School of Social Work

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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14078/30

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Afro-Caribbean Canadian youth mental health: paving the way forward from the margin to the centre.
(2024) Edwards, Fiona; Torres, Rose Ann; Nyaga, Dionisio
Black youth are disadvantaged in Canadian society due to racial inequality. Within dominant institutions, Black youth are often oppressed, marginalized, excluded, controlled, and poorly understood. Research on race and mental health is largely focused on the adult population. Youth mental health, in general, is an understudied area, and critical investigations of Black youth’s mental health are even more limited. In addition, the mental health experiences of Afro-Caribbean Canadian youth (ACCY) are not well established within the Canadian context. The existing data that accounts for their lived experiences is very limited. Moreover, their personal narratives and experiences are too often marginalized in the limited research that does exist. Without data that accurately represents their experiences, it will be challenging, if not impossible, to institute any necessary changes at the structural level. In an effort to address this gap, my doctoral research explores the lived mental health experiences of ACCY between the ages of 16–18 who were born in Canada and reside in the urban areas of Southern Ontario. Using the data from this study, this chapter provides recommendations for practices and policies in the mental health system that are designed to prioritize and address the mental health and well-being of the Afro-Caribbean Canadian and Black youth in general.
Ageism and future cohorts of elderly: implications for social work
(2014) Azulai, Anna
In the field of prejudice and discrimination studies, an emphasis has been on racism and sexism, with comparatively little attention to understanding of ageism. This fact is alarming, particularly in the context of the growing population of older adults around the globe. This article provides a review of evidence of ageism among members of helping professions. The author expresses concern and develops an argument that ageism will increase as Baby Boomers reach retirement years. Implications for social work are then discussed.
Aligning perspectives of subjective well-being: comparing spouse and colleague perceptions of social worker happiness
(2014) Graham, John; Shier, Micheal; Newberry-Koroluk, Andrea; Esina, Elena
Social workers experience higher rates of burnout and attrition when compared to other health related occupational groups. Previous research on the well being of social workers has tended to focus on the social workers themselves. But the development of well-being is dynamic and is fostered through relationships and interactions with others. In the case of social workers, these relationships include workplace, professional, and personal life interactions. This research sought to better understand the level of congruence between a social worker’s perspective of well-being and perspectives held by significant people in their workplace and at home. Utilizing qualitative methods we interviewed colleagues and spouses (n=10) of social workers that were found to have high levels of work-related subjective well-being. The findings support previous conclusions on the positive subjective well-being (SWB) of practicing social workers, but also indicate a lack of a deeper understanding of the nuances that contribute to social worker SWB. These findings are particularly useful for social workers trying to enhance their SWB, and have direct applicability in education and professional development settings that seek to enhance social worker self-care.
Anti-oppressive practice in anti-trafficking intervention in Nepal
(2019) Dhungel, Rita
A significant number of stakeholders are working on anti-trafficking interventions and have played a substantial role in both preventing trafficking and protecting trafficking survivors with a focus on rescue and reintegration. This article examines how various stakeholders, including Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), educators, media representatives, police officials, lawyers, and the community as a whole, have defined “successful” reintegration. The goals of this article are two-fold: (1) to explore the range of programs and services available to survivors to assist in the process of reintegration; and (2) to unpack what the construct of “successful” reintegration actually means to stakeholders, as this subjective standpoint will have an impact on the design, delivery and evaluation of the programs and services. Participatory action research was used as a tool to construct and refine knowledge around the two goals, and the article’s content is based on the research production of eight female trafficking survivors, recognized as co-researchers in this paper, who interviewed a range of stakeholders, and analyzed the resulting data by coding and categorizing. The findings of the study, together with implications for social work practice, will be discussed in this article.
Are grounded theory and action research compatible? Considerations for methodological triangulation
(2021) Azulai, Anna
This paper explores the prospects of combining Grounded Theory (GT) and Action Research (AR) methodologies to spark further methodological discussion. GT and AR methodologies are sometimes used together in the same study without a discussion of their methodological compatibility. However, different iterations of GT and various forms of AR may inform the level of mutual compatibility. The goal of this conceptual paper is to answer two questions: Which iteration of GT could be more compatible with which form of AR? What benefits and challenges would such a methodological combination pose? The author presents a brief comparative review of GT and AR approaches, commenting on the intriguing complementarities of these methodologies and the benefits of their triangulation in social research. The author concludes that, although the prospect of combining GT and AR is promising, it undeniably requires further scrutiny in the applied research.
