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This paper addresses an immediate gap in knowledge about community reintegration of previously incarcerated older adults. It presents an exploratory case study of a community residential facility program in Ontario, Canada, focusing on the experiences and perspectives of older residents, staff members, and community stakeholders on the community reintegration of previously incarcerated older men. Findings provide insights into the aging-related reintegration issues such as the older men's ability to access health and medical services upon community reentry, the challenges and opportunities of the continuum of support (or lack thereof) to help ease the reintegration process, and stigma and other barriers the older men face as they attempt to access long-term care upon release from correctional institutions. Emergent questions for research, policy, and practice are highlighted and discussed to set an agenda for expanding the thread of inquiry into the community reintegration of previously incarcerated older adults. Future research calls for further investigation into the diversity of experiences (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, geographical locale) to advance the field of study as it relates to aging and social policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the operations of heterosexism and strategies to counter it in a particular service context: the context of psychosocial support services for women with cancer. The paper draws on findings from a participatory, qualitative study set in Ontario, Canada in which 26 lesbians were interviewed about their experiences of cancer diagnosis, treatment, health care and social support, and their feelings and perceptions about shifts in identity, body, sexuality and relationships. This paper focuses on findings related to the changes research participants perceived as necessary in the provision and organization of cancer support services, in order to increase access and ensure equity for lesbians with cancer and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Canadian government recently sanctioned a supervised consumption site (SCS) that is currently in Vancouver, British Columbia. The government is open to sanctioning more sites across the country; however, by law the federal health minister must consider whether such facilities are supported by local governments representing the cities where the sites are proposed to be located. Until 2016, the government of Canada's largest city, Toronto, did not support SCSs. Drawing on Lenton cannabis policy research, this study analyses government documents, policy papers, scientific reports, and newspaper articles and secondary literature to identify some of the significant barriers that minimised the likelihood that Toronto's council would support SCSs between 2003 and 2016. The report compares conditions in Toronto to those of Vancouver where SCSs have enjoyed council support since 2001. This study find that three conditions play an important role in explaining why SCSs were supported in Vancouver 14 years before they were endorsed in Toronto: (1) Strong public support; (2) Favourable electoral conditions; and (3) Law enforcement support. Changes in Toronto surrounding these conditions help explain why its council endorsed SCSs in 2016. This study concludes that Lenton's research holds utility as a socio-legal theory of municipal drug policy change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus) people, compared to their heterosexual and/or cisgender (non-transgender) counterparts, are more likely to be discriminated against based on their gender or sexual identities. Drawing on data from The OutLook Study in Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada this paper examines discrimination and social support among high school and post-secondary students, and how they are related to self-esteem. We found that transgender students in high school reported significantly higher levels of direct transphobia and of victimization compared to transgender post-secondary students. We found indirect homophobia and indirect transphobia had a significant adverse relationship to self-esteem. Further, social support from friends was related to higher self-esteem for cisgender LGBQ students, but not for transgender students. These findings have the potential to inform school-based policies and mental health interventions in support of improved wellbeing for LGBTQ + students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore health care providers' (HCP) experiences related to transitions in care from inpatient rehabilitation to the community for patients with limb loss. Materials and Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Participants were eligible if they were HCPs currently working in amputation rehabilitation at a rehabilitation hospital in Ontario, Canada, with at least 1-year experience in this setting, and could speak and understand English. Data were analyzed thematically using the six-step process of the DEPICT model dynamic reading, engaged codebook development, participatory coding, inclusive reviewing and summarizing of categories, collaborative analyzing and translating. Results: Fourteen HCPs from a variety of health care professions participated in this study. Five key themes describe participants' perspectives on the factors impacting patients' transition in care following limb loss. Specifically, participants emphasized patient preparedness, HCP follow-up, finances and funding, patient self-management skills, and psychosocial support as factors that could influence the transition in care. Conclusion: This study identified challenges to transitions in care for people with limb loss. Future research is needed to evaluate solutions to address these challenges in transitions in care. