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Marginalization of social work practise with ethno-racial minorities in mainstream human service organizations in a Canadian setting : a critical exploratory study of systemic issuesIp, Eugene Yiu-Chung 07 1900 (has links)
The thesis is a qualitative study from critical theory perspectives to enhance
understanding of how systemically mainstream organizations marginalize social work
practice with ethno-racial minorities. It also explores strategic implications for systemic
change based on field research findings. Ten social workers from Edmonton – the
provincial capital city of Alberta, Canada - participated in investigative dialogues for the
thesis field research. These research participants’ workplace stories lend themselves to
explore three questions: what does marginalization of practice with ethno-racial
minorities look like in mainstream organizational settings; what is there to understand
about it as a systemic issue and what the research findings imply for change strategies.
A critical analysis of dialogic data thematically identifies everyday work issues
that describe how practice with ethno-racial minorities is kept at the operational and
service-delivery fringe of individual workplaces. These thematic findings point to
broader issues of the mainstream human service organization sector. These broader
issues further highlight how the practice marginalization of concern in this thesis is a
systemically constructed issue. These broader issues are mainstream benevolence, social
work as an employment regime, multicultural service delivery as a thrill and clientization
of ethno-racial minorities.
In consideration of these sector-wide issues, implied change strategies reveal
three thematic directions for systemic transformational change: (i) continued dialoguing
involving concerned social workers and ethno-racial minority community leaders, (ii)
community social work to build and foster coalitionary activist work and organizations,
and (iii) participatory research involving a community sharing concern of the practice
marginalization issue so as to build a strong knowledge-base to support and empower broad-base activist endeavour to effect change about mainstream human service
organizations. / Social Work / D. Phil. (Social Work)
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The decision-making process in a rural community in LesothoPerry, J G, 1942- January 1978 (has links)
From Introduction: Lesotho is a small, mountainous country entirely surrounded by South Africa. The stark nature of its terrain and topography present harsh options to its inhabitants. Much of the country is mountainous, better suited to the keeping of stock than to agriculture. The lowlands, where the soils are more amenable to the plough, are scarred and cut by dongas. The soil is overworked and overcrowded and Lesotho does not grow enough to feed its people who depend on migrancy as a viable alternative to the limited resources of their own land. They stream from the country to seek wage employment in South Africa, for Lesotho has minimal industrial development and cannot provide jobs for her people. The civil service absorbs some of the educated elite, as does teaching, but the majority must sell their sweat in South Africa's service.
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Public participation as a tool to Enhance Service Delivery in Local Government : A case study of Capricorn District Municipality in the Limpopo ProvinceMudzanani, Lufuno Robert 18 May 2017 (has links)
PhD (Public Adminiistration) / Department of Public and Development Administration / This study examines the notion of public participation as a tool to enhance service delivery in
the Capricorn District Municipality. Public participation is a milestone of democracy and
local governance. Local government – which is closest to the people – provides an ideal
forum for the flourishing of participatory democracy. The centrality of public participation in
the development of policies and programmes or action plans has been widely recognised by
both government and the private sector. However, involving the public in the development of
any policy, programme or action plan is a daunting task. Indeed, if not well-managed, public
involvement often leads to protests, litigation, criticisms, and delays in service delivery to the
people. Thus, the extent to which public participation can be a tool for the enhancement of
service delivery in Limpopo – especially in the Capricorn District Municipality – is the focus
of this study.
This study is guided by the following questions: What are the key concepts that relate to
public participation as a tool to enhance service delivery? What impact does the Constitution
of South Africa, Act 08 of 1996, and other government legal frameworks have on public
participation as a tool to enhance service delivery in South Africa, particularly in the
Capricorn District Municipality? What modes and models of public participation are used to
enhance service delivery in the Capricorn District Municipality? What are the main factors
that influence public participation as a tool to enhance service delivery in the Capricorn
District Municipality?
The study adopts both qualitative and quantitative research approaches whereby the use of
primary and secondary sources was augmented by interviews with local government actors.
Moreover, questionnaires were administered by the researcher and his assistant researchers.
