▼ Activity-based working (ABW) refers to office design theories that are meant to optimise workspace efficiency by providing multiple workspaces for a specific work function, and eliminate the personal cubicle in favour for functional spaces, leading to improved productivity. Rather than employees ‘owning’ spaces, they are free to move between spaces to carry out workplace tasks. Since its inception in the early 1990s, ABW has been implemented worldwide, however, the approach has experienced interpretations in the way it has been implemented. ABW was focused on Europe, and has quickly been adopted by large Australian corporations in their recent office designs, such as the Commonwealth Bank. ABW is being embraced due to its innovativeness (fostering cooperation and creativity) and ability to bring high levels of accountability to employees, prompting alleviation of supervisory burden. The adoption of ABW in Australia is relatively new and the study illustrates how ABW has evolved within Australia, where it has been adopted and how it reflects established practice in Europe.The literature review identified five major characteristics of ABW: non -assigned seating, variety of work spaces, flexibility of work spaces, breakout spaces, and flexibility of future fit out. The study quantitatively evaluated 60 companies located in Australia that have introduced ABW designs within their workspaces to determine the adoption level. Out of these 60 companies, five companies, NAB, BHP, Woods Bagot, Fujitsu, and GPT Group were selected for a qualitative analysis. It was found all companies had similar approaches to ABW design. The research study found that all the analysed companies adopted all five, or most of the five, characteristics of ABW.

▼ Aim The promotion of happiness is an important goal for psychology and most studies of happiness focus on the three routes to happiness that have been identified by Seligman (2003): (1) pleasure, (2) engagement, and (3) meaning. Engagement and meaning should be targeted to promote sustainable happiness of people. The aim of this study is to investigate the subjective experiences of meaning of work, work role fit, psychological meaningfulness and engagement among a sample of educators in Zambia. Method A quantitative approach was followed and the research design used was a cross-sectional survey. The representative population (n = 150) used for this research was 75 basic and 75 secondary/high school educators who live in the Choma district of Zambia. Convenience sampling was used to identify the participants for the research. The Work-role Fit Scale, Work-Life Questionnaire, Psychological Meaningfulness Scale, and Work Engagement Scale were administered. The statistical analyses were carried out by means of the SPSS program. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data. The construct validity and reliability of the measuring instruments was assessed by conducting exploratory factor analyses and computing Cronbach alphas. Pearson correlations were used to specify the relationships between the variables. Multiple regression analyses were performed to test mediating effects in this study. Results The results showed that work beliefs (and specifically those with a calling orientation) explained 26.7% of the variance in psychological meaningfulness at work, which increased to 45.5% if work role fit was included as a predictor. A calling orientation to work explained approximately 52% of the variance in emotional and physical engagement of educators, but work role fit and psychological meaningfulness did not predict work engagement when work beliefs were controlled for. Structural equation modelling confirmed a model in which a calling orientation impacted psychological meaningfulness and work engagement. A calling orientation predicted work engagement directly, while such work orientation impacted psychological meaningfulness indirectly via work role fit. Conclusion The results suggest that psychological meaningfulness and work engagement are two separate individual outcomes at work, and that a calling orientation impacted both outcomes.

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This study explores the conceptions and understanding of gambling and problem gambling among Croatian Canadians in Hamilton. This study aims to outline how Croatian Canadians perceive and understand gambling and problem gambling, while also examining the level of knowledge and awareness of the current available services and resources for problem gamblers in Hamilton and the surrounding area. Using purposive and snow-ball sampling, five key informants from the community were recruited and interviewed for this study. The findings from this study demonstrate that gambling and problem gambling is common amongst Croatian Canadians in Hamilton. However, the level of awareness and use of problem gambling services is quite low. The participants were also able to outline a number of key recommendations on how to raise awareness on problem gambling, as well as the levels of service use among members of this community. In addition, the participants also described the concerns of stigma associated with talking about problem gambling, and how this relates to cultural upbringings, such as the influence of religions and communism. Further, while Croatian Canadians may be viewed as a single, cohesive, homogenous group, this in fact is not the case. The community is quite divided, and there are a number of diverse opinions and understandings as a result. The participants suggest that since the community has so many different sub-groups, it is difficult for agencies and organizations to disseminate information, as not all members of the community are being reached. Further, this internal diversity of opinions and understandings of gambling and problem ganlbling also challenges any totalizing notions of cultural difference, or understanding.

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Advisors/Committee Members: Sin, Rick, Social Work.

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This content analysis focuses on the contributing factors, processes, and contexts associated with women's decisions to divorce. In reviewing both quantitative and qualitative published articles between the timeframe of 1965 - 2009, themes were extracted from research that spoke to women's reasons to end their marriages. A feminist theoretical perspective was employed as the lens through which the articles were reviewed and informed the final findings. These findings were grouped into three themes: factors, process and decision-making, and context. While these themes were presented separately, the author also notes that they are necessarily intertwined due to the complexity connected to women's decision to divorce.

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Advisors/Committee Members: Gladstone, James, Social Work.

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Within Canada, the HIV/AIDS community is an extensively researched population where people living with HIV/AIDS (PHA) are minimally included in the research process. Community-based research (CBR) has become a widely recognized framework with which to engage in HIV/AIDS research in a response to the need for research frameworks that promote equitable collaboration between community members and community researchers. Coupled with a CBR approach, the Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GIPA) principle can be incorporated into the research process so that the research is reflective of and responsive to community needs. Drawing on the experiences of five HIV/AIDS community researchers, this study seeks to better understand the tensions and challenges community researchers experience when facilitating CBR with participants with whom they identify with based on race, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, and HIV status. Within the findings, several themes were explored by participants. The concept of multiple identities was predominately explored as well as the complexities regarding insider and outsider status. Participants also explored the tensions associated with maintaining confidentiality as well as discussing coping and self care practices. Expectations of community members and the research team were highlighted, and participants provided advice or recommendations based on their reflections of their personal experiences of engaging the CBR process. The themes explored by this particular group of community researchers demonstrate the complexities associated with their unique positioning within the research process. As the CBR approach is increasingly being utilized and recognized as an effective tool within a community research context, it is important as practitioners to be mindful of the challenges and benefits of facilitating CBR.

Doctor of Social Work (DSW)

Advisors/Committee Members: Greene, Saara, Social Work.

