Social Work Commons^™

Pastoral Visitation Of The Sick: Reflections Of A Japanese Pastor, Kazuhito Yamada

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This project was designed to show the importance of the pastor’s role and actions in visiting the sick. The study is focused mainly on pastoral visitation to hospitalized patients. Interpreting the written texts of pastoral theologians and the research reports on pastoral care and practice in professional journals. I consider the pastor‘s important role as the representative of God and the symbolic nature of the pastor's role. On this basis, I discuss the pastor‘s actions in visiting the hospitalized patients. Prayer, a ministry of presence, and listening are the significant pastoral actions to the patients. In considering the patients’ satisfaction …

The Sun Always Comes Out After It Rains: Exploring The Experience Of Aids Caregivers (Immune Deficiency), Susan Cadell

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This research was designed to explore the growth of people who have cared for or about someone who has died of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)-related illnesses or complications related to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) disease. It consists of a cross-sectional study of 176 bereaved caregivers of people with HIV disease, some of whom themselves are HIV-positive. Measures were selected to assess demographics, creativity, spirituality/religiosity, social support, depression, traumatic symptomatology and posttraumatic growth. A research model is tested which examines the relationship of psychosocial resources and stressors to the post-traumatic growth of the bereaved participants. In addition, seven caregivers participated …

Professional Interventions With Parents At The Time Of The Sudden Death Of A Child, Linda Susan Charlotte Maxwell

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The sudden death of a child is likely the most traumatizing event a parent can experience. Traumatic death, and particularly the death of a child, increases the risk of a complicated grieving process in mourners. Little has been written with respect to the interventions of professionals with parents at the time of a sudden death of a child. The present study examines the experiences of parents with a variety of professionals from the time of death notification through the funeral. Twenty parents who were involved in Bereaved Families of Ontario participated in this study. The purpose was to examine the …

Autonomy And Genetic Predisposition: The Relationship Between Original Organizational Configuration And The Tendency For Autonomy. An Analysis Of Three Drop-In Centres Servicing Street Youth, Heike Mertins

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis is a comparative analysis of three non-profit service providers and the effect of particular development traits on their degree of autonomy. The three non-profit providers examined in this thesis are all drop-in centres for street youth. Recent government cuts have demonstrated the clear relationship between autonomy and organizational survival of non-profit agencies. For years many have argued that the practice of relying on government funding depoliticized these organizations. many of which perform social justice work. Hence, from a political perspective. organizational autonomy has become an increasingly important issue. This thesis addresses the question of why some non-profit service …

Rehabilitation For Deafened Adults: A Puzzle With Missing Pieces, Miguel Oswald Aguayo

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study explored the psychological and social impact of adventitious deafness, and the rehabilitation services that were offered to individuals who acquired this condition in adulthood. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a sample of eight deafened adults, who were recruited from across Ontario. The results show that medical interventions (e. g., audiometric testing, hearing aid provision, and cochlear implantation) were relied on exclusively as a rehabilitation approach in providing care to deafened people. None of the study participants were offered individual, family, or group counselling by their hearing health service providers. This lack of attention to the socio-emotional needs of …

The Construction Of Homelessness As A Social Problem: Linking Contributing Factors, Mediating Factors And Interventive Strategies, Heather Elizabeth Jeffery

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

There are many interacting factors that influence our response to social problems and needs in our communities. The purpose of this thesis is to contribute to the discursive literature about the nature of homelessness and to understand how it is that individuals develop their own personal theories about contributing factors and interventive strategies. The thesis uses grounded theory methods to explain the attitudes of the members of five focus groups that were comprised of homeless individuals, service providers, and community members. Focus group participants provided their ideas about both the contributing factors that lead to homelessness and possible interventive strategies …

Restaging The Welfare Diva: Case Studies Of Single Motherhood And Social Policy, Iara Lessa

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The single mother has been an enduring and representative character in the development of social welfare. Casted as the embodiment of the various crises of the family which Western democratic nations have experienced throughout the twentieth century, she is the representative of what is outside the foundation of a desirable life: an economically dependent family unit without a male head. Nevertheless, the single mother is also an actual woman raising children alone struggling for survival under very adverse circumstances. In its materiality, it is this body, not the allegorical character, who is the subject of studies and interventions concerned with …

