Digital Commons Network^™

Gay And Lesbian Adoptions: A Theoretical Examination Of Policy-Making And Organizational Decision Making, Thom Reilly

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Most of the inquiry into gay and lesbian adoptions has focused on the rights of this population toadopt, the constitutional issues surrounding gay and lesbian parenting, and the outcomes of children raised by homosexual parents. There has been scant focus at the policy-making or organizational level on this issue. Why have public adoption agencies failed to provide either regulation or written policy on the topic of adoption of children by gays and lesbians?

This article pursues a theoretical examination of policy-making and organizational decision making to explore this issue. Additionally, a survey was distributed to adoption officials in each of …

Services Provided By A Homeless Intervention: Policy And Planning Implications, Carol T. Mowbray, Deborah Bybee

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Despite the acknowledged need for effective programs to serve persons who are homeless and mentally ill, few evaluations of these programs provide quantitative details on service provision. Such information can be useful to planners for replication and also for public policy concerning the need to mandate services most in demand. This report on a successful outreach intervention reports information on service amounts, duration, and types, as well as identifying predictors of service use. The overall amount of service provided to eligible participants varied substantially. While the median duration was only three months, repeat service episodes were common. For most clients, …

Occupational Aspiration Among African-Americans: A Case For Affirmative Action, Ronald E. Hall

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The recent attack upon Affirmative Action in the workplace demands that merit be the sole criterion of employment. Policies designed to eliminate discriminatory practices are in themselves discriminatory and suggest minorities are inferior. Such suggestions are archaic and simplistic. Each assumes that the workplace operates in a social vacuum when in fact a complex system of cultural norms precedes the influence of merit. For African-Americans color is a predcedent of merit. The present study was undertaken to determine the implications of color in the workplace by analyzing it vis a vis occupational aspiration. Using a sample of African- American college …

A Statewide Study Of Neighbors' Knowledge Of And Reactions To Physical Child Abuse, Gary W. Paquin, Janet Ford

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Neighbors are believed to have an important influence on child abuse prevention and intervention. This article reports the results of a statewide telephone survey of Kentucky (n = 650) which examined the extent to which respondents suspected neighbors of child abuse (9.4%), and had ever taken in a neighbor's abused or neglected child (7.2%). Variables related to parenting (having a minor child, age, employment status, receiving AFDC benefits) were the only demographic characteristics significantly associated with suspicion of neighbors' abuse; only being the parent of a minor child was significantly associated with taking in a neighbor's child. The results imply …

Implicit Beliefs About Change: A Theory-Grounded Measure Applied To Community Organizations Serving Children, Youth, And Families, Susan B. Silverberg, Sherry C. Betts, Angela J. Huebner, Sonia Cota-Robles

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The aim of this study was to design and evaluate a theory-grounded measure that taps staff beliefs about the possibility for change in an organization which serves children, youth and families at the community level. The rationale for measuring staff beliefs about change derived from a motivation theory that features two contrasting beliefs structures (entity vs. incremental), and the goals and behavioral dispositions associated with each (Dweck & Leggett, 1988). Twenty-nine individuals associated with the community-based organization completed the newly developed Implicit Beliefs About Change Scale (IBACS) and participatedi n a semi-structured interview. Quantitative analyses indicated that the IBACS has …

The Disposable Workforce. Thomas S. Moore.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Thomas S. Moore, The Disposable Workforce. Hawthorne, NY: 1996. $37.95 hardcover, $18.95 papercover.

Predictors Of Depression Among Workers At The Time Of A Plant Closing, Nancy R. Vosler, Deborah Page-Adams

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Using an ecological theoretical perspective, this study of white male UAW workers stressed by a plant closing explored predictors of depression at multiple systems levels. The five best predictors of workers' depression were family strengths, age, economic strain, health, and social support. Additional bivariate predictors included self-esteem and having an alcohol problem at the individual level, marital status and family satisfaction at the family system level, and household income, home ownership, and key relationships at the social-environmental level. Implications for collaboration between direct-service and policy-practice social workers are discussed.

