Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Parent-Centered Planning: One Approach To Ending Ableism In The Child Welfare System, Gabrielle Heille, Bailey Mcnulty, Jessica Schisel, Bla Yang, Lauren Zappitello

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

Parents with disabilities are disproportionately involved in the child welfare system. This is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the basic human rights of dignity and autonomy. Assessment tools and data collection systems currently utilized by the system fuel discrimination and provide inconsistent reporting. Minnesota needs to implement child welfare practices that center the goals of the parent, fully utilize informal and formal community supports, and make creative accommodations to reduce the number of children removed from their parents on the basis of ability. A lack of existing data indicates that more research is needed, …

Geographic Trends Of Terrorist Attacks And Active Shooter Scenarios Perpetrated Inside U.S. Military Installations And Facilities, 1970-2019, Aaron James Ebbenga

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

In recent years, a variety of devastating terrorist attacks have been perpetrated against American military installations, spurring not only national outrage but also global public upheaval. Our public preconception of considering military bases as impenetrable to the dangers of active shooter scenarios and bomb threats has since become widely scrutinized by worldwide media sources. For this reason, the people of the U.S. have expressed concerns about the safety of the nation’s military personnel. The diverse nature of the attacks, committed both by domestic and foreign terrorist organizations, illustrates vulnerabilities of American military installations and support facilities. These types of attacks …

No Peace For Afghanistan: A Case-Study Of The Failure Of Peace-Building Process In Afghanistan From A Transnational Feminist Standpoint, Tahmina Sobat

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

In early 2019, the United States officially started its direct negotiations with the Taliban to reach an agreement on a joint framework for a future peace deal in Afghanistan and inter-Afghan negotiations. Although debate continued over the size and duration of the US military presence in Afghanistan and the inclusion of the terrorist group the Taliban in the government of Afghanistan, what fell in and out of the headlines were the topic of women’s presence, their rights, and two decades of advocacy and achievements in these peace-building efforts. While the United Nations Security Council’s resolution 1325 on women, peace, and …

The Assessment Of Emergency Preparedness Among University Students, Arliah Cox

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

University students have been an understudied population when it comes to the topic of emergency/ disaster preparedness. While there have been a few studies carried out to examine students’ perceptions of preparedness, the level of preparedness must be determined to be able to close the gap when it comes to barriers preventing them from being prepared. One hundred and eighty-seven undergraduate participants at a Midwestern university completed both online and in-person surveys in March 2022. The survey included questions regarding emergency/ disaster preparedness, perception of being prepared, and barriers which can prevent preparedness. Results showed that a lack of time …

Do They Make A Difference? Twin Cities Magnet Schools In The Heart Of Metropolitan Inequity And Segregation, Scott A. Thomas

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Magnet schools have served as one of the most important and widely-used desegregation tools throughout the United States. Each district, region, and state have varying degrees of implementation, policies, and goals for such schools; however, robust evidence of their effectiveness is needed. This study examines a single school district in Minnesota that uses magnet schools to meet a state desegregation order where five elementary magnet schools and five control schools were identified to understand the impact the magnet “treatment” has on achievement for students of color, English learners, and students receiving special education services. This multivariate comparative study uses the …

Do National Tragedies Create Change? Kent State Shooting And The Actions Taken After., Rebekah M. Aiken

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

This article is about the Kent State shooting and the events that lead up to May 4, 1970. There is background on the Vietnam War and American involvement within the war. In addition information is provided on what caused the tragedy that happened at Kent State. The article also provides the changes that happened to the Ohio National Guard following the shooting.

Promoting The Well-Being Of People With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Through Trauma-Informed Supports, Jenny Birkholz, Katy Hemberger, Brianna Jonason, Stephanie Nelson

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

Minnesota must take an honest look at the widespread practice of managing the behavior of people with neurodevelopmental and other disabilities (NDD) through Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). This approach fails to honor the unique qualities, ways of knowing, lived experiences, and self-determination of people with NDD. Even though Minnesota aims to provide positive behavioral supports, the focus is still on changing the person who is misbehaving. Neuroscience is changing our understanding of behavior, including how distress, fear, and trauma are expressed. Minnesota must stop using harmful behavior management practices, admit the pain it has caused, and invest in a trauma-informed …

Exploring The Opportunity And Archievement Gap: The Capacity Of Inclusive Outdoor Adventure Programming In Alleviating Youth Educational Inequity, Sarah E. Mcdonald

