Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Potential Roles For Social Work In Supporting Mourning Practices Of Non-Dominant Religious And Cultural Groups In America, Stephanie Bergslien

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper will explore the perceived cultural sensitivity/affirmation of mourning ceremonies and rituals of non-dominant population groups by funeral directors serving families in the mountain region of the United States. Specifically, this paper examines the perceived ability of funeral directors and funeral homes to respect, affirm, and honor the mourning rituals and practices of non-dominant religious and spiritual population groups. Additionally, the paper seeks to explore the potential role of social workers in supporting and affirming mourning rituals and practices of non-dominant population groups.

Social Work Research And Evidence-Based Practice In Experimental Medicine Exploring Issues In The Xenotransplantation Context, Alan Lipps, Kyeonghee Jang

School of Social Work

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to discuss challenges to interdisciplinary evidence-based social work practice (EBP) within a context of xenotransplantation (XTx) using genetically modified animal organs, and the broader context of experimental medicine.

Method: This paper reviewed EBP terminology and discussed the meaning and function of evidence-based social work practice within an IDT in a XTx setting. Meta-analytic systematic reviews, and psychosocial surveys, were discussed to glean insights into ways in which IDTs can incorporate those research methodologies into EBP within an experimental medical (i.e., XTx) context. Several issues that arise while conducting psychosocial research in preparation for …

The Economics Of Love, Débora Silva Viana

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis I argue that the obligation to love based on the Christian tradition requires Christians to disperse their resources in a way that significantly evens out wealth distribution and increases social justice. Christians disagree on the terminology and some tenets of the goal of the Christian life (e.g., deification, beatific vision, communion with God, salvation). However, the requirement to practice love is common to all of these concepts, thus making love normative for Christians. I argue that when love takes such a prominent role in one’s life, then it naturally influences how one manages one’s resources. If love …

Thriving On A Faith-Based Campus: An Exploratory Study On Sense Of Belonging, Spirituality, And The Student Experience For Students Of Color, Hannah Felice

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While enrollment for students of color has increased by nearly 15% over the past 20 years, universities have struggled to retain and graduate students of color in comparison to their White peers, including Christian universities. Looking to foster success for all students, higher education has sought to better understand the factors that impact student retention and graduation, particularly for students of color. Thriving has been shown as an effective metric for understanding the student experience through a more holistic framework as it pertains to the student success. The purpose of this study is to explore the concept of thriving as …

A Needs Assessment: Exploring The Unknown Needs Of The Homeless Unaccompanied Youth Within A West Texas Independent School District, Amy Grace Weiss

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT This exploratory study aims to explore the unknown needs among the unaccompanied youth population within a small urban community in West Texas. This cross-sectional study surveyed a convenience sample of 10 unaccompanied youth attending school within an independent school district. Data were collected using a social worker’s case load during the spring semester of 2020, during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Findings showed a certain level of need within this community, such as emergency shelters and further research on food insecurity for this population. This implies the need for practice and policy on multiple levels to help this population who …

The Effects Of Parental Involvement On Family Functioning Of Children In Counseling, Rebecca Schardt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Families with higher parental involvement indicate higher family functioning and child achievement. The STAR (Services to At-Risk Youth) program is designed to serve families identified as being at risk for child abuse and neglect. STAR services are intended to provide individual as well as family therapy for identified families. This study was designed to analyze the parent involvement in these services as compared to family functioning and child success. The study used closed STAR files to determine if children who had received services met their goals and if there was any increase in family functioning based on the pretests and …

Adolescent Psychiatric Readmission In Rural West Texas, Keila Gabel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the following replication study was to collect and analyze data regarding demographic, psychological, and environmental factors that are associated with adolescent readmission. A literature review was conducted, as well as a manual chart review of 16 adolescent patients from May 2019 to January 2020. Frequencies and descriptive statistics were run and results suggest that the majority of adolescents readmitted were female, living with a stepparent, had been diagnosed with some variation of major depressive disorder, identified as heterosexual, and had experienced some type of bullying, abuse, or other trauma. Oceans Behavioral Hospital provides specialized care, however the …

