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Full-Text Articles in Social Work
Effective Social Work Practice With Military, Veterans, And Their Families, Katherine Boyer
Effective Social Work Practice With Military, Veterans, And Their Families, Katherine Boyer
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
This study explores if licensed practicing social workers in the state of Minnesota perceive themselves as competent to work effectively with military, veterans, and their families. A qualitative survey was emailed by Minnesota Social Services Association to their members. A total of eight participants responded to the survey. Each of these participants indicated that he or she worked directly with a military-connected client the military. Content analysis was conducted and two themes were found. The majority of participants described not feeling prepared to work with this population and indicated a desire for more education. One of the limitations of this …
The Impacts Of Supervision On Social Workers Who Experience Client Suicidal Behavior, Chelse Paulzine
The Impacts Of Supervision On Social Workers Who Experience Client Suicidal Behavior, Chelse Paulzine
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
The impacts of supervision on social workers who experience client suicidal behavior is outlined in this research, as well as recommendations for social workers, social work supervisors and agencies now to create a more effective supervisory experience in the event of a client suicide attempt or completion. This qualitative research study surveyed 64 social workers who either identified as a Licensed Social Worker, Licensed Graduate Social Worker or Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker to explore social workers experiences in supervision after they experienced a client suicide attempt or completion. The themes that arose in the research included: positive feelings experienced …
Making It Right In The End: Conflict On The Hospice Interdisciplinary Team, Sarah Green
Making It Right In The End: Conflict On The Hospice Interdisciplinary Team, Sarah Green
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the role of social workers in addressing conflict on the hospice interdisciplinary team. Seven semi-structured interviews were completed to generate qualitative data from licensed social workers on hospice interdisciplinary teams in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. A brief review of literature showed there are many causes of conflict on the hospice interdisciplinary team including role blurring, leadership in the interdisciplinary team, and physical aspects of care superseding psychosocial. There are many studies exploring social work roles on the hospice interdisciplinary team, factors contributing to success on an interdisciplinary team in a …
Assessing And Addressing Family Caregiver Burden: Palliative Care Social Work Perspective, Taylor Logeais
Assessing And Addressing Family Caregiver Burden: Palliative Care Social Work Perspective, Taylor Logeais
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
Social workers employed in end-of-life care settings are in a unique position to engage with family caregivers who are at a heightened risk for experiencing caregiver burden, which can have detrimental impacts on the caregivers’ health and wellbeing. Even though the National Association of Social Workers (2004) directs social workers specialized in palliative care to assess the complex needs of and provide helpful interventions to family caregivers, research suggests that this objective often fails to be met. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the ability for palliative care social workers to assess family caregivers for caregiver burden …
What Can We Learn From Death And Dying? One Man’S Experience, Brooke K. Benson
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 …
Examining Post-Adoption Services: What Adoptive Families Need For Beneficial Outcomes, Lindsey Crawford
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 …
Lessons For Social Workers: A Review Of The Latino/A Undocumented Immigrant Experience, Katie J. Ducklow
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 …
Effectiveness Of Self-Care In Reducing Symptoms Of Secondary Traumatic Stress, Angie Stockwell
Effectiveness Of Self-Care In Reducing Symptoms Of Secondary Traumatic Stress, Angie Stockwell
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
Social workers who work with traumatized clients have an increased risk of experiencing secondary traumatic stress (Sprang, Whitt-Woosley, & Clark, 2007). Up to 70% of workers reported at least one symptom of secondary traumatic stress in the past week (Bride, Robinson, Yegidis, & Figley, 2004). Secondary trauma was also believed to be a significant reason workers in the human services field left their employment (Bride, 2007). High turnover in human services organizations may lead to high recruiting and training costs and can also reduce the efficacy of services to clients (Harrison & Westwood, 2009). An intervention that was found to …
An Exploratory Study: How Do Licensed Social Workers Approach Complex End-Of-Life Conversations With Patients, Families And Physicians, Angela Mueller
An Exploratory Study: How Do Licensed Social Workers Approach Complex End-Of-Life Conversations With Patients, Families And Physicians, Angela Mueller
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
This paper adds to the growing body of literature in social work research by exploring how social workers' facilitate complex end-of-life conversations with patients, families and physicians. Limited research, and practice efforts have focused on end-of-life care and social work involvement. Importance and perceptions of healthcare proxy/advanced directives use have been previously examined to understand social workers' expanding role in end-of-life planning. Findings from this study have illustrated the approaches social workers use within complex end-of-life conversations which span across patients and their families, their physicians and the greater population. Processes that were found, although variable, were cohesive within areas …
Systematic Review: Social Work School Interventions For Food Accessibility Among Impoverished Children, Rebecca Christensen
Systematic Review: Social Work School Interventions For Food Accessibility Among Impoverished Children, Rebecca Christensen
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
Mothers and children from impoverished families discuss the continuous sacrifices related to food insecurity. Sacrifices like trade-offs can lead to attention of a family’s immediate needs like food but these often come with the cost or sacrifice of other long term needs such as a means of income. Working with children and their families in attending to the underlying causes for their food insecurity may not only help to alleviate their immediate but also their long term needs in maintaining a standard of living. This systematic literature review was designed to investigate the research question: What interventions are being taken …
Implementation And Utilization Of Alternative Interventions In Hospice, Kayle Jo Dietrich
Implementation And Utilization Of Alternative Interventions In Hospice, Kayle Jo Dietrich
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
No abstract provided.
