Digital Commons Network^™

Model Of Evidence-Based Family Practice: Female Domestic Violence Victims In Rural Communities, Elizabeth Korver, Megan Slagter

Student Projects

Research has concluded that about 1 in 3 women reported experiencing severe physical violence from an intimate sexual partner during their lifetime (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Women living in rural communities may be more significantly affected due to their geographic isolation. This study examined several theories and models to effectively treat this specific population. The researchers developed a treatment curriculum based on cognitive-behavioral therapy to treat women living in rural communities who have experienced domestic violence. This study determined cognitive-behavioral therapy used in a group therapy setting is effective for increasing a client’s self-esteem and decreasing depression …

Hidden Homelessness: A Trauma-Informed Narrative Approach To Treating Rural Families Facing Homelessness, Benjamin Akers, Kara Richard

Student Projects

Housing is a crucial part of survival and one’s ability to engage in life. There is an increasing population of both individuals and families who live without safe, quality, stable housing. Housing insecurity is a concern in both urban and rural areas, with rural homelessness presenting unique characteristics and challenges. To better understand rural homelessness and its effect on families, research was conducted on many factors including: population statistics, characteristics and common issues, problems, risk factors, engagement, terminology, and frameworks. It becomes evident that homelessness has severe implications physically, emotionally, and mentally for both children and adults. This synthesis of …

Making An Impact: The Process Of Planning And Organizing An After-School Program In A Small Community, Benjamin Akers, Elizabeth Korver, Emilee Danner, Megan Slagter

Student Projects

To be their best, people need relationships. Social support systems are at the base of what makes a successful individual. Whether that be through sports teams, clubs, or any other facet, social support is the driving force for a healthy lifestyle. After-school programs offer students another opportunity to receive mentorship and build relationships that can impact the trajectory of their lives. This paper highlights Impact 180 – an after-school program located in Orange City, Iowa. The involved researchers used and discussed different community organizing methods and techniques to advocate for and raise funds for the durability, sustainability, and flourishing of …

Traffickers’ Use Of Substances To Recruit And Control Victims Of Domestic Trafficking For Sexual Exploitation In The American Midwest, Erica Koegler, Claire Wood, Lilly Bahlinger, Sharon Johnston

Social Work Faculty Works

This paper describes how traffickers use substances to recruit and control victims of domestic trafficking for sexual exploitation, as reported by service providers working with trafficking survivors in the American Midwest. This data was derived from interviews with 15 service providers in a major metropolitan area. Findings revealed consistencies with previous literature and new insights into the trafficker- substance use dynamic. Traffickers’ use of substances with victims was pervasive when trafficking was for the purpose of sex but not other labour. There were several examples of how traffickers use substances for victim exploitation and recruitment. These include using substances to …

Examining The Association Between Exposure To Suicide-Related Content And Suicide Ideation And Attempts Among College Students And Their Peers, Cleopatra Elshiekh

Honors Undergraduate Theses

For the last decade, suicide has been the second leading cause of death among college- aged adults (18-25), which coincides with the widespread proliferation of social media. The aim of this study was to identify if there was a correlation between exposure to suicide-related content via differing media outlets (e.g., social media, television, newspapers, music, and movies) and suicide ideation and attempts among college students and peer groups (i.e., participants’ friends or acquaintances). A convenience sampling method using social media, flyers, and the university’s experiment management system (i.e., SONA) was used to recruit 97 undergraduate students from the University of …

Protective Factors Against Alcohol Use In High-Risk College Students, Delani F. Warner, Karen G. Chartier Phd, Msw, The Spit For Science Working Group

IRBEH/Spit for Science Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Prolonged Isolation On Adolescents With Drug-Susceptible Tuberculosis In Lima, Peru: A Qualitative Study, Victoria Elena Rapoport, Elmer Altamirano, Liz Senador, Milagros Wong, Catherine B. Beckhorn, Julia Coit, Stephanie D. Roche, Leonid Lecca, Jerome T. Galea, Silvia S. Chiang

Social Work Faculty Publications

Objectives Patients with tuberculosis (TB) generally are instructed to isolate at the beginning of treatment in order to prevent disease transmission. The duration of isolation varies and may be prolonged (ie, lasting 1 month or more). Few studies have examined the impact of isolation during TB treatment on adolescents, who may be more vulnerable to its negative effects.

