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A Multi-State Evaluation Of The Factors Predicting Educational Achievement Of Adult Foster Care Alumni, Markell Harrison-Jackson

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Child maltreatment, a major public-health concern in the United States, has the most detrimental impact on adult emotional and physical development. According to the urban Institute, in the past decade foster-care expenditures for child maltreatment totaled $14.4 billion. Each year, 30,000 alumni "age out" of foster care. These are alumni who exit the foster-care system only because they reach the age of 18, not because they are reunited with their families, are adopted, or leave to attend college. Prior longitudinal research has shown that the nearly 80% of the alumni who are emancipated at the age of 18 failed to …

“In The System:” A Qualitative Study Of African-American Women’S Foster Care Stories, Meghan Spell

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Infant Social And Emotional Development: The Emergence Of Self In A Relational Context, Katherine L. Rosenblum, Carolyn Joy Dayton, Maria Muzik

Social Work Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Definitions Of Violence: African-American And Iraqi Refugee Adolescents' Perceptions, Beverly M. Black, Barbara L. Peterson, Arlene N. Weisz, Poco D. Kernsmith, Linda A. Lewandowski, Krupa K. Hegde

Social Work Faculty Publications

This article explores the perceptions of urban African-American and Iraqi refugee adolescents regarding community violence, school violence, family violence and dating/intimate partner violence. A subset of participants from a larger study on violence and trauma was selected to participate in the current study. Using a card-sort exercise, participants identified situations as violent or not violent. Iraqi youth identified noticeably more behaviors as violence than African-American youth. Few significant gender differences emerged. Findings of important cultural differences provide implications for violence prevention programming.

Study Quality Assessment In Systematic Reviews Of Research On Intervention Effects, Kathleen Wells, Julia H. Littell

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

Objective

The goal of this study is to advance an approach to the assessment of the quality of studies considered for inclusion in systematic reviews of the effects of social-care interventions.

Method

To achieve this objective, quality is defined in relation to the widely accepted validity typology; prominent approaches to study quality assessment are evaluated as to their adequacy.

Results

Problems with these approaches are identified.

Conclusion

A formal, yet explicit, multidimensional approach to assessment grounded in substantive issues relevant to the intervention and the broader context in which it is embedded is promoted. Uncritical and exclusive use of indicators …

Recruiting Urban Latina Adolescents And Their Families: Challenges And Lessons Learned In Suicide Attempts Research, Luis H. Zayas, Carolina Hausmann-Stabile, Allyson M. Pilat

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

Recruiting samples with unique characteristics dispersed across services and geography is hard to identify because of legal status and stigma create research challenges. Public health, however, requires sustained recruitment efforts. We describe challenges and solutions in recruiting urban adolescent Latinas who had attempted suicide. Procedures for recruitment and human subject protections were established, yet logistic obstacles emerged. Program directors failed to support the research; therapists were slow to identify subjects and to meet inclusionary criteria; numbers of prospective participants were lower than originally calculated; girls and parents were hard to reach; and interview appointments were missed. From challenges came solutions: …

Empowerment-Based Advocacy Conducted By Not-For-Profit Organizations, Margery C. Saunders

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This study explores the advocacy patterns of over 200 nonprofit human service providers active in both anti-violence and anti-poverty service arenas. A mailed survey to organizations associated with three statewide advocacy organizations in New York State examined the organizational factors associated with three advocacy activities: case advocacy, public policy education, and legislative issue advocacy. Using empowerment theory, predictors that captured the degree of ethnic diversity of an organization's staff and board, and whether or not consumers served on the staff or board, and whether having social workers as advocates were examined along with other control variables to explain the conditions …

Domestic Violence And Faith Communities : An Exploratory Study Examining Beliefs And Experiences Of Jews, Non-Jews, And Rabbis, Amanda Sisselman

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Purpose and Background: The current study examines the link between beliefs and experiences around domestic violence and religion, seeking to understand more about the ways in which Jews understand and experience domestic violence, while also looking to examine the context of these results in terms of religious comparison. The literature shows a preliminary connection between religion and domestic violence, in that victims have utilized their faith and faith communities as coping resources, but have also reported negative experiences within their religious communities. The literature only alludes to potential connections between beliefs regarding domestic violence and religion. Existing studies use mainly …

