Pearson, Tammy

Child protection workers are responsible for making complex decisions to protect children from abuse and neglect. Child protection workers receive specialized training on how to make unbiased decisions based on evidence. Yet, external factors can influence the decision-making process. Method: A qualitative study using interpretative description was deployed and eight former child protection workers in northern British Columbia were interviewed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with an emphasis on the external factors that may influence child protection workers’ decision to remove a child from a legal guardian. Results: Three main themes with 10 subthemes emerged from the data. The first overarching theme was pressure (workload, appearance, politics, and policies). The second overarching theme was hierarchy (management, team leader, team members, and experience). The final overarching theme was resources (support services and placements). The former child protection workers established and clarified external factors that may influence their decision-making process. Conclusions: Several external factors that influenced decision making in relation to the removal of a child from a legal guardian were identified. These findings may help inform professional training for future child protection workers.

Practicum placements are the signature method used in undergraduate nursing programs to consolidate knowledge in practice. The literature review conducted before this study showed limited research on pediatric practices in undergraduate nursing education. This qualitative descriptive study, analyzed within Knowles’ (1977) adult learning theory framework, explored the practicum experiences of nursing students and the value they ascribed to their learning experience. The acute and community pediatric practicum experiences of 13 undergraduate nursing students and two recent graduates in British Columbia were explored using semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis of interview data generated four overarching themes: relational practice, knowledge consolidation, identity formation, and exposure. Findings from the study indicated that nursing students valued pediatric placement opportunities that provided a variety of learning experiences and allowed them to work within their perceived scope. Information from this study can inform the planning and management of pediatric practicum experiences for nursing students in undergraduate nursing programs.

Mental Health affects one in five people in Canada (Statistics Canada, 2022), many of whom will seek treatment at a residential center with support for those recovering from addiction. This paper presents my Graduate Practicum Report completed at an Addictions treatment center, the Top of the World Ranch (TWR), located in the East Kootenays of British Columbia. The practicum was focused on addictions, mental health, and counselling modalities as they apply to the context of addiction, with the goal of applying skills and modalities studied in the course work of my MSW preceding this final practicum. After reviewing mainstream and holistic modalities like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), shinrin yoku, visualization, and meditation, I assembled a strong set of tools to offer value at an addiction treatment center with a focus on trauma informed practice. Key learnings in this report include the usage of art therapy and visualization as effective tools in recovery from addiction. I also found a meaningful way to integrate music into my personal therapeutic approach. Additionally, I found programs that involved visualization and meditation to be both an enjoyable way of working and extraordinarily helpful for clients’ recovery process. My practicum at the TWR was one of the most important learning experiences of my life that will inform all that I do moving forward in my career as a counsellor and social worker.

This study describes the experiences of foster parents who have companion animals in their homes and the perceived impacts these animals have on children and youth in foster care. Six participants were interviewed regarding their experiences with animals in their home environment, their relationship with their foster children, and themselves, and the benefits and challenges of having a companion animal in the home. A qualitative, exploratory inquiry was conducted. Data analysis was completed using thematic analysis which revealed six central themes with 12 subthemes: (1) provision of companionship (subthemes include unconditional love); (2) strengthening of the foster home environment (environmental connection, increased feelings of safety); (3) teaching empathy (including responsibility and compassion); (4) emotional regulation (grief, emotional support, and calming presence); (5) benefits to foster parents (companionship, unconditional love, emotional support, additional support); (6) challenges. These findings have important implications for future social work practice and specific recommendations were created from the findings of this study.

This practicum report is an integration of self-reflection, current literature, research, theory, and knowledge, based on my Master of Social Work field practicum with the Youth services Team at Carrier Sekani Family Services located in Prince George, British Columbia. This report focuses on the significance of systemic, social, economic, and cultural barriers and the ongoing consequences these obstacles have on the life outcomes for Indigenous youth aging out of care. This report identifies the population currently accessing services at Carrier Sekani Family Services and provides statistical evidence to highlight the significance of this social phenomenon. Furthermore the integration of social work practice with theoretical approaches combined with academic literature relevant to my practicum placement is discussed. Finally, the report concludes with a discussion on relevant learning experiences and the implications certain events can have on personal and professional development.

The purpose of this report is to summarize my practicum experience with the Gitanmaax Men’s Group at the Gitanmaax Health and Wellness Centre in Gitanmaax Village, BC. The agency serves Gitanmaax membership living within the community of Gitanmaax village as well as those living off-reserve in the surrounding area. This report outlines the learning goals of my practicum and how those objectives were met through reflection, supervision, mentorship, and practice. Unforeseen learning came as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it was having on the Gitxsan nation and on the transfer of cultural knowledge to the younger generation. Along with strengthening my social work skills, my practicum allowed me to explore rural ethics in social work and how these connect to practice. This account of what emerged from my practicum learning concludes with suggestions around ethics, self-care, service delivery, and one’s role as a non–First Nations person working in a First Nations community.