Assessing capacity in the complex patient: RCAT's unique evaluation and consultation model
(2007) Pachet, Arlin; Newberry-Koroluk, Andrea; Erskine, Leslie
This paper describes the development of a unique multidisciplinary patient capacity assessment team, the Regional Capacity Assessment Team (RCAT), which operates in the Calgary Health Region of Alberta. The goals of this paper are to provide a brief review of seminal models that influenced RCAT's development, discuss its ethical and theoretical underpinnings, and provide an overview of the RCAT approach to the completion of complex capacity assessments. The overview of the RCAT model will elucidate our multidisciplinary assessment algorithm, our consultation model, and describe our specialized assessment tools. This paper will be of interest to health care practitioners and administrators looking for a cost-effective, efficient, and clinically sound model for complex capacity assessments.
ayahpatisi: practice as ceremony
(2020) Dion, Amber; Tyler, Stephanie; Pace, Christie; Delver, Karen
Western theory and practice are over-represented in child welfare services for Indigenous peoples, not the other way around. Contributors to this collection invert the long-held, colonial relationship between Indigenous peoples and systems of child welfare in Canada.
Barriers to the recognition of geriatric depression in residential care facilities in Alberta
(2020) Azulai, Anna; Hall, Barry L.
This study explored the barriers that regulated nurse professionals encountered in recognizing and assessing geriatric depression in residential care facilities in the Canadian province of Alberta. The study used a convergent parallel mixed methods design, including a cross-sectional survey (N = 635) and qualitative interviews (N = 14) with regulated nurse professionals. Findings revealed six major barriers to the recognition of geriatric depression in Alberta, including 1) insufficient clinical knowledge and training in geriatric depression; 2) misconceived beliefs about geriatric depression; 3) limited access to resources; 4) unclear depression assessment protocol and procedures in facilities; 5) characteristics of models of care and organizational culture in facilities; and 6) communication difficulties among all stakeholders in the process. Socio-cultural values and beliefs about geriatric depression played a key role in the complex interaction of the various structural and agential barriers to the effective recognition and assessment of depression in residential care facilities in Alberta.
Black youth mental health: reconstructing identity through art-based research
(2025) Edwards, Fiona
This article presents data from a creative art-based activity conducted as part of an ongoing youth-centered phenomenological study with Afro-Caribbean Canadian youth (ACCY) aged 16-18 in Canada. The youth in this study were asked to create identity maps to explore what it means to be Black and Canadian and how their identity affects their mental health and well-being at home, school, and in Canadian society. The art-based activity of this study was informed by Fine and Sirin’s (2007) concept of the hyphenated selves defined as “the social and developmental psychologies of youths living in bodies infused with global and local conflict, as they strive to make meaning, speak back, incorporate and resist the contradictory messages that swirl through them” (p. 17). It is well-established in the literature that Black youth are grossly underrepresented in research within the Canadian context, meaning that their perspectives are often missing. Therefore, it is significant to gain their perspectives on issues that impact their overall mental health and well-being. The art-based activity empowered ACCY to become knowledge producers, allowing them to construct their own narratives about their identity and how it shapes their mental health experience. A theoretical analysis of the identity maps produced by ACCY using post-colonial theory, critical race theory (CRT) and the concept of anti-Black racism (ABR) reveals that being Black and Canadian are two separate and distinct identities Black youth embody with varied outcomes on their mental health and well-being. This article emphasizes the importance of using art-based research with Black youth as a decolonizing approach to gain their perspectives on race and mental health in order to better understand and respond to their mental health needs.
Calculated kindness? The voices of women refugee claimants: accessing pre- and postnatal health care services in Toronto, Ontario
(2024) Gateri, Hellen
In Canada, refugee claimants are given temporary immigration status, making access to health care services challenging. While the federal government determines the entitlements granted to refugee claimants, provinces are responsible for delivering health care services. This qualitative study conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with eight refugee claimants and six service providers in Toronto, Ontario. An intersectional theoretical framework was employed to examine the experiences of women refugee claimants and their complicated and often incomplete access to prenatal and postnatal health care services. Findings revealed that delivery of health care services in Ontario created barriers to access and under-utilization of services resulting from intersections of health coverage, immigration status, gender, class, and discrimination.
