Digital Commons Network^™

Adapting Clinical Services To Accommodate Needs Of Refugee Populations, Jessica A. Kaczorowski, Ann Shah Williams, Taylor F. Smith, Niloofar Fallah, Julia L. Mendez, Rosemery Nelson-Gray

Psychology and Child Development

The diversity of the refugee population in the United States requires practicing psychologists to respond by adapting clinical services to meet their mental health needs. However, the available literature on culturally adapted treatments is only a first step in guiding the process for adapting clinical services. This paper describes our experiences with designing and adapting a variety of clinical services for youth and families with refugee status. Guided by Sue's (2006) tenets for culturally competent service delivery, we discuss a therapeutic model of tiered service delivery used to deliver preventative services and treatment to refugee youth and adults. We discuss …

Effects Of Chronic Variable Stress Across Developmental Stages In Mice, Sheryl Jayne Stevens

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a response to trauma exposure that involves a number of symptoms that can be highly impairing to affected individuals. Only a subset of those exposed to traumatic events will develop the disorder, which is conceptualized as developing via conditional fear. Research into factors predisposing for PTSD is needed. Furthermore, little work has been done to investigate predisposing factors in children more specifically. This research tests the effects of stress exposure on subsequent fear learning, across developmental stages in mice, as a model for PTSD. Juvenile and adult male mice were exposed to chronic variable stress …

Suicide Risk At Young Adulthood: Continuities And Discontinuities From Adolescence, Carole Hooven, Karen A. Snedker, Elaine Adams Thompson

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

Young adult suicide is an important social problem, yet little is known about how risk for young adult suicide develops from earlier life stages. In this study the authors report on 759 young adults who were potential high school dropouts as youth. At both adolescence and young adulthood, measures of suicide risk status and related suicide risk factors are collected. With a two-by-two classification on the basis of suicide risk status at both adolescence and young adulthood, the authors distinguish four mutually exclusive groups reflecting suicide risk at two life stages. Using ANOVA and logistic regression, both adolescent and young …

African American Men Facing Homelessness And Co-Occurring Disorders: A Qualitative Investigation Of Multiple Stigmas, Rebecca C. Mayor

Dissertations (1934 -)

Homelessness is a pervasive and problematic phenomenon, and programs designed to assist individuals experiencing homelessness and reduce homelessness face a number of challenges. One such challenge involves difficulty engaging and retaining clientele experiencing homelessness in supportive services (Bhui et al., 2006; Ng & McQuistion, 2004; Padgett et al., 2008). The literature suggests that one explanation for this difficulty may involve the stigmatization experiences that individuals facing homelessness accumulate over time; previous studies have indicated that holding a marginalized position in society may make individuals experiencing homelessness more reluctant to engage in services (because of social rejection fears) and/or more sensitive …

Effects Of Youth Participation On Adults In A Neighborhood Multi-Organizational Project, Joanne Marie Benham

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Engaging youth in decision-making processes with adults is of growing interest in communities across the country. Reasons generally cited are that youth benefit from interactions with caring adults who help them build skills, confidence, and a sense of belonging. These experiences are essential for a successful transition from adolescence to adulthood. (Benson, Scales, Hamilton, & Sesma; Hong & Roehlkepartain, 2006). However, researchers Zeldin, McDaniel, Topitzes, and Calvert (2000) hypothesized that these youth/adult decision-making ventures create equally important benefits for adults. In a study of select organizations across the country where youth were members of organizational boards, these researchers found youth …

Curriculum For Parents Of Children In Foster Care Who Are Working To Achieve Reunification, Andrea Lynn Skaflen

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

This review considers the reasons for the disconnect between what has been identified as best practice and what is routinely practiced regarding services to biological parents of children in foster care. As well it synthesizes the current data regarding what practices are most effective in working with biological parents of children in foster care in achieving the goal of family reunification to create a curriculum for parents of children in foster care who are working to achieve reunification. It also synthesizes current data regarding best practices and presents a curriculum for parents of children in foster care who are working …

