Social Work Commons^™

Social Work’S Dynamic Role In Oncology: Providing Leadership For Environmental Responsiveness, J. Sky Niesen

Doctor of Social Work Banded Dissertations

Social work has a long standing relationship with healthcare. Beginning in the settlement house movement, social workers have provided a dynamic micro, mezzo, and macro role in medical settings. Social work’s ecological systems perspective allows for the inclusion of environmental and social justice factors in healthcare delivery. Ecological theory, epistemologically rooted in social work, is used as a conceptual framework throughout the three products, as the contextual environment is viewed as integral in understanding cancer patient experiences.

The first product of this Banded Dissertation is a conceptual article detailing the need for culturally responsive practice methods in oncology care with …

Geriatric Social Work Education From Early Beginnings To Future Prospects, Angela M. Goins

Doctor of Social Work Banded Dissertations

This banded dissertation is comprised of three single, but interrelated scholarly products, and explores the inclusion of geriatric content in social work education over the years. System theory and the ecological perspective are the conceptual frameworks used throughout the dissertation. As each product is presented, implications for both social work education and research will be examined.

The first product of the banded dissertation is a historical analysis that identifies and examines the beginnings of geriatric social work education in the history of the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE). Using archive material from the 1940’s and 1950’s, this scholarly work, …

Benevolent Sexism: Manifestation In American Social Systems, Amanda D. Greubel

Doctor of Social Work Banded Dissertations

This banded dissertation focused on the manifestation of benevolent sexism in American social systems, past and present. Benevolent sexism takes a subjectively-positive view of women in traditional roles, revering them as gentle, nurturing, and in need of protection by men or other more powerful members of society. These beliefs fall into three categories: protective paternalism, complementary gender differentiation, and heterosexual intimacy.

The first product was a historical textual analysis of documents from the Council on Social Work Education Task Force on Women. In 1973, the task force surveyed programs about their curricular content on women. Four themes were identified in …

Perception Of Bullying Among Faculty Members: Implications For African American Males, Denetria D. Brooks-James

Doctor of Social Work Banded Dissertations

This dissertation examines the various perceptions of bullying and the need for a theory that is culturally sensitive and provides the victims with a voice. Bullying adds additional stressors to the lives of its victim, due to lack of research on bullying and its impact on African American males in secondary education, this dissertation primary focus is this population. Implications for a unified definition of bullying, training that is applicable across the cultural spectrum, and the need for continued research are emphasized.

The dissertation is composed of three phenomenological products that together examined the many diverse aspects of bullying. Using …

Faith, Spirituality, And Social Work Education: An Exploration Into The Quest For Integration, Shannon Cassidy Cousineau

Doctor of Social Work Banded Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the integration of faith and spirituality in higher education, more specifically for social work students. Faith and spirituality are important aspects of many people’s lives, and it is important for social work students to understand and comfortably discuss issues and strengths around religion and spirituality. Due to its proposition that people are spiritual beings, who believe in something beyond themselves, Transpersonal Theory is used as a guide for this banded dissertation. At its core, Transpersonal Theory provides a foundation for the journey many people take to find a belief in something outside themselves, either physical, emotional, …

Development Of Professional Identity In Social Work Education, Janet Holter

Doctor of Social Work Banded Dissertations

The development of social work professional identity is characterized by internalization of the knowledge, skills, values, and mission of social work, and begins with and is shaped by the content, and interactions, as well as student experiences within the context of the social work education curricula. This Banded Dissertation comprising three products centers on the development of professional identity within undergraduate social work education. The first product is a qualitative study in which the author examined student perceptions of professional identity, student definitions and perceptions of how social work education shapes students’ professional identity. Findings showed that intentional development of …

Implications For Youth Identified On A Criminal Justice-Based List, Lisa Borneman

Doctor of Social Work Banded Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the implications of being identified on a list based on criminal justice involvement. The list of interest was the Downtown 100 (DT100), a list of youth and adults with significant involvement in the criminal justice system in an upper Midwest urban center. The main identified commonality for those identified on the DT100 is homelessness, while he commonality not readily identified is that most people on the DT100 are people of color. Issues common to youth identified on this criminal justice-based list include a potential for criminal identity, increased risk, and stigma. The …

Self-Care: A Model Of Prevention & Sustainability In Social Work Practice, Mindy Eaves

