Social Work Commons^™

Am I Being Bullied At Work?, Jan Kircher

Social and Behavioral Sciences Faculty Research

Challenges to identifying oneself as a target of workplace bullying are discussed. Strategies such as maintaining a log and recording events are presented as the first step to remediating workplace bullying.

Targets Can Mutate Into The Bully, Jan Kircher

Social and Behavioral Sciences Faculty Research

The phenomenon of targets turning into bullies occurs in workplace cultures that maintain the status quo of aggression. Targets may become bullies to reclaim the power they once had or regain control of their professional life. The author posits a culture shift is required to remove the conditions necessary to workplace bullying.

Social Responsibility In Higher Education, Maureen L. Mackenzie Ph.D., Melissa Mccardle Ph.D., Melissa Gebbia Ph.D., Susan Bliss Ph.D.

Faculty Works: Business (1973-2022)

Current events such as the recent removal of the CEO of United Airlines for being “bought” by port authority officials highlights the need to prepare students for ethical and effective participation in corporate, non-profit and civic life. Ongoing problems with the leadership of financial, political and social institutions, and increasingly diverse society and persistent inequities in the educational system point to the need for intentional learning opportunities that support the development of ethical leaders & informed citizens who are capable of solving complex social problems in a multicultural society.

Examining Assisted Living Residents’ Participation In A Group-Based Art Therapy Program, Ainsley Hebert, Tanwanda Smith, Danielle Silberman, Allison Gibson

Winthrop Faculty and Staff Publications

In May 2015, Ms. Hebert & Dr. Gibson received $1,483.00 from Winthrop University's Research Council to fund the research project, Examining Assisted Living Residents’ Participation in a Group-Based Art Therapy Program. The aim of the project was to examine an eight session art therapy program for aging adults residing in assisted living. Further, the project aimed to offer a group-based art therapy program to residents in a local assisted living and determine what impact (if any) the art therapy had on the residents’ sense of community among residential peers, psychological well-being, quality-of-life, and sense of identity in the assisted …

Reproductive And Sexual Healthcare Needs Among Adults With Disabilities As Perceived By Social Workers, Kristen Faye Linton, Heidi Adams Rueda, Lela Rankin Williams, Alex Sandoval, Sharon J. Bolin

Social Work Faculty Publications

People with disabilities often experience unique gynecological and reproductive healthcare needs, which may be exacerbated by their experience of sexual victimization. Previous research on adolescents with disabilities found that social workers held beneficial roles in supporting their clients to make empowered decisions concerning sexual healthcare, pregnancy, and parenting. This study aimed to assess the reproductive and sexual health needs of adults with various disabilities from the perspectives of their social workers. Eleven social workers working primarily with adults with various disabilities were interviewed using a phenomenological study design to offer their perspectives of the sexual and reproductive health needs of …

The Development Of Dual And Multiple Relationships For Social Workers In Rural Communities, Tammy Piché, Keith Brownlee, Glenn Halverson

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Mental health professionals who work in small, rural communities often have to contend with dual and multiple relationships. The more integrated service providers are within the community, the more likely they will encounter overlapping personal and professional relationships with clients. Although there is extensive literature on the potential risks of dual and multiple relationships, little empirical evidence exists which addresses the contextual factors that specifically lead to these relationships in rural social work practice. This qualitative study explored the experiences of twelve social workers or social service workers practicing in northern and northwestern Ontario. Findings provide some insight into the …

Self-Efficacy And Mental Health Services Provided By Rural And Frontier Oncology Social Workers, Lindsey R. Overstreet Msw, Lcsw, Diane A. Kempson Msw, Phd, Carol J. Hermansen-Kobulnicky Phd, Rph

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

This pilot study explores the relationship between self-efficacy and professional behaviors of a non-random membership sample of the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) who practice in rural and frontier settings (N = 19). The New Generalized Self-Efficacy (NGSE) scale was used to measure provider self-efficacy; a researcher-designed questionnaire was used to assess the professional behaviors of conducting mental health assessments and providing supportive counseling to individuals diagnosed with cancer. Pearson correlation and two-sample t-tests were used to analyze data. While study results did not elucidate relationships explored, results revealed a disparity between participants’ overall high sense of professional preparedness …

Rural Older Adults And Functional Health Literacy:Testing Self-Efficacy, Knowledge And Skills Resulting From Hands-On Health Promotion, Michele L. Dugan-Day, Susan C. Dollar, Wafaa A. Kaf

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Functional Health Literacy (FHL) involves the knowledge, skills and belief in self-efficacy to use health care information in self-care. FHL is critical for rural older adults since they are at risk of poor health care outcomes. As part of the Senior Health University project, we measured the FHL of rural older adults before and after educational sessions that included hands-on skill building. Ninety-eight participants aged 60 and older were recruited from five rural congregate meal sites over two years. Survey methods allowed for paired sample t-tests of FHL variables. Findings included significant post-training increases in FHL, suggesting the potential benefit …

How To Confront A Bully?, Jan Kircher

Social and Behavioral Sciences Faculty Research

Common pitfalls of confronting bullies in the workplace are discussed. A scenario for workplace aggression is presented. Strategies for successful confrontations are presented in terms of the scenario.

