Social Work Commons^™

A Qualitative Investigation Of Mindfulness-Based Practice With K-12th Grade Teachers, Jenna Trumbower

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

In the United States, there is an increased awareness and concern regarding K-12^th grade teachers’ personal and professional well-being. With current teacher turnover rates currently at about 20% compared to 9% in 2009 (Alliance for Excellent Education, 2014), researchers have turned their attention to stress-reduction interventions and programs for teachers. The following study examines the experiences that seven K-12^th grade teachers have had with mindfulness-based practices. This study further explores the impact that mindfulness-based practice has on K-12^th grade teachers’ personal well-being and professional practice. A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews was used to gather information to …

The Experiences Of Latino Parents As They Navigate Care For A Child With Autism, Emily Tibbetts

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This qualitative study explored the experiences of Latino caregivers as they navigate care for a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Six caregivers participated in a semi-standardized interview containing 14 questions. The data obtained was analyzed using a phenomenological approach to find common themes in the participants’ experiences. Findings were organized into two broad themes and sub-themes of positive experiences with service access and delivery and negative experiences with service access and delivery. The sub-themes of positive experiences were as follows: communication, support systems, collaboration, education, and luck. The sub-themes of negative experiences were language access and interpretation, lack of …

The Effectiveness Of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy On Children And Adolescents Who Suffer From Complex Trauma And Exhibit Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder/Symptoms: A Systematic Review, Tachel Takazawa

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to examine current literature on Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in order to identify the effectiveness of this treatment on children and adolescents who suffer from complex trauma and exhibit Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms (PTSS). An inclusion criterion was created to capture studies that used TF-CBT or similar CBT techniques with this population. A systematic review research design was utilized resulting in 11 studies meeting criteria and these articles were then analyzed. The findings of the included studies were extracted and then divided into five distinct categories based on the PTSD/PTSS …

Incorporating E-Therapy Into Practice, Social Worker Perspectives, Kristine Strobl-Reichel

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Access to mental health services locally, nationally, and globally is a challenge. E-therapy is an appealing avenue to offer services to underserved and stigmatized clients. While an interesting new therapy modality, numerous questions and concerns are raised in the literature regarding online therapy services.

This study sought to answer the research question, what factors influenced a provider’s decision to provide online therapy? This qualitative study recruited clinical social workers providing E-therapy. Questions were designed to shed light on the development of a therapeutic connection, insurance coverage and reimbursement, technology glitches, and client inappropriateness for E-therapy treatment.

Findings for this study …

The Elementary School Climate And Teacher Self-Esteem: A Study Of Potential Relationship, Kelsey D. Stewart

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The factors of self-esteem and the school climate have been independently studied for over a century and have been found as universal factors of importance. This study investigates the potential relationship between teacher self-esteem and the school climate. Fifty-nine elementary school teachers at public schools in the Midwest participated in a survey consisting of demographic information, self-esteem assessment, and a school climate inventory. The findings showed a moderate relationship between teacher self-esteem and the school climate. Additional sub-categories of relationships and teaching learning indicated moderate relationships with teacher self-esteem. These findings lead to suggestions for improving factors in the school …

Perceptions Of Depression In Older Adults, Kasey D. Weber

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

According to the US Department of Commerce estimates, the older adult population will more than double by 2050, to 80 million (US Department of Commerce, 1995). Depression is very common among the older generation with 6.5 million diagnosed cases out of 35 million individuals aged 65 and above (NAMI, n.d). Many of these older adults with depression suffer from stigmas, both internal and external. The objective of this systematic literature review was to synthesize the information available on stigma related to older adults with depression. The databases SocINDEX, Social Work Abstracts, Pubmed, and were systematically searched (2010 to date). The …

Hospice Social Workers’ Perspectives On Place Of Death Congruence: A Qualitative Study, Florence Wright

