Social Work Commons^™

Promoting Health Equity Among Racial And Ethnic Minorities During And After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Alexandra Viramontes, Deserry Salgado

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Racial and ethnic minorities experience disproportionate health outcomes during a pandemic, yet preparedness plans have failed to address the social determinants of health that produce the most severe impact. By examining social workers’ perspectives on the health disparities faced by racial and ethnic minorities during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study provides insight into the ways in which services can be improved in a future health crisis. In this exploratory study, a qualitative approach was utilized where social workers were asked to participate in interviews consisting of open-ended questions. The qualitative data was obtained in the form of interview transcripts, which …

Underutilizaiton Of Mental Health Services By Marginalized Populations, Jermaine Bennett, Anna Blum

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Underutilization of mental health services is a serious issue in the United States, particularly among marginalized groups. Previous research has not explored this issue in depth in the Inland Empire nor focused simultaneously on the federal protected classes of race, age, gender, and sexual orientation. This study expands the literature by using Systems Theory and Intersectional Perspective to determine whether there exists a difference in utilization of mental health services between marginalized populations and their non-marginalized counterparts in San Bernardino County. Through a non-probability sampling method, this study recruited 87 adults who completed a questionnaire on their participation in mental …

Life Through The Eyes Of An Undocumented Immigrant In The United States, Yesenia Torres

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research project focused on how undocumented immigrants experience their lives in the United States, taking in mind the multiple barriers that prevent them from integrating into the community. This research project surveyed the California State University of San Bernardino School of Social Work students who work or engage with undocumented immigrants. A positivism paradigm research design was used to obtain quantitative data of participant's knowledge of immigrants' past and present experiences while living in the United States. The study's goal was to bring mental health awareness to the well-being and emotional experiences during the resettlement and acculturation of undocumented …

The Role And Impact Of Long-Term, Faith-Based Reentry Programs After Incarceration, Louie John Martinez, Rebecca Graf

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The focus of this exploratory study is on individuals who have completed long term, faith-based reentry programs after incarceration. Through one-on-one interviews with participants, this study will examine the impact that long-term, faith-based treatment programs have had in helping persons with a criminal past re-acclimate back into society. As more reentry programs focus on skills-based treatment only, this study seeks to explore the integration of faith and spirituality in long-term faith-based treatment programs in conjunction with other treatment modalities. This study will contribute to a deeper understanding of the critical elements necessary to help individuals overcome their past and collateral …

Mental Health Challenges Among Ethnic Minorities College Students, Fiorella G. Valles, Ruben Gonzalez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research study explored the challenges of mental health-seeking services of college students of color in the San Bernardino area. College students of different ethnicities have unique needs and challenges that contrast with the general student population. Previous research stated that students of color deal with a greater number of unmet mental health needs and indicates a connection between mental health and attaining a college degree (Arria et al., 2013). To increase the utilization of mental health amongst students of color, this study aimed to identify the influencing factors that prevented students from help-seeking. The research design of this research …

La Mera Verdad: Exploring Immigrant Latino Fatherhood, Jessica Martinez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to gain a better understanding of the current experiences of immigrant Latino fathers and their families in Southern California, and to examine the barriers and facilitators that impacted their paternal involvement. The literature suggests that father-absence diminishes the ability of a child to thrive in life and yet immigrant Latino fathers are more at risk of all the factors that lead to father-absence, such as poverty and other added stressors. Likewise, these fathers have been noted to experience a lack of fathering in their childhood, which speaks on generational trauma creating the father wound …

Practitioners' Views On Service Needs For Justice Involved Youth, Juan C. Llamas, Robin L. Chandler

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess practitioners’ views of service needs for juveniles involved with the justice system. In the United States, every year there are thousands of youth committed to detention institutions for delinquent acts. As a result, children as young as nine years of age up until adulthood have a difficult time integrating back into the community. In many instances, youth who have been involved with the justice system have a greater likelihood of recidivism due to their inability to adapt to their environment. Further, when youth enter the system, many times they are not receiving …

Native American Tribal Child Social Workers' Experiences On Co-Occurrences Of Domestic Violence And Child Maltreatment, Elaine Brown

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Native American women and children suffer from domestic violence at an alarming rate on and off Indian reservations in the United States. Often these families that are impacted by domestic violence are involved in the state/county child welfare system. This study was to gain knowledge about Native American tribal child social workers experiences and challenges with co-occurrences of domestic violence and child maltreatment cases. This study used an exploratory, qualitative design with a phenomenological approach by collecting data through face-to-face and over the phone interviews with four Native American tribal child social workers from four different tribes across the nation. …

Minorities' Perceptions Of Child Protective Services, Vernae Elaine Hicks

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The study examined minority persons’ views and experiences with Child Protective Services (CPS) in the community. This study used a qualitative design with face‑to‑face interviews with 12 participants in the community. This study used the “Post‑Positivist” data analysis, which is qualitative in evaluation and explained each participant’s subjective reality.

