A comparison of Lower Grade and Higher Grade pupils with regard to intelligence, self-concept and adjustment. 29 Lower and 29 Higher grade pupils in Stds 8 and 9 at a Jewish community day school were compared with regard to their I Q scores, self-concepts and adjustment level. These variables were measured on the following tests: The NSAGT; the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale and the PHSF Relations Questionnaire. The data from the two groups were compared by means of a t-test for small samples and the results demonstrated a significant difference (p≤0,01) for I Q scores and for self-concept but did not reveal a significant difference on most of the 12 sub-scales of the PHSF Relations Questionnaire. As regards the latter, a significant difference (p<0,05) was obtained on the sub-scale Sociability - S for female pupils and a significant difference was obtained on sub-scales Self-Confidence (p≤0,01) and Formal Relations (p≤0,05) for male pupils. The significant difference in I Q scores can be partially understood in terms of the selection criteria for admission to the Lower Grade class. The significant difference in self-concept can be attributed to the difference on the Intellectual and School Status sub-category. The lack of significant differences on the other sub-scales suggest that factors other than academic achievement are important in terms of self-concept formation for example:- class structure; membership of peer groups; extra-mural activities and family relationships. The lack of significant difference between Lower and Higher Grade pupils in the area of ,adjustment can perhaps be explained in terms of the Lower Grade pupils' relatively high scores on other sub-categories of the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale i.e. it was only as regards intellectual status that the Lower Grade perceived themselves as less able.

Bibliography: pages 114-123. / 'n Literatuurstudie is onderneem om die redes vir dwelmmisbruik onder jeugdiges na te vors. Dit blyk dat daar nie 'n eenvoudige verklaring is vir die verskynsel nie en dat vele faktore 'n rol speel. Hierdie faktore is verder in wisselwerking met mekaar. Daar word toenemend aandag gegee aan die voorkoms van die probleem onder jeugdiges. SANRA en die geaffilieerde Dwelm Aksie Komitees lewer insette ten opsigte van primere en sekondere voorkoming. Navorsing ten opsigte van die voorkoms van die probleem is nodig op plaaslike, sowel as nasionale vlak. Dwelmmisbruik is 'n verskynsel wat nie oor nag ontwikkel het nie en langtermyn gekoordineerde voorkomingspogings is nodig om dit effektief te bekamp.

Bibliography: pages 134-152. / In the modern western world, infidelity or deviation from the monogamous sexually constrained 'till death do us part' marriage is often judged as unhappy, deviant or placing the marriage on the verge of divorce. Marriage areas for is a highly complex relationship, with multiple potential conflict. Contemporary marriage falls prey to dissatisfaction aAd stress far more than marriages of years gone by, where roles were traditionally more clearly defined and expectations were unchallenged. This paper serves to focus on the institution of marriage in western society and the changing face of marriage in contemporary society. Today there by married are many problems and difficulties experienced couples and not least of all, that of the extramarital affair. Treatment for the problem of infidelity proves an increasing challenge for clincians today. Methods and difficulties in this regard will be discussed. Five case studies from the writer's private practice case load will be presented to augment the preceding theoretical discussion. In describing the nature of the cases, highlights will be made of the salient variations in circumstances, treatment and outcome.

Bibliography: pages 181-192. / Continued study towards understanding schizophrenia and the impairments it can cause, is regarded as essential in the meaningful fulfilment of the educative and diagnostic contributions which the social worker can make in a comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation programme (involving patients and their families). The first section of this descriptive dissertation focuses on aspects like terminology, definition, and the most recent diagnostic criteria, in an endeavour to contribute theoretically towards understanding the illness. The complexity of the diagnostic process is emphasized, and the recent revision of the criteria (1987) is seen as indicative of continuous efforts towards improved diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. Previous studies, improved pharmacology and more sophisticated neurophysiological examining led to a change in focus with regard to aetiology and the development of the vulnerability-stress-coping-competence model which brought new hope with regard to outcome of treatment. Section Two highlights several interventions which the clinical social worker can undertake as psychotherapist, group and family therapist, as well as educator on primary, secondary and tertiary levels, from this model and within the psycho-educative perspective. The Neuro B programme, Stikland Hospital, Bellville, is described in section Three, as an example of a presently operating, comprehensive programme where these interventions can be holistically implemented. Particulars about 56 patients who have been involved in the programme are highlighted in Section Four, while Section Five deals with the opinions of former patients and their families concerning involvement in the programme - elicited by two sets of questionnaires. The final chapter focuses on a summary of the dissertation, conclusions and implications for practice.

