Browsing by Author "Bruer, Kaila C."

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Open Access
A Systematic Review of Approaches Used to Interview Vulnerable Children
(University of Regina: Department of Psychology, 2024) Jason, Priyanka; Thompson, Kailey; Gerbeza, Matea; Bruer, Kaila C.
Open Access
Adults’ Perceptions of Child Eyewitness Credibility: Multiple Independent Lineups
(2024-11-06) Engel, Katherine; Carr, Shaelyn; Bruer, Kaila C.
Open Access
“Locked in a Jail Cell in Your Own Home”: Child Maltreatment Investigators’ Perspectives of COVID-19’s Effects on Maltreated Children
(SAGE Publications, 2023-12-12) Baker, Matthew; Berens, Katie A.; Giesbrecht, Crystal; Bruer, Kaila C.; Evans, Angela D.; Price, Heather L.; Williams, Shanna
Children were at a greater risk of adverse experiences, including maltreatment, during the COVID-19 pandemic given the increased stress experienced by families and reduced visibility outside the home. Child maltreatment investigators witnessed the effects of the pandemic on maltreated children and offer valuable insight regarding children’s experiences during the pandemic. The objective of this study was to examine child maltreatment investigators’ perspectives of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maltreated children and their families in Canada. Sixteen child maltreatment investigators were recruited from agencies across Canada that investigate or offer services to children suspected of having been maltreated. Three focus groups were conducted, which followed a semi-structured interview guide developed by the researchers. Thematic analysis resulted in five primary themes regarding maltreatment investigators’ perceptions of the pandemic’s effects on children, including child maltreatment during the COVID-19 pandemic, increased exposure to violent and traumatic events, stress and challenges faced by families, reduced access to services, and challenges and delays with maltreatment investigations. Child maltreatment investigators perceived that the pandemic profoundly impacted maltreated children and their families. It is critical to ensure children and parents have access to services during future emergencies.
Open Access
The Impact of COVID-19 on Social Work Practice in Canada: A Comparison of Urban and Rural Contexts
(University of Stavanger, 2021-12-21) Baker, Matthew; Berens, Katie A.; Williams, Shanna; Bruer, Kaila C.; Evans, Angela D.; Price, Heather L.
Social workers involved in child maltreatment investigations faced considerable challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interactions with children and families carried new restrictions and risks, which resulted in changes in practice. We conducted a two-phase, mixed-methods study which examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on social workers who work with maltreated children from both urban and rural areas across Canada. More specifically, we examined changes in service delivery, as well as perceptions of safety, stress, worry, and how support differed between urban and rural social workers. Fifty social workers (62% urban, 38% rural) responded to the Phase 1 survey, disseminated in May 2020, with 34 (76% urban, 24% rural) responding to the Phase 2 survey in November 2020. Quantitative and qualitative data revealed that rural social workers reported more worry, stress and a greater need for mental health support, in addition to receiving less support than urban social workers during the first wave of COVID-19 cases. However, during the second wave of cases, urban social workers reported more stress, a greater need for mental health support, and receiving less support than rural social workers. Additional research is needed to further uncover the nature of the differences between rural and urban social workers, and to identify the prolonged effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on social workers.