Methods This study took place from 2018 through 2019 in Lima, Peru, where the Ministry of Health mandates the exclusion of patients with TB from educational institutions for at least 2 months. Using semi-structured guides, we conducted individual in-depth interviews with adolescents …

Community-Oriented Policing: Building Trust And Collaborative Relationships With The Black Community, Tunice M. Cole

DSW Capstone Projects

Black people die at the hands of police at a disproportionate rate. In the United States, Black citizens are three times more likely to be killed by police than White citizens. This, along with other factors, has caused a lack of trust, legitimacy, and relationships between police and the Black community. Examining this problem from a socio-ecological and social constructivist perspective suggests that the solution encompasses the use of community feedback and experiences to build and develop a model of community-oriented policing that addresses the issues of the community being served.

Product one of this capstone was a systematic literature …

Black Men Need Love Too, Addressing Unaddressed Mental Health In African American Men, D'Quayvion Cloud

DSW Capstone Projects

The objective of this capstone is to analyze and demonstrate the importance of studies on unaddressed mental health among African American males. The major aim is to demonstrate why research, policy, and funding are vital to knowing how to work with this specific clinical group, allowing us to build effective and inclusive programs for these African American males and eliminate the stigma associated with members of this community. Due to unaddressed mental health and a lack of treatment options for our people, research has shown that African American men aged 20 to 24 had the highest suicide rate of any …

Policy Change To Reduce Active Duty Suicide Rates, Michelle Rae Loper

DSW Capstone Projects

There continues to be a dramatic increase in the rates of suicide within the Active-Duty military population. There have been a number of efforts to curb the rates without any prolonged success. Several actions and studies have been conducted on risk factors, prevention efforts, and treatment interventions in an attempt to reduce the rates. This capstone comprises a sequence of academic papers: a systematic literature review, a conceptualization paper, and a practical application paper. This project aims to identify the essential policy components necessary moving forward within the Department of Defense to address this critical issue. The research question leading …

Music As An Instrument For Healing: Exploring Music Therapy For Increasing The Quality Of Life For Geriatric Veterans With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd), Travis Adams

DSW Capstone Projects

Military personnel can sometimes be put in dangerous situations that expose them to various types of traumas. Due to the nature of their work, veterans may be at a higher risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a complex and challenging mental health disorder with symptoms that evolve with time. Geriatric veterans with PTSD are a particular population with unique needs that require attention and care. Music therapy is explored as a potential intervention to increase geriatric veterans' quality of life with PTSD.

Product One was a systematic review that examined the effectiveness of music therapy in improving …

Role Expansion Of School Social Workers: An Educational Paradigm Shift, Sara Murrell

DSW Capstone Projects

This capstone product includes three written documents. The purpose of this work was to discover and justify the role expansion of school social workers into school leaders. The first, a systematic literature review examining the roles of school social workers. This document will review the current literature describing which school social work roles promote school social workers as school leaders, and which roles act as barriers for school social workers to become school leaders. The second document is a conceptual paper. This document identifies the need for a paradigm shift in education towards a whole child perspective. This document looks …

An Integrated, Holistic Approach To Supporting The Wellbeing Of The Contemporary Social Services Workforce, Julia Moore

DSW Capstone Projects

Despite nearly 40 years of research regarding the effects of psychological distress among the social services workforce, there remains a lack of congruity among scholars and experts regarding the definition and epidemiology of the distinct constructs, including secondary traumatic stress, vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout. Current literature on these phenomena indicates that a lack of empirical methods for scientifically studying outcomes regarding effective prevention and intervention strategies have stalled efforts to advance the field of secondary trauma and create practical approaches to protecting the workforce serving trauma-exposed clients. This capstone project is focused on understanding the current literature regarding …

