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Full-Text Articles in Social Work

What Can We Learn From Death And Dying? One Man’S Experience, Brooke K. Benson May 2017

What Can We Learn From Death And Dying? One Man’S Experience, Brooke K. Benson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The research explored a personal account of a man's experience of actively dying. From the findings, five major themes emerged describing the participant’s experience of dying. The first theme, physical states, was sub-categorized by states of being, felt senses, and physical things. The second emerging theme, mental, was sub-categorized by emotions and cognitions. The third emerging theme, beheviors, was sub-categorized by actions and communications. The fourth emerging theme was spirituality and the fifth and final theme was time. The findings provide valuable insight into the process of death and dying, the emotions surrounding the process of dying and various aspects …


Removing Stigma And Reducing Anxiety: Social Work Professionals Integrating Essential Oils In Mental Healthcare Services With African American And Native American Clients, Kamara Bauman May 2017

Removing Stigma And Reducing Anxiety: Social Work Professionals Integrating Essential Oils In Mental Healthcare Services With African American And Native American Clients, Kamara Bauman

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into how mental health professionals could use essential oils with African Americans and Native Americans who may have experienced or have been diagnosed with a mental illness. Both African Americans and Native Americans have higher rates of Depression and Anxiety, but have lower rates of utilizing mental healthcare services than White Americans. How do essential oils reduce anxiety about seeking treatment for mental health and subsequently increase participation in therapy for African American and Native American clients? This project used a qualitative research design with semi- structured open – ended questions. …


Systematic Review Of High School Dropout Prevention Programs, Dayne Bartlett May 2017

Systematic Review Of High School Dropout Prevention Programs, Dayne Bartlett

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This systematic literature review aims to introduce an innovative method of qualitative data analysis to the sparse empirical research of high school dropout prevention efforts. Through a framework of social capital theory, this study explores the social factors connected to at-risk schools and students. For decades, high school dropout and graduation has been a national focus. However, uncovering empirical studies evaluating the effectiveness of coordinated efforts is rare. This systematic literature serves two purposes, to fill gaps in the literature, and to integrate an innovative evaluation method for dropout prevention efforts. With a systematic literature review method, seven databases that …


Cognitive Behavior Therapy With Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review, Crystal Barrera May 2017

Cognitive Behavior Therapy With Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review, Crystal Barrera

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

A small but significant portion of the population has a diagnosis of an intellectual disability, defined as cognitive deficits that impact a person’s daily functioning. Adults with intellectual disabilities struggle with psychopathology at four times the rate as the general population, yet only 10% receive psychotherapy. There is very little existing research into the use of psychotherapy for adults with intellectual disabilities, the majority of which has been published in niche publications that most practitioners have limited access to. Therefore, this systematic review answered the question “What are the known outcomes of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for adults with intellectual …


A Qualitative Investigation Of Parental Experiences With Play Therapy, Kaitlin Bach May 2017

A Qualitative Investigation Of Parental Experiences With Play Therapy, Kaitlin Bach

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Today, 1 out of every 5 children are experiencing some sort of mental health condition, and of those children only one third will receive the treatment they need (As cited in Meany- Walen & Teeling, 2016; SAMHSA, 2015). As these mental health challenges in children continue to grow, so too does the need to use proven treatments. Play therapy is an effective and useful treatment approach for young children that has been proven effective for children ranging in age (Bratten et al., 2013; Cochran et al., 2010), diagnosis (Bratton, et al., 2014; Gold, et al., 2014) and culture (Cochran, Cochran, …


Racial Differences In Veteran Service Connection Disability, Jonathan Arnold May 2017

Racial Differences In Veteran Service Connection Disability, Jonathan Arnold

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The problem this project addresses is racial differences in veteran service connection disability, specifically for the African American Veteran community. Throughout history, African Americans have notably been underserved in the healthcare system. The literature also shows a huge disparity across races of veterans versus non-veterans when seeking mental health care. However, in some of the literature, there is conflicting research on whether non-white racial groups do in fact receive poorer quality care leading to poorer outcomes. The research question of interest is: What are the experiences of African American veterans in accessing disability resources? This research project was a qualitative …


