La ricerca si pone l’obiettivo di analizzare i servizi consultoriali rivolti alle famiglie/donne migranti nell’ambito delle politiche sociali che rivolgono un’attenzione specifica ai soggetti e alle famiglie della migrazione, osservandoli dal punto di vista del modello relazionale di buone pratiche (Donati P., Prandini R., 2006; Rossi G., Boccacin L., 2007), nell’ambito del Comune di Milano. Sono stati selezionati cinque consultori familiari significativi per il tipo di lavoro realizzato le famiglie immigrate, all’interno dei quali sono stati realizzati gli studi di caso. Gli obiettivi della ricerca sono: • Tracciare un profilo del campione d’ utenza immigrata che accede ai consultori familiari studiati (attraverso la rilevazione quantitativa). • Analizzare le pratiche di lavoro con le donne/famiglie immigrate. In particolare, valutare quanto le pratiche realizzate rispondono ad un modello di progettazione e di attuazione di tipo relazionale, quale posto sia riservato alla famiglia, a quale modello di integrazione si ispira e quale effetto abbia in termini di capitale sociale prodotto (attraverso la rilevazione qualitativa). E’ stata formulata una ipotesi generale, che si declina in tre ipotesi specifiche. Il Consultorio Familiare si configura come un servizio alla persona: 1. quando raggiunge un obiettivo di integrazione delle differenze culturali rispondendo ai bisogni degli utenti immigrati attraverso servizi che riconoscono e promuovono le appartenenze etniche (ad es. i gruppi di accompagnamento alla nascita ai quali partecipano donne di diversa appartenenza etnico - culturale), 2. quando riconosce e si prende cura dei legami familiari dell’utente immigrato (ad esempio estendendo la consultazione a più membri della famiglia), 3. quando realizza un modello relazionale di buone pratiche in quanto genera capitale sociale attraverso l’intreccio di 4 componenti: Efficienza, Efficacia, Integrazione del servizio in una rete di attori, La qualità etica dei fini perseguiti: benessere, protagonismo, empowerment e integrazione della famiglia migrante. L’approccio è multimedodologico per la scelta di più campioni (26 operatori, 4 coordinatori, 120 utenti), per l’utilizzo congiunto di più strumenti, (questionario e intervista) e infine, per quanto concerne l’uso di più metodi di analisi dei dati (quantitativo e qualitativo). In base alla prima ipotesi, il consultorio è un servizio alla persona nella misura in cui è capace di rispondere, con modelli di lavoro differenti, alla specificità della domanda dell’utenza, pur all’interno di un orientamento verso l’assimilazione dell’utenza che spinge verso il livellamento non solo della risposta del servizio, ma anche della domanda dell’utente. In base alla seconda ipotesi, il consultorio famigliare si configura come un servizio, che pur dichiarando un approccio alla famiglia nella mission perseguita, rivolge il proprio intervento al singolo utente o al massimo a diadi familiari. In base alla terza ipotesi, è stato possibile confermare la presenza di singole pratiche di lavoro attivate dagli operatori che rispondono ad un modello relazionale di buone pratiche, in quanto supportando la nascita di nuovi legami sociali e il confronto culturale, generano capitale sociale e promuovono l’integrazione. Dalla ricerca è emerso un quadro composito del complesso rapporto tra servizio consultoriale e utenza immigrata, che necessita di ulteriori approfondimenti di ricerca. / Research object is inquiring consultorio familiare within the frame of social policy. Consultorio familiare will be analysed to the point of good/best practices relational model (Donati P., Prandini R., 2006; Rossi G. , Boccacin L.,2007), in Milan, a city that has high level of immigrants clients. The research intends to define more precisely what kind of ‘good practices’ are realized, especially with regards to the immigrant families. The research aims : • To describe sample of immigrant clients who access to Consultorio familiare through quantitative research method • to shed light on family services related to immigrant families clients, in order to discover how the good practices and the social capital generate, level of family approach, model of integration realized with immigrant families. The observation of family services that are offered in Consultorio familiare, and the analysis of the social capital generation process, has been carried out through the realisation of 5 case studies identified among some experiences qualified as ‘good practices’. Specific hypothesis: Consultorio familiare is “servizio alla persona”: • When it reaches a goal of integration of cultural differences in response to immigrant clients' needs through services that recognize and promote the ethnic membership (eg. Birth groups for women of different ethnic-cultural membership), • when it recognizes and takes care of the immigrant's family ties (eg by extending the consultation to more family members) • When it achieves a relational model of good practice and generates social capital through the intertwining of 4 components: Efficiency, Effectiveness, Integration of service into a network of actors, the ethical quality of the purposes: wellbeing, protagonists, empowerment and integration of the family migrant. For the choice of different samples (providers and clients), as well as for the use of different, (questionnaire and interview) tools, and different (quantitative and qualitative) methods of data analysis, this research is based on a multi-methodological approach. Under the first hypothesis, Consultorio familiare is “servizio alla persona” to the extent is able to respond with different patterns of work to the specific nature of the requests, but in a shift towards user assimilation that leads to the same level of the provider response and the clients demand. Under the second hypothesis, Consultorio familiare is configured as a service, while stating that a family approach is pursued in the mission, it realizes a practice at an individualist or dyadic level, with one client or a maximum of family dyads. With the third hypothesis, it was possible to confirm the presence of specific working practices enabled by the providers responding to a relational model of good practice, supporting the emergence of new social ties and cultural confrontation, generate social capital and promote social integration. The research has shown a mixed picture of the complex relationship between immigrant clients and consultorio familiare, who needs further research investigations.