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Receiving equitable access in order to participate in post-secondary education is often a struggle for students with disabilities. This issue is not only alarming for the field of social work but also for post-secondary schools of social work. Literature that examines the challenges that students with disabilities encounter often reinforces a bio-medical model perspective, which consequently can further marginalize this population. In contrast, this research study is guided by a social model understanding of disability and conceptualizes disability as an act of social oppress ion. Using a critical disability framework, this thesis examines the personal experiences of students with disabilities to gain a better understanding of how the McMaster University School of Social Work supports its students with disabilities in regards to inclusion and their academic needs. This thesis examines students with disabilities' experiences in areas such as the admissions process, academic accommodation s, disclosure, classroom setting, field practicum, faculty/administration support, and feelings of inclusiveness. Findings suggest that students with disabilities experience discrimination and their rights being violated by faculty and field placement staff members in regards to disclosure of their disability and obtaining accommodations. These issues seem to stem more from a lack of understanding from faculty/staff members about providing accommodations than a malicious act. Normative assumptions carried by faculty about students also seemed to contribute to students with disabilities' rights being violated. This research study also supports the literature that students with disabilities often have to engage in extra work in comparison to their non-disabled peers. The implications of this research stud y suggest that the McMaster University School of Social Work needs to be more proactive with addressing issues of disability. Adopting a social model understanding of disability and providing training for staff members are approaches that the School of Social Work can take to develop a more inclusive learning environment.

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Advisors/Committee Members: Schormans, Ann Fudge, Social Work.

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This research explores the impact of incarceration on women, including Aboriginal women in Ontario and in Canada. Twelve years working and volunteering in the area of women in conflict with the law led to my professional observation that incarceration exacerbated the problems women faced after they left prison. Secondly, that any attempt to help rather than further harm them must be based on an intersecting analysis that takes into account their race, class, and gender-related oppressions, given that most of these women are racialized, live in poverty, are solo parents, live with addictions, are survivors of childhood, familial and partner abuse and are in many ways marginalized. Furthermore, this observation suggested the need for a interpretive antioppressive research approach to take into account women's first-hand accounts of the problems women faced, such as poverty, abuse and discrimination that led to their incarceration in the first place. With regard to methodology, two focus groups of formerly incarcerated women were asked to share their experiences before, during and after incarceration. Participants were also asked what changes they thought were needed that might have been helpful to prevent their incarceration, while they were incarcerated and post-incarceration. It is important to state from the outset that focus group responses overwhelmingly came through the lens of Aboriginal women, hence, the need to consider both western and Aboriginal Restorative Justice alternatives. The group fmdings corroborate decades of research on the systemic abuse of incarcerated women. Secondly, the findings reinforce the longstanding call for costly and unaccountable 'superjails' to be largely replaced by cost-effective community-based alternatives to incarceration, namely western and Aboriginal Restorative Justice (RJ) preventative programs such as those currently provided by E. Fry Hamilton-Branch. An analysis of western and Aboriginal RJ Justice alternatives to incarceration from an intersecting anti-oppressive perspective suggests that they have much greater potential to meet the needs of women in conflict with the law than the current punitive and retributive prison system. That said, their potential is severely limited by factors including a chronic lack of funding and the inappropriate use of RJ programs, particularly in cases of intimate gendered violence. In short, an intersecting perspective suggests that the current federal policy to 'embrace' RJ must be based on a framework that takes into account redistributive, woman-centred and culturally-sensitive RJ values. These would provide educational upgrading, employment training, substance abuse treatment, housing and counselling to pull these women out of poverty, addictions and abusive relationships when they leave prison.

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Advisors/Committee Members: Preston, Sandra, Social Work.

▼  The narratives of university graduate students with learning disabilities (LDs) are for the most part absent in the development of a life course perspective and analysis of LDs, yet an in depth qualitative study of individual stories and experiences with schooling or transition from high school to post-secondary education at this age can inform what we know about employment rates, income, and other markers of adult adjustment in the context of LDs. An insider perspective of this group may help to uncover patterns of discrimination in the dispersal of resources that lead to lower educational attainment and socioeconomic status and mental health problems, as is seen in this group. Specifically, this thesis aims to examine two research questions: a) What are the experiences of graduate students with LDs in a university setting?; and b) What are the implications of such experiences for policy and services for this group? I am interested in exploring the unique narratives amongst graduate students with learning disabilities from their own perspectives and understanding the implementations of such policies as the AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) in light of these students' experiences. Two female graduate students from two different universities in the south-western Ontario area were interviewed using open ended questions. Literature of empirical studies was compared to the spirit of our government legislation for analysis of its potential effectiveness at ensuring equal opportunity for this group. The undergraduate experiences of the participants in this study are consistent with international literature on undergraduate experiences, adding to data that suggests that individuals with LDs who manage to gain admission to a postsecondary institution continue to be subjected to disparaging attitudes and interactions similar to the ones they endured as children. The attitudes of teachers and staff betrayed ignorance of facts regarding LDs, leading to judgments such as that they are intellectually inferior, lazy, and unworthy of attention or of accommodations that are their legal right. Participants discussed their more recent graduate experiences, the context of which sometimes differed in noteworthy ways from that of their undergraduate experiences. As graduate students they emphasized their belief that the most worrisome and discriminatory experiences were those related to unreasonable delays in the provision of accommodations, the delivery of financial aid, and the delivery of technological aids. This included problems such as vague, complicated, and excessively time consuming rules and processes, as well as rules that seem to be structured so as to disqualify individuals with LDs from receiving resources or help, rather than, as might reasonably be hoped, identifying those who should be granted help, and policies and procedures that work to create a substantially larger financial burden. It is suggested that the AODA has not been effective as a tool for… Advisors/Committee Members: Zhou, Rachel, Social Work.

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There are times during a person's adult life that one may require the services of a social worker. The journey through the social services system is often arduous and tedious for clients trying to navigate their way. This experience gets complicated when it is a social worker who requires social work services. What do we do when we, as professionals, find ourselves requiring those very services that we support or within which we work? How supportive is our system for social workers who require social work services? How does the experience of being a client influence and shape our own practise? This study endeavours to untangle the positions of social workers as clients within the social services system. In broadening our understanding of how these social workers have chosen to situate themselves in the discourse, we explore how they engaged with these various systems as clients and then journeyed back into the professional realm as social workers. This work includes data collected via online anonymous questionnaires as well as confidential personal interviews exploring social workers own accounts of their experiences when navigating the social services system. I examine how this experience impacts social workers on a personal and professional level. Expectations and typical ways of practising are deconstructed when social workers tell their stories of being on the other side of the desk, including look at how our profession supports colleagues or classmates who require services within the social services system. Encouraging our own clients to seek out services or to be comfortable with the process is often part of our professional discourse. However, when the tables are turned and it is a social worker who requires services, the experience and support they receive as a professionally informed client leaves much room for further study, and has implications for social work education.

