Digital Commons Network^™

Sa/Fe Program: A Rural Health Care Response To Sexual Assault, Sheri Arnett

Theses and Graduate Projects

Governor Arnie Carlson's Minnesota Task Force on Violence found that health care providers lack consistent health promotion for victims of sexual assault, especially in rural settings. Research has shown that efforts to help victims of sexual assault during the initial crisis, and in follow-up care, reducing harmful and expensive residual effects. This study describes the design and implementation of a sexual assault forensic examiner program for rural settings that reduces risks to the victim. A model of health addresses the psycho-social and forensic needs of victims and barriers to expert care, as well as demonstrates ways to reduce costs for …

Adolescent Females As Participants In Service Learning And Their Moral, Social, And Political Ideologies: A Case Study, Allison R. Erickson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Service learning programs have been increasingly more popular among social service agencies and academic institutions. Service learning curriculum are being adopted through efforts to provide for adolescents the opportunities to foster responsible character traits and to also prevent anti-social or health-compromising behavior. There has been considerable research regarding service learning and adolescence, however, little research is available on how the adolescents themselves perceive the effect their service learning experience has on themselves. I conducted a qualitative study exploring adolescent girls' understanding of the effect their community service experience had on their moral, social and political values. My research consisted of …

Characteristics And Effects Of Non-Systemic Thinking As Observed In The United States Postal Service, Larry Cruse

Theses and Graduate Projects

The US Postal SeMce one of the largest and longest-lived organizations in existence, but the USPS has also become one of the organizations most threatened by the rapid pace of technological change. The thesis of this paper is that the United states Postal Service's effort to define and foster leadership ability espouses a variety of widely recognized leadership theories, but is hampered by a linear, non-systemic approach to executive development and selection. Furthermore, I propose that these same limiting, non-systemic thinking characteristics are identifiable in a variety of corporate strategies and performance initiatives. The result of leadership decisions made by …

Development Of A Workshop Exploring Physical Disability And Film Media, Debra J. Peterson

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a one day workshop for human service professionals which would help them to explore commonly held attitudes and values towards citizens with disabilities and heighten awareness of the impact of popular media, particularly film, in the shaping of such values. The framework is founded in symbolic interactionism with an emphasis on the following concepts: disability, handicap, mass media and the formation of culture. Th rough individual and group activities, lecture, analysis of film segments and overhead transparencies, workshop participants would expand their awareness and skills associated with citizens with disabilities and obtain …

Historical Case Study Of Stella L. Wood, Bonnie G. Ostlund

Theses and Graduate Projects

The focus of this historical case study is to examine the life of Stella Louise Wood, an educator recognized for her leadership in public kindergarten and teacher training in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She spearheaded the campaign for free public kindergartens in the city in 1896, and was the leader of its teacher training school for the following fifty-two years. In that time, Stella Wood shared her strong commitment to the youngest students and her dynamic spirit with over 2,500 teacher trainees, known as Miss Wood's girls. She lived to approve a merger of her school with Macalester College in St. Paul, …

Malcolm X And Symbolic Convergence Theory, Jill L. Pittelkow

Theses and Graduate Projects

The focus of this paper will be the application of symbolic convergence theory to the leadership attributes of Malcolm X.

Symbolic Convergence Theory focuses on determining and identifying symbols in diverse communities and showing how the meanings for these symbols intersect to create shared results.

In the case of Malcolm X, several ideas which initially sounded radical and frightening to many white people became more solid and reasonable when presented by themes consonant with mainstream American culture.

By focusing on specific examples used by Malcolm X to present his ideas to diverse cultures, I hope to emphasize the importance of …

How Complex Adaptive Systems Address Manufacturing Planning System Challenges And Provide New Leadership Perspectives, Charles V. Nemer

Theses and Graduate Projects

Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRPII) is viewed as an organizational system through the metaphor of complex adaptive systems (CAS) in order to gain new insights that benefit manufacturing leadership and resolve challenges faced by MRPII. This thesis examines the history of manufacturing to reveal the metaphor under which MRPII currently operates and then introduces the metaphor of CAS, thus resulting in new direction for the manufacturing leader. Based on a review of the existing literature in manufacturing and in complexity theory, the work of Holland (1995) and Daft (1992) are central to establishing the relationship of MRPII to organizational and complexity …

The Significance Of Emotional Intelligence In The Life Of Jimmy Carter, Susan M. James

Theses and Graduate Projects

According to recent studies, the most important predictor of success is not knowledge or technical aptitude. Rather, "Emotional Intelligence", a concept developed by author and former Harvard professor Daniel Goleman in the 1990s, is the foundation for success. Goleman describes emotional intelligence as the ability to monitor one's own feelings and the feelings of others, and to use this information to guide actions and decisions.

