthermore, the research shows that nurses have a negative opinion on nursing diagnoses, although they are used in the documentation. This was found not only in the semi-structured interviews with the nurses, but also during the participated observation and the content analysis of the documentation. The research also revealed that some nursing diagnoses are specific to cardiologic disordered children, but, for example, the nursing diagnosis of the risk of infection associated with invasive entry is used in case of all children hospitalized at ICU. The diploma thesis should inform nurses about nursing care in case of children with heart disease hospitalized at ICU.