A Question Of Integrity: A Theological Exercise In Relating Process Thought With Object Relations Psychology In Pastoral Counselling, Cindy Schnasa Jacobsen

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The role of identity for the pastoral counsellor is explored in its function in the development of professional identity. This thesis utilizes Object Relations Theory and Process Theology as conceptual foundations in articulating the unique process of the emerging professional identity of the pastoral counsellor. It is argued that, when grounded within selfobjects that embrace our theological training as pastors, we can as clinicians engage ourselves in the process of change. This thesis stresses that as pastoral counsellors acknowledge within themselves their important role as theologian in the room with clients, they join in the “aim of God” for change …

Chinese Congregations Of Ontario In The Context Of The History Of Pastoral Care Practice, Chun-An Wang

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This is a study of Chinese congregations of Ontario in the context of the history of pastoral care. According to a historical review, there are three major practice paradigms of pastoral care in the Western church. The classical pastoral paradigm emphasizes a Christian message. The clinical paradigm emphasizes personality and relationships. The communal- contextual paradigm tries to cover a wholistic goal namely, message, person, and context. In the nineteenth century, the Chinese church integrated the classical paradigm into contemporary culture. A micro-ethnographic survey of the Chinese churches of Ontario has revealed that the pastors still practise care ministry in a …

Models Of Church-Agency Relationship In Church-Affiliated Social Service Agencies In The Region Of Waterloo (Ontario), Buetta Louise Martin Warkentin

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis is an exploration of the models of relationship that are evident in the Region of Waterloo, between church-affiliated social service agencies and their supporting church bodies. Church-affiliated social service agencies were defined as those that either use Christian terminology or denominational names in their title, that require church representation at a board or corporate membership level, or that receive regular, committed financial or volunteer support from a church body. Ten agencies that fit this description were studied, with interviews conducted with agency representatives as well as four church representatives from organizations representing three different models. An interview was …

An Evaluation Of A Socio-Sexuality Education Program For Individuals With A Developmental Handicap, David Nelson Morrow

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis is an evaluation of eight week socio-sexuality education group for seven individuals with a developmental handicap who live in a twenty-four hour supervised group home. Pre and post-test data collection measured the socio-sexual knowledge of the participants. Attitudes of their primary counsellors toward the sexuality of individuals with developmental handicaps were also measured pre and post-test. A qualitative analysis of the facilitators’ process notes and a post participation focus group with the counsellors provided an understanding of why changes in knowledge and attitude had, or had not, occurred There was a significant increase in the client groups overall …

The Dance Of Many Partners: A Case Study Of Interorganizational Collaboration In The Social Services Sector, Elizabeth G. Brown

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis is a case study of interorganizational collaboration Qualitative methods facilitated reports of 25 participants’ experiences of a collaborative planning process to restructure children's social services in London, Ontario (Canada). The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the process dynamics of collaboration. Factors that impeded and/or facilitated collaboration were discussed. The influence of asymmetrical social relations of power on collaboration was observed in examples participants cited. However, much of the literature reviewed on factors that influence interorganizational collaboration did not include a critical analysis of social relations of power in collaboration. Social relations of power must …

A Case Study Approach To Examining The Social Functioning Of Learning Disabled Children With A Nonverbal Impairment, Laura Kate Donelan

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study is concerned with exploring the hypothesis that the deficits associated with the nonverbal learning disability syndrome (NLD) have a direct impact on the interpretation of nonverbal social cues and that this contributes to lower social functioning and as a result, higher rates of internalized pathology in those so diagnosed. Children with NLD have significant visual, organizational and perceptual deficits. In the literature it is suggested that these impairments lead to difficulty in interpreting the nonverbal social cues of others, which in turn leads to impairments in social functioning. To examine this hypothesis a case study of two individuals …

Client And Therapist Experiences With A Narrative Therapeutic Summary Format, Peter Duncan Whyte

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This qualitative research study explored the use of a narrative therapeutic summary letter format as an adjunctive intervention with clients engaged in individual therapy. The study’s sample consisted of six client subjects who received summary letters from six therapist subjects. Client subjects were furnished with written summaries of four consecutive counselling sessions. The summaries were based on pre-established narrative summary guidelines supplied to each respective therapist. After client subjects had received four consecutive summary letters, in-depth individual interviews were conducted with each client. The aim of these interviews was to explore and document clients’ experiences with the narrative therapeutic summary …

As If Born To: The Social Construction Of A Deficit Identity Position For Adopted Persons, Lise M. Beauchesne

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Many adopted persons report experiencing ongoing problems with identity, often resulting in feelings of personal deficiency to imprison their sense of self. The dominant position of the literature eon adoption individualizes and problematizes “identity” issues by locating the source of difficulties to individual traits of the adopted person and his/her adoptive family. Consequently, the struggle associated with the identity “adopted” is typically constructed as an individual struggle.