Chercheurs de « l’entre-deux » - Travailleurs sociaux dans le rôle de chercheurs : proximité et distance d’une ethnographie interpretative
(2014) Ouedraogo, Valerie
Le présent article porte sur les réflexions de terrain menées au Burkina Faso dans le cadre d’une étude doctorale qui a porté sur le retour forcé de travailleurs migrants burkinabè. Il interpelle à la fois les chercheurs de « l’entre-deux » et les chercheurs en travail social qui se trouvent pris à porter des chapeaux parfois en tension en tant que personne appartenant à la société étudiée, praticiens et chercheurs. L’objectif de notre article se resserre à cet effet autour des deux points c’est-à-dire chercheuse de l’entre-deux et travailleuse sociale placée dans le rôle de chercheuse avec le terrain.
Close relations matter: the association between depression and refugee status in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)
(2020) Lin, Shen (Lamson); Kobayashi, Karen M.; Tong, Hongmei; Davison, Karen M.; Arora, Simran R. A.; Fuller‑Thomson, Esme
This study examined the prevalence and social determinants of depression among refugee and non-refugee adults aged 45–85 in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Bivariate analyses and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. The prevalence of depression was higher in a sample of 272 refugees (22.1%) and 5059 non-refugee immigrants (16.6%), compared to 24,339 native-born Canadians (15.2%). The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of depression for refugees were not attenuated when controlling factors such as, (1) socioeconomic status, (2) health conditions and behaviours, (3) social isolation and online social networking (aORs range from 1.61 to 1.70, p’s < 0.05). However, when social support representing close personal relationships was included, the odds of depression for refugees were reduced to non-significance (aOR = 1.30, 95% CI 0.97–1.74, p = 0.08). Refugees’ excess vulnerability to depression is mainly attributable to lower levels of affectionate social support. Targeted interventions in nurturing supportive interpersonal relationships for refugees are warranted.
Community based mentors and journey guides: a transformative learning approach to social work education
(2019) Lorenzetti, Liza; Halvorsen, Jeffery; Dhungel, Rita; Lorenzetti, Diane; Oshchepkova, Tatiana; Haile, Lemlem; Biscette, Krishma
Critical pedagogy is congruent with the social work discipline, which is engaged, people-focused, and centers on social justice, liberation and human rights. While there is growing recognition of the importance of better preparing social work students to engage in critical, anti-oppressive practice, students have limited opportunities for transformative learning experiences within community settings, outside of official practicums. Masters of Social Work students pursuing a specialization in international and community development (ICD) at a Canadian university were matched with community Journey Guides who provided mentorship and opportunities for students to become involved in community-based social justice initiatives. This article presents the eight-step experiential framework that was used as a pedagogical tool to support student learning, and the results from the program’s evaluation with the first student cohort. Using surveys and focus groups, the study found the guiding relationship was characterized by acceptance, friendliness, encouragement, and motivation. Students engaged in critical dialogues with Guides, gained community development experience and skills and enhanced their social justice knowledge.
Community managed alcohol programs in Canada: overview of key dimensions and implementation
(2018) Pauly, Bernie; Vallance, Kate; Wettlaufer, Ashley; Chow, Clifton; Brown, Randi; Evans, Joshua; Gray, Erin; Krysowaty, Bonnie; Ivsins, Andrew; Schiff, Rebecca; Stockwell, Tim
Introduction and Aims: People with severe alcohol dependence and unstable housing are vulnerable to multiple harms related to drinking and homelessness. Managed Alcohol Programs (MAP) aim to reduce harms of severe alcohol use without expecting cessation of use. There is promising evidence that MAPs reduce acute and social harms associated with alcohol dependence. The aim of this paper is to describe MAPs in Canada including key dimensions and implementation issues. Design and Methods: Thirteen Canadian MAPs were identified through the Canadian Managed Alcohol Program Study. Nine key informant interviews were conducted and analyzed alongside program documents and reports to create individual case reports. Inductive content analysis and cross case comparisons were employed to identify six key dimensions of MAPs. Results: Community based MAPs have a common goal of preserving dignity and reducing harms of drinking while increasing access to housing, health and social services. MAPs are offered as both residential and day programs with differences in six key dimensions including program goals and eligibility, food and accommodation, alcohol dispensing and administration, funding and money management, primary care services and clinical monitoring, and social and cultural connections. Discussion and Conclusions: MAPs consist of four pillars with the alcohol intervention provided alongside housing interventions, primary care services, social and cultural interventions. Availability of permanent housing and re-establishing social and cultural connections are central to recovery and healing goals of MAPs. Additional research regarding Indigenous and gendered approaches to program development as well as outcomes related to chronic harms and differences in alcohol management are needed.