Harm Reduction In Outpatient Drug-Free Substance Abuse Treatment Settings, Michael Eversman

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

In the United States, drug-free substance abuse treatment programs generally operate under an abstinence-only, disease model based service orientation. Citing several reasons, critics suggest disease model approaches hinder client utilization and retention within such services. The framework of harm reduction offers an alternative approach to substance abuse treatment services and may have potential for improving utilization and retention outcomes. Yet little is known about how harm reduction is perceived by practitioners in drug-free substance abuse treatment settings, and the circumstances in which harm reduction may or may not be accepted. In addition, despite a body of narrative literature suggesting harm …

The Psychotherapeutic Use Of Imaginal Dialogue, Jenny Dillman Marks

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

An investigation of the scholarly literature uncovered deep schisms in the philosophy and theory of imagination stemming from long-standing debates. These debates have often been political in nature, and some originate far back in history. Such differences in philosophy are reflected in the varying ways in which client imagination is used in psychotherapy today. Interventions involving imaginal dialogue are generally among those approaches that have not been adequately studied.

A Descriptive Analysis Of The Problems And Interventions Observed In Care Planning For Nursing Home Residents With Dementia, Dennis Gordon Chapman

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Abstract

The Lived Experiences Of Older African Americans Residing In Urban Nursing Homes, Marilynn Gail Byrd Knall

Wayne State University Theses

As huge numbers of baby boomers reach old age, an increased need for nursing home care in the future is inevitable. Older people face more complex health issues that often lead to debilitation or disability and thus the need for long-term care. The numbers of consumers needing long-term care services will more than triple during the next 30 years.

African Americans compose less than 10% of nursing home residents and even at age 84 and older, when the likelihood of nursing home placement is higher, proportionately fewer African Americans live in nursing homes. The underrepresentation of ethnic minorities groups in …

Coming Full Circle: From Child Victim To Childcare Professional, Angelique Day

Social Work Faculty Publications

Like so many American kids reared by abusive and neglectful parents, I did not know the simple joys of childhood, nor was I permitted the normalcy of a stable family life. By my ninth birthday, I had heard about the “Great American Dream,” and although I wanted to believe in it - desperately - it was nothing more than a little girls wistful fantasy In my world, nightmares dominated dreams, and fantasies existed only briefly, extinguished by the daily horrors of cruel reality What did manage to persist unabated was physical and mental abuse given freely and in abundance by …

Minnesota State University Mankato Counseling Center: Needs Assessment Survey Of College Student Parents, Katherine S. Fitzkappes

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The Needs Assessment Survey of Student Parents was an exploratory study of descriptive data gathered from college students who are also parents. This study surveyed a sample of student parents at Minnesota State University Mankato. Student parents were asked to complete a confidential on-line survey of questions regarding their demographic information, their psychosocial needs, and their knowledge of The Counseling Center services. Data analysis revealed that, as a group, the respondents indicated their highest psychosocial needs to be in the areas of stress management, feeling burned out and financial concerns. The lowest expressed needs were in the categories of substance …

The Importance Of Worksite Supervisors In At-Risk Youths' Lives, Laura Luna

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research study is to learn the importance of supervisory needs for at-risk youth and young adults between the ages of 14 and 24. The researchers examined age, sex, race, education, and living situations to determine if there differences in needs of these groups related to worksite supervisors. Data was collected and analyzed from a sample of 97 youth residing in Blue Earth, Brown, Le Sueur, and Nicollet rural Minnesota counties.

Characteristics Of Evidence-Based Parent-Training Programs, Peggy Sorensen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Purpose: To identify key characteristics in evidence-based parent-training programs that ensure effectiveness and efficiency for agencies serving families with children aged 5–9 with emotional and behavioral disorders. My research strategy will be to do a literature review of evidence-based parent-training programs that strengthen parent competencies, foster parent’s involvement in school, decrease children’s behavioral problems and strengthen children’s social and academic competencies.

