Social Work Commons^™

A Feasibility Study On A Men’S Cancer Support Group At The Mayo Clinic Health System, Mankato Andreas Cancer Center, Nicole Giersdorf

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The Institute of Medicine published a report in 2007 which outlined numerous sources of psychosocial distress that, ideally, should be managed when working with patients with cancer. Typically, they involve a lack of information available to the patient, emotional problems such as depression or anxiety, a lack of transportation and other resources, and disruptions to their daily life. Combined, these factors all contribute to poor adherence to prescribed treatments, and a slower return to health. Attending social support groups is a popular approach to coping with health problems such as these in the United States, and is considered to be …

Developing Trauma-Informed Practice In A Community Mental Health Clinic: In The Child Welfare Context, Kelly Froehle

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

• This project provides direction for working with clients who present at First Street Center for mental health services with a trauma history.
• As child welfare staff work to develop trauma-informed practice, having similar procedures and services at First Street Center may complement services families are receiving from the county as a whole.

Usage Of The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (Audit) With Hospital Inpatients, Jeni Kolstad

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This project investigated whether the AUDIT was being used as the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends within Mayo Clinic Health System – Mankato (MCHS). The goals of the study were to describe the Chemical Dependency (CD) process and to determine the role of the AUDIT in the CD consult and assessment process. Recommendations were made to enhance the process of identifying, assessing, and intervening with patients with alcohol use problems.

The Changes In Major Diagnoses From Dsm Iv-Tr To Dsm 5: How To Talk To Clients About Changes In Their Diagnosis, Abigail Malterer

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

• Outline and present the changes in diagnostic criteria and diagnoses between the DSM IV-TR and the DSM 5.
• Discuss how to talk to and work with clients if their diagnosis has changed or been removed.
• Upon early research, it appears that there is little literature that focuses on how staff can talk to clients about diagnosis changes or elimination.
• Learn more about changes and talking to clients
• Present this information to staff so they have an awareness of this when the changes are made in October of 2015 and the DSM 5 is to be fully implemented.

An In-Depth Look At Filial Play Therapy, Sam Tumberg

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This project explores the various aspects that make up the filial play therapy model. Filial play therapy is an evidenced-based intervention that has been proven to work with a variety of different populations and can be applied in a variety of different settings. The purpose of this project is to give the Vision therapists at Headway a practical toolkit that can be applied in their therapeutic practice. The therapeutic toolkit contains practical therapeutic skills and techniques that can easily be applied within the Vision program.

A Community Based System Of Integrated Clinical Care: Primary Care, Mental Health And Substance Use Treatment, Terri Reuvers

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Our segregated medical and mental health care system misses opportunities for early detection of physical disease. Missed opportunities lead to increased costs. Colorado’s Medicaid health plan estimates that an integrated health program will reduce costs for patients with psychiatric disorders by 10%. The cost of doing nothing may exceed $300 billion per year in the United States (NCCBH, 2010). The purpose of this Capstone project is to critically examine existing models of Integrated Primary and Mental Health care. These models will then be evaluated to identify those most compatible with rural communities in Southern Minnesota.

The Working Alliance: A Survey Of An Outpatient Mental Health Center, Jennifer Bramstedt

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This research investigated the working alliance between therapist and client at RiverView Clinic, an outpatient mental health center. Utilizing data captured by the Working Alliance Inventory-Short Revised (WAI-SR), the research posited the following:

• median total scores from therapist’s would be higher than median scores of the working alliance from clients
• clients who presented with mild to moderate concerns would have higher working alliance scores than clients who reported moderate to severe concerns
• new clients would have higher task and goal sub-scores than clients in therapy for more than fifteen sessions
• if working alliance scores reflected ruptures or strains in the …

A Guide To Understanding, Building And Sustaining An Effective Therapeutic Community, Sara Loose

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this guide is to facilitate an understanding of therapeutic community/ milieu therapy concepts as well as building and sustaining an effective therapeutic community on each unit, in each cottage, and within Leo A. Hoffmann Center as a whole. This guide includes evidence based research that supports the use of therapeutic community principles, and interventions and evaluation tools that can potentially be used by Leo A. Hoffmann Center to enhance services. Ultimately, the goal of the project is to provide the agency with a tangible, well rounded resource that can be used by the multidisciplinary team to provide …

Identification Of Effective Play Techniques For Use With Children In A Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Jan Schwarzrock

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research project was to identify which play techniques are the most effective and produce good outcomes for children. Children enter therapy for a number of reasons to improve their emotional and cognitive wellbeing, however engaging them can be challenging. During a therapeutic session, children use play to share experiences through the toys they choose, whereas adults verbally express themselves. The Allina Health/NUMC Outpatient Therapy Department was interested in the identification of play techniques that they could be used to enhance their work with children with the intent to explore the impact of using play techniques on …

Evidence-Based Treatment For Anxiety Disorders And Marijuana Use Across The Lifespan, Tanya Borchert