Exploring The Relationships Of Social Media Usage And Symptoms Of Anxiety And Depression In Adolescents, Morgan Culpepper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Social media is a popular form of communication and entertainment among youth. Inconsistencies are present in the literature on the potential effects it can have on mental health. Depression and anxiety disorders are common among all age groups in the US, and this study aimed to determine the relationship social media has on symptoms of anxiety and depression. The Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS) and the GAD-7 were used to measure symptoms of anxiety, as well as the CES-D scale to evaluate depressive symptoms in adolescents. The number of social networking sites and number of hours spent on social …

The Effectiveness Of A High School Girls Group On Self-Esteem And Leadership, Esperanza M. Harper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The effectiveness of a high school girls group was examined using a pretest-post-test group design with young adolescent girls identified as having low self-esteem. Individuals were identified by teachers and counselors as having low self-esteem or being at risk for having low self-esteem. This research project includes a literature review that explored self-understanding and its dimensions of self-concept and self-esteem, as well as how this research relates to development. The curriculum used came from the Girls In Real Life Situations (GIRLS) group program created by Julia V. Taylor and Shannon Trice-Black (2007). The research study was conducted at a high …

An Evaluation Of The Methodist Children's Home Gap Program, Ashten Wiedebusch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Methodist Children’s Home’s (MCH) GAP Program provides services for grandparents raising their grandchildren. This single case study explores whether the services provided by the GAP Program will reduce the risk factors for grandparents raising their grandchildren while increasing their ability to care for the child in a way that will promote well-being in today’s complex world. The literature shows some challenges for these grandparents include: role ambiguity, limited legal rights, lack of resources, inadequate living arrangements, employment and retirement, health issues, and outdated parenting skills and disciplinary methods. Protective factors for grandparents include: adaptive coping skills, self-care, positive relationships, support, …

Attrition In A Holistic Job Skills Training Program: A Qualitative Study, Jeaniece Silas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Today thousands of individuals and families are unemployed or underemployed and are seeking ways to combat poverty and become employed. One way that individuals seek to gain employment is by attending job skills training and adult education programs. However, there are barriers that hinder those individuals from successfully completing the programs. The purpose of this study is to explore the experience of applicants of a nonprofit job skills training program called FaithWorks and explore the reasons why applicants were not able to continue and, or complete the program. This study was conducted, through qualitative interviewing of four participants (N=4) utilizing …

A Comparative Evaluation On The Impact Of Financial Coaching In Increasing Financial Capability For Low-Income Individuals In An Employment Program, Desiree Sanabria Guadamuz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

People living under the poverty line are more likely to practice negative financial behaviors and have low financial capability than those living at a higher socioeconomic level, this hinders low income individuals from properly navigating the complex financial market. Recent research has found that financial coaching bundled with employment trainings, income support, and financial trainings/workshops will increase financial capability. However, additional studies on the impact of financial coaching in increasing financial capability are needed. The following research aimed to contribute to the existing literature on the impact of financial coaching in the context of an integrated service model by analyzing …

Christine "Chris" Kyker Papers, 1946-2017, Chris Kyker

Center for Restoration Studies Archives, Manuscripts and Personal Papers Finding Aids

No abstract provided.

Meta‐Analysis Of Public Perception Toward Xenotransplantation, Chace Mitchell, Alan Lipps, Luz Padilla, Zoie Werkheiser, David Kc Cooper, Wayne Paris

School of Social Work

The shortage of donor organs for transplantation is an international problem. One promising option to meet the need is xenotransplantation (XTx; eg, pig‐to‐human). However, there are still questions surrounding XTx that must be answered before proceeding to clinical trials. The current work is a meta‐analysis of articles published between 1985 and 2019 to analyze the factors most strongly associated with agreement and opposition toward the procedure. Although 80% (41/51) of the published studies were related to the opinions of patients, only three provided sufficient data for analysis. Thus, the bulk of what we really know about attitudes toward XTx comes …