Social Work Commons^™

The Link Between Foster Youth And Teachers Using Empowerment: Do Trusting Relationships Improve Outcomes?, Rosio Hernandez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study presents findings on elementary teacher’s relationship with foster youth, whether teachers are able to use an empowerment approach to build trust and improve outcomes. This study was quantitative and measured the key variables through a descriptive design. Specifically using Qualtrics which tested the key variables of empowerment, trust, and improved outcomes. Also, Qualtrics described the findings through bar graphs and the researcher interpreted this through univariate statistics specifically. Significant findings were found towards teachers making a positive impact on foster youth.

Attitudes And Perspectives Of Social Work Students On Binge Eating Disorder Treatments For Adult Females, Esmeralda Martinez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this project is to gather an understanding of binge eating disorder and effective treatment approaches used for the reduction of binge eating symptoms for adult females. The research focus of this study will be, what are the attitudes and perspectives of binge eating disorder treatments for adult females among students who are in a masters of social work field or study. This research project utilized a post-positivist paradigm where data was gathered qualitatively through the implementation of interviews with MSW students of diverse ethnic backgrounds (e.g. Hispanics, whites, and blacks, professional and personal experiences) from California State …

Knowledge Versus Perception: Social Workers' View Of Sex Offenders, Terisa M. Berger

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Social workers comprise one of the leading professions who interact with sex offenders through means of treatment, as well as unexpected life events. The purpose of this study is to evaluate social workers’ knowledge of sex offender laws and how their knowledge impacts their thoughts and feelings about working with sex offenders. Through a survey, social workers registered with the National Association of Social Work (NASW) in Southern California were asked to complete a questionnaire, in which addressed laws and thoughts in regards to sex offenders. One hundred surveys at random were evaluated. The study findings show a relationship between …

Batterer Intervention Programs: A Research Project, Megan L. Lewis

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The engagement process in group therapy is a significant step in the treatment of clients in building feelings of safety and inclusion, which becomes challenging when the clientele is attending involuntarily. The following research project monitored the progress of a 20-week batterer intervention program, measuring the perceived effectiveness of the facilitator in engaging the clients, and the congruency of the facilitator’s and the participants perceived level of engagement. The observations of groups and the facilitator’s interview proved helpful in determining that group members and the facilitator did have likeminded perceptions of group engagement, but perception of the level at which …

Correlation Between Use Of Family Visitation Centers And Family Reunification, Teri Posey, Cynthia Ann Munn-Haywood

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of San Bernardino County’s Family Visitation Centers (FVC) and their effect on improving rates of reunification in families that use the visit centers, as opposed to those families who do not use the visit centers. The FVC were developed out of the Department Human Services Redesign to enhance the visitation experience for families, staff and others involved in the process. The FVC centers are a place to provide safe visits, in a non-sterile environment, for children to maintain the bonds with their parents that they have been removed from by …

Student Censorship In The Social Work Classrooms, Lisa Kozlowski

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Through the evolution of the field of social work, a divide in its ideologies has emerged and certain political and ideological groups such as the religious and conservatives have become underrepresented. As a result, over the years the liberal philosophies have emerged as the dominant group. This has led to a decrease in diversity within the field. Recognition of biases in the field of social work is difficult. Through a qualitative analysis method, this study was meant to explore if social work students feel they are free to share openly in the classroom, and if they are accepting of all …

The Role Gender Plays For Heterosexual Single Parents Interacting With Social Workers, Andreanna Royelle King

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Social workers interact with a variety of individuals in the field. In their profession social workers are to adhere to a Code of Ethics that ensure every client is treated equally. There are some under-represented populations that do not receive the same services when they interact with social workers in various systems; heterosexual single fathers are amongst this group. This study was conducted to identify if there was a gender bias amongst social work students working with heterosexual single parents. The researcher hypothesized that the participants in the study would favor single mothers and inadvertently offer more services to them. …

Post-Adoptive Services' Impact On Adoption Outcomes, Sarah E. Cantino

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Adoption is a common occurrence within the field of social work, yet adoptees and their adoptive parents grapple with a multitude of challenges unique to this population. The needs of these children and families are continually scrutinized by social service professionals prior to adoption, but less is known of the needs and services available to this population after adoption is finalized. This study addressed the question: Does adoptive families’ use of post-adoptive resources increase positive adoption outcomes? Ten adoptive parents participated in semi-structured interviews as part of this study. Most participants felt they had access to adequate services, and struggled …

