Social Work Commons^™

The Impact Of Juvenile Curfew Enforcement On Crime Statistics, Kevin Orron Thomas

Theses and Graduate Projects

While America's overall crime rate is in decline, juvenile crime is on the rise. One strategy to help prevent and reduce this phenomenon is the enforcement of a nocturnal juvenile curfew. In a five year period (1990-1994) fifty percent of major American cities took legislative action to enact a curfew ordinance for the first time, or revised an existing ordinance. The purpose of this study was to examine the enforcement of curfew as it related to the reduction or prevention of juvenile crime. The study analyzed selected crime statistics from two city's comparing and contrasting pre and post curfew enforcement …

Understanding Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Khmer Traditional Healers: A Case Study, Chang Thach

Theses and Graduate Projects

Approximately three million Cambodian (Khmer) people were victims of political genocide committed by the Khmer Rouge in 1975 inside Cambodia. A significant number of survivors of this holocaust immigrated to Minnesota. The psychological trauma of living through the genocide by the Khmer Rouge has caused many Khmer immigrants to seek mental health services. Many of these seeking mental health services have been diagnosed as suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Two groups of Khmer healers currently live in Minnesota: the Buddhist monk and Kru healer. Traditional Khmer immigrants suffering from PTSD symptoms may be inclined to seek help from …

Personal And Social Factors Related To Adolescent Recidivism, Edgar Young Jr

Theses and Graduate Projects

More than 45,000 Minnesota juveniles were arrested for all types of offenses in 1993, and 8.3 out of every 100 Minnesota juveniles arrested were between the ages of 10 and 17 (MN State Legislative Auditor, 1995). This exploratory research is a study using face to face interviews with seven professionals working directly with adolescent males who have been arrested and convicted of illegal activity (including status offenses). Six social service professionals from Minneapolis/St. Paul and surrounding metro counties were interviewed. Participants shared their perspective on the personal and social forces they think influence adolescent recidivism. Recidivism in this study is …

Nurse's Perceptions: Responsibility Attribution Of Rape Victims, Barbara J. Kiffe

Theses and Graduate Projects

Rape is a social problem high impacting the individuals who have experienced sexual assault and its effects. Many clients report not only being victimized by the assault, but also in the aftermath by insensitive professionals who attribute blame to the victim. This blame is created by rape myths, beliefs that under certain circumstances, the victim was responsible for the assault. This thesis replicates a previous study done by Best, Dansky, and Kilpatrick (1992) in South Carolina among medical students and compares the results. This research study examines the attitudes of nurses from three different departments of a midwestern hospital who …

Subsidy: More Or Less, Michelle Lefebvre

Theses and Graduate Projects

This thesis explores whether a subsidized client in a federally funded program for older adults receives as much service as a client in the same program that does not receive subsidy for service. This was accomplished by examining records that spanned a year of service from two programs that deliver service to older adults that assist them to remain living in their own homes.

Finding of the study indicated that there were no relationships between subsidized services and clients receiving service. Based on the study findings, recommendations were made for a larger study sample and a control of other variables.

Access To Educational Services For Homeless Youth Ages 12 To 15 In Minneapolis, Alice L. Brown

Theses and Graduate Projects

The subject of this study is access to educational services for homeless 12 to 15 year old youth. The study used interviews with key informants to answer three questions, What are the educational and support services, what are the eligibility requirements for using the services and what are barriers to accessing services. Using the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act as an indicator of the legally mandated services youth are entitled to four areas were identified that have the potential to act as a barrier to service, residency requirements, guardianship issues, placement/enrollment and services to support success. Seven interviews were conducted with …

A Historical Research Study Of The Evolution Of Attention Deficit Disorder, Eleonora R. Posner

Theses and Graduate Projects

Across the United States of America, schools and social service agencies have become increasingly aware of a disability called Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.). Families and employers are learning the name for this confusing, frustration, seemingly uncontrolled problem. The focus of this thesis will be to trace the origin and historical development of this disorder. It examines the work of those who were involved in identifying, defining and treating the disorder. The author has attempted to draw connections between history, discovery, research and implications for treatment, practice and public policy.