Problem to be addressed: When children receive inconsistent or ineffective discipline from parents, they are at risk of developing childhood behavioral disorders. By adolescence, these problems can develop into Conduct Disorders as demonstrated by violence, substance abuse and criminal …

Social Impact, Edward F. Lawler, Ellen Rostand, Michelle Kassman, Julie Kennedy, Jessica Martin, Toky Branding + Design, Donna Boyd, A.J. Agee

Social Impact Publication

From the Dean: Our Work in this Economy.;

Interview: Q&A with Paul C. Brophy;

Bookshelf: Understanding Assets: Two new books explore the impact of ownership and assets on individuals and communities;

Perspectives with Matthew Kreuter: Communication Connections;

Building a New Paradigm: Transdisciplinary Research Comes to the Forefront;

A Sense of Place: Place-Based Initiatives Help Communities and Students;

Notebook: Research: Tutoring Produces Big Gains in Student Learning;

Notebook: Research: Free Exercise and Nutrition Program in Brazil Could Serve as Model in United States;

Notebook: Research: Growing Problem for Veterans-Domestic Violence;

Notebook: Message of Service Drives Surge in Peace Corps Applications;

Notebook: …

Restorative Justice: A Systematic Review Of The Social Work Literature, Edward J. Gumz, Cynthia L. Grant

Social Work: School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Other Works

Restorative justice is an alternative paradigm for dealing with the effects of crime and wrongdoing that seeks to bring healing to victims, offenders, and the community. Although a key element of social work’s ethical code is the obligation to work toward social justice, this has been viewed primarily as efforts to ensure a fair distribution of resources and opportunities. Yet justice is also restorative in nature—seeking to restore and enhance victims, offenders, and communities to fuller functioning. This article systematically reviews 80 social work peer-reviewed articles dealing with restorative justice. The role of social workers in restorative justice programs remains …

Korean Older Intimate Partner Violence Survivors In North America: Cultural Considerations And Practice Recommendations, Woochan Shim, Holly Nelson-Becker

Social Work: School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Other Works

While literature on elder abuse has expanded, elder abuse by intimate partners has been less investigated. Even less is known about intimate partner violence among older Koreans living in North America. This article identifies important cultural considerations for individuals helping the Korean older adult community beginning with the definition of intimate partner violence in this community and barriers to leaving that include traditional views of the East Asian self. Current practice interventions are discussed and recommendations for future practice such as healing han, the accumulated suffering from years of abuse, are suggested. The ultimate goal of this paper is …

Adolescents’ Internalizing Behaviors After Extreme Violence Exposure: A Comparison Of Race And Gender For African American And Asian American Youth, Wan-Yi Chen

Social Work (Graduate) Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Best Practices For Increasing Pro-Social Behavior In Adolescents With Mental Health And Behavioral Disorders, Danielle Armbrust-Malone

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Approximately 2 to 16 percent of the general population has a disruptive behavior disorder such as oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or conduct disorder (CD) (Corcoran & Walsh, 2006). In a school setting, youth with these disorders may engage in acts such as disrespecting teachers, swearing at others, threatening others, assaulting staff or students, stealing, or vandalizing property and may benefit from a day treatment program which provides mental health services in a school setting. (Whitfield, 1999). Micro intervention strategies such as cognitive behavioral therapy and contingency management and mezzo interventions such as family therapy have been used to treat disruptive …

Effective Truancy Prevention Models, Nicole K. Hachfeld

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

In the United States, truancy has been identified as one of today’s top ten educational problems (Zhang, Katsiyannis, Barret& Wilson, 2007). Across the country, every day there are hundreds of thousands truant students (U.S. Department of Education, 1996). Attendance can be influenced by mental health issues, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, student employment, family responsibilities, teacher attitudes, size of school, and inconsistent application of truancy policies and lack of meaningful consequences for truancy. Family factors that influence attendance include: domestic violence, poverty, lack of supervision, substance abuse, parental attitudes toward school and education (Kim & Streeter, 2006). The purpose of this …

Prevention Of Elder Mistreatment In Nursing Homes: Competencies For Direct-Care Staff, Dana Dehart, Jennifer Webb, Carol Cornman

Faculty and Staff Publications

Existing training on elder mistreatment in nursing homes focuses on detection and reporting of abuse, with little training specifically targeted toward prevention of mistreatment before it occurs. We used qualitative interviews with nursing home staff, policymakers, and related professionals to identify training needs. Based on participant accounts, we drafted a number of competencies essential for caregiver training to prevent mistreatment in nursing homes. Competencies include those dealing with: definitions and policies; risks for mistreatment; communication and respect; and development of a cooperative working environment. Competencies are discussed along with illustrative examples, and implications for practice and policy are addressed.