Social Worker Perceptions On Education For Generalist And Specialist Roles, Jamie Blackledge May 2017

Social Worker Perceptions On Education For Generalist And Specialist Roles, Jamie Blackledge

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The current study examines the following question: How well does social work education prepare a Generalist or a Specialist to be in their social work role? Findings from existing research and interviews of five Generalist and five Specialist social workers within the Minneapolis - St. Paul metro area were reviewed to explore the adequacy of the current BSW and MSW curriculum in preparing students for social work practice after completing their degree. Recent literature and responses from interviewees revealed common themes endorsed by both Generalist and Specialist social workers. Both note the relevance of generalist social work curriculum for Generalist …


Understanding The Mental Health Impacts Of Non-Kinship Vs. Kinship Placements, Lena Bessas May 2017

Understanding The Mental Health Impacts Of Non-Kinship Vs. Kinship Placements, Lena Bessas

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

In this systematic literature review, the researcher synthesized literature regarding the mental health impacts of non-kinship versus kinship placements on children who are involved with the child welfare system. Using SocINDEX with Full Text, PsychINFO, Social Work Abstracts, Child Development and Adolescent Studies and JSTOR, nine studies met the criteria for the review and were then analyzed. Themes that were identified included: Placement type, PTSD, depression and gender. The studies included in this review identified the mental health impacts on children depending on their placement type. This study gives evidence for the need of more research around this topic.


Unintended Rehabilitation: A Comparative Analysis Of Prison Animal Programs, Mielissa Beseres May 2017

Unintended Rehabilitation: A Comparative Analysis Of Prison Animal Programs, Mielissa Beseres

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Prison Animal Programs (PAPs) are built on the foundation of the human-animal bond. Integrating animals into correctional settings through a therapeutic approach could potentially influence many individuals as prisons continue to increase their capacity. In this comparative analysis, the United States was divided into three regional sectors and quota sampling was used to select two prison-animal programs from each sector. Purposeful sampling was used to navigate characteristics of each program’s website information, including comprehensive mission and program description. Prison-animal programs are rarely used through a therapeutic lens, resulting in little to no collected or comparative data. However, information available indicates …


Trauma In Schools: Identifying And Working With Students Who Have Experienced Trauma, Amanda E. Berg May 2017

Trauma In Schools: Identifying And Working With Students Who Have Experienced Trauma, Amanda E. Berg

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Schools have academic and behavioral expectations that can be extremely challenging if not impossible for children who have experienced trauma. With approximately 25%-50% of children nationwide having experienced trauma, this is a widespread issue and major concern. Challenges in school for these children include learning difficulties, attention difficulties, struggle to regulate emotions, difficulty with peer relationships, and reactivity. This qualitative study investigates the question; how do social workers identify and work with students in a school setting who have experienced trauma? The researcher interviewed six licensed clinical social workers in the Twin Cities metro area who are working in schools. …


Posttraumatic Growth In United States Military Veterans, Angela Cox May 2017

Posttraumatic Growth In United States Military Veterans, Angela Cox

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

PTSD’s prevalence in U.S. military veterans requires a greater understanding of the disorder as well as knowledge of the concept of PTG. PTG has been described as a positive outcome from a traumatic experience (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996). Research on PTG found that veterans that were married, had strong social support, identified as being a minority, and participated in various trauma-related therapies reported higher levels of PTG. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the contributing factors of PTG in U.S. military veterans. Knowledge of the contributing factors, signs, and facilitation of PTG is important in relation to …


Birth Parents: Blogging The Emotional Journey Through Adoption, Kayla L. Christensen May 2017

Birth Parents: Blogging The Emotional Journey Through Adoption, Kayla L. Christensen

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Adoption often focuses on the adoptive parents and the child. Birth parents are frequently forgotten about even though the adoption process would not be possible without them. This study looks at the birth parents’ experiences and the emotions they often endure. A textual analysis research design was used to gain insight into the birth parents’ journey though the adoption process, using blogs written by birth mothers and birth fathers. Four blogs were studied with two written by birth mothers and two authored by birth fathers. Qualitative analysis was applied through grounded theory which utilizes coding to deciphering themes. This study …


