Social Work Commons^™

Connecting Foster Care Services And Training To Attachment Theory, Kathryn Muellner

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Is foster care services and training adequately providing what is needed for the foster care families to care for the children both physically and emotionally? Is it supporting the research and knowledge that is known about attachment theory? This study asked Foster Care Workers, in a public and private setting in the Minnesota Twin Cities Area, if in their opinion their agency does just that.

The respondents were asked seventeen Likert Scale questions and three open-ended questions to get a sense of their satisfaction with the services and training they are able to give their family and if it is …

The Effectiveness Of Ptsd Treatment On Symptoms Of Ptsd And Depression In Military Veterans, Kylene E. Occhietti

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The military veteran population has received national attention for the struggles some of its members have had with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Currently, PTSD is treated within the VA using a number of pharmacologic and/or psychotherapeutic interventions in residential and outpatient settings. The purpose of this research project was to learn more about PTSD treatment by conducting a program evaluation of therapies offered in a VA PTSD program. A non-probability sample of 124 veterans who participated in a VA residential PTSD program in the mid-western United States between 2006 and 2009 was used to determine the effectiveness of Cognitive Processing …

The Use Of Support And Coping Skills Among Emerging Adults Following Parental Loss, Christina S. Newton

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Experiencing the death of a parent is often a life changing event, regardless of the age at which the loss is experienced. This research explored the experiences of adults who lost a parent during emerging adulthood, between the ages of 18 and 26. Using a qualitative method, 10 adults were interviewed regarding the support that was available and that they utilized following their loss, as well as the coping skills and mechanisms which they employed to assist with their grief. The resulting data from interview transcriptions were analyzed and themes were developed. The themes that developed included participant views of …

Factors That Impact Parent-Child Closeness In Special Needs Adoptions, Mary Morrison

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This study set out to determine if adoptive parents with biological children would report a lower degree of closeness with their adoptive child with special needs than adoptive parents without biological children. A review of the literature showed that multiple factors impact the rates of adoption disruption and parental satisfaction, including; stress, externalizing behaviors exhibited by the child, family structure and levels of pre and post-adoption support provided to parents and families. One hundred and twelve adoptive parents responded by completing an online survey. Levels of closeness between the adoptive parent and their adoptive child were measured using a five …

Relative Influence Of Family, Peers, And Media On The Development Of Eating Disorders In Adolescents, Debra Lorasch-Gunderson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This study examined the relative pressure of family, peers, and media influences on adolescent boys and girls and their development and maintenance of their eating disorders. A mixed method study was facilitated using a 22-question survey that was taken by freshmen and sophomores, ages 18-21, from the University of St. Thomas. These students accessed the survey via the University’s online informational website, Bulletin. The questions were designed to get a better understanding of the influences adolescents receive on a daily basis regarding their body and which one is more influential to them in developing and maintaining their eating disorders. The …

What Do Spouses Of Current Service Members Consider Risks And Protective Factors For Suicidal Ideation?, Nicole Oman

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This quantitative study investigates what current service members’ spouses identify as risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation, for themselves and for other military spouses. Online surveys were used to obtain demographic information, place of residence, impact of deployment, and identify risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation for military spouses. Respondents (n=55) were military spouses, recruited through Facebook "Military Spouse" pages. Findings indentified immediate family, peers, and resilience as protective factors for suicidal ideation in themselves and legal issues, financial issues, and thoughts of ending ones’ own life as risk factors in other military spouses. Respondents were …

An Examination Of Self-Care And Social Support Regarding Burnout Levels Of Direct Care Staff And Social Workers, Tina Paskey

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Previous research has examined burnout in social workers and other helping professions, however, there is little research regarding burnout in “direct care” workers, or those who work directly with clients and tend to have less experience and education. This research examined the effect of demographic factors such as age, experience, gender, and degree level on burnout rates, as well as the effect of social support and self-care on burnout. Twenty-nine participants from two social service agencies in the Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota area completed an online survey. Results showed that none of the variables studied appeared to have an effect on …

Protective And Risk Factors Of Women Who Have Killed Their Children In The State Of Minnesota, Roxxane Peyton