Comprehensive Directory Of Mental Health Services 2010: A Tool For Collaboration In Providing Services, Glennys Heatwole Shouey

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

The purpose of this project was to update the 2007 edition of the Comprehensive Directory of Mental Health Services and to expand the geographical areas covered. The directory was first published in 1990 and, with regular updating, has continued to provide helping professionals with resources for making referrals and for working in a collaborative framework to meet the mental health needs of our communities. All information included in the 2007 edition was verified and updated and new listings were added. The directory is available in printed form and online at http://www.psyc.jmu.edu/counseling/servicesdirectory.html.

The Development And Evaluation Of A Safety Skill Intervention For Child Victims Of Neglect, Heather H. Hill

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Child neglect is the least studied, yet most frequently indicated, type of child maltreatment. Still, there are few assessment and treatment methods specifically designed for victims of child neglect. Unintentional injuries have long remained the leading cause of death for children in the United States after the first year of life, and research suggests the majority of these child fatalities are actually the result of child neglect. Homes of neglectful families are often inundated with safety hazards but child-focused home safety skill interventions have yet to be developed. Thus, the present study focused on the development and initial evaluation of …

Adapting Evidence-Based Treatments For Youth In A Community Mental Health Setting: Single Case Design, Alexis Quinoy

Theses and Dissertations

This single-case design study examined the effectiveness of adapting evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for children in a community clinic through a university-community partnership. Community clinic therapists treated eight youths (five males), ages 10 to 14, of whom four were Caucasian, two were Latino, one was African-American, and one was Caucasian/African-American. Youths presented with a primary diagnosis of a DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) internalizing disorder (plus multiple comorbidities). An adapted treatment combining multiple elements based on two primary treatment manuals: Coping Cat (Kendall et al., 1990) and PASCET (Weisz et al., 1999) was used. Youths with comorbid externalizing symptoms were also …

Brief Report: 30th Anniversary Survey Results, Paige Asawa

Journal of Clinical Art Therapy

No abstract provided.

Development And Validation Of The Minnesota Borderline Personality Disorder Scale, Marina Bornovalova, Brian M Hicks, Christopher J. Patrick, William G Iacono, Matt Mcgue

Psychology Faculty Publications

Although large epidemiological data sets can inform research on the etiology and development of borderline personality disorder (BPD), they rarely include BPD measures. In some cases, however, proxy measures can be constructed using instruments already in these data sets. In this study, the authors developed and validated a self-report measure of BPD from the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ). Items for the new instrument—the Minnesota BPD scale (MBPD) —were identified and refined using three large samples: undergraduates, community adolescent twins, and urban substance users. The authors determined the construct validity of the MBPD scale by examining its association with (a) diagnosed …

Chinese Parents’ Perspectives On Adolescent Sexuality Education, Wenli Liu, Kali S. Van Campen, Carolyn P. Edwards, Stephen T. Russell

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

There is growing interest in China to understand how young people learn about sexuality, but there are few existing studies about the role of parents as sex educators of their children. This study surveyed 694 Chinese parents of adolescents in three cities about their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding sexuality education for their children. The majority supported sexuality education, yet few parents had provided it. High-income parents had more favorable sexual attitudes and, in turn, were more likely to educate children about sexuality. The findings provide insight into parents’ role in adolescents’ sexual behavior and can be useful to sexuality …

Is Touch Beyond Infancy Important For Children’S Mental Health?, Melody Whiddon, Marilyn J. Montgomery

Faculty Publications - Graduate School of Counseling

Numerous studies from various fields have established that touch is vital to healthy adjustment during infancy and also during old age. Physiological research emphasizes the importance of touch to physical and psychological systems (Field, 2003). Attachment research emphasizes the importance of touch in the sensitive responsiveness and availability characteristic of the secure attachment style (Kassow & Dunst, 2004). Behavioral research emphasize the importance of contingent touch in reinforcement of infant behavior (Gewirtz & Pelaez- Nogueras, 2000). Recently, attention has been given to research examining touch in medical situations for elderly populations.

