CARL Research Reports 2014
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Item Exploring the role of the Traveller family in supporting Travellers experiencing addiction(Community-Academic Research Links, University College Cork, 2014-10) Murphy, Edward; Cronin, Mary; The Traveller Visibility Group; Civil Society OrganizationBackground: In recent years, Health Research Board data indicates a significant increase in substance abuse within the Irish Traveller Community. There is a new challenge for national and regional drug and alcohol services providers to keep up to date with the cultural dynamics of drug and alcohol abuse within ethnic minorities such as the Irish Traveller community, who are at a high risk for problematic substance use as a result of the compromising social factors they experience throughout their lives (1). In order to provide positive, integrated and improved service provision for Travellers, it is important to uncover the needs and feelings of Travellers and their families, their experiences with drug and alcohol misuse, awareness of services and the possible discrimination and lack of support they may experience in their lives. Study Aim: To gain a better sense of the understanding of addiction within the Traveller Community, particularly in how it impacts on the family and what methods work best in helping drug and alcohol users and Travelling families to engage with drug and alcohol services. Study Design: This is a qualitative study in which members of the Traveller Community participated in structured, open-ended one-to-one interviews or a focus group. Data was analysed using a thematic framework analysis. Setting: This study took place in the Traveller Visibility Group (TVG) in Cork City and also in study participants’ homes around the Cork City area. Study Population: A total of ten members of the Traveller Community who had experience of the TVG Drug and Alcohol service or another drug and alcohol service took part in the study. Results: The study demonstrated that there can be a casual attitude to misuse of alcohol within the Traveller Community. Attitudes to drugs are more contravening but there is increasing drug use within the community. It was observed that a persons’ family can greatly affect whether they have a positive or negative experience in addiction recovery. Substance abuse has an overwhelming effect on the family unit with many Travelling families reporting common shared experiences such as financial hardship, violence, premature deaths and suicide and involvement with the criminal justice system. The research found that Traveller engagement with drug and alcohol services is poor due to cultural differences, time restrictions and a level of shame that exists within the community around accessing drug and alcohol services. Participants valued cultural awareness, flexibility and choice when discussing mainstream drug and alcohol service use. Conclusion: Travellers who are attempting to access drug and alcohol services are often experiencing hardships on a multidimensional level and often will not have faith in mainstream services. It is important for drug and alcohol services to be culturally aware, open to suggestions from service users and flexible around where and when they can meet with service users.Item Child protection social workers’ (CPSW) experiences of the Bessborough Parent and Baby Unit (BPBU): the interface between infant mental health and child protection(Community-Academic Research Links, University College Cork, 2014-09) Veale, Kevin; O’Suilleabhain, Fiachra; Burns, Kenneth; Bessborough Parent and Baby Unit; Civil Society OrganizationThis research project examines the experiences of child protection social workers who have collaborated with the Bessborough Parent and Baby Unit and also the use of early intervention methods in child protection social work practice. It also serves the purpose of exploring the term infant mental health and how the child protection social worker understands this relatively new concept. The research was proposed by the Bessborough Parent and Baby Unit, through the CARL initative, with the purpose of exploring the experiences of child protection social workers who have collaborated with this service and to identify if this collaboration could be adapted in any form to aid the interagency work between the Bessborough Parent and Baby Unit and child protection agencies. This research is conducted by research methods in the form of a literature review and qualitative research in the form of interviews of child protection social workers. The findings of this research show that child protection social workers view the Bessborough Parent and Baby Unit as being a vital service in preventing family breakdown. However, the study recommends that early intervention services need to be established so that child protection social workers can provide adequate support in order to prevent children being placed into out of home care. While all participants’ reported that, in their opinion, the services provided by the Bessborough Parent and Baby Unit were of an excellent standard but that early intervention services on a broad scale were in need of resourcing and establishment. This lack of service provision was noted as being a consequence of a lack of guidelines and policy in the area of early intervention.Item The journey of recovery from addiction: a report evaluating the service provided via the secondary treatment programs of Tabor Lodge Addiction and Housing Services Limited(Community-Academic Research Links, University College Cork, 2014-08-08) O'Brien, Carmel; Leahy, Pat; Tabor Lodge Addiction and Housing Services Limited; Civil Society OrganizationThis study provides a platform for exploring addiction issues and investigates how extended treatment programs can assist an individual in recovering from addiction. This is achieved by examining the experience of those who have attended secondary treatment programs. The report focuses specifically on the secondary treatment programs of Fellowship House and Renewal. These programs are developed and delivered by Tabor Lodge Treatment and Addiction Services Limited. The study uses two major research strategies to evaluate the scheme; (1) primary qualitative research collected through the medium of semi structured interviews with subject experts and (2) published research into addiction treatment and its effectiveness.Item An exploration of the views of adults with Asperger syndrome/high functioning autism in relation to independent living(Community-Academic Research Links, University College Cork, 2014-05-06) Coogan, Gillian; McGovern, Mary; Sapouna, Lydia; Cork Association for Autism; Civil Society OrganizationThis research study aims to explore the views of adults with Asperger Syndrome/High Functioning Autism in relation to independent living. This study forms part of the assessment criteria for the Bachelor of Social Work (hons) degree at University College Cork. It is also a collaborative project between the Cork Association for Autism and the researcher as part of the University’s Carl project. As a social work student the researcher recognises the importance of empowering the client in making decisions for themselves and also acknowledging their right to participate fully in society. Historically the concept of independent living has been associated with living alone, however the researcher would argue that many people do not live on their own and yet would consider themselves to be living independently. To date research on independent living has been from the perspective of the professional. In order for this study to be a congruent reflection of the clients' experiences, it was essential that the client be pivotal to the primary research. This study combines both primary and secondary research. The findings were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis and the researcher hopes that the findings and recommendations will inform future service provision. The researcher also hopes that in terms of the perceptions regarding the ability of people with Asperger Syndrome, that a more positive discourse will emanate as a result of the findings of this study.Item An examination of the age qualifying criteria of the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme and it's potential implications for access to the free pre-school year and school starting age(Community-Academic Research Links, University College Cork, 2014-04-21) Reid, Mary; Horgan, Deirdre; Cork Early Years Network; Civil Society OrganizationThis study is a Community-Academic Research Links (CARL) project managed between Cork Early Years Network, UCC Applied Social Studies Department and the researcher. The aim of this thesis is to explore whether the age restrictions of the Early Childhood Care and Education scheme have implications for access to the offer on a free preschool year and for school starting age. Through qualitative means the study uses professional interviews and a survey for parents to investigate and identify any concerns for the dual focus of research question. The age limits of the ECCE scheme are a concern to early years’ professionals but they do not present as a significant concern for parents, however, the scheme appears limited in its present offer as it only affords one free year of preschool to children as young three years and three months. The study found that many four year old children are still entering primary school even though a significant number of parents feel four is too young for school. The majority of parents would consider two years of preschool for their children, especially if their child was not ready or old enough for school and if provision was free or affordable. The study concludes that it would be feasible to extend the free pre-school year offer in the ECCE scheme to two years.