Sally Palmer

Placement stability and inclusive practice in foster care: An empirical study.

Abstract This study analyzes the placement experiences of 184 children in four Ontario (Canada) Childrens Aid Societies. The research is based on theories of attachment and development regarding the importance of family relationships, as applied to children in out-of-home care. It provides an empirical test of this theory, by seeking for links between inclusive practice and placement stability. Inclusive practice was defined as treating parents as an important part of their childrens lives, e.g. involving parents in the placement process and helping children with their feelings about living apart from their families. These practices, and other relevant variables, were measured at the outset, then childrens placement changes were tracked for the following eighteen months. A significant percentage of variability in placement stability was accounted for by two conditions: the childrens behavior and the involvement of their parents in preparing them for placement.

Strengthening Social Worker-Client Relationships in Child Protective Services: Addressing Power Imbalances and ‘Ruptured’ Relationships

Few researchers have set out to explore parents’ feelings about their experiences with Child Protective Services (CPS) particularly as they relate to the relationship between workers and parents who come to the attention of CPS. Yet the worker-client relationship is a central aspect of social work intervention, contributing to positive case resolutions. Understanding aspects of this relationship can contribute to improved CPS. This article reports findings from a qualitative study that used in-depth interviews to explore the experiences of 61 parents who had involvement with CPS.1 Parents appreciated workers who were caring, genuine, empathetic, exceptionally helpful, non-judgmental, and accepting. Negative qualities of workers identified by parents were being judgmental, cold and uncaring, poor listeners, critical, and insincere. Child protection interventions can result in greater actual and/or perceived power imbalances between the client and the worker compared to other social work interventions. Our findings, however, suggest that a positive alliance can be achieved within the context of the adversarial and complex nature of CPS. Possible ways to maintain relationships or rebuild ‘ruptured’ relationships are suggested.

Characteristics of court-involved men and non-court-involved men who abuse their wives

The characteristics of court involved (CI) (n=86) and non-court-involved (NCI) men (n=42) who abused their wives and attended a treatment program were investigated. The groups experienced similar childhoods concerning family violence. The NCI men had more years of education, were more likely to be employed full-time, and tended to earn more money than the CI men. The NCI men also had more social support and scored higher on interpersonal problems than the CI men. The CI men were more likely to be separated, more reported drinking during their most recent assaultive occasion. Compared to the norms on the Basic Personality Inventory, both groups scored significantly higher on depression, anxiety, feelings of alienation, hypochondriasis, and impulse expression. CI men had higher denial and social introversion scores and NCI men had higher interpersonal problem scores than the norm. These findings have some implications for the planning of treatment programs.

Consent and Participation: Ethical Issues in the Treatment of Children in Out-of-Home Care

Mental health service (MHS) providers confront questions of informed consent for evaluation and treatment of children in state custody who are placed in residential or foster care programs, where legal responsibility is shared between state and parent. There are ethical issues encountered by MHS providers who work with this growing population of children in placement. Matters of informed consent and access to information about treatment influence relationships with the parents, legal guardians, Child Protective Service workers, and the child. These specific concerns are addressed: informed consent, the right to be informed, and the rights of parents or foster carers to participate in a childs treatment. Recommendations for resolving dilemmas faced by MHS providers are discussed.

What Works for Survivors of Childhood Abuse: Learning From Participants in an Inpatient Treatment Program

Thirty adults were interviewed about their experiences in a 6-week program for recovery from posttraumatic stress. The most valued aspects were their relationships with staff and the staffs expertise in treating the long-term effects of abuse. They valued the structured group treatment that allowed them to process emotions with the goal of healing. A few were upset by process groups, whereas others had difficulty with the sudden loss of support at discharge from the program.

Including birth families in foster care: A Canadian-British comparison

Abstract This study compares the foster placement experiences of 228 children in Canada with 141 children in Britain, with a focus on practices encouraging birth parent involvement. There was a remarkable similarity in reasons for placement between the two countries, except for parental addictions, sexual abuse, and distinctions between physical ‘abuse’ and ‘neglect’. The British workers had more training in dealing with separation and more child welfare experience. Their practices were more inclusive of birth families. In both countries, however, birth families were generally not included in the initial placement of their children, contrary to accepted separation theory.

Balancing Positive Outcomes with Vicarious Traumatization: Participants' Experiences with Group Treatment for Long-Term Effects of Childhood Abuse

ABSTRACT A total of 30 adult survivors of childhood abuse were interviewed approximately 6 months after completing a 6-week inpatient program for traumatic stress recovery. Their progress was assessed by standardized instruments that measured PTSD symptoms, general psychiatric symptoms, trauma-related beliefs, and self-esteem at discharge, 3, 6, and 12 months posttreatment. Most interviewees spoke positively about their treatment experience, and were maintaining gains at 6-month follow-up. Six (20%) of the interviewees, however, reported some negative effects from their participation in process groups, including vicarious traumatization (VT). Compared with the other 24 interviewees, the six who reported VT had more previous hospitalizations, and poorer scores on measures of treatment gains at the 6-month follow-up, as assessed by the standardized measures. Implications for screening survivors for group treatment are discussed.