Theoretically, touch should remain important throughout the lifespan, but …

Updated Trends In Child Maltreatment, 2010., David Finkelhor, Lisa M. Jones, Anne M. Shattuck

Crimes Against Children Research Center

Even in the midst of continuing difficult economic times, 2010 national statistics showed no increase in child maltreatment. Overall substantiated child maltreatment actually declined 1% from 2009 to 2010, including a 3% decline in sexual abuse and a 2% decline in physical abuse. Child maltreatment fatalities also declined 8%, but some known administrative changes af‐ fected the rates.

The Impact Of Youth And Family Risk Factors On Service Recommendations And Delivery In A School-Based System Of Care, Melissa L. Whitson, Christian M. Connell, Stanley N. Bernard, Joy S. Kaufman

Psychology Faculty Publications

The present study examines the impact of child and family risk factors on service access for youth and families in a school-based system of care. Regression analyses examined the relationships between risk factors and services recommended, services received, and dosage of services received. Logistic regression analyses examined the relationship between risk factors and whether or not youth received specific types of services within the system of care. Results revealed that youth with a personal or family history of substance use had more services recommended than youth without these risk factors, while youth with a family history of substance use received …

A Closer Look At Co-Rumination: Gender, Coping, Peer Functioning And Internalizing/Externalizing Problems, Tanya L. Tompkins, Ashlee R. Hockett, Nadia Abraibesh, Jody L. Witt

Faculty Publications

Co-rumination, defined as repetitive, problem-focused talk, explains higher levels of friendship quality in youth (Rose, 2002) and increased levels of anxiety/depression in females. Middle adolescents (N=146) participated in a study of co-rumination, individual coping, externalizing/internalizing problems, and peer functioning. Consistent with past research, girls reported higher levels of co-rumination and internalizing symptoms. Co-rumination was also positively correlated with self-reports, but not teacher reports, of anxiety/depression and aggressive behavior. Both self-reported number of friends and teacher-rated social acceptance were negatively associated with co-rumination. Co-rumination partially accounted for the significant indirect effect of gender on internalizing symptoms. Additionally, co-rumination was …

A Phenomenological Study Of Workplace Empowerment And Self-Efficacy Of School Social Workers, Kathy J. Minnich

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The divergent goals of educational institutions versus those of school social workers can lead to school social workers feeling disenfranchised. A major premise in the profession of social work is empowerment; yet, practitioners of school social work report feeling marginalized, misunderstood, underappreciated, and at-risk for elimination, common expressions of a lack of empowerment and self-efficacy. The experiences of school social workers with empowerment and self-efficacy within the workplace have been overlooked as a potential factor in the ability of these workers to empower and serve their clients. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived and share experience …

The Experience Of Mental Health Service Use For African American Mothers And Youth, Richard Thompson, Barbara L. Dancy, Tisha R. A. Wiley, Sylvia P. Perry, Cynthia J. Najdowski

Psychology Faculty Scholarship

Little is known about African American families’ experiences with mental health services. A purposive sample of 40 dyads of African American youth (aged 13 to 19) and their mothers participated in a cross-sectional qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews that elicited information about their past experiences and satisfaction with mental health services. Though rarely received, group and family therapy were perceived favorably. However, both mothers and youth reported dissatisfaction centered on medication and lack of professionalism, confidentiality, and concern by providers. The failure of mental health services providers to meet basic standards of quality and professionalism may explain the low …

Preschoolers’ Social Behavior And Context Coding System, Soo-Young Hong

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Coding Guidelines

1. Observe during free play, small groups, routines/transitions, and outdoor play on two different days per child. Do not observe during large group activity.