Il lavoro di tesi ha come oggetto la valutazione della qualità relazionale dei servizi offerti dal Centro disabilità neuromotorie infantili della Fondazione Ariel e ha come obiettivi l’approfondimento teorico e metodologico dell’approccio relazionale riflessivo alla valutazione, con attenzione alle connessioni tra valutazione e dimensioni organizzative dei servizi alla persona e alla famiglia. Questo approccio multidimensionale e multivision della qualità fa riferimento ad alcune macro-dimensioni organizzative del benessere relazionale generato da un servizio sociale: l’efficienza, l’efficacia, la qualità integrativa, la qualità etica dei fini. Questa prospettiva riflessiva e partecipata di valutazione costituisce un’opportunità per cogliere, descrivere e giudicare il bene comune relazionale generato da un servizio alla persona e alla famiglia in un contesto di bisogni sociali in mutamento, dove strategiche sono personalizzazione e alla familiarizzazione dei servizi. Oltre al potenziale conoscitivo, la valutazione della qualità relazionale dedica particolare attenzione al potenziale trasformativo e morfogenetico della leva valutativa. Metodologicamente l’analisi condotta è stata di tipo quanto-qualitativo. Sono state realizzate interviste semi-strutturate con gli operatori del Centro e una dettagliata analisi della documentazione. Il lavoro partecipato ha condotto alla costruzione di questionario di 35 variabili che è stato esitato da 167 famiglie beneficiarie. Oltre ad un’analisi monovariata dei risultati del questionario sono stati costruiti alcuni indici sintetici su alcune dimensioni critiche della qualità relazionale. / The work relates to evaluation of relational quality of the services offered by Foundation Ariel’s childhood neuromotor disabilities Center . The objectives are the methodological and theoretical study of the relational reflexive evaluation approach, with attention to the connections between evaluation and organizational dimensions services to individuals and families. This multidimensional and multi-vision quality model refers to some macro-organizational dimensions of relational well-being generated by social services: efficiency, effectiveness, quality integration, the quality of ethical purposes. This reflective and participatory evaluation perspective is an opportunity to capture, describe and assess the common good relationship generated by a service to individuals and families, which are strategic to the familiarization and customization in a context of changing social needs. In addition, relational quality evaluation pays particular attention to the transformative and morphogenetic potential of evaluation. Methodologically, the analysis was quanto-qualitative. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with operators of the Centre and a detailed analysis of the documentation was done. The work led to the construction of a questionnaire of 35 variables, which 167 beneficiary families have responded to. Besides monovariata analysis of the results of the questionnaire, some synthetic indexes of some critical dimensions of relational quality were constructed.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, Faculty of Arts, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 327-345).