This paper examines the theory of emotional intelligence and its significance in the life of Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States. Known as the most ineffectual president of his time, he has …

Transformational Leadership: A Case Study Of Vaclav Havel, Neal Hauser

Theses and Graduate Projects

The focus of this political-historical case study is based on the leadership style of Vaclav Havel, the current president of the Czech Republic. The writer, playwright, prisoner and dissident led the peaceful overthrow of the Communist government in Czechoslovakia in 1989, and was the country's first democratically elected president in over fifty years. The premise of this case study has two parts.The first part identifies the leadership characteristics and qualities demonstrated by Vaclav Havel. Part two consists of evaluating Havel's leadership style with contemporary theories of leadership.

This study will show that Havel exhibits a transformational leadership style demonstrated by …

Foundational Processes Of Manufacturing Leaders: How Complex Adaptive Systems Address Manufacturing Planning System Challenges And Provide New Leadership Perspectives, Charles V. Nemer

Theses and Graduate Projects

Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRPII) is viewed as an organizational system through the metaphor of complex adaptive systems (CAS) in order to gain new insights that benefit manufacturing leadership and resolve challenges faced by MRPII. This thesis examines the history of manufacturing to reveal the metaphor under which MRPII currently operates and then introduces the metaphor of CAS, thus resulting in new direction for the manufacturing leader. Based on a review of the existing literature in manufacturing and in complexity theory, the work of Holland (1995) and Daft (1992) are central to establishing the relationship of MRPII to organizational and complexity …

Immigration Policy, Intolerance, And Social Work After World War Ii, Ariel Racine

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study is an historical analysis of the profession of social work involvement in immigration policies and social welfare programs. This study sought to explore how the social work profession related to immigration policy from the turn of the century until the present, focusing on the aftermath of World War II. Three themes emerged from the literature: l) the development of the social work profession; 2) the methods in which social work responded to the events after World War II; and 3) the lack of involvement of society and the social work profession on the behalf of immigrants during this …

Service Learning For The Sheridan School Community And Beyond, Susan J. Ferrell

Theses and Graduate Projects

This Leadership Application Project outlined various aspects of youth service learning. This proiect included information about the history and evolution of service learning, included definitions and examples of service learning, and differentiated service learning from community service and experiential education. Emphasis was placed on the importance of reflection in service learning and on the expected positive outcomes for students. Based on interviews with colleagues, a teacher handbook was developed to accompany the research about service learning. The handbook included general information for teachers about youth service learning, as well as examples of lessons and service learning units.

An Investigation Of The Augsburg Leadership Development Model And Its Gender Role Association, Jackie Holien

Theses and Graduate Projects

Traditional models of leadership have been associated with either masculine or feminine traits, as illustrated by the transactional and transformational styles, respectively. A new model of leadership has emerged that requires that both feminine and masculine traits be incorporated into a leader's style. The Augsburg Leadership Development Model supports this new style of leadership by maintaining a neutral gender role association.

Deaf Children, Self-Esteem, And Parents' Communication Patterns, Lynn Marie Bloom

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to analyze the responses from high school students who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing regarding self-esteem, and communication methods used in the family. The quantitative design examines how the parents' communication methods affect the Deaf child's level of self-esteem. Several studies have reported there is a relationship between the family's communication method and the deaf child's level of self-esteem. Parents whose sign language skills were more proficient had children whose self-esteem scores were higher than those of parents who were less skilled in sign language. Also, parents have an important role to play in preparing …

Identifying A Need For The Development Of A Culturally Based Leadership Program For The Native American Ho-Chunk Youth, Charity Thunder

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study explores the need for a culturally based leadership program to help the Native American Ho-Chunk youth become effective leaders in their communities. There are but a few studies done on Native American leadership so I have chiefly relied on the empirical evidence collected from several Summer Ho-Chunk Youth Leadership Conferences. As a result, learning the Hocak language was identified as being critical to keeping the culture and traditions alive.

