Jokinen, Nancy

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.

This research explores women's experiences in recovery from addiction in a suburban area of Mississauga, Ontario (ON). In the suburbs drugs are not as localized as they might be in a city. The goal set out in this research was to better understand recovery from the women’s perspectives as well as identify barriers, challenges, and benefits they faced in recovery and treatment programs. The research offers suggestions on how this information could be considered when creating or adapting current recovery and treatment programs. The research may also help us understand and improve women’s entry, retention, and completion of treatment programs. Six participants participated in semi-structured interviews, four in person and two over the video platform Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thematic analysis was conducted and four themes emerged: opinions on treatment programs, cravings and withdrawals, support, and recommendations to improve treatment programs.

Children often slip through the cracks in the systems when they display disruptive behaviours in classrooms but have no mental health diagnoses. Without medical explanations for behaviours, which may or may not be warranted, students face suspensions or removal from schools possibly leading to poorer life outcomes. There can be as many reasons for disruptive behaviours – undiagnosed mental illnesses, childhood adversity, life transitions, and more – as there can be justifications for not diagnosing children at a young age: labeling, stigma, apprehension from parents, and so on. Often supports for students require them to have diagnoses. This report details my practicum experience within the Social Work Program in the Indigenous Education Department of School District #57 in Prince George, British Columbia (BC). It is an exploration of the role of Indigenous Social Workers as they navigate the myriad of situations they face when working with students who frequently display disruptive behaviours.

This practicum report explores a social work role at the Ministry of Children and Family Development’s Youth Forensic Psychiatric Services (YFPS), located at the North Region Outpatient Clinic in Prince George, British Columbia. YFPS receives referrals through court orders and probation officers to offer comprehensive assessment and treatment services to youth who are involved with the youth criminal justice system. Youth may become involved with the justice system for various reasons and, once involved with the justice system, have multiple options for treatment and/ or rehabilitation. This report explores some of the resources youth may become involved with and how social workers through YFPS play a role in supporting youth in the justice system. The main goal of my graduate practicum was to broaden my social work skills by exposing myself to a new social work field and client population. Within this larger goal, my learning objectives focused on increasing knowledge and skills in conducting and writing assessments and broadening my clinical knowledge, as well as focusing on how my work at YFPS fit into Trauma-Informed and Anti-Oppressive lenses. Overall, I was able to develop new skills and work collaboratively to offer comprehensive services to youth who were involved in the justice system.

A Master of Social Work practicum at Walmsley and Validity Counselling was completed in support of my desire to advance my general clinical skills and integrate Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) into my personal practice model. This report begins with a placing of self and localization of practice considerations to northern British Columbia. A literature review on DBT is provided as context for reflection on my learning goals, which explore topics of professional drift, private versus non-profit organization models, northern practice considerations, component versus comprehensive DBT practice, and the cultural safety of mindfulness and acceptance-based therapies. The wisdom and skills gained from this experience, particularly the integration of DBT-informed therapy into my personal practice model, are reviewed in chapters on learning outcomes and implications for practice. This practicum resulted in a strong desire to continue to practice emotion and family focused social work in Prince George, British Columbia.