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Suboptimal transitions in care can result in readmission to the hospital, emergency department visits, and increased health care costs. Patient preparedness, follow-up, finances and funding, patient self-management skills, and psychosocial support are perceived to influence transitions in care from inpatient rehabilitation to the community. Improved access to follow-up and supports in the community and improved communication across the continuum of care could improve transitions for people with limb loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. This paper explores the nature of HIV-related stigma among South Asians in Toronto, its consequences for people living with it and its role in determining access to HIV services. Design. The study is based on data from four focus group discussions with members of an HIV outreach organization, HIV-positive men and women, and women of different ages from the mainstream South Asian community. The questions were adapted from the Explanatory Model Interview Catalog that has been widely used to assess health-related stigma. Results. HIV-related stigma was found to be high in Toronto's South Asian community. Respondents perceived it to be greater among South Asians than in other Canadian communities. South Asian families were said to harbor the most stigma, often rejecting HIV-positive members. Differences were noted between first- and second-generation South Asian migrants in knowledge about, and stigma toward, HIV. Women living with HIV were found to be particularly disadvantaged and stigmatized. Because of stigma, many people living with HIV concealed their illness and avoided HIV-related services. Conclusion. Major gaps in knowledge about HIV among Canadian South Asians, and a considerable amount of stigma against people living with HIV, were found. The implications of stigma were highly problematic for people living with HIV, impeding access to services and social support. The paper concludes with recommendations to address stigma, based on suggestions from the study's participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background There is limited research investigating the lived experiences of parents raising children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). The aim of this paper is to use qualitative analysis to identify how parents have adapted to the experience of raising their child with FASD. Method Eighty-four parents and caregivers of children with FASD in Ontario, Canada, participated in in-depth, semistructured interviews employing a basic interpretive approach. Results Parents of children with FASD report a number of strategies, supports, and transformational outcomes. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, 5 themes were identified: understanding FASD and advocating on their child's behalf, day-to-day adaptation, transformational outcomes, as well as the importance of informal and formal supports. Conclusions Understanding what families do in order to facilitate adaptation is important when assisting families who may not be adapting as successfully. Continued research looking at the family experience of raising a child with a developmental disability, such as FASD, is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, western governments influenced by neoliberalism have emphasized paid work as a key route to social inclusion and community participation for people with psychiatric disabilities. Although paid work can offer many rewards, access to mainstream employment for people with psychiatric disabilities is difficult as they continue to encounter discrimination and a lack of workplace accommodation. One response to these challenges has been the creation of social enterprises as ‘alternative spaces’ of employment for people with psychiatric disabilities. On the basis of interviews with key informants from 21 different social enterprises across Ontario, Canada, this paper critically analyzes the strategies used by organizations to create jobs that are both accommodating for people, but also conducive to the ongoing success of the business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many survivors of child sexual abuse who engage in psychotherapy also experience physical health problems. This article summarizes the findings of a multiphased qualitative study about survivors' experiences in healthcare settings. The study informed the development of the Handbook on Sensitive Practice for Health Care Practitioners: Lessons from Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse (Schachter, Stalker, Teram, Lasiuk, & Danilkewich, 2009), which is intended to help healthcare providers from all disciplines understand the effect of child sexual abuse on some survivors' abilities to access and benefit from health care. This paper discusses what psychotherapists can learn from the healthcare experiences of the male survivors who participated in this project. It also offers practical suggestions for supporting male clients who experience difficulty seeking treatment for physical health concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breastfeeding is not recommended for women living with HIV (WLWH) in Canada. We described the prevalence of breastfeeding and explored experiences of care, support, and stigma related to infant feeding. Setting: Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia (Canada). Methods: Data were obtained from the HIV Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study (CHIWOS) surveys, conducted between 2013 and 2018. Results: Breastfeeding was reported by 73.5% of the 786 women who delivered before HIV diagnosis and 7.3% of the 289 women who delivered after HIV diagnosis. Among them, earlier year of delivery, delivery