Social Work Commons^™

Building Blocks: A Multi-Theoretical Preventative Model To Promote Post-Traumatic Growth, Jared S. Becknell

Journal of Critical Issues in Educational Practice

The following is an exploratory model to understand the factors that promote growth after traumatic events, also known as post-traumatic growth (PTG). Additionally, the hope is to inspire further research and create quantitative data regarding the effectiveness of these factors, add additional interventions and integrate into crisis/trauma paradigms during recovery. Therefore, clients would be more equipped to handle the possibility of another event. When PTG occurs, victims of trauma experience increased positive well-being, life satisfaction and regain a new compassion for meaning or purpose in their life. By utilizing the following interventions, victims of past traumatic events can live a …

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.

Contributing Factors To Burnout Development In The Mental Health Field: A Systematic Review, Ashley D. Newman

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

A significant amount of previous research has addressed burnout among mental health professionals who work with individuals with severe and persistent mental disorders. Multiple issues can contribute to burnout including organizational factors, severity of client diagnosis, and low quality supervision (Lasalvia et al., 2009, Ballenger-Browning et al., 2011, Kozlawska, Nunn, & Cousens, 1997). The purpose of this study is to identify the most critical elements of burnout among public mental health professionals. This study is a systematic review, using 10 key articles, of existing literature on elements of burnout and contributing factors to developing burnout in public mental health professionals. …

Exit Interviews’ Impact On Veterans’ Reintegration From Combat To Civilian Life: A Social Workers Call To Action, Meghann Doane, Natalie Rivera

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Combat veterans partake in exit interviews that may be inadequate in addressing their health and mental health needs prior to returning to a civilian lifestyle. Exit interviews have not been thoroughly evaluated from the perspective of veterans to determine their helpfulness in meeting the needs of those that have returned home. It is vital to the reintegration process and quality of life of our veterans to assess their needs as a priority over the feedback and inquiry of potential changes the military can make in the future for active military members, considering many veterans suffer from mental and physical illnesses …

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 …

Understanding The Factors That Influence College Success For Former Foster Youth Within The California Community College, Rowana Thompson

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore and identify the attitudes and perceptions of faculty, staff and administrators within a California community college system on what promotes academic success for former foster youth enrolled in courses at that college campus. Participants for this study were contacted via the college’s email list serve in which they were asked for consent to participate in the study’s electronic survey.

A total of 41 respondents participated in the study and provided responses to the self-administered questionnaire that was sent campus wide to the college’s faculty, staff and administrators. This research study was conducted …

Trauma-Informed Interventions For Sexual Exploitation And Their Effectiveness On The Exit Process: An Empirical Review, Lorraine M. Armenta-Buelna

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In recent years much effort has been dedicated to the purpose of combating commercial sexual exploitation yet there is a lack of concise and comprehensive information on the effectiveness of strategies and interventions to help this population. Research in this field has helped define and illuminate consequences of this lifestyle. The existing literature points to the complexity of the population's needs and the challenges faced when trying to leave 'the life' however there is a dearth of information on what works. The purpose of this project is to identify and summarize the findings of any empirical studies which evaluate interventions …

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. …

Therapy & Dragons: A Look Into The Possible Applications Of Table Top Role Playing Games In Therapy With Adolescents, Raul Gutierrez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Finding the correct therapeutic intervention for a client can be difficult to determine, especially for certain populations like adolescents. The implementation of Table Top Role Playing Games (TRPGs) in therapy is slowly becoming a more widely utilized therapy intervention because of its ability to engage clients who may be apprehensive to engaging in therapy. Having a wide array of interventions in our therapeutic toolbelt is crucial for mental health social workers to flexibly implement interventions, like TRPGs, with clients. Unfortunately, there is little research determining whether this approach is beneficial to therapy or not. This exploratory research study sought to …

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 …

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 …

A Descriptive Study Of The Elderly In California Substance Abuse Treatment Programs, David Berenschot

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

As gerontologists may know, there are a great deal of studies and a variety of academic literature on the misuse of alcohol and prescription medication amongst the elderly population. While there is a plethora of information on alcohol and prescription misuse, there is little reported data about the prevalence of other substance misuse experienced by this population. This study aims to help to fill that gap in the data by using quantitative methods to describe the scope of substance abuse of individuals 55-years or older. This study utilizes data from the Treatment Data Set Admission (TEDS-A). The TEDS-A is a …

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 …

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 …

Perceived Preparedness Of California Social Workers To Discuss Physician Assisted Death, Shanda Marie Brennan, Meliza Quinonez Kinney

