<p>This thesis offers opportunities to a segment of our population who sometimes go unnoticed in literature on fathers: African Caribbean fathers. Specifically, this thesis offers fathers an opportunity to define themselves and inform readers of what factors influences them, and how this is translated into the larger picture of their perception and interaction with their own children and service providers, specifically child protection workers at Children Aid Societies.</p> <p>By no means are the findings in this study conclusive or to be generalized to the larger population. The sample size was small, however, there is value in understanding how these fathers experience fatherhood and what they feel that they do as fathers.</p> <p>The literature of African Caribbean as fathers is sparse. There is a tremendous amount of negative views on Black fathers, which appears to cross over all thresholds and continents. At the same time, there is a small section of positive literature which looks at the way men define themselves as fathers, and this makes it worthwhile in terms of utilizing a view which can look at the bigger and smaller issues.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)

<p>Getting tough on crime through harsh prison sentences is often seen as the most effective way to reduce offences. Reviews of the effects of incarceration suggest that long, harsh sentences of imprisonment do not deter crime or rehabilitate offenders (Wright, 1991) and are not likely to achieve the desired ends of the public (Wilson, Picheca, & Prinzo, 2005). The values of restorative justice offer an alternative to the harsh punishment of incarceration. Despite the increased attention given to restorative justice, the concept still remains somewhat problematic to define as numerous responses to criminal behaviour may fall under the 'restorative umbrella' (Latimer, Dowden & Muise: 2001). Some programs and policies have taken the title 'restorative' when they actually do not reflect the principles, including repaying the harm done to the victim or community.</p> <p>This interview study explored the experiences of offenders and community agency representatives in the Intermittent Community Work Program (ICWP), a program of the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. ICWP provides the opportunity for eligible intermittently sentenced provincial offenders to serve their sentence in the community as opposed to in jail. The research responds to a gap in our knowledge about what happens in the ICWP from the perspectives of those who actually participate in it. This research examined whether or not the ICWP met restorative justice criteria as determined by program participants and community agency representatives.</p> <p>The ICWP was found to not meet the restorative justice criteria, but was still determined to be a better alternative than prison. Program participants defined benefits in terms of making connections in the community, and avoiding incarceration. Community agencies defined benefits in terms ofthe provision of community services that would not otherwise be provided. However, both also revealed problematic aspects of the program. This research supports the increased participation of the offender and community agency representatives in decision-making in the ICWP.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)

<p>The purpose of this study was to create a space to explore and center marginalized knowledge, and voices of Indo-Caribbean Canadian mental health service recipients. I did this by interviewing five participants, with the aim of examining processes of identity construction of racialized people involved in formal mental health systems, and the forces that shape this construction. Areas of inquiry included definitions of mental health and illness and their treatment; processes of identity construction around race, ethnicity, and mental health identity within this system; the power structures that shape these constructions, and the notion of cultural relevance. In a parallel process of exploration, as a means of addressing power through transparency, I also examined my identity and positioning as a researcher.</p> <p>At the outset of this study I anticipated tensions and discrepancies between participants' constructions of identity and mental health, and the dominant discourses and constructions in the mental health system. Results indicated a general endorsement of mental health system involvement, but differences in constructions of mental health and illness between culture of origin and Canadian culture. Tensions were evident in terms of racialized identity, in the context of acculturation and racism. My analysis of the results, surfaced the importance of the contextualization of experience, a reframing of ethno-racial and cultural service provision toward cultural relevance, and the process of social construction.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)

<p>This thesis provided caregivers of teenagers exhibiting problematic behaviors, an opportunity to voice their feelings, and experiences in regards to working with the Children's Aid Society of London and Middlesex (CAS). Parents were asked if they viewed their relationship with the CAS as beneficial and what suggestions they had, if any, in regards to improving services in the future. In this study, parents indicated that changes in legislation were necessary to ensure best service to families experiencing conflict as described above. The findings in this study are not conclusive as only a small sample size was used, however, the study allowed an in-depth exploration of the way caregivers experience CAS service when having a teenage child. The participants and host agency are from London, Ontario, but the information discussed may be transferable to other agencies and cities.</p> <p>Literature in regards to caregiver-teen conflict, how the conflict is caused, the services that help families through these problems and the caregivers' experience of these services were reviewed as a basis for the research. The findings suggested that caregivers were very frustrated with the CAS and did not view their interaction with this agency as beneficial. However, the CAS was not blamed for their lack of ability to help, instead, caregivers placed blame on the legislation that provides guidelines to support families. Caregivers in this study offered recommendations to improve supportive services in the community, some of which were changes to the age of consent to receive counseling, teenagers not being able to choose to leave school before the age of eighteen, and the government needing to help caregivers care for their children as opposed to undermining their authority.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)