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Advisors/Committee Members: Sammon, S., Social Work.

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Human rights are fundamental rights that belong to all human beings. They include the right to life, liberty and equality. Upholding human rights is the most universal form of social justice. International human rights legislation and humanitarian law have been established to protect the security and dignity of all people. Increasingly, International Human Rights Organizations are working to enhance human rights norms across the globe. Using the Israeli/Palestinian conflict as a case study, this thesis aims to provide a better understanding of international human rights work, the ways in which this work is addressed, and the experiences of individuals involved in human rights work. In-depth interviews with four individuals working in Canadian-based organizations strive to identify their challenges and successes as they engage in advocacy and grassroots activism. My intention in undertaking this research project was to develop an understanding of the work of International Human Rights Organizations in Canada that are promoting Palestinian human rights. What I found was another story: a story of the perceptions and meanings assigned to this work by those engaged within Canadian human rights organizations. Three important findings emerged from data collected during the interview process: 1) individuals are engaged with International Human Rights Organizations to reinforce their own personal and political beliefs; 2) there is little decision-making power nor meaningful participation of the Palestinian community in the work of lnternational Human Rights Organizations; and, 3) there is a need for International Human Rights Organizations to consider the local implications of the international conflict. Information resulting from this research contributes to our understanding of how International Human Rights Organizations can most effectively engage in social change work to promote social justice in Israel and the Occupied Territories of Palestine, and whether that is best accomplished through advocacy and activism locally or internationally.

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Advisors/Committee Members: Greene, Saara, Social Work.

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In the past few decades, health care costs for the elderly population due to their complex medical needs has increased dramatically, such that hospitals and community-based service providers are struggling to deal with this matter. Research is beginning to address how elderly caregivers cope and adapt to the ongoing changes related to their spouses' dementia. The purpose of this research study is to gain further insight into how four elderly female spouses, who have had to place their husbands into a long term care facility, are still caring for (in a practical sense), caring about (showing love and affection) and caring with (reciprocity with the marriage) their husbands. Qualitative research methods were utilized to highlight their experience. The data was analyzed using a critical feminist perspective and institutional ethnography. The findings of this study noted the incredible changes elderly wives have to endure as their husband's health and cognition continues to decline, within a long term care facility. The elderly women noted that their ability to care for their husbands was often unrecognized and in direct conflict with nursing home staff. Furthermore, the women discussed how they continue care about their husbands by showing love and affection. The women also noted that their husband's ability to care with them was predominantly non-existent. In addition, they discussed a change in their personal identity; married but living as a single person in the community. Finally, they commented on the lack of physical intimacy and the impact on their marriage. This study offers valuable insight into the ever changing experience of a few female spouses who continue to care for, about and with their husbands and provides suggestions for social workers to work them during this process.

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Advisors/Committee Members: Schormans, Ann Fudge, Social Work.

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The aim of this study was to examine the experiences of parents receiving child protection intervention. Taking a service user approach to the research, the purpose of the study was to consider the perspectives of service users to learn what could be included in child protection training programs to better prepare new child protection workers for their work with children and families. As a secondary analysis of a qualitative study five interview transcripts were included in the analysis of the research. Findings of this study affirm previous research that highlight the significance of a worker communicating empathy to a parent receiving child protection intervention. Furthermore, the link between empathy and power and the impact of such on the relationship between a worker and client is a central theme of analysis. Finally, the value of service user theory as an approach to conducting research is validated as a finding of the study. Implications of this study are considered for child protection workers, the development of child protection training curriculum and its facilitation, child protection agencies, and researchers.

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Advisors/Committee Members: Dumbrill, Gary, Social Work.

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This research project examines the experiences of women working as Academic Advisors in universities in southern Ontario. Uniquely positioned at the interface between individual students and institutional systems, Advisors are often the first persons struggling students turn to for assistance. Along with these students, faculty, and other staff, Advisors have been caught up in the market-driven changes to post-secondary education that have occurred over the past 30 years. This reconstitution of universities as corporate cultures has negatively impacted Advisors' ability to provide this critical support to students, and it is this narrowing of the opportunity to provide caring work in this changing educational environment that is the focus of this study. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews with Academic Advisors revealed that their one-on-one work with students is seen by Advisors as a critical support. However, the individualizing imperative of the neoliberal discourse restricts such access, leaving Advisors feeling 'caught' between the needs of students and the managerialist push toward measurable efficiencies that seek to limit those connections. As ever greater numbers of students bring forward increasingly complex issues, Academic Advisors are left trying to 'fill the gaps' in these under-resourced institutions. Despite the complexity of the work they do, Advisors have internalized the negative images the dominant discourse associates with caring work, and therefore both argue for the importance of the work they do, and dismiss the level of skill involved - thus participating in the devaluation of that work. In parallel to the experiences of those in other human services organizations, the work that Academic Advisors do is frequently at odds with the institutional cultures in which they are employed, resulting in a tension between what they see as important and what the university is willing to support. This study sheds light on these little-studied workers, and gives voice to the concerns of those involved in it. By naming the tension they describe as feeling 'caught', it provides an opportunity for developing strategies for change both through daily acts of microresistance, and by encouraging the development of a community of like-minded individuals who can support one another in seeking change on a grander scale.

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Advisors/Committee Members: Aronson, Jane, Social Work.

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Once upon a time there was a small kingdom of people with a dream. The dream was for a world where children could live free from harm. When any member of the kingdom found a child who had been harmed, the child was brought into the kingdom but those who hurt the child were never allowed in the kingdom .... even if they were children once too! And so the story begins. Child welfare agencies have struggled with finding ways to balance fulfilling their mandate of protecting children while still attending to broader social issues that cause problems for families in the first place. This paper uses story and metaphor to challenge the reader, and those working in child welfare, to consider some of the significant sources of oppression inherent in the work. The purpose of this paper is to examine a small site of practice, located in a social housing neighbourhood, named New Beginnings that seeks to integrate community-based child protection work and community development. The study is based on findings from in-depth interviews with service providers, from both child welfare and other social agencies, affiliated with New Beginnings. The data is interpreted and discussed using a critical framework. Findings indicate that New Beginnings may be an example of innovation and creativity in a very financially restricted time for child welfare. Despite the promise of the program, careful attention must be paid to the extraordinary power that those working with and for the very large kingdom embody. This power cannot be extricated from the practice despite the friendly cover. The change in location, from a centralized to a community site, may create opportunities for relationship development and increased partnerships with neighbours to aid in community capacity building and system reform. However, this location change also has potential to create additional site of surveillance and ultimately greater oppression.