Understanding Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Khmer Traditional Healers: A Case Study, Chang Thach

Theses and Graduate Projects

Approximately three million Cambodian (Khmer) people were victims of political genocide committed by the Khmer Rouge in 1975 inside Cambodia. A significant number of survivors of this holocaust immigrated to Minnesota. The psychological trauma of living through the genocide by the Khmer Rouge has caused many Khmer immigrants to seek mental health services. Many of these seeking mental health services have been diagnosed as suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Two groups of Khmer healers currently live in Minnesota: the Buddhist monk and Kru healer. Traditional Khmer immigrants suffering from PTSD symptoms may be inclined to seek help from …

Personal And Social Factors Related To Adolescent Recidivism, Edgar Young Jr

Theses and Graduate Projects

More than 45,000 Minnesota juveniles were arrested for all types of offenses in 1993, and 8.3 out of every 100 Minnesota juveniles arrested were between the ages of 10 and 17 (MN State Legislative Auditor, 1995). This exploratory research is a study using face to face interviews with seven professionals working directly with adolescent males who have been arrested and convicted of illegal activity (including status offenses). Six social service professionals from Minneapolis/St. Paul and surrounding metro counties were interviewed. Participants shared their perspective on the personal and social forces they think influence adolescent recidivism. Recidivism in this study is …

Review Of The Civil Rights Of Homeless People: Law, Social Policy And Social Work Practice. Madeleine R. Stoner. Reviewed By Larry W. Kreuger, University Of Missouri-Columbia., Larry W. Kreuger

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Madeline R. Stoner, The Civil Rights of Homeless People: Law, Social Policy, and Social Work Practice. New York: Aldine DrGruyter, 1995. $38.95 hardcover, $19.95 papercover.

Residualism And Rural America: A Decade Later, Steve Jacob, Fern K. Willits, Leif Jensen

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Rural residents, more so than their urban counterparts are popularly believed to view the use of social welfare programs as appropriate only as last (residual) means of obtaining help. The extent to which this belief reflected reality was assessed by Camasso and Moore (1985) a decade ago using data from a 1980 survey of Pennsylvania residents. Congruent with the residualist hypotheses they found that rural residents were less supportive than urban people of social welfare programming, even when the effects of various personal sociodemographic characteristics were controlled. This paper replicates the workof Camasso and Moore by reporting findings from a …

Coherency Among Substance Abuse Models, Stephen Kauffman, John Poulin

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Social policy decisions are often made based upon socially constructed models of human behavior. As such, understanding the social constructions in a given policy area is of utmost importance. This study examines three competing models within the substance abuse area: the moral model, the disease model, and the biopsychosocial model. Utilizing survey data from a random sample telephone survey of 1,019 residents of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, the study examines a) the degree to which individual models are internally consistent between beliefs about causes and beliefs about solutions, b) whether the assumptions in competing models are in fact different; and c) …

Incarnating Heaven: Making The Hospice Philosophy Mean Business, Mark A. Mesler, Pamela J. Miller

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Hospice providers in the U.S. are on the horns of a dilemma. Survival of individual programs may require accreditation for third party reimbursement, but this stronger alignment with the business world of medicine may jeopardize their unique philosophy of care for dying persons. Hospice's current business/philosophy dilemma was expressed succinctly by a study participant as attempting to incarnate heaven. Data gathered through an ongoing participant observation study reveals the effects of current third party reimbursement on hospice practice. Further, these effects have implications for current U.S. health care reform efforts which are discussed in conclusion.

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 23, No. 3 (September 1996)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• DETERMINANTS OF THE TIMING OF SOCIAL POLICY ADOPTION - Chulsoo Kim
• INCARNATING HEAVEN: MAKING THE HOSPICE PHILOSOPHY MEAN BUSINESS - Mark A. Mesler and Pamela J. Miller
• THE EFFECTS OF RACE AND MARITAL STATUS ON CHILD SUPPORT AND WORK EFFORT - Richard K. Caputo
• SYMPOSIUM ON WELFARE RECONCEPTUALIZING WOMEN'S WORK: A FOCUS ON THE DOMESTIC AND ELIGIBILITY WORK OF WOMEN ON WELFARE - Alice Abel Kemp, Pam Jenkins, and Molly Biehl
• REAL WELFARE REFORM REQUIRES JOBS: LESSONS FROM A PROGRESSIVE WELFARE AGENCY - Robert J. Sheak and Warren Haydon
• WELFARE TO WORK: WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES? - …

Welfare To Work: What Are The Obstacles?, Maureen O. Marcenko, Jay Fagan

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

U.S. welfare reform initiatives are based on the assumption that the primary barriers to economic independence are individual deficits. However, the policy does not adequately account for situational and personal factors necessary for a successful transition from welfare to work. Without greater attention to these barriers, the policy is likely to fail or be implemented at high personal cost to recipients and their families. This paper uses a personin- environment social systems framework to examine the personal and family resources available to a group of women who were receiving AFDC and participating in an urban Head Start program. Structured interviews …

Review Of Native American Postcolonial Psychology. Eduardo Duran And Bonnie Duran. Reviewed By Dana Wilson Klar, Washington University., Dana Wilson Klar

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Eduardo Duran and Bonnie Duran, Native American Postcolonial Psychology. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1995. $16.95 hardcover.

