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Sleep Promotion In Children With Developmental Disabilities: Implications For Occupational Therapy Practice, Paula M. Stommes May 2022

Sleep Promotion In Children With Developmental Disabilities: Implications For Occupational Therapy Practice, Paula M. Stommes

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Sleep is foundational for the health and well-being of children. The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, Domain and Process, 4th Edition (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020) has categorized rest and sleep as an occupation within the occupational therapy domain. Rest and sleep are defined as “Activities related to obtaining restorative rest and sleep to support healthy, active engagement in other occupations” (p. 32-33). Within this occupation domain, factors related to rest and sleep include rest, sleep preparation, and sleep participation. Rest is a time to relax and engage in quiet actions that do not induce stress or effort. Sleep preparation engages …


Visual Perception And Reading Outcomes: The Occupational Therapy Practitioner’S Role, Amy Carrier May 2022

Visual Perception And Reading Outcomes: The Occupational Therapy Practitioner’S Role, Amy Carrier

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

The number of students in the United States who fall below grade level reading proficiency is staggering (Grajo, 2019). The National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) reports that sixty- five percent of fourth graders and sixty- six percent of eighth graders are reading below grade level in America (NAE, 2019). Children with disabilities have even worse statistics regarding reading proficiency. The National Center for Learning Disabilities reports that eighty-five percent of students with specific learning disabilities fall below basic levels of literacy (Grajo, 2019). Literacy is defined as the ability to read, write, speak, and listen. (Schneck, 2019). Reading proficiency …


The Lived Experience Of Parents Who Homeschool A Child With Disabilities In Accessing And Utilizing Occupational Therapy Services, Ruth Chase Dec 2019

The Lived Experience Of Parents Who Homeschool A Child With Disabilities In Accessing And Utilizing Occupational Therapy Services, Ruth Chase

Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy Theses and Projects

Over the past 20 years, there has been a continuous increase in the number of families choosing to homeschool their children, and a significant number of these families are homeschooling children with disabilities (Redford, Battle, & Bielick, 2017). Occupational therapists work with children who have disabilities in a variety of practice settings, including home-based, clinic-based, and school-based practice areas. However, there has been no research regarding the unique considerations of the lived experiences of homeschool families and occupational therapy services. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the challenges and supports related to accessibility and utilization of occupational …


Modeling Grace And Courtesy In A Montessori Classroom And Its Influence On Children’S Social Behavior, Minhui Zhang Dec 2019

Modeling Grace And Courtesy In A Montessori Classroom And Its Influence On Children’S Social Behavior, Minhui Zhang

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

It has long been known that teachers have a large influence on students, however, little is known about the effect that teachers may have on students’ ability to develop positive social behaviors. Accordingly, there is a need to collect data regarding the effect that a teacher modeling grace and courtesy may have on how students interact with their peers and teachers. Therefore, the purpose of this action research is to analyze the effects of intentional teacher role modeling of grace and courtesy on children’s social behaviors. A classroom of 24 lower elementary, mixed age children from five to eight years …


Physical Activity Improving Executive Functioning Behaviors In Montessori Children Ages 3-12, Melissa Patten, Amanda Bodden May 2019

Physical Activity Improving Executive Functioning Behaviors In Montessori Children Ages 3-12, Melissa Patten, Amanda Bodden

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Executive function refers to the intellectual processes necessary for goal-directed cognition and behavior, which develop across childhood and adolescence. This study focused on the effects of physical activity on concentration and focus, prior to academic lessons, in urban Montessori classrooms ages 3-12. This study was administered for six weeks utilizing a thematic calendar of physical activities. The tools used for data collection were: a pre-dialogue with teachers, pre and post-assessments, control tallies, on and off-task observation counts and a post-satisfaction survey. Movement interventions improved focus and concentration by an average of 27%. The data collected supported our hypothesis that purposeful …


Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Interventions For Children With Autism: Current Practices And Continuing Education In Minnesota, Bryden G. Giving May 2018

Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Interventions For Children With Autism: Current Practices And Continuing Education In Minnesota, Bryden G. Giving

Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy Theses and Projects

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the use of non-evidence-based practices that are often used with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by occupational therapy practitioners, as well as continuing education necessary to better pediatric occupational therapy practice with children with ASD in Minnesota. This mixed-methods project utilized a website content analysis, survey, and focus group data to address the research questions. The study aimed to address: (1) How do pediatric occupational therapy practitioners in Minnesota understand evidence-based practice and apply evidence-based practice principles in their work with children with ASD? (2) How are the twelve specified interventions …


Montessori Family Education, Katharina Vidojevic May 2018

Montessori Family Education, Katharina Vidojevic

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Montessori family education is a stepping stone in forming a bridge between school and home. This action research is focused on increasing familial attendance in Montessori education classes. Using quantitative and qualitative research methods are important tools in discovering the needs of the school community. Attendance, Likert scales and feedback questionnaires were useful tools in reaching out to the familial community. Implementing the changes based on the research results showed a drastic increase in attendance. With families leading busy lives, the school meeting them half way showed positive quantitative and qualitative results. This study had a maximum of 28 families …


Addressing Needs Among Students Affected By Domestic Violence: Social Workers’ Perspectives, Kiah Dahlquist May 2017

Addressing Needs Among Students Affected By Domestic Violence: Social Workers’ Perspectives, Kiah Dahlquist

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The issue of domestic violence is of great concerns and the impact on children is becoming more widely acknowledged. This social issue contains many consequences and ramifications and a wider understanding of children’s needs are emerging. With this growing recognition the importance to meet this children’s needs have been identified. This qualitative study explored how school social workers support children impacted by domestic violence through six (n = 6) semi-structured interviews. The findings, developed through an open-coding process, included the following themes: interventions used by school social workers to support children experiencing domestic violence; barriers to supporting children affected; resources …


Mindfulness Practice With Children Who Have Experienced Trauma, Margaret Fischer May 2017

Mindfulness Practice With Children Who Have Experienced Trauma, Margaret Fischer

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This study examined how mindfulness practice is used with children who have experienced trauma or currently living in traumatic situations through a systematic review of the literature. Protocols and inclusion and exclusion criteria were set to ensure that only the most fitting articles were selected. Through the research two main categories emerged: 1) childhood and adolescent intervention, and 2) adulthood intervention. Within those two main categories three themes emerged: 1) MBSR Intervention, 2) Mind Body Skills Group Intervention, and 3) Other Mindfulness Practice Interventions. Mindfulness practice interventions in their various forms were found to have positive outcomes when addressing trauma …


Emotional Dysregulation In Children, Alison Kath May 2017

Emotional Dysregulation In Children, Alison Kath

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The number of children diagnosed and struggling with a mental health disorder within the United States is increasing quickly (Lin and Bratton, 2015). With this population of children becoming bigger each day the need for effective prevention and intervention strategies to help children learn how to emotionally regulate continues to grow in importance. The following study asks the question: what do clinicians find to be the most effective interventions in helping children ages three to twelve learn how to regulate their emotions? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with mental health professionals within the Twin Cities metropolitan area to answer this question. …


The Impacts Of Sex Trafficking On Children Of Survivors: Stakeholders’ Perspectives, Christine Wills May 2017

The Impacts Of Sex Trafficking On Children Of Survivors: Stakeholders’ Perspectives, Christine Wills

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The aim of this study was to conduct a needs assessment for children whose parents are survivors of sex trafficking from a stakeholders’ perspective. Six stakeholders that work directly with survivors of sex trafficking were interviewed. There were seven themes that arose in the findings: Trauma; Loss of Custody; Generational Component of Sex Trafficking; Barriers; Systems Implications; Trauma-Informed Care; and Holistic Resources. These themes assist in understanding the trajectories of the children’s lives, barriers children and their parents face, and services that need to be created or improved for these children.