Drawing on my own lived experience as an adopted women, I have been engaged in a critical inquiry of the traditional view of adoption in order to understand the problem of identity not …

Lessons Learned In The Heart Need To Be Changed In The Heart': The Development And Evaluation Of A Primary Prevention Intervention Of Men's Violence Against Women, Patrick Fisher

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis presents an evaluation of primary prevention intervention working towards ending men’s violence against women. In 1995, a committee was created by the Waterloo Regional Public Education Committee for the Prevention of Violence and Oppression Against Women and Children to develop a presentation kit on the topic of men’s violence against women. The presentation kit is to be used by staff and volunteers from the local agencies in talking to groups of men about violence against women. The presentation kit provides background materials about violence against women, the philosophy behind the development of the kit, instructions on how to …

Motivations And The Manner In Which Residents Of Trinity Village Care Centre Help One Another (Ontario), Martin Siganda Chitente Mugala

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

A survey was conducted on a sample of 15 seniors living in a nursing home, who had a median age of 79 years. About 93% of them were institutionalized because of poor health; with stroke, dementia and arthritis being the most prevalent diseases. Furthermore, all of them had suffered other forms of significant loss in their lives, including emotional cut-offs and death, with reported feelings of guilt and unresolved grief. While most felt lonely, this problem often tended to be alleviated by factors such as friendships, visits by kin and non-kin, as well as activities and entertainments. Other reasons for …

Supervised Access: A Qualitative Programme Evaluation, Bonnie Ann Gagne

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This qualitative evaluation examined the custodial and noncustodial parents' and children's experiences of using a supervised access programme. There were a total of forty-three interviews completed using open-ended questions. Both custodial and noncustodial parents clearly reported that if supervised access was not available, the child(ren) would not have contact with the noncustodial parent. In general, parents were grateful for the service being offered. Unfortunately, in some cases, the parents stated that the programme acted as an obstacle in allowing the family to progress. With respect to the children, even though custodial and noncustodial parents attempted to lessen the impact of …

Developmental Disability And Grief: Assessing The Impact Of Life Events, Stephanie Dell'aquilla

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The one-dimensional approach of assessing cognitive factors is commonplace in studies investigating people with developmental disabilities. The published literature on grief and people with developmental disabilities was found to be similar in this regard. This study differs by investigating the influence of external social factors on the grief of people with developmental disabilities. A qualitative methodology of semi-structured interviewing was used to collect descriptive information from people with developmental disabilities about their social experiences and experiences with death. Importantly, this methodology allowed the participants to speak for themselves. The effects of the participants' socialization histories and associated circumstantial losses were …

Women's Experiences In The Community After Leaving A Shelter, Susan Elizabeth Gadbois

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

No abstract provided.

Adaptation During The Transition From High School To University: An Examination Of Selected Person, Environment And Transition Perception Variables, Sheldon Jacob Birnie-Lefcovitch

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Drawing on conceptual knowledge regarding normative life transitions and primary prevention and using a panel-design survey methodology, this study investigates factors that continue to student adaptation during the move from high school to university. All participants were first-time, full-time, first-semester students enrolled in biological or environmental science programs at a mid-size publicly funded university located in southwestern Ontario. Participants were surveyed twice: once prior to university entry and a second time following completion of their first-semester. The study determined that the vast majority of students view this transition as a normative life event, with most feeling ownership for the decision …

The Biographic Impact Of An Hiv Diagnosis (Immune Deficiency), Leanne Carol Baird

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

No abstract provided.