Systemic Solutions To Addressing Juvenile Sexual Offending, Alyscia Mayhugh

DSW Capstone Projects

Research on and treatment of juvenile sexual offenders has surged since the 1980s. While research on this social justice issue has expanded over the past four decades, little has been done in the United States to systemically address the recidivism rates of juvenile sexual offenders. The systematic literature review explores existing literature on this topic, with a focus on thematic categories that emerged through data extraction and analysis. The conceptual paper presents a unique idea for addressing juvenile sexual offending systemically, emphasizing the value of utilizing incrementalism and trauma theory to enact changes to existing systems. The final practice application …

An Examination Of Diabetes Prevention Program Translations For Eastern Kentucky, William H. Robinson

DSW Capstone Projects

This capstone project examined translations of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) that have been adapted to improve cultural competency and analyzed the potential application of these adaptations to serve communities in Eastern Kentucky. Findings in the project were synthesized using the Ecological Validity Model (EVM) posited by Bernal et al. (1995) and the RE-AIM framework developed by Glasgow et al. (1999). EVM and RE-AIM have been used in other systematic literature reviews of the DPP and provide a framework for conceptual analysis and practice application of the findings. This project recommends changes in public health policy and social work …

What's The Play? Using Social Learning Theory To Treat Men In Mental Health, Aaron Hemlepp

DSW Capstone Projects

Men have problems when it comes to mental health. Specifically, men are more likely to have a fatality of suicide than other genders and are more likely to have substance abuse problems than other genders. Combine this with societal problems such as the shrinking physical labor market and instability of family systems that have traditionally been seen as “men’s work.” The gender is not adapting to modern social functioning in the way that other genders have been, which means that therapy is not a useful tool for men and their problems. This means that therapy systems need an approach to …

Birthing While Black: Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practices For Improved Maternal Health Outcomes, Sara Hall

DSW Capstone Projects

Black women die at a disproportionate rate than white women in the United States due to maternal mortality. Black women are three times more likely to die because of a maternal complication than any other demographic. Although the United States has a highly developed healthcare system, it also has the worst maternal mortality rate out of developed nations. The focus of this research is social work practices that can be implemented to improve Black maternal health outcomes.

The systematic literature review focuses on gaps in social work literature related to maternal mortality and health equity, solutions for social workers to …

Unstable Housing In Rural Communities, Amber Theis, Ruth Chalstrom, Kara Richard

Student Projects

Housing is a crucial part of survival and one’s ability to engage in life, but the increasing difficulty in obtaining affordable, quality, safe housing is of great concern. To better understand the housing crisis and be equipped to advocate on behalf of the unhoused, research was conducted on many factors including correlation with the ACES study, the housing crisis in America, the redefinition of housing terms, psychological impact on both adult and children, and the physical impacts of housing insecurity. It becomes evident that housing is a complex, multi-faceted issue. Nonetheless, it is one that requires significant consideration. There are …

The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) And Substance Use: A Review Of The Literature, Alexandra Scott

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that happen in a child’s life. These experiences can cause multiple negative outcomes for the child even into their adult life. In the United States, roughly one in ten children have experienced three or more ACEs, and nearly half of all children in the United States have experienced at least one ACE. These problems can be physical, mental, personal and social. Of these outcomes, the individual could develop alcoholism or addiction to substances. Substance abuse is the overindulgence or dependence on substances that are addictive, mainly drugs or alcohol. The relevance substance …

Searching For Consistency In Attendance Data Recording, Reporting, And Utilization In The Usa, Patricia A. Graczyk, Carolyn Gentle-Genitty, Amber Humm Patnode, Sara E. Moulton