Mindfulness Intervention: Usefulness In Elementary Classrooms In Regards To Transitions And Collaboration, Jessie M. Filkins Aug 2016

Mindfulness Intervention: Usefulness In Elementary Classrooms In Regards To Transitions And Collaboration, Jessie M. Filkins

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this investigation was to see if mindfulness lessons based on breathing and meditation techniques would be effective with elementary age students in building community and collaborative work skills. This was done in a classroom of 25 students ranging from nine to twelve years old. I used a pre and post survey as well as observational data to determine the relevance of the meditations on community clean up time. The results showed that there was an increase in participation as well as a decrease in the time it took for the children to clean up. There was also …


Significant Emotional And Behavioral Problems In Early Childhood, Samantha Johnson May 2016

Significant Emotional And Behavioral Problems In Early Childhood, Samantha Johnson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Significant emotional and behavioral problems in early childhood are a growing concern for social workers, mental health professionals, teachers, day care providers and others involved in the care of children ranging in age from 18 months to six years old. The purpose of this research study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the professional experience and perspective of mental health professionals in meeting the mental health needs of children with significant emotional and behavioral problems in early childhood. A semi-structured interview was used with the six mental health professionals that participated in the study. Three major themes from the …


Interventions For Children With Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: A Systematic Review, Hallie Bergeson May 2016

Interventions For Children With Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: A Systematic Review, Hallie Bergeson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a term used to describe lifelong effects that can occur when an unborn baby is exposed to alcohol (Wilson, 2013). FASD is a worldwide issue and affects individuals of all races and socioeconomic statues. It is irreversible, however, if diagnosed early, individuals can receive interventions to help improve their quality of life. A systematic literature review was conducted to address the research question, what research-based interventions are available for children with fetal alcohol syndrome. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, thirteen articles were analyzed. The articles included in the study address interventions in areas …


Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy With Children And Adolescents: A Systematic Review, Melissa M. Conway May 2016

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy With Children And Adolescents: A Systematic Review, Melissa M. Conway

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This systematic review examines the efficacy of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) as an intervention in the treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents. Upon thorough review of the present literature, 7 articles met criteria. Common themes identified throughout the reviewed studies include TF-CBT versus other interventions, use of an engagement intervention, outcome influences, reduction in PTSD symptoms, and integrating TF-CBT into practice. Results of this review conclude TF-CBT is an effective treatment intervention for reducing PTSD symptoms in children and adolescents, yet further research needs to be done to be able to properly integrate the program …


Systematic Review: Social Work School Interventions For Food Accessibility Among Impoverished Children, Rebecca Christensen May 2016

Systematic Review: Social Work School Interventions For Food Accessibility Among Impoverished Children, Rebecca Christensen

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Mothers and children from impoverished families discuss the continuous sacrifices related to food insecurity. Sacrifices like trade-offs can lead to attention of a family’s immediate needs like food but these often come with the cost or sacrifice of other long term needs such as a means of income. Working with children and their families in attending to the underlying causes for their food insecurity may not only help to alleviate their immediate but also their long term needs in maintaining a standard of living. This systematic literature review was designed to investigate the research question: What interventions are being taken …


Grieving Students: School Social Workers’ Perspectives, Kaitlin Salscheider May 2016

Grieving Students: School Social Workers’ Perspectives, Kaitlin Salscheider

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Children and adolescents often experience a wide variety of loss and disruptive change throughout their lives. School is where children and adolescents are expected to perform at their best intellectual, emotional, social, and behavioral capacity; however, the reaction after a loss can impact a student’s academic performance and include regressive behavior. Schools are a fundamental place for the development of children, and school social workers in particular work with students who have experienced a wide variety of stressful incidents and are critical in improving the social-emotional well-being in students. The purpose of this study was to explore school social workers’ …


Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Children Witnessing Domestic Violence: A Systematic Review, Xia Thao May 2016

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Children Witnessing Domestic Violence: A Systematic Review, Xia Thao

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an evidence based treatment. The primary use was with children and youth who has been or continues to be exposed to trauma. The objective of this systematic review was to focus on the effectiveness of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to reduce post-traumatic symptoms of children. The study is inclusive of children ages three to 18 years old, who witnessed domestic violence. Ten empirical intervention studies were selected for inclusion in findings. The articles were obtained and analyzed from six databases. Evidence based practice was used as the conceptual framework. The purpose of the framework is …