Domestic Violence: How To Treat The Unseen Victims, Sarah Callahan May 2017

Domestic Violence: How To Treat The Unseen Victims, Sarah Callahan

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Domestic violence is something that impacts families worldwide. One in three women in the US will experience domestic violence in their lifetime (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012); given this statistic, children will inadvertently be exposed to domestic violence as a result. Young children, whom are likely in the home with their parents, are highly vulnerable to domestic violence exposure, and the impacts that it has on mental health functioning. This qualitative research project focused on the question “What are the best methods of practice for working with children aged 2-6 who have been exposed to domestic violence and …


Addressing Needs Among Students Affected By Domestic Violence: Social Workers’ Perspectives, Kiah Dahlquist May 2017

Addressing Needs Among Students Affected By Domestic Violence: Social Workers’ Perspectives, Kiah Dahlquist

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The issue of domestic violence is of great concerns and the impact on children is becoming more widely acknowledged. This social issue contains many consequences and ramifications and a wider understanding of children’s needs are emerging. With this growing recognition the importance to meet this children’s needs have been identified. This qualitative study explored how school social workers support children impacted by domestic violence through six (n = 6) semi-structured interviews. The findings, developed through an open-coding process, included the following themes: interventions used by school social workers to support children experiencing domestic violence; barriers to supporting children affected; resources …


What Is The Impact Of Mental Health Courts? A Systematic Literature Review, Rachel Dean May 2017

What Is The Impact Of Mental Health Courts? A Systematic Literature Review, Rachel Dean

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Mental health court programs have proliferated in the United States in the past few decades in response to the growth of persons with mental illness involved in the criminal justice system. Research has previously been conducted on the impact of these programs, but few studies have been done to identify themes among the research as a whole in regard to their impact on three main goals: reducing recidivism, improving mental health and connecting participants to treatment and services. This systematic review was designed to explore the question: what is the impact of mental health court programs on recidivism, connection to …


Examining Post-Adoption Services: What Adoptive Families Need For Beneficial Outcomes, Lindsey Crawford May 2017

Examining Post-Adoption Services: What Adoptive Families Need For Beneficial Outcomes, Lindsey Crawford

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This research is about what post-adoption services exist, what sort of supports and services adoptive families need, and if there are any disparities. The researcher aimed to answer the multidimensional research question: What types of post-adoption issues do adoptive parents identify, how were these issues addressed, and what do they recommend to other adoptive parents? A qualitative research design with a narrative analysis was used to conduct the study. The Ecological Approach was used as the conceptual framework. The researcher found that both participants participated in foster to adopt, felt they did not receive the full extent of the supports …


Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Vocational Rehabilitation In Economic Outcomes For Adults With Disabilities, Susanne Desmond May 2017

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Vocational Rehabilitation In Economic Outcomes For Adults With Disabilities, Susanne Desmond

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Employment rates are much lower among individuals with disabilities, and lower still for those with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD). This study systematically reviewed a subset of existing research studies to determine how well vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs have affected economic outcomes for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Findings demonstrate that while persons receiving VR services are more likely to obtain employment, only 18% are working competitively, often for minimum wage. Studies varied in how earnings were reported. Emergent themes include the prevalence of poverty, challenges with providing person-centered interventions, barriers to inclusion in integrated work settings, …


Intervention With Intimate Partner Violence: Application Of Attachment And Personality Disorders, Marybeth Ehlert May 2017

Intervention With Intimate Partner Violence: Application Of Attachment And Personality Disorders, Marybeth Ehlert

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The goal of this study was to examine the influence attachment theory and personality disorders have on the clinical interventions currently used with individuals who have committed intimate partner violence. Qualitative interviews were conducted with four professionals currently working with IPV perpetrators in group or individual therapeutic settings. Six themes were developed: (a) Multiple Risk Factors of IPV, (b) Societal Views on Perpetration and Victimization, (c) Mental Health Informed Intervention Options for IPV, (d) Training or Educational Background Dictating Conceptual Framework, (e) Trauma and (f) Negative Connotations of Personality Disorders. The findings of this small exploratory study suggest that while …