Lost In Translation: Social Workers’ Perceptions Of The Benefits And Challenges Of Spoken Language Interpretation In Medical Settings, Flora Hsu
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
With the increasing number of foreign born individuals in the United States, the usage of spoken language interpretation is also increasing in order to provide equal and quality services for patients with limited English proficiency. Understanding the dynamics of working with interpretation is important in order to achieve best practice for social workers. The purpose of this study is to explore the social workers’ perception of spoken language interpretation use in a medical setting. The study examines the amount of interpretation usage and the different type of interpretation usage. The study also explores the satisfaction of the interpretations’ performance in …
A Synthesis Of E-Therapy In Social Work: An Ecological Perspective, Caitlin Hurley
A Synthesis Of E-Therapy In Social Work: An Ecological Perspective, Caitlin Hurley
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
The purpose of this research is to explore how empirical studies surrounding e-therapy may affect the social work profession from an ecological perspective. Technology has played an important role in expanding contemporary society’s ability to connect to one another. Currently, there is a significant number of people who are in need of mental health services but do not have access for a variety of reasons such as lack of local resources, financial issues, or simply the stigma surrounding seeking mental health treatment. This review explores eleven quantitative research articles in an effort to determine who is being treated with online …
Exploring Shame Within The Supervisory Relationship, Kendra Holloway
Exploring Shame Within The Supervisory Relationship, Kendra Holloway
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
The importance for supervisors to approach shame in their supervisees is outlined in the research, as well as methods that supervisors can utilize to promote shame resiliency in supervisees. The purpose of this study was to gain knowledge about shame within the supervisory relationship from a social work perspective, as this topic has been primarily examined through the field of psychology. This qualitative study of five LICSW supervisors served to educate the social work community, both supervisors and supervisees, about the concept of shame in supervision and the perceived best ways of approaching it. The findings formed into seven themes …
Mindfulness Meditation As A Self-Care Practice In Social Work, Aneesha Kelly, Ifeoma Okolo
Mindfulness Meditation As A Self-Care Practice In Social Work, Aneesha Kelly, Ifeoma Okolo
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
Self-care is an important aspect in social work practice, and mindfulness meditation can be used to reduce stress, provide a sense of calmness and increase awareness. Since the benefits of using mindfulness meditation as a form of self-care for social workers has been minimally studied, this research focused on whether mindfulness meditation could have a positive impact on self-care for social workers. This study used mixed methods of data collection and a single subject design methodology using the researchers as the subjects. Pre and post test data on self-care measures were analyzed following a 6 week mindfulness intervention period. Data …
Preventing Burnout: An Exploration Of Social Workers’ Challenges And Coping Strategies, Lawren Rohling
Preventing Burnout: An Exploration Of Social Workers’ Challenges And Coping Strategies, Lawren Rohling
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
In this systematic review, the researcher synthesized literature regarding the stressors and de-stressors that social workers endure in their careers. Using SocINDEX, PsycINFO, and Social Work Abstracts, 13 studies meeting criteria for the review were then analyzed. Themes identified included: stressors coming from the work place, coping strategies that social workers use to deal with their stress, symptoms from stress, social workers working with children having more stress than those working with adults, and reasons why social workers do not quit their jobs. The studies included in this review found several main reasons for stress and ways to cope with …
A Social Worker’S Perspective On Integrating Social Work Into Assisted Living Facilities, Melissa M. Gudgell
A Social Worker’S Perspective On Integrating Social Work Into Assisted Living Facilities, Melissa M. Gudgell
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
A social workers perspective on the integration of social work into Assisted Living Facilities (ALF) is extremely limited within literature context review. The limitation of the research is most likely due to the fact that there are no national regulations or requirements for social work involvement within ALF except in specific cases such as those of Elderly Waivers Program or congregate housing where individuals are assigned case management services. The focus of this research was to examine the structure of ALF and the ideology of incorporating the practice of social work within ALF. With no national standard, states are allowed …
Experiencing Joy: Personal Narratives Of Hospice And Palliative Care Social Workers, Kyle Paige Murray
Experiencing Joy: Personal Narratives Of Hospice And Palliative Care Social Workers, Kyle Paige Murray
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