Clinicians Perspectives When Treating Adults In Poverty Living With Anxiety Disorders, Natalie Stout, Paul Maldonado

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The study explored the perceptions of clinical therapists who have conducted treatment on adults who live in poverty with an anxiety related disorder. Previous studies have discussed the relationship between poverty and the development of anxiety related disorders, while others have discussed the negative impacts anxiety can have on physical health, mental health, and social functioning. To improve the efficacy of therapeutic intervention for low income adults with anxiety related disorders, the study explored what clinicians believe are the most effective aspects of therapy to utilize. The study elicited qualitative data, reflecting on the experiences of ten participants who had …

Social Workers' Perceptions On Factors Influencing The Underutilization Of Mental Health Services Among Latino Men, Brenda Barajas, Iris Monzerrat Espinoza

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study ­is to identify social workers’ perspectives on the barriers and motivating factors impacting Latino men in seeking mental health services, and to seek ways to overcome the barriers. Research has established that Latino men suffer from mental health problems at a similar rate compared to other populations, yet they underutilize mental health services. Given the rapid growth of the Latino population that continues to need mental health services, the findings of this study may influence the social work field to develop programs and interventions that are geared towards encouraging Latino men to seek services. They …

Poor Attachment And The Socioemotional Effects During Early Childhood, Ashiko E. Newman

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

A significant focus is placed on positive outcomes for children in today’s society. However, mental health clinicians attest that poor attachments, during early childhood, are likely to have negative effects on a child’s long-term outcomes. By using the post-positivist paradigm, 10 mental health clinicians were interviewed and each provided their perspectives regarding the negative social skills and emotional regulations of young children, when parents fail to appropriately bond with their children, during their early years. Their ideas were formulated, connected, and structured to develop a theoretical statement. The resulting theory focused on the parent’s ability to develop and strengthen the …

What Are The Factors That Prevent Social Workers From Identifying Domestic Minor Sexual Traffic Victims, Ada E. Dimas

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore methods of how to better identify victims of Domestic Minor Sexual Traffic (DMST). Human trafficking sill exist in modern society, due to the volume of underground sexual solicitation; it has become more difficult to identify victims of sexual exploitation in vulnerable youth population. The research study conducted obtained different perspectives of social workers within various human services agencies. The agencies. The research study also collected date with a via-email survey. The measures that were utilized were knowledge of sexual trafficking victim's characteristics, perceptions, beliefs, and competence. Data was analyzed by using the …

Parenting Challenges And Resiliencies Of Latino Immigrant Parents, Nicolette Rose Riggio, Brenda Irene Avalos

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States. Thirty five percent of Latinos who are currently children will be contributing taxpayers and will be having a great influence on the future economy. Immigrant Latino parents must overcome significant challenges to ensure their children’s well-being. The purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges and resiliencies of Latino immigrant parents. This study examines the resources Latino immigrant parents lacked and what knowledge and parenting skills they already obtained. This study specifically looked at Latino immigrant parents and their specific needs regarding parental knowledge and resources. This study …

Does Spirituality Reduce The Effects Of Burnout?, Andrew Godoy, Nathan Allen

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Burnout is a topic that is drawing an increasing amount of attention in the social work field. The compassion and emotional energy that is used daily by these service providers can cause them to experience emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. The effects of burnout are detrimental on several levels. Staff will experience decreased interest and efficiency in their work and may even leave their place of employment. Clients will not receive the help that they require and agencies will suffer from staff turnover and lowered productivity. Utilizing a survey including a burnout inventory and spirituality inventory, data was …

An Exploration Of Social Worker Risk In The Field When Working With Vulnerable Adults And Their Desire For Safety Training., Sienna Lynch

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explored the risk that social workers face in the field while serving vulnerable adults to determine if there is need to implement mandated safety training based on social worker experiences and their desire for initial safety training. There needs to be a clear understanding of risks faced by social workers and their desire for safety training to implement safety standards and training for social workers across the board in social service agencies and academic institutions. There is minimal research currently on this topic and thus this study is paving the way for future research, as well as providing …

Cal State San Bernardino Social Work Students' Attitudes Toward Domestic Minor Sex-Trafficked (Dmst) Youth, Crystal Lorraine Marinelli, Andrea Sara Hunt