Nurse's Perceptions: Responsibility Attribution Of Rape Victims, Barbara J. Kiffe

Theses and Graduate Projects

Rape is a social problem high impacting the individuals who have experienced sexual assault and its effects. Many clients report not only being victimized by the assault, but also in the aftermath by insensitive professionals who attribute blame to the victim. This blame is created by rape myths, beliefs that under certain circumstances, the victim was responsible for the assault. This thesis replicates a previous study done by Best, Dansky, and Kilpatrick (1992) in South Carolina among medical students and compares the results. This research study examines the attitudes of nurses from three different departments of a midwestern hospital who …

Subsidy: More Or Less, Michelle Lefebvre

Theses and Graduate Projects

This thesis explores whether a subsidized client in a federally funded program for older adults receives as much service as a client in the same program that does not receive subsidy for service. This was accomplished by examining records that spanned a year of service from two programs that deliver service to older adults that assist them to remain living in their own homes.

Finding of the study indicated that there were no relationships between subsidized services and clients receiving service. Based on the study findings, recommendations were made for a larger study sample and a control of other variables.

Access To Educational Services For Homeless Youth Ages 12 To 15 In Minneapolis, Alice L. Brown

Theses and Graduate Projects

The subject of this study is access to educational services for homeless 12 to 15 year old youth. The study used interviews with key informants to answer three questions, What are the educational and support services, what are the eligibility requirements for using the services and what are barriers to accessing services. Using the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act as an indicator of the legally mandated services youth are entitled to four areas were identified that have the potential to act as a barrier to service, residency requirements, guardianship issues, placement/enrollment and services to support success. Seven interviews were conducted with …

A Historical Research Study Of The Evolution Of Attention Deficit Disorder, Eleonora R. Posner

Theses and Graduate Projects

Across the United States of America, schools and social service agencies have become increasingly aware of a disability called Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.). Families and employers are learning the name for this confusing, frustration, seemingly uncontrolled problem. The focus of this thesis will be to trace the origin and historical development of this disorder. It examines the work of those who were involved in identifying, defining and treating the disorder. The author has attempted to draw connections between history, discovery, research and implications for treatment, practice and public policy.

What We Know About Effects Of Asset Holding: Implications For Research On Asset-Based Anti-Poverty Initiatives, Deborah Page-Adams, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

Asset accumulation programs have emerged at local and state levels to help poor people save for purposes such as education, homeowership, and microenterprise development. These anti-poverty programs are built in part on the suggestion that assets have a wide range of positive effects on well-being, and they frequently use a system of Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) to structure asset accumulation. In addition, federal legislation for an IDA demonstration has increasing support. The emergence of asset accumulation programs at local and state levels, along with growing bipartisan support for a national IDA demonstration, makes applied research both possible and necessary. Studies …

Contributing Factors For Battered Women Returning To Abusive Relationships In The Twin Cities Area In 1995, Kimberly R. Holleschau

Theses and Graduate Projects

The economic status of women impacts their ability to leave abusive relationships. A qualitative and quantitative methods survey was used to gather data from residential program directors of battered womens shelters in the metro area detrning their experiences in the field of domestic violence. Using measures of central tendency and interpretation of themes to evaluate the data. 50% stated that economic dependence and a lack of resources, including financial. were the main reasons women stayed. In shelters providing housing alternatives. 58Vo of battered women utilized that resource. It is necessary to improve state and federal policies and shelter programming to …

Culturally Sensitive Mental Health Practices From The Perspectives Of Agency Therapists And African American Clients, Thomas Adams

Theses and Graduate Projects

This portrayal of the African American client and family appeared to be unjustified, Working with some of the "more difficult" African American clients and families and inquiring about their difficulty in following through with treatment programs and continued therapy sessions, a central theme began to emerge as an explanation for their behavior. Many of these African American clients and families believed they were not respected by the agencies or by the therapist. Many said they did not like being the only African American in treatment an#or they wanted an African American therapist. When the writer began to compare this informal …

Barriers To School Enrollment And Success Of Children Living In Shelters, Claire Kuennen Jordan