Doctor of Social Work Banded Dissertations

This banded dissertation focuses on self-care as an imperative in social work practice. In the context of this banded dissertation self-care is defined as “the balancing activities in which social workers can engage to preserve personal longevity and happiness, their relationships, and their careers.” (Smullens, 2015, p. 6). According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Delegate Assembly passed a policy statement placing self-care in the forefront of social work practice (2008). The NASW noted that self-care required deeper examination in the social work profession. This banded dissertation research centers on self-care as a model of prevention & sustainability …

Using An Exploratory Approach To Describe Issues That Affect African American Males In The Field Of Social Work, Quincy Dinnerson

Doctor of Social Work Banded Dissertations

This banded dissertation examined some of the issues of black men in the field of social work. Some of the issues to explored included social acceptance, oppression, and emotional and moral support, to name a few. The researcher goal was to gain more insight into the African American male social work experiences. The researcher used Afrocentric theory in this banded dissertation. Afrocentric theory considers the worldviews of African Americans with the understanding that historically African Americans are an oppressed population.

The first product of this banded dissertation is a conceptual paper that focuses on whether social work implicit curricular support …

Examining Influencing Factors On Bsw Students’ Intent To Persist, Teresa L. Beadlescomb

Doctor of Social Work Banded Dissertations

Students of color remain underrepresented in social work education programs. According to the Council on Social Work Education (2016), only 37.4% of the 19,596 BSW degrees awarded during the 2014-2015 academic year, were awarded to students from historically underrepresented groups (CSWE, 2016). The first product of this banded dissertation presents a conceptual framework, through the lens of empowerment theory, for understanding the varied and nuanced influencing factors contributing to BSW students’ intent to persist. This paper explored ways in which social work programs are and are not providing opportunities for students to demonstrate that they are motivated and competent learners …

Social Work Ethics And Organizational Culture: A Gap In Social Work Education And Social Work Field Education, Stephanie A. Bradford

Doctor of Social Work Banded Dissertations

Social work education and the signature pedagogy of social work, field education, allow students to learn social work ethics. Within the agency setting of field placement, social work students experience organizational culture and organizational climate. The purpose of this banded dissertation is to understand the relationship between ethics learned within the classroom and field education, specific to organizational culture and organizational climate. Ecological and general systems theory provides the conceptual framework to understand the relationship.

Social work ethics and organizational culture are experienced in field education. Product One, a conceptual paper, asserts the need for understanding organizational culture and its …

Advancing Social Welfare Policy Through Critical Social Work Education And Practice, Rebecca Hoffman

Doctor of Social Work Banded Dissertations

Practitioners in the critical tradition seek to identify the shortcomings of systems and beliefs that contribute to an ineffective social welfare system (Forte, 2007). This dissertation examines the intersectional systems of macro social work education practice. It explores the early history of macro social work education and practice and provides a contemporary practice application for shaping agency-level policies that address the subjugation of marginalized populations.

The first product is a critical analysis of Council on Social Work Education’s Community Organizing Curriculum Development Project (COCDP). It illustrates the focalization of macro social work education during a transitional period in which social …

Tribal Sovereign Status: Conceptualizing Its Integration Into The Social Work Curriculum, Amy Fischer Williams

Doctor of Social Work Banded Dissertations

This banded dissertation contains three related products: a conceptual article, a research article, and the development of an original social work course. Together the products conceptualize, research, and envision how accredited social work programs can integrate tribal sovereign status relevant theories and concepts into curriculum to prepare social workers to collaborate and work with Indigenous peoples and communities. The primary conceptual framework that informs the dissertation is decolonization theory. Decolonization entails a broad theoretical spectrum that includes both philosophical-oriented and action-effort approaches to combat the generational effects that colonization has inflected on Indigenous peoples (Gray, M., Coates, J., Yellow Bird, …

Developing Transformational Curriculum To Educate Social Work Students About Indigenous Peoples And Indigenous Knowledge, Deborah Thibeault

Doctor of Social Work Banded Dissertations

While efforts to recruit Indigenous social work students must be continued, social work educators need to ensure that non-Indigenous social work students are learning about the history, culture, and wisdom of Indigenous peoples. Additionally, social work students need to become aware of the impact the social work profession has had on this population. This awareness and understanding will help social workers practice from a place of being an ally and will assist in altering the views many Indigenous people have about social work. There are three products in this banded dissertation that focus on engaging social work educators in a …

Military Social Work: Utilizing Interprofessional Practice And Education To Increase Efficacy, Stephanie Grant