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) affects hundreds of thousands of youth every year. In the past, DMST youth were often viewed by law enforcement and the criminal justice system as "offenders" and were usually arrested for solicitation even though they were minors. While new laws have begun to identify youth as victims, it has not yet been ensured that social workers have adopted this perspective. This quantitative study's purpose was to examine Cal State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) Bachelor of Social Work (BASW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) students' attitudes toward DMST youth. Participants completed an online questionnaire using …

Exploring The Relationship Between Occupational Burnout And The Behavioral Well-Being Of Social Workers, Damian A. Pisapia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between occupational burnout and the behavioral well-being of social workers. Burnout is a multidimensional syndrome where workers experience feelings of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment as a consequence of work related stress and overwhelming job demands. Burnout can negatively affect organizational functioning, work performance, and pose significant health risks to workers. There are a limited number of studies focusing on the impact of occupational burnout on the behavioral well-being of workers. The findings of this study indicated that there was a significant relationship between burnout …

Testing The Effectiveness Of Mental Health Crisis Intervention Team Training: A Collaborative Partnership Among County Services And Law Enforcement Officers, Peter A. Caro

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training program is a community partnership that provides education, understanding, interventions, relationships, and protection for responding officers, individuals in crisis and the community. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of CIT training amongst law enforcement officers in reducing stigmatizing attitudes and opinions on mental illnesses. The study uses a dependent means t-test to test the study participant’s attitudes and opinions on mental illnesses using a pre/post-test survey. A modified version of the Attitudes to Severe Mental Illness Scale was used to measure attitudes, beliefs, and opinions of mental illness. This …

Male Perpetrators Perspectives On Reasons For Domestic Violence In Heterosexual Relationships, Lisa Soriano

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Domestic violence continues to destroy individuals and families, leaving generations to follow repeating the same patterns. There are several services offered to help aid in the healing and recovery process. This was a qualitative, explorative study which examined the reasons that male perpetrators commit domestic violence in heterosexual relationships. Additionally, this study evaluated the support services and coping mechanisms that the men found to be helpful and not so helpful. Five men participated in face-to-face interviews to share their personal experience with domestic violence. Most of the men believed that their domestic violence was linked to learned behavior they witnessed …

Social Work Students Attitudes Towards Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual And Transgender Foster Youth, Katarina Kolde, Daniel Benitez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine and assess social work students’ attitudes towards working with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) clients and identifying factors that would affect such attitudes. LGBT individuals face increased risk factors as opposed to their non-LGBT peers and are disproportionately over-represented in the foster care system. This study assessed California State University, San Bernardino Social Work student's attitudes towards working with LGBT clients through the use of self-administered questionnaires. The data acquired from such quantitative surveys was analyzed utilizing Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 23. Results yielded that sexual orientation, …

The Voices Of Families And Social Workers In The Family Reunification System, Gladys R. Bernal

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research project aims to explore the perceptions of professional service needs from county social workers and parents seeking reunification at Walden Family Services in San Bernardino. This research study gathers the professional perspective and personal opinions of social workers that work closely with parents who are attempting to reunify with their children and the perspective of parents going through the process of attempting to reunify. This research project explores the positive and negative themes that were found from the feedback given from social workers and parents.

The following study provides important insight into areas that can be improved from …

Social Worker Perceptions Of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Melanie Woolen

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research study examines factors that influence a social worker’s willingness to utilize animals in therapy, specifically equine assisted psychotherapy. Equine assisted psychotherapy is an experiential therapy involving horses for the treatment of mental and behavioral health issues. The study uses quantitative data. The sample population is Bachelors of Social Work (BSW) and Masters of Social Work (MSW) students attending a University in Southern California. The participants were provided an electronic self-administered survey through their University email account. The data collected was analyzed and the results were provided to the University. The results indicate a relationship between several variables, such …

Underlying Causes Of Burnout For Practitioners Who Intervene With Persons Living With Substance Use, Michelle Garcia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Professors repeatedly warn students against burnout throughout the years of schooling that is required to earn a credential or license to work with persons who suffer from a substance use disorder. Despite these many warnings, burnout amongst practitioners continues to occur. There has been considerable research done over the years on the phenomenon of practitioner burnout, its causes and how to prevent it. Substance use disorder practitioners’ challenges often include high caseloads, difficult cases and lack of self-care. The data collected through an electronic server Survey Monkey allowed for a quantitative cross-sectional analysis which focused on participants’ perceptions of …

