Caregiver-teen Conflict & the CAS: A Beneficial Relationship?

Abstract

<p>This thesis provided caregivers of teenagers exhibiting problematic behaviors, an opportunity to voice their feelings, and experiences in regards to working with the Children's Aid Society of London and Middlesex (CAS). Parents were asked if they viewed their relationship with the CAS as beneficial and what suggestions they had, if any, in regards to improving services in the future. In this study, parents indicated that changes in legislation were necessary to ensure best service to families experiencing conflict as described above. The findings in this study are not conclusive as only a small sample size was used, however, the study allowed an in-depth exploration of the way caregivers experience CAS service when having a teenage child. The participants and host agency are from London, Ontario, but the information discussed may be transferable to other agencies and cities.</p> <p>Literature in regards to caregiver-teen conflict, how the conflict is caused, the services that help families through these problems and the caregivers' experience of these services were reviewed as a basis for the research. The findings suggested that caregivers were very frustrated with the CAS and did not view their interaction with this agency as beneficial. However, the CAS was not blamed for their lack of ability to help, instead, caregivers placed blame on the legislation that provides guidelines to support families. Caregivers in this study offered recommendations to improve supportive services in the community, some of which were changes to the age of consent to receive counseling, teenagers not being able to choose to leave school before the age of eighteen, and the government needing to help caregivers care for their children as opposed to undermining their authority.</p>