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This study examined the protective and risk factors of filicidal mothers in the State of Minnesota. Case studies of women incarcerated for filicide (N=19) were studied to identified to find what factors were prevalent when they committed their crimes. The researcher predicted that the women with the most risk factors would be filicidal. Case studies of the women were developed using multiple sources of material to include: legal indictment documents, legal pleadings, legal motions, legal court orders, trial transcripts, jury verdicts, associated legal materials, court trial transcripts, newspaper articles and other research and media documents. After obtaining those documents the …

The Role Of A School Social Worker From An Administrator’S Perspective, Alexia A. Poppy

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This mixed method study explored the perceptions of school administrators regarding the role of school social workers. School Administrators received a survey via email that contained twenty-five questions pertaining to the functions, tasks, benefits, evaluation, and professional development of school social workers. Administrators reported that improving student attendance, collaboration with teachers, and decreasing student discipline were primary functions of the school social worker. They also reported that participating on child study team, facilitating skill groups, and making referrals and building relationships with outside agencies were primary tasks of a school social worker. Overall, administrators agree that school social workers are …

Correctional Officers' Perceptions Of Working With Inmates With Mental Illnesses And The Effectiveness Of Mental Health Training, Cerenity Petracek

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Many correctional officers have voiced not receiving adequate training in mental health and how to best work with inmates who may be experiencing mental health symptoms. Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training has improved officers’ responses to working with individuals during a mental health crisis The purpose of this project was to examine correctional officers’ perceptions of working with inmates with mental illnesses and how prepared they feel working with inmates who are in crisis. Seventy correctional officers were surveyed in two county jails in Minnesota. The sample of participants included officers who have been certified in CIT. Results were analyzed …

Risk And Protective Factors Of Delinquency: Perspectives From Professionals Working With Youth, James Reilly

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This study examines the risk factors that increase an adolescent’s chance of engaging in delinquency and the protective factors that reduce the risk of delinquency. The risk and protective factors were examined through the ecological paradigm, which included the individual, family/peers, and neighborhood/community domains. This study used a qualitative method to examine the risk and protective factors through the perspective of professionals working in the juvenile justice system. Data was collected from a sample of professionals working at all levels of the juvenile justice system (N=6, average length of experience in working with youth=21 years), which included juvenile judges, assistant …

Recovery From Bulimia: What Helps In Healing, Erin Reynen

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

There is an astonishing presence of eating disorders in American culture today, affecting upwards of 11 million individuals, and the treatment for these disorders is becoming increasingly comprehensive. Bulimia nervosa is one of the most common eating disorders, involving episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors to rid the body of food for fear of weight gain. Using a holistic and procovery-based framework, the present study focused on the perspectives of individuals who described themselves as being in recovery from bulimia and their stories of what helped in the healing process. This researcher created a mixed-method online survey to …

Engaging Clients In Eating Disorder Treatment; Reducing Dropout, Lauren Ribnick

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to explore how to successfully engage clients in eating disorder treatment and reduce dropout. This study collected qualitative data from five female therapists and one male therapists working in outpatient settings with individuals with eating disorders. Qualitative interviews were conducted over a period of two weeks. Interviews were audio recorded to assist in data analysis. The strongest themes found in this study were low dropout, anorexia has the highest dropout rate, and educating the family. Themes that coincided with the literature included participants having no experience asking clients to leave treatment and providing …

Impact Of Mbsr On Symptoms Of Anxiety, Stress, And On The Degree Of Mindfulness, Maureen Rivord

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Anxiety and stress are felt by millions of people in the United States, and when experienced at high levels they can leave a debilitating impact, including both physical and mental health concerns. The purpose of this research project was to explore the impact of a mindfulness course, specifically Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, on voluntary participants’ reported symptoms of anxiety and stress levels. The 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course took place in a mid-sized Midwestern city. Using quantitative methods the 10 voluntary participants were given a pre- and post-test survey where the participants reported their anxiety, stress, and mindfulness levels before and …

The Realities Of Burnout In Health Care Social Work: How Individuals Are Responding By Practicing Meditation, Laura Robinson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

In today’s society social work professionals are often overwhelmed as they try to juggle the responsibilities of life, from managing their home and advocating for their community, to meeting the demanding needs of work. For many the reality of burnout is all too familiar. Burnout is often characterized by emotional exhaustion, cynicism and a lack of personal accomplishment. For health care social workers who struggle in juggling the act of life, their experience is additionally impacted by the health care system as their expectations and responsibilities feel unmanageable. Some professionals in the field of health care social work have responded …