A vast majority of the existing research explores the negative impacts that the profession of social work has on its practitioners. Much attention has been given to topics like secondary or vicarious trauma, burnout, and compassion fatigue. There are far fewer studies that explore the positive aspects of social work practice. The concept of joy is often missing from the literature about social work. The purpose of this study was to explore the narratives of joy of social workers practicing in hospice and palliative care. Using an exploratory qualitative design, eight graduate level social workers were interviewed about their experiences …
Needs Of Veterans Transitioning Out Of Homelessness, Christa Reader
Needs Of Veterans Transitioning Out Of Homelessness, Christa Reader
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
With the current national initiative to end veteran homeless by the end of 2015, there are growing numbers of homeless veterans moving into housing. This study sought to explore their needs and experiences during their transition into housing. Data collected for this study consisted of six semi-structured interviews with social workers and case managers working with homeless veterans in housing programs. Four dominant themes were identified as (1) the benefit of having a case manager for support and guidance; (2) housing provides a stable base to work on goals and plan for the future; (3) substance use, mental health, and …
A Qualitative Investigation Of Mindfulness-Based Practice With K-12th Grade Teachers, Jenna Trumbower
A Qualitative Investigation Of Mindfulness-Based Practice With K-12th Grade Teachers, Jenna Trumbower
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
In the United States, there is an increased awareness and concern regarding K-12th grade teachers’ personal and professional well-being. With current teacher turnover rates currently at about 20% compared to 9% in 2009 (Alliance for Excellent Education, 2014), researchers have turned their attention to stress-reduction interventions and programs for teachers. The following study examines the experiences that seven K-12th grade teachers have had with mindfulness-based practices. This study further explores the impact that mindfulness-based practice has on K-12th grade teachers’ personal well-being and professional practice. A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews was used to gather information to …
Hospice Social Workers’ Perspectives On Place Of Death Congruence: A Qualitative Study, Florence Wright
Hospice Social Workers’ Perspectives On Place Of Death Congruence: A Qualitative Study, Florence Wright
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
This qualitative research study was designed to explore place of death congruence among hospice patients from the subjective experiences and perspectives of hospice social workers. A semi-structured interview with nine hospice social workers served as the primary means of data collection within the present study. Using content analysis with descriptive phenomenology, dominant and underlying themes were identified, refined, and subsequently confirmed through a reliability check. From the establishment and verification of themes and sub-themes, the research questions were answered. The results of this study indicate that patients generally prefer to die in a place they call “home,” including: private residences, …
The Commonalities And Shared Experiences Of Female Prostitutes Who Were Sexually Exploited As Children: The Perspectives Of Clinical Social Workers, Heather Wilmes
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LICSW) provide services to vulnerable populations. As the number of sexually exploited women in Minnesota and the United States grows, so does the number of women needing services from social workers. It is important that LICSWs understand the population of women who have engaged in prostitution that were victims of sexual exploitation as children. If LICSWs are knowledgeable about the commonalities and shared experiences of the women they serve, they may be able to identify common risk factors and provide appropriate services. This research study sought to identify the commonalities and shared experiences of female prostitutes …
Promoting Hope And Resilience In Parkinson’S Disease, Emily R. Brunner
Promoting Hope And Resilience In Parkinson’S Disease, Emily R. Brunner
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
The purpose of this project was to explore how or if social workers promote hope and resiliency in individuals’ with Parkinson’s disease. Using a qualitative design, eight licensed social workers throughout the United States, with between two to thirty years of experience working with individuals suffering from Parkinson’s disease. The participants reflected on their experiences and observations of hope and resiliency in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. The researcher analyzed data by looking for themes and commonalties between the participant responses during the interviews. The interviews were transcribed and linked to previous related literature. The findings indicated that all of the …
Harm Reduction In The Social Work Practice, Kayla Lessard
Harm Reduction In The Social Work Practice, Kayla Lessard
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
Harm reduction is a technique used to address a variety of behaviors that produce harm and is implemented at micro, mezzo and macro levels. The purpose of this study was to examine the social worker experience of implementing harm reduction techniques with clients that identify as using substances. This study aimed to discover the strengths, limitations, and barriers of implementing harm reduction into the social work practice. This is a qualitative study that used guided interviews to collect data. Eight licensed graduate social workers that identify as using harm reduction techniques with clients that abuse substances were interviewed. Data gathered …
