Social Work Commons^™

Empower: A Self-Regulation Program For Youth In Residential Foster Care, Cristina Eversole, Angela Labrie Blackwell, Jazminne Orozco Arteaga

Summer 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This poster describes how the development and implementation of a self-regulation program, EMPOWER, utilized interventions such as mindfulness exercises, creative arts, sound/music therapy, and sensory grounding techniques to help youth in residential foster care enhance occupational engagement and quality of life.

Exploring Occupational Therapy’S Role In Foster Care: A Mixed Methods Study On Financial Literacy Education For Foster Youth, Ashley Carmichael, Karen Park

Summer 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: Foster youth are children under 21 years old who have been removed from their homes due to neglect or abuse and are susceptible to early adversity and trauma (Alternative Family Services, n.d.; AOTA, 2017). Financial literacy is the knowledge and skills to take control of finances (National Financial Educators Council, n.d.). In the foster care setting, occupational therapists (OTs) provide client-centered care that traditionally focuses on transitional life skills, such as seeking employment (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2017).

Problem/Purpose: The lack of resources for foster youth to gain financial literacy skills leads to a disadvantage in …

My Path To Advanced Practice, Hannah Oiselle Knisley

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

The Participation And Exploration Of Play For Children In Foster Care, Isabella J. Relph, Jazminne Orozco Arteaga

Spring 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project, The Participation and Exploration of Play for Children in Foster Care, was completed by a Doctor of Occupational Therapy candidate at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Project objectives develop an understanding of the occupational therapy involvement in foster care and how to improve current advocacy and educational efforts related to play. A literature review of play participation, engagement, and exploration was conducted in conjunction with analysis of environmental barriers, generalized background information on children in foster care, and the role of occupational therapy for children in foster care. Play is essential for the pediatric …

Ot Employment Program Addressing Homelessness For Women Experiencing Homelessness, Amber Hoffman, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Women experiencing homelessness face many barriers to employment participation. Occupational therapy (OT) is a well-suited profession to address employment barriers; however, there is a lack of OT programs that address the unique barriers to employment participation for women experiencing homelessness. The purpose of the capstone project was to develop a program focused on employment obtainment and maintenance for women experiencing homelessness. The employment program was developed based upon the findings from an in-depth literature review and needs assessment.

Occupational Therapist Perception And Utilization Of Occupation-Based Evaluation And Assessment With Children And Youth With Asd., Zalome Restrepo, Pam Kasyan-Howe, Kristin Domville, Kristina Hartsook

Spring 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Children with ASD participate less in ADLs & IADLs than typically developing children(Travers et al.,2022). The problem is a gap between the known occupation-based assessments and utilization of the assessments by occupational therapists treating children and youth with ASD (Manee et al., 2020; Luna, 2019). This gap results in decreased activity participation diversity for the child and decreased ability for the occupational therapists to evidence effectiveness of occupation-based services (Manee et al., 2020; Luna, 2019). The purpose of this quantitative type of capstone project is to analyze occupational therapists who treat children and youth with ASD to determine the utilization …

Artificial Intelligence In Social Work Practice, Cat Sabourin

Poster Presentations

Although present in organizational contexts and potentially complimentary to professional outcomes, intelligent tools have not been widely embraced by social work. A growing literature has recognized the ubiquity of artificial intelligence and thus the critical need for social work to integrate these tools throughout the diversity of professional practice. Integrating disability studies, social work, and artificial intelligence methods, this poster presents the benefits of using AI in social work, and then illustrates, and evaluates a model of practice using extant data in which an intelligent AI robotic companion is used to further amplify social work intervention.