In Their Own Voice: Family Caregivers Speak About Chronic Mental Illness, Emily Ross

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The shift in the United States’ treatment of individuals with chronic mental illnesses from a hospital to community-based system, a process that has come to be known as deinstitutionalization, has markedly impacted mental health service delivery. Family members of people with a chronic mental illness have often had to assume critical caregiving roles in order to provide care to their relatives with a chronic mental illness within the context of their own community. This study examined the needs of family members, often referred to as family caregivers, who have a relative with a chronic mental illness for whom they provide …

Perceptions Of Professionals Who Serve Adults With Mental Illness And Criminal Backgrounds, Rosemarie Sayers

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This qualitative research paper is based on the responses of social service professionals that were individually interviewed about their perceptions serving people with mental illness that have a criminal background by asking a series of questions. The social service professionals acknowledged the increased number of clients they serve in their work that have both a mental illness and a criminal background. Common barriers were reported, most commonly was lack of housing and employment. These barriers were identified as contributing homelessness amongst this population. The need for social service professionals to receive training about this population and to work collaboratively with …

School Social Workers’ Perspectives On Working With Glbt Youth, Jamie Schley

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Past research has suggested that GLBT youth are at an increased risk for mental health issues including suicide. The purpose of this study was to examine school social workers’ perspectives of their role in working with GLBT youth through an online survey with school social workers currently working in middle and high schools. Most of the participants reported

sometimes observing homophobic expressions or remarks and rarely observing verbal abuse based on sexual orientation in their school environment. Likewise, participants reported rarely observing physical harassment and never observing physical abuse of students because of their sexual orientation within their school environment. …

Why Are You Crying?: The Impact Of Parental Trauma On The Child, Michael C. Schaeffer

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this research project was to investigate the impact of parental trauma symptoms on the child. The researcher became interested in this topic over the last few years with the increased reports of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on returning vets from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. With reports of increase domestic abuse and suicides in this population, the research was curious how these symptoms of trauma impacted their children. The majority of the research reviewed centered around quantitative studies where parents had developed classic single event PTSD symptoms from war trauma (vs. complex PTSD), and how the …

Social Workers Interactions Within The Profession And The Effects On Collaboration In The Workplace, Leigha Scholtz

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This study explored the perspectives of social workers regarding collaboration among social workers within their workplace. The perspectives were examined through the conceptual frameworks of Ecological Systems Theory specifically how interactions within the work environment affect collaborative efforts among social workers. The online survey instrument Qualtrics.com was utilized to conduct the survey which contained 44 items that were designed to operationalize the concepts of interdependence, newly created professional activities, collective ownership of goals, flexibility and reflection on the process, Index of Interdisciplinary Collaboration developed by Laura Bronstein. Data generated from this survey were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics from …

Understanding Mandated Reporting Within A School Environment, Paula Schulte

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The two distinct professions of teachers and school social workers work within the same environment of a school and share a common responsibility of reporting child abuse and neglect to child protection services as a mandated reporter. This is a unique situation to study because each profession is guided by their board of standards and code of ethics. This paper examines the different levels of knowledge on the responsibility of being a mandated reporter between these two professions and to what extent do they work together toward the same goal. A mixed method survey design was used in order to …

The Sources Of Stress And Support: A Perspective By Rural Emergency Response Workers, Susan Schwab

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Intense, gruesome and dangerous work situations are frequent for the emergency response worker (ERW’s). Emergency response workers, including ambulance workers, paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMT) and firefighters are regularly exposed to stressful situations. This exploratory and qualitative research offered an in-depth look, through the eyes of ERW’s, into their day to day lives. The study asked rural ERW’s to identify critical or stressful incidents, factors that contribute to their stress and their perspective on supports and coping mechanisms implemented to address these stressful events. Findings indicated that the ERW’s most often identified stressful incidents as those involving children and situations …

The Spaces In-Between: How The Art Of Intuition Informs The Science Of Evidence Based Practice In Psychotherapy, Heather Smith