2. Observe the target child’s behavior for 20 seconds and code for 30 seconds.

3. Context: a.) Coded as mutually exclusive subcategories.

4. Nature of Activity: a.) Coded as mutually exclusive subcategories. b.) If ‘Daily routines/transitions’ was coded, the Type of Activity should be coded as one of the four types relevant to daily routines/transitions (i.e., Personal care, Meal and snack, Clean up, or Transition activity).

5. Type of Activity: a.) The types of …

A Randomized Trial Examining The Effects Of Parent Engagement On Early Language And Literacy: The Getting Ready Intervention, Susan M. Sheridan, Lisa Knoche, Kevin A. Kupzyk, Carolyn P. Edwards, Christine A. Marvin

Department of Educational Psychology: Faculty Publications

Language and literacy skills established during early childhood are critical for later school success. Parental engagement with children has been linked to a number of adaptive characteristics in preschoolers including language and literacy development, and family-school collaboration is an important contributor to school readiness. This study reports the results of a randomized trial of a parent engagement intervention designed to facilitate school readiness among disadvantaged preschool children, with a particular focus on language and literacy development. Participants included 217 children, 211 parents, and 29 Head Start teachers in 21 schools. Statistically significant differences in favor of the treatment group were …

Maternal Depressive Symptoms And Health Outcomes In Youths With Type 1 Diabetes: A Mediational Model, Struemph Kari Morgan

Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: The rate and impact of depressive symptoms were examined with two models based on known effects of depression on variables related to diabetes management, parental involvement and diabetes conflict. The proposed models will measure potential effects high maternal depressive symptoms may have on parental monitoring and involvement and diabetes specific conflict and how these variables may in turn relate to poor regimen adherence. Methods: Participants included 225 mothers and young adolescents (aged 11-14) with T1D. Diabetes self-care behaviors were measured with the 24 Hour Recall Interview, parental involvement and monitoring were measured with the Parent Management of Diabetes Scale, …

Posttraumatic Stress Among Young Urban Children Exposed To Family Violence And Other Potentially Traumatic Events, Cindy A. Crusto, Melissa L. Whitson, Sherry M. Walling, Richard Feinn, Stacey R. Friedman, Jesse Reynolds, Mona Amer, Joy S. Kaufman

Psychology Faculty Publications

This study examines the relationship between the number of types of traumatic events experienced by children 3 to 6 years old, parenting stress, and children's posttraumatic stress (PTS). Parents and caregivers provided data for 154 urban children admitted into community-based mental health or developmental services. By parent and caregiver report, children experienced an average of 4.9 different types of potentially traumatic events. Nearly one quarter of the children evidenced clinically significant PTS. Posttraumatic stress was positively and significantly related to family violence and other family-related trauma exposure, nonfamily violence and trauma exposure, and parenting stress. Additionally, parenting stress partially mediated …

Environmental And Developmental Indicators In Early Childhood: Relations To Second-Grade Reading Comprehension, Gina A. Cook

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Reading success has been linked to high school completion, future job success, and future generations of children who can read. Unfortunately, children who are unable to read on grade level by the end of first grade are at a great disadvantage and unlikely to catch up later. Without the ability to read and comprehend text, all aspects of schooling become progressively more difficult and the challenge of poor reading ability can be so difficult to overcome that many poor readers will not complete high school. For these reasons, it is important to identify early experiences in a child's family environment …

Scaling Up: Professional Development To Serve Young Children In Chinese Welfare Institutions, Carolyn P. Edwards, Janice N. Cotton, Wen Zhao, Jerònia Muntaner-Gelabert

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

As senior program directors and field supervisors, we at Half the Sky Foundation asked ourselves, how can we empower children's welfare institution staff to provide nurture, enrichment, and education for all young children in state care? Creating an infrastructure for providing professional development was the first step. The HTS training infrastructure for early childhood includes international experts and a cadre of skilled Chinese teacher trainers, who together create a network of HTS teacher trainers (program directors and field supervisors for Infant Nurture and Little Sisters). In addition, Blue Sky model training centers-soon to number 31, one for each province of …

