Anna Przednowek
PhD Candidate, School of Social Work
| Degrees: | MSW, M.ADS, RSW |
| Email: | AnnaPrzednowek@cmail.carleton.ca |
| Office: | 629 Dunton Tower |
Bio:
I began my doctoral studies at Carleton University’s School of Social Work in the fall of 2013. Prior to pursuing my PhD, I worked for over 15 years in South-Western Ontario including the Six Nations Reserve, with children and youth labelled with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and adults and seniors with a label of dual diagnosis of Developmental Disability and mental health concerns. In 2008, I began my clinical work in a community based setting, providing supportive counselling and behavioural interventions to individuals with complex behavioural needs and their paid and unpaid caregivers. My passion for this work, and the complex problems faced by these individuals and their families, led me to complete a Master of Applied Disability Studies degree (2010) and a Master of Social Work degree (2012). During my years of practice, I have conducted many training workshops and consultations on positive interventions to familial care providers, foster parents, volunteers and professionals in daycare settings, primary and secondary schools, community residential settings, hospitals, treatment facilities and nursing homes.
Research:
In my practice, I was exposed daily to the impact of the current social, political and economic climate on the interdependent relationship between individuals labelled with an Intellectual and Developmental Disability and their care providers. I also began to critically reflect on the sole use of direct intervention aimed at the individual and their immediate social environment to address structurally rooted issues.
My research weds my clinical practice experience and my concern for the conditions that affect the lives of people labelled with Intellectual Disabilities and those of their care providers. I am planning a mix-method study that will provide insight into the experiences of violence within the context of care relationships of familial care providers and their adult children. I hope to contribute to clinical practice, theory, and policy.
Research Interests:
Care~ Quality of Life of unpaid care providers ~Conditions affecting paid care providers ~Individuals labelled with Intellectual Disabilities (ID)~Care and aging~ Indigenous care providers and Individuals labelled with ID ~Care and care providers labelled with ID ~Social Work Practice with Individuals labelled with ID~ Social Policy ~Gender based violence and paid and unpaid care ~ “Deviant Mothers ” who care about their children but no longer provide direct care.