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Articles 1 - 12 of 12

Full-Text Articles in Social Work

Foster Care Workers' Emotional Responses To Their Work, Alissa Schwartz Sep 2011

Foster Care Workers' Emotional Responses To Their Work, Alissa Schwartz

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The field of child welfare struggles with high rates of job turnover. This study describes the contributors to and experiences of foster care workers' emotional responses to their work. Uniquely drawing from the field of Positive Psychology, it describes and conceptualizes the relationships of multi-level contributors to foster care workers' emotional reactions at work. In-depth interviews conducted with 25 foster care workers found that negative emotions were more prominently featured than positive, but that working in an agency with positive workplace characteristics mitigated this relationship. Theoretical implications and limitations of taking a Positive Psychology approach to the study are discussed.


Experience Of Supervision Scale: The Development Of An Instrument To Measure Child Welfare Workers' Experience Of Supervisory Behaviors, Mary Parente Mar 2011

Experience Of Supervision Scale: The Development Of An Instrument To Measure Child Welfare Workers' Experience Of Supervisory Behaviors, Mary Parente

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop and test the Experience of Supervision Scale, which measures the experience of supervisory behaviors from the perspective of child welfare workers. Child welfare supervision is gaining increased attention as states struggle to improve performance measures of their child welfare systems. However, the lack of a standardized instrument which measures supervision through an analysis of supervisory behaviors from the supervisee’s perspective has hindered efforts in these areas. The Experience of Supervision Scale is based on Kadushin’s three function casework supervision model of supervision (administrative, educational, and supportive) which was chosen as the theoretical …


What Are The Characteristics Of Families With Three Or More Referrals To Children And Family Services Within A Twelve Month Period?, Elizabeth Irene Valenzuela Jan 2011

What Are The Characteristics Of Families With Three Or More Referrals To Children And Family Services Within A Twelve Month Period?, Elizabeth Irene Valenzuela

Theses Digitization Project

In order to better serve those famailies that are chronically involved with Children and Family Services and prevent their future involvement with the system, social service workers should be able to identify and understand what characteristics are causing referral. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of families with three or more referrals within a twelve month period that significantly impact the number of referrals a family receives.


Effects Of Substance Abuse Services On Child Reunification, Peter Charles Shorts Jan 2011

Effects Of Substance Abuse Services On Child Reunification, Peter Charles Shorts

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to conduct a descriptive and inferential analysis of the effect of substance abuse treatment upon the family reunification process. The research revealed a significant relationship between the median age of custodial parents whose parental rights were terminated and the median age of parents whose parental rights were not terminated.


The Relationship Between Vicarious Traumatization And Job Retention Among Child Welfare Professionals, Jennifer S. Middleton Jan 2011

The Relationship Between Vicarious Traumatization And Job Retention Among Child Welfare Professionals, Jennifer S. Middleton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation study examined the relationship between vicarious traumatization and job retention among 1,192 child welfare professionals in five different child welfare organizations. Propositions from Constructivist Self Development Theory (CSDT) were utilized to examine the differential factors influencing the impact of vicarious trauma on child welfare professionals' intent to leave their organization, including coping strategies, professional efficacy, and professional satisfaction. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to assess the degree of fit between the observed data and several hypothesized theoretical models examining the relationship between vicarious trauma, coping strategies, professional efficacy, professional satisfaction, and retention. Findings from SEM analyses revealed …


Participants' Perceptions On The Effectiveness Of The "Parents In Partnership" Program Of Los Angeles County, Shaniece Anejo Hunter-Moffett Jan 2011

Participants' Perceptions On The Effectiveness Of The "Parents In Partnership" Program Of Los Angeles County, Shaniece Anejo Hunter-Moffett

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to examine participants' perceptions on the effectiveness of the "Parents in Partnership" program (PIP) of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Parents in Partnership (PIP) is a collaborative effort between the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and parent partner paraprofessionals toward facilitation of safe reunification and permanency through education, support and mentoring of birth parents. The program's sole goal is the timely and safe reunification of children and their families. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with fourteen participants in the PIP program. Both mentors and mentees were interviewed.


Black American Perceptions Of Social Workers, Ron-Niece Qashaun Charesse Paul Jan 2011

Black American Perceptions Of Social Workers, Ron-Niece Qashaun Charesse Paul

Theses Digitization Project

This study examines Black Americans' perceptions of social workers and of the role of the Black church and extended family in assisting individuals in the Black community. The study employed a survey design with self-administered questionnaires. Sixty respondents participated in the study and the study was conducted at two Black churches in the San Bernardino County.


Reunification Outcomes For Hispanics In The Child Welfare System, Lucia Aguirre Coronel Jan 2011

Reunification Outcomes For Hispanics In The Child Welfare System, Lucia Aguirre Coronel

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to identify any contributing factors to the overrepresentation of Hispanic children in the child welfare system. This study used an exploratory design and quantitavie methods to examine reunification oucomes of 100 case files in a county in Southern California.


The Causes Of Recurrence Of Maltreatment In Child Welfare, And The Impacts Of The Family Team Decision Making Initiative, Juana Lorena Gonzalez Jan 2011

The Causes Of Recurrence Of Maltreatment In Child Welfare, And The Impacts Of The Family Team Decision Making Initiative, Juana Lorena Gonzalez

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to identify causes and impacts on family when children re-enter child welfare as a result of recurrence of child maltreatment and what child welfare agencies are doing to reduce those incidences.


An Exploration Of The Paradigm Of Kinship Caregiving And Caregivers' Experiences With Child Welfare And Public Welfare Systems Using Critical Theory Analysis, Tara Valinchus Dejohn Jan 2011

An Exploration Of The Paradigm Of Kinship Caregiving And Caregivers' Experiences With Child Welfare And Public Welfare Systems Using Critical Theory Analysis, Tara Valinchus Dejohn

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Kinship caregiving as a paradigm in the United States (US) is historically linked to slavery subcultural practices. Over time, dominant US systems have vacillated in demonstrating formal acknowledgement of kinship as an acceptable family unit and in availing resources to support kinship caregiving. The patterns and practices of these variations pertaining to kinship caregiving as a paradigm has received little attention despite documentation of its increased utilization in public child welfare and welfare systems. This exploratory case study responds to the paucity of knowledge regarding the systemic shifts towards the kinship caregiving paradigm and the perspectives of kinship caregivers who …


The Foster Care And Adoption Process Through The Eyes Of Prospective Parents, Nancy Hocking Berger Jan 2011

The Foster Care And Adoption Process Through The Eyes Of Prospective Parents, Nancy Hocking Berger

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Every year, thousands of children wait in the Michigan foster care system for a permanent family. Families that express interest in foster care or adoption encounter a complicated and complex child welfare system. In the end, the majority of families that express interest do no progress to fostering or adopting (Katz, Wilson & Green, 2005). There are potential barriers at every step of the process that can impact a family's progress towards providing a home and a family for a waiting child (McRoy, 2007). This study seeks to answer the question: Once interest has been expressed, what are the reasons …


Mental Health Service Access Among Children And Adolescents Involved With Child Welfare Services, Junqing Liu Jan 2011

Mental Health Service Access Among Children And Adolescents Involved With Child Welfare Services, Junqing Liu

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Most research on children's access to mental health has focused on child and family factors (e.g. child's age and ethnicity), with little attention being paid to service system factors such as service referrals and insurance. Furthermore, most research conducted to date on mental health service access has been cross-sectional without considering how service access and needs change over time. This dissertation study aims to address these oversights by examining over time service system change and the impact of service system factors on the relationship between service needs and access. The study employs multilevel and longitudinal regression analyses (STATA) using five …