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Advisors/Committee Members: Fudge-Schormann, Ann, Social Work.

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The purpose of this study is to explore and ascertain the experiences and perceptions of immigrant survivors of abuse who use (or have used) domestic violence services. Scholars have posited that the experiences of immigrant survivors of abuse are best understood against the backdrop of the social contexts that frame their lives. It is against this argument that the study was designed to capture how the intersectionality of multiple marginalities and identities (race, class, gender, culture, service user, etc.) framed the perceptions and lived experiences of the participants. The study design was informed by concepts in feminist theory and phenomenology. The resulting data illuminates how identity politics not only shapes the particpants' perceptions and experiences of domestic violence services, but also contextualizes the relations of power that exists between service-providers and service-users.

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Advisors/Committee Members: Dumbrill, Gary, Social Work.

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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. 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.

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Advisors/Committee Members: Sin, Rick, Sinding, Christina, Social Work.

▼ Ergonomists have always been interested in studying work and especially the safety aspects of work. Studying work in dangerous situations is an area that presents particular challenges to the researcher and potentially to the worker. The objective of this study was to explore the use of new technologies in facilitating the field study of people engaged in dangerous work situations without disrupting the work or adding to the danger. This was achieved through the investigation of work activity in dangerous environments: tree felling and rural fire fighting. The two case studies formed the basis for an investigation into three aspects of work: first, to record, measure and understand the work (including physiological workload) of people engaged in dangerous occupations; second, to understand how hazards were identified and dealt with by individuals working in extreme conditions and third, to gain insight into hazardous work environments for the purpose of enhancing training for personnel working in dangerous conditions. An innovative suite of equipment was developed for the study, enabling data collection that did not disturb or inhibit the individual working in dangerous, and sometimes extreme, conditions. The results of the study have shown that, through triangulation of novel combinations of recording instrumentation and video-cued reflective interview, we can gain rich interpretative insights into the working world of the tree faller and rural fire fighter and understand how they manage the hazards they confront in their work. This in turn enables us to develop practices designed to minimise or avoid physical risk to the worker, Furthermore, the annotated video collected in the forests and at fires can be utilised as an authentic resource for training of both workers and trainers. My study has highlighted the value of, and need for, research that is situated in real work environments, and that captures the multidimensionality of workers’ activities without impeding or altering their behaviour.

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Degree awarded: Ph.D. Social Work. The Catholic University of America

Assessing the Leadership and Management Skills ofSenior VA Social Work Leaders by Internal StakeholdersKristin Shanahan Day, Ph.DKarlynn BrintzenhofeSzoc, Ph.DLeading experts in the field of social work advocate that social workers become expert leaders and managers able to bring business acumen, congruent with social work values to the human service industry (Brilliant, 1986; Edwards, Cooke, & Reid, 1996; Franklin, 2001; Patti 2003; Rank & Hutchinson, 2000). Yet, no leadership or management content is required for Council on Social Work Education accreditation (2010); thus the adequacy of preparation for social work executives may be questioned. The purpose of this study is to explore the actual and preferred levels of leadership and management skills of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) social work executives, as reported by the medical center director, the chief of staff, the social work executives and their social work subordinates. Specifically, are VA social work executives meeting the leadership and management expectations of their key internal stakeholders? This study used the VA's High Performance Development Model (HPDM) 360 Degree Assessment Scale to assess perceived levels of actual and preferred management and leadership competencies. An independent t-test was used to explore the level of preferred management skills by subscale; each subscale, systems thinking, technical skills, and flexibility/adaptability, was statistically significant in terms of differences in mean scores. For all three subscales, the medical center directors and the chiefs of staff mean scores for preferred level of management skills were significantly higher than for the social work executives and the social workers mean scores for preferred level of management skills. An independent t-test was used to consider the subscales comprising leadership skills; three subscales, customer service, personal mastery and organizational stewardship, were found to be statistically significant in terms of differences in mean scores between the two groups. Medical center directors and the chiefs of staff preferred higher levels of management and leadership skills than both the social work executives and the social workers. This is a call to action for the social work program at VHA. This study provides empirical support for the infusion of business and leadership theory and practice into social work education and practice.

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Advisors/Committee Members: BrintzenhofeSzoc, Karlynn (Advisor), Shields, Joseph J. (Other), Zabora, James R. (Other).

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Thesis (PhD (Social Work)) – University of Stellenbosch, 2010.

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Domestic violence crosses all boundaries and is regarded as a universal challenge affecting women of all spheres of life. Domestic violence is seen as a serious social problem in South Africa. It is regarded by many researchers as a leading cause of female injury. Domestic violence can be described as an act by a member of a family against another member with intent to do physical injury, psychological or emotional harm, or an assault or a threat that reasonably places that member in fear of imminent physical injury or emotional harm. It has major consequences, not only for the abused woman, but also for her children and society at large. Many low-income women cannot escape their abusive circumstances due to a lack of resources. Despite the fact that they cannot leave their situation, many women display certain strengths, helping them to deal with their difficult situation. These women can be viewed as heroic, assertive and persistent. They are not victims, but active survivors. The social work profession could benefit from greater insight into the strengths and coping mechanisms of low-income female survivors of domestic violence. The goal of the study is to gain an understanding of low-income female survivors’ experience of domestic violence, focusing on their environmental resources (including family, friends and community) and on their coping mechanisms (inner resources/strengths). To achieve this goal, the objectives are: to present a theoretical overview of the nature and extent of domestic violence; to describe the environmental resources (such as family, friends and community) of low-income abused women from the ecological perspective; to explore the coping mechanisms (inner resources) of these women in terms of the principles of the strengths perspective; and to analyse and interpret the data obtained from the study. The research utilises an exploratory and descriptive design. The research question is, “What are the experience (environmental resources) and coping mechanisms (inner resources) of lowincome female survivors of domestic violence?” This question was addressed by means of qualitative research. Twenty participants took part in the study. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to select the participants. They were interviewed by the researcher, and the data obtained from the interviews were organised into themes. Five themes namely, the experience of domestic violence, low-income, resources, coping mechanisms and statutory intervention were identified. These themes were further divided into sub-themes and categories. Conclusions derived from the data included: domestic violence is a phenomenon that cuts across all racial, marital status or age boundaries; some low-income female survivors of domestic violence experience their situation as stressful; low-income is one of the determining factors preventing some abused women to leave their situation; resources play a significant part…

Advisors/Committee Members: Green, Sulina, University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Science. Dept. of Social Work..