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was to identify evidence-based practices relating to anxiety disorders and cannabis use throughout the lifespan. Identification of the practices will more effectively meet the needs of the clients served at the Dual Recovery Program and allow the agency to best serve clients with co-occurring anxiety disorders and cannabis use in a parallel manner. The literature indicates that there is a correlation between anxiety disorders and cannabis abuse (Buckner & Schmidt, 2011; Buckner, Zvolensky, & Schmidt, 2012; Bricker, et al., 2006; Bonn-Miller, Vujanovic, Boden, & Gross, 2011). If the anxiety disorder can be properly diagnosed …

Best Practices For Implementing Trauma-Informed Care With Youth Who Are Homeless Or At- Risk Of Being Homeless, Ellen Morrow

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Exposure to traumatic events during childhood can affect brain development, how someone reacts to stress, and what they may find threatening or unsafe. Trauma can be a precursor to the development of a range of psychopathology including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, personality distortions and psychosis (APA, 2000, Rose, Freeman & Proudlock, 2012). Left untreated trauma can also result in medical conditions later in life including heart disease, cancer, respiratory problems and social conditions such as homelessness, prostitution or delinquency (Steele & Malchiodi, 2012; WISQARS, 2010). Maschi and Schwalbe (2012) cite studies which estimate up to 93% of …

Evaluation Of Family Skills Group At Fernbrook Family Center, Jessica Robertson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This project evaluated the Parenting Piece by Piece curriculum. This project sought to gain feedback on the ways the agency can improve family skills groups to better meet the needs of the client population Fernbrook Family Center serves. Parenting Piece by Piece is an eight-week program teaching parents new parenting skills.

Incredible Years Parenting Program: Developing And Evidenced-Based Implementation Protocol, Brooklynn Fredericksen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop an evidence-based implementation protocol for the Incredible Years program at Fernbrook Family Center. The significance of this project was to generate a protocol manual that can be used as a guide for future implementation of the Incredible Years program.

The Use Of Electroconvulsive Therapy In An Acute Care Setting: Enhancing The Knowledge And Skills Of Mental Health Professionals, Lori Thom

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

1.To enhance the knowledge of mental health professionals working in the psychiatric care unit of the New Ulm Medical Center on the current use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

2.To enhance the knowledge, insights, and skills of mental health professionals working in the psychiatric care unit of the New Ulm Medical Center in working with patients and their families when ECT would be a beneficial component of mental health treatment.

"First Impression": Creating An Intake Procedure That Is Welcoming To Clients And Useful To Clinicians, Brandi Embacher

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Have you ever contacted an agency and felt doubtful about their ability to help you due to the phone interaction or written correspondence you received? The significance of this Capstone project is to create an intake procedure that will leave a positive first impression for individuals seeking services with Mankato Marriage and Family Therapy Center (MMFTC).

A Review Of Developmentally Appropriate Evidence-Based Effective Parenting And Resources For Parents, Kari Schwecke

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Krisma Counseling, a counseling center located in rural southern Minnesota, offers high quality and affordable consumer-centered mental health services to individuals, families, couples, including in-home therapy. In order to provide adequate services and care that abides by the Nation Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, there needs to be standard ethical practice rooted in evidence based literature. The purpose of this project was to research developmentally appropriate evidence-based effective parenting and create a resource guide for clinicians to use in their work with parents of children ages two to 17.

Needs Assessment Of Emergency Department Social Workers In Southwestern Minnesota In Relation To Emergency Department Expansion, Gina Marie Njugunah

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Expansion of a hospital emergency department will affect the role of the emergency department social worker. This research project was conducted to assess the needs, concerns, and strengths of the social workers working in the emergency department of a regional medical center. The study included 13 participants who completed an on-line survey. Results showed that participants were concerned with the increase in patient volume as well as the possible increase in wait time for patients. Participants also expressed how concerns could be addressed. The most common solution was to track information about the cases, including wait times for patients, in …

Policies In Hospital Social Work, Jolene L. Reisdorfer

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The goal of this project was to create an environment that provides a professional standard of care to ensure patient safety. This project will address the absence of policies in the Social Service Department at Mayo Clinic Health System, Southwest Region. A standard of care is a detailed standardized model of an intervention process that discusses the goals, objectives, settings, process, procedures and interventions (Gayle, 2005). Policy development must occur to assure that patients with social service needs are being identified appropriately and are being provided necessary interventions to meet their needs (Gordon & Rehrs, 1969). The project also identified …

Stroke Rehabilitation, Length-Of-Stay, And Re-Admission Rates: A Literature Review, Morgen Hagedorn

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Stroke is shown to be a significant U.S. health problem with a profound impact on the nation’s rising healthcare costs (Hall, Levant, & DeFrances, 2012). Longer patient length-of-stay [LOS] and higher re-admission rates have brought consequences to healthcare systems as institutional budgets are unable to reconcile the additional services and the influx of healthcare demands. Through a comprehensive literature review, the author illustrates the general knowledge available on the stroke experience, on stroke care and rehabilitation, and on patient LOS and re-admission rates. The literature review is based on general medical research with a focus on the stroke population. The …

Bridging Tactics: Parental Support Systems: A Proposal For A Psycho-Educational Parent Group, Emily F. Thompson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this Capstone project is to design and present a new intervention program for increasing supportive services to the parents of clients being served through the infant/early childhood mental health program at CSSM. The goal of this project is to provide CSSM with a culturally-­responsive, theoretically grounded, evidence-­based proposal for the development of a psycho-educational group that includes a clear rationale for why this intervention is needed and how it will help the agency achieve the outcomes of infant/early childhood mental health program.

