Social Work Commons^™

Provision And Long-Term Assessment Of A Specialized Clinical Evidence-Based Practice Curriculum For Master Of Social Work Students, Susan Reay

Social Work Faculty Publications

This study investigated social workers’ knowledge of the common elements in evidence-based practice to treat youth mental health conditions following a specialized curriculum during their Master of Social Work (MSW) education. Participants’ knowledge was measured during their MSW education and in their first 5 years of social work practice after graduation. The quantitative study measured participants’ knowledge of common elements three times; 86 social workers participated in the study with 67 sets of scores at three data points. Study results showed that participants knew more after completing the curriculum but knew less one to five years after graduation. Overall, however, …

Fueling Prosperity: The Positive Economic Ripple Effects Of Increasing Wages For Nebraska’S Direct Care Workforce, Ernest Goss, Susan Reay

Social Work Faculty Publications

The goals of this study are to estimate the impact of increasing support for direct service providers for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and its impact on the state economy. Specific goals of the study are to: 1. Estimate the economic impact to Nebraska if the state increased the pay to direct service providers delivering care to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (hereafter IDD) to a level more competitive with other states. a. Estimate the impact on the overall state economy, employment in the state and on the top 20 Nebraska industries. b. Estimate the impact of …

Parent Physical And Psychological Aggression And Youth Dating Violence: A Latent Class Analysis Approach, Heidi Adams Rueda, Kaitlyn Paxton Ward, Steven Hoffman

Social Work Faculty Publications

Adolescent dating violence is a national public health issue and research suggests that aggressive parenting may predict the likelihood that a child will subsequently experience abuse. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of parent physical and psychological aggression on adolescent dating violence perpetration and victimization. Data derived from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study resulted in a racially and ethnically diverse sample of adolescents in dating relationships at the age of 15 years (N = 952). Utilizing both parent and adolescent data which assessed parenting practices at ages 3, 5, 9, and 15, …

Mexican American Adolescents’ Conversations About Goals: The Centrality Of Financial Aspiration To Career And Educational Pursuit, Heidi Adams Rueda, Qihao Zhan, Lela Rankin, Deaven Greenberg

Social Work Faculty Publications

We explored Mexican American adolescents’ goals as discussed with a romantic relationship partner. Thirty-four Mexican American hetero-dating couples aged 15 to 17 (M = 11.71 months dating) from an urban city in a Southwest border state participated in a video-taped discussion. Drawing on Social Cognitive Career Theory, we inductively coded for themes and found that youth prioritized career, education, family planning, travel, and relationship goals. We were sensitized to the centrality of financial aspiration to each of these themes, and further operationalized youth’s level of financial aspiration as either modest, ambivalent, or high. Applying this template, we analyzed the …

Do Degrees Matter? Rethinking Workforce Development For Youth With Intellectual Disabilities And Mental Health Challenges, Susan Reay, William E. Reay, Kris Tevis, Lisa Patterson

Social Work Faculty Publications

The global workforce crisis significantly impacts how evidence-based treatment is provided to youth with developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions. Addressing the workforce crisis requires re-examining the long-standing methods of selecting individuals for employment based on academic degrees. This project offers an innovative workforce development option that provides specialized training to staff with advanced education degrees and staff with less education. The participants in this study were employed in a rural area of the USA within the mental health, child welfare, and correctional industries. All participants worked with youth experiencing intellectual disabilities and mental illness. Results indicated that participants …

Grace Abbott Training And Supervision Academy Annual Report 2022, Michelle Nelsen, Susan Reay, Ellen Rice, Katie Robbins Case

Social Work Faculty Publications

GATSA trainings target social workers, students, and other professionals in practice areas including major mental disorder, addiction, LGBTQ bias and stigma, aging and dementia, children and families, corrections and forensics, suicide, cultural literacy, public and private mental health, supervision, research/policy/ licensure, domestic violence, rural and underserved communities, and school social work.