Theses and Graduate Projects

Nearly a decade since the passage of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, barriers to school enrollment and education of children who are homeless remain. The extent to which these barriers exist varies from place to place. To identify the barriers in the St. Paul Public School District, this study surveyed school and shelter staff and interviewed key informants. Survey findings indicate that the most important barriers to enrollment are: difficulty in acquiring children's school records and lack of transportation from the shelter to the school. Once enrolled, the greatest obstacles to school success for these children are repeated …

Three Discourses On Practice: A Postmodern Re-Appraisal, Peter Leonard

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The current debate about the knowledge claims of modernity has profound implications for theories and practices of social welfare, though postmodern critiques of its foundational beliefs should be approached cautiously. This paper suggests that a postmodern critique of three historically significant discourses -American casework, British social administration and Marxist social work - illustrates what might be learned from a deconstruction of their modernist assumptions as a stage in a reconstruction of social welfare ideas appropriate to postmodern conditions.

Speak Of The Devil: Rhetoric In Claims-Making About The Satanic Ritual Abuse Problem, Mary Deyoung

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper uses Toulmin's (1958) scheme to conduct a rhetorical analysis of claims being made in the construction of the satanic ritual abuse of children problem. The analysis reveals that the persistence of these claims over the last fifteen years is the product not of their compelling facts or their effective conclusions, but of their persuasive warrants. These implicit, "self-evident truths" resonate well with recent cultural concerns about the vulnerability of children to abuse, and the satanic menace.

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 23, No. 2 (June 1996)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• ERRATA
• THREE DISCOURSES ON PRACTICE: A POSTMODERN RE-APPRAISAL - Peter Leonard
• POVERTY, FAMILY SUPPORT, AND WELL-BEING OF INFANTS: MEXICAN IMMIGRANT WOMEN AND CHILDBEARING - Margaret Sherrard Sherraden and Rossana E. Barrera
• SPEAK OF THE DEVIL: RHETORIC IN CLAIMS-MAKING ABOUT THE SATANIC RITUAL ABUSE PROBLEM - Mary deYoung
• FACTORS IN LENGTH OF FOSTER CARE: WORKER ACTIVITIES AND PARENT-CHILD VISITATION - MaryEllen White, Eric Albers, and Christine Bitonti
• MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN AND MOTHERS ALONE: A COMPARISON OF HOMELESS FAMILIES - Jennifer E. Glick
• MANAGED COMPUTER SYSTEM CONCEPTUALIZATION: KNOWING WHEN TO SAY NO - Menachem Monnickendam
• PURCHASE OF SERVICE CONTRACTING …

Ecological Approach In Practice: A Case Study Of The Ounce Of Prevention Fund, Marilyn Fernandez, Laura Nichols

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

In an attempt to suggest ecologically sensitive program models which are developmentally responsive to the needs of adolescent parents and their children, this paper reviews existing research to identify the critical ecologies in their lives, evaluates existing program models for their ecological sensitivity, and presents a case study of the ecological approach in practice. Drawing from Bronfenbrenner's ecological perspective and typology of systems, the paper identifies family, partner, school, work, health care, neighborhood, poverty, and ethnicity as critical ecological systems in the lives of the adolescent and her child. Many existing program models do not systematically address all of these …

Mothers With Children And Mothers Alone: A Comparison Of Homeless Families, Jennifer E. Glick

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Researchers usually define a homeless family as those parents accompanied by minor children. This study compares a sample of homeless mothers accompanied by their children to homeless mothers who report that their children are elsewhere. While there are some differences between these two groups such as age and number of children, there are also a number of similarities. Both groups of mothers report that they rely on family members and friends as sources of instrumental support. These networks are especially useful for housing children. The findings from this investigation suggest a need for a more inclusive definition of homeless families …

An Evaluation Of The Mid-Iowa Boy Scout Program In Its Effectiveness To Prepare Adolescents To Become Healthy, Responsible And Productive Young Adults, Delores Crum

Theses and Graduate Projects

A review of the current literature indicates that the numbers of troubled and delinquent youths are increasing. Community-based youth programs, such as the Boy Scouts of America, can be a valuable resource in the healthy development of youth. The purpose of this research study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Mid-lowa Boy Scout program in helping adolescent boys become healthy, responsible, contributing members of society. One hundred, self-administered questionnaires were sent to a cross-sample of former Boy Scouts in the Mid-lowa Council, who had turned 17 years of age according to the troop records of 1985-1987. Findings from this …