Exploring the experiences of people who build a casket for a loved one is not clearly delineated in academic literature. This study focused on identifying and sharing the experiences of people who engaged in casket building for a loved one. The purpose of the research was to explore and interpret people’s experiences with casket building. Using an interpretive description approach and thematic data analysis, my research encompassed the experiences of four people who engaged in casket building for a loved one. Ultimately, four themes were generated: 1) A Desire for Something Different, 2) Influential Death Rituals, 3) The Importance of Relationships, and 4) Maintaining Wellness. The research supports those who may choose to follow in their footsteps. The study also encourages social workers to utilize practices, which some may consider non-traditional, to best meet the needs of the populations they serve.

In reviewing the literature it is apparent that HIV diagnosis and treatment has improved greatly over the years. Treatment is now simpler with fewer side effects and the concept of U=U, having an undetectable viral load means the virus is untransmittable, has given many women more confidence to lead healthy and positive lives. Many women are supported by the work of organizations such as Positive Living North which allows them a place to access nonjudgmental peer interactions and acceptance. The purpose of this report is to summarize my practicum experience at the Positive Living North: No khe̅ yoh t'sih'en t'sehena Society (PLN) in Prince George, British Columbia. This report outlines my expectations and goals within my practicum and how my learning objectives were met through observation, discussion, and practice. This experience allowed me to examine and reflect upon inherent biases as well as reimagining my future practice as a social worker.

Through my practicum, I explored the role of a child and youth mental health clinician (CYMH) while also expanding and adapting my clinical skills and therapeutic modalities. Early childhood development and trauma have shown to have tremendous influence over the onset of future mental health concerns, while epigenetics and biology also play a key role in the development of potential neurological disorders. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness and Expressive Arts Therapy were investigated within the realm of mental health. These modalities are actively used as therapeutic tools within CYMH. This practicum report expands on the role of trauma within mental health, exploring holistic approaches such as Expressive Arts Therapy and meditation in concurrence with CBT and MBSR to facilitate deeper understanding of a person’s narrative through their own creative and subjective experience. While pharmacology helps keep symptomology at a baseline, it is the coping and regulation tools that are needed to help a person navigate their own internal processes and stress modulation in order to achieve post-traumatic growth.

This practicum report describes my experience of working with adults who presented with mental health concerns at the Primary Care Interprofessional Team (PCIPT) at Northern Interior Health Unit, Prince George. Primary care is a relatively new model in health care that seeks to move away from the old practice where treatment of mental illness was mostly provided by the general practitioners. Primary health care relies on the contributions of team members to work collaboratively to address the different needs of the clients. The purpose of my practicum was to find out how clients benefit when different disciplines work together to improve their health outcome. This report described my learning goals and objectives and how they were met through observation, reflection, and practice. The practicum experience also enabled me to further develop my social work skills and have an understanding of how mental health problems affect individual wellbeing.

This report provides an overview of my practicum placement with a non-profit organization, Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS), in particular its Health and Wellness Program. Most of my placement was at Ormand Lake Cultural Healing Camp, known in Carrier language and within the Carrier nations as Choostl’o Bunk’ut. CSFS serves 11 Carrier First Nations bands in north central British Columbia. The objective of my practicum was to gain competency working with Indigenous peoples and their communities and to understand Indigenous wellness from the perspective of the Carrier people. Overall, this practicum helped me to explore my interest in Indigenous mental health and traditional healing. This report will discuss my experiences as a practicum student and will explore how culture can be used for healing in mental health. Several topics that emerged in relation to my practicum goals will be outlined, including ethics and boundaries, spirituality, clinical and alternative practice skills, and integrating Indigenous and Western approaches.

The topic of Indigenous women’s experiences with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) at the birth of their child is one that falls through the gaps of current literature. This thesis is focused on identifying the experiences of Indigenous women when MCFD intervenes at the birth of their child; the purpose is to gain insight into the strengths and weaknesses of child welfare interventions. I interviewed five Indigenous women using an interpretive description approach and analyzed the data using constant comparative analysis as well as conventional content analysis techniques. The findings highlighted the impact of child welfare involvement that included: powerful emotions, trust, communication and dismantled families; a structural power imbalance characterized as feeling powerless, being watched and judged, and jumping through hoops; addiction; socioeconomic struggles that included young mothers and homelessness, poverty, and neglect; missed preventative opportunities; the role of advocacy; identity and culture; and bonding. In conclusion, child welfare practice needs to include opportunities for preventative measures and planning to optimize support and communication with Indigenous pregnant women and mothers.