Grace Abbott Training Supervision Academy: A Year Of Growth, Collaboration, And Impact, Susan Reay, Grace Abbott Training And Supervision Academy, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Social Work Faculty Publications

I am pleased to share with you our 2023 Grace Abbott Training and Supervision Academy Report: A Year of Growth, Collaboration, and Impact. As you read through our report, you will see that in 2023, we focused on refining our offerings to meet the needs of our loyal base of social workers, mental health practitioners, and critical stakeholders who are passionate about learning and collaborating to improve people's lives. The Grace Abbott Training and Supervision Academy provides evidence-based workforce development through continuing education and supervision for behavioral health practitioners at any career stage. We are committed to breaking down barriers …

Barriers To The Delivery Of Teen Dating Violence Programs In Urban School And After-School Settings Serving Mexican-Heritage Youth, Heidi Adams Rueda, Lela Rankin Williams, Abigail Vera

Social Work Faculty Publications

Teen dating violence (TDV) is increasingly recognized as a national health priority, impacting overall well-being and school success. However, there are overlooked barriers to TDV program delivery in schools and youth-serving organizations and these are ideal settings to reach youth universally. In this study, we conducted 10 focus groups with school (e.g., administrators, social workers, nurses) and after-school personnel regarding barriers to TDV programming within a large urban community serving predominantly Mexican-heritage youth. Findings offer practice-driven considerations for the implementation of programs within urban communities. These include attention to limited resources, inhibitive and non-existent policies, competing demands, a lack of …

Start Where The Social Worker Is: Social Workers’ Perceptions Of Clinical Licensure In Nebraska, Susan Reay, Henry J. D'Souza, Kris D. Tevis, Avery H. Fleck

Social Work Faculty Publications

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the perceptions of clinical social workers compared to other mental health professionals (OMHPs). Methods: This exploratory survey research evaluates the perceptions of clinical licensure from social workers (N = 519) and OMHPs (N = 624) in a midwestern state. Results: The results indicate that most respondents believe that universities should be evaluated based on whether students pass licensing exams, and that faculty should be licensed. Many social workers feel ill-prepared to take a licensing exam. There are significant differences between social workers and OMHP in several areas. Additionally, differences are distinct between …

A Pandemic Road Map: Creating Social Work Student Wellness Plans In Field Placement, Susan Reay

Social Work Faculty Publications

During the unprecedented early stages of COVID-19, few protocols were established to support overall student wellness in social work field placements. In response to the overwhelming need for a contextual framework to promote wellness and determine the next steps in mitigating health risks, faculty developed a unique solution in a dynamic situation. Rooted in the university-sponsored dimensions of wellness, BSW and MSW students developed wellness plans that were integrated into the field placement course. These plans were intended to enhance students' ability to evaluate their well-being and encourage them to plan wellness activities. The wellness plan was critical in determining …

Mexican Middle Schoolers’ Questions On Sexuality And Dating Relationships: A Descriptive Qualitative Analysis, Deaven Rodriguez, Heidi Adams Rueda, Steven Hoffman, Bethany Gutierrez

Social Work Faculty Publications

Research in Mexico has found a lack of comprehensive sexual health education in school settings, as well as a lack of youth perspectives on sexual health and dating. Little is known about the questions Mexican youth have about dating and sexuality, despite research finding that they desire this information and perceive few resources available to them. This collaborative study between a U.S. university and a multi-disciplinary team of middle-school psychologists in Central Mexico aimed to understand youth’s questions on sexual health and dating. This study was a follow-up to focus group conversations, where youth voiced that they wanted more information …

Child Protection Policies And Practices In Mennonite Church Usa Congregations: A Follow-Up Study, Jeanette Harder, Elisabeth Wilder

Social Work Faculty Publications

While congregations have a spiritual mandate to be open and welcoming, they must be aware of the risks involved in ministry and be prepared to protect children from all types of abuse and neglect. In 2010 and again in 2018, Dove’s Nest, a nonprofit organization, conducted an online survey to determine the characteristics, practices, and experiences of Mennonite Church USA congregations with and without written child protection policies. The research questions for this study were: (1) What are the characteristics, practices, and experiences of congregations in regard to child protection, and how have they changed since 2010? (2) What is …

Economic Stress Among Low Income Latino Adolescent Fathers: An Application Of The Vulnerability-Stress-Adaptation Model, Diana Cedeño, Autumn M. Bermea, Heidi Adams Rueda, Michelle L. Toews