Accumulation, Excess, Childhood: Toward A Countertopography Of Risk And Waste, Cindi Katz

Publications and Research

This piece grows out of my on-going project, ‘Childhood as Spectacle’, and my enduring concern with social reproduction and what it does for and to Marxist and other critical political-economic analyses. After more than 30 years of Marxist-feminist interventions around these issues, symptomatic silences around social reproduction remain all too common in analyses of capitalism. Working through these issues and their occlusion, I offer what I hope is a useful and vibrant theoretical framework for examining geographies of children, youth, and families. Building this framework calls into play three overlapping issues; neoliberal capitalism in crisis and David Harvey’s notion of …

Teacher Stress: An Assessment Of Teachers' Need For And Receptiveness Towards A Stress Reduction Program Within One Rural School System, Tyler Christine Rosenberg

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

There is a concern for the level of stress teachers experience in their jobs. The effects of stress are not only harmful for the individual teacher, but for the teacher’s students and the learning environment as well (Travers & Cooper, 1996). Stress among teachers is related to absenteeism, turnover, and early retirement, which negatively affect the climate of the school and lead to poor student outcomes, both academically and behaviorally. The nature and severity of these concerns highlight the need for programs designed to reduce stress among teachers. A critical first step in partaking in program development efforts is to …

“When Will Your Program Be Available In Spanish?" Adapting An Early Parenting Intervention For Latino Families, Jean E. Dumas, Ximena Arriaga, Angela Moreland Begle, Zayra Longoria

Department of Psychological Sciences Faculty Publications

This paper describes the Spanish adaptation of PACE – Parenting Our Children to Excellence. Successfully offered in preschools and daycare centers since 2002, PACE is a research-based preventive intervention to support families in their parenting task through discussions and activities that address practical childrearing issues and promote child coping-competence. Developed in response to community calls, the new program is known as CANNE –Criando a Nuestros Niños hacia el Éxito. The paper makes the processes linking original and adapted versions explicit by accounting for the conceptual and practical decisions that were made as CANNE was being developed. We begin by summarizing …

Cross-Informant Agreement Among Parents And Children, Staci S. Mullins

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Rating scales are often used by school psychologists to assess for emotional and behavioral disorders in students. While one advantage of rating scales is that data can be collected and assessed from multiple informants, research has shown that agreement between multiple informants is usually low to moderate, with the lowest being between parents and youth. The Conners Comprehensive Behavior Rating Scale (CBRS) is a new multi- dimensional rating scale claiming to have moderate parent/youth agreement. The purpose of this study was to analyze the cross-informant agreement between youth and parents using the Conners CBRS and then compare the correlations from …

Family Coping As A Protective Factor For Poor Children, Catherine Decarlo Santiago

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined family influences on coping and adjustment among 90 low-income Latino middle school children (46% Female; Average age = 11.38, SD = .66) and their primary caregivers (93% Female; Average age = 36.12, SD = 6.13). All participants identified as Hispanic/Latino, with 75% of families identifying as Mexican-origin Latino, 77% of parents identifying as immigrants, and 32% of children identifying immigrants. All children participating in the study were receiving free or reduced lunch, a poverty indicator. Hierarchical linear modeling analyses revealed that family reframing is related to fewer symptoms of psychopathology and that familism enhances the protective effect …

Updated Trends In Child Maltreatment, 2008., David Finkelhor, Lisa M. Jones, Anne M. Shattuck

Crimes Against Children Research Center

Recently released national child maltreatment data for 2008 show a generally encouraging situation during the first year of the serious recession that began in late 2007. Overall substantiated child maltreatment declined 3% from the previous year, including a 6% decline in sexual abuse. Child maltreatment fatalities stayed stable.