A Framework for Social Work Practice: Usma Child and Family Services
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A Framework for Social Work Practice: Usma Child and Family Services by Linda Lucas B.S.W., University of Victoria, 1996 A Thesis submitted in the partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK in the faculty of Graduate Studies, School of Social Work Linda Lucas, 2008 University of Victoria All rights reserved. This thesis may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without the permission of the author ISBN:978-0-494-47353-5 ii Supervisory Committee A Framework for Social Work Practice: Usma Child and Family Services by Linda Lucas B.S.W., University of Victoria, 1996 Supervisory Committee Dr. Leslie Brown, (School of Social Work) Supervisor Dr. Andrew Armitage, (School of Social Work) Departmental Member Dr. Susan Boyd, (Studies in Policy and Practice) Outside Member Dr. William McGhee, (Human and Social Development) External Examiner iii Supervisory Committee Dr. Leslie Brown, (School of Social Work) Supervisor Dr. Andrew Armitage, (School of Social Work) Departmental Member Dr. Susan Boyd, (Studies in Policy and Practice) Outside Member Dr. William McGhee, (Human and Social Development) External Examiner Abstract This exploratory study examines social work practice at Usma Child and Family Services and provides a descriptive understanding of social work practice within the Nuu chah nulth communities. An interpretive analysis explores participants’ views about social work practice in a First Nations child welfare context. Qualitative interviewing and thematic analyses provide the basis for theme identification, which includes: Historical and political influences; Family and extended family; Building relationships; Children in care: knowing where they are from; and Helper’s values. The study concludes with a discussion of Aboriginal social work practice as a decolonizing framework. iv Table of Contents SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE ........................................................................................................................ii ABSTRACT.........................................................................................................................................................iii TABLE OF CONTENTS....................................................................................................................................iv CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................1 STATEMENT OF NEED FOR THE STUDY...................................................................................................................4 PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH ..................................................................................................................................5 RESEARCH QUESTION ............................................................................................................................................6 THESIS OUTLINE ....................................................................................................................................................7 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ...........................................................................................................9 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................................9 LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY CONTEXT .....................................................................................................................9 THE IMPETUS FOR ABORIGINAL CONTROL OF CHILD WELFARE ..........................................................................16 ABORIGINAL HELPING PRACTICES.......................................................................................................................30 Colonialism and Social Work.........................................................................................................................31 An Aboriginal Strengths Based Approach......................................................................................................33 PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND CHILD WELFARE ...................................................................................................39 Carrier Sekani Child and Family Services.....................................................................................................41 Lalum’utul’Smun’eem Child and Family Services.........................................................................................43 Tikinagan Child and Family Services: Talking Together Circle....................................................................44 Mi’kmaw Family and Children’s Services .....................................................................................................46 Usma Child and Family Services – Preventative Services.............................................................................46 CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................................................................48 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY....................................................................................................................51 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................51 QUALITATIVE DESIGN .................................................................................................................................53 SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS AND DATA COLLECTION .......................................................................................53 QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWS.......................................................................................................................56 DATA ANALYSIS ..................................................................................................................................................56 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS..................................................................................................................................57 v SITUATING THE RESEARCHER ..............................................................................................................................59 LIMITATIONS OF THE RESEARCH..........................................................................................................................60 CHAPTER 4: THE RESEARCH FINDINGS.................................................................................................62 THE PRACTICE APPROACH ...................................................................................................................................62 DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS OF THE RESEARCH ............................................................................................80 REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................................86 APPENDIX A .....................................................................................................................................................97 APPENDIX B .....................................................................................................................................................98 APPENDIX C .....................................................................................................................................................99 APPENDIX D ...................................................................................................................................................100 Chapter 1: Introduction I have had this vivid memory, which I have never forgotten, of walking with my grandmother on First Street in Port Alberni. I was only about 3 years old and we had recently moved from the Hesquiaht reserve to Port Alberni as my grandmother’s health required specialized medical attention. As we were walking, I noticed Victor, my cousin sitting on the front steps of a house. I wanted to run to him but my grandmother stopped me. I continued to walk with her but I know Victor looked sad and forlorn that we just walked past him, without really acknowledging him. I couldn’t understand why he wasn’t with us or why we couldn’t talk to him, after all he had moved with us from Hesquiaht to Port Alberni. It was not until my adult life that I am became aware that Victor was in foster care and remained in foster care, bouncing from home to home until he reached 19 years of age. I also came to understand that my grandmother could not continue to care for Victor and me at the same time. In hindsight, I suppose it was either Victor or me in foster care, I am grateful it was not me, but I have lived with a sense of guilt that Victor’s fate was foster care. I did not see Victor again till I was in my 30’s. Victor passed away in March 2005 of AIDS and prior to his passing we were finally able to talk about that fateful day that I walked passed him as a child with my grandmother and we could not acknowledge him. It was a cathartic and emotional experience for both of us (Linda Lucas, personal memoirs). I have started my introduction to my thesis with this short life story, which epitomizes my first experience with child welfare. As an adolescent, I used to ponder and reflect on Victor and his fate; it made me wonder and question: “Where was the family?” “Where was his mom?” “Why didn’t anyone step up