Social Work Faculty Publications

Latino youth are more likely to live under the poverty line and to become adolescent parents. Although research exists examining adolescent mothers, less is known about adolescent fathers, particularly Latino adolescent fathers. Much of what does exist uses a deficit lens, as opposed to one of strength and resilience. Although adolescent fathers sometimes do struggle in their transition to fatherhood, it is critical to understand the positive ways in which they adapt. The present study uses in-depth interviews and applies the vulnerability-stress-adaptation (VSA) model to understand parental adaptation processes among a sample of low-income Latino adolescent fathers (N = …

Witnessing Intimate Partner Violence Across Contexts: Mental Health, Delinquency, And Dating Violence Outcomes Among Mexican Heritage Youth, Lela Rankin Williams, Heidi Adams Rueda

Social Work Faculty Publications

Immigrant Mexican American (MA) youth are at greater risk for violence exposure due to risk factors associated with migration–postmigration processes and as they settle into urban U.S. communities marked by crime and poverty. Less is known about the contexts of this exposure. Specifically, what are the ecological contexts in which youth witness intimate partner violence (IPV), how do these experiences differ by immigration generational status, and what is the impact on youth’s externalizing and internalizing behaviors? MA adolescents (N = 279; 15–17 years, M = 16.17, SD = 0.81) from the Southwest United States participated in an online survey. …

Staff Perspectives Regarding The Influence Of Trauma On The Intimate Partnering Experiences Of Adolescent Mothers In Residential Foster Care, Autumn M. Bermea, Heidi Adams Rueda, Kwynn M. Gonzalez-Pons

Social Work Faculty Publications

Adolescent girls in foster care are disproportionately vulnerable to pregnancy and parenthood. These experiences of motherhood might be partially attributable to experiences of trauma, including sexual trauma. Trauma, particularly related to domestic violence and sexual abuse, have been linked to subsequent struggles in intimate relationships, such as dating violence or engagement in unsafe sexual behaviors. Although some research has begun to investigate experiences of trauma on relationships, there has been a lack of focus on intimate relationships in general and how they have been influenced by past and/or current traumatic experiences. The present study draws on 12 interviews with program …

Health-Related Quality Of Life And Health Literacy Among Mexican American And Black American Youth In A Southern Border State, Steven Hoffman, Heidi Adams Rueda, Lauren Beasley

Social Work Faculty Publications

Among adults, health literacy and health-related quality of life are highly correlated constructs that are associated with tangible health outcomes. While the connection between these concepts and health outcomes among youth is still unclear, studying these factors among at-risk adolescent populations can provide researchers, policy-creators, and educators a quantifiable summary of the challenge they face in their efforts to reduce health disparities. The purpose of this study was to better understand the health of minority youth living in a Southern state near the US-Mexico border. Specifically, we sought to describe their health literacy and health-related quality of life, and identify …

An Assessment Of Mental Wellbeing And Health-Related Quality Of Life Among Youth Living In Central Mexico, Steven Hoffman, Heidi Adams Rueda, Stefan Chase

Social Work Faculty Publications

The current state of adolescent mental health and wellbeing in Mexico constitutes a serious public health concern. In an effort to better understand the potential impact this crisis is having on youth in Central Mexico, we designed a study to assess the connection between Mental Wellbeing and Health-related Quality of Life among a sample of children in junior high school. Descriptive statistics suggest that 22.5% of our sample was “at-risk” of poor health-related quality of life, with 19.8% at risk within the physical subscale and 24.3% at risk within the psychosocial subscale. Regression analyses showed that mental wellbeing scores significantly …

Proving Their Love: Violence And Gender Norms In Descriptions Of Relationships Among Rural Mexican Adolescents, Heidi Adams Rueda, Steven Hoffman, Kaitlin Grytza

Social Work Faculty Publications

Mexican youth from impoverished areas are at increased risk for experiencing relationship violence. Research in the United States has suggested that perpetration may be contextualized by culturally-influenced gender values, specifically performance of negative aspects of male masculinity (i.e., machismo) and its female counterpart (i.e., marianismo). This study utilized focus group methods to explore how middle school adolescents (N = 98) from a rural area of Central Mexico differentiate between healthy and unhealthy dating relationships.

We evoked a feminist developmental lens to interpret themes which centralized males as physical and sexual aggressors and to offer culturally-relevant program and practice recommendations.

