Social Work Commons^™

Child Maltreatment Primary Prevention Methods In The U.S.: A Systematic Review Of Recent Studies, Maria Godoy-Murillo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Child maltreatment remains a widespread issue in the United States of America, (U.S.). Identifying effective methods of preventing child maltreatment is key to reducing the prevalence of this issue. Objective: This systematic review provides an overview of contemporary primary child maltreatment prevention methods in the U.S. to investigate their effectiveness. Methods: Using the OneSearch database, the following keywords were included: (“prevention methods” and “child maltreatment”), (“parental leave” and “child maltreatment”), (“primary prevention” and “child maltreatment”), (WIC and “child maltreatment”), (“home visit” and “child maltreatment”), (“child abuse and neglect” and “primary prevention”), (“affordable housing” and prevention and “child maltreatment”), (“early …

The Effects Of Perceived Racism And Discrimination On The Mental Health Of Mexican And Mexican American Social Work Students, Karina Duque Sierra

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Research has shown that experiencing discrimination and racism can have significant and negative effects on people’s mental health. Among those affected are Mexicans and Mexican Americans in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine if there was a relationship with self-reported mental health of Mexican/Mexican American social work students and self-reported experiences with racism and discrimination. This quantitative study surveyed 101 participants who (a) identified as Mexican and or Mexican American, (b) were 18 years or older (c) enrolled in college, and (d) identified as either a BASW or MSW student. This study utilized a Qualtrics …

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 …

Religion And Spirituality In Clinical Practice: An Exploration Of Reluctance Among Practitioners., David Drew, Jessica Banks

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Across the United States, an overwhelming majority of the population claim that religion and spirituality beliefs shape their worldview and assist in coping with life stressors. Yet, the literature has shown that mental health practitioners reported discomfort integrating religion and spiritually in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to explore whether license-holding mental health professionals in Southern California develop reluctance toward addressing religion/spirituality with their clients. Through snowball sampling, 52 clinicians composed of social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, nurses, psychologists, and psychiatrists were recruited across Southern California (N =52). The participants were measured descriptively based on …

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. …

Areas Of Conflict, Coping, And Service Needs Among Co-Parenting Persons In San Bernardino County, Sophia Luisa Hernandez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study was conducted in San Bernardino County, California. Participants completed a questionnaire regarding conflicts that arise between co-parents, levels of stress from conflicts, how parts negotiate, cooperate, collaborate and communicate and the types of coping skills that participants use when stressed. The purpose of this study was to examine conflicts between parents and caregivers who share the custody of their children with another parent or caregiver. This study also assessed coping skills and co-parenting resources that are available in San Bernardino County. Twenty-two participants completed the study, 19 were female and 3 were male. Most of the participants were …

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. …

Recognition Of Loss: Disenfranchised Grief And The Children Of Incarcerated Parents, Julia Anna Soto

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to assess provider awareness and perception of service needs, and of the grief and loss issues that children with incarcerated parents face. These issues include the behavioral and emotional state of the child, the attribution of behaviors and emotions to grief, types of referrals, support and services offered for these children, placement disruptions, and keeping maternal contact.

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.

Social Workers' Perspectives Of Factors Affecting Re-Entry Rates, Kristina Danielle Gordon, Lengpea Yang

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this project was to investigate what factors social workers' perceive to contribute to re-entry rates of children after successful reunification with their families.

The Influence Of Surviving Children In Mitigating Symptoms Of Grief In Bereaved Parents, Jennifer Lynn Kachelek

Theses Digitization Project

This study seeks to answer questions on the effects of the presence of surviving children on bereaved parents' grief. Bereaved parents have been shown to be at risk for psychological, social and health related conditions due to the unique type of grief experienced from the loss of a child. Increasing knowledge related to factors that influence how bereaved parents process grief could lead to interventions becoming more appropriate in addressing the specific needs of this population.

Former Foster Youths' Perceptions Of Their Life Experiences, Yodit Tesfia Zerai

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this project was to examine the perceptions of former foster youths' life experience while in foster care and after leaving the foster care system. It was also recommended for child welfare social workers to have contact with former foster youth on a regular basis and to provide services as needed even after they exited the system.

Foster Parent Perspective On Infant And Young Child Multiple Placement, Ana Luisa Guardado, Shannon Marie Owens

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to explore foster parents' perspectives' on factors contributing to multiple placements of young children with a special emphasis on infants ages 0-1 year. This study hopes to identify systemic problems within child welfare services that hinder permanency and to provide useful information to determine if current services and interventions are effective in meeting the agency's responsibility of providing safe and permanent homes for foster children.

The Causes Of Recurrence Of Maltreatment In Child Welfare, And The Impacts Of The Family Team Decision Making Initiative, Juana Lorena Gonzalez

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to identify causes and impacts on family when children re-enter child welfare as a result of recurrence of child maltreatment and what child welfare agencies are doing to reduce those incidences.

