Exploring Intersecting Program Elements in Longer-Term Concurrent Disorder Services for Adults: A Qualitative Evaluation

Previous research highlights multiple factors that impact the attainment of client-identified recovery goals in substance misuse treatment programs. However, fewer studies examine how programs meet the broad range of needs expressed by clients through their intersecting elements of service delivery. This study seeks to develop an understanding of intersecting program and recovery elements in relation to an overall framework for programming, focusing on how overlapping elements of treatment ventured to support clients in multiple areas of their recovery. Qualitative interviews were conducted with clients (n=41) in three longer term substance use treatment programs, and data from interviews were analysed using analytic induction and constant comparison strategies to surface emergent themes. Data analysis yielded six main findings. These included: Education; Goal Setting; Routine and Stability; Spiritual Development; Exercise; and Transitional Planning. Respondents indicated that programs must focus on bolstering the development of each element across multiple treatment domains (such as group therapy and counselling) to best support clients in achieving recovery outcomes

Perspectives of Employed People Experiencing Homelessness of Self and Being Homeless: Challenging Socially Constructed Perceptions and Stereotypes

In a study that sought to identify the multiple factors resulting in homelessness from the perspective of 65 individuals in Calgary, Alberta, Canada who were both employed and homeless, we found that participants\u27 perceptions of being homeless emerged as a major theme which impacts their entry to and exit from homelessness. Four sub-themes related to these perceptions were identified: (1) perceptions of self and situation; (2) impact of being homeless on self-reflection; (3) aspects of hope to consider; and (4) perspectives on having a permanent residence. Analytically, these findings help challenge present stereotypes about homelessness and usefully inform social service delivery organizations

Aligning Perspectives of Subjective Well-Being: Comparing Spouse and Colleague Perceptions of Social Worker Happiness

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

Trauma-Informed Organizational Dynamics and Client Outcomes in Concurrent Disorder Treatment

Purpose:To test an empirical model of the effects of a trauma-informed organizational environment on service user outcomes in the context of concurrent disorder treatment. Methods: Service users (n = 172) were surveyed while in treatment to determine the effects of trauma-informed organizational dynamics (i.e., safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment) on service user intrapersonal development outcomes (i.e., self-awareness, outlook, coping ability, self-worth, and self-determination) and improvements with concurrent disorder behaviors. After testing for validity and reliability of latent factors, data were analyzed using multivariate analysis. Results: As a concise analytical model, the trauma-informed organizational environment was found to significantly positively predict all service user intrapersonal outcomes as well as a reduction in concurrent disorder behaviors. Conclusions: This study informs developments in the design and implementation of trauma-informed practice frameworks for concurrent disorder treatment and emphasizes the importance of adapting organizational environments to support improved client outcomes

Identifying Social Service Needs of Muslims Living in a Post 9/11 Era: The Role of Community-Based Organizations

In this qualitative study the investigators sought to better understand the ways in which service provider organizations (n=19) working with Muslim service providers have adapted to the changing social and political contexts in a post-9/11 era in New York City, and how this changing environment has affected the types of services that Muslims need. Service providers described two general ways in which services were adapted: 1) they have sought to address limits in service delivery programs that were a result of emerging sociopolitical dynamics (such as increasing discrimination) through adaptations to existing programs or through the development of new initiatives, programs, and organizations; and 2) they have adapted programs and services to meet the emerging sociocultural demands (such as changing attitudes towards help-seeking, and presenting problems of services users) of the Muslim population. The study illustrated the role of service provider organizations in adapting existing services, or creating new services, in response to a changing sociopolitical context. Social work education must focus attention on how social workers can adapt and create organizations that are responsive to the changing needs of service users. More curriculum content is necessary on the intra- and inter-organizational context of direct social work practice, with particular attention to innovation and adaptation within and between human service organizations

Exploring Intersecting Program Elements in Longer-Term Concurrent Disorder Services for Adults: A Qualitative Evaluation

Previous research highlights multiple factors that impact the attainment of client-identified recovery goals in substance misuse treatment programs. However, fewer studies examine how programs meet the broad range of needs expressed by clients through their intersecting elements of service delivery. This study seeks to develop an understanding of intersecting program and recovery elements in relation to an overall framework for programming, focusing on how overlapping elements of treatment ventured to support clients in multiple areas of their recovery. Qualitative interviews were conducted with clients (n=41) in three longer term substance use treatment programs, and data from interviews were analysed using analytic induction and constant comparison strategies to surface emergent themes. Data analysis yielded six main findings. These included: Education; Goal Setting; Routine and Stability; Spiritual Development; Exercise; and Transitional Planning. Respondents indicated that programs must focus on bolstering the development of each element across multiple treatment domains (such as group therapy and counselling) to best support clients in achieving recovery outcomes

Challenging ‘ableism’ and teaching about disability in a social work classroom: A training module for generalist social workers working with people disabled by the social environment

This is the final PDF of an article published by Critical Social Work in 2008.Social work programs in Canada teach emerging generalist practitioners about the consequences of oppression in the lives of the clients they work with. More emphasis within social work education could be placed on practical ways of contextualizing forms of oppression as each relates specifically to practice. The following provides a description of the oppression of ‘ableism’, and offers an applied training module to help prepare generalist social workers (i.e. current students or direct practitioners) to work with issues of disability as they emerge in their direct practice with clients. The training module helps to facilitate learning specific to the leading theoretical discussions and the social context of disability within society. Through these discussions students might then become more aware of their role as practitioners in challenging the oppression of ‘ableism’, rather than maintain outdated modes of service delivery and intervention with those people disabled by the social environment

Psychosocial Characteristics and Successful Labour Market Attachment Among Young Adults: The Internalization of Individual Inadequacy as Explanations for Failures within the Labour Market

This is the published PDF of an article published in the Canadian Journal of Family and Youth.This qualitative research sought to better understand how young adults perceived factors leading to labour market success. Respondents (n=36) identified two psychosocial characteristics that contributed to their successful labour market attachment: 1) personal behaviours can contribute to labour market outcomes; and 2) individual inadequacies contribute to unsuccessful labour market attachment. The internalization of individual inadequacies is only enhanced by labour market policy strategies that seek primarily to aid in the development of basic skills (such as computer use and literacy), when, due to labour market shifts, government programs and policies should be focusing instead on the development of professional and technical level skills (such as field specific knowledge and abilities to carry out a particular employment role). Implications for programs and policies aimed at supporting young adult employment are discussed.This research was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). It was part of a Community and University Research Alliance grant that sought to better understand the experiences of young adults in lower income communities: The ACT (Assets Coming Together) for Youth Project (2009-2014)

Youth stakeholders in neighbourhood revitalization: A case example

From publisher: Most studies describing youth engagement, focus on the positive aspects for youth development and the individual benefits associated with participation in youth engagement activities. Receiving less attention within the literature is research investigating the benefit of youth engagement for the wider community. This paper describes and analyses the process of developing and implementing a participatory action arts based research project in one community in Calgary, Canada with adolescent youth. Our findings suggest that utilizing a participatory research process for youth engagement can help support a more comprehensive understanding of the significance of youth participation beyond individual measures of youth development. Discussion of challenges and outcomes is provided for replicability of the study design and process in other settings