Parental Death, Shifting Family Dynamics and Female Identity Development

This article is a report of research that explored how the death of a parent influences a woman’s identity development. Qualitative methodology and data analysis procedures based on grounded theory were used for the research. Eighteen women who experienced parental death between age 11 and 17, were recruited by convenience sampling. Shifts in family relationships and roles, in part, influenced who these young women became. Many young women were expected to take on a care-giving role to support the surviving parent and replace the deceased. The transition in the relationship between the adolescent girl and surviving parent was an important theme for identity development

Spiritual and Religious Transformation in Women Who Were Parentally Bereaved as Adolescents

This article is based on a larger research study that focused on how an adolescent girl’s identity development is influenced by the death of a parent. A sample of 18 women was recruited for the study. This article highlights the transformation of these women’s spiritual and religious beliefs as part of their identity development following the death of their parents. The different pathways the women took with respect to their views on religion and spirituality are exemplified in what follows, highlighting themes of struggle and connection

Practice-based Qualitative Research: Participant Experiences of Walk-in Counselling and Traditional Counselling

Walk-in single session counselling is becoming a more widely used model for delivering mental health services across Ontario. This paper reports findings from the qualitative phase of a mixed method study, exploring the experiences of those attending walk-in counselling (WIC) model compared to the traditional service delivery model employing a wait list. We used a comparative case study design for the qualitative phase. Findings reveal that participant outcomes of the walk-in counselling model is influenced by accessibility, how a participant makes sense of the service, and the degree to which a participant is motivated and able to engage in counselling. WIC supports the mental health system by reducing wait lists associated with traditional service delivery models, and meeting the needs many people identify for immediate consultation. Other participants still perceive themselves as requiring ongoing counselling over time and involving in-depth exploration. This research supports health systems providing access to both models

The Walk-in Counselling Model of Service Delivery: Who Benefits Most?

The walk-in counselling (WIC) model of service delivery has been found to reduce psychological distress more quickly than a traditional model of service delivery involving a wait list. A question remains, however, as to the relative benefit of the WIC model for different client groups. The present study uses graphical inspection and multilevel modeling to conduct moderator analyses comparing two agencies, one with a WIC clinic and the other with a traditional wait list approach, and their relative impact on psychological distress. Key findings regarding the differential benefits for different types of presenting problems as well as clients at different stages of change are discussed. La recherche montre qu\u27un service de consultation sans rendez-vous réduit la détresse psychologique plus rapidement qu\u27un modèle traditionnel fonctionnant avec liste d\u27attente. Les bénéfices relatifs du modèle de consultation sans rendez-vous pour différentes clientèles demeurent cependant méconnus. Cette étude utilise l\u27inspection de graphiques et la modélisation multiniveau afin de mener une analyse de modération qui compare deux cliniques: sans rendez-vous ou suivant le modèle traditionnel avec liste d\u27attente. L\u27étude examine les impacts relatifs de ces modèles sur la détresse psychologique. Les principaux résultats portent sur les bénéfices différentiels selon les problématiques de santé mentale présentées et selon les stades de changement des usagers

Cost-effectiveness analysis of single-session walk-in counselling

Background: An increasing number of family service agencies and community-based mental health service providers are implementing a single-session walk-in counselling (SSWIC) as an alternative to traditional counselling. However, few economic evaluations have been undertaken. Aims: To conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of two models of service delivery, SSWIC compared to being waitlisted for traditional counselling. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was employed. Data were collected from two community-based Family Service Agencies, one using SSWIC and one using traditional counselling. Participants were assessed at baseline and four weeks after the baseline. Cost-effectiveness was estimated from the societal and payer’s perspective. Results: The societal and payer’s costs for SSWIC were higher than for those waiting for traditional counselling, and health outcomes were better. SSWIC is not cost-effective compared to being on the waitlist for traditional counselling (or, for a few patients, having received counselling, but after a wait of several weeks). Conclusions: SSWIC has the potential to reduce the pressure on the mental health care system by reducing emergency visits and wait lists for ongoing mental health services and eliminating costly-no shows at counselling appointments. Long-term studies involving multiple walk-in counselling services and comparison services are needed to support the findings of this study

A comparison of walk-in counselling and the wait list model for delivering counselling services