M.A. / Dependency affects the family as a whole and forms part of the transactional patterns that regulates the behaviour of the family members. Seeing that the family and dependent person has a mutual effect on each other relapse prevention is also influenced by the family system. Therefore it is essential that social work intervention with the chemical dependant person focuses on the family as a whole. Relapses seems to be a factor that needs to be taken in to account in the field of chemical dependency because of the very high relapse rates. The dependant behaviour is altered through the anticipation and management of relapses. Through viewing relapse prevention from the systemic context the family system as a whole can be focused on relapse prevention and not just the individual. This study aimed at exploring the role of the family in relapse prevention, thus identifying family factors which are of importance in relapse prevention of the chemical dependent person. A Qualitative research methodology was utilised to explore the diverse experiences of families regarding relapse prevention. The focus of this research is therefore on the family processes through which families create, maintain and discuss their own reality thus was family context, interaction and dynamics studied. The theoretical basis for the intervention with the chemical dependant person is established in the discussion of the relapse prevention model as well as the general systems theory. From this theoretical basis a work protocol was compiled to which data that was gathered and analysed. For the aim of this study a nonpiobability purposive sample was used in the compiling of the two focus groups. The focus groups lend itself to interviewing with small groups where the respondents explore their own reality. The data was gathered by means of field notes and audio tapes which were transcribed. Analysis of data was.done according to schedules and these schedules were compiled according to the literature. The schedules were divided in to the family and relapse prevention categories. Coding was done by the researcher and a co-coder in order to compare the results. In the coding process the researcher and co-coder utilised the schedules to code the transcribed audio tapes and field notes. The information gleaned form the data gathering and analysis was used to identify central themes. These themes were offered as results. The results obtained were compared to relevant literature in order to further the reliability of the research. The reliability of the study was examined in the light of credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. From the study methodological and theoretical conclusions could be drawn. The methodological conclusions have to do with the method of research which was utilised in this study. Regarding the contextual aims and context of the empirical study certain theoretical conclusions were drawn. The results and conclusions indicated certain family factors that play a role in relapse prevention in the family system. Recommendations were offered on the basis of the study and the conclusions drawn. The methodology and context of the empirical study directs the recomMendations drawn thus ensuring the practice orientation of the results and the connection of the results to the goal of this study. This, research indicates that the family plays an important role in relapse prevention of the chemical dependant person as well as the value of the application of the relapse prevention model with a systemic application in the social work intervention with the chemical dependant person.

HIV/AIDS is a pandemic infecting and affecting millions of people worldwide. South Africa is also severely affected by this disease. Because hospitals cannot cope with patients admitted daily especially with the influx caused by HIV/AIDS patients, the government has introduced home-based care of people living with HIV/AIDS. Amongst those who practice home-based care are the volunteers. This study is aimed at exploring and describing the experiences of volunteers involved in home-based care of people living with HIV/AIDS in the Lusikisiki Magisterial district in the former Transkei area of the Province of the Eastern Cape. The researcher used a qualitative methodology with the aim of finding out what it is like to be a volunteer involved in home-based care in a rural area. The data was collected by means of semi-structured one-to-one interviews or guided interviews. A total sample of thirteen research participants was acquired through purposive as well as snowball sampling. The interviews were guided by a number of broad question themes. Data was analyzed using Tesch’s framework of data analysis as described in Creswell (1994). The researcher used Guba’s model as outlined in Krefting (1991) to ensure trustworthiness of the research findings. A literature control was undertaken to find out what other researchers and authors say about the issues raised by the study. There were five themes that came out of the data analysis process and these themes are: o The experiences of volunteers with home-based care. o Factors facilitating the work of volunteers. o Problems encountered by volunteers. o Possible solutions to problems encountered. o Views of volunteers regarding home-based care. These broad themes were further reduced into sub-themes and categories. Based on the discussion of themes, sub-themes, and categories, some research findings were presented. The discussion of the themes, sub-themes and categories was supported by verbatim quotations from the participants. On the basis of research findings, conclusions and recommendations were made.

The quantitative study attempted to examine the barriers and challenges of grandparents raising grandchildren. The primary focus is to explore the problems and concerns to determine what are the specific needs of these redefined families. The researcher employed a questionnaire with some closed and open-ended questions, pertaining to the problems and concerns of custodial grandparents. Twenty-five grandparents in San Bernardino County were interviewed to obtain data regarding this issue. The findings of the study revealed that grandparents and grandchildren both are in need of internal and external resources to enhance, empower and support their inner ability to adjust and cope with their new and often traumatic family transitions.

The objective of this study was to improve treatment provided to multi-cultural families in the welfare system by improving training and awareness in regards to cultural sensitivity.

This study examined an important, yet underreported, area of family service agency assessments, the failure to adequately screen for substance abuse issues. A self-report screening instrument was used to accurately determine substance abuse frequency rates, instead of using the current clinician-directed questioning. New agency clients were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (self-report) or the control group (clinician-directed) to determine if assessment accuracy improved.