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The United States education system is purported to be an equalizer for students in terms of providing education, socialization, skills, and opportunities. It is, however, rife with inequality as youth socioeconomic status is largely a predictor for future economic success. Socioeconomic status further constrains their participation in enriching supplemental activities that foster meaningful development. Through a content analysis of published research, this paper specifically examines the value of outdoor adventure programming as a supplemental educational device to that of the classroom experience, particularly for low-income youth. Findings suggest that outdoor adventure programs are associated with positive social outcomes and successful …

Women In Combat Boots: U.S. Servicewomen’S Collective Self-Esteem And Adherence To Weight Regulations, Latavia Monét Ford

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Women’s bodies are scrutinized and objectified in western societies broadly. For servicewomen however, the military is a specific site where women’s bodies receive close examination and scrutiny. Military members must adhere to height-based weight standards to remain in compliance. For servicewomen, the military is an important part of their life, and as such, it has a pivotal role in shaping their identity. The purpose of this study is to examine women’s experiences of managing and responding to the weigh-ins, particularly the ways it shapes their collective self-esteem. Data for this study consist of ten qualitative interviews conducted with servicewomen. Findings …

Supporting Resilience In Reserve Component Spouses During Deployment: The Impact Of Family Life Cycle Phase And Deployment History On Social Support Needs, Jennifer L. Ceminsky

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This exploratory study used a researcher developed survey to examine the relative value of instrumental, emotional, and informational support for Reserve Component spouses during deployment. Although all types of support were valued by nearly all study participants, significant differences were found between ratings of helpfulness for each type of support. Emotional support was the support type most valued by 73.1% of spouses in this study. Instrumental support was most valued by21.1%, and only 2.8% of spouses valued informational support most. Regression analyses were used to identify factors that were predictive of value placed on each type of social support. The …

Modernizing Minnesota's Guardianship Statute: Moving Away From Guardianship To Supported Decision-Making, Anna Ely, Madalyn Johnson, Bethany Mueller, Taylor Steckelberg

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

While guardianship is an important option for people with significant cognitive challenges and high support needs, the process is burdensome, expensive, and most importantly restricts the civil liberties of individuals. Together, we must modernize Minnesota’s guardianship statute and invest in Supported Decision-Making to protect the fundamental rights of the person, increase self-determination, and improve life outcomes.

Achieving Equity For African American Children And Families In Minnesota's Child Welfare System: Keeping Families Together, Abigail Kamm, Quincey Krein, Lindsay Simon, Kayla Wolff

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

Despite awareness of the disparities in our child protection system for African American children and their families, including increased removal from parental care and placement in non-family foster care, Minnesota has failed to take action to remedy this inequity. Adoption of the provisions in the African American Family Preservation Act is an essential first step toward creating an equitable and accountable child welfare system for African American children and their families.

The Impact Of Medicaid Expansion Under The Affordable Care Act On Accessibility And Availability Of Primary Health Care, Aaron Amaning Boaitey

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) sought to provide universal health insurance coverage for Americans through a combination of Medicaid expansions, insurance market policies, advance premium tax credits, among other reforms. Lawmakers intended to enforce Medicaid expansion through the ACA at the federal level. However, the June 2012 United States (U.S.) Supreme Court decision in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius allowed states to opt-out of Medicaid expansion. As a result, states took different approaches to expand Medicaid eligibility. This study uses data from the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) to analyze how opting in or out …

Students' Preparation For College Through Advancement Via Individual Determination (Avid) Programs And Dual Enrollment, Brian P. Jones

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to identify opportunities to expand access to higher education. The research specifically explored the combination of two interventions that support college readiness: the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program and dual enrollment. Evidence indicated that each of these programs individually improved students’ readiness for college, but there was no research that explored the success of students involved in both programs. This quantitative analysis used the chi-square statistic to compare the proportion of students from a suburban school district who were involved in both programs to students who were not. The analysis evaluated whether participation …

Characterizing Minneopa State Park Visitor’S Prairie Attitudes, Views Of Conservation And Knowledge Through The Development And Implementation Of The Prairie Attitude And Knowledge Survey (Paks), Addeline R. Theis