Background: Walk-in counselling has been used to reduce wait times but there are few controlled studies to compare outcomes between walk-in and the traditional model of service delivery. Aims: To compare change in psychological distress by clients receiving services from two models of service delivery, a walk-in counselling model and a traditional counselling model involving a wait list Method: Mixed methods sequential explanatory design including quantitative comparison of groups with one pre-test and two follow ups, and qualitative analysis of interviews with a subsample. 524 participants 16 years and older were recruited from two Family Counselling Agencies; the General Health Questionnaire assessed change in psychological distress; prior use of other mental health and instrumental services was also reported. Results: Hierarchical linear modelling revealed clients of the walk-in model improved faster and were less distressed at the 4-week follow-up compared to the traditional service delivery model. At the 10-week follow-up, both groups had improved and were similar. Participants receiving instrumental services prior to baseline improved more slowly. Qualitative interviews confirmed participants valued the accessibility of the walk-in model. Conclusions: This study improves methodologically on previous studies of walk-in counselling, an approach to service delivery that is not conducive to randomized controlled trials

Spiritual and Religious Transformation in Women Who Were Parentally Bereaved as Adolescents

This article is based on a larger research study that focused on how an adolescent girl’s identity development is influenced by the death of a parent. A sample of 18 women was recruited for the study. This article highlights the transformation of these women’s spiritual and religious beliefs as part of their identity development following the death of their parents. The different pathways the women took with respect to their views on religion and spirituality are exemplified in what follows, highlighting themes of struggle and connection

Social Work Curriculum Review Case Study : Service Users Tell Us What Makes Effective Social Workers

This paper presents the findings from community focus groups, comprised of social service users, and explores the characteristics of effective social workers. Focus groups were conducted as part of a case study to inform a Master of Social Work (MSW) curriculum review at Wilfrid Laurier University’s Faculty of Social Work. Wilfrid Laurier University has two MSW programs—the MSW Aboriginal Field of Study (AFS) and a non-Aboriginal program. The case for this study was the non-Aboriginal MSW program. Ongoing program evaluation that includes feedback from service users honours the knowledge of marginalized communities, and is an accreditation requirement of the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE). Four focus groups were conducted with a total of 24 individuals who access programs from human service organizations that provide supportive housing, immigrant, or refugee services in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Service users identified numerous characteristics of effective social workers, including kindness, cultural awareness, and strong communication skills, as well as the need to articulate and address issues of professional suitability. We conclude by querying whether the typical assessment of MSW students’ suitability for the profession is adequate, and provide the AFS wholistic and comprehensive evaluation as an example of an alternative approach to MSW student assessment.Le présent article traite des résultats de groupes de consultation communautaire auprès d’usagers de services sociaux et il explore les caractéristiques d’un travailleur social efficace. Les groupes de consultation ont été menés lors d’une étude pour orienter une évaluation de la maîtrise en service social à la Faculté de service social de l’Université Wilfrid-Laurier. Cet établissement a en fait deux programmes de maîtrise en service social : un dans le domaine d’études autochtones et l’autre dans le domaine non autochtone. Le présent article porte sur le programme non autochtone. L’évaluation continue du programme, y compris l’obtention des impressions des utilisateurs du service, rend hommage au savoir des communautés marginalisées et fait partie des exigences de l’agrément conféré par l’Association canadienne pour la formation en travail social (ACFTS). Quatre groupes de consultation ont eu lieu auprès d’un total de 24 personnes ayant profité de programmes d’organismes de services sociaux, y compris de services de logement supervisé, de services aux immigrants et de services aux réfugiés dans la région de Kitchener-Waterloo. Les usagers des services ont relevé de nombreux attributs d’un travailleur social efficace, y compris la gentillesse, la sensibilité culturelle et de solides habiletés en communication. Ils ont aussi fait ressortir la nécessité d’exposer les questions d’aptitudes à la profession et d’en traiter. Nous terminons l’article en nous demandant si l’évaluation habituelle des aptitudes à exercer la profession, à laquelle sont soumis les étudiants à la maîtrise en service social, est appropriée et nous présentons l’évaluation holistique et exhaustive du programme en milieu autochtone comme exemple d’évaluation de rechange