Community-led transformative research tools and applications: From Canada to Nepal
(2020) Lorenzetti, Liza; Dhungel, Rita
The deepening neoliberal agenda in our global context shines a light on historical and enduring inequities of colonial and class patriarchy. While praxis is a central feature of PAR, further attention to community-led actions is urgently needed to demonstrate the connection between method, application and social transformation. Focusing on two contexts, Canada and Nepal, we highlight examples of transformative community-led research tools through the lens of social work activism. By authenticating our theories of knowledge, we enter a critical discussion on the use of media conferences and street actions as designed and differentially employed in each study. We conclude with the limitations and transformative potential of PAR.
Current and future needs of gerontological social work practice in Alberta: findings from the World Café at the Gerontological Symposium in Edmonton, Canada
(2022) Azulai, Anna; Tong, Hongmei; Quinn, Kathaleen; Mykietka, Kelly
The growing aging population in Canada has multi-faceted psycho-social needs. Social workers are well-positioned to address these needs, despite many challenges. This paper reports findings from the World Café at the Gerontology Symposium in Alberta, Canada, held in 2018. The goal was to learn from social work practitioners, researchers, and educators (N=49) about current and future needs of gerontological social work in Alberta. There were two research questions: 1) What strategies do social workers need on the micro, mezzo, and macro levels to help better serve the growing older adult population in Alberta? (R1) 2) How can social workers promote the value and contribution of gerontological social work within the interprofessional community? (R2) The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Ten R1-related themes emerged: personal traits of a social worker; professional skills; bio-psycho-social needs of older adults; community connections; access to benefits; gerontological social work education; integrated healthcare; aging policy; ageism; and advocacy to strengthen the voice of older adults. The three R2-related themes include strengthening the status of the social work profession; building trust through demonstrated skills; and interprofessional education and practice.
Depression in middle and older adulthood: the role of immigration, nutrition, and other determinants of health in the Canadian longitudinal study on aging
(2019) Davison, Karen M.; Lung, Yu; Lin, Shen (Lamson); Tong, Hongmei; Kobayashi, Karen M.; Fuller‑Thomson, Esme
Background: Little is known about depression in middle-aged and older Canadians and how it is affected by health determinants, particularly immigrant status. This study examined depression and socio-economic, health, immigration and nutrition-related factors in older adults. Methods: Using weighted comprehensive cohort data from the baseline Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (n = 27,162) of adults aged 45–85, gender-specific binary logistic regression was conducted with the cross-sectional data using the following variables: 1) Depression (outcome) measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression (CESD-10) rating scale; 2) Immigration status: native-born, recent and mid-term (< 20 years), and long-term immigrants (≥20 years); and 3) covariates: socioeconomic status, physical health (e.g., multi-morbidity), health behavior (e.g., substance use), over-nutrition (e.g., anthropometrics), under-nutrition (e.g., nutrition risk), and dietary intake. Results: The sample respondents were mainly Canadian-born (82.6%), women (50.6%), 56–65 years (58.9%), earning between C$50,000–99,999 (33.2%), and in a relationship (69.4%). When compared to Canadian-born residents, recent, mid-term (< 20 years), and longer-term (≥ 20 years) immigrant women were more likely to report depression and this relationship was robust to adjustments for 32 covariates (adjusted ORs = 1.19, 2.54, respectively, p < 0.001). For women, not completing secondary school (OR = 1.23, p < 0.05), stage 1 hypertension (OR = 1.31, p < 0.001), chronic pain (OR = 1.79, p < 0.001), low fruit/vegetable intakes (OR = 1.33, p < 0.05), and fruit juice (OR = 1.80, p < 0.001), chocolate (ORs = 1.15–1.66, p’s < 0.05), or salty snack (OR = 1.19, p < 0.05) consumption were associated with depression. For all participants, lower grip strength (OR = 1.25, p < 0.001) and high nutritional risk (OR = 2.24, p < 0.001) were associated with depression. For men, being in a relationship (OR = 0.62, p < 0.001), completing postsecondary education (OR = 0.82, p < 0.05), higher fat (ORs = 0.67–83, p’s < 0.05) and omega-3 egg intake (OR = 0.86, p < 0.05) as well as moderate intakes of fruits/vegetables and calcium/high vitamin D sources (ORs = 0.71–0.743, p’s < 0.05) predicted a lower likelihood of depression. For men, chronic conditions (ORs = 1.36–3.65, p’s < 0.001), chronic pain (OR = 1.86, p < 0.001), smoking (OR = 1.17, p < 0.001), or chocolate consumption (ORs = 1.14–1.72, p’s < 0.05) predicted a higher likelihood of depression. Conclusions: The odds of developing depression were highest among immigrant women. Depression in middleaged and older adults is also associated with socioeconomic, physical, and nutritional factors and the relationships differ by sex. These results provide insights for mental health interventions specific to adults aged 45–85.