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

For successful conservation and the continuation of restoration projects, public understanding, acceptance and support are essential. While research into public views related to restoration exist but large gaps remain. Studies examining attitudes related to conservation are limited and even fewer studies investigate these constructs in relation to demographic, societal or cultural factors; even fewer of these studies focus on prairies. Tall-grass prairies were once a dominate biome in Minnesota but now are an endangered ecosystem. While conservation is occurring throughout Minnesota to restore and create new prairies, there is lack of information examining the relationship of prairie restoration and the …

Relationship Between Economy, Education, Population, Healthcare And Prevalence Of Hiv/Aids In Nigeria, Bernard Odelola

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

HIV/AIDS has been described as one of the deadliest epidemics of our lifetime. With the global efforts to scale down the effect of this disease through innovative programs, scientific researches and medical advancement, little success has been recorded in least developed nations. Nigeria is still one of the nations that is yet to achieve huge success in the fight against HIV/AIDS and meet Millennium Development Goal on HIV. Arguably, government needs to intensify more efforts in searching for factors that increase the prevalence of the disease.

To further understand the epidemic, this thesis is designed to study and answer research …

Higher Education And Police Officers: The Effects On Citizen Complaints, Evan D. Brown

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study was conducted to examine the effects that different levels of education may have on the number of citizen complaints filed against police officers. There are many literature articles pertaining to the education of police officers but few studies have been conducted to measure the specific effects of higher education in law enforcement. The analysis in this paper will show relationships between higher education of police officers and if it has a relationship with the number of officer complaints.

Disparities Within School Discipline: An Examination Of Race, English Language Learner Status, & Suspension, Serena Boyce

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

There is much discussion in the United States about how in-school and out of school suspension negatively impacts students who are subjected to this form of exclusionary discipline. There is concern about whether there are disparities in school suspension rates between students from different subgroups and their peers. Research in this area has shown that racial/ethnic minority students, as well as students with the factors of having a low socio-economic status and being male, make some schools more likely to use school discipline than others. A question to be answered in the area of school discipline is related to if …

Moving Beyond A Protective Approach To Stopping Sexual Violence Of People With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Katie Crowell, Jenni Elwer, Beatrice Makori, Laura Schultz

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) have some of the highest rates of sexual violence of any group—at least 7 times the rate for people without disabilities. (6) Attempts to alleviate this problem have been unsuccessful and based on the Medical Model of Disability, which views people with I/DD as inherently vulnerable and in need only of protection. Viewing people with I/DD as inherently vulnerable further stigmatizes them and increases dependency on others, instead of fostering capabilities and independence. Minnesota needs to move beyond taking a protective “recognize, report, and respond” approach, to taking a comprehensive approach to sexual …

Perceived Barriers Of Homeschooled Students Moving Into Higher Education: Case Stories And Qualitative Perspectives, Lizbeth Kliewer

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Homeschooling is a viable educational option for many families. Challenges often arise when students are ready to transition into higher education. Barriers to smooth transitions exist, both for the homeschooled student as well as for college admissions teams. The purpose of this qualitative study was to recognize these barriers in order to increase the potential for working toward solutions for those involved. This study used a combination of case story and qualitative research methodology to gather perspectives through interviews from three homeschooling families in southern Minnesota and three higher education professionals working in the field of admissions. Some of the …

Demography, Risk, And Power: An Examination Of The Deceased Patient Population At The Hastings State Hospital, 1900-1978, Dawn T. Whitney

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research is to investigate the Hastings State Hospital (HSH) and its cemetery (HSHC) within a multidisciplinary framework, invoking discourse analysis, demography, and critical race theory to examine how power and risk factors impact the treatment and disposal of the body at death. It incorporates perspectives from both anthropology and sociology to interpret the data, relying heavily on the ideas of Michel Foucault. Integrating these diverse analytical tools is important to this research because social and structural forces all intersect in the creation of identity, power, and inequality.