Technology And Dating Among Pregnant And Parenting Youth In Residential Foster Care: A Mixed Qualitative Approach Comparing Staff And Adolescent Perspectives, Heidi Adams Rueda, Megan Lindsay Brown, Jennifer M. Geiger

Social Work Faculty Publications

The aim of this study was to explore the role of technology in the dating and sexual experiences of pregnant and parenting adolescent girls placed in residential foster care. Interviews with program staff (N = 12; 50% Hispanic) and focus groups with adolescent foster youth (N = 13; 46% Hispanic) were conducted to understand how technologies (e.g., cell phone, texting, and social media) influence youth’s dating lives, including how youth navigate conflict with a dating partner in technology spaces and their experiences with cyber abuse. Both staff and youth emphasized technology as providing an outlet from the home …

Youth Perspectives Of Healthcare In Central Mexico: An Application Of Massey’S Critical Health Literacy Framework, Steven Hoffman, Heidi Adams Rueda, Lauren Beasley

Social Work Faculty Publications

Attention to health literacy is essential more now than ever given the recognition, attention, and resources being dedicated to addressing health disparities throughout the world. Unfortunately, health literacy research is scarce in many parts of the world, particularly among youth. Using focus group discussions with junior high school students (N = 98) in a rural town of Central Mexico, we sought to learn about their experiences utilizing healthcare services at a local health clinic. The themes that naturally emerged from focus group discussions aligned with Massey’s framework on critical health literacy among US youth, and included problems navigating the health …

Does Gottman’S Marital Communication Conceptualization Inform Teen Dating Violence? Communication Skill Deficits Analyzed Across Three Samples Of Diverse Adolescents, Heidi Adams Rueda, Monica Yndo, Lela Rankin Williams, Ryan C. Shorey

Social Work Faculty Publications

Communication skill deficits are thought to contribute to teen dating violence (TDV), parallel to the inclusion of these throughout prevention curricula. Communication research among adolescents is highly underdeveloped, although a preliminary study utilizing Gottman’s marital communication conceptualization found that a majority of negative communication behaviors predictive of marital distress were also associated with relationship aggression among primarily White college students. Our aim was to replicate this study with diverse samples of adolescents (50.3% Latino, 23.5% Black; Mage = 16.06). Urban high school youth, pregnant and parenting youth in residential foster care, and youth in urban after-school programs self-reported on …

From State Policy To School Practices: Accessibility And Implementation Of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Education, Heidi Adams Rueda, Peter R. Fawson

Social Work Faculty Publications

Currently, 22 states legally require or urge schools to include teen dating violence (TDV) awareness education; yet, little research has examined how school districts are interpreting and implementing these policies. In a state that mandates such education for parents and children, and within a large urban city serving primary Hispanic youth, the present article assessed the types of TDV awareness education being provided in public schools, including the accessibility of this information. Specifically, we contacted independent school districts (ISDs; N= 10, serving over 15,000 youth) directly to assess whether and which TDV education programs were being implemented. We also assessed …

Resiliency And Adolescent Motherhood In The Context Of Residential Foster Care, Autumn M. Bermea, Brad Forenxa, Heidi Adams Rueda, Michelle L. Toews

Social Work Faculty Publications

The purpose of the current study was to explore how adolescent mothers experienced pregnancy and parenthood within the context of residential foster care. Adolescent mothers in foster care are a vulnerable population although little research has explored their experiences, particularly from a resiliency framework. The present study begins to fill this gap by conducting focus group interviews with 39 adolescent mothers living in residential foster care. Using thematic analytic methodology, we uncovered themes that highlighted not only the mothers’ struggles, but also their capacities for resilience. Specifically, the mothers experienced societal stigma, parenting judgment, and challenging relationships with their child(ren)’s …

Teenage Dating Violence: Perceptions Of Need, Priority, And Prevention Responsibility Among Schools In Predominantly Mexican Heritage Communities, Lela Rankin Williams, Heidi Adams Rueda

Social Work Faculty Publications

Teen dating violence (TDV) affects adolescents’ overall wellness, subsequent social–emotional and academic development, and future success. The extent to which high schools recognize the importance of TDV prevention, and their accountability to prevent or reduce its occurrence, is largely unknown. Recently, there has been increased legislative debate urging or requiring school boards to include TDV prevention strategies in their curriculum. The purpose of this study was to understand how high school personnel from three large schools, of predominantly Mexican heritage urban communities, perceive their role to intervene and prevent TDV. The authors conducted five focus groups (N = 26). …