Doctor of Social Work Banded Dissertations

This banded dissertation examines the use of interprofessional practice as a framework to increase efficacy in military social work practice and consists of three distinct but related scholarly products. The first scholarly product is a conceptual article that explores the alignment between the Air Force’s resilience initiative Comprehensive Airman Fitness (CAF) and the Council on Social Work Education’s Advanced Social Work Practice in Military Social Work Standards. Conceptualizing interprofessional practice and the ecological perspective, this article endorses the efforts to advance military social work practice competencies by connecting with CAF and other Department of Defense (DoD) resilience initiatives. Leveraging resources …

Achieving Optimal Volition And Well-Being: Facilitating Movement Along The Motivational Continuum Through Self-Determination Theory, Andrew Thompson

Doctor of Social Work Banded Dissertations

The dissertation comprises three products that considered self-determination theory (SDT) as theoretical framework to support interventions that promote satisfaction of basic psychological needs among recipients of assertive community treatment (ACT) and forensic assertive community treatment (FACT). The first product is a paper that conceptualized and integrated elements of self-determination (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) in the implementation of assertive community treatment and forensic assertive community treatment. The integration of implementation of these basic psychological needs provided a framework to increase autonomy and self-determination, which has proven effective at increasing enhanced client wellness and optimal outcomes. The second product is a cross-sectional …

Lack Of Services In Rural Social Work: Ethical Issues And The Impact On Parenting, Judy Zimbelman

Doctor of Social Work Banded Dissertations

The unique set of challenges in rural social work adds new dimensions to social work practice needs. Issues of poverty, substance abuse, and mental health issues are often ignored in the rural setting. The conceptual framework used in this banded dissertation is the ecological model, which applies the concept of systems to apply when working with individuals, families, and communities.

The first product, a conceptual paper, identifies the impact of the lack of services on parents and provides creative solutions to establishing resources for parents in rural areas. The number of professionals working in rural areas is limited, there is …

Civic Engagement And Social Action In Social Work Education, Terri Klemm

Doctor of Social Work Banded Dissertations

This banded dissertation comprises three scholarly products that address the importance of civic engagement and social action in social work education. Throughout the banded dissertation, the conceptual lens of critical social theory, which presupposes that education is fundamental to democracy, provides a framework in which to consider social work educators’ responsibility to effectively prepare students to engage in a broad range of civic activities, including social action, in order to address crucial social problems.

The first product, an exploratory historical research study, provides historical context with an examination of the role of social work in a democratic society from the …

Amplifying Lgbtq Voices In Social Work, Carey A. Winkler

Doctor of Social Work Banded Dissertations

This banded dissertation is focused on amplifying LGBTQ voices in social work education and practice through an exploration of language, policies, standards, and practices used in social work education. Using a historical lens, feminist, queer, and critical theories were used to examine issues of power, voice, context, and social justice.

The first product is a conceptual paper that examines the history of the language used in social work education related to how we think and talk about diversity. This examination includes a critique of the use of the term difference and the othering impact it can have on LGBTQ individuals …

Healing The Mind And Body: Practitioner Perspectives On Integrating Cognitive And Somatic Approaches In Psychotherapy With Refugees, Asylees, And Asylum Seekers, Amanda Ament-Lemke

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

There is an abundance of studies in the literature highlighting psychotherapy methods for people who have experienced trauma. This is not true for the specialized treatment of refugees, asylees, and asylum seekers. Despite the growing worldwide displacement of people and the trauma they endure, there are only a limited number of studies conducted involving interventions with these populations who have survived prolonged and complex psychological trauma. This research project focuses on refugees, asylees, and asylum seekers who have experienced complex psychological trauma as a result of persecution, war, violence, and migration; specifically, it focuses on the mind-body based psychotherapeutic interventions …

Understanding The Practitioner’S Role In The Therapeutic Setting: Working With Youth That Identify As Black Or African American And Lgbt, Katie L. Ubl

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This systematic review aimed to find responses for practitioners to better engage in the therapeutic setting with multiple minority youth that identify as LGBT Black or African American. These multiple minority populations are at high risk for mental health. A systematic review analyzed data using grounded theory. Twelve articles categorized data within the ecological framework: micro, mezzo, and macro levels. For practitioners to better engage with LGBT Black or African American youth in the therapeutic setting, responses were found in all three levels of the ecological framework. Dominant responses for social work practitioners to better engage in the therapeutic setting …

