Social Work Commons^™

Beliefs About Substance Abusing Clients Among Social Work Students, Seidy Jhosselyn Soto, Marry Jean Stuart

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study was a quantitative survey and explored beliefs about substance abusing clients among sixty-three social work students. The study focused on the extent to which social work students display bias toward clients with a substance abuse disorder. The study also explored the attitudinal domains of permissiveness, treatment intervention, non-stereotypes, treatment optimism, and non-moralism. The study found that social work students who have taken a substance abuse education class are less like to attribute substance abuse addiction to a weak will in the client. The study recommends that future studies on beliefs about substance abusing clients among social work students …

The Relationship Between School-Based Mental Health Services And Academic Achievement, Jessica Ramirez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant relationship between school-based mental health services and academic achievement. The study focused on (N=38) students in elementary and middle school, who participated in services from the 2012-2013 school year. The test scores before and after they received services were gathered from an existing database to determine how effective school-based mental health services were. The results indicated there was not a significant difference in measures of academic achievement before and after school-based mental health services. However, results demonstrated a positive relationship between test scores before and after school-based …

Social Worker And Teacher Perceptions Of The Achievement Gap In Minnesota, Paul W. Collier

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Narrowing the achievement gap has become an increasing issue in Minnesota. The purpose of this research project was to explore the attitudes of school social workers and teachers to see if there were any significant differences in the perception of the professionals who work with children directly affected by the gap. Using quantitative data analysis, 51 respondents, including 13 licensed social workers and 38 licensed teachers, were surveyed electronically, via Qualtrics, a survey creation and distribution website. All of the questions were created based on findings in the research. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). …

Strength – Based Education, Kathleen Eaves

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This research study was interested in assessing school social workers’ attitudes towards strength – based education. It was hypothesized that school social workers would demonstrate favorability towards strength – based educational principles, but not without some initial hesitations. Identifying these attitudes would highlight receptivity of social work professionals within the school systems towards strength – based education. An informed consent letter along with a research questionnaire was emailed out to 140 school social workers within the Minneapolis School District. The questionnaire included inclusionary and demographic questions in addition to nine strength – based questions that attempted to assess for the …

How Does Education And Experience Impact Therapist Self-Disclosure Among Clinical Social Workers?, Ashley J. Grahek

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This mixed methods study asks clinical social workers about their experience with therapist self-disclosure. Clinical social workers (n=86) completed an online survey asking them about their understanding and use of self-disclosure, their comfort and competence in using self-disclosure, their experience and education regarding self-disclosure, and how education, licensure, training, and supervision might be strengthened or expanded to address the use of self-disclosure in clinical practice. Findings suggested that clinical social workers are comfortable and confident in their use of therapist self-disclosure. The majority of respondents believed education, training, and supervision could be strengthened or expanded to better address the use …

Experiences Of Lgsws In Working With Sex Workers, Megan A. Week

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

There are various factors that influence the lives of sex workers, especially as they are trying to exit sex work. Frequently these factors lead these women to interact with social workers. The purpose of this project was to examine the experiences and preparedness/comfort level of LGSWs in working with sex workers. It also examined the perceived barriers to exiting sex work. Using a mixed methods survey, 61 LGSWs in Minnesota were surveyed about their preparedness to work with this population and their beliefs about the barriers to exiting. Data were analyzed using both descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The findings …

Transforming Our Roles As Co-Educators; A Parents Guide To Meaningful Engagement., Toni M. Stallman

MSW Capstones

When schools and families support each other, students of all backgrounds and various abilities achieve at higher levels. Research indicates levels of parental engagement tends to decline as children progress through the educational system. Parents need to understand and transform their roles to become collaborative co-educators as their children transition from elementary to middle school in order to improve academic outcomes. This intervention, a summer workshop series for parents of children in or approaching middle school, aims to increase home-based and school-based activities and strategies which foster parental engagement. Participants will attend four workshops and be provided interactive workbook to …

The Predictors Of Success Of Palestinian Tawjihi Students In East Jerusalem : A Multilevel Analysis., Rhonda G. Amer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed-method research study was to identify the predictors of success of Palestinian Arab Tawjihi students in East Jerusalem schools. Three theories guided this research study and assisted in developing the conceptual framework; social disorganization theory, ecological theory, and achievement motivation theory. Methods: The sample consisted of 20 schools and 522 students from 19 different neighborhoods. This study was based on existing data and observational data as well as some qualitative data to provide context for the model results. The existing data were gathered from the different schools, the Ministry of Education, local organizations, neighborhood representatives, and …