Caregivers’ Perceptions Of Day Treatment Programs, Julie Lochen May 2015

Caregivers’ Perceptions Of Day Treatment Programs, Julie Lochen

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This paper addresses the mental health concerns of millions of children across the United States; especially those with diagnosis of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders. This researcher used a qualitative research design to obtain the perceptions of caregivers who have children placed in day treatment programs. This researcher used an exploratory design with action research theory. Action research theory was used in the hopes that clinicians would empower clients, caregivers, and families. The researcher used an open-ended interview technique to collect data through a qualitative questionnaire with participants, lasting about 15 minutes. The questions that were asked pertained to the perceptions …


Perceived Effectiveness Of Group Therapy In Elementary School Settings With Children Experiencing Parental Divorce, Jennifer L. Kronenberg May 2015

Perceived Effectiveness Of Group Therapy In Elementary School Settings With Children Experiencing Parental Divorce, Jennifer L. Kronenberg

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This research explored the perceived effectiveness of group work for children experiencing parental divorce in elementary school settings. This research collected qualitative data from eight school social workers in the state of Minnesota. The workers ranged in years of practice, licensure level and size of district. This research found that immediacy of intervention, length and time in group, closed membership and varied activities all greatly contributed to overall effectiveness. In addition, this research found noteworthy effectiveness including positive emotional and behavioral outcomes, emotional expression, increased self-esteem and identified positive supports. The findings of this research did not support the involvement …


Parents Perceptions Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Katelyn Retaskie May 2015

Parents Perceptions Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Katelyn Retaskie

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This study examines the parents of children with autism spectrum disorder perspectives on the initial diagnosis. This research is of qualitative design in which four mothers of children with autism were asked a series of interview questions. The results indicate an emotional impact on not only the mothers, but the family as a whole. In addition the results indicate a need for more education around the topic of autism itself. Implications for social work indicate a need for change at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.


The Commonalities And Shared Experiences Of Female Prostitutes Who Were Sexually Exploited As Children: The Perspectives Of Clinical Social Workers, Heather Wilmes May 2015

The Commonalities And Shared Experiences Of Female Prostitutes Who Were Sexually Exploited As Children: The Perspectives Of Clinical Social Workers, Heather Wilmes

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LICSW) provide services to vulnerable populations. As the number of sexually exploited women in Minnesota and the United States grows, so does the number of women needing services from social workers. It is important that LICSWs understand the population of women who have engaged in prostitution that were victims of sexual exploitation as children. If LICSWs are knowledgeable about the commonalities and shared experiences of the women they serve, they may be able to identify common risk factors and provide appropriate services. This research study sought to identify the commonalities and shared experiences of female prostitutes …


The Use Of Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy With Children Who Have Experienced Trauma To Improve Social Functioning, Danielle Hernandez May 2014

The Use Of Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy With Children Who Have Experienced Trauma To Improve Social Functioning, Danielle Hernandez

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Children who have experienced trauma are often affected socially, relationally and personally. Some children will require therapeutic interventions to improve these symptoms and functioning, while others will recover with no therapeutic intervention at all. One evidence based intervention to treat trauma in children is Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT), however current research on TFCBT primarily focuses on how it improves PTSD symptoms, not necessarily its effect on improving a child’s social or relational functioning. Therefore, the present study focuses on the clinician’s perspective of how the use of TFCBT improves social functioning. The findings indicate that the use of …


Deployment Issues For Women Veterans And Their Children, Alea J. Johnson May 2014

Deployment Issues For Women Veterans And Their Children, Alea J. Johnson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Deployment creates unique experiences and issues for women veterans and their children. Although each family has their own understanding of deployment, examining common issues throughout families may inform future practice with military families. For this research the deployment issues that are present for women veterans and their children were examined. A secondary data analysis analyzed eight participants (n=8) and their children who had discussions regarding non-deployment and deployment issues in addition to completing problem solving tasks. This study found that deployment issues for these families were sadness about the deployed parent being gone, talking about deployment, communicating during deployment, missing …


