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    A research on processes used to address the physical and sexual abuse of children in Samoa : this thesis is presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree in Masters in Social Policy, Massey University
    (Massey University, 2004) Siaosi Sumeo, Karanina
    This thesis looks at traditional and statutory processes that were used to address child physical and sexual abuse in communities in Samoa. The study involved interviews with individuals from government departments, independent agencies, and groups from six villages. The methods included the review of case files of convicted cases, and legislation relevant to the abuse of children. The findings of the study indicate that child 'rights' is an issue that was perceived by participants beyond the wellbeing of the individual child. Children's rights were perceived by participants to have potential risks to collective existence and the preservation of Samoan traditional culture. Fundamental to the issue of rights was the conflict between local and state constitutions. The study found that rights were based on the country's constitution, were difficult to enforce in local communities where their own constitutions took precedent, based on customary rights and traditional social structures. The study provides some insights into traditional practices, societal structures, beliefs, values, and elements within statutory processes that make children vulnerable to abuse. The lack of clarity between the responsibilities of customary and state authorities sometimes made it unclear who was ultimately responsible for addressing crimes against children. The study pointed to the need for legislated protocols and a shared constitution between local customary and state authorities, in order to adequately address abuse. The thesis has implications for the social service sector, including judiciary processes. The thesis advocates for processes of 'justice' to make the safety and healing of children the priority, not the implementation of mechanisms.
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    More than a death : dangerous dynamics and their impact on social work practice at the Children, Young Persons and their Families Agency : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Work at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1999) Attrill, Paula Maree
    Child deaths are a tragic and sadly, all to familiar occurrence for child protection services both in New Zealand and abroad. It is the authors view that, to date, the response provided in the wake of such tragedies has been to review cases with a view to ascertaining the degree of fault or blameworthiness apparent in the manner in which the child protection service managing the case, acted. Having determined this, action is then taken to alter systems and procedures with a view to preventing future deaths. While the result of this is at times successful in rectifying elements of process or systems failure, this kind of response does not take into account the impact that a range of dangerous dynamics may have had leading up to and at the time the child died. This research takes a fresh look at five cases known to the Children Young Persons and their Families Agency where children on the caseloads of Social Workers died from non-accidental injury. A range of dangerous dynamics are identified and defined. These are then applied to each of the sample cases with a view to determining whether or not they were apparent leading up to and at the time the children died. Conclusions are drawn on the basis of the findings and recommendations are made with respect to future management of cases where dangerous dynamics exist in the relationships Social Workers have with families with which they are working. The purpose of this research is twofold. The author's primary intention is to contribute significantly to the body of knowledge that exists with respect to understanding child deaths and the role Social Workers have in relation to such tragedies. In addition, it is intended that the findings of this research will contribute to the prevention of future deaths of children on the caseloads of child protection workers.
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    Masculinity as a site of pre-emptive intervention in the prevention of child sexual abuse : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Doctor of Clinical Psychology at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2012) Mowat, Keith Philip
    This research aimed to challenge dominant assumptions regarding paedophilia and child sex offending and open up the possibility for interventions that engage men before they offend against children. Child sexual abuse (CSA) remains a serious social problem that is overwhelmingly committed by men, and yet masculinity is usually excluded from Criminal Psychology’s endeavours to understand child sex offenders (CSO). Positivist approaches to the prevention of CSA have excluded dominant gendered power relationships. A poststructuralist informed reading of the literature revealed blurred boundaries between media representations and psychological constructions of CSO, producing a deviant subject that obscured gendered social power relationships and the discourses of hegemonic masculinity (HM) that are implicated in CSA. This thesis questions the pervasiveness and longevity of HM, and its effects, in order to produce a space to examine the narratives of four former CSO. The first analysis chapter used narrative theory to form a hybrid representation of the men’s stories. This revealed a dominant form of normative heterosexuality where masculine privilege was so embedded in cultural practices that it was rendered invisible. It also located turning points in the men’s negotiations of masculinity that led to their offending. The second analysis chapter involved a discourse analysis of the discursive constitution of masculinity in the men’s talk. Together these chapters offer potential points of pre-emptive intervention and the potential for institutions to address cultural assumptions of heteronormativity.
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    Parents' perceptions of community-based parenting initatives : engaging everyday parents to prevent maltreatment : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Psychology), Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2012) King, Lucia Madeleine
    A population initiative to improve parenting knowledge and support is important for preventing child maltreatment. Traditional parent training programmes are expensive and unacceptable to many New Zealand parents, thus an alternative is indicated. Common change principles and proposals from research suggest that interventions use supports for self-­‐determination -­‐ relatedness, competence, and autonomy -­‐ as well as relevance, flexibility, and inductive qualities and attention to specific engagement factors. The SKIP population-­‐based initiative uses many of these principles in their efforts to engage and support New Zealand parents. This project investigated two types of SKIP initiatives by assessing parents’ perceptions of their efficacy and acceptability, and the factors that contributed to these perceptions. Study 1 analysed the impact of a booklet disseminated to shoppers, and provides some evidence that supports for relatedness and autonomy, and an inductive approach, contributed to its effects. These included positive thoughts and feelings about parenting, reflection on parenting values and an intent to reflect more in future, as well as increased parenting confidence and decreased parenting stress. Study 2 investigated parents’ perceptions of two community-­‐based parenting groups: their effects and the factors that contributed to them. It provides strong evidence that all of the aforementioned principles were important to the outcomes. Parents described an increase in parenting 4 knowledge, confidence and support, and increased comfort with talking about parenting with others. Other common factors that contributed to success in these initiatives are discussed also. This project suggests that initiatives such as these, with alternative conceptions of how to achieve education and support, can be highly acceptable and beneficial to ‘everyday’ parents, who might not engage with traditional parent training programmes.
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    Dancing around the families : a grounded theory of the role of neonatal nurses in child protection : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Nursing at Massey University (Albany), New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2011) Saltmarsh, Tina Anne
    The Ministry of Health objectives aim to protect the health and safety of children by reducing death rates, injury and disability from abuse. Family Violence is a significant health issue that impacts on children. Health professionals are key in the screening for Family Violence and assessment for child abuse. The philosophies of Family Centered Care and Developmental Care underpinning neonatal nursing practice are especially relevant for child protection. Nurses are in an ideal position to intervene before abuse perpetration. Increased awareness of child maltreatment and requirements for screening and reporting led to my research question, “What is happening for Neonatal Nurses in Child Protection?” Glaserian Grounded theory guided this study and the analysis of data. A total of ten semi-structured interviews was undertaken with nurses working in the participating neonatal units. Data were analysed and constructed into a substantive grounded theory, Dancing Around the Families and a Basic Social Psychological Process of Knowing at Risk Families. Dancing Around the Families explains nurses’ coping and acting upon child protection issues. It is about the creative conversations and work required to help support or enhance the infant’s safety. Difficulty with communication and transparency of information sharing between services, and differing perspectives creates this dance. Knowing at Risk Families captures how neonatal nurses construct child protection by acting on their personal and professional levels of knowledge. Nurses act on gut instincts, intuition or Red Flags to put supports in place for the protection of the infant. Child protection presents a state of conflict for nurses, where a sense of social justice prevails in their care, and their ideals and reality are often not congruent. Implications for practice require nurses to consider the way we look at families, as well as family capacities, capabilities and health literacy, and the importance of facilitating attachment.