Analyzing Alternative Learning Centers: Challenges And Opportunities For Maintaining Student Retention, Princess Cramer-Drazkowski

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to examine what strategies alternative learning centers utilize for student retention. A case study was used to learn about the ways one public school located in the Upper Midwest provided resources and developed relationships with students in an alternative learning center setting. Students attending alternative learning centers are typically high-risk high-need students who do not have many social supports in their educational settings. The participant in this study is a high-level administrator who has over 30 years of experience in the public school system, including participation in the creation of the modern alternative learning …

Educational Experiences Of Emancipated Foster Youth: An Exploratory Study, Cynthia Joyce Stunkard

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The data obtained in this qualitative study focused on the educational experiences of youth formerly in foster care after graduation from high school from the viewpoint of the youth. Data were gathered from interviews from 10 participants. Themes included: (a) How do youth emancipated from foster care perceive their educational experiences? (b) What could teachers have done differently to assist the foster youth when he/she first arrived in the classroom or when he/she was moving to another placement? (c) What did teacher do to help the foster youth feel welcomed and part of the classroom community?

Interviews were conducted and …

Who We Are: Incarcerated Students And The New Prison Literature, 1995-2010, Reilly Hannah N. Lorastein

Honors Projects

This project focuses on American prison writings from the late 1990s to the 2000s. Much has been written about American prison intellectuals such as Malcolm X, George Jackson, Eldridge Cleaver, and Angela Davis, who wrote as active participants in black and brown freedom movements in the United States. However the new prison literature that has emerged over the past two decades through higher education programs within prisons has received little to no attention. This study provides a more nuanced view of the steadily growing silent population in the United States through close readings of Openline, an inter-disciplinary journal featuring …

Linking Ebd Student Achievement To Attachment: Exploring The Role Of Relationship In Encouraging School Success, Jennifer Braaten

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Less than one half of students educationally labeled Emotionally or Behaviorally Disordered (EBD) graduate. Previous research findings suggest some reasons for this lack of success including: lack of educator training, mental health issues of students, the effect of poverty and how the nature of early childhood attachment impacts learning. Specific attention has been given to early childhood attachment patterns form the neurological pathways upon which a student may base future interactions. This qualitative study focused on the nature of the student-educator relationship and how that relationship can impact the learning of EBD students. There were ten participants interviewed for this …

Needs Of Transitional Age Youth, Evelyn Kelli Ensman

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into needs of transitional age youth by interviewing experts in this field. The study participants for this research study are the employees that work with the transitional age youth population. The study participants consisted of: Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Masters level Social Workers (MSW), and Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT). The research site for this study was Bilingual Family Counseling Service, INC located in Ontario, California. It is a non-profit behavioral health-care organization that provides a wide range of services to individuals and families. This study used a post positivist methodology. …

Truancy In San Bernardino: What Is It And How Should We Respond, Susan Elizabeth Kennedy

Theses Digitization Project

The focus of this study was to gain an understanding of truancy. Familial factors are frequently blamed for attendance issues, but research shows that the reasons for truancy are oftentimes more complex. The study was conducted using the constructivist paradigm, and key stakeholders were interviewed to discuss their experience with truancy. The study's findings will influence social work practice by providing guidance to create effective truancy programs in San Bernardino. The study site for this research project was the San Bernardino Public Defender's Office. The research project was conducted in the Juvenile Division of the office. The participants were selected …

The Effects Of An Experiential Learning And Mentorship Program Pairing Medical Students And Persons With Cognitive Impairment: A Qualitative Content Analysis, Darby J. Morhardt

Dissertations

The United States population is aging rapidly and with it a tremendous rise in the number of people with dementia. In the future, as now, physicians and other health care professionals will likely provide the majority of health care for older people and those with dementia. The non-geriatric trained workforce must have the attitudes, knowledge and skills needed to provide high quality care for this aging and increasingly cognitively impaired population. There is evidence that prevailing stigma regarding older adults can be modified with experiential opportunities early in students' career. Few of these programs are aimed at persons with dementia. …