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Evidence-based practice methods are a central component in the psychotherapy profession and an important backdrop in the therapeutic endeavor. Yet a therapeutic relationship that leads to healing is often one that exists within an intersubjective space, one that is outside the field of manualized interventions. The purpose of this study seeks to explore the role that intuition plays in the therapeutic process, how it informs the use of evidence-based practice methods, and its contribution to the change process in psychotherapy. Scholarly research on the use of intuition in the therapeutic process is sparse and indicates a need for more in-depth …

The Importance Of Long Term Vocational Support For Persons With M.I, Justin Swanson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Employment is an essential function in the process of recovery for persons with serious and persistent mental illness. Unfortunately the SPMI population has had a static unemployment rate of 90% since the 1970’s. This rate appears to be as such due to the difficulty many people have in retaining their employment and managing their symptoms. An intervention that has been shown to be successful is the integration of mental health supports in vocational programming for the mentally ill. With such supports clients have shown a higher likelihood to be able to maintain their job.

Many mental illnesses are chronic and …

Spirituality In Nursing Homes: A Social Work Perspective, Cathleen Ann Tschida

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Spirituality is an important issue in the field of nursing home social work. Research studies have shown that spirituality can improve nursing home residents’ physical and psychological health. The purpose of this study was to explore nursing home social workers’ perspectives on using spirituality. Using a quantitative design, 35 nursing home social workers were surveyed about how much spiritual education and training they received, if they believed that gathering spiritual information should be part the intake process, and the spiritual activities they use with nursing home residents. The data revealed that 12 participants never received formal training in using spirituality …

School-Based Adolescent Suicide Reduction, Sabrina Ulrich

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Adolescents spend the majority of their waking hours at school which provides schools with the opportunity and means to access and reach students for school-based adolescent suicide reduction. Schools offer adult supervision and potential monitoring of adolescent behavior and mental health. The purpose of this study was to examine school social workers’ beliefs and efforts in relation to school-based adolescent suicide reduction and to explore prevention strategies, risk factors, and protective factors to help primary, middle, and secondary schools reduce suicide ideation and behavior. This research asked what schools can do to reduce the number of adolescent students who die …

Self-Care Practices And Attitudes Toward Cisd And Seeking Mental Health Services Among Firefighters: A Close Look At A Mid-Sized Midwestern Urban City, Erin Wall

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Since September 11, 2001, a great deal of attention has been put on firefighters and their abilities to cope with the day to day stressors of their jobs. This study used a survey method to investigate the different ways firefighters in a mid-sized mid-western city take care of themselves mentally and physically. This study also explored the firefighters’ openness to the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) process and seeking formal mental health services if needed. It also examined whether all components of CISM are utilized by this department. The results indicated that overall the group was open to seeking mental …

The Experiences Of Older Adults Who Have Completed Advance Directives, Lisa Watts

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This project is a qualitative research study used to explore the experiences of older adults who have written advance directives. Advance directives are an often underutilized tool used by individuals to outline plans for end-of-life care, in the anticipation that the individual may not be able to verbalize his or her decisions when the time comes for choices to be made regarding care. The experiences of individuals who have written an advance directive may help clinical social workers when working with clients who are considering writing an advance directive. For the purpose of this study, six participants were recruited for …

Social Workers’ Role In The Delivery Of Play Therapy To Children, Sara Weil

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this project was to explore the role that social workers play in the delivery of play therapy services to children. This study used a quantitative design to survey 51 licensed social workers on their use of and perceptions of the effectiveness of play therapy. Data were collected through an online survey and analyzed to determine how frequently social workers use play therapy, what level of training they have in play therapy techniques, how effective social workers feel play therapy is with children and what factors are believed to contribute to its effectiveness. Findings revealed that the majority …

Spirituality And Religion In Social Work: Respondent Definitions, Courtney Wilkinson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The following study seeks to discover how potential clients define and view the concepts of religion and spirituality. Research questions include: How do respondents define the concepts of religion and spirituality? What interventions do respondents consider religious and/or spiritual? Finally, what interventions would respondents want incorporated into their mental and physical health care? The study is comprised of forty-five respondents who participated in a Survey Monkey survey. Results indicated that while respondent definitions of religion and spirituality differ, themes emerged. Themes that emerged when describing religion included: an organized set of rules, worshiping a God/Higher Power, and a community of …