Atalia Mosek

The self-concept of adolescent girls in non-relative versus kin foster care

This article examines the self-concept of adolescent girls in Israel as an indication of their relative well-being. It compares self-concept of girls cared for by kin with those cared for in non-related foster families. Self-concept was defined phenomenologically and measured using the Offer Self Image Questionnaire, OSIQ. Results indicate significant differences in psychological self-image, in social relations, sexual self-image and ability to adapt to new situations; adolescents placed with their relatives scored better on all criteria. Results are interpreted according to the girls’ characteristics, biological and adoptive families and relations with them. The authors suggest pointers for future policy and clinical intervention.

Well-being and parental contact of foster children in Israel: a different situation from the USA?

A sense of discomfort is noted among child welfare workers in Israel as well as in the United States regarding the well-being of children in foster care. The reasons are threefold: (1) ideological: Weiner and Weiner (1990) challenged the professional position that the least detrimental setting for children is families, by showing the relative developmental advantage of children in Israel who grew up in adoption and child institutions when compared with foster care; (2) social: in the United States, doubts are raised regarding the ability of ’ordinary’ foster families to care for children who enter care when they are older with more severe personal and family problems due to the increase of divorce, teenage pregnancy, drugs and Aids (Terpstra and McFadden, 1991); (3) policy: permanency issues are challenged as questions are asked regarding the value of continued ties with birth parents. While in the United States the emphasis is placed on research which supports the importance of continued ties (Hess, 1987), in Israel the evidence is contradictory as recently Benbenshati et al. (1990) reported no significant correlation between parental contact and the well-being of children in care. Troubled by these issues, we attempted to test whether the relationship between the child’s well-being and the frequency and quality of the relationship with the natural family is valid for Israel as well as the United States, and to review our findings in light of differences in ideology, policy and reality between the two countries. A child placed in care must deal simultaneously with separation from parents and adjustment to a new environment. Littner (1975) suggested, from a clinical point_ of view, that maintaining ties with natural parents enables the child to integrate his or her place in the natural and foster family. In the absence of such ties, the child

Romantic Jealousy From the Perspectives of Bowen’s Concept of Differentiation and Gender Differences

This study explores whether differentiation of the self, a concept suggested by Bowen, can explain and predict the tendency for romantic jealousy. It also looks into gender differences in the expressions and reactions to romantic jealousy. Data were gathered from married couples (242 participants), utilizing self-report questionnaires that measure emotional, cognitive, and behavioral expressions of jealousy, evaluate the respondent’s level of differentiation, and collect background data. The findings show that participants with lower levels of differentiation reported higher levels of jealousy. Women reported higher levels of emotional arousal, had a stronger cognitive tendency to interpret a variety of situations as arousing jealousy, and were inclined to invest more in attempting to preserve the couple relationship. Implications of these findings for future research and practice of clinical couple therapy are discussed.

Developing a shared research agenda for working with families where a parent has a mental illness

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to identify a shared, international and inter-disciplinary research agenda amongst practitioners, researchers and administrators, in relation to families where a parent has a mental illness. Fifty-seven participants, identified as key informants were invited to respond to the following query: “What key research question(s) do you want answered that if answered would help to significantly improve services to families where a parent has a mental illness?” 144 responses were qualitatively analyzed by three members of the research team. In order of frequency, the resulting research agendas were: (i) service re-orientation, (ii) interventions (iii) risk and protective factors, (iv) parent, child and family feedback and involvement, (v) stigma and (vi) reach and access. Overall, this study provides an indication of priority research areas, which according to stakeholders are most in need of investigation.

Developing Specific Self-Efficacy and Resilience as First Responders among Students of Social Work and Stress and Trauma Studies

This article addresses the challenging task of preparing baccalaureate social work students to master proficiency as first responders in stress and trauma situations. We begin with a brief description of the context, goals, admission procedure, structure, and process of a stress and trauma studies (STS) program. We then compare the development of resilience and general and specific self-efficacy among STS students and graduates, with parallel developments among non-STS students in the BSW program. The evaluation of the program by the participating students should further an understanding of the significance of their learning experience.

Creating Community Partnership as Foundation for Community Building: The Case of the Renewed Kibbutz

ABSTRACT Expansion neighborhoods, built adjacent to kibbutz neighborhoods, are a new phenomenon in the rural peripheral regions of Israel. This article evaluates the process of building community partnerships, describes frictions created between residents of the expansion neighborhoods and kibbutz members, and defines challenges that need to be overcome in order to build an integrated community within the renewed kibbutz.Data collection was based on face-to-face interviews with new residents and officials from 10 kibbutzim. Qualitative analysis show the complexity involved in the process of building community partnerships and emphasizes the need to develop structures that will allow for dialogue and collaboration.

Cross-cultural comparison of attitudes of child welfare workers in New York and Israel

Any discussion of child welfare issues concerning maternal deprivation, abandonment and child placement brings to the surface intense feelings of hate and pity, anger, hopelessness and helplessness, with an urge to comfort and hug the child and blame the parents. Practice in child-welfare calls for feelings, and these are enmeshed in values. The value situation in child welfare is an unidentified terrain.

An academic college in the front lines of war: a study of organisational coping

A phenomenological case study of organisational coping during war describes the strategic stages and their perception by 49 participants representing the college’s four sectors (management, faculty, administrative personnel and students). The findings show that the war did not cause severe and lasting harm to the functioning of the college. However, an analysis of the data highlights the successfully fulfilled crisis management tasks in contrast to the neglected tasks. The results suggest that a greater balance between transactional and transformative styles of leadership is required for this type of organisation during crisis and especially upon its conclusion.