The Comparative Impacts Of Social Justice Educational Methods On Political Participation, Civic Engagement, And Multicultural Activism, Amy Krings, Elizabeth A. Austic, Lorraine M. Gutierrez, Kaleigh E. Dirksen

Social Work: School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Other Works

This cross-sectional, repeated measures, quasi-experimental study evaluates changes in college stu- dents’ commitment toward, and confidence in, political participation, civic engagement, and multi- cultural activism. Our sample (n = 653) consisted of college students in a Midwestern university who participated in one of three social justice education course types (service learning, intergroup dialogue, or lecture-based diversity classes) or in an “introduction to psychology” course (the non-intervention group). After completion of a social justice education course, students reported an increase in politi- cal participation and multicultural activism, whereas students enrolled in the non-intervention group reported no changes in these measures. Service …

Targets Are Not Believed, Jan Kircher

Social and Behavioral Sciences Faculty Research

The interpersonal challenges that workplace bullying introduce are discussed in terms of reducing the reputation of the target within the workplace and the veracity of their claims. Strategies for understanding the organization and developing a successful report are presented.

Alcohol Use And The Older Adult: Addressing Older Adults’ Perceptions, Megan R. Grisso

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In order to create more efficient, useful alcohol treatment and intervention methods tailored specifically for the older population, it is important to understand the reasons that older adults perceive that they consume alcohol. For this reason, this study explored older adults’ perceptions regarding why they use alcohol. Older adults, age 60 and older, were surveyed through questionnaires completed at senior community centers within San Bernardino County. This was a mixed method design that used qualitative and quantitative analysis for the purpose of exploring the most frequently reported reasons for why older adults use alcohol. The main finding of the study …

Social Workers' Attitudes Towards Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual And Transgender Adoptions, Christina Nicole Kemper, Natalie Jazmin Reynaga

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explores the attitudes of social workers in relation to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) adoptions. Race, gender, generation, position and prior LGBT training are factors that can positively or negatively impact social workers’ biases towards LGBT adoptions. Researchers contacted adoption agencies whom agreed to partake in the 26-question survey, including eight demographic questions and an 18 item scale. The current study used an adapted version of the Attitude Toward Gay Men and Lesbians as Adoptive Parent Scale (APS) (α = .95). There were 28 survey respondents, however two surveys were discontinued due to incomplete informed consents. A …

Exploring Cultural And Linguistic Aspects Within The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, And Queer Youth Community, Justine Carrillo, Julie Marie Houston

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the cultural and linguistic aspects within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) youth community. A qualitative research design with an exploratory approach was utilized in this study. An interview questionnaire was created to explore participants’ perceptions and experiences to generate an understanding on LGBTQ culture in practice. The study sample consisted of 12 youth who self‑identify as LGBTQ recruited by snowball sampling. One‑on‑one interviews were conducted, audio‑recorded, per participant consent, and transcribed for thematic analysis. Based on participant narratives, this study found there are cultural considerations that pertain specifically to …

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

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

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

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

In the United States, there is an increased awareness and concern regarding K-12^th 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-12^th grade teachers have had with mindfulness-based practices. This study further explores the impact that mindfulness-based practice has on K-12^th 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

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 …

Human Trafficking In The Media: Who, What, Where, And Why?, Mary Borer

Honors College

This study examines themes within the media around the coverage of human trafficking. Theory of media framing suggests that the media holds the power to influence the ideas and beliefs the public has around issues through the information presented. This study presents a content and thematic analysis of three newspapers in Delaware, Maine, and South Dakota during the year 2014. Themes emerge within the categories of what is human trafficking, where is it happening, who is involved, and why is it happening. Overall, there was a lack of discussion and explanation about what human trafficking actually is. In addition, analysis …

Serving Families In Broken Situations, Tara Boer

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"We are entrusted to walk alongside people during some of the most difficult and vulnerable times in their lives. It’s work that God could do without us but God still allows us to be a part of it. Social workers show up when abuse is occurring, when violence is erupting, and when homes are dirty. We are asked to meet families during times of loss, adoption, school problems, divorce, addictions, trauma, and relationship problems. We get to hear stories, play with kids, sit in team meetings, solve problems, and see people heal and get well."

