<p>Chronic Pain affects all aspects of a person's life. It can reshape his or her identity, the roles they play within the family system and it can affect their capacity to earn income, to name just a few examples. With such a wide range of changes, obviously family members are to expect some changes as well. To date, most of the research has focused on how the family can help the adjustment of the pain patient. Some research explores how the mental state of a spouse may be implicated. Very little has been done to explore how the family copes: what they see as the important changes, how they feel about and respond to having chronic pain in their lives.</p> <p>In this research I spoke with six individuals who were close to someone with chronic pain. For some it was the first opportunity they have had to discuss their feelings on an issue that has been a major part of their lives for several years. Four wives and two daughters were interviewed. What came from their stories was a sense of loss that they were no longer able to participate in the same activities, in the same manner, together as they had before the onset of pain. There was a sense of loss in intimacy, shared lives, even in their dreams and expectations of the future. They reported that in some cases the ability of the pain patient to parent was undermined as the pain patient was overwhelmed by just getting through the day with their pain.</p> <p>However, in each of their stories the families had learned to adjust and move forward in their lives. They found ways to make it work, even if it was not as they would have liked. Finally, they made suggestions for others who are going through similar struggles, identifying what helped and what might have helped had the support been available.</p> <p>This study confirmed that the entire family system can be significantly impacted by chronic pain in one of the members of the family. It also draws attention to the constraints family members of chronic pain patients face in expressing their own experiences and frustrations - constraints that professionals in the field must challenge.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)

<p>This thesis investigates several issues related to the provisions afforded by aspects of the Canadian welfare state to protect the rights of migrant labour participating in the Canadian Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program. In the introduction and literature review, I provide the background of the program and present the nature of the issues that surround it. I also outline the problems that migrant agricultural workers face while participating in the program. These are mainly due to the few provisions that are extended to this secondary sector labour group, a group of workers that is barely visible to Canadian society. <br /><br /> In the main part of the thesis, I analyze the two instruments that allow the entry of these workers into Canada and the different pieces of Canadian legislation that are relevant to protecting legitimate rights of any person who works in this country. More importantly, I also present findings derived from interviews with migrant agricultural workers and key informants from advocacy groups and the labour movement regarding those provisions. Based on their in Sights and on the dual market theory, I scrutinize the position of the Canadian welfare state concerning the legitimate provisions migrant workers should be entitled to and how the globalization context influences that position. I conclude with a series of ideas that, in my opinion, could positively affect this labour group's welfare status.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)

<p>Substance abuse is a serious and long-standing problem that causes significant personal, social and financial hardship in our society. In response to the difficulties stemming from alcohol problems, Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) was formed to help individuals adopt and maintain a goal of abstinence. A.A. is well-known in our society and in fact has been referred to as "the major force dealing with alcoholism today" (Murray et aI, 2003: 26) that has shaped society's view of addiction (Le et al., 1995). While the literature has clearly documented the role that self-help groups such as A.A. can play in assisting people to achieve and maintain sobriety (Burman, 1997), there are fewer studies that take a critical approach, examining A. A. 's limitations. This study provides an important contribution by giving an opportunity for individuals who have expressed some dissatisfaction with A.A. to have their voices heard concerning how A. A.'s practices and beliefs have shaped their experiences. Using an anti-oppressive practice perspective, this study draws attention to issues of power and oppression within the A.A. organization, identifying the structural dimensions that serve to marginalize problem drinkers.<br /><br />This research project is an exploratory, qualitative study conducted within an interpretive, critical framework. The sample consisted of six Caucasian women, four who continue to attend A.A. and two who attended A.A. in the past. While the participants in this study conceptualized their involvement in A.A. in a variety of ways, for the most part they confirmed the following concerns that have been raised in the critical literature about this organization: A.A. is a patriarchal institution that oppresses women; A.A. promotes the disease model of alcoholism which fosters powerlessness in people's lives; blaming the individual shifts the focus away from structural issues; labelling increases stigma which contributes to the marginalization of problem drinkers; and A.A. excludes full participation in society. The theme most evident throughout the study was one of powerlessness. Drawing on the participants' experiences, recommendations are presented in order to develop a model of support that fosters empowerment and self-efficacy, recognizes people's strengths and abilities, and takes into consideration a diversity of needs.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)