Lessons For Social Workers: A Review Of The Latino/A Undocumented Immigrant Experience, Katie J. Ducklow May 2017

Lessons For Social Workers: A Review Of The Latino/A Undocumented Immigrant Experience, Katie J. Ducklow

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Undocumented Latino/a immigrants seeking social work services face additional challenges due to their immigration status, such as social isolation, trauma, a hostile political climate, and fear of deportation. The researcher of this systematic literature review sought to answer the research questions: “What factors do undocumented Latino/a immigrants identify as helpful when utilizing social work services?” and “What factors do undocumented Latino/a immigrants identify as hurtful or barriers when utilizing social work services?” A systematic review was conducted using the databases SOCIndex, PsycINFO, and Social Work Abstracts and variations of the search terms “Latino/a,” “immigrant,” and “social work services.” Articles that …


Bicycles And Youth: Impacts, Elizabeth Drews May 2017

Bicycles And Youth: Impacts, Elizabeth Drews

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Previous studies considered the factors leading or discouraging youth to use bicycles as a means of transportation or exercise. The purpose of this study was to consider the impacts of community based bike programming on youth of color and/or from lower income communities. The researcher interviewed four people who are in some capacity involved with bicycle programming aimed at youth. The interviews were transcribed, coded and analyzed. Initial themes arose among all participants, including the following: Early Experiences and Family Influences, Community Involvement, Knowing and Preparing for Target Populations, and Skills and Pride. Implications for social work practice and suggestions …


Transgenerational Transmission Of Caregiver Behaviors Promoting Secure Attachments In American Indian Communities, Bryan Ellingson May 2017

Transgenerational Transmission Of Caregiver Behaviors Promoting Secure Attachments In American Indian Communities, Bryan Ellingson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to describe American Indian caregiver behaviors that promote secure attachments and keep tribal practices alive through transgenerational transmission. This qualitative study included interviews with three American Indian participants to describe culturally specific caregiver behaviors promoting secure attachments. The urban Indian participants in this study’s purposive sample participated in interviews that yielded four salient themes and three sub-themes. The themes included: connection to culture, importance of extended family, significance of elders, and respect as a value. The three sub-themes under connection to culture included: language, ceremonies and practices, and re-visiting the reservation. The results of …


Factors Contributing To Success In Treatment For Individuals With A Dual Diagnosis, Logan Evenson May 2017

Factors Contributing To Success In Treatment For Individuals With A Dual Diagnosis, Logan Evenson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This clinical research project investigates factors that contribute to success in substance abuse treatment for individuals with a dual diagnosis through the perspective of licensed social workers in the State of Minnesota. This research looked at possible associations between different individual client factors, respondent’s demographic background, and treatment model effectiveness as they relate to clients success in treatment. A quantitative study was conducted by administering a survey to a randomly generated email list in which 146 respondents completed the survey. The respondents were all licensed social workers in the state of Minnesota and identified themselves as having experience working with …


Guardian Ad Litem Perceptions Of Child Protection, Carla Evans May 2017

Guardian Ad Litem Perceptions Of Child Protection, Carla Evans

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Research into child protection has focused largely on evaluating the specific interventions that can improve outcomes for children who suffer neglect or abuse. Little is known about how the various elements of the child protection system interact to determine children’s permanency decisions and about the system’s overall strengths and weaknesses in improving outcomes for children. Guardian ad Litems are in a unique position to evaluate child protection because of their relative independence and because of their specific role of focusing on children’s best interests. This research was designed to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing the child protection …


Interventions That Support Caregivers Of Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review, Melissa Franzen May 2017

Interventions That Support Caregivers Of Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review, Melissa Franzen

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The problem is that many caregivers face isolation, depression and ambiguous grief in caring for a veteran with a TBI. Previous research has indicated that there are challenges that caregivers face in caring for a veteran with a TBI. A systematic review was done to answer the question, what are the effective social work practices for caregivers with a veteran who has a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Articles were reviewed from the timeframe of 1997 to 2015. These articles covered TBI, veterans, caregivers, military populations and civilian populations. From the research, there were six social work treatments and four interventions …


Interventions To Alleviate The Psychosocial Needs Of Hospice Family Caregivers: A Systematic Review, Nicole Engen May 2017

