Social Work Commons^™

Prioritizing The Delivery Of Services To Homeless Students Who Also Have Special Needs, Emily Nolte

Education: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

In the United States there are 234,506 children who are homeless and also identified as having special needs within the 2015/2016 school year. This population experiences extensive biological, psychological, social, and academic needs (Black & Hoeft, 2015; Chow, Mistry, & Melchor, 2015; Gargiulo, 2006; Hernandez Jozefowicz-Simbeni & Israel, 2006). Schools face varied challenges of barriers such as properly identifying students and staff and funding issues (Bowman, et al., 2008; Gargiulo, 2006; Hernandez Jozefowicz-Simbeni & Israel, 2006), while families struggle with issues such as time constraints and high stress levels (Chow, Mistry, & Melchor, 2015; Hernandez Jozefowicz-Simbeni & Israel, 2006). While …

Guide Lines Vol. I, Issue 14 - April 2018, College Of Health And Human Services

GUIDE Lines

No abstract provided.

Farm To Liberation: Towards Feminist Food Justice, Elisabeth Spector

Honors Theses

Women are one of the many vulnerable populations experiencing the detrimental effects of human-induced climate change, and our current system of food production is one of the largest contributors to this global problem. Not only do modern methods of food production contribute significantly to climate change, but they devalue women’s knowledge and strip away their opportunities. A number of communities and individuals have begun to work against this system and work towards food justice through small-scale farming and growing their own food. Through the use of ecofeminist scholarship and original interviews, this project examines the problems within our current food …

Rrtc On Advancing Employment Composite Indicator Research, Frank A. Smith, Thinkwork! At The Institute For Community Inclusion At Umass Boston

ThinkWork! Publications

What?
Analysis to describe the relationship between state employment system characteristics and employment outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Why?
To better understand higher-performing state employment systems.

How?
Researchers included individual indicators from 2013 for each state from its IDD and vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies. We also used American Community Survey data that looked at employment outcomes and education for individuals with cognitive disability between the ages of 22 to 30, i.e. individuals who recently aged out of eligibility for services under IDEA. The resulting composite indicator (CI) represents overall state employment system performance.

A Model Of Employment Supports For Job Seekers With Intellectual Disabilities, Alberto Migliore, Kelly Nye-Lengerman, Oliver Lyons, Jennifer Bose, John Butterworth, Thinkwork! At The Institute For Community Inclusion At Umass Boston

ThinkWork! Publications

Interviews with 16 employment consultants-triangulated with job seekers, family members, and supervisors-revealed a model of employment supports aligned with the elements described in the literature, although with an added emphasis on (a) building trust as a key element starting from day one; (b) a circular process converging on the job match; (c) and flexible intensity of supports. The model can be used for improving clarity in communication with employment consultants about effective employment support practices for assisting job seekers with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Awareness, Analysis, Engagement: Critical Consciousness Through Foster Youth Advisory Board Participation, Bradley Forenza

Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Foster youth advisory boards provide child welfare-involved young people a forum through which to impact the policies, programs, and services that govern their care. In addition to facilitating policy change, these boards may also enable participating youth to cultivate a deeper understanding of themselves and their worlds. The present study utilized a strengths-based, critical consciousness framework to describe the ways in which 15 foster youth advisory board members in a single state reflect on, analyze, and respond to their socio-political worlds. To this end, the author aims to describe youth advisory board processes, while attempting to answer the question, “How …

On My Own Terms: Effectiveness Of Death With Dignity Legislation In Oregon, Megan E. Russell

Student Publications

As the elderly constitute a greater proportion of the population, end-of- life issues have taken on a greater sense of urgency. This paper will address the heart of the debate, which is a terminally ill patient's right to dignity and self-determination. To further explore this social issue, a literature review will be conducted using a variety of relevant literature including, peer reviewed journals, and accredited online resources to assemble evidence of researchers. In some states, the discussion on this social issue has resulted in the enactment of policy. One of the first groundbreaking public laws was the Oregon Death with …

Cultural Diversity In The Msw Learning Space: Exploring Awareness, Acceptance, And Perceptions, Natasha Bragg, Christine Marie Bishop, Minyoung Lim

Faculty Publications

This exploratory study assesses MSW students’ awareness, acceptance, and perceptions with regard to cultural diversity in the MSW learning space. Through a stepwise multiple regression analysis, seven predictor variables were inputted to assess their predictive qualities on the criterion of perceptions of cultural diversity in the MSW learning space.