Caregivers Information Seminar: Development Of A Program For Caregivers In The Work Place, Kathi L. Durkee

Theses and Graduate Projects

The fastest growing population in the United States today are people aged 85 and older. Consequently, more American families than ever before are involved in providing some type of care or support to an elderly family member. The resulting need for assistance with daily living comes at a time when increasing numbers of women, the traditional caregivers, are entering the work force. This paper examines the research about caregiving employees and presents remedies that have been presented in the literature. A work-site model is proposed for the use of time-limited psycho-educational support groups that recognize and address the special needs …

Contributing Factors For Battered Women Returning To Abusive Relationships In The Twin Cities Area In 1995, Kimberly R. Holleschau

Theses and Graduate Projects

The economic status of women impacts their ability to leave abusive relationships. A qualitative and quantitative methods survey was used to gather data from residential program directors of battered womens shelters in the metro area detrning their experiences in the field of domestic violence. Using measures of central tendency and interpretation of themes to evaluate the data. 50% stated that economic dependence and a lack of resources, including financial. were the main reasons women stayed. In shelters providing housing alternatives. 58Vo of battered women utilized that resource. It is necessary to improve state and federal policies and shelter programming to …

Culturally Sensitive Mental Health Practices From The Perspectives Of Agency Therapists And African American Clients, Thomas Adams

Theses and Graduate Projects

This portrayal of the African American client and family appeared to be unjustified, Working with some of the "more difficult" African American clients and families and inquiring about their difficulty in following through with treatment programs and continued therapy sessions, a central theme began to emerge as an explanation for their behavior. Many of these African American clients and families believed they were not respected by the agencies or by the therapist. Many said they did not like being the only African American in treatment an#or they wanted an African American therapist. When the writer began to compare this informal …

State Guardianship: A Look At Youth In Hennepin County, Kimberly Shannon Doran

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study is an explorative evaluation of the placement status and identifying characteristics of youth under state guardianship in Hennepin County, Minnesota. A survey design was used to ascertain information about youth ages 0-17, eligible for adoption in Hennepin County from January 1, 1994 and December 31, 1995. The information was provided by the Hennepin County Adoptions Unit. Data resulting from this study did not answer the primary research question regarding the placement status of youth awaiting adoption in the age category of interest results revealed that twelve percent were adopted. Study results revealed that twelve percent were adopted. The …

Factors Associated With Veteran Patients Decisions About Advance Directives At The Minnesota Vamc, Amy L. Marciniak

Theses and Graduate Projects

An estimated 30 million Americans are potentially eligible for care within the Veteran's Administration system. To better understand how veterans choose whether or not to complete an advance directive this study obtained self-reports from eleven men on an extended care ward, at a local VA. An exploratory study was conducted using a questionnaire that gathered quantitative and qualitative data regarding demographics, reasons for having or not having an advance directive, and preferred learning methods. Consistent with other research, the findings indicated varied reasons for not having an advance directive including: never received information, never thought about it, procrastination, family already …

Barriers To School Enrollment And Success Of Children Living In Shelters, Claire Kuennen Jordan

Theses and Graduate Projects

Nearly a decade since the passage of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, barriers to school enrollment and education of children who are homeless remain. The extent to which these barriers exist varies from place to place. To identify the barriers in the St. Paul Public School District, this study surveyed school and shelter staff and interviewed key informants. Survey findings indicate that the most important barriers to enrollment are: difficulty in acquiring children's school records and lack of transportation from the shelter to the school. Once enrolled, the greatest obstacles to school success for these children are repeated …

Perinatal Loss And The Marital Relationship, Karilyn K. Alexander

Theses and Graduate Projects

This exploratory study examined the perceived stress and conflict that resulted in the marriages of 32 individuals who experienced perinatal loss and chose to participate in this study. The research sought to better understand the stress couples perceive in their marriages in relation to the level of attachment to the fetus following a perinatal loss. This study also focused on the social support received from inside and outside the marriage following a loss, and how the support influenced the marital stress experienced. Two copies of the self-administered questionnaires were sent to each couple who volunteered to participate. The findings indicated …

An Evaluation Of The Mid-Iowa Boy Scout Program In Its Effectiveness To Prepare Adolescents To Become Healthy, Responsible And Productive Young Adults, Delores Crum

Theses and Graduate Projects

A review of the current literature indicates that the numbers of troubled and delinquent youths are increasing. Community-based youth programs, such as the Boy Scouts of America, can be a valuable resource in the healthy development of youth. The purpose of this research study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Mid-lowa Boy Scout program in helping adolescent boys become healthy, responsible, contributing members of society. One hundred, self-administered questionnaires were sent to a cross-sample of former Boy Scouts in the Mid-lowa Council, who had turned 17 years of age according to the troop records of 1985-1987. Findings from this …

An Exploration Of The Role Of Computer Mediated Communications In The Lives Of Older Adults, Joanne Middaugh