Safe Families: A Model Of Child Protection Intervention Based On Parental Voice And Wisdom, Sharon Patricia Mccallum

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study aimed to hear and understand parental voice and experience in regard to a statutory child protection system and to use this experience in the development of a model of intervention. The study was undertaken in the Kitchener-Waterloo area of Ontario and participants are, or have been, clients of Family and Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region. The study utilised grounded theory, a form of qualitative research, and data were collected via a number of in-depth interviews with each of the ten participants. The participants, both men and women, included people who had abused their children and non-offending partners. …

Resources For The Church In The Prevention Of Suicide, Robert Ian Cuthbertson

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This paper is an analysis of the history and signifcance of suicide in relation to the church and its mission to be "the salt of the earth". It will be an analysis of the types of suicide and its frequency in Canada. The paper will also review the resources, both literary and community, which are available for the minister. Interviews were conducted with ministers of various denominations, primarily in the Hamilton Region to determine the extent of their contact with suicidal situations. Possible reasons for the lack of interest on the part of the church in this issue are discussed. …

Rituals Of Engagement And Disclosure: The Assessment Of Male Batterers In Clinical And Pastoral Perspective, Kelvin Frederick Mutter

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study explores the dynamics of engaging the male batterer in the assessment interview. A model of interviewing is employed which considers both the interpersonal processes as well as the extent and relevance of the information which is gathered. Engagement is understood to have occurred when the client is committed to the process of therapy. The study focuses on the processes by which the battering client might be engaged in therapy. Consideration is also given to identifying factors which might prevent engagement. Theories of battering and engagement are explored in relationship to the work of Alan Jenkins. The extent and …

Some Motivations And Expectations Of Rural Men Regarding Professional Counselling Services: 'You Can't Just Go To Town And Get Counselling', Neil Stanley Lackey

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

A qualitative research report focused on interviews with twelve rural men between the ages of 30 and 55 living for at least 10 consecutive years in a community with a population of less than two thousand persons. Most were farmers. Findings indicate that the rural male's motivation to use a professional counsellor may be greatly increased when the following three factors are attended to: (1) Professional Public Relations (PR) (advertising/marketing geared to the rural language and setting; (2) Individual men Naming their issue and Knowing someone who might be helpful (N/K) AND (3) Normalization (via PR) of knowledge that rural …

Coping And Support Needs Of Family Caregivers Of Older Adults With A Developmental Disability, Caroline Cochrane

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Due to the policy of deinstitutionalization there is a population of adults with a developmental disability who are aging in the community and who are living with their aging parents as caregivers. This study used a phenomenological, qualitative approach to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences of these aging family caregivers of aging adults with a developmental disability. A literature review indicated that some sources of support and service needs have been identified for this population of caregivers, and that planning for the future of their adult child with a developmental disability was important to these caregivers. Six caregivers, …

Social Work Education From A Lesbian Standpoint, Robin Hjordis Stevenson

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study looks at social work education from the standpoint of lesbian students and faculty. The literature indicates that many social workers manifest signs of homophobia, and that this affects the provision of services to gay and lesbian clients. The purpose of this study is to explore how issues of same-gender sexual orientation are addressed in schools of social work and to make recommendations for change. My approach is based on the view that “knowledge” is reflective of the values and experience of those who create it and that education serves to perpetuate and reinforce dominant social values. Looking at …

The Discontinuation Of Life-Prolonging Medical Treatment From Infants In The Nicu: The Parental Perspective, Carolyn Daniels

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Discontinuation of intensive care treatment is a factor in most infant deaths occurring in the neonatal intensive care unit. Parents participate in and are affected by decisions to discontinue intensive care. Yet, few studies have been reported which examine parental views and experience. The purpose of this study was to explore parental involvement in the discontinuation of intensive care treatment from critically-ill infants. Using a qualitative methodology, decision-making in 28 sets of parents, 27 mothers and 17 fathers, was examined. The key themes reported by parents were personal process—individual feelings, thoughts, and reactions; the marital partnership—parents’ experiences and relationships with …

Children Who Witness Mother-Assault: An Expanded Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Conceptualization, Peter John Lehmann

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The impact on children who witness mother-assault was conceptualized as an expanded posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and an exploratory research study testing this formulation was carried out. The current conceptualization was based in part on the work of V. Wolfe and associates who utilized a model whereby a number of mediating factors were thought to determine adjustment to traumatic. An important part of their model was the utilization of the Type I and II trauma typologies of Terr (1990, 1991). These typologies were used to measure the PTSD symptoms of children in response to the severity and course of mother-assault. …