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It has been postulated that field education is the signature pedagogy of social work education. Practicums are paramount in assisting social work students to develop the unique skills and competencies required for professional practice. Traditionally, field education in social work has occurred within the context of social service agencies involving face-to-face interaction with service users and colleagues. The crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic compelled schools of social work to abandon established placements in favor of virtual or remote learning. This paper describes the experience of the School of Social Work at King’s University College, London, Ontario, in moving its undergraduate and graduate social work students to Remote Learning Plans (RLP) to enable the completion of hours required in their professional programs. The transition to remote learning plans not only modeled good social work practice but also reflected a student-centered approach to learning and teaching. In addition, the experience unearthed the possibilities that exist for field education in remote environments while still equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and values required for social work practice.

In everyday clinical practice, health professionals and parents of chronically ill children often rely on the principle of 'best interest' in the development of medically oriented treatment plans. In most cases, such processes are done collaboratively; however, 'best interest' as a standard for decision-making becomes ambiguous in situations wherein parents and health professionals fail to agree on the course of treatment. This paper will explore the potential tensions that can exist in clinical practice when 'best interest' is used for making health care decisions. The discussion will be framed within the case of baby M, a newborn child of Mennonite descent diagnosed at birth with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). M's parents refused medically-prescribed therapy on behalf of their child because of the uncertainty of the treatment and beliefs regarding quality of life. This case highlights that the application of the 'best interest' principle in the clinical domain can be ambiguously interpreted and subjectively operationalized along a narrowly defined medical understanding of what is in the patient's best interest. In addition, this case serves as an example of how power within the health care system can be used to operationalize a medically-sanctioned definition of 'best interest', often at the expense of the values, beliefs and interests of parental caregivers.

Parents of children with inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) face numerous psychosocial challenges. An increased understanding and awareness of these stressors can ensure better overall outcomes for the entire family. We conducted semi-structured, in-person interviews with ten parents to identify psychosocial stressors, strategies, and supports they utilized to overcome their challenges. Our interview guide was designed to elicit familial experiences during the pre- and post-diagnosis periods. The themes and sub-themes were identified through qualitative descriptive textual analysis of audio-recorded transcripts. Major themes identified include ambiguity of illness, changing family and spousal dynamics, and navigating the healthcare system. Sub-themes revolved around disease effects, psychological stressors, health systems, support, and facing the disease. Healthcare professionals have an opportunity to minimize the impact of negative emotional outcomes by assisting families as they navigate the experience of having a child with an IEM. Our findings can be used to develop and continue a more well-rounded, family-oriented framework for IEM management.

Parenting a child with chronic kidney disease has a profound impact on the parental caregivers across social, emotional, and physical functioning. As the survival rates for children with chronic kidney disease increase, the demands on parents caring for these children intensify. The aim of this study was to understand the lived experience of being a mother of a child who has undergone kidney transplantation. Seven mothers caring for children with chronic kidney disease in Ontario, Canada participated in in-depth interviews that were analyzed according to the principles of hermeneutic phenomenology. The present study presents the findings concerning post-traumatic growth: personal strength, new possibilities, enhanced relationships, appreciation of life and spiritual change. Recognizing positive aspects of stressful situations and the potential for growth can impact the practice of social workers and other health-care professionals. Ultimately the assistance that is provided to parent caregivers can be improved with a better understanding of the whole experience.

Advances in the surgical and immunological aspects of pediatric kidney transplantation have resulted in significant improvements in long-term outcome and survival rates. However, there continues to be a negative impact reported on overall family functioning despite the reported good health and quality of life for the transplanted child. This research utilizes a phenomenological approach to examine the lived experiences of seven mothers of children who had undergone kidney transplantation. Findings of the study illuminate that the experience of mothering in the context of pediatric kidney transplantation is reflected in (1) the significance of relationships to the experience of self; (2) the lived experience of time; and (3) opportunities for growth and personal development. This research identifies that, while maternal caregiving in this context is fraught with challenges, there are opportunities for the development of skills and personal growth within the experience. By embracing a strength-based perspective, social work is well positioned to offer support for maternal meaning-making and adjustment during times of stress and uncertainty.

With the increase of anti-Muslim bigotry in the current political and societal climate, ethnic minority children in western nations may experience increased negative attention fueled by Islamophobia. Islamophobia is defined as the dislike of or prejudice against Islam, and individuals who are Muslims. A literature review yielded little research that examines the experience of Muslim children and their experiences with Islamophobia, particularly in the Canadian context. However, studies on the overall issue reveal Islamophobia is a phenomenon that has impacted Muslims around the world. This community-based study explored the dichotomous experiences of Muslim school-aged children who are taught theirs is a faith of peace and yet who regularly experience microaggressions and overt hostility because of their beliefs.

This study reports on the development and evaluation of an online social support network for adolescents with chronic kidney disease. Twenty-four adolescents were enrolled in a six-month online intervention in which asynchronous and synchronous online peer support was facilitated. Online dialogue transcripts were analyzed, as were postintervention qualitative interviews with network participants. Findings identify both benefits and challenges of online social support for adolescents and provide guidelines for future support initiatives. The study indicates online support as a valuable resource for adolescents with chronic kidney disease.