Treatment Barriers In Mental Health: Perspectives Of Using Mobile Technology, Ryan Goman

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Mental health problems are common with adolescents and given that adolescents are the biggest consumer of mobile technologies, these technologies hold a tremendous promise as a unique intervention. The research method used is a qualitative study with four clinicians to address themes in their experiences of utilziing mobiel technology with adolescents. Much of the research finds that using technology with adolescents improves patient satisfaction through areas around convenience, eas of use, and availabiltiy. The research findings show common themes related to adaptability, reduced stigma, clinical relationship and lack of access. This research is important because it highlights the social work …

The Effects Of Animal-Assisted Therapy In Older Adults With Dementia, Alison Waid Higgins

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Integrating Trauma Informed Care Into The Treatment Of Adult Male Sex Offenders: A Systematic Review, Erica Janssen

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Physical, sexual, or emotional childhood trauma increases the risk for violence, aggression, and criminality in adulthood (Wolff & Shi, 2012). While not all children who experience childhood trauma go on to commit sexual offenses, the research highlights the fact that a large majority of the individuals who commit sexual offenses have experienced some form of childhood trauma (Dutton & Hart, 1992; Levenson, 2014; Wolff & Shi, 2012). The purpose of this study was to explore the relevance of integrating trauma-informed care in the treatment of adult men participating in evidence-based sex offender treatment programs. This systematic review collected data pertaining …

The Role Of Somatic Psychotherapy In Treating First Responders: Providers’ Perspectives, Maggie Graham

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

As part of their occupational responsibilities, first responders such as firefighters, law enforcement, paramedics, military medics and disaster relief workers are exposed to critical incidents and traumatic events on a routine basis. The dearth of literature on somatic-based interventions shows promise as a tool for addressing trauma, yet few, if any, studies address trauma among first responders specifically. This qualitative study explores somatic psychotherapy as a treatment of trauma within the first responder community. Participants for the study (n=6) were recruited through snowball sampling and online recruitment. Semi-structured, in-person interviews were completed with six mental health providers who practice somatic, …

Trauma-Informed Care: Training And Implementation In The Foster Care System, Danielle Norgren

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

In 2015, there were 14,680 children in out of home care, which was a 9% increase from 2014 (Minnesota Department of Human Services, 2016). All of the youth in the foster care system have experienced an Adverse Childhood Experience (Garcia et al., 2017), which makes them vulnerable to mental health illnesses and many different medical conditions. If a youth presents with behavioral issues and/or mental health illnesses, the common forms of interventions that they receive are medications and psychotherapy. Trauma-informed care (TIC) has been proven to be a beneficial approach when working with the youth in the foster care system. …

Professional Perceptions Of Youth Homelessness And Strengths Developed, Joelle Bellows

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Professional Opinions Of Effective Interventions For Adults With Psychotic Disorders Who Experienced Childhood Trauma, Jennifer Metzger

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This is a qualitative research study that examined professionals’ perceptions of effective interventions for adults with psychotic disorders who have experienced childhood trauma. The participants of the study were obtained through a snowball technique. The first participant’s information was given to the researcher through the research committee. The researcher then asked every participant to provide the contact information of another professional who fit the research criteria. In total, there were six professionals who were either clinical social workers, clinical psychologists or licensed marriage and family therapists. The data was obtained through structured, in person interviews with each of these professionals. …

Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Co-Housing Options For Older Adults To Age In Place, Kasey Meyer

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This study explored a housing model called co-housing, giving attention to its potential to help older adults successfully age in place. The focus of this research primarily focused on housing and the obstacles that prevent older adults from remaining in their own home as they age. The population of older adults in the United States will continue to increase and older adults are often faced with a shortage of available options. The co-housing model consists of individual homes or apartments located around a shared outdoor space. Members within the community share responsibility for everyday activities and upkeep to property, reducing …

Medical Social Workers’ Best Practices In Supporting Autonomy At End Of Life, Morgan Hanley

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this qualitative research study was designed to explore the topic of medical social workers’ best practices in supporting autonomy at end of life, specifically within a hospital setting. A total of eight licensed social workers with a minimum of five years’ experience practicing in a hospital setting located in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Region were interviewed. The results indicated that patient and family dynamics, education on end of life, advance directives and medical social workers’ role in supporting autonomy effect and influence best practices when supporting autonomy at end of life. Supplementary research should be considered to …