Digital learning preferences of Arabic-speaking older immigrants in Canada: a qualitative case study
(2024) Au, Alesia; Siddiqi, Hesham; Sayadi, Ghada; Zhao, Tianqi; Kleib, Manal; Tong, Hongmei; Salma, Jordana
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of digital inclusion for equitable and healthy aging. Older immigrants experience unique needs and challenges in using information and communication technologies compared to other older adults. Despite the proliferation of digital learning programs for older adults, there is minimal evidence of digital literacy learning needs and strategies relevant to older immigrants. The aim of this study is to explore learning approaches and digital engagement amongst Arabic-speaking older immigrants. This community-based qualitative descriptive study used co-designed group digital learning sessions. Two organizations supporting local ethnocultural communities in a municipality in Alberta, Canada recruited 31 older immigrants who spoke Arabic, Farsi, and Kurdish. Data collection included semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and observations of digital learning sessions. A total of seventeen learning sessions were completed with nineteen participants each attending five to six sessions. Findings highlight the iterative nature of the program sessions, the importance of catering to participants’ interests, the relevance of peer support, and language, sensory and digital variability barriers to learning. Digital literacy programs for immigrant older adults should adjust for language learning needs, maintain a flexible approach, tailor lessons to individual needs, foster social support, and address external factors such as limited digital access and transportation barriers.
Dimensions of critical social work practice in India
(2023) Vareed, Baiju
Critical social work opens a dialogue for social change by challenging the prevailing socio-economic conditions of the people and examining the underlying factors that contribute to the inequality and misery of people. Critical social work includes different theoretical and practice frameworks such as radical social work, anti-oppressive social work, and environmental social work. As a practice approach, critical social work applies to working with individuals, groups, and communities as well as in the clinical and developmental sectors. While all the approaches have their scope of practice in India, this article will focus on understanding and applying structural social work, feminist approaches to social work and Dalit social work in the Indian context. Considering the country's social context, it can be argued that Dalit social work falls within critical social work in India, where the writings and actions of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar contribute to critical social work in India and other parts of the world. The article critically analyses power structures in the country and the manifestation of oppression in different forms and discusses how the practice of critical social work can aid in personal liberation and emancipation in an Indian context.
Doctoral student mentorship in social work education: a Canadian example
(2018) Fulton, Amy; Walsh, Christine A.; Gulbrandsen, Carolyn; Tong, Hongmei; Azulai, Anna
Purpose This paper aims to present a thematic analysis investigating the experiences and reflections of doctoral students in social work at a Canadian university who were mentored in the development of teaching expertise, including course design, delivery and evaluation, by a senior faculty member. Recommendations to others who are considering engaging in doctoral student teaching mentorship are presented. Design/methodology/approach The paper examines the authors’ reflections on their experiences of doctoral student mentorship through their involvement in collaboratively designing, teaching and evaluating an online undergraduate course. The inquiry used a qualitative approach grounded in Schon’s concept of reflexive learning. Findings Based on the results of the thematic analysis of the mentees’ reflections, this paper presents the collaborative teaching mentorship model and discusses how receiving mentorship in teaching facilitated the mentees’ development as social work educators. Originality/value Although quality guidelines in social work education recommend that doctoral students should be adequately prepared for future teaching opportunities, there is limited discussion about doctoral student development as educators within the academic literature, especially from the perspective of doctoral students. There is also limited articulation of specific models of doctoral student mentorship in developing teaching expertise. The authors hope that sharing their reflections on their experiences and describing the collaborative teaching mentorship model will serve to deepen understandings and promote further exploration and development of doctoral student mentorship in teaching.

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