Founder’s College - Scholarship and Professional Work

"According to the United States Department of Education (USDOE), 16% or over eight million kindergarten through twelfth grade students in the US missed 10% or more school days during the 2017−2018 school year. This is approximately 18 of 180 days required. We know this because schools are mandated to report their attendance data to their respective states and to the USDOE. There are concerns around accuracy and consistency because each state is al-lowed to compile data in their own way and report only select metrics to the USDOE to comply with federal guidelines. The consistency on federal metrics, nonetheless, allows …

Revealing Underlying Factors Of Absenteeism: A Machine Learning Approach, Francis Bowen, Carolyn Gentle-Genitty, Jane Siegler, Marlin Jackson

Founder’s College - Scholarship and Professional Work

Introduction: The basis of support is understanding. In machine learning, understanding happens through assimilated knowledge and is centered on six pillars: big data, data volume, value, variety, velocity, and veracity. This study analyzes school attendance problems (SAP), which encompasses its legal statutes, school codes, students’ attendance behaviors, and interventions in a school environment. The support pillars include attention to the physical classroom, school climate, and personal underlying factors impeding engagement, from which socio-emotional factors are often the primary drivers.

Methods: This study asked the following research question: What can we learn about specific underlying factors of absenteeism using machine learning …

Social Work Newsletter 2020-2021-2022, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Social Work.

Social Work Newsletter

In this Issue:

--- Years in Review 2020-2022
--- New Staff & Faculty Highlights: Sarina Carrillo; Jaimie O'Gara; Angelica Velazquillo Franco
--- In Memoriam: James G. McCullagh
--- Student Spotlight: Monifah (Mo) Ponton; Chit Phuu
--- Alumni Spotlight: Ashley Wood; Ariane Hakizimana
--- Highlights from the Field: Arielle Roth; Zoey Weber; Emma Baertlein; Madison Neece
--- Agency Partnership Highlights
--- Conference Highlights
--- UNI Boasts Top Ranking MSW Program
--- Social Work Advisory Board

Analyse Prospective De L’Adaptation Des Travailleurs En Centre De Protection De L’Enfance Et De La Jeunesse Exposés À Un Évènement Potentiellement Traumatique : Effets D’Une Intervention De Soutien Par Des Pairs, Stéphane Guay, Alexandre Lemyre, Josianne Lamothe, Steve Geoffrion

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Problématique. Les travailleurs des services de protection de l’enfance sont exposés de manière répétée à des événements potentiellement traumatiques (EPT) dans le cadre de leur travail, notamment des actes de violence. Ils sont ainsi susceptibles de développer des problèmes de santé mentale tels que l’anxiété, l’insomnie, la dépression et des symptômes de stress post- traumatiques. Sur le plan professionnel, les EPT engendrent des coûts élevés pour l’individu et l’organisation : baisse de la satisfaction au travail, absentéisme, changement d’emploi, baisse de productivité, etc. Dans ce contexte, le Centre de la protection de l’enfance et de la jeunesse (CPEJ) du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île …

Is Embedded Behavioral Health Embedded Enough? Why Behavioral Health Officers Should Be Battalion Level Assets, Amy Hernandez

DSW Capstone Projects

Due to the long-lasting military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, current military members are likely to have deployed multiple times and have experienced chronic high-intensity stress. Numerous studies have demonstrated that military service members are at elevated risk for various psychiatric problems and substantially underutilize mental health services. This capstone consists of a series of academic papers: systematic review, conceptualization paper and practical application paper aimed at exploring barriers to care and conceptualizing possible solutions. The research question guiding the systematic review is what actual or perceived barrier to care has the most significant impact on solider under-utilization rates of …

Improving Spanish Translations Of Tobacco Dependence Measures Using Cognitive Interviewing, Yessenia Castro, Annette Leija, Zully C. Guerra, Tatiana Londoño, Nazanin M. Heydarian, Virmarie Correa-Fernández

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Background:

Cognitive interviewing is the practice of systematically collecting feedback about survey items from members of the priority population, with the goal of identifying and rectifying problems to increase the comprehensibility of the survey. Evidence is limited on the extent to which this method of pretesting improves survey items.