All data in this study represent patients that have …

In The Child's Best Interests: Preparing Culturally Responsive Guardians Ad Litem In Minnesota, Ashley Brown, Emily Camacho, Taneesha Hunter, Skylar Retterath

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

Guardians ad litem (GALs) serve and advocate for the most vulnerable children in Minnesota. These individuals make recommendations to the courts which can impact the amount of time children are placed out of their homes. The Guardian ad Litem Board sets the qualifications and training requirements for Guardians ad Litem in Minnesota. Guardians ad litem are currently required to participate in 3 hours per year of continuing education in cultural awareness topics; this amount of training is not adequate in relation to the diversity of the population with which the GALs are working. The importance of cultural responsiveness is significant …

The Symbolic U.S. Dollar: An Exploration Of Transforming Meanings, Dylann Ward

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The currency used in the United States (U.S.) is called the dollar. Repeatedly individuals holding lawful positions, within the U.S. government, have used their legal power to change the meanings attached to the U.S. dollar. This study was able to show how a U.S. dollar transforming event can be understood as action taken on the part of individuals holding lawful positions, within the U.S. government, to fundamentally change the meaning attached to the U.S. dollar in efforts to either maintain or elevate the position of the U.S. relative to other countries within the international field. Such was the case in …

Car-Less Cities, Maryam Moeinian

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The rapid growth of world population along with the sprawl growth of towns and suburbanization, has affected the human life and its surrounding nature dramatically. The fact is this level of growth is not sustainable with the current patterns of development. Most cities all around the world are designed in a way that encourages car dependency which is harming the environment and human health.

During the past decade, urban planners formulate new principles of land use development to preserve the environment and protect public health, safety and general welfare of the citizens. These concepts are characterized by some movements such …

Cybersecurity In An Age Of Cyberterrorism, University Of South Alabama

Crime/Violence

Bibliography and photographs of a display of government documents from the University of South Alabama.

Aftermath Of An Officer Involved Shooting: Formal Education, Continuing Education, And Responsibility, Pat Nelson, Thor Dahle, Colleen Clarke, Tamara Wilkins, Susan Burum, Bruce Biggs

Criminal Justice Department Publications

This is a policy review presentation that shows there are areas for improvement and recommendations to implement in the professional and academic sides of law enforcement using the lens of a current officer involved shooting that generated a lot of publicity. The recommendations would require a partnership between formal education providers, continuing education providers and practitioners.

Creating Healthy Communities Across Minnesota: Investing In Integrated Health Care, Leah Jacobson, Nicole Lidstrom, Jenna Lipovetz, Jamie Schuller

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

In Minnesota, behavioral health homes have become an efficient resource for individu­als on Medical Assistance to receive integrated behavioral and primary health care under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The rising popularity of behav­ioral health homes in Minnesota introduced the concept of integrated medical care with a patient's primary care physician as the "home-base". Figure 1 illustrates the inte­grated approach that supports the patient and their family, provides care that covers an entire continuum of care with a comprehensive care team focused on the whole person, is accessible with short waiting times, and is committed to quality and …

In Search Of A Forever Home: Raising The Standards For Our Kids, Katarina Barrett, Shelby Marx, Moriah Mueller, Christopher Olson, Michelle Olund-Youngberg

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

There are currently 12,167 children in foster care in Minnesota and 32% experienced multiple placements in 2014. Many children are entering foster care due to concerns of child behavior, parental chemical use, or allegations of maltreatment. After an often unexpected separation from their family, children are then expected to adapt to a new foster family with a new set of family norms and rules. Many children are moved between multiple foster homes, or are returned to their caregivers only to be placed back in foster care at a later time. In the wake of media reports revealing stories of child …

Time To Stand Up For Female Vets: Improving Access To Vegerans Administration Health Services For Female Veterans Who Experience Military Sexual Trauma, Rhonda Haugstad, Dana Miller, Michelle Remold

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

Military Sexual Trauma (MST), is defined as sexual assault and/or sexual harassment experienced while serving in the United States military. The process of obtaining Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits are difficult for individuals that suffer from MST. MST survivors are faced with delays and numerous barriers in accessing services, including discrimination in seeking compensation. Statistical data from the Department of Defense (DOD) is reviewed highlighting the high rates of sexual assault in the military and addresses concerns about the long-term implications for survivors of MST.

Many female veteran survivors of MST are struggling to access needed services covered by …

The Role Of Supervision In Youth Work: Perceptions Of Students Preparing To Be Youth Workers, Heather M. Olsen, Brooke N. Burk

Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services Department Publications

Working with youth involves mentoring and guiding youth through development of their physical, emotional, intellectual, and social skills, as they become adults. One would assume a great responsibility of working with young people comes with extensive training in one particular field; however, this is not always the case (Barcelona, Hurd, & Bruggeman, 2011). The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions expressed by undergraduate students preparing for a career in youth work regarding their knowledge and competence of supervision in a park and recreation setting. It was found in the pre- and post- surveys that future youth workers …