Choosing The Gift Of Down Syndrome: Families' Experiences Internationally Adopting A Child With Down Syndrome, Erika Susan Lazo

Theses Digitization Project

This qualitative study explores the experiences of families who choose to internationally adopt a child with Down syndrome. This study was conducted in order to address the current scarcity of research on this population and their specific needs and strengths in order to equip social work practitioners to more effectively work with these families. Mothers were interviewed about their family's adoption process, the service they utilized, and the process of integrating the newly adopted child into the existing family unit. A sample of nine families who had completed an international adoption of a child with Down syndrome were gathered. These …

Awareness Of Parental Infidelity In Childhood: Attitudes Toward Infidelity As Adults, Nicole Marie Paredes

Theses Digitization Project

This study explores the attitudes of adults who became aware of their parents infidelity as children in comparison to the attitudes of adults who are unaware of the presence of infidelity within their parents' relationship.

Does Child Sexual Abuse Affect Long-Term Intimacy Development And Functioning, Michelle Debra Kelley

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to examine practitioners' views of the long-term effects of child sexual abuse on intimacy development and to determine if child sexual abuse leads to an underdeveloped sense of intimacy in the adult. Problems with intimacy development are defined as trouble forming close interpersonal relationships, not being able to trust others, being sexually promiscuous, and avoiding emotion.

Impact Of Kinship Foster Care On Kinship Caregivers, Oluyemisi Mcmullen

Theses Digitization Project

The focus of this study was to investigate the impact of kinship foster care on kinship care providers in San Bernardino County. This study explored kinship caregiver's perceptions of the impact of an extended period of placement has on the kinship caregiver and their family, the financial impact of caring for the children on the kinship care provider, the stress of coping with any physical mental or emotional problems children may have, and the kinship care providers ability to cope with the demands of the child welfare system.

Housing Concerns And Subjective Well-Being Of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Erika Janet Perez

Theses Digitization Project

This study examines the relationship between housing concerns, ethnicity, and subjective well-being of grandparents raising grandchildren. 17 participants were recruited from the Kin-Care program of Riverside County, Ca. About 19% of families headed by grandparents are living in poverty. When looking at the type of services that would be beneficial for these families, the housing situation is an important matter to consider.

Impact Of Parental Visitation On The Behavior Of Foster Children, Tricia Lynn Haggerty

Theses Digitization Project

This study employed a behavioral symptom checklist filled out by foster parents to examine the impact of biological parents' visits on the behavior of children in foster care. It includes recommendations on educating both foster and birth parents' regarding the effect of these visits.

Role Satisfaction: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Noreen Orman Ayres

Theses Digitization Project

Three psychosocial dynamics were assessed for their effect on role satisfaction among grandchildren: (1) the impact of expanding a household on a limited fixed income, (2) health issues of the grandparent as they apply to stamina, and (3) the interaction with their existing social structure to include grandchildren (adjustments, prioritizing, and social isolation). Sampling included a population of 33 custodial grandparents (age=55 and older; male and female; various ethnicities) and selected from a Grandparents Raising Grandchildren support group in Idyllwild, California. The instrument of this quantitative and qualitative study was an adaptation from the County of Riverside, Department of Mental …

The Advantages And Obstacles Of Having Been Raised By A Gay Or Lesbian Parent, Jennifer Falconi Hilt

Theses Digitization Project

In an exploratory study 10 adult children, with at least one identifiable gay or lesbian parent, were interviewed and asked to discuss their childhood experiences growing up in diverse families. Understanding the introspective views of adult children with gay or lesbian parents will allow social workers the ability to tailor services to ensure the needs of these new family constellations are met.

Caregiver Characteristics That Foster Secure Attachment Syles In Children, Anna Marie Avila

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between foster parents' attachment to their parents, their own marital satisfaction and their attachment with their foster children.

Child Sexual Abuse: Understanding This Multigenerational Phenomenon, Ana Maria Stockwell, Maria De La Luz Santana

Theses Digitization Project

This study examines the experiences of mothers who were sexually abused as children and who were later faced with their own daughters' sexual abuse.

Parents With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Children: A Needs Assessment, Sunshine Dawn Munesue-Tenerelli

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to assess the needs of parents with ADHD children. A needs assessment study will provide information to social workers on what parents are not getting from current intervention models.

Working With Ethnic-Minority Families: Evaluating The Need For Cross-Cultural Training Within Riverside County Child Protective Services, Kathleen Fromayan Nebo, Darlena Allen

Theses Digitization Project

This work examined social workers at the Riverside County Child Protective Services and their need for cross-cultural training specifically when working with ethnic minority families.

Stepparents: Social Support Systems And Factors That Contribute To Role Fulfillment, Lydia Guerrero, Sonia Marlene Valadez

Theses Digitization Project

Forty-five stepparents responded to four scales: Perceived Social Support Friend Scale, Perceived Social Support Family Scale, Kansas Family Life Satisfaction Scale and the Kansas Parental Satisfaction Scale. The study found a significant positive correlation between family and friend support and stepparents' role fulfillment.

Kinship Care Placement: Do Grandparents' Relationships With Birthparents Affect Placement Outcomes?, Judith Mary Greenwood

Theses Digitization Project

This study will explore whether the relationships between grandparents and birthparents affect kinship care placement outcomes for court dependent children. Data was extracted from an existing study of kinship care providers.

Transition From Foster Care To Adoption: Services Needed For Building Adoption Permanency For Children, Colleen O'Neill Duggin

Theses Digitization Project

A questionaire was developed and given to post-adoptive parents with the results to be used as a guide to examine what services need to be provided in the pre-adoptive process for parents who are adopting children that are coming from foster homes. The results of the study could be utilized by adoption social workers as a means of targeting typical areas of need or resources for families during the adoption process.