Social Work Commons^™

2024-02: Transforming Educational Neglect: Advocating For A Family Centered Approach Through Community-Based Response, Sydney Barrett, Ash-Lee Conley, Cindi Lindstrom, Madison Roth

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

Addressing educational neglect cases through the child welfare system does more harm than good. SF 4747 proposes to amend the state statute, allowing for an alternative response to reports of educational neglect. This change will help address the needs of children and families that face systemic challenges that lead to educational neglect. Currently, counties are required to open a child protection case for all educational neglect reports. Amending the statute will allow counties to develop their own response to educational neglect. This more collaborative approach will help reduce the negative effects a one-size-fits-all solution can have on students and their …

Collaborating With Parents With Disabilities To Create Accountability In The Special Education System, Brooke Crosby, Julia Lutz-Lawlor, Kelsy Farley, Khadra Geelle

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

Minnesota is a state that prides itself on prioritizing education. As such, all school personnel must fulfill their obligation to ensure meaningful access for parents with a disability. As part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), the development of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is required under both federal and state special education law. In the special education IEP process, parental involvement is mandated to ensure the child's best interest. Research shows parents’ involvement in their children’s education can lead to an improvement in grades, performance, literacy, attendance, and homework completion. Disabled parents must be engaged as …

Gender Responsive Reentry: Supporting Mothers And Their Children, Michaela Bruder, Ally Malueg, Neve Patterson, Courtney Schallock

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

The unique needs and experiences of women with children are not reflected in Minnesota’s state reentry approach or federal reentry approach. The number of women in the correctional system has been steadily rising, which means more women, many of them mothers, are returning to their families and communities without the programming and supports needed to successfully resume their roles as parent and provider. Minnesota must invest in a gender-responsive reentry approach tailored specifically to the needs of women with children.

Supported Families Grow Healthy Children: Branching Out Services To Support Children, Families, And Communities Impacted By Punitive Practices In The Criminal Justice System, Patrick Clark, Janet Meegan, Troy Potter, Holly Schmitt, Jesse Valentin

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

The well-being of Minnesota’s children and families is negatively impacted by punitive practices. Investing in programs that divert parents from the criminal justice system ensures parental accountability while contributing to healthy children, families, and communities.

In The Child's Best Interests: Preparing Culturally Responsive Guardians Ad Litem In Minnesota, Ashley Brown, Emily Camacho, Taneesha Hunter, Skylar Retterath

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

Guardians ad litem (GALs) serve and advocate for the most vulnerable children in Minnesota. These individuals make recommendations to the courts which can impact the amount of time children are placed out of their homes. The Guardian ad Litem Board sets the qualifications and training requirements for Guardians ad Litem in Minnesota. Guardians ad litem are currently required to participate in 3 hours per year of continuing education in cultural awareness topics; this amount of training is not adequate in relation to the diversity of the population with which the GALs are working. The importance of cultural responsiveness is significant …

{Ace}Ing Early Childhood In Minnesota, Bailey Alston, Casie Devos, Alisha Field, Renee Gasner

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

Too many young children are facing ACEs that are detrimentally impacting their development and contributing to negative outcomes that persist into adulthood. There are no current policies using the ACE questions to drive mental health interventions. The Governor’s Task Force on Mental Health made nine recommendations that, if implemented, will greatly improve the mental health and well-being of children and their parents. Improving early childhood prevention and intervention programs helps ALL Minnesota’s families build healthy and rich experiences for their children.

1. Expand the Early Childhood Mental Health Grant program statewide to increase early childhood mental health specialists.
2. Create a Governor’s …

In Search Of A Forever Home: Raising The Standards For Our Kids, Katarina Barrett, Shelby Marx, Moriah Mueller, Christopher Olson, Michelle Olund-Youngberg

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

There are currently 12,167 children in foster care in Minnesota and 32% experienced multiple placements in 2014. Many children are entering foster care due to concerns of child behavior, parental chemical use, or allegations of maltreatment. After an often unexpected separation from their family, children are then expected to adapt to a new foster family with a new set of family norms and rules. Many children are moved between multiple foster homes, or are returned to their caregivers only to be placed back in foster care at a later time. In the wake of media reports revealing stories of child …

A Systematic Review Of Neurofeedback Training To Treat Adhd In Children And Adolescents: A Child Welfare Perspective, Chad Ellis

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

A systematic literature review was completed on the impact that childhood ADHD has on children and families,from a child welfare perspective. The potential risks and benefits of two different treatment approaches (pharmacological and neurofeedback) were compared along with a cost analysis. The significance of this project is that it will aid in the advocacy efforts for the continued allocation of funding towards the neurofeedback program within Olmsted County’s Youth Behavioral Health Unit.

Training And Burnout Among Paraprofessionals Who Work With Children With Ebd, Daniel Boston

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project was to learn about the experiences of paraprofessionals who are working with children with emotional behavior disorders and, more specifically, their perceptions about the adequacy of training and the burnout they may experience.

Training And Burnout Among Paraprofessionals Who Work With Children With Emotional Behavioral Disorders, Jenna Robinson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

To assist the Waseca school district in addressing the training and self-care needs of paraprofessionals, keeping the overall mission in mind of empowering students to succeed in the academic environment, this project examined the training received and factors related to subsequent professional burnout among paraprofessionals in Waseca schools.

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 Behavior Interventions For Children With Adhd: A Systematic Review, Jennifer Kimpton

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

To systematically review empirically supported behavior interventions currently being used to manage and reduce symptoms of ADHD in children.

Evidence-Based Strategies And Techniques For Children With Asd, Tanya Walerius

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

To identify and research evidence-based Autism Spectrum Disorder strategies and techniques for working with children, particularly children aged 6 –10 years old, who receive In-Home Skills Services. Most therapeutic services are received through the school systems (Shapiro & Accardo, 2008), but Counseling Services of Southern Minnesota (CSSM) provides In-Home Skills Services that requires the Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports (CTSS) staff to be knowledgeable and competent in the services they provide to clients.

The purpose of this project was to provide CSSM with specific strategies and techniques through a manual to be used by the CTSS workers. The information will …

Parent Training, Support And Psychoeducational Groups As Evidence Based Practice In Children's Mental Health, Dorothy Wagner

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The evidence base for programs in children’s mental health has expanded significantly in the last decade (Burns, 2003), yet the implementation of these programs has lagged behind (Walrath, Sheehan, Holden, Hernandez & Blau, 2005). The purpose of this project is to research current evidence based practices and programs that could improve and/or update services that are provided to children and adolescents diagnosed with severe emotional disturbance (SED) in Steele County. Research and analysis of the feasibility of implementing a group intervention to provide support, psychoeducation and/or skills training to families was conducted.

Bring Mental Health Services Home: Meeting The Mental Health Needs Of Adolescents And Their Families In Rural Minnesota, Laura Filzen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a program that addressed housing and therapeutic support to adolescents experiencing mental health issues, allowed adolescents to remain in the community, and promoted reunification with their families. “An important indicator of success for children in out-of-home care is a timely transition to reunification” (Park and Ryan, 2009). Based on the literature and practice, it is believed that intensive family therapy is needed to promote reunification and reduce recidivism of placement.