This study examines the role of Community Based-Organisations (CBOs) in the response to HIV/AIDS as a development challenge drawing examples from the Gabane Community Home-Based Care CBO in Botswana. The study adopted qualitative methods of research and used group discussions, relative unstructured interviews, direct observation and literature review as methods of data collection. The study found out that HIV/AIDS is indeed a development problem and that it can be dealt with using some existing development approaches such as the sustainable livelihoods approaches. The study further identified specific roles that CBOs play in the response to HIV/AIDS. It also revealed the potential that CBOs have in achieving development. In addition, the study identified and outlined challenges that CBOs face in responding to HIV/AIDS. Key recommendations are that CBOs must integrate poverty reduction interventions in their activities. They must also form coalitions and strengthen their capacity to sustain their activities and manage partnerships. / Development Studies

Abstract in English, Sepedi and Zulu / The people with the greatest stake in Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC) interventions are the children and their parents/guardians. Unfortunately, most OVC programmes are predesigned and implemented without considering beneficiaries’ perceptions when developing solutions (ALI 2007:15). The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the perceptions of orphans and vulnerable children’s parents/guardians about the effectiveness of Future Families’ children programme in Olievenhoutbosch. This study used a qualitative, explorative and descriptive design. Thirteen parents/guardians of children registered with the Future Families were interviewed on the effectiveness of the Future Families programme using a semi-structure interview guide. The study results suggested that parents/guardians were happy with Future Families’ services and believed the programme is effective in responding to their families’ needs / Abantu abathinteka kakhulu ekungeneleni kokuphathelene nezintandane kanye nabantwana abasengcupheni (ama-OVC) ngabantwana kanye nabazali noma abaqaphi. Ngeshwa, izinhlelo eziningi zama-OVC zenziwe futhi ziqala ukusetshenziswa ngaphandle kokucabangela imibono yalabo okumele bahlomule kwizisombululo zokuthuthukisa (ALI 2007: 15). Inhloso yalolu cwaningo kwakuwukuhlola nokuchaza imibono yabazali nabaqaphi bama-OVC mayelana nokusebenza kohlelo lwabantwana olunikezwa yiFuture Families e-Olievenhoutbosch. Kwasetshenziswa uhlelo oluhlolayo noluchazayo kulolu cwaningo. Abazali abayishumi nesishiyagalolunye noma abaqaphi babantwana ababhalisiwe kwaFuture Families, okuyinhlangano engenzi nzuzo ehlinzeka izinsizakalo kuma-OVC nakubantu abaneHIV/AIDS noma abahlukumezekayo ngenxa yalokho, babuzwa imibuzo kusetshenziwa umhlahlandela wemibuzo ehlelekile kwezinye izindawo ukuze baveze imibono yabo maqondana nokusebenza ngempumelelo kohlelo lweFuture Families. Imiphumela yalolu cwaningo iphakamise ukuthi abazali nabaqaphi bagculisekile ngemisebenzi ehlinzekwa yiFuture Families, futhi bakholwa ukuthi lolu hlelo lusebenza ngempumelelo ukubhekana nezidingo zemindeni yabo. / Batho ba ba nago le setseka se segolo go ditseno ka bogare tša Bana ba Ditšhiwana le bao ba lego Kotsing (OVC) ke bana le batswadi/bahlokomedi ba bona. Ka bomadimabe, mananeo a mantši a OVC a akanyetšwa pele le go phethagatšwa ntle le go tšeela šedi maikutlo a batho ba ba tlago holega ge go naganišišwa ditharollo (ALI 2007:15). Morero wa thuto ye e be e le go hlohlomiša le go hlaloša maikutlo a ditšhiwana le batswadi/bahlokomedi ba bana ba ba lego kotsing mabapi le go šoma gabotse ga lenaneo la bana la Malapa a ka Moso (FF) kua Olievenhoutbosch. Thuto ye e šomišitše moakanyetšo wa khwalitheithifi, wa go hlohlomiša le wa go hlaloša. Batswadi/bahlokomedi ba 13 ba bana ba ba ingwadišitšego le Malapa a ka Moso ba ile ba botšišwa dipotšišo mabapi le go šoma gabotse ga lenaneo la Malapa a ka Moso ka go šomiša mokgwa wa dinyakišišo wa go botšiša dipotšišo. Dipoelo tša thuto di šišintše gore batswadi/bahlokomedi ba be ba thabile ka ditirelo tša FF le go dumela gore lenaneo le šoma gabotse ka go iphetolela go dinyakwa tša malapa a bona. / Health Studies / M.P.H.