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This qualitative research study was designed to explore place of death congruence among hospice patients from the subjective experiences and perspectives of hospice social workers. A semi-structured interview with nine hospice social workers served as the primary means of data collection within the present study. Using content analysis with descriptive phenomenology, dominant and underlying themes were identified, refined, and subsequently confirmed through a reliability check. From the establishment and verification of themes and sub-themes, the research questions were answered. The results of this study indicate that patients generally prefer to die in a place they call “home,” including: private residences, …

Social Workers Advocating On A Macro Level After Graduate School, William L. Wilson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This paper reports on a survey of MSW social workers regarding their participation of macro advocacy post-graduation. It measures their level of engagement pre-graduate, current engagement and future engagement in macro advocacy and explores barriers to lack of engagement. Data indicates that MSW social workers are engaging in macro practice, however, a growing trend that MSW’s are choosing to practice on more of micro level (individual casework) due to lack of time and organization commitments have emerged. Implications for research and education are discussed, including the need to further research the financial burdens that social work students face leaving school.

The Commonalities And Shared Experiences Of Female Prostitutes Who Were Sexually Exploited As Children: The Perspectives Of Clinical Social Workers, Heather Wilmes

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LICSW) provide services to vulnerable populations. As the number of sexually exploited women in Minnesota and the United States grows, so does the number of women needing services from social workers. It is important that LICSWs understand the population of women who have engaged in prostitution that were victims of sexual exploitation as children. If LICSWs are knowledgeable about the commonalities and shared experiences of the women they serve, they may be able to identify common risk factors and provide appropriate services. This research study sought to identify the commonalities and shared experiences of female prostitutes …

The Impact Poverty Has On Adolescents’ Experiences At School According To School Social Workers, Kelly Williams

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Poverty is prevalent throughout the United States and can impact an individuals childhood following them into adolescence. The purpose of this project is to look at the impact poverty has on adolescents’ experiences at school according to school social workers. Using a qualitative design, seven school social workers were interviewed regarding poverty in relation to their adolescent student’s experiences at school. The interviews were transcribed and coded into themes and sub-themes. The emerging themes correlated with the literature. The findings showed themes of adolescents’ living in poverty, academic, social and emotional experiences, to be key experiences school social workers see …

School Social Work And Expressive Art Therapies: A Systematic Review, Margaret M. Whipple

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This systematic review focused on the use of expressive art therapies in school settings. Data was collected, synthesized and analyzed utilizing two databases. The search criteria involved the inclusion of expressive art therapies being utilized in a school setting, which resulted in 10 relevant articles and studies. A secondary analysis was conducted of the 10 articles to categorize the grey literature or informal studies from the empirical pieces found. Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory was used as the conceptual framework of this study, examining the environments that influence students’ access to services and programs. Kindergarten through high school age groups were …

School Engagement And Academic Success Of Students With An Ebd Educational Label: Perspectives Among Helping Professionals In Schools, Kristin Weeker

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

With less than half of students educationally labeled as having an Emotional or Behavioral Disorder (EBD) graduating from high school, this student demographic faces both lower graduation rates and higher dropout rates when compared to their peers. Previous research findings provide several theories for these students’ lack of academic success, including: their likely exposure to risk factors such as mental health concerns and living in poverty, challenges in building and maintaining positive social relationships with peers and school staff resulting in a higher likelihood for school disengagement and lack of belonging, and the tendency for these students to be taught …

Trauma Innovations: Mdma As A Treatment Intervention For Ptsd, Anthony Christian, Andrea E. Grey, Terra Sorg

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Aims: To examine the evidence displayed across 3 distinct communities (popular, scientific, & clinical) in conjunction with the use of MDMA-AP as an intervention for PTSD. Method: A mixed method synthesis of qualitative and quantitative research. Data Sources: Four databases were searched [1980-Present] for MDMA & PTSD and/or Mithoefer, et al. 2010 specific scientific literature providing forty-two randomly selected articles; YouTube was searched specifically targeting the same criteria to provide forty-two randomly selected videos; 201 LICSW’s from Minnesota were also surveyed. Results: From the three datasets, three common themes emerged: (1) attitudes specifically geared toward MDMA-AP; (2) effusive or …