outside of Canada, and African, Caribbean, Black ethnicity were independently associated with increased odds of breastfeeding. Among WLWH who had a live birth during the last year, 77% (40/52) felt that they had received support regarding infant feeding practices, and 77% (23/30) were concerned that not breastfeeding could lead to them being identified as WLWH. Among 71 women within one year postpartum at any one of the study waves, 89% reported having an undetectable viral load. Conclusion: Breastfeeding experiences were common among WLWH, most often prior to HIV diagnosis. Fear of unintentional HIV status disclosure when not breastfeeding and challenges to maintain an undetectable HIV viral load are important issues to address during postpartum care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-management is recommended for addressing chronic conditions, and self-management programmes improve health behaviours and outcomes. However, social and economic factors have been neglected in self-management research, despite their relevance for marginalized groups. Thus, we aimed to explore barriers and facilitators that influence self-management among socioeconomically marginalized people who use drugs (PWUD). Using community-based participatory methods, we developed a qualitative interview guide and conducted peer-led recruitment. Participants were admitted into the study after self-identifying as using non-prescribed drugs, having a chronic health issue, and experiencing socioeconomic marginalization. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, taking a relational autonomy lens. Participants highlighted substantial barriers to managing their health issues, mostly stemming from their social and economic environments, such as unstable housing, low income, lack of supportive social networks, and negative healthcare experiences. Participants also described how their ability to self-manage their chronic conditions benefited from specific aspects of social interactions, including close relationships, community connectedness, and engaging in peer support. Our findings suggest that structural interventions are needed to support self-management among marginalized PWUD, especially stable housing. Self-management supports for PWUD would benefit from including a range of low-barrier community-based options, peer work opportunities, and advocacy for needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To advance the understanding of perceived social isolation among persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), the objectives of the present study were to explore: (1) experiences of perceived social isolation and (2) factors that contribute to perceived social isolation. Interpretive description qualitative methodology was used to conduct semi-structured interviews with 30 individuals with SCI from across Ontario (Canada) from November 2016 to August 2017. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Participants identified disruption to social networks that seemed to impact perceived social isolation. Five major themes were identified: (1) impact on structure and frequency of social network; (2) importance of feeling heard; (3) importance of employment, hobbies, and sports; (4) need to improve physical accessibility and built environment; and (5) individual characteristics. Changes in quality of social networks, rather than size, contributed to greater feelings of perceived social isolation. The built environment, maintenance of employment, hobbies, and sports, social media, and technology use, as well as individual traits, were also found to impact perceived social isolation. Future research should focus on the development of programs to help maintain or improve social network quality for persons with SCI to minimize the impact of perceived social isolation. Perceived social isolation, resulting from physical and environmental barriers, is a challenge that is faced by many individuals who are living in the community with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Rehabilitation and community programs should utilize an individualized approach to find solutions to challenges faced by this population to prevent the effects of perceived social isolation. Education on how to adapt to changes in social network, together with the provision of access to peer-to-peer support groups, and SCI specific return to work or leisure programs, is recommended as an essential component of rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored the experiences of working-age and older adults with acquired vision impairment who pursued braille rehabilitation training, and the facilitators and barriers they encountered throughout this process. Semi-structured interviews of up to 90 min in length were conducted with 14 participants from across Canada who learned braille between the ages of 33 and 67 (Mdn = 46). Transcripts were analyzed by two researchers using interpretive phenomenological analysis. A variety of personal, social and institutional factors characterize the adult braille learning experience. Among these, participants highlight the role of prior identity and experience, the impact of access to resources and the cost of materials and devices needed to maintain braille skills. Findings also emphasize invisible barriers, including the role of societal perceptions towards braille, the level of support provided by family and friends, and the influence of unconscious biases towards braille and aging held by both adult learners and those around them. These findings provide important context to improve policies and practice in adult braille rehabilitation. As the prevalence of age-related vision impairment continues to increase, it will become imperative to understand the unique needs of working-age and older adults with acquired