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Thesis (PhD (Social Work)) – University of Stellenbosch, 2011.

AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Maatskaplike werkers kry daagliks te doen met seksueel misbruikte kinders en daar word spesifiek deur wetgewing en beleidsdokumente voorsiening gemaak vir hierdie intervensie. Sommige maatskaplike werkers is in diens van 'n spesifieke organisasie wat van hulle verwag om aan 'n spesifieke groep kliënte dienste te lewer. Die fokus van hierdie studie is gerig op maatskaplike werkers wat betrokke is by intervensie met seksueel misbruikte kinders. Dienslewering geskied in 'n emosioneel hooggelaaide omgewing waar die moontlikheid van beroepstres groot is. Beroepstres kan veroorsaak word deur faktore in die interne omgewing (individu), die eksterne omgewing (werk/omgewing) of in die aard van die werk. Die doel van hierdie studie was om begrip te ontwikkel vir beroepstres en streshantering by maatskaplike werkers wat betrokke is by intervensie met seksueel misbruikte kinders. Die navorsingsvraag vir die studie lui soos volg: “Hoe word beroepstres ondervind en hanteer deur maatskaplike werkers wat betrokke is by intervensie met seksueel misbruikte kinders?” Hierdie navorsingsvraag is aangespreek deur kwalitatiewe navorsing te onderneem. Die studie kan geklassifiseer word as verkennende en beskrywende navorsing. Twee- en-twintig maatskaplike werkers, werksaam by vyf organisasies wat spesifiek fokus op intervensie met seksueel misbruikte kinders in die Kaapse Metropolitaanse Gebied, is deur middel van 'n doelgerigte, nie-waarskynlike steekproef geselekteer. 'n Profiel van deelnemers is saamgestel en semi-gestruktureerde een-tot-een onderhoude is benut om 'n gedetailleerde beeld te verkry van beroepstres en streshantering by maatskaplike werkers wat betrokke is by intervensie met seksueel misbruikte kinders. Hierdie onderhoude is aan die hand van 'n onderhoudskedule gevoer wat na aanleiding van die literatuurstudie saamgestel is. Die onderhoude is getranskribeer vir die doeleindes van data-analisering en aan die hand van Creswell (2009) se stappe geanaliseer. Sewe temas is geïdentifiseer, naamlik (1) perspektiewe op keuse van beroep, (2) dienslewering binne die konteks van 'n organisasie-struktuur, (3) oorsake van beroepstres, (4) manifestering van beroepstres, (5) implikasies van beroepstres, (6) voorkoming en hantering van beroepstres, en (7) ontwikkeling en groei van maatskaplike werkers. Hierdie temas is in subtemas en kategorieë verdeel en aan die hand van toepaslike narratiewe uit die onderhoude bespreek en met literatuur gekontroleer. Ten opsigte van elke tema is daar bepaalde gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings gemaak. Daar is bevind dat maatskaplike werkers om verskeie redes in die veld van seksuele misbruik begin werk het, waarvan die meerderheid toevallig in hierdie veld begin werk het. Aangesien die intervensie in die konteks van 'n organisasie-struktuur plaasvind, is dit belangrik dat hierdie organisasies die verantwoordelikheid aanvaar vir werknemers se welstand, die nodige ondersteuning bied en hulpbronne/infrastruktuur voorsien.…

Advisors/Committee Members: Green, S., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work..

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ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The emotional development of a preschool child is of great importance, since it serves as a basis for later emotional development. South African policy and legislation emphasizes the protection of preschool children and the provision of programmes that support the development of preschool children. Mothers are often the caregivers of preschool children and need to facilitate the emotional development of their preschool child. Therefore a study that examines mothers’ knowledge of the facilitation of preschool emotional development was conducted. An exploratory and descriptive study was conducted with 30 mothers that served as the primary caregiver of a preschool child or children. A semi-structured interview was conducted with each mother where quantitative as well as qualitative questions were asked. These questions were based on basic preschool emotional development in order to study mothers’ knowledge, perception and needs regarding preschool basic emotional development. Mothers’ knowledge of the Child Care Act 38 of 2005 was also researched. In this study mothers had good knowledge of basic preschool emotional development, but regardless of this knowledge, most mothers still had a need to learn more about preschool emotional development. Since only basic preschool emotional development was assessed, a study that investigates secondary emotional development needs to be conducted in order to create programmes that enhance knowledge of preschool emotional development. Regardless of mothers’ good knowledge of basic preschool emotional development, knowledge of the Child Care Act 38 of 2005 was poor. The Child Care Act 38 of 2005 is a national legal document that is applicable to all mothers and therefore it is important that mothers have knowledge regarding the content of this document. In this study mothers also indicated a need to learn more about the Child Care Act 38 of 2005, therefore the improvement of knowledge of the Child Care Act 38 of 2005 is a recommendation for service delivery for social workers at welfare organisations.

AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die emosionele ontwikkeling van ‘n voorskoolse kind is belangrik omdat dit dien as ‘n basis vir latere emosionele ontwikkeling. Suid-Afrikaanse beleid en wetgewing beklemtoon ook die beskerming van voorskoolse kinders en die voorsiening van programme wat ontwikkeling in hierdie ouderdomsgroep fasiliteer wat op die belangrikheid hiervan dui. Moeders is dikwels die versorgers wat emosionele ontwikkeling van voorskoolse kinders fasiliteer. Daarom is ‘n studie na die kennis wat moeders oor beskik om hierdie ontwikkeling te fasiliteer uitgevoer om areas vir vermeerdering van kennis te kan identifiseer. ‘n Verkennende en beskrywende studie is met 30 moeders wat die primêre versorgers van hul voorskoolse kinders is, onderneem. ‘n Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoud is met elke moeder gevoer, waarin kwantitatiewe sowel as kwalitatiewe vrae gevra is oor basiese voorskoolse emosionele ontwikkeling om moeders se kennis, persepsies en behoefte aan kennis…

Advisors/Committee Members: Green, S., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work..