<p>The issue of truancy and early school leaving has been a longstanding social problem. The current high school drop out rate of thirty percent has government officials and educators very concerned about the future of our youth. A prevalent theme in the truancy literature is the impact that poverty has on children and families. but, there are many additional factors that contribute to truancy and understanding them assists in developing strategies and programs to address this problem. Research indicates that one caring adult and/or supportive environment can be a key factor for children overcoming tremendous adversity. Schools can be a place where children find caring adults and supportive environments. This qualitative study examined staff perceptions of the impact of an Attendance Incentive Program developed by an Attendance Counsellor in Southern Ontario. The findings of the study showed that Attendance Incentive Programs can, not only be an effective way to address truancy, but also provide positive outcomes. These included greater academic success, student pride, team building among staff and students and positive connections established between the school community and the business community who support the program. A significant matter in question is the sustainability of this particular program as it depends largely upon the efforts of the Attendance Counsellor. A recommendation for continued growth and development of the program includes the soliciting of parent and community volunteers to become involved and take on some of the numerous responsibilities. Although, the findings cannot be generalized to larger school populations they do reveal positive outcomes. Therefore, attendance incentive programs should be considered as an intervention strategy to address truancy.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)

<p>In Ontario, we are currently dealing with a profound public policy void in the area of retirement home regulation. Ret1ecting the neo-liberal political context, much of this industry's growth has occurred with limited or no legal regulation and minimal, if any, involvement from the government. This paper discusses various possible options for addressing the issue of unregulated retirement homes, with a special emphasis on voluntary accreditation. <br /><br /> This study sought the unique perspectives of retirement home administrators from both accredited and non-accredited homes. Conversations with participants converged around a number of key issues, including affirming the importance of regulation, affirming the need to compete and succeed in the retirement home market, emphasizing the negative aspects of accreditation, and the responsibility of being accountable to various stakeholders. Administrators also offered their perspectives on policy issues and the role of government. <br /><br /> This study provides insight into the question of "In whose interest is the current retirement home system?" It became evident throughout this study that there is value in creating some level of government regulation beyond what currently exists. It is argued that future policy in this area must hold the interests of seniors as primary, and not the interests of the business community.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)

<p>With the new <em>Immigrant and Refugee Protection Act</em>, 2002 Immigrant and refugee issues have been on the forefront of Canadian social policy. Refugees are amongst the most vulnerable population in the world and literature suggests that amongst the refugee population, women are disproportionately represented. Each year, Canada is home to thousands of refugees and is faced with the difficult task of re-settling refugees into a new culture, political and social system. While Canada is often celebrated for its immigration policies, there are significant shortcomings in the process of re-settling refugees. The social construction of 'refugee' and 'women of colour' create a situational space for complex and dynamic experiences that refugee women must overcome in the re-settlement process. These interlocking oppressions impact on the newcomers' sense of belonging and inclusion in their community of re-settlement. This research paper looked at the re-settlement experiences of government assisted refugees as well as asylum seekers in the first two years of re-settlement. A comprehensive literature review was conducted as well a two focus groups with refugee women, and three in-depth interviews with settlement service providers. Research showed that often, re-settlement was left to chance. Refugee women faced many barriers to accessing needed resources and therefore were often shut out from full participation in society. Many refugee women felt isolated in their communities and were marginalized because of their status as a refugee woman, impacting their re-settlement into Canadian society. There are no state protections from the factors that marginalize and shut out their participation as contributing citizens. Implications for this research showed that there needs to be additional support offered to refugee women in the re-settlement process especially those who are asylum seekers.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)

<p>This research explored the question of 'how to engage youth in civic participation?' This study was necessary because youth as a vulnerable population are often marginalized and excluded from meaningful participation in society. Civic participation is defined and addressed in varying ways in the literature. The exploration into the topic of civic participation in this research is important as to directly involve the youth and give space for them to explore and express their own definitions and conceptions of civic participation, as well as major obstacles preventing them from participating. This study attempted to explore the complexity of youth participation. What are the youth really interested in? What prevents them from participating? What are their concerns? Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted in order for the researcher to delve into the difficulties and experiences of the youth participants in civic participation. <br /> This report provides a summary of the existing literature on engaging youth in civic participation. In the findings and discussion section I will highlight two major aspects for critical examination. The first is the discourse on youth civic participation, which included, definition of youth civic participation; how does youth participate; the meaning attached to youth; and how to engage youth? The second issue is the discrepancies between the existing understanding of the barriers to youth civic participation in society. This study points to the fact that a common, or widely acceptable definition of civic participation does not exist in the academic literature or other forms of literature. The findings also suggest that existing definitions tend to be elitist and do not reflect the everyday lived experiences and realities of youth and their community involvement. The report then emphasizes three critical implications for social work research. First, in-depth interviews should be used more often in conducting research on youth civic participation so that they could share their experience and ideas in less restrictive ways. Second, the present elitist definitions of civic participation should not be imposed on youth. Last but not least, youths' definitions of community should be included in the conversations on civic participation.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)