vision impairment who pursue braille. This study is one of the first to explore the experiences of working-age and older adults with acquired visual impairment who pursue braille rehabilitation training. Rehabilitation professionals must take into account prior learning and reading experiences which may shape the braille learning process. Family members require greater access to resources and support during the training process. There is a significant need for public education to address societal misconceptions about braille and blindness that can lead to a reluctance to use braille. Interactions with other braille users foster more empowering definitions of braille that align with the social model understanding of disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of help seeking experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors typically focus on traditional supports such as mental health and community services. Spiritual or religious supports are utilized in ways often overlooked because issues of spirituality and religiosity are infrequently discussed in IPV scholarship and social services. Using qualitative interviews and focus group data of 104 women who survived IPV from three geographic areas in Ontario, Canada, this article explores the usage of intrinsic, informal, and formal spiritual and religious supports by a subset of participants. Implications for social work professionals, including those working in the area of IPV are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outdoor learning offers clear physical, cognitive, social-emotional and academic benefits for children and yet, it is considered a grassroots approach to teaching and learning in elementary schools. We examined teachers' perspectives on barriers and supports for outdoor learning in public elementary schools. Thirty-six teachers in (urban and rural) British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario (all female; Mean age = 43.84, SD = 10) participated in one of five virtually administered, semi-structured focus groups. Questions/prompts facilitated a discussion on teachers' experiences with barriers and supports for outdoor learning. Thematic analysis was used to identify main themes. Four interrelated themes and further sub-themes were found: 1) Teacher characteristics: interest/motivation to teach outdoors, preparedness, confidence in handling risks; 2) Systemic factors: principal support, school/district policies, funding/resources, curriculum, school schedule; 3) Culture: school culture, societal beliefs about education, family backgrounds; 4) Environmental factors: weather, built/natural environment, hazards. Systemic support is needed to integrate outdoor learning in schools. The findings in this study are relevant to health education specialists particularly focused on elementary school education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Community Health Centres (CHCs) are an essential component of primary health care (PHC) in Canada. This article examines health providers' understandings and experiences regarding stigma towards mental health and substance use (MHSU) issues, as well as their ideas for an effective intervention to address stigma and discrimination, in three CHCs in Toronto, Ontario. Methods: Using a phenomenological approach, we conducted twenty-three interviews with senior staff members and peer workers, and three focus groups with front-line health providers. Ahybrid approach to thematic analysis was employed, entailing a combination of emergent and a priori coding. Results: The findings indicate that PHC settings are sites where multiple forms of stigma create health service barriers. Stigma and discrimination associated with MHSU also cohere around intersecting experiences of gender, race, class, age and other issues including the degree and visibility of distress. Clients may find social norms to be alienating, including behavioural expectations in Canadian PHC settings. Conclusions: Given the turmoil in clients' lives, systematic efforts to mitigate stigma were inhibited by myriad proximate factors that demanded urgent response. Health providers were enthusiastic about implementing anti-stigma/recovery-based approaches that could be integrated into current CHC services. Their recommendations for interventions centred around communication and education, such as training, CHC-wide meetings, and anti-stigma campaigns in surrounding communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While universities regularly face emergency situations that affect their operations, the global disruption caused by COVID-19 is unprecedented, presenting unique challenges to universities. This article describes the initial stages of crisis response at a large research-intensive university in the center of a diverse international city. Structural, operational, social/psychological, and communication challenges have shifted during five phases we experienced in COVID-19: preplanning, approaching crisis, immediate crisis, prolonged uncertainty, and planning for restart and recovery. Key to managing challenges is clear but flexible incident management structures, and constant interaction and collaboration among groups addressing varying aspects of the operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives.This study examined variations inthe main and buffering effectsof ethnic and nonethnic social support on depressive symptoms associated with discrimination among five immigrant groups in Toronto. Design.Data were taken from the Toronto Study of Settlement and Health, a cross-sectional survey of adult immigrants from five ethnic communities (Vietnamese, Ethiopian, Iranian, Korean, and Irish) in Toronto. A total of 900 surveys were collected through face-to-face interviews conducted between April and September 