Reshaping The Narrative, Crystal Little Owl

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

The Experiences Of Children With Neurological Conditions And Families, Charmaine Alexis Pasion, Jazminne Orozco Arteaga

Fall 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Children with chronic neurological conditions and their families experience various challenges that impact their quality of life and occupational participation as they reintegrate back into their communities (Dumas & Grajo, 2021; Taib et al., 2021). However, rehabilitation for children with chronic neurological conditions focuses on addressing functional impairments and self-care activities rather than transitioning home (Diener et al., 2021). Therefore, children and their families are in need of resources and interventions to address their occupational impact as they return to their occupations (Diener et al., 2021). This capstone research study explored the lived experiences of children with chronic neurological conditions …

Occupation Based Program For African American Crossover Youth Aging Out Of Foster Care, Sadé Barnswell, Pam Kasyan-Howe, Kristin Domville, Lisa Schubert

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Unique challenges and differences surround the population of African American crossover youth and how they successfully transition into adulthood once aged out of foster care as compared to same-aged peers (Kim et al., 2019). The problem is that African American crossover youth aging out of the foster care system, are not receiving occupation-based transitional services focusing on IADLs required for adulthood independence resulting in increased prevalence of homelessness (Armstrong-Heimsoth et al., 2020; Flores et al., 2018; Kelly, 2020; Paul-Ward & Lambdin-Pattavina, 2016; Pérez et al., 2019). The purpose of this program development type project is to develop and implement an …

The Path A Pilot Program Bringing The Hero S Journey To Occupational Therapy, Cole Milkovich, Susan Macdermott

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The "Hero’s Journey" is a powerful narrative therapy tool that uses the hero metaphor to help clients reframe their life circumstances (Robertson & Lawrence, 2015; Williams, 2017). However, this concept has only been utilized in the department of psychology. Occupational therapists utilize narrative reasoning to guide client-heroes through a rehabilitative rite of passage through the collaboration (Kelly, 2007). As mentors, clinicians assist client-heroes to create their stories that will be acted out to reflect their identity. Therefore, the therapeutic process aims to empower the client and enact a real positive storyline through meaningful occupation (Clark, 1993; Mattingly, 1998).

The challenge …

Ot’S Role In A Social Enterprise Jobs Training Program For Homeless Youth, Luke Drohan, Susan Macdermott

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone outlines a jobs training program for transition-aged youth (TAY), ages 18 – 25, currently residing at Urban Street Angels, a transitional housing facility for youth experiencing homelessness located in San Diego, California. The purpose of this project was to incorporate occupational therapy services into the site’s dormant social enterprise program, 8West. 8West produces a line of artisanal hand soaps created in-house by the youth living at Urban Street Angels. Through experiential and didactic learning, youth developed integral skills in customer service, communication, sales, marketing, professionalism, and production. The project addressed an unmet need for job skills training and …

An Occupation-Based Program For Formerly Incarcerated Youth And Staff In An Employment Re-Integration Program, Heather Fierros, Angela Blackwell, Leslie Khan-Farooqi

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

One of the most vulnerable and growing populations within the United States (U.S.) are youth involved in the juvenile justice system. Each day, approximately 60,000 youth are currently incarcerated in the U.S., signifying a necessary demand for community re-entry success. Having been incarcerated makes it more challenging for youth to attend school, obtain a license, find public housing, and attain public benefits. Furthermore, because of the effects following being a part of the juvenile justice system, the youth exemplify a lack of social interaction skills, hindered relationship patterns, altered values and beliefs. These underdeveloped skills and patterns interfere with the …

Occupational Therapist’S Impact In Current And Changing Roles And Routines For First-Time Foster Parents, Kathryn Chatfield, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott, Karen Park

Summer 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this study was to understand occupational therapist’s impact in current and changing roles and routines for first-time foster parents as well as understanding how to establish, preserve and maintain such meaningful domains. This study allowed for insight into current and changing roles and routines for first-time foster parents. The results from this study allowed for further comprehension on how roles and routines were impacted, and that education and tools can be used to help decrease disruption to these domains. Understanding that taking on a new role as a foster parent means routines will be impacted in one …

Returning To Our Roots: Re-Introducing Art Back Into Occupational Therapy, Vivi Trinh

Summer 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The usage of arts and crafts played a significant role in the fruition of the profession, but as it adopted more medically- and evidence-based treatment methods, most practitioners steered away from arts and crafts. The overall purpose of this project was to promote the use of art in OT as well as learn about the current use of art in OT through discussions held with practicing and retired occupational therapists and OT students with fieldwork experience. A portion of the project includes conducting a needs assessment at Urban Street Angels (USA), a community-based facility in downtown San Diego, CA that …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy With The Homeless Population: A Scoping Review, Shelby Osborne, Steven M. Gerardi, Gina Benevente