<p>This thesis sought to explore the particular experiences of HIV positive mothers living in Toronto, who are refugees and immigrants from Sub-Saharan Africa. The research was based upon a secondary analysis of a data set produced by The Hospital for Sick Children and The Teresa Group for a project in Toronto entitled, Perspectives on Parenting from HIV+ Parents from Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean. This secondary analysis was framed by questions about women's responses to their worry, guilt and loss; it drew on theoretical perspectives that highlight women's work and coping as forms of resistance to adverse social conditions. <br /><br />The interview transcripts of thirteen members of the original sample of twenty-two formed the basis of the analysis: all thirteen were women originally from countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. A material-discursive approach was employed to explore the women's accounts of their active responses to the challenges they faced. <br /><br />The findings revealed the odds and difficulties that the women experienced in their daily lives, and the practical and narrative ways in which they managed them. Embedded in their accounts were various forms of work, undertaken to cope with and improve their own situations and the situations of those they cared for. Particular attention was given to the women's understandings of ways in which their self-directed coping could be either sustained or undermined. Their insights have implications for service provision and future research and, more broadly, suggest that attention is needed to the material and institutional structuring of their lives in Canada.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)

<p>Touted as the 'new paradigm' for social work, evidence-based practice (EBP) directs practitioner behaviour and is used to justify services, establish professional credibility and solidify funding. Practicing social workers have not readily adopted EBP. While the literature contains lively debates about what 'constitutes evidence, the adequacy and relevance of the research literature, and the nature of social work practice, the perspectives of front-line practitioners have been absent.<br /><br />This qualitative research project sought to discover and understand the opinions and experiences of school social workers with evidence-based practice. Four practicing school social workers, representing a range of social work positions and perspectives, outlined their response to EBP. This study found that practicing social workers were accepting of EBP because it helped guide their practice activities, provided certainty, informed them about what works, and enhanced their individual and collective professional credibility. School social workers highlighted significant tensions. arising from their use of EBP: flexibility versus rigidity; practice knowledge versus formal knowledge; improvements versus results; and relationship versus method/technique. Creatively and adaptively, these practitioners redefined evidence, adapted research to local contexts, and used the power of evidence and evidence-based practice to provide accountability, proof of the value of social work services and service rationale.<br /><br />Contrary to what much of the literature has indicated, this research demonstrates how practitioners were accepting of, and taking up EBP. By valuing practice knowledge, including a broader definition of evidence, and appreciating local adaptations of research as a skill set, practicing school social workers demonstrate how they can simultaneously adopt and challenge the dominant discourse of EBP.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)

<p>Child welfare is stressful and child protection workers have the enormous responsibility to protect societies most vulnerable. Stress, trauma and burnout are serious issues affecting front-line child welfare workers and are not adequately being addressed. The enormously high tum over rate of child protection workers is seriously impacting the client worker relationship, case decisions, and time management. As a result of these high turnover rates work experience has often been in short supply (Howe <em>et al</em>., 1999; Regehr <em>et al</em>., 2000; Regehr, Hemsworth, Leslie, Howe & Chau, 2004; and Littlechild 2005).</p> <p>The purpose of this study was to find out more about the experiences and perceptions of front-line child protection workers as they deal with work related stressors from a social justice perspective. More specifically this study explored whether or not there was a difference in the way that new front-line child protection workers versus experienced front-line child protection workers experience and cope with stress, trauma and burnout.</p> <p>It was clear that participants felt frustrated about the issues of stress, trauma and burnout and many participants expressed anger about some of the situations they have endured.</p> <p>New workers were clear that they require more support and positive feedback. It was important for this group to have a sense of working collaboratively in the decision making process, rather than their work being micromanaged. The new worker group also wanted to know that their health, their personal lives, their families and their children are important to their employer and that the job cannot always come first.</p> <p>The experienced workers were clear that they wanted yearly evaluations and more of a connection to upper management; specifically they wanted more communication from upper management. This group also wanted to be known, and to feel like appreciated and valuable members within the agency.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)