Emotional Exhaustion And Workload Demands Of Kidney Transplant Social Workers, Joseph R. Merighi, Teri Browne, Sarah Keenan

Faculty and Staff Publications

This exploratory study examined training issues, emotional exhaustion and workload demands in U.S. kidney transplant socialworkers. Online survey data were obtained from 91 respondents who represented all 18 End-Stage Renal Disease networks.Findings indicated that the majority of the respondents’ employers provided resources for educational training and paid timeoff associated with these trainings. With regard to hours per week spent on specific job tasks, respondents indicated that pretransplantactivities were the most time-consuming, followed by post-transplant and inpatient work. Generally, emotionalexhaustion and workload demands were slightly lower than reported for dialysis social workers. Implications for social workpractice and research are discussed.

Stigma And The Cycle Of Avoidance: Why Young People Fail To Seek Help For Their Mental Distress, Lucy Biddle, L. Kris Gowen

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Illness behavior is the set of purposeful actions taken by someone when faced with being unhealthy. According to Dingwall,3 the three stages of illness behavior are: evaluating symptoms, deciding to act, and monitoring the effects of the chosen actions. Although presented in a linear fashion, these stages are in fact cyclical, as reassessment occurs when symptoms change or unsuccessful actions require new approaches.

However, it is common that people never act, or delay acting, on their symptoms; this is especially true for people experiencing mental distress. Young people in particular are unlikely to seek professional care for mental health concerns—it …

The Correlation Between Creativity And Burnout In Public School Classroom Teachers, Patricia Landeche

LSU Master's Theses

Landeche, Patricia, B.A., University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1960 Master of Social Work, Summer Commencement, 2009 Major: Social Work The Correlation Between Creativity and Burnout in Public School Classroom Teachers Thesis directed by Assistant Professor Elaine M. Maccio Pages in thesis 48. Words in Abstract 162. ABSTRACT Burnout of teachers in the public schools is affecting the quality of education the students are getting. Incorporating creativity into one’s life on a regular basis produces has the potential to heal both physical and emotional complaints. The hypothesis of this study is that there is a negative correlation between creativity and the intensity …

Spontaneous Order, Symbolic Interaction And The Somewhat-Less-Hidden Hand, Roger A. Lohmann

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Mental Health Of Low Socio-Economic Populations, Sarah E. Bumgarner

Honors Program Theses

Depression is an illness that has a negative impact on our society. Depression not only lowers the depressed person's quality of life, but it also negatively impacts people close to the person suffering from this illness. This research is in response to the seriousness of this epidemic, particularly in the low socio-economic status (low SES) population. Topics explored include factors of a low SES environment that influence the onset of depression as well as how those factors relate to the quality of mental health care among depressed people of low SES. A review of the literature identified many barriers to …

Developing Evidenced Based Practice For Social Emotional Screenings In Schools, Kim Anderson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The social problem being addressed through this project includes several challenges faced by our nation's schools, namely increasing numbers of disciplinary referrals, suspensions, and expulsions (Marchant, Anderson, Caldarella, Fisher, Young,Young, 2009). Further research states that "more and more children entering school are unprepared to learn, unable to cope with the social tasks involved in making friends and getting along with others, and unaware of their negative social effect on others," (Marchant et al., 2009, p.131). Only about 20% of children and adolescents with a psychiatric disorder in the United States receive any kind of mental health services (Fritz, 2007). Yet …

School Improvement Programs, Kimberly Barry

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Teachers face a growing number behavior challenges that effect the delivery of classroom instruction (Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice , n.d). This affects how the teacher teaches and how the other students learn. Disruptions in the classroom force teachers to direct their attention to that student resulting in less time teaching. School wide programs help school staff develop expectations for behavior and allows for a common language amongst all staff and students. There are many school wide programs that claim to make behaviors decrease. It can be very cumbersome and time consuming for schools to go through all of …