We proceed to do this in four parts. We begin with the statement of the problem. Secondly, we define and clarify terms such as: American Indian, tribe, vision, sovereignty, …

Teachers' Perceptions Of Students With Attention Deficit Disorders, Paula A. Watts

Theses and Graduate Projects

Attention Deficit Disorders (ADHD/ADD) are rapidly becoming an important educational issue. Currently, ADHD/ADD is the most frequently diagnosed condition found in school age children. Educators, unlike other professionals, have a unique opportunity to observe students on a daily basis and over extended periods of time within a setting where the deficits associated with this disorder are perhaps most visible. As a result, teachers have long served as the catalysts for suggesting the diagnosis of ADHD/ADD in their students. They have also been responsible for implementing strategies within the classroom to assist students with ADHD/ADD in being successful. However, teachers' experience …

Critical Incident Stress And The Effectiveness Of Debriefing For Hospital Personnel, Brenda S. Verbick

Theses and Graduate Projects

A model of intervention called Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) has been developed for the hospital setting to mitigate the impact of a critical incident and to assist workers in recovering as quickly as possible from the stress associated with the event.

This quantitative cross-sectional survey expands the knowledge of the impact of critical incidents on hospital workers and the effectiveness of the CISD model of intervention in reducing stress reactions. Through a self-administered survey, participants were asked to complete a subjective stress measurement tool, the revised Impact of Event (IES-R), as well as a ‘helpfulness’ questionnaire developed to obtain …

Protecting Children With Nonorganic Failure To Thrive, Deirdra Hoolahan

Theses and Graduate Projects

Nonorganic failure to thrive (NOFTT) children are at risk. Their physical, cognitive and social development are threatened. They need more than hospitalized medical treatment, but also long-term intervention that will protect them from further neglect and damage. Through a method of policy analysis this research explores the definition of nonorganic failure to thrive in the context of child neglect, and how social policies protect children with NOFTT from further damaging neglect. This research found strengths in Child Protective Service's ability to receive reports of child neglect and weakness in that many children who are neglected do not receive the needed …

Adult Mentoring: Benefits To Adolescent Mothers, Kim Landrigan

Theses and Graduate Projects

This exploratory study was conducted to explore the following research questions: l) What are the needs of pregnant and parenting adolescents in the St. Cloud community? 2) What support systems were most helpful to pregnant or parenting adolescents?

Once youth become parents, they face many challenges such as dropping out of high school, becoming economically deprived, and lacking emotional support. Eleven pregnant and/or parenting adolescents, ages 15 to 19, were interviewed using a structured interview guide. The interviews focused on assessing the participant's educational achievements, financial stability, self-esteem, level of emotional support and social support networks.

Overall the study found …

Twin Cities Homeless Youth: Assessment Of Problems And Needs, Carolyn P. Holmes

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study sought to gather data from key informants, who are professional staff members of agencies and community resources that serve homeless youths. Youth homelessness is on the rise and this study sought to gather the opinions. ideas, and recommendations of key informants that have or are working directly with this population to better understand their needs, in hopes to lessen or eliminate its growth in numbers around the Twin Cities area. Ninety surveys were sent to key informants and forty-six (51%) of the surveys were returned, which showed that there is great interest in and concern about the homeless …

Evaluating A Grief Support Group's Effectiveness In Alleviating A Person's Grief Experience, Kristin Lea Anderson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Grieving over the death of a loved one is an incredibly painful experience for anyone to endure. Moving through this grief in isolation can make the experience even more devastating. Fortunately, grief support groups have been developed as a way for people to receive the necessary emotional and social support during this difficult time. This study is a direct practice evaluation examining the effectiveness of a grief support group's ability to alleviate a person's level of anger, despair, and social isolation. Those participating in the study included 7 new members of a grief support group who had experienced the death …

Observing Attachment Disorder In Adults, Aileen G. Ockwig

Theses and Graduate Projects

Mental health professionals who work with adults typically encounter clients who have issues left over from childhood. This paper discusses the Attachment Theory first conceptualized by John Bowlby and the therapeutic implications with adults concerning attachment theory based on psychoanalytic-object relations theory. Understanding and emphasizing the importance of affectional bonds with caring others is an essential part of treating adult clients with attachment issues. The purpose of this study is to define the nature of the therapeutic relationship between client and clinician to identify therapeutic strategies that create a safe place for adult clients to explore issues of attachment, separation …

Grieving The Loss Of A Partner: The Ways Of Isolation A Hermeneutic Experience, Nichole M. Yager

Theses and Graduate Projects

This hermeneutic, qualitative study was undertaken to find out what the lived experience has been for one woman who lost her partner. Hermeneutics is an interpretive approach to looking at everyday experiences and uncovering what is usually hidden from us. Theorists have developed many frameworks to apply to the bereaved person. They try to explain how the loss will affect those who suffer a loss. This study attempted to capture what this experience was like for one bereaved person, what her thoughts and feelings were while living the experience and how this experience has changed her life. The participant lost …