Spring 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Homelessness is a global and national occurring pandemic. Individuals experiencing homelessness tend to lack education; health resources; stress management; social, independent, vocational, and leisure skills. These causes of homelessness create adverse impacts on occupations leading to situations described as occupational injustice and barriers to occupational engagement. Due to these adverse impacts on occupations, homelessness is of concern to the occupational therapy profession. It is necessary to identify in what behaviors occupational therapy practitioners are engaging with this population to increase occupational performance and decrease occupational injustice.

The theoretical framework of the Model of Human Occupation and the Occupational Therapy Practice …

Occupational Approaches For Reducing Food Insecurity In College Students, Jessica Sabbara, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott, Karen Park

Spring 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Food insecurity is a prevalent problem in the United States (Feeding America, 2021). The COVID-19 pandemic has exasperated existing health disparities including access to the food resources necessary for a healthy lifestyle (Feeding America, 2021). The impact of food insecurity on health, well-being, and quality of life is well-documented Schmelzer & Leto, 2018; Seligman et al., 2010 Emerging adults and college students may experience food insecurity due to limited access to nutrition assistance programming and low food literacy (El Zein, et al., 2019; Owens, et al, 2020). Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners can serve an important role in reducing food insecurity …

The Use Of Technology For Mental Wellbeing In The Era Of Covid-19, Adam Fakhri

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Prevalence of mental health issues has increased during the time of COVID-19. There are many contributing factors to consider, the main one reported has been social isolation due to quarantine precautions. Members of the community have spent extended periods of time at home and away from their loved ones during this pandemic. Many patients have reported many life events occurring including deaths in the family without the ability to even mourn with their family members. This has taken a toll on the community, especially in Vergennes where this small tight knit community that has relied on its tight social bonds …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy For Homeless Women And Women At-Risk Of Homelessness, Kelcey Storkersen, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill

Summer 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project is focused on assessing the occupational needs and barriers of women at-risk of homelessness at a resource center. A needs assessment, facility observations, and research study were conducted to identify population needs and create a client-centered program for offering occupational enrichment to these women at CMOH.

Turning Everyday Activities Into Play: Building Relationships And Fostering Connections For Adopted And Foster Children, Marissa E. Siu, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Summer 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Turning Everyday Activities into Play is a program that was created for foster children, adopted children, and individuals who work with this population in the community. This program uses everyday activities to foster the connection between children and adults. The goal of this program is to use the power of play to support regulation and build stronger bonds and relationships by turning everyday activities into play.

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Assisting With Community Reintegration For Survivors Of Human Trafficking, Jane Huynh, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Summer 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Victims of human trafficking were exposed to traumatic experiences that affected their physical, psychological, cognitive, and social health. As the survivors entered the healing stage and progressed in their journey to community reintegration, the complex traumatic experiences may affect their independence with occupational tasks. This capstone explored the areas where occupational therapy can assist with community reintegration for survivors of human trafficking. Interviews were conducted through casual conversation using the modified-COPM as guidance, and the QOL was used to gather baseline data. Survivors identified priorities of their everyday living and the barriers to them achieving their goals: education, vocation, transportation, …

An Occupational Therapy Approach To Education For Foster Parents, Alexandra E. Judd, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The focus of this project is to enhance current programming for foster parent pre-licensure education courses in San Diego, California. This capstone project focused on the preferred learning styles of foster parents and utilized adult learning theories to create suggestions to enhance the current pre-licensure class curriculum. Data collected during verbal interviews with foster parents helped guide the suggestions to enhance the current curriculum. Utilizing specific occupational therapy group strategies, occupational therapists can help enhance education for foster parents by increasing the saliency of the learning material. The increased saliency facilitates a deeper understanding of the material and increases the …

Meaning-Centered Supervision: A Structured Self-Reflection Model To Reconnect With Personal And Professional Meaning In Palliative Care Work, Rebecca Cammy, Msw, Lcsw

Department of Medical Oncology Posters

Meaning-centered supervision explores participant’s sense of meaning of past, present, and future personal and professional experiences. The series aims to reintegrate selfreflection into clinical practice through experiential exercises, homework journaling, and group discussion. Social workers develop a narrative around themes of professional attitude, living and creating work life, and connections with the social work profession. The goal is to help palliative care social workers create a sense meaning and purpose in their work as they develop their personal and professional identities. Additionally, the hope is to support supervisees through any concerns of burnout and compassion fatigue.