Social Stigmas Of Mental Health Counseling For The Youth Population, Norma Edith Morales, Kiah Kristionne Marks

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study was a quantitative survey that examined the parental perspectives concerning mental health counseling after their children received mental health services. The focus of this study was to analyze changes in parental perspectives in regard to mental health services for their children. The study considered social stigmas and diagnostic labels associated with mental health and counseling for mental health. The study found that parents whose children received mental health services reported they and their children had a positive experience. In addition, parents were open to receiving mental health counseling services in the future. The study was conducted within a …

Latino Mental Health: Exploring Barriers Towards Mental Health Services Among The Latino Community Within San Bernardino, Josue D. Enriquez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The research presented on this paper examined the impact that the number of barriers have towards the delay in getting treatment among the Latino population. Participants (N=31) at Family Solution Collaborative, answered questions presented to them via a self-administered questionnaire that contained questions that examined types of barriers and how they impact mental health services. An independent sample t-test was conducted assessing generation status and the sum of perceived barriers. A Pearson correlation, design was used, for the purpose of searching for a relationship between the number of years in the U.S. and age with the sum of perceived barriers. …

Church Based Interventions With Human Trafficking In Southern California: A Denomination Study, Michael Dale Dewit

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The focus for this research project was to explore the development of human trafficking mercy ministries within South Coast Presbytery. South Coast Presbytery consists of 21 churches belonging to the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), a Christian denomination with member churches throughout the United States. The study was conducted following a constructivist paradigm with a PCA church belonging to South Coast Presbytery to determine the role of the church and the presbytery in addressing human trafficking through the development of mercy ministries. Interviews were conducted with 11 church members. Five major themes emerged from analysis of the interviews: 1) Effects …

The Insight And Factors That Promote Job Longevity For Child Welfare Social Workers, Dakota Caitlin Meza, Loretta Reyes Broadnax

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The high turnover rate of child welfare social workers has been a chronic issue that society has yet to mitigate. To understand this problem, the researchers looked at contributing factors in comparison to the factors that promote job longevity. The researchers reviewed the multidimensional theory of burnout, to explore the ongoing issue of high turnover rates. Also, organizational support theory was examined to determine if support from organizations contributed to job longevity. The post-positivist approach was used to gather qualitative data from this study as to the potential factors promoting job longevity through individual interviews with seasoned child welfare social …

Vietnam Veterans And Illicit Drug Use, Joyce Roberts

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study examined the correlation between Vietnam veterans and dependency to illicit drugs, due to their exposure and accessibility during their deployment in Vietnam. This study consisted of a sample size of 58 respondents to a survey that was disbursed throughout 2 agencies that comprise of Vietnam veterans.The survey design was implemented to ensure the consistency and accuracy of the quantitative data. Furthermore, this study included a Chi-square test to determine relevance and implications to micro social work practices. As expected, there was a positively significant statistical relationship between the exposure and accessibility that some Vietnam veterans experienced during their …

The Challenges That Promotores Face When Implementing Their Programs, Alejandra Santana

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This qualitative study examines the challenges that community health workers or Promotores face when implementing their programs to produce better outcomes in the Latino community. Data collection was derived from five local promotores with an adequate knowledge base of expertise in promotores programs. Study themes focused on how promotores implement their programs, the challenges they face and providing professional and personal insight on working with the Latino community. Present day research emphasizes that promotores or the community health worker model approaches have been promoted as a strategy to address health disparities experienced by Latino communities in the U.S. These programs …

Social Work Students' Knowledge Of Interventions For Homeless Female Veterans, Bryan J. Gomez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In this study, the focus was on Social Work students’ knowledge about interventions concerning homeless female veterans. The study was conducted from a Positivist Perspective with a theoretical orientation centered on the Feminist Theory. The literature review focused on risk factors associated with homeless female veterans along with their protective factors. Issues involving homeless female veterans were explored along with possible interventions. The study was conducted through an online survey and included participants from California State University, San Bernardino.

Participants were from both the Bachelor’s and Master’s Social Work program and attended classes full-time on campus, part-time on campus and …