The study found that most participants were satisfied with the results and were dissatisfied with the process in and of itself. Overall the study found that most participants felt that there was some sort of a disconnect with social workers in reference to cultural competency. Miscommunication between the social workers at …

Beliefs About Children Who Have Been Incarcerated: What Do Parents Know?, Aryriana Alexander

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between traditional African-American American parenting and the overrepresentation of African-Americans in America’s jails and prisons. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews of twelve parents who have had a child incarcerated in their adult life to gather data. Study participants were asked their experiences with several traditional happenings, supported by research, in some traditional African-American households. Topics discussed included religion, spanking, and single parenthood. The study found that many of the traditional happenings of African-American parenting occurred within the homes of parents with children who were incarcerated, which supports previous research. …

Ageism In American Society: Are Aging Women Of Color Assertive Enough?, Tina Maria Doss-Collins

Theses Digitization Project

The study focus was ageism and assertiveness in aging women of color. The study examined a relationship between ageism occurring with these women and their response to it, if any. There were 41 participants in this study. They were all women of color 60-years of age and older. The participants were members of a church located in Los Angeles County.

Transracial Adoptions: Common Challenges And Needed Resources, Jennifer Deneen Selegue, Stephanie Agnes Siringoringo

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to identify common challenges families encounter when adopting a child of a different race and/or ethnicity than themselves. When children are adopted into a family where the members do not share their same race and/or ethnicity, they have a more difficult time fitting in at school and feeling like they have a secure place in society.

Medical Decision Making Among Mexican-American Elderly Women, Norma Patricia Toro-Hernandez

Theses Digitization Project

Access to medical coverage has been a topic of constant disussion for many years, in particular accessibility for Mexican-American elderly women to have their medical needs met. Consequently, many elderly women use alternative forms of medicine such as 'remedios caseros' (herbal medicine) as a means to get their medical needs met. The purpose of this study was to understand the reasons elderly women continue to use alternative medicine even when they are elgible for health insurance such as Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurances.

The Relationship Between Perceived Social Support And Criminal Recidivism For Asian Pacific Islanders, Vuong Thanh Vo

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this project was to determine if a relationship exists between perceived social support from family and friends and criminal recidivism for Asian Pacific Islanders residing in California.

Utilization Of Mental Health Services Among Mexican-Americans, Carmen Isabel Mendoza, Maria Sanjuana. Olmos

Theses Digitization Project

This study explores the relationship between culture and the utilization of mental health services among Mexican-Americans.

Perceived Parental Involvement Among Mexicans, Jose Rosas Hernandez

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to conduct a descriptive analysis of the effect of parental involvement on educational engagement among Mexican children. This study utilized a sample of 50 Mexican parents surveyed at the Rubidoux Swap meet in Rubidoux, California to examine parental involvement in their child's education. A quantitative data analysis was utilized.

The Relationship Between Cultural Loyalty And Attachment, And Career Aspirations And Perceived Realistic Career, Heather Lynn Hernandez

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a relationship between cultural loyalty and attachment, and career aspirations and their perceived realistic career among college students. The participants used for this study consists of fifty-six students attending the California State University, San Bernardino. Data was collected through paper surveys at both the Student Assistance In Learning (SAIL) office in the University Hall building, and outside the Santos Manuel Student Union.

The Influence Of Gender Scripts On African American College Student Condom Use, Kelechi Nkeiruka Ihenacho, Christina Nicole Burden

Theses Digitization Project

This study examines how African American gender scripts influence condom use for disease and pregnancy prevention. One-hundred African American California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) students were selected to participate in this study. Fifty African American males and fifty African American females were surveyed for this study to be representative of the African American community on campus.

Black American Perceptions Of Social Workers, Ron-Niece Qashaun Charesse Paul

Theses Digitization Project

This study examines Black Americans' perceptions of social workers and of the role of the Black church and extended family in assisting individuals in the Black community. The study employed a survey design with self-administered questionnaires. Sixty respondents participated in the study and the study was conducted at two Black churches in the San Bernardino County.