Includes bibliography. / Die navorser het gepoog om vas te stel of drosgedrag in assosiasie met sekere veranderlikes plaasvind, dus of daar tendense bestaan. Die veranderlikes van belang vir die maatskaplike werk professie het voorkeur gekry in die studie. Die doel hiervan was om aan te toon dat hierdie professie 'n rol kan speel ten opsigte van hierdie gedrag. Die studie is beperk tot een inrigting, naamlik 'n plek van veiligheid. Tendense oor 'n 10 jaar tydperk, 1980-1989, is bestudeer sodat moontlik ook die invloed van personeelaangeleenthede en verskille in die bestuur van die inrigting indentifiseer kan word. Die data is vanuit argiefrekords, soos die persoonlike leêrs, straf-, opname-, en drostersregister, verkry. Ongestruktureerde onderhoude met die personeel het addisionele inligting verskaf. Oor sekere van die data is gegewens van die totale drosterpopulasie oor 10 jaar ingewin (N=492). Ander gegewens is vanuit die beskikbare persoonlike lêers (nl=413) verkry. Nie alle lêers het die verlangde gegewens beskikbaar gehad nie, en vir sekere gegewens is data vir kleiner groepe drosters ingewin. Hierdie gegewens is getabuleer, en waar van toepassing, is van grafieke of histogramme gebruik gemaak. Uit die resultate kon die volgende afgelei word: die omvang van die probleem is wyd en regverdig navorsing. 'n Hӧer drossyfer word in die maande van Februarie, Maart en November gevind. Daar is nie 'n tendens om op sekere dae van die week meer as ander dae te dros nie. Die meeste drosters dros binne 'n kort tyd na opname, en dros dan slegs enkele male van korte duur. Meer seuns dros as dogters. Die meeste drosters val binne die ouderdomsgroep 14-16 jaar en hierdie groep is ook vir die hoogste aantal drosinsidente verantwoordelik. Die meerderheid drosters dros in groepe, en in die geselskap van 'n ervare droster wanneer hulle die eerste maal dros. Die meeste drosters het 'n geskiedenis van wegloop- of drosgedrag. Die I.K. van drosters is ietwat laer as die van die normale bevolking, en hulle is ook meestal skolasties vertraag. Die meeste drosters meld mees gereeld hulle ongelukkigheid by die veiligheidsplek as 'n rede vir dros. Daar word tydens drosinsidente meestal huiswaarts gedros. Uit die resultate kon dus afgelei word dat, hoewel drosters waarskynlik ook emosionele probleme het, omgewingsfaktore 'n rol speel by drostery. Die belangrike implikasie van die bevinding is dat drostery deur omgewingsmanipulasie verminder behoort te kan word, en dat die maatskaplike werk professie 'n belangrike rol in die opsig kan speel.

The social work practice problem of this doctoral action research project was the unmet mental health needs of veterans 65 and older in Puerto Rico. This action research project explored the experiences and challenges of social workers when they offer mental health services to veterans 65 and older. This study was framed using social support theory, integrating the 3 core elements of tangible support, emotional support, and informational support. The data collection technique included a semistructured interview protocol used in a focus group setting. Purposive sampling was used to identify 9 participants who were licensed social workers in Puerto Rico. Through content analysis, the findings were coded and organized into the following themes: educational background; ethics and wellbeing aspects; evaluation, interventions, and treatments; professional social and cultural competencies; social support experiences; multidisciplinary service coordination processes; and the elderly veterans' unmet needs. The results of this study could be used by social workers and administrators to contribute to positive social change through the improvement of social work practices and the development of innovative knowledge when intervening with veterans 65 and older and their families in Puerto Rico.

ABSTRACT The integration of spirituality in Social Work is on the rise, but due to the lack of literature on spiritually-involved interventions and applicable integration of spirituality into ones practice, literature suggests social workers do not feel competent or confident in this area of practice. This study explores the attitudes and beliefs of social workers in San Bernardino County towards spirituality in their own practice and social work overall. The data is collected through audio recording individual interviews with each participant, which are then transcribed into transcripts. The transcripts are coded for themes and commonalities among the participants. Results lay the foundation for further research and conversation regarding spirituality and how to further integrate or continue integrating it into social work practice in San Bernardino County.