Animal-Assisted Therapy And Its Effects On Children In Schools, Jordan N. Putz May 2014

Animal-Assisted Therapy And Its Effects On Children In Schools, Jordan N. Putz

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Animal-assisted therapy could be used in schools as a supportive intervention provided by school social workers. The purpose of this project was to explore how animal-assisted therapy in schools, specifically using dogs, could be a complimentary and supportive form of intervention provided by social workers in a school setting. Using a qualitative design, five school social workers and three therapy dog handlers were interviewed regarding their perceptions on using therapy dogs in schools and how the therapy dogs may impact students. The data was analyzed using the content analysis method in which themes were developed from participant responses, integrating the …


Families With Severe Medical Conditions In Children: Effects And Interventions, Morgan Wilson May 2014

Families With Severe Medical Conditions In Children: Effects And Interventions, Morgan Wilson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Parents and primary caregivers are the most important providers of support and care for their children. Families with children with chronic or life-threatening medical conditions face many challenges that the average family does not. The purpose of this research project was to discover what the effects of having a child with a chronic or severe illness are on the family system. This was done by finding out what has been the most helpful to the family and each of its members during the time since the child has been diagnosed and by finding out what has been challenging to the …


Social Workers' Use Of Bibliotherapy With Children & Issues Of Diversity, Andrea R. . Lichtsinn May 2013

Social Workers' Use Of Bibliotherapy With Children & Issues Of Diversity, Andrea R. . Lichtsinn

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this research project was to explore how social workers use bibliotherapy with children, and how they consider issues of diversity in their selection of books. A mixed mode survey was sent through email to 270 social workers who work primarily with children. Sixty-eight surveys were completed and the data was analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods. The findings lend support to the widespread use of books as a therapeutic tool, with 99% of respondents reporting that they use books in therapy with children. Participants reported using books for a variety of therapeutic purposes, however, the majority (62%) …


Effectiveness Of Animal-Assisted Therapy: Therapists’ Perspectives, Nichole M. Budahn May 2013

Effectiveness Of Animal-Assisted Therapy: Therapists’ Perspectives, Nichole M. Budahn

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Animal-assisted therapy has frequently been used with children who have autism spectrum disorder. This study examined animal-assisted therapists’ perceptions of effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy with children who have DSM-IV mental health diagnoses. The researcher recruited self-identified animal-assisted therapists using social media sites LinkedIn and Facebook. Two therapists completed the fourteen question qualitative survey in full. Three themes were found in this study; comfort, confidence, and benefits. While this study produced definite themes, more research needs to be conducted on animal-assisted therapy and children with DSM-IV mental health disorders. Very few studies have been conducted on the impacts of animal-assisted therapy …


Disorganized Attachment And Trauma In Children, Anya K. Esch May 2013

Disorganized Attachment And Trauma In Children, Anya K. Esch

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Children who experience trauma often experience a disruption in the formation of attachment with their primary caregiver. This research aims to address how this disruption may lead to attachment disorders in children, and what developmental challenges children exposed to trauma may face. Using a qualitative interview case study of a children’s’ mental health professional, this study examines the impact of trauma on attachment, based on the experiences of this clinician. This study set out to investigate what treatment methods are currently used to treat children with histories of trauma and attachment disorders. From the qualitative interview 4 main themes were …


How Do School Social Workers Provide Support To Children Of Divorce?, Kimberly Johnson May 2013

How Do School Social Workers Provide Support To Children Of Divorce?, Kimberly Johnson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The ongoing impact of divorce on elementary school-aged children has been associated with lower academic achievement, behavioral problems, relational issues, depression, and risk of developing short-and long-term mental health symptoms. School-based divorce support groups are one way children may receive support to cope with ongoing stressors associated with growing up in divorced or separated families. The purpose of this project was to explore elementary school social workers perspectives regarding what services they are able to provide to children who come from divorced, separated, or never married households and at what frequency. If divorce groups were offered in an elementary school …