2001. Results.Significant ethnic variations were observed inthe effectsof both ethnic and nonethnic social supports on discrimination-related depressive symptoms. Regarding the main effect,ethnic social supportwas significantly stronger for Iranian, Ethiopian, and Korean immigrants than for Irish immigrants. The benefits of nonethnic support were stronger for Iranian immigrants compared to the effect found in the Irish sample. With respect to stress-buffering or stress-moderating effects of social support, ethnic support was significant in all ethnic groups, except the Vietnamese group. Nonethnic support aggravated the negative impact of discrimination on depressive symptoms in the Irish group, but exerted a stress-buffering effect in the Iranian group. Conclusions.Overall, social supports received from fellow ethnic group members had significant main effects (suppressing depressive symptoms) and stress-buffering effects and were most pronounced in the minority ethnic immigrant groups of Ethiopians, Koreans, and Iranians. The effects were least evident among the Vietnamese and Irish. Evidence for the stress-suppressing and stress-buffering role of cross-ethnic group supports was unclear, and even inverted among Irish immigrants. Empirical evidence from the current study seems to support the sociocultural similarity hypothesis of social support. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study reports the prevalence of cannabis use among bisexual women in Ontario, Canada, and identifies correlations among levels of cannabis use (no use, some use, active use) and measures of mental health and social support. Analysis focused on 262 bisexual women from a bisexual mental health study using respondent-driven sampling. Among networked bisexual women in Ontario, Canada, the weighted prevalence of past-year cannabis use was 33.6%, with 13.8% of bisexual women using cannabis twice or more per week. Cannabis use was positively associated with social support, gay community involvement, outness to family, and depression. There was no significant association between cannabis use and anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, antibisexual experiences, or suicidal ideation. Bisexual women's rate of past-year cannabis use is more than 5 times that for Canadian women in general, and is consistent with rates for bisexual women found in U.S. studies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives:To investigate the roles of reasons for living (RFL) and meaning in life (MIL) in potentially promoting mental health and well-being and protecting against suicide ideation among community-residing older adults and to investigate the psychometric properties of the Reasons for Living Scale-Older Adult version (RFL-OA). Method:Of 173 older adults initially recruited into a longitudinal study on late-life suicide ideation, 109 completed the RFL-OA and measures of cognitive and physical functioning and positive and negative psychological factors at a two-year follow-up assessment. We tested a model in which RFL and MIL protect against suicide ideation, controlling for demographic and clinical factors. We also assessed the psychometric properties of the RFL-OA in community-residing older adults, investigating its internal consistency and its convergent (MIL, perceived social support, and life satisfaction), divergent (loneliness, depressive symptom severity, and suicide ideation), and discriminant validity (cognitive and physical functioning). Results:RFL-OA scores explained significant variance in suicide ideation, controlling for age, sex, depressive symptom severity, and loneliness. MIL explained significant unique variance in suicide ideation, controlling for these factors and RFL, and MIL significantly mediated the association between RFL and suicide ideation. Psychometric analyses indicated strong internal consistency (α = .94), convergent, divergent, and discriminant validity for the RFL-OA relative to positive and negative psychological factors and cognitive and physical functioning. Conclusion:These findings add to a growing body of literature suggesting merit in investigating positive psychological factors together with negative factors when assessing suicide risk and planning psychological services for older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The peer support worker (PSW) belongs to the fastest growing occupation in the mental health sector, yet it is often under-valued and poorly understood. Despite an emerging evidence base, and strong support from mental health service users, the PSW remains on the periphery of mainstream services in northeastern Ontario. Aims: To examine the role of the PSW, along with the challenges and benefits, and to understand why the PSW is not more integrated within mainstream services. Methods: A sequential, exploratory, mixed-methods design was used to collect data on 52 survey and 33 focus group participants. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Results: Peer support work was described by participants as being authentic when PSWs can draw upon lived experience, engage in mutually beneficial discussions, and be a role model. Authentic peer support was noted to be important to the recovery of mental health service users; yet, participants revealed that many positions continue to reflect more generic duties. Challenges to further integration include acceptance, training and credentialing, self-care, and voluntarism. Conclusions: Future development and mainstream integration of peer support work must reconcile current tensions between standardization and loss of authenticity. Training in communicating the lived experience, setting boundaries and self-care are important steps forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Transition back to school following paediatric