▼ ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Mentoring, which is described as an activity in social work supervision, is promoted to assist with the recruitment and retention of newly qualified social workers. However research relating to the execution of mentoring within the context of social work supervision is limited. Also, a lack of supervision of newly qualified as well as existing social workers has resulted in a critical shortage of social workers in South Africa. This in turn decreases the quality of social work service rendering to communities in South Africa. In an effort to reverse the aforementioned circumstances, the South African government introduced the “Recruitment and Retention Strategy for Social Workers” in 2006. The Recruitment and Retention Strategy for Social Workers reaffirmed the value of supervision for social workers as well as the utilisation of mentoring in order to provide adequate support to newly qualified as well as existing social workers. Hence the study was undertaken, first to provide an overview of social work supervision and second, to explore the use of mentoring in the context of social work supervision. A combined qualitative and quantitative research approach was utilised to explore the experiences of social work supervisors in the Department of Social Development (Western Cape), with regard to the use of mentoring as an activity of social work supervision. The motivation for this study originated from an apparent lack of research relating to the use of mentoring as an activity in social work supervision of newly qualified social workers within the Department of Social Development in the Western Cape. The aim of this study is to gain an understanding of the features and use of mentoring as well as how mentoring can be utilised as an activity in social work supervision of newly qualified social workers. The literature study first focused on giving an overview of social work supervision, to provide a contextual basis for mentoring as an activity in social work supervision of newly qualified social workers. The literature study then explored the features and use of mentoring as an activity in social work supervision of newly qualified social workers. The researcher utilised a purposive sample of 20 social work supervisors. These supervisors have been appointed to the different regional and local offices of the Department of Social Development in the Western Cape and provide supervision to social workers, specifically newly qualified social workers. Newly qualified social workers refer to social workers with a maximum experience of 24 months in the practical field. The researcher utilised an interview schedule as a measuring instrument. The results of the investigation confirmed that supervision of newly qualified social workers is essential to ensure quality service rendering. Second, the results concluded that due to the allocation of responsibilities other than supervision, inadequate time is spent on the execution of the social work supervision process. Third, the… Advisors/Committee Members: Engelbrecht, L. K., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work..

▼ ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Intimate partner violence is world wide and in South Africa an increasing social problem that leads to life-threatening history of injuries and psychosocial problems. Intimate partner violence is a global phenomenon prevalent in all socio-economic, race, religion, cultural and geographical boundaries. Although women with a lack or low income is more at risk of intimate partner violence and this reinforces their dependency of the intimate partner violence relationship. The largest percentage of South Africa’s poor population lives in rural areas that make them more vulnerable for social problems because of their lack of adequate resources. Women in rural areas involved with intimate partner violence are physically isolated from a supportive social network and must travel far distances to gain access to formal support resources. The goal of the study is to gain an understanding of the support needs of women in rural areas that are involved in intimate partner violence from an ecological perspective. To achieve this goal, the objectives are: to explain the nature, extent and origin of intimate partner violence as a social problem; to discuss the relevance of the ecological perspective as a theoretical framework regarding the analyses of intimate partner violence; to describe the support needs of women in rural areas that is involved in intimate partner violence; to investigate the experience of women in rural areas that is involved in intimate partner violence regarding the availability of support; and to offer recommendations regarding the promotion of the support needs for women in rural areas that is expose to intimate partner violence. Combinations of a quantitative and qualitative research approach were used in the study. The study further assumed an exploratory and descriptive research design due to the lack of information on support that is available to women in rural areas that are involved in intimate partner violence. A purposive sampling method was used to select the participants. Data was gathered by means of a semi-structured questionnaire, which was administered during 20 individual interviews. This allowed for a holistic view of the participants beliefs about, or perceptions of the topic. The design of the questionnaire was based on the information obtained from the literature review. The findings of the empirical investigation mainly confirmed the findings of the literature study that those women in rural areas that are involved in intimate partner violence support needs, from multiple levels of the ecological perspective. This support entails both informal and formal support resources which vary from concrete, informational to emotional support in order to cope with stressful life situations. The most important recommendations resulting from the study indicate that social workers must use an ecological approach during service rendered to women in rural areas that are involved in intimate partner violence. This approach can be used to identify and… Advisors/Committee Members: Green, Sulina, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work..

▼ ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is caused by maternal drinking during pregnancy. Pre-natal drinking has a range of deleterious effects including physical, mental and behavioural consequences for the affected child. Although FASD is completely preventable, it is irreversible with consequences that last into adulthood. The range of effects of FASD forms a spectrum with fully developed FAS on the one end and no effects on the other end of the spectrum. The Western Cape has one of the highest recorded rates of FAS in the world. This seriously affects almost all systems in society and strains the already overburdened educational-, health-, social- and judicial systems. For this reason preventing FASD is of the utmost importance and requires a comprehensive approach on multiple levels. This study explores and describes FASD prevention services in the Bonnievale, Robertson, Ashton and Montagu-areas – a wine-producing area in the Western Cape. Available FASD prevention services on all levels of prevention, the focus-areas of the different prevention activities, collaboration and co-ordination between the role-players and obstacles in delivering prevention services, was examined. By adopting an ecological approach, FASD prevention services could be investigated on multiple levels. This study used a combination of quantitative and qualitative research. An exploratory design and a purposive sampling method were used. Participants were interviewed individually and with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire. The findings of the empirical investigation show that, although prevention efforts are applied on the universal, selective and indicated levels of prevention, a lack of formal prevention efforts that are actively pursued - especially on the level of indicated prevention - exists. This is aggravated by the absence of formal co-ordination of services and structured systems of referrals. NGO‟s and government departments are, as a result, not clear about their respective roles and responsibilities and women with the highest risk for having a child with FAS, therefore, fall through the cracks of the system. This happens partly because social workers are often perceived as the only agents for social change in the community. According to the ecological approach all levels (micro, meso and macro) of organizations in the social environment should work together for change by repeating prevention messages on the different levels and thereby reinforcing it. In the study area, however, most FAS prevention services were on the micro-level with few on the meso-level and virtually none on macro-level. Participants identified a lack of co-ordination, unplanned families, a lack of resources, a lack of training and training material and low levels of education as obstacles in service delivery. Recommendations resulting from the study indicate that FAS prevention will benefit from structured, formal programs on all levels of prevention. This will require non-government organizations and government… Advisors/Committee Members: Green, S., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work..

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Thesis (M Social Work (Social Work)) – University of Stellenbosch, 2010.