Survey Of Emergency Department Patients' Perceived Barriers To Accessing Services And Community Resource Utilization, Kelsey Ann Wilke

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project is to describe the patients being served by Avera McKennan’s emergency department (ED) and to explore perceived barriers to accessing services and current community resource utilization in order to prevent further non-emergent visits.

Research Questions: 1) What are the demographic characteristics of emergency department patients that are referred to the emergency department social worker? 2) What are the perceived barriers that emergency department patient’s encounter when trying to access services and community resources?

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Group Curriculum, Julie M. Wood

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The social workers at the MSH are treating many patients who have previous placements in chemical dependency treatment in addition to previous hospitalizations for their mental illness. Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselors (LADC) are employed at the hospital but not on unit 800 which is the crisis and intake unit. The hospital does not have funds available in their budget to add additional LADC staff at the present time.

Having a treatment group focusing on dual diagnosis would enable the patients to receive education and therapy for their addiction issues much earlier in the course of their treatment at MSH. …

Factors That Contribute To Patient Length Of Stay At St. Peter Regional Treatment Center, Brenda Karch

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This research project employed a quantitative review of archived data comprised of patients that had been discharged from St. Peter Regional Treatment Center between 2002-2010. These patients were admitted to Minnesota Security Hospital for treatment and progressed through the program to Forensic Transition Services and eventually discharged to the community.

Needs Assessment For A Multidisciplinary Eating Disorder Outpatient Services, Mary Beth Patterson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Research has indicated there is limited specialist multidisciplinary care in non-metropolitan regions and rural communities for eating disorder treatment, leaving patients and professionals dissatisfied with quality of care. The purpose of this project was to assess the need for multidisciplinary eating disorder treatment service in South-Central Minnesota, and if so, to obtain information about the current patient population and treatment of such patients.

Computer-Based Training: Understanding Mental Health Civil Commitment, Tiffany Sandbo

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this training is to enhance health and mental health professionals’ knowledge about the mental health civil commitment law and process in Minnesota. The goal is upon completion of this training: 1)Trainees will understand the mental health civil commitment law and process in Minnesota. 2)Trainees will understand your role in the mental health civil commitment process.

Best Practices Of A Social Worker's Role In Supporting Family Caregivers Enrolled In Hospice Care, Jessie Wolf

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project was to explore best practices are for hospice social worker’s providing care to family caregivers enrolled in hospice. This project explored processes and assessment tools that other hospice agencies in rural Minnesota utilized while caring for the family members of hospice patients. The information obtained was used to provide recommendations to Mayo Clinic Health System- Mankato Hospice program to further improve the hospice programming and the social worker’s role.

Understanding The Role Of Attachments And Schemas: A Model For Working With Sex Offenders, Carol J. Ries

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project is to research, develop, present, and evaluate a training module to increase knowledge of the role of attachments and schemas in working with sex offenders and to provide a model for working with sex offenders. Research Questions: 1. To what extent will a training module on the role of attachments and schemas increase attendees’ understanding of these topics? 2. Will a training module increase the likelihood that attendees will apply this knowledge of attachments and schemas in their work with clients?

Computer Based Training: Understanding Schizophrenia, Elli Marie Bach

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was to research, design and implement a computer based training module for staff who work with individuals experiencing mental illness. This training focused directly on schizophrenia, which is the most common mental health disorder treated at the Community Behavioral Health Hospital in St. Peter.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction And Chronic Illness, Kelly Dulohery

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The Minnesota Department of Health (n.d.) defines a chronic health condition as having an extended course, does not resolve suddenly, and complete cure is a rarity. The literature suggests that stress can exacerbate the symptoms of chronic health condition (Roth and Robins, 2004). Addressing the biopsychosocial needs of individuals with chronic health conditions pushes the limits of conventional medicine (Grossman, Niemann, Schmidt, & Walach, 2004). A chronic health condition, if left untreated can lead to additional physical and psychological conditions (e.g. contributing to the development of anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation, hopelessness, and helplessness) (Ledesma & Kumano, 2009); (Reibel, …

Improving Organizational Practices: Learning From Direct Care Staff And Team Leads, Abigail Helget

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose in completing this needs assessment was to pinpoint inconsistencies or unclear aspects of the direct care provided to clients served by H.S.I. staff. This understanding can then assist H.S.I. in providing the necessary support for direct care staff and also allow for H.S.I to provide more adequate support for their clients. All information gathered from the focus groups will be disseminated to support departments and Team Leads through a written report. Based upon these results H.S.I. may choose to implement new or revised trainings, conduct meetings or enact companywide policies.