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Effective June 9, 2016, many terminally ill patients residing in the State of California will now have the legal option of terminating their life because of protections offered under The California End of Life Options Act. Social workers whose population of care includes terminally ill patients will likely be engaging in conversations about end of life options, including physician assisted death, with their patients. Little research exists addressing what factors may influence social workers perceived preparedness to discuss physician assisted death with patients, yet the expectation that social workers be prepared to discuss all available end of life options with …

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 …

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. …

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, …

Foster Youth And Higher Education: A Look At The Contributing Factors To Higher Education Retention, Naomi V. Chretien

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explores the contributing factors to collegiate foster youth’s college attendance and retention while in college. A qualitative study was conducted consisting of eight face to face interviews were conducted. Participants were student recipients of California State University, San Bernardino’s Educational Opportunity - Renaissance Scholars Program. Areas studied: pre-college admission, transitional support systems, and retention support while in college. Results identified support from high school teachers and school counselors played significant roles in the participant’s future college attendance, family support was not a significant influence, and social work support was not reported by any participants. All participants received supportive …

Information And Communication Technologies In Public Child Welfare: A Systematic Literature Review, Stephanie K. Schneider

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This systematic literature review synthesizes findings from empirical studies published between 1989 and 2016 to examine types, use, purpose and implementation of information and communication technology in public child welfare to determine if there are thematic reoccurrences in these arenas. Study results yielded information to the field of social work and public child welfare by determining themes in successful usage, purpose and implementation of information and communication technology in public child welfare to better serve those vulnerable populations. This systematic literature review contextualizes and identifies these themes across the literature. Studies included in this review were analyzed and categorized to …

Non-Pharmacological Treatments For Children And Adolescents Diagnosed With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Clara Delgado

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research project aims to identify and acknowledge the various non-pharmacological interventions and treatments for both children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD. This review will highlight the non-pharmacological interventions that are discussed in current research, the significance and potential impact it has on the field of social work, and the way in which this research proposal will be conducted.

ADHD is a commonly known neurodevelopmental disorder that is often seen within children and adolescents. ADHD can be treated through prescription medication, non-pharmacological interventions, or a combination of both. Research indicates that non-pharmacological treatments/interventions have shown positive side effects or outcomes …

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 …

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 …

Perceptions Of Preparedness For Serving Intimate Partner Violence Clients, Diana Berenice Galvan

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study utilizes a cross-sectional quantitative study design that explores the perceptions of preparedness of advanced year Master of Social Work (MSW) students, regarding intimate partner violence (IPV) clients. Currently, there may be gaps in regards to adequately preparing students for serving intimate partner violence clients. This is an exploratory study and data is collected using self-report surveys, which include questions on: demographics, perceptions of preparedness, and education/training received on IPV. This study seeks to identify a correlation between the education/training that MSW students receive on IPV, and their levels of preparedness for serving IPV clients. This study hopes to …

Social Workers' Perception Of The Negative Effects Of Labeled Patients, Jessie Groth

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research explored social worker’s perception of the services received among patients labeled with a diagnosis or labeled negatively, such as non-compliant, in comparison to non-labeled patients in a medical setting. Data for this project were gathered through seven in person interviews with social workers. The participants were all social workers in a medical setting at different DaVita Dialysis centers throughout San Bernardino County. The participants experience and education level ranged from master level social work interns to licensed clinical social workers. The findings indicated that the social workers do believe patients with diagnoses do not receive the same level …

Master Of Social Work Student Perception In Access To Documentation Training In Social Work Programs, Saige Downs

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explored the Master of Social Work (MSW) student perception of access to documentation training in their program. When a student graduates with a degree, there is an expected level of competency in regards to documentation when entering the field. Currently, there is literature available about the risk of poor documentation and the need for additional documentation training in the field of social work but the literature focusing on the perceptions of the student is very limited. The study contributed to the academic literature on social work documentation by providing awareness of the student perception of where they received …

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 …

Practitioners' Views On Service Needs For Justice Involved Youth, Juan C. Llamas, Robin L. Chandler

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess practitioners’ views of service needs for juveniles involved with the justice system. In the United States, every year there are thousands of youth committed to detention institutions for delinquent acts. As a result, children as young as nine years of age up until adulthood have a difficult time integrating back into the community. In many instances, youth who have been involved with the justice system have a greater likelihood of recidivism due to their inability to adapt to their environment. Further, when youth enter the system, many times they are not receiving …

Substance Use Counselors' Perceptions Of Effective Treatment Modalities For Women With Children, Sally I. Gonzales, Jessica Monique Martinez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) conducted a study and determined that approximately one-third to two-thirds of child neglect cases had some form of substance abuse related to the case. Further, it is reported that women who use alcohol or drugs are two times more likely to lose custody of their children than non- using mothers. The purpose of this study is to examine which treatment modalities substance use counselors find most effective when treating women with children. This study utilized a qualitative design asking eight open ended questions to fourteen substance use counselors employed at Prototypes …