Posting about how to help …

Rural Community Transition And Resilience: What Now For Social Work?, Jonathan Scherch

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Rural communities, like all communities, face myriad social, economic and ecological challenges as they endeavor to resolve precarious dependencies on critical, energy-intensive and supply-chain extensive resource systems. With increasing impacts of climate change and related incidents of human and more-than-human displacements, including losses of life and habitat, rural communities have become beset with frequent, prolonged and persistent recovery and coping obligations. The progressive resolution of injustices will need to occur in the face of serious ecological stressors. Designing for and increasingly demonstrating social work practices that prioritize the multi-modal skills of sustainable living may well be the most effective means …

Hope-Focused Solutions: A Relational Hope Focus Of The Solution-Building Stages In Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Jenna A. Wilson

Department of Family Therapy Dissertations and Applied Clinical Projects

The positive psychotherapy focused on for this study is Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). Insoo Kim Berg and Yvonne Dolan (2001) once described the essence of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) as the “pragmatics of hope and respect” (p. 1) and despite Berg and Dolan’s declaration of hope’s importance in SFBT, little process research has been published looking at the “pragmatics” of hope in SFBT practice. Hope is seen as a common factor in psychotherapy since the human relationship, also known as the therapeutic alliance, is a foundation of psychotherapy. Hope plays a significant role in every human interaction and it is …

“I Am Not Free While [Anyone] Is Unfree”: A Proposal And Framework For Enmarginalized Feminist Policy Analysis, Avina Ross

Social Work Student Works

This paper introduces a new feminist approach and framework to policy analysis. As an integration of intersectionality, Black feminist thought and endarkened feminist epistemology, enmarginalized feminist policy analysis (EFPA) offers an intersectional and flexible scope in a framework to assess policy for a diversity of populations, focusing on groups who are forced to live marginal and oppressed lives. Discussion is provided on existing approaches and frameworks in addition to an overview of the theoretical underpinnings of EFPA. A nine-component framework, which includes a section for analyst reflexivity, is provided to guide users in conducting EFPA. The author concludes with implications …

Book Review: Social Justice In Clinical Practice: A Liberation Health Framework For Social Work, Nancy Feldman

Graduate School of Social Work Publications and Research

The author presents a review of the book Social Justice in Clinical Practice: A Liberation Health Framework for Social Work.

Organizational Strategies For Addressing Disparities Among Marginalized Older Adults, Jennifer L. Martin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As the United States older adult population expands, it is also becoming more diverse in terms of race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). This increased diversity necessitates that social workers research issues of cultural competency at the organizational level to ensure that community based organizations are able to meet the unique needs of a heterogeneous population of American elders. This qualitative study utilized a modified grounded theory approach to conduct individual interviews and focus groups with over 25 community based organizations serving diverse elders. This study also included analysis of over 100 agency documents, such as mission …

Maps Of Marginalization: Exploring The Healthcare Experiences Of Men And Women With Fibromyalgia, Michelle J. Skop

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This qualitative study explored the retrospective and ongoing healthcare experiences of men and women who have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia (FM), a contested, chronic, and gendered condition of unknown origin. The research question was: "How do men and women who have a diagnosis of FM experience interactions with healthcare providers?" The study, which was epistemologically rooted in the critical theories of feminist poststructuralism and intersectionality, blended constructivist grounded theory with a participatory component, an arts-based research methodology called body-map storytelling. Thirty-five participants were recruited from the Greater Toronto Area and Kitchener-Waterloo. Ten participants completed in-depth interviews while 25 participants completed …

Social Work Advocacy: Professional Self-Interest And Social Justice, Mary Ellen Brown, Michelle M. Livermore, Annahita R. Ball

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This study employed an analysis of the advocacy-related resources and materials available through the 50 NASW state chapter websites. Results revealed that a large number of states had no information about advocacy on their websites (42%). One third of the mission statements reviewed contained language indicating that advocacy was part of the chapter mission, while nearly as many included no content related to advocacy or social justice on their homepages. Nearly two thirds of the websites contained no resources, tools or links to help with advocacy practice, promotion or education. Thirteen advocacy themes emerged, which represented policy issues within the …

Culturally Sensitive Social Work And Mental Health Practice With The Amish, Julissa J. Coblentz Ms.

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

With the growing number of Amish in the United States today, it is important for social workers and mental health practitioners serving this population to do so in a way that is sensitive to their culture. Even though the Amish live a unique, simplistic lifestyle which enables them to focus on the things which they value such as church membership and family, occasionally, they do have mental health and social service needs. This study attempts to explore specific culturally sensitive behaviors which social workers and mental health practitioners can utilize in striving to meet these needs. The researcher compiled a …