The Experience Of Msw Students: Self-Stigma And Mental Illness, Ashley Trudell
The Experience Of Msw Students: Self-Stigma And Mental Illness, Ashley Trudell
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
The purpose of this research study was to investigate the ways in which current MSW students experience different forms of the stigma of mental illness. The broader research question for this study is: Do current MSW students experience self-stigma of mental illness? Self-stigma is the internalization of negative attitudes and stereotypes created by general stigma (Corrigan et al., 2008). This study will examine the relationship between levels of general stigma and self-stigma in order to answer an additional question: If social work students are non-judgmental towards others in the general population with mental illness, are they similarly less judgmental towards …
Families With Severe Medical Conditions In Children: Effects And Interventions, Morgan Wilson
Families With Severe Medical Conditions In Children: Effects And Interventions, Morgan Wilson
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
Parents and primary caregivers are the most important providers of support and care for their children. Families with children with chronic or life-threatening medical conditions face many challenges that the average family does not. The purpose of this research project was to discover what the effects of having a child with a chronic or severe illness are on the family system. This was done by finding out what has been the most helpful to the family and each of its members during the time since the child has been diagnosed and by finding out what has been challenging to the …
Agency Support For Self-Care And Burnout Among Licensed Social Workers, Catherine Wyman
Agency Support For Self-Care And Burnout Among Licensed Social Workers, Catherine Wyman
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
Social workers often work in stressful environments and experience secondary trauma through their clients. An examination of the available literature has found that social workers experience symptoms of burnout. Previous research also indicated that self-care is beneficial to decreasing stress levels in social workers. In this study, a quantitative and qualitative survey was distributed to licensed social workers in the state of Minnesota examining burnout and self-care within the context of the social work agency. Quantitative data was evaluated using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was analyzed and coded using grounded theory methodology. There were no significant quantitative findings. …
Addressing Traumatic Loss And Grief Within Inner City High Schools, Jena Henry
Addressing Traumatic Loss And Grief Within Inner City High Schools, Jena Henry
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
Experiences of trauma, loss, and grief have been shown to increase the likelihood of developing serious mental health difficulties and to decrease academic performance, which in turn can be harmful to an individual’s success. This research study examined the perceived prevalence of traumatic loss and grief within inner city high schools, as well as the methods used by inner city high school social workers to address traumatic loss and grief experienced by students, through the use of an online mixed-methods survey. Results showed that all participants perceive a percentage of their student population have experienced traumatic loss and grief, some …
Livable Wage Legislation: Minnesota Social Workers’ Knowledge Of And Involvement In The Movement, Maggie Wangen
Livable Wage Legislation: Minnesota Social Workers’ Knowledge Of And Involvement In The Movement, Maggie Wangen
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
Minnesota’s minimum wage provides insufficient income for full-time adult employees to meet their needs and the needs of their dependent children. The social work profession, and individual social workers, should be aware of and involved in the current social justice issue of raising the minimum wage to a more realistic (livable) wage. This research paper examines the potential impacts of raising the minimum wage, current opinions of American society regarding livable wages, and the extent to which Minnesota social workers have knowledge of and are involved in the livable wage movement. Results of a survey taken by Minnesota’s licensed social …
Perceptions Of Social Work And Collaboration With Clinical Social Workers: Clergy Perspectives, Susan C. Amann
Perceptions Of Social Work And Collaboration With Clinical Social Workers: Clergy Perspectives, Susan C. Amann
Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers
Social workers provide services to meet the needs of individuals, communities and society. Due to limited funding and high need, social workers may need to collaborate with other professionals to meet the needs. The clergy are one such group of professionals. They encounter a variety of needs presented by their parishioners and the communities to which they belong. This qualitative research study sought to identify clergy persons’ perceptions of social workers and perspectives on collaborating with social workers. Individual interviews were held with eight Protestant clergy persons holding a Master of Divinity degree and serving in suburban parishes. The major …