Key leaders within the social work field have repeatedly challenged social work educators to address issues of race and racism, in addition to other forms of identity and oppression, in social work education and practice. Little is known, however, about if and how these issues are being addressed by social work faculty teaching advanced clinical practice courses. This qualitative study examines the manner and extent to which 15 social work faculty, all of whom teach advanced clinical practice courses in one of four graduate social work programs on the East Coast of the United States, conceptualize and address issues of race and racism in their teaching of clinical social work. Analysis of the 15 interviews suggests that most participants view race primarily as an individual ethnic or cultural identity and racism as a largely micro level phenomenon that is the result of racial prejudice. Few participants appeared to understand race as a social identity situated within structures of power and privilege or how racism operates at a structural or institutional level. For example, in discussing a case vignette provided by the researcher, they focused on symptomatology, diagnosis, and assessment rather than the possible implications and effects of race and racism on a client of color. Overall, participants in this study appeared to lack conceptual, historical, and sociological knowledge about race and racism. While participants in this study view themselves as committed to addressing issues of diversity and social justice, they also acknowledge their struggle to enact this commitment in the classroom. The findings from this study suggest that additional faculty development opportunities and institutional support will be needed before clinical social work educators are likely to meet the challenge to effectively address issues of race and racism as well as other issues of identity and oppression in the classroom.

The lack of a scope of practice for social workers in South Africa, and with that their right to do mental health diagnoses or even work with mental health clients, has led to conflict. There is not yet a clear agreement between the role players within South Africa, such as the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) and South African Association of Social Workers in Private Practice (SAASWIPP). From the initial investigation, it became clear however that social workers in South Africa are often using the DSM system without training. One of the main concepts, namely ‘clinical social work’, is well defined in international literature. However, very little literature could be found within the South African context pertaining to who is qualified to be a clinical social worker or a social worker with the right to diagnose. This has caused some conflict on a practical level among social workers and ‘clinical’ social workers when operating in the field of mental health since the perception exists that some social workers overstep their boundaries or scope of practice. The research problem was formulated, based on social workers admitting that they are using the DSM system, regardless of their training or lack of training in the DSM system. Social workers do not receive sufficient training in mental health diagnostic systems in undergraduate training. The purpose of this study was to develop, implement and pilot test a programme to train social workers in the utilization of an accredited diagnostic system, namely the DSM system, when dealing with individuals who present with a specific disorder. The hypothesis that directed this research indicated that social workers, who receive formal training in the utilization of the DSM system, would be equipped with knowledge and insight with regard to the mental health of their clients. This could enhance the profession, since social workers would be able to participate in the multi-professional team with insight with regard to mental health terminology and pathology. A combined quantitative/qualitative research approach was followed, more specifically applied intervention research since the aim of the study was to contribute towards addressing a practical issue. The research objectives were to complete a literature study regarding social workers’ assessment in the context of the DSM system; to explore social workers’ knowledge, attitude, and utilization of the DSM system; to develop a training programme and train social workers in the utilization of the DSM; to implement the developed training programme for social workers in the utilization of the DSM; to pilot test the effectiveness and content of the training programme; and to draw conclusions and make recommendations with regard to the benefit for the social work profession as well as to multi-professional teamwork, should social workers receive training programme in the DSM system. The researcher collected data while the respondents attended a two-day training programme in the DSM system. Respondents completed a pre-test questionnaire as well as a post-test questionnaire on completion of the training programme. This data analysis was based on a quasi-experimental design, namely the ‘one-group pre-test-post-test design’. Conclusions and recommendations were made relating to social work training, social work in mental health and the DSM utilization in social work practice. The limitations of this study were the lack of literature, the need for training over a longer period, and especially the uncertainties regarding a nationally accepted scope of practice for social workers. The need for in-depth evaluation and advanced development of the programme is identified as both a limitation and a recommendation for future research. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

For several decades, a national shortage of licensed clinical social workers has been growing in the United States. Licensed social workers provide counsel and advocacy for those affected by mental illness, addiction, abuse, and discrimination, among other economic difficulties, and are the largest group of providers of mental and behavioral health services. The research questions for this project addressed what challenges unlicensed social workers in central Florida identify as barriers to pursuing clinical licensure. This study also explored strategies that unlicensed social workers in central Florida reported to address these barriers and encourage the pursuit of clinical licensure. The purpose of this research was to identify both the barriers that social worker's report in seeking their licensure and effective strategies to address the barriers. The theoretical framework to inform the project was systems theory. An action research design was used including a focus group of 5 unlicensed social workers, selected through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Study outcomes showed that social workers in central Florida chose not to pursue licensure because of the cost and time associated with the process. Changes recommended as part of this research may bring about social change through an increase in the number of licensed social workers to assist Floridians who seek such services.