An Assessment Of The Structural & Equipment Accessibility Of Primary Care Offices, Leeann C. Swager, Nancy R. Mudrick, Mary Lou Breslin

Social Work - All Scholarship

The purpose of this research is to assess the overall structural and equipment barriers encountered by persons with functional limitations when attempting to access medical care. Using data about the physical accessibility of 3991 primary care offices in California, offices were ranked on a scale of accessibility. Results overall show that primary care offices are meeting most, or between 63-87%, of federal accessibility guidelines. It appears that major problematic areas for accessibility are Exam Rooms and Toilet Rooms. Possibilities for this outcome include higher costs for equipment (as opposed to structural/architectural changes), difficulty accommodating interior room layouts, and the office’s …

Gatekeeping Decriminalization Of Prostitution: The Ubiquitous Influence Of The New Zealand Prostitutes' Collective, Janice G. Raymond

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

This article explores the activities of The New Zealand Prostitutes' Collective (NZPC) in promoting decriminalization of prostitution and its role in gatekeeping this legislation. The NZPC has loomed large in the government’s evaluations of the decriminalization legislation known as the Prostitution Reform Act (PRA). It has collected information, partnered on the research team appointed by the Ministry of Justice to conduct the research, and ultimately secured seats as evaluators on the Prostitution Law Review Committee (PLRC) charged with assessing the research and making recommendations. Much of its outsized influence on the research and conclusions of this report is demonstrated in …

Self-Care In Graduate And Undergraduate Social Work Students At The University Of Southern Maine, Rachel Andreasen

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Prior literature clearly demonstrates that social workers are at a high risk for burnout, compassion fatigue, secondary stress, and vicarious trauma (Kapilistas & Corcoran, 2015) (Kinman & Grant, 2011). Social work programs that have incorporated training on self-care education have found students less stressed and with less burnout. Using Self Care Deficit Theory as a theoretical basis, the purpose of this descriptive quantitative study is explore the ways in which social work students at the University of Southern Maine are incorporating self-care into their education and lives. Students participated in a survey, which measures self-care in multiple domains. Descriptive and …

Parentified Then Removed: A Teenager’S Conceptualization Of Family Identity, Katherine Bernard Melcher

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Family identity construction and the socially accepted definition of family have evolved over time. From the idyllic nuclear family of the 1950s to the contemporary examples that include step parents, grandparents, same sex parents and legal guardians have transformed the way family is conceptualized. The current research is typically concerned with creating an operational definition of family, particularly for divorced families; however, there is a gap in the research focused on how children experience and identify with family identity construction. This is especially consequential for children who have been removed from their family home by child protective services. This narrative …

Patients Attitudes On Alternative Approaches To Chronic Pain Management, Morgan Beede

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The topic of chronic pain and pain management continues to be heavily discussed by healthcare providers today. In the state of Maine, the recent limit on Opioid prescriptions raised questions regarding sustainable and alternative, long-term treatment options for patients. Many patients suffering from chronic pain are now tapering off their prescriptions and seeking alternative treatment options such as acupuncture, herbal remedies/supplements, massage, mind-body techniques, and yoga. This qualitative study was designed to explore patients attitudes on alternative treatment approaches. Seven individuals who suffer from chronic pain participated in interviews exploring their journey toward pain relief. The findings from this study …

Military Sexual Trauma: A Thematic Analysis Of Impact And Interventions, Rebecca Cornell Du Houx