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Young people between the ages of 15 and 24 have been identified as being the most significant target grouping affected by HIV and AIDS in the world. South Africa has one of the highest HIV and AIDS prevalence rates and has adopted two broad strategies to curb the HIV and AIDS pandemic. The first strategy is costly involving anti-retroviral treatment which the government has only been able to roll-out to a very few HIV positive people. Currently in a depressing global economy, international donors are finding it difficult to increase funding for HIV and AIDS, more particularly as the poor countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Southern Africa have been mostly affected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic. The second strategy is an HIV and AIDS prevention strategy with the primary aim of keeping citizens free from contracting the HI virus. Although this strategy is a comprehensive strategy where governments embark on large-scale campaigns of raising HIV and AIDS awareness, there is very little scientific evidence that these campaigns have brought about a significant decrease of HIV and AIDS prevalence amongst young people. Raising awareness does not necessarily lead to positive behavioural change. Most young people in South Africa attend high schools where HIV and AIDS life-skills education has been made as a compulsory component of the life orientation curriculum. In South Africa, a National Aids Council has been established in South Africa to co-ordinate HIV and AIDS interventions and develops national HIV and AIDS policies aimed at curbing the spread of HIV and AIDS at a national level, yet the HIV and AIDS prevalence amongst young people has not significantly abated. On their own, governments cannot address all the socio-economic needs of their citizens. Partnership need to be formed with Non-government organisations and a broader range of stakeholders to address the spread of HIV and AIDS. Youth workers from NGOs currently implement HIV and AIDS preventative peer education programmes at high schools as part of the South African government’s broad strategy of HIV and AIDS prevention amongst young people. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of youth workers who were employed at NGOs implementing HIV and AIDS preventative peer education programmes at high schools. The researcher used both qualitative and quantitative approaches in the research design. A literature review was conducted to research aspects of the study such as the features of NGOs, high schools as a setting and the role youth workers played when implementing HIV and AIDS preventative peer education programmes. Books, articles, journals, the internet and peer education manuals of NGOs all produced relevant information pertaining to the subject of HIV and AIDS prevention amongst young people. Twenty youth workers from three NGOs that is currently implementing HIV and AIDS preventative peer…

Advisors/Committee Members: Engelbrecht, L., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work..

▼ ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Western Cape is notorious for its high prevalence of gangs and resulting gang violence. This is confirmed in the multitude of frequent reports of homicides attributed to gangs. This area of South Africa further has elevated substance abuse statistics. Literature clearly states that gangs and drugs are inextricably linked. The nature of the interaction is however unclear, although the effects of the interaction is significantly apparent as the consequences of gang activities is often felt by innocent bystanders. It is concerning that gangsterism and drug usage is normalised and ceases to be viewed as deviant in some communities. The consequences of the interaction between gangs and drugs has ramifications for community safety and further places much strain on the health, social welfare, as well as defence sectors. Effective interventions need to be informed by insight into the interaction between gangs and drugs. The best source of reliable information in this regard would be gang members. A dearth of research with regards to the gang members‟ perspective on the connection between gangs and drugs thus motivated the study. The study was conducted with male gang members within the setting of a substance treatment centre, where drug usage is normalised. An empirical study with a combination of a qualitative and quantitative approach was used, where a semi structured questionnaire was administered with individual participants as well as a focus group. The study illustrated that gangs attract members through their ability to meet the individuals‟ needs. These needs are linked to those indentified within motivational theory. Gangs met physiological needs through access to drugs, safety needs through providing protection, and self esteem needs through the provision of money and status. Significantly, gangs were identified as meeting individuals‟ belonging needs. Commonality was established in risk factors for involvement in a gang and as well as in the usage of substances. The study showed unstable home environments with absent fathers and multiple stressors such as exposure to high levels of violence and abuse. Disconnectedness within families was further highlighted. The participants were exposed to elevated levels of substance misuse within their families as well as elevated levels of familial involvement in the sale of drugs. Familial involvement in gangs was also high within participants. The findings of the study indicate that drugs are enmeshed within gang activities. Drug usage occurs before and after going out and committing crimes. Drugs were used to heighten gang members‟ fortitude, diminishing inhibitions. Participants spoke about being incapable of undertaking violent acts, without first using drugs. Gang members used drugs to quieten the conscience and in self medicating after completing a task, in order to cope with flashbacks and intrusive thoughts and images. Gang norms with regards to the sanctioning of drugs is a complex issue. The study demonstrated that gangs make a distinction… Advisors/Committee Members: Green, Sulina, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work..

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Thesis (M Social Work (Social Work)) – University of Stellenbosch, 2011.

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Disability can be physical or mental and have different causes, which determine how it is classified. This study will concentrate on physical disability. In the past, the causes of disability were associated with many beliefs of which most perceived disability as something bad. In Botswana, even though people now understand the causes of disability, they still associate it with something bad or have not fully accepted disabled people. The beliefs surrounding physical disability are worse due to the fact that the disability is visible. The way people perceive physical disability does not only affect the disabled person, but also their families. As the causes of disability vary and can develop prior to birth or be acquired later in life, they affect the different age groups in different ways. This study will focus on physical disability in school children and will explore the impact it has on their mother’s psychosocial needs. The physical disability of school children has different challenges depending on the type of disability. The challenges can be physical, social, economic and psychological. Due to these challenges these children are considered to have special needs and require special care. The special care involves providing for their special basic needs and their medical, social and psychological needs at home and at school. The physically disabled school children also use special equipment which helps them with their daily actives. This equipment needs special care and these children therefore need to go for regular checkups. They also need to be assisted with how to use this equipment at home and school. The challenges of physically disabled school going children are administered by social workers under the Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Programme. The CBR must assist with improving the lives of disabled children and their families. When the social workers attend to the disabled school going child, they concentrate on the medical part of the child’s disability, often forgetting other needs. They also do not attend to the mother and her needs, as she is the primary carer. This study was conducted in Letlhakeng village in Botswana. Twenty (20) biological mothers of physically disabled school going children were interviewed using a semi structured questionnaire. The sampling was a non probability purposive sample and the study used both quantitative and qualitative methods of research. The quantitative study has shown that the mothers in the area have limited education and are non-skilled. They are still active and most of them are single parents engaged in low income economic activities or not doing anything and they have a reasonable number of children. Their housing structures are poor and not accessible for the disabled children. The results indicated that mothers know about disability, but the causes have not been fully communicated to them. Even though they consider physical disability to have a natural…

Advisors/Committee Members: Green, S., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work..