Substance Abuse Education In Master's Of Social Work Programs: A Content Analysis, Alex Johnson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Prior research suggests that inadequate substance abuse education in social work programs contributes to misdiagnosis, bias, and produces students who are unprepared to work with substance abuse. This study assessed for the presence of substance abuse education in Minnesota MSW programs’ core curriculum. Using 19 educational objectives based on Minnesota statute for Alcohol and Drug Counseling licensure, this study sought to determine if current graduates are adequately prepared to work with substance abusing and dependent people and their families. Five of six MSW programs were assessed. This study found that only 4 of 19 objectives were met by all schools, …

From Classroom To Workplace: Becoming A Social Worker, Sarah Louise Hessenauer

Dissertations

This exploratory qualitative study examines the key educational experiences that graduated bachelor level social workers identified as being most helpful to them in their current social work careers. Twenty traditional aged social workers who graduated from CSWE accredited, bachelor level, social work programs in the last 4 to 24 months and who had been working in a social work agency for a minimum of three months were asked to voluntarily participate in the study. The social workers participated in one-on-one interviews in which they were asked to describe their educational experiences and their beliefs about how those experiences supported them …

Evaluation Of The Effectiveneess Of Social Work Intervention In The "Making Attendance A Priority Program", Justine Beatriz Rangel

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to address the problem of truancy by looking at what types of effective interventions helped to decrease truancy within the preadolescent population. This study looks at the correlation between a social work intervention and attendence with 27 fifth grade students who were in the MAPP program (Making Attendance a Priority Program). An evaluation of the effectiveness of a social work intervention on truancy rates for students in the MAPP program.

The Impact Of Counselor Recovery Status, Disclosure, Education, And Experience On The Working Alliance In The Treatment Of Substance Use Disorders, Brian D. Roland

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Although evidence shows that between 30 and 75 percent of alcohol and other drug (AOD) counselors are themselves in recovery from a substance use disorder, dated research comparing the effectiveness of recovering and non-recovering counselors failed to control for education, experience, and use of disclosure. Given that the strength of the working alliance between client and counselor is highly predictive of outcome and utilizing interpersonal influence theory as an organizing framework, a path model was hypothesized which posited (a) counselor recovery status and its disclosure impact counselor attractiveness which, in turn, impacts working alliance; (b) counselor education impacts counselor expertness …

Minnesota Health Care Programs: Renville County Human Servics Outreach Project, Bethany Leindecker

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Purpose:

To develop an outreach program for use by Renville County Human Services staff to educate potential service recipients and other community residents about Minnesota health care programs.

To assist outreach staff in gaining skills and knowledge necessary to effectively conduct the outreach.

In Step With Our Parents: 3-Part Educational Series, Kate Boisen-Macdonald

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project is to educate adult children caring for their parents, so they can identify as caregivers so they can better cope with, identify with, and/or navigate the role of care giving, and be aware of the resources available to them.

Program Approach For Childheaded Households In Zambia, Samson Chama

Theses and Dissertations

Using an emergent design, this study developed a program approach for young people in the child headed households of Zambia. Phase I dealt with prior ethnography, Phase II focused on independent living services, and Phase III concerned translation to Zambia. A total of 36 participants from Richmond, consisting of 20 Richmond Department of Social Services workers and youth and 16 Africans, were recruited. Three major themes emerged: feasibility, content, and quality. Lessons learned about translational research highlight the need for uniformity in a cultural screen’s composition. This might enhance the richness of perspectives on young people. Lessons for the Department …

What Contributes To Academic Achievement Among Elementary Grade Students: A Needs Assessment, Adriana Chavez, Martha Tinehyn Glomah

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this research study was to investigate the needs of parents and teachers to identify factors that contributed to academic achievement among elementary grade students. Data was collected from a total of 65 parents and teachers of elementary grade students from Rowland Elementary School in Rowland Heights.

Community And School Violence: An Ethnographic Study, Martha Santiago

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

.

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 …

Social Judgment Research Applied Toward Estimating Factors Relevant To Dui Offenders' Intentions To Drink And Drive: A Factorial Survey Approach, Daniel Elvin Dunlap

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this study was fourfold: (1) to measure the extent to which select circumstances weighed in driving-under-the-influence (DUI) offenders' intentions to drive after drinking; (2) to assess the impact of formal sanction, informal sanction, and moral inhibition with respect to intentions to drive after drinking; (3) to investigate the likelihood of each of fourteen rationalizations to represent a justification to drive after drinking; and (4) to examine possible associations between DUI offender characteristics and the factors indicated above. The offender characteristics of age, prior DUI offenses, and motor vehicle accidents involving alcohol were statistically significant, yet showed negligible …