Jane Addams, Mary Richmond And Liberal Feminism: An Historical Analysis, Elizabeth Reum

Theses and Graduate Projects

This historical thesis analyzed records and archival information regarding feminism in American social work by contrasting two key historical figures, Mary Richmond and Jane Addams who were considered the matriarchs of the social work movement in the earliest part of the 20th century. The study examined the accomplishments of Ms. Addams and Ms. Richmond, their backgrounds and philosophies that helped shape their feminism, beliefs, and political work and the impact it had on social work as a profession. The research gathered attempted to answer the question of whether the work done by these two women meets the current criteria of …

A Plan For Youth Leadership Development In The Lutheran Church, Stacy M. Frost

Theses and Graduate Projects

This paper reviews a Youth Leadership Model which promotes teen involvement in the Lutheran Church. In the past, Easter Lutheran Church experienced low teen participation, due to a faulty understanding of what teens' roles in the church should be. The presumption was that teens should "earn" leadership rather than "learn" it. Teens were put into positions of "helpers" or "'gophers," thus the church was not providing opportunities for faith development or relationship building.

In 1996, I personally created the Youth Leadership Development Model which is based on a theory of mentorship. The team promotes teens serving as leaders in the …

Out For Equity, A Case Study, Erin Beaudry

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of the study is to explore the effectiveness of such a program and if found useful, to put forth information that can assist social workers in starting such a program in their school systems. Homosexuality has been a controversial subject in our society for many years. Society has reacted to the topic in many different ways including ignoring, condemning, or accepting gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals for who they are. The framework for this study is based on Systems Theory and focuses on the power the education system has in affecting the lives of gay, lesbian, and bisexual …

Nurturant And Provider Role Saliency Of Fathers In Traditional And Non-Traditional Families, Michael R. Hacker

Theses and Graduate Projects

Although identity theory, out of symbolic interactionism, has been suggested to be the most useful framework for understanding the changing roles of fathers, little systematic research has been done to apply this framework to fathering roles, and especially the specific roles of provider and nurturer. In this study, seven fathers, four in economically traditional families and three in economically non-traditional families, were interviewed using a structured interview schedule. This interview focused on the saliency of the roles of provider and nurturer for fathers and the strain in fulfilling aspects of both as predicted by identity theory. The content analysis revealed …

Exploration And Analysis Of Corporate Social Responsibility: A Study Of Corporate Social Responsibility And Minnesota Organizations, Jessica A. Viljaste

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study was designed explore the importance and increase of corporate social responsibility and determine what response level of behavior and actions select Minnesota based organizations are currently practicing using the model and measurements of S. Prakash Sethi's "Dimensions of Corporate Social Performance: An Analytical Framework."

The results of my research show that the majority of the Minnesota organizations surveyed claim to be currently practicing at least proscriptive or reactive levels of behavior and action. More organizations claimed their behavior and actions as preventative in regard to their ethical norms, social accountability, and operating strategy than the other dimensions. One …

A Secondary Data Analysis Of The Womankind/Centers For Disease Control Evaluation A Study Of Hospital Staff S Ability To Engage, Assess And Refer Victims Of Domestic Abuse, Victoria M. Hanson

Theses and Graduate Projects

This is a secondary data analysis of an evaluation of a domestic violence program in a hospital setting in the Midwest. Hospital staffs in five hospitals who work in either the Emergency Department, Intensive Care, or Perinatal/Ob/Gyn were surveyed to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors regarding domestic abuse. This secondary data analysis looked at the results of the 320 completed baseline surveys to examine if hospital staff who have a high concordance with feminist principles perceive themselves as having a high ability to engage, assess, and refer victims of domestic abuse. Multiple regression was used to compare practitioner …

Service Usage As A Measure Of Program Effectiveness: One Agency's Experience, Lisa M. Powers

Theses and Graduate Projects

This is a program evaluation of a community support program for adults with a serious and persistent mental illness. Since the deinstitutionalization of persons with a serious and persistent mental illness, many programs have been developed with the aim of keeping this population as independent in their communities as possible. Existing research shows the effectiveness of community-based programs in reducing acute care hospitalizations for this population yet fails to determine which components of these programs are most necessary and for whom. A simple random sample of currently active files (N=38) was conducted, and data was collected on type and frequency …