<p>Employment is highly valued in our society and is an important determinant for mental and physical health, and ultimately, self-determination, however acquired brain injury survivors (ABI) experience significant employment barriers.</p> <p>Current Federal and Provincial government disability and mental health policies and programs promote the full social inclusion of disabled persons in Canadian society however, they do not address the disability-specific employment needs of many ABI survivors, particularly those with more serious disabilities. A non-government employment initiative that started within the mental health disability community and that has demonstrated notable success in assisting with the disability-specific employment needs of members of this group is the consumer/survivor community economic development approach (CED).</p> <p>This study explored the gaps in our current disability and mental health employment policies and programs in meeting the employment goals of ABI survivors, and examined the viability of the consumers/survivors CED approach for members of this group. This study was consistent with critical social science methodology and was based on a qualitative study of 4 ABI/mental health service providers, 6 consumers/survivors, and 10 ABI survivors.</p> <p>The interviews with these three groups combined with the literature reviewed in this paper, reveals the systemic, societal, and structural barriers that maintain the exclusion of people with disabilities. Conversely, an examination of the consumer/survivor CED approach reveals principles and a value proposition that facilitate the social inclusion of people with disabilities.</p> <p>This exploratory study is intended to serve as a catalyst for the advocacy of government support for a CED designed for, with, and by ABI survivors. Correspondingly, this thesis argues that disability policy-makers must acknowledge the need for changes to our capitalist system of labour, and in our country's understanding of citizenship, because both are responsible for the continued restricted citizenship or non-citizenship of non-working marginalized groups.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)

<p>This study sought to listen to the grief experience of birthmothers and the role language plays in the grieving process. First, research and analysis of the distinctive features of birthmothers' grief were briefly summarized. The research suggested that birthmothers experiences of grief are marginalized and disenfranchised. Further, birthmothers experience multiple and ongoing losses because of their relinquishment. To examine how birthmothers' understand and describe their experiences of losing a child through adoption this study conducted a content analysis of four internet sites that facilitate birthmothers' voices. The voices collected suggest that the language used by adoption professionals and mainstream society contribute to a birthmothers' experience of disenfranchised grief. Finally, this paper concluded with future recommendations made by birthmothers. The recommendations included, "respectful adoption language" that included the voices of birthmothers, educations to prevent regret, providing birthmothers with an original registration of live birth, prevention of exploitation and the New South Wales Model.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)

<p>This qualitative study explores the impact of recent changes to child protection in Ontario. The impact of Child Welfare Reform on intake practice was studied via all approach influenced by Grounded Theory. Utilizing interviews of six key informants, this study revealed concern for the implications of the narrow focus on child protection. There seems little faith that these drastic measures that came with Child Welfare Reform will prevent future deaths of children having involvement with a Children's Aid Society. The findings of this study encompass six themes that emerged which support this concern. First, they include the altered context of practice where four supporting components emerged; a political presence, Child Welfare Reform as an unfinished process, a tattered welfare state and a changed institutional psyche. Secondly, the shift in practice theme included components of loss of relationships and the volume of work. Thirdly, a theme regarding social work values included components of the importance of these values and concern for turnover. Fourthly, a theme of strategic organizational playing emerged where a pushing back against bureaucratic expectations was noted. Fifthly, children in care emerged as a theme with components of concern regarding the increase of children in foster care; foster home placement and focus on adoptions. Lastly, a theme regarding service effectiveness emerged where informants could not say with certainty that the changes have resulted in children being better protected. Given that the Child Welfare Reform is built on formulae and benchmarks, this exploratory study concludes that intake practice has changed and that it is largely child protection by numbers with social work happening despite the numbers -- just not to the satisfaction of anyone involved.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)

<p>This thesis explored how counselling adolescents who have sexually offended impacted on social workers. Four social workers participated in this qualitative study. Four main areas were examined in this thesis: why work with this population is stressful, how work with adolescent sex offenders impacted on the participants world view, the different way colleagues and significant others perceived this work and the impact this had on the participants' own perception of the value of their work and lastly, strategies used by the participants to remain in the field were highlighted. The results demonstrated that work with this population is stressful due to factors such as the amount of responsibility placed on the participants and the minimizations and rationalizations used by the youth. The findings also displayed that this type of work did impact on the participants' world view, but the impact was not always negative. Although the participants' colleagues and significant others did negatively perceive their work, the participants did not value their work any less. The participants used numerous strategies to remain in the field, however these strategies were informal and the participants saw the need for formal strategies to be accessible through their workplace.</p> <p>The findings of this thesis demonstrated the need for community collaboration in working with this population as well as education for the community in order to better understand the purpose of counselling adolescent sex offenders. More supports for social workers was also made evident as a means to maintain social workers in this field. Also, the need for increased allocation of resources for the youth was seen as a preventative measure. Other areas for further research were highlighted, such as exploring the experiences of social workers who were involved with the youth from assessment to discharge as well as comparing the male and female social workers perceptions of their work.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)

Doctor of Social Work (DSW)

<p>The social work profession is founded on a set of values that guide practice behaviours. These values are first adopted through social work education programs and are reinforced by the profession's cultural practices. However, many obstacles prevent social workers from adhering to social work values in practice. Personal, societal and organizational values that contradict social work values prevent social workers from being true to their mission. Unfortunately, many prevailing societal and organizational interests, such as patriarchal norms, capitalist business interests and managerial philosophies, are diametrically opposed to social work values. Thus, social workers are entrusted with an extremely difficult task; they are expected to manage numerous competing values, meet client needs, and work toward social change simultaneously. This study has attempted to accurately examine and depict the experiences of six female social workers, in order to gain a better understanding of social workers' struggles to manage competing principles. The participants have offered poignant examples of how social work values can be easily overridden by other value systems. This is particularly true in mainstream organizations, whose structures are less supportive of social work values. On the contrary community- based and feminist agencies appear to be more likely to support social work values, due to a variety of organizational factors. In addition, the findings highlight several implications for social work education, and raise questions about the need to change our current practice to be more inclusive of a variety of professionals, as well as clients. Furthermore, although the findings offer some hope in terms of the influence of social work values on ethical practice behaviours, they also highlight the fact that social work values and goals may simply be impossible to accomplish at all times.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)