acquired brain injury (ABI) is complex. It must be facilitated by healthcare and educational professionals, who need to work together to return affected students to learning. This qualitative systematic review synthesizes qualitative studies on clinicians’ and educators’ experiences of facilitating hospital-to-school transitions following ABI. Methods: A search was conducted using seven electronic databases (CINAHL, Cochrane, EMBASE, ERIC, HealthSTAR, MEDLINE, PsycINFO) and key resources were manually reviewed. Publications selected for inclusion had a sample of clinicians and/or educators who worked with children/youth with ABI and focused on hospital-to-school transition processes from the professionals’ perspectives. Results: The initial search returned 4761 publications. Of those, 10 met the inclusion criteria. Six main themes emerged across those publications. Three related to transition barriers: (1) lack of training and education regarding transition processes; (2) lack of communication between stakeholders; and (3) lack of preparation for transition. The remaining three presented items that both facilitate and/or impede the transition process: (4) supports available; (5) linking agents; and (6) policies and procedures guiding transition. Conclusions: Clinicians and educators called for collaboration and communication to support students’ transition back to school. Further inquiry into designated linking agents and policies that facilitate hospital-to-school transitions for students following ABI may address these lacking areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research evidence substantiates that the lives of criminalized women are largely characterized by poverty, abuse, homelessness, co-morbidities, low literacy, and limited education, with the predominant characterization of criminalized women as under-educated, disinterested, and/or incapable of engaging in health-promoting self-care. Using a case study design, the purpose of this study was to develop a greater understanding of the health promotion activities and health literacy capabilities of a woman serving an open custody sentence, in Ontario, Canada whose health literacy capabilities contrast with the predominant narrative of criminalized women. Findings from this research raise critical questions concerning the ‘health literacy’ of the healthcare system itself, wherein health literacy discussions have traditionally targeted how the activities of individual clients promote or inhibit health, while health professionals and the healthcare system have gone largely unchallenged. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The purpose of this study was to examine the independent influence of age on levels of HIV-related stigma experienced by adults living with HIV/AIDS. To accomplish this, cross-sectional data from the Ontario HIV Treatment Network Cohort Study were used to determine whether older age is associated with overall stigma among HIV-positive adults living in Ontario, Canada (n= 960). The relationship was also tested for enacted, anticipated, and internalized stigma. Covariates included sociodemographic (e.g., gender, sexual orientation, race) and psychosocial variables (e.g., depression). Modifying effects of covariates were also investigated. Those 55 and older have significantly lower overall and internalized stigma than adults under age 40, even when accounting for gender, sexual orientation, income, time since diagnosis, depression, maladaptive coping, and social support. Age does not predict enacted or Anticipated Stigma when accounting for the demographic and psychosocial variables. A significant interaction between depression and age suggests that stigma declines with age among those who are depressed but increases to age 50 and then decreases in older age groups among those who are not depressed. Age matters when it comes to understanding stigma among adults living with HIV/AIDS; however, the relationship between age and stigma is complex, varying according to stigma type and depression level. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Primary objective: To conduct a systems analysis on community and health services for individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) in the province of Ontario, Canada. Research design: This study employed a triangulation design. This design is used when there is a need to validate quantitative results with qualitative data, as is the case in the present study. Methods and procedures: Forty-two healthcare professionals and/or healthcare administrators from organizations across the province and across the continuum of care were surveyed. A 1-day focus group was also held to validate the study findings. Main outcomes and results: The main results of this study revealed: (1) a lack of services for children/adolescents; (2) service gaps for individuals with co-existing mental health conditions; (3) a lack of services related to employment; (4) changes in casemix, in terms of more individuals with co-morbid medical and mental health conditions (with many of the organizations reporting medical instability and severe behavioural disorders as exclusion criteria); and (5) a need for more organizations to track patient outcomes for evaluation and/or accountability purposes. Conclusions: Findings from this study will lead to improvement of current services but also improved planning of future services for individuals with ABI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study explores narrative interviews of street-involved individuals with mental health issues and reflects on how they speak to experiences of both helpful and unhelpful social and mental health service provisions, and the disconnections between what they articulate as needing, and what services and supports they are able to receive. The article draws on and contributes to the field of peer research as the authors use lived experience of homelessness and/or mental health issues to inform both the approach to and analysis of the narratives. This study confirms that participants find the emerging, recovery-oriented structures of service provision more helpful than the dominant, biomedical structures, but that there is a continued disconnect in accessing emerging structure service deliveries. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Although engagement in collaborative practice is reported to support the role transition and retention of new graduate (NG) nurses, it is not known how to promote collaborative practice among these nurses. This mixed methods study explored the team and organizational factors that may predict NG nurse engagement in collaborative practice. A total of 514 NG nurses from Ontario, Canada completed the Collaborative Practice Assessment Tool. Sixteen NG nurses participated in follow-up interviews. The team and organizational predictors of NG engagement in collaborative practice were as follows: satisfaction with the team ( β = 0.278; p = 0.000), number of team strategies ( β = 0.338; p = 0.000), participation in a mentorship or preceptorship experience ( β = 0.137; p = 0.000), accessibility of manager ( β = 0.123; p = 0.001), and accessibility and proximity of educator or professional practice leader ( β = 0.126; p = 0.001 and β = 0.121; p = 0.002, respectively). Qualitative analysis revealed the team facilitators to be respect, team support and face-to-face interprofessional interactions. Organizational facilitators included supportive leadership, participation in a preceptorship or mentorship experience and time. Interventions designed to facilitate NG engagement in collaborative practice should consider these factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify what protocol and coping strategies oncologists turn to cope with patient loss, the authors interviewed 20 oncologists at 3 hospitals. Using the grounded theory method, findings revealed that their protocol may include meeting with families, participating in bereavement rituals, making a phone call, or sending a condolence card. Coping strategies included social support, activity-oriented coping, turning to faith, compartmentalization, and withdrawing from patients and families. The authors conclude by offering implications from this research on how to address oncologists’ grief over patient loss in institutional settings in order to improve bereavement care for families and enhance oncologists’ quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Canada's Compassionate Care Benefit (CCB), an employment insurance program designed to allow Canadian workers time off to care for a dying relative or friend, has had low uptake since its inception. Due to their role in working with family caregivers, social workers are one group of primary health care professionals who have been identified as benefiting from a knowledge translation campaign. Knowledge tools about the CCB have been developed through social worker input in a prior study. This article presents the findings of a qualitative exploratory intervention. Social workers (n = 8) utilized the tools for 6 months and discussed their experiences with them. Data analysis revealed references to time and space constraints in using to the tools, and demonstrated the impact of time geography on knowledge translation about the CCB. The results suggest that knowledge translation about the CCB could be targeted toward caregivers earlier on in the disease progression before the terminal diagnosis, and knowledge tools must be disseminated to more locations. These results may be valuable to policymakers and palliative care providers, as well as theorists interested in ongoing applications of time geography in knowledge translation and the consumption/production of care. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Narrative-based professional learning processes were employed within a collaborative partnership involving eight educational institutions to support teacher induction. Methodologies and pedagogies that honour the lived experience of beginning teachers and mentor teachers were selected and created for use within this inquiry. Various narrative-based approaches were created and implemented with beginning and mentor teachers to enhance the practices and professional insights of these educators. A provincial resource kit was created using the written narratives of the beginning and mentor teachers involved in this project. These educative resources are being used within teacher education and professional practice to support beginning teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this study we investigated experiences of parents of children with cerebral palsy (CP) to identify areas in which health care providers and educators could improve practice. A second objective was to create educational material for parents of young children newly diagnosed with CP. A purposive sample of nine parents, who previously participated in the Adolescent Study of Quality of Life, Mobility, and Exercise, was recruited through phone. During an interview, parents reflected on the experience of raising a child with CP from birth to young adulthood. These interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and coded using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-informed model and analyzed to identify major themes. Parents elaborated upon what was helpful and what could be changed to improve their children's and families'' experiences through supports, advocacy, and education at different levels. The results informed the development of tips for parents and children with CP to enhance their families'' experiences and