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study is to explore the use of the Internet bulletin boards/Usenet newsgroups, email, and chat services by adults over age 50. Review of the literature showed that social isolation of older adults has many causal factors. Studies found that the use of telephone support groups has been helpful with cancer patients and caregivers of end-stage AIDS and Alzheimers' patients. Older members of an Internet bulletin board were invited to complete a questionnaire requesting information about their use of computer-mediated communications. Findings showed that 100% of those surveyed perceived an increase in their social network using computer …

An Exploratory Study Of Resilience Among American Indian Human Service Professionals, Georgette M. Bunker

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study explores the link between Native American cultural factors and the concept of resilience. The research design utilized personal interviews with 12 Native Americans in positions of leadership within their own community, to explore questions about protective factors, risk factors and cultural factors. The bicultural continuum was used to study participants to self assess their degree of assimilation. Findings did reflect some similarity between protective factors identified in the resilience literature and cultural factors. Discussion of findings addresses how increased knowledge of the Native American culture can assist practitioners in the assessment of resilience when working with Native American …

A Descriptive Study Of Adolescent Truancy In Dakota County, Connie Roller

Theses and Graduate Projects

Unexcused absences continue to be a problem for schools, families and communities. In this study 50 subjects aged 12- 16 are described using two different measures. Parent-completed program forms provide information on the variables age, gender, race, family size, family income, chemical use, discipline problems, peer pressure, moves and separation or divorce of parents. The second measure examines the opinions and perceptions of key informants to these and other variables impacting school attendance. The findings suggest a larger than expected percentage of girls and minorities exhibiting this behavior. Key informants identified parent's ability to discipline, student’s chemical use and discipline …

Adolescents Who Have Experienced Parental Divorce: Saint Paul School Social Worker's Perceptions Of The Challenges And Limitations Adolescents Experience, Ken Kozemzak

Theses and Graduate Projects

Each year close to 1.2 million American marriages end in divorce, disrupting the lives of over one million children. Recent research has studied many adolescents who have been affected by the experience of parental divorce. This exploratory study presents some of that research and examines what challenges/limitations Saint Paul Middle School social workers see with adolescents from divorced families. This study will also describe services social workers offer in response to the needs of adolescents on their caseloads. Social workers at fourteen different middle school in Saint Paul were surveyed. The findings indicate the results of the literature are consistent …

Children As Witnesses Of Family Violence: Needs Assessment With Program Implications, Beverly A. Seifert

Theses and Graduate Projects

Women who are victims of family violence within a rural Midwestern county receive multi-faceted services from area service providers, while their children who witness family violence receive residual attention. It was the intention of this study to discern the needs of children in this population and to determine if a program of specialized services was indicated. Research for this study was done by interviewing key informants within the service delivery system to pinpoint the percieved physical, educational/cognitive, social, and emotional needs of this population. The findings indicated that there is a need for further services within the Goodhue County area. …

Needs Assessment On Homeless Women, Sandra A. Scott

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the needs of homeless women. This survey included 32 women, who were enrolled in a Transitional Housing Program during 1995. Data collection questionnaire. The collection involved a self-administered questionnaire. The collected data covers several areas: (1) the needs of homeless women from their perspective, (2) improvement in service delivery, and (3) intervention strategies. Of the women surveyed 71.9% were African-American, 12.5% were Caucasian, and 15.6% were Native American. The average age was 25-34. Approximately, 62.5% of the women were single, and never married. And, the women averaged 3-5 children each. Surprisingly, 34.4% …

The Empowerment Effects Of Criminal Court Legal Advocacy On Battered Women: An Exploratory Study, Elizabeth M. Jones

Theses and Graduate Projects

This exploratory study examined the relationship between battered women's legal advocacy and empowerment. It was hypothesized that women who received battered women's legal advocacy would be more empowered during their experiences with the criminal court process than women who did not receive legal advocacy. The sample consisted of 73 women in the intervention group and 60 women in the comparison group whose partners had been arrested on fifth degree domestic assault charges. The sample was drawn from 1995 police records, Nine participants completed a self-administered survey. Using measures of central tendency and bi-variate analysis it was found that women with …

Development Of A Support Group Curriculum: Building Self-Esteem With Adolescent Girls, Elaine S. Korsch

Theses and Graduate Projects

In the past few decades educators, social workers and psychologists have been examining the role self esteem plays in young people's development and have explored why adolescent girls as a group show lower self esteem than adolescent boys. The purpose of this project is two fold: 1) to research those factors that influence the development of self esteem for young girls during the time they move into adolescence and 2) to develop a support group curriculum that addresses those factors that put young girls at risk. The curriculum is designed for girls age 12-14 and is to be facilitated by …

Attrition In The Mandated Treatment Of Men Who Batter: A Look At Demographic Influence, Jill A. Yoerger

Theses and Graduate Projects

Descriptive variables associated with men completing domestic abuse treatment programs were found to be influencing factors in earlier attrition research. One hundred clients who attended a Minneapolis-based domestic abuse treatment program were selected for inclusion in this study. Six demographic variables were thought to be predictive of treatment completion or drop out.

