The Tales that Bind: A Narrative Model for Living and Helping in Rural Communities

Commendation Quotes: "Building upon research done over the past several decades on the importance of narrative and story, The Tales that Bind applies these theories to Canadian rural realities. A contribution to an area where relatively little has been published, this book will be a highly useful read for professionals who are working, or wish to work, in rural settings." - John H. Young, School of Religion, Queen's UniversityTable of Contents: Part I: The ContextThe Story of the ProjectThe New Brunswick StoryThe Researchers' StoriesRosemary's StoryBill's StoryDolores' StoryPart II: The StoriesTales from the Front: An IntroductionRural Policing as Real Policing: An Officer's TaleBorn and Bred: A Teacher's TalePlaces, Programs, and People: A Nurse's TaleDeveloping the Community: An Activist's TaleThe Passing of Reverend Bob: A Minister's TaleBecoming a Helper: A Social Work Student's TaleWorking in an Another Language: A Doctor's TaleReady to Retire: A Social Work Director's TaleFish Out of Water: A Volunteer's TalePart III: The LessonsA Narrative Curriculum for Rural HelpingRecurring ThemesThe Need to Know the StoryStrategies and ExercisesQuestions for ConsiderationCurriculum and ConversationAppendix: An Annotated BibliographyCommendation Quotes:"The Tales That Bind describes what is unique about rural helping careers. The book is directed to both teachers and learners, and is written in such a way that it will be helpful to both." - Preston Smith, Dean of Medicine, University of SaskatchewanPublisher Marketing: Every year, thousands of new practitioners in professions such as social work, education, medicine, and the church leave the large urban centres where they received their training and go to work in small towns, remote hamlets, and other rural settings. Often they find themselves unprepared for professional life in these communities. Drawing on in-depth interviews conducted with more than forty practitioners working in a range of professions and communities throughout rural New Brunswick, The Tales that Bind presents a narrative approach to facing these challenges. Using fictionalized vignettes and autobiographical sketches, William Lowell Randall, Rosemary Clews, and Dolores Furlong argue that success as rural practitioners requires "knowing the story" - whether that is personal, communal, or regional. An accessible, practical guide to using narrative techniques in practice, The Tales that Bind is a unique resource for students, teachers, and professionals working in rural settings.

Contributor Bio:  Randall, William L William Lowell Randall is a professor in the Department of Gerontology at St. Thomas University. Contributor Bio:  Furlong, Dolores Dolores Furlong is a professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of New Brunswick. Contributor Bio:  Clews, Rosemary Rosemary Clews was a professor in the Department of Social Work and Assistant Vice President (Research) at St. Thomas University.