Reunification Outcomes For Hispanics In The Child Welfare System, Lucia Aguirre Coronel

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to identify any contributing factors to the overrepresentation of Hispanic children in the child welfare system. This study used an exploratory design and quantitavie methods to examine reunification oucomes of 100 case files in a county in Southern California.

Exploring Acculturation Stress On Mexican Americans, Daniel Anthony Lopez

Theses Digitization Project

The focus of this study was how common acculturation stress is among Mexican Americans, what the demographics of this demonstrate, and how this is related to mental health services. Acculturation is the process of adapting to the social norms, customs, and values of another culture. When a Mexican American reaches his limit of what he is able to cope with, then that person is in danger of being afflicted with acculturtion stress. Even when faced with this prospect, few Mexican Americans seek out mental health services.

Addressing The Disproportionate Representation Of African American Children In The Child Welfare System, Cecilia Elizabeth Roman

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to examine social workers' perceptions on the disproportionate representation of African American children in the child welfare system and social workers views on their training and education on cultural competence. Eight face-to-face interviews were carried out with masters' level social workers at San Bernardino County's Gifford office of Children and Family Services. Qualitative method was used to analyze the findings.

Levels Of Attachments And Childhood Abuse Among Mexican-Americans, Christina Shinn

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study to investigate the relationship between mother-child attachment and childhood abuse trama. It will examine levels of attachment and their relationship to different types of abuse including physical, emotional, sexual and negligence. Instruments utilized were the Parental Attachment Questionaire, Childhood Trauma Questionaire, and Parental Bonding Instrument.

The African American Male: Examining Resiliency, Success, And Family, Takenya Chimene Mcmihelk

Theses Digitization Project

This study is an examination of resiliency, success and family among African American Males. It is purposed to empower the individual that it affects and soften the hearts of the individuals who continue to consciously and unconsciously oppress these men. The purpose was not to restate what was already known but to create a system to eliminate the re-occurrence of the problem.

Barriers To Accessing Mental Health Services Among Latinos, Patricia Guadalupe Pasillas

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to examine the barriers in accessing mental health services among the Latino population in Ventura County, California. The Latino population in the United States seeks mental health services at a lower rate. This is due to barriers in accessing the services they encountered. This study was done qualitatively by conducting nine focus groups with staff personnel of mental health providers.

Benefits And Attitudes Of The Latino Population Toward Support Groups, Monica Patricia Noutfia

Theses Digitization Project

The goal of this research was to provide information to social work professionals about the benefits of self-help mutual aid and psycho-educational support groups in the community, and to examine the Latino attitudes toward support groups. The research examines some Latino cultural values such as familism, social network, and spirituality. The various Spanish and Spanish/English speaking support groups that participated in this study were from San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and Riverside counties. The sample size in this research was 30 Latino individuals from four Spanish, or Spanish/English self-help mutual aid, and psycho-educational support groupsavailable in the Inland Empire.

The Continuation Of Social Work Outreach With The Purhé́Pecha People, Carlos Luis Lamadrid

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this project was to continue with the action research done by Bernice Aguirre in 2008 with the Purépecha indigenous population, living in the Eastern Coachella Valley Community, as a direct call to action to better serve the needs of a people who have been severely challenged by language, cultural barriers, poverty, and underrepresented service delivery systems.

The Effects Of Language On The Reunification Of Mexican Families, Luisana Sanchez-Ramirez

Theses Digitization Project

The study examined the effects of language commonalities between Riverside County Children Services Division (CSD) social workers and parents in their reunification process. The study focused on gathering data to depict whether or not having a social worker that speaks the same language as the parents speak influences reunification success. This study strived to gather data from Mexican parents, as this seems to be a fast growing population that CSD serves. Data were extracted from 93 cases tht opened in the year 2008 to determine the impact of having a common language between the parents and the family reunification worker …

Multicultural Issues In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Martha Eufracio

Theses Digitization Project

This study focused on the experiences and perceptions of parents/caregivers of children diagnosed with autism. Specifically, this project explored various themes surrounding autism and multiculturalism.

Social Workers' Attitudes And Perceptions On Cultural Competence In Child Welfare, Monica Elaine Hicks

Theses Digitization Project

This study examined social workers' view on cultural competence and the disproportionate rates of African American children in foster care. This study seeks to explain how cultural biases affecting social workers' decisions contribute to the removal of children from their families based on social worker's inability to understand or recognize cultural differences in child rearing practices.