Screening And Monitoring Social Determinants Of Health For Migrant Workers In Vermont, Richard Brach

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

No abstract provided.

Teaching Skills For Self Sufficiency: Health Management For Patients With Disabilities And Chronic Health Conditions, Teresa M. Hickam, Kathy Smith

Posters

Research shows patients who develop self-health management skills are able to translate these skills in other life domains such as higher education, social interaction and employment. Persons with chronic health conditions or disabilities often face challenges securing employment which in turn impacts self sufficiency and long-term health. The poster focuses on two programs at Children's Mercy serving as key building blocks for adolescents to manage their lives.

A Multifaceted Approach To Improve Quarterly Visit Rates At A Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Care Center, Paula Capel, Jessica Banks, Micaela Mckenna, Ashley Andrews, Christopher M. Oermann

Posters

Standard quality improvement methodology was used to improve quarterly visit rates among cystic fibrosis patients at Children's Mercy Kansas City Cystic Fibrosis Center.

• A family-centered, team-based approach was adopted
• A change in culture led to sustained improvement

Improved quarterly visit rates should drive improvement in outcomes including pulmonary function and nutritional status.

Trauma-Informed School Practices: Building Expertise To Transform Schools, Anna A. Berardi Phd., Brenda Morton, Edd.

Open Textbooks

This textbook represents the combined insight and experience of Morton, a k12 educator, and Berardi, a psychotherapist, both of whom are also university educators with extensive work experience serving districts and their teachers seeking to incorporate trauma-informed principles into their school culture and classroom. The authors identify that the field of education is now ready to deepen its level of response to the paradigm shift created by advances in neuroscience and traumatology. Hence, the primary focus is on identifying and applying trauma-informed educator competencies needed to transform districts, schools, educators, classrooms, and the field of education itself, while also including …

What Are The Risk Factors Of Social Isolation And Loneliness, Sheridan Centre For Elder Research

What are the Risk Factors of Social Isolation and Loneliness

This educational PowerPoint presentation is intended to be used as a training resource and can be reviewed individually or as part of a group training session. It will allow you and your staff to review the risk factors that contribute to social isolation and loneliness, and learn about why/how immigration can be a risk factor for social isolation/loneliness. This training module will also encourage you to consider and discuss which risk factors might affect the older adults you work with and consider solutions.

This resource is included in the Social Isolation and Loneliness Toolkit, created by the Centre for Elder …

Tip Sheet - Staying Socially Connected (Gujarati), Sheridan Centre For Elder Research

Tip Sheet

This handout for older adults includes a list of research-informed tips that an older adult can use to engage socially in a variety of ways.

This document is available in the following languages: English, Arabic, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, Urdu

This resource is included in the Social Isolation and Loneliness Toolkit, created by the Centre for Elder Research in Oakville ON, Canada. The Toolkit is part of a research project titled “Building Connected Communities: improving Community Supports to Reduce Loneliness and Social Isolation in Immigrants 65+”. The research focused on exploring strategies …

Coping With Loneliness - A Resource For Older Adults (Tagalog), Sheridan Centre For Elder Research

Coping with Loneliness – A Resource for Older Adults

Coping with Loneliness – A Resource for Older Adults is a reflection tool that includes prompts and activities to help a lonely older adult consider their feelings and come up with potential solutions by taking stock of their feelings, strengths and supports. This resource can be completed by an older adult individually, with the assistance of others, or in a group setting.

This document is available in the following languages: English, Arabic, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, Urdu

This resource is included in the Social Isolation and Loneliness Toolkit, created by the Centre …