Interventions To Alleviate The Psychosocial Needs Of Hospice Family Caregivers: A Systematic Review, Nicole Engen

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Hospice care is a growing service to individuals with terminal and chronic illnesses to promote quality of life and comfort versus treatment at the end of their life. The support of hospice care extends to the family of hospice patients. Many patients who wish to receive hospice care at home have involvement from family to become their primary caregiver. This systematic review was designed to answer the question, what interventions are available to alleviate the psychosocial needs of hospice family caregivers. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria set for this study 11 articles met criteria to be analyzed. Two …


Mindfulness Practice With Children Who Have Experienced Trauma, Margaret Fischer May 2017

Mindfulness Practice With Children Who Have Experienced Trauma, Margaret Fischer

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This study examined how mindfulness practice is used with children who have experienced trauma or currently living in traumatic situations through a systematic review of the literature. Protocols and inclusion and exclusion criteria were set to ensure that only the most fitting articles were selected. Through the research two main categories emerged: 1) childhood and adolescent intervention, and 2) adulthood intervention. Within those two main categories three themes emerged: 1) MBSR Intervention, 2) Mind Body Skills Group Intervention, and 3) Other Mindfulness Practice Interventions. Mindfulness practice interventions in their various forms were found to have positive outcomes when addressing trauma …


Effects Of Yoga And Mindfulness-Based Practices On Stress And Anxiety In Children And Adolescents, Amanda Geldert May 2017

Effects Of Yoga And Mindfulness-Based Practices On Stress And Anxiety In Children And Adolescents, Amanda Geldert

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This study focused on yoga, and other mindfulness-based practices and how they impact children and adolescents who are dealing with stress and anxiety. Three interviews were conducted with Yoga Calm certified instructors who work with children and adolescents, and how they view the impacts of Yoga Calm on the population they work with. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed. Once analyzed, nine themes were found: Children use tools they are taught to cope with stress and anxiety, practicing mindfulness allows one to better listen to their bodies, lack of time, resistance from children, children teaching others, adaptation for developmental differences, …


Clinician Support To Caregivers Of Children With A Mental Health Disorder, Lauren Gavin May 2017

Clinician Support To Caregivers Of Children With A Mental Health Disorder, Lauren Gavin

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The type of support clinicians’ offer and provide to caregivers whose children have mental health disorder is an important topic for mental health professionals to consider in their own practice. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to gain insight in to how clinicians’ support caregivers of children with mental health needs initially and over the course of their child’s treatment. The researcher audio recorded a semi-structured interview with four mental health professionals. The researcher transcribed the interviews and conducted a qualitative analysis on the results. The researcher and research chair identified five major themes from the data analysis: …


Perceptions Of Diagnosing And Treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder And Complex Trauma In Schools, Megan Gauer-Kloos May 2017

Perceptions Of Diagnosing And Treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder And Complex Trauma In Schools, Megan Gauer-Kloos

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder affects up to nine percent of children in the United States (DuPaul et. al, 2014; Ralph et. al, 2001; Spencer, 2007; Wedge, 2016). Furthermore, 25% of children will also be exposed to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Exposure to ACEs is strongly correlated with negative short-term and long-term effects on a child’s cognitive, physical and mental health, and social-emotional development. Oftentimes these experiences create a neurological shift in children and result in symptoms that align with the criteria for ADHD. As. well as. Complex Trauma. (PTSD- Type II). Many children are first identified with these symptoms and …


Family Functioning And Secondary Traumatic Stress In Military Families: A Qualitative Study, Karlie Gams May 2017

Family Functioning And Secondary Traumatic Stress In Military Families: A Qualitative Study, Karlie Gams

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to explore secondary traumatic stress and family functioning in military families. Six licensed mental health professionals, including social workers and a marriage and family therapist with experience working directly with military families participated in this study. Using a qualitative design, participants were interviewed regarding their experience working with these families. Five themes emerged from the data including: (1) strength of communication within the family can impact functioning; (2) the non-veteran parent often takes on various aspect in the role of both parents; (3) children often present secondary traumatic stress symptoms outside of the home; …