A purposive sampling method was used. The researcher ensured that all relevant elements of
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research ethics were observed. The data generated by the questionnaires and interviews were
analysed and interpreted using the latest statistical tools. Both qualitative and quantitative
analysis methods were used. Data collected using questionnaires were analysed by means of
the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The information was presented in the
form of tabulations, frequencies, and percentages. Data collected through interviews were
analysed using thematic analysis.
The findings of this study reflect that public participation mainly serves the purpose of meeting the
statutory requirements for the development of best value initiatives and gaining information from
citizens. The majority of the respondents were of the view that the Ward Committee system is fully
functional in their municipalities. All Capricorn District municipalities have officers responsible for
public participation; however, not all of them are accessible to the public. It was revealed that the
public participation budget in Lepelle-Nkumpi and Mollemole is insufficient. The other main
constrains identified are the serious lack of personal and working tools and resources. The study also
found that not all documents were translated into the languages spoken in the Capricorn District and
that there is a lack of feedback mechanisms on the issues raised by members of public during the IDP
and Budget Fora.These findings were discussed in relation to the study’s objectives and
research questions.
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Residential Solar Energy Adoption in a Community Context: Perceptions and Characteristics of Potential Adopters in a West Toronto NeighbourhoodSherk, Theodore January 2012 (has links)
In the summer of 2007, a single neighbourhood in downtown Toronto contributed at
least 13 percent of all residential grid???tie solar photovoltaic (PV) systems sold in the
Canadian province of Ontario. On average, PV purchaser households produced 37
percent as much electricity as they consumed.
This research investigates solar energy adoption in a community case study. Specifically,
it investigates why some residents who sign up for a solar resource assessment through
a community solar energy initiative (CSEI) decide to purchase, and others decide not to
purchase in the short???term. Characteristics and perceptions of potential adopters are
analyzed to better understand their motivations and barriers to adoption.
Community energy projects became an official public policy goal in Ontario, with the
passing of the Green Energy and Green Economy Act in 2009. Approximately 80 percent
of Ontario???s anticipated generation capacity will need to be built, replaced or
refurbished within 15 years. In this context, the Ontario Ministry of Energy, Ontario
Power Authority, and Deloitte (one of Canada???s leading professional services firms),
have partnered with a ???green benefit??? fund, the Community Power Fund, to help local
community groups access resources to develop and establish renewable energy
projects. Understanding solar energy adoption in a community context is therefore
important to improve the effectiveness of such policies, including the disbursement of
multi???million dollar grant funds.
Differences between purchasers and non???purchasers in respect of adoption behaviour
were found in this study to cluster around two general themes. The first theme
concerns differences in compatibility of both the concept of solar energy systems, and
their physical attributes, with characteristics of potential adopter households. Some
compatibility issues are straightforward, e.g. availability of roof space with a southern
orientation. Others are more complex, involving several interrelated perceptual and
socio???demographic factors. For instance, while both purchasers and non???purchasers
rated cost as a very important barrier, purchasers rated the motivation of solar energy
systems to reduce climate change higher relative to the barrier of high financial costs
than did non???purchasers. Purchasers were also more likely to possess a graduate
degree, while non???purchasers were more likely to hold a professional degree.
The second general theme relates to potential adopters??? trust and stake in the ability of
the community???based initiative to reduce barriers in the adoption process. Since two
types of solar energy systems are considered in the case study???PV and thermal (hot
water)???differences are explored between each of three respondent groups: solar PV
purchasers, solar hot water (SHW) purchasers, and non???purchasers.
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Surveys were used to gather data on adopter perceptions and characteristics. A
participatory research design helped identify the research topic. Two main bodies of
literature???community???based social marketing (CBSM) and diffusion of innovations
theory???were drawn upon to conceptualize the adoption process and interpret the
survey findings. These include five models of human behaviour that can be used to
guide the design of CBSM campaigns. Diffusion theory was used as a basis for discussing
???perceived innovation attributes???. The study takes an integrated approach by
considering both social and technical aspects of solar energy adoption, together with
the issues of fuel substitution and household electricity demand.
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