Grand Challenges In School Social Work: Collaboration And Constraint In School Social Workers’ Sexuality Support For Children With Disabilities, Sharon J. Bolin, Heidi Adams Rueda, Kristen Faye Linton

Social Work Faculty Publications

Children with disabilities (CWD) face challenges to the development of their sexuality, in part due to a lack of appropriate, tailored sexual education in schools, role ambiguity regarding provision of sexual health services, and widespread discomfort with the topic. However, CWD have unique sexual health needs, an increased vulnerability to sexual and other forms of violence, and desire for skills and knowledge to build relationships. Using a phenomenological lens, authors conducted semistructured interviews with eight school social workers to understand how they are working with other professionals to support sexual and relational health of CWD (ages three to 11). Results …

Queerness And Dating Violence Among Adolescent Mothers In Foster Care, Autumn M. Bermea, Heidi Adams Rueda, Michelle L. Toews

Social Work Faculty Publications

Adolescent mothers, queer, and foster youth are all groups at heightened vulnerability for teen dating violence victimization. It is unknown how mothers in residential foster care perceive and experience violence within same-sex relationships. Literature suggests, however, that violence within these contexts may be met by minimization and even denial on behalf of practitioners (e.g., social workers) who may not have a comprehensive understanding of how to best serve queer clients, especially clients who may not be automatically perceived as queer (e.g., adolescent mothers). The present study utilized a mixed qualitative methodological approach to triangulate the perspectives of program staff ( …

Confirmatory Factor Analysis Of The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale Among Youth In Mexico, Steven Hoffman, Heidi Adams Rueda, Matthew C. Lambert

Social Work Faculty Publications

The internal structure of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis for a sample of youth living in Michoacán, Mexico. While the chi-square test of model fit suggested misfit to the data, the alternative fit indices and standardized factor loadings supported the conclusion that the items are adequate and reliable indicators of a single underlying latent factor. The utilization of this strengths-based mental health instrument could help circumvent some of the negativity and stigma inherent in traditional mental health assessments.

Graduating Msw Students’ Recommended Interventions For Teen Dating Violence: A Descriptive Analysis, Heidi Adams Rueda, Alicia Hawley, Beverly M. Black, Bernadette Ombayo

Social Work Faculty Publications

Teen dating violence (TDV) is a widespread issue that social workers are likely to encounter in their practice with youth, yet little research exists concerning their preparedness to do so. This study assessed the proposed interventions of graduating MSW students (n=73) from two accredited universities in response to two scenarios of TDV. Each scenario reflected various forms of relational violence. Nearly one-third of students’ proposed interventions focused on the need to deliver some form of education, healthy relationships being the most prevalent theme. Other interventions included teaching about appropriate boundaries, issues of control and anger, self-esteem-building, and communication skills. The …

Including Transition-Age Youth Using Evidence-Based Mental Health Treatments, Peter Szto, Susan Reay, Sarah Preston, Claire Rynearson

Social Work Faculty Publications

The inclusion of transition-age young people into community, work and cultural activities is a challenge when young people struggle with mental health issues. Young people who experience depression, anxiety, eating disorders and other issues are at risk for marginalisation and inadequate services, particularly in rural areas. The best response to these young people is to provide access to high quality, evidence-based mental health treatment, regardless of location. Project NETWORK is a $1.3 million three-year federal initiative - awarded to the Grace Abbott School of Social Work, University of Nebraska Omaha - to address these disparities. The award grants graduate social …

Ethics At The End Of Life: A Teaching Tool, Cara L. Wallace, Kara J. Thielman, Andrea N. Cimino, Heidi Adams Rueda

Social Work Faculty Publications

Social workers rarely receive education and training in the areas of grief, bereavement, and death and dying, which may lead to difficulties in compassionately and ethically addressing concerns in end-of-life or grief-related contexts. This article presents actual and potential outcomes from three challenging end-of-life case studies using Mattison’s ethical decision-making model as a framework. The case studies were drawn from student interviews with experienced master’s-level social workers. This pedagogical article helps to promote self-reflection and consideration of ethical issues in grief and death-related situations as well as supplement death education and ethics curricula to include end-of-life content.