The literature review suggested that factors positively related to attrition included being under less strain. With this in mind, the revised Strain Theory (Agnew, 1992) was used as the theoretical framework for this study. Strain Theory focuses on negative relationships with others, negative affective states and pressure toward …

A Historical Study Of The Minnesota Model: A Multidisciplinary Approach To Alcoholism Treatment, 1940'S To 1995, John A. Herbaugh

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study is to collect and analyze information about the development of the Minnesota Model and its relationship with the Hazelden Foundation and Alcoholics Anonymous using research literature and the scheduled interviews. The literature search revealed information which questioned specific factors related to the model treatment outcomes, inpatient vs. outpatient, and the lack of social worker participation in the treatment of chemical dependency. The interviews were conducted with three key informants. The use of existing data supported the model but questioned the methodologies to obtain treatment outcomes. The interview findings showed the model’s main objective is to …

Passive Victims Of Peer Bullying And Teaching Staff's Response To Them, Kenneth E. Maher

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study explored teaching staff's ability to identify passive victims of peer bullying, the strategies they use to build up a victim's self-esteem, the strategies they use to teach passive victims assertiveness skills and their views and opinions concerning bullying. Research indicated that passive victims of peer bullying tend to have lower self-esteem and don't have the skills needed to protect themselves when bullied. Since a majority of bullying happens at school, teaching staff have the best opportunity to intervene when bullying occurs.

A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 45 teachers, educational assistants and specialist/support staff at a particular elementary …

Recommendations For Parent Involvement In Elementary School Peacemaking Programs, Louise E. Goetz

Theses and Graduate Projects

Improving conflict resolution and peacemaking programs through the increased involvement of parents has been recommended by several major studies. Programs with intentional parent involvement have not been evaluated, so factors related to effective parent involvement have not been identified. This study asked parents, students and peace educators to identify techniques and preferences for parent involvement and support of student learning in a peacemaking and conflict resolution curriculum. The study population included families and peace educators involved with a peacemaking curriculum taught to second graders. Parents completed a self-administered questionnaire; students were interviewed about their experience with using the material; and …

How Hospital Social Service Directors Perceive The Current And Future Role Of The Medical Social Worker, Molly Schwegman Martin

Theses and Graduate Projects

This research explored the current roles and attempts to understand the future roles of medical social workers in hospital settings. The subjects of this study were members of the Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Social Work Administrators in Health Care who completed a 16 question mailed survey. The findings illustrated the necessity to expand social work services beyond the hospital walls into such areas as emergency rooms, community settings, and physician clinics. The information gathered and compiled for this study will be used by directors of hospital social work service departments, along with medical social workers, to examine and …

An Assessment Of The Employment Needs Of Southeast Asian Refugees On Public Assistance In Ramsey County, Nils Dybvig

Theses and Graduate Projects

As welfare programs focus increased emphasis on employment, pressure to become employed will increase for Southeast Asian refugees who depend upon these programs, and who have very different employment needs from the population at large. A series of in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 Hmong, Cambodian and Vietnamese service providers to gather information about the employment needs of refugees that can be met by welfare reform programs. The findings indicate that welfare programs that require employment for refugees are likely to be successful, particularly if the refugees receive assistance in finding work and incentives that make work more attractive than …

Causes Of Conflict Between Hmong Parents And Their Adolescent Children, Vang Thomas Chang

Theses and Graduate Projects

The phenomenon of conflict between Hmong parents and their adolescent children is increasing and showing potential for further deterioration in relationship in the future. The purpose of study is to gain insights from twenty-seven Hmong service providers who responded to a questionnaire regarding the causes of conflict between Hmong parents and their children in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Moreover, this research is to gain insights into Hmong service providers' awareness, observations, and experience in dealing with Hmong families and their adolescent children effectively. This study will also seek to gain understanding of the phenomenon of conflict within Hmong families …