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Media driven awareness of military sexual trauma (MST), meaning sexual harassment or assault that occurred while serving in the US Military, may have increased since the term was first coined in 2004, yet the services available for survivors of MST could still be lacking. Percentages of MST prevalence range, with one research study finding 80% of women serving in the military have experienced some type of sexual harassment or assault (Meade, Glenn, & Wirth, 2013). Previous research has also shown that MST is connected to depression, suicidal ideation, and PTSD, along with other mental health conditions.* During the present study, …

One School, One Family: Portland High School Climate In The Age Of Trump, Naomi Abrams Hawkes

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The 2016 U.S. presidential election led to one of the most contentious seasons in American politics. Citing the inflammatory rhetoric of public figures, a growing body of literature documents a dramatic increase in bias-­‐related bullying and feelings of anxiety in K-12 schools across the country since the 2016 election. Using student and faculty interviews/focus groups, secondary data analysis, and direct observations, this case study offers a comprehensive examination of the effects of the substance and tone of the current sociopolitical climate on students at Portland High School. Data was analyzed and suggestions made for administration to help create a more …

The Media Portrayal Of Homelessness In Portland, Maine, Molly Hardman

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

On January 24, 2017, 1,188 people were identified as homeless in Maine. The Maine State Housing Authority estimates that 527 of those people were unsheltered or resided in emergency homeless shelters in the City of Portland. People who suffer from mental illness and substance abuse, survivors of domestic violence, as well as unaccompanied youths and veterans represent many of the homeless individuals in the City of Portland (MSHA, 2017). There is an abundance of research on homelessness as it relates to mental health disorders and substance abuse (Sarvis, 2017); however, less attention has been paid to the portrayal of homelessness …

Living Kinky, Carrie Kahl

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Current research around BDSM bondage-discipline, domination-submission (BDSM) and kink often serves to pathologize behaviors we now recognize as part of a healthy sexual expression for individuals, couples, and poly groups alike. Kink can be defined as sensual, erotic, or otherwise sexual behaviors that are considered unconventional within the context of a society, and while these behaviors have been depathologized with the release of the DSM-V, much of the existing research has been slow to reflect these changes.

Through a phenomenological approach this study offers a glimpse into the lived experience of five self-identified kinky individuals (n=5) with consideration of their …

Socially Isolated Cambodians In The Us: Recommendations For Health Promotion, S. Megan Berthold, Sengly Kong, Jason Ostrander, Seiya Fukuda

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Cambodian genocide survivors experience health disparities associated with their traumatic experiences. Cambodian community organizations in the United States are severely challenged to serve these survivors. Community leaders have identified a sub-set of community members of particular concern: those at either end of the age spectrum (elders and young people) who are socially isolated. As part of a larger community-based participatory research project, we conducted a focus group with seven Cambodian community leaders from six cities that sought to better understand the phenomenon of social isolation of Cambodian elders and young people in order to inform health promotion efforts. Cambodian leaders …

The Foster Care System And Its Long Term Effects, Amanda Bustamante, Kristen Livingston

Paper Presentations

A Social Learning study on the long term affects of the Foster Care System, which is a substitute care for children who are placed away from their parents or guardians, and for whom the State agency has placement and care responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, placements in foster family homes, foster homes of relatives, group homes, emergency shelters, residential facilities, childcare institutions, and pre-adoptive home. Twenty-five thousand kids leave the system each year; this is their take on life and the system in which they experienced. Each has different circumstances, which influences their journey throughout the System. …

Examining The Impact Of A Criminal Background In Social Work Education, Amy S. Vliek

Dissertations

Many returning citizens want to access higher educational institutions (HEIs) to access desired professions and increase employability. However, many HEIs and profession education programs have restrictions in place for returning citizens. An MSW is the most sought-after degree for returning citizens. However, social work education has restrictions in place for returning citizens. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the lived experiences of MSW returning citizen students considering these restrictions. The dissertation attempts to answer the following research questions: How did applicants who disclosed a criminal background at the time of application experience the MSW application process? Did the …