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Thesis (M Social Work (Social Work)) – University of Stellenbosch, 2011.

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: According to South African policy documents, social welfare services, health care providers and schools should place special focus on supporting pregnant adolescents to avoid the possible deleterious effects of early unplanned pregnancies. This implies that pregnant adolescents require support, from multiple levels, in order to adjust positively to their pregnancy so as to promote their well-being and the well-being of their unborn child. This study explores and describes the support needs of pregnant adolescents in three lowincome communities. This was done by examining the support that was currently available and utilised by pregnant adolescents, as well as identifying areas that required improved support. By adopting an ecological approach to the study, the need for support could be investigated on multiple levels. A combination of a quantitative and qualitative research approach was used in the study. The study further assumed an exploratory and descriptive research design in order to provide a detailed description of the phenomenon being studied, namely adolescent pregnancy. Data was gathered by means of a semi-structured questionnaire, which was administered during an individual interview. This allowed for data to be collected that was both measurable as well as rich in description. The design of the semi-structured questionnaire was based on the information obtained from the literature review. The findings of the empirical investigation reveal that adolescents have limited knowledge of formal support services, particularly social welfare services, support groups and health care services, which results in poor utilisation of these services. Consequently, limited support is attributed to these particular services. The findings further indicate that informal sources of support, such as family, friends and partners, were relatively supportive during the adolescent’s pregnancy. However, the adolescents’ relationships with their parents and partners were particularly strained during the pregnancy, especially the relationship with their father. Of significance is the finding that fathers were considered those who offered the adolescents the least amount of support during the pregnancy. As a result of their pregnancy, the adolescents were stigmatised on multiple levels. There was stigmatisation from their friends and peers at school, which had an impact on their social adjustment. Stigma experienced at health care services led to chastising experiences, which deterred the adolescents from utilising such services. Furthermore, pregnant adolescents are stigmatised by their community, and the widespread judgement leads to increased tension and apprehension when seeking formal and informal support. The most important recommendations resulting from the study indicate that many resources of support would be better utilised during pregnancy if adolescents had greater knowledge of the support…

Advisors/Committee Members: Green, Sulina, University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work..

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ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Wine farms in the Western Cape represent one of the pillars of the region's economy. The social problems that are prevalent among farm workers and their families have evolved over centuries along with the wine industry; the unique set of social, economic, and political conditions affecting rural dwellers in the Western Cape have created a set of challenges impeding a productive future. The interventions at Solms-Delta Wine Estate have empowered the farm community and thus provide a template for social reform. Capacity development initiatives have been central to the farm's management plan. The employment of a fulltime social worker allowed resource gathering to implement social reforms on the farm. The present study investigated the evolution of an approach that encompasses the social development perspective of social work theory. This study is an example of the methods used to bring about stronger community development capacity. The goal of the study was to gain an understanding of the nature of capacity-building initiatives on the wine farm under review from a social development perspective. A review of the historical roots of farm worker subjugation was undertaken to uncover the social dynamic of farm worker community development. Secondly, the study has outlined the political, economic, and legal institutional parameters for rural development. A third strand of the narrative describes the nature of capacity-building initiatives undertaken over the preceding six years, and their impact on the social development of the target community. Finally, the study explored the impact of local capacity development via a semi-structured questionnaire and subsequent interviews with the twenty-one participants. The results of the research outlined in this study provide a number of templates for social work interventions in rural communities on wine farms in the Western Cape. Given the centrality of the wine farm industry in the Western Cape, the success of social welfare initiatives at Solms-Delta delineates road maps for other community-based programmes that can be launched from the lessons of this study. The locality development model, with its emphasis on community input in problem solving provides a framework for countering the unique set of challenges created from the inception of colonialism up to the end of Apartheid social engineering. The empowering environment developed at Solms-Delta offers insight into rolling back historical ills and entitlement issues that bedevil social work practice. Successful community participation requires research into specific community dynamics and the resources to empower one of South Africa's most impoverished social strata.

AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wynplase in die Wes-Kaap vorm een van die pilare van die streek se ekonomie. Die maatskaplike probleme wat onder plaaswerkers en hul gesinne voorkom, het oor die eeue heen saam met die wynbedryf ontwikkel. Dit behels die unieke kombinasie van sosiale, ekonomiese en politieke omstandighede met betrekking tot die landelike…

Advisors/Committee Members: Green, Sulina, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work..

▼ ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to develop an understanding of the experiences of mothers caring for their school-going children with mental or physical disabilities in low-income communities using the ecological perspective. The rationale for this research was a gap in the existing literature re-garding the experiences of mothers caring for their school-going children with mental or physical disabilities in low-income communities in South Africa, which was identified in the preliminary and main literature review. The literature review further indicated that these mothers have to struggle with several challenges, particularly in low-income communities. In order to achieve the aim of this study, four research objectives were formulated for this study. To reach the objectives of the study the researcher employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods to col-lect the data for the research. The research methodology comprised two main parts: firstly, a lit-erature study of all relevant literature on the subject matter, in order to gain the necessary in-depth understanding of the field; and secondly, qualitative and quantitative data-collection, using a semi-structured questionnaire. The first part of this study, the extensive literature review, helped firstly to provide the necessary background information on the mental and physical disabilities of school-going children, sec-ondly, it helped to establish a number of challenges that mothers caring for their disabled chil-dren face and the needs that result from them, from an ecological perspective. These were cate-gorized into four groups of needs: (1) access needs; (2) economic needs; (3) social and cultural needs; and (4) mental/psychological needs. Consequently, ways of meeting these needs were discussed, from formal support, such as government grants, to informal support, for example, the support of family and friends. Assessing the South African environment it was found that while the country has provided a very positive policy environment, through its constitution, policies and grant system, the practical implementation of this is, in many instances, inadequate. Using the findings of the first part of this thesis to create a questionnaire, its second part, the em-pirical study, presented and analysed the answers of nineteen mothers caring for their disabled children who attend the special school selected for the research study in Cloetesville, Stellenbosch; a low-income community. The questionnaire explored, among other aspects, the physical, social, emotional, psychological and economic needs of the mothers; the role of the school, fami-ly, friends, non-governmental organisations and other coping options in meeting them, as well as the mothers´ awareness of available resources. The findings in the South African low-income community corresponded to a large extent with what was indicated in the literature study. The mothers were found to live under precarious economic and employment situations, having to rely on child support and disability… Advisors/Committee Members: Green, Sulina, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work..