interactions with health care providers, educators, and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Having a child with cancer is one of the most taxing experiences a family can endure. With that in mind, the primary objective of this research was to explore the lived experiences of mothers of children with pediatric cancer during diagnosis, treatment, and the period thereafter. The specific purpose of this article however, was to examine the benefits or positives that emerged from the experience. One-on-one and e-mail semi-structured interviews were completed with 9 mothers of children treated for pediatric cancer. Four of the children had passed away from their illnesses. The subthemes derived for the benefits of the mothers' experiences consisted of: (1) support: importance of family and friends; (2) when life gives you lemons; and (3) finding the silver lining. It is anticipated that the findings from this exploratory research will be used as a source of support for individuals in similar situations and for front-line health care professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary objective: To explore the barriers and enablers surrounding the transition from health care to home community settings for Aboriginal clients recovering from acquired brain injuries (ABI) in northwestern Ontario. Research design: Participatory research design using qualitative methods. Methods: Focus groups conducted with clients with ABI, their caregivers and hospital and community health-care workers. The Framework Method of analysis was used to uncover emerging themes. Findings: Six main categories emerged: ABI diagnosis accuracy, acute service delivery and hospital care, transition from hospital to homecare services, transition from hospital to community services, participant suggestions to improve service delivery and transition, and views on traditional healing methods during recovery. Discussion: A lack of awareness, education and resources were acknowledged as key challenges to successful transitioning by clients and healthcare providers. Geographical isolation of the communities was highlighted as a barrier to accessibility of services and programmes, but the community was also regarded as an important source of social support. The development of educational and screening tools and needs assessments of remote communities were identified to be strategies that may improve transitions. Conclusions: Findings demonstrate that the structure of rehabilitation and discharge processes for Aboriginal clients living on reserves or in remote communities are of great concern and warrants further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Student perceptions of teacher and classmate support have been identified as a powerful protective factor for a range of children's outcomes. Evidence suggests that students perceive less support as they advance to higher grades, a factor that may be linked to declines in school attendance. This study utilized a sample of 2,616 students enrolled in 23 high schools followed from Grade 9 into Grade 10 to test the hypothesis that perceptions of declining teacher and classmate support are associated with declining school attendance. Growth curve analysis revealed significant declines in perceived support and attendance, particularly among boys. In support of our hypothesis, declining perceptions of support were positively associated with declining attendance. Pathways linking support to attendance were similar across gender. Implications of the results are discussed for developing school policies and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This ethnographic study describes the results of a collaborative journaling process that occurred between a student and his instructor of a second-year social work communications course. Many questions from the student's and the instructor's perspectives are raised regarding accommodating the student with a severe speech impairment in a course that specifically focuses on communication skills. Preliminary recommendations are made for social work students and professionals with communication limitations, and for social work educators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We wanted to look into what impact the level of alexithymia, as assessed by the Toronto Alexithymia Scale with 20 items (TAS-20), has on presence of social support and vulnerability for psycho-social stress assessed as occurrence of serious life-events, in an all-female population. Methods: A total of 1032 of females employed in a child-care programme in Sweden participated. They were asked to fill in a questionnaire and 864 (83.6%) delivered complete tests. Results: The prevalence of alexithymia was 7.9% and there were significant associations between high TAS-20 scores with low level of education. In addition, this assessment showed significant relationships between global TAS-20, as well as the sub-factors of TAS-20 and lower social support. Having a low level of social support was found to be 3.5 times more common in the part of the population who was alexithymic. It was also 2.6 times more common for the alexithymic part of the population not to have someone to turn to. Alexithymics with low support and no life events had overall mean scores on all the three variables presenting them as worse off from a mental health point of view. When life events were present alexithymics remained worse off than non-alexithymics even when a higher level of support was in place. There was a significant direct protective (salutary) effect of social support found for social disability in the alexithymic population. Conclusion: Alexithymics in this study showed a lack of social support and a proneness to high levels of negative emotion and to social distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]