Objective:

The current study examined the utility of incorporating cognitive interviewing to improve the Spanish translations of two measures of tobacco dependence.

Methods:

Items from the Spanish versions of the Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives (68 items) and Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (19 items) were subjected to cognitive interviews with …

Tracing The Evolution Of Welfare Discourse From 1990 To 2016, Jenifer A. Norton

Bryn Mawr College Dissertations and Theses

In August 1996, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) replaced Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) as the primary cash welfare program for single mothers and children. A political debate during the early to mid-1990s that was particularly hard on welfare recipients culminated in a block grant to states tied to mandatory work requirements and time-limited lifetime benefits for recipients. Media coverage during this period closely tracked the unfolding political discourse around welfare reform and recipients. Following TANF’s implementation, though, coverage dwindled to near nonexistent levels. At this writing in early 2022, TANF remains part of the social safety …

The Negative Effects Of Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) On Behavioral Problems Of Children In Kinship Care: The Protective Role Of Kinship Caregivers' Mental Health, Yanfeng Xu, Merav Jedwab, Kerry Lee, Sue E. Levkoff

Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research Faculty Research and Scholarship

This study aims to examine the (a) prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among children in kinship care; (b) relationships between the number and type of ACEs and children’s internalizing and externalizing problems; and (c) moderating role of kinship caregivers’ mental health on the relationships between ACEs and children’s internalizing and externalizing problems. A sample of children in kinship care (N = 224) obtained from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being II was used. Ordinary least squares regression models were conducted. Results indicated that neglect followed by parental substance abuse were found to be the most prevalent …

Mental Health And Behavioral Outcomes Among Jamaican Women: The Role Of Childhood Abuse And Witnessing Parental Violence, Kerry Lee, Sharon Rose Priestley, Kevin K. Hylton

Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research Faculty Research and Scholarship

Background

Studies have shown significant links between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and mental and behavioral health outcomes. However, limited research has examined these associations among Jamaican women.

Objective

We investigated the associations between individual (sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, and witnessing a mother being abused) and categorized (0, 1, 2, 3–4) ACEs and depression, anxiety, alcohol and marijuana use among Jamaican women.

Participants and setting

Data were obtained from the 2016 Women’s Health Survey (WHS)—a nationally representative sample of young Jamaican women aged 15–64 years.

Methods

A series of multivariate (OLS) and logistic regression analyses were conducted. OLS regression analyses …

Trauma-Informed Care Training For Medical Students, Tanisha Clark, Jill Mcleigh, Hilda Loria, Laura Lamminen

Integrated, Trauma-Informed Care

Due to the high prevalence of trauma and secondary trauma and the associated potential adverse health outcomes for both patients and providers, it is imperative that medical and allied professionals receive training in trauma as a constitutive element of their professional development. Despite the growing recognition of the importance of TIC, Ditcher and colleagues (2018) found in a survey of 263 family medicine residency programs that only 27.0% had TIC in the curriculum. Following a review of the literature and discussions with healthcare providers offering TIC in an integrated pediatric primary care setting, a brief, 45-minute online TIC training adapted …

An Exploration Of The Relationship Between Social-Emotional Well-Being And Health Behaviors Of Urban Youth, Nelia Mayreilys Quezada

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

A significant body of research has established that individuals lacking social support, self-esteem, and coping skills have poor physical health outcomes (House et al., 1998; Thoits, 2011; Uchino, 2009). Youth living in urban communities are at greater risk of poor mental and physical health outcomes due to a lack of access to safe places for physical activity, healthy foods, and limited social ties (Babey et al., 2016; Heller Isner et al., 2017; Thoits, 2011). This study examines the relationship between social-emotional well-being and health behaviors among youth (N=100) ages 11 to 19 in a small urban community. Based on prior …