Digital Commons Network^™

Voices Of Uab Social Workers: Key Findings From The 2024 Needs Assessment, Lana Turner Msw Student, Laurel Hitchcock Phd, Mph, Licsw-S, Pip, Uab Social Work Partnership

College of Arts & Sciences Professional Work

The UAB Social Work Partnership (SWP), in collaboration with Dr. Donny Gerke and MSW students Kafui Sakyi-Addo, Eryka Slaughter, Matthew Miller, and Shalini Chatterji, conducted a needs assessment survey in October 2024 to better understand the challenges and priorities of social workers within UAB. The assessment addressed salary equity, continuing education (CEU) needs, networking opportunities, and internship supervision support. This report summarizes the key findings from the 106 survey responses from UAB social workers, offering insights that can inform policy development, professional support strategies, and organizational improvements within the UAB social work community. The survey, conducted via Qualtrics, was disseminated …

Social Workers Impact On Behavioral Health Patients In The Emergency Department, Hannah Grumbein

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The emergency department is designed to treat emergency medical conditions, stabilize the patients, and transition them to the next appropriate level of care. The social issue that prompted the search in current literature is increased readmissions to the emergency department for many at-risk populations, including mental health patients. The research problem addressed through this quantitative study was the increasing readmission rates in emergency departments for the mental health population for non-emergent needs. The purpose of the study was to determine whether having social work involvement with adult mental health patients in the emergency department would lead to more services at …

Intimate Partner Violence In Post-Conflict Communities: The Case Of Peru, Karen Eliana León Negreiros

Theses and Dissertations

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health issue worldwide and the most common type of violence experienced by women. In the last decade, a growing number of studies have evidenced that situations of civil conflict, post-conflict, and displacement can significantly exacerbate IPV and increase the likelihood of experiencing IPV later in life. This study expands on the literature by taking a Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping approach to understand how civil conflict violence in Peru (1980-2000) is associated with IPV rates in the country, 4 years (2004) and 19 years (2019) after the conflict. Study results evidence the …

Child-Caregiver Relational Closeness And Child Mental Health In Nonparental Care Settings, Amanda Stafford Mcrell

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines child-caregiver relational closeness and child mental health within nonparental care systems in Low- and Middle-Income countries (LMICs). Five key factors impacting the well-being of orphaned, separated, and vulnerable children in LMICs are explored using the Positive Outcomes for Orphans (POFO) dataset: child maltreatment, social support, child-caregiver relationships, and nonparental care systems. First, I examined the relationship between maltreatment, social support, and mental well-being. Findings showed that maltreatment was associated with lower mental well-being, where social support (emotional support, tangible support, positive social support) was associated with greater mental well-being, even in the concurrent presence of maltreatment. Second, …

The Role Of Affordable Housing In Enhancing Tenants' Economic Stability In Connecticut: A Focus On Income, Employment, And Housing Stability, Osaid Zubi

Dissertations

This study examined the role of affordable housing in promoting economic stability among low- and moderate-income households in Connecticut. Focusing on income security, employment opportunities, and housing retention, this research highlighted the significance of affordable housing as a means to alleviate financial strain, support job retention, and foster community resilience. Utilizing a phenomenological approach, the study gathered insights from tenants, policymakers, and developers through conducting interviews and a focus group. Connecticut was chosen as the study site due to its high cost of living and affordable housing shortage, exacerbated by its proximity to New York City. Findings underscore the economic …

Dei From The Perspective Of Racially And Sexually Minority Social Work Students, Ilse Ivonne Trejo, Miguel Gabino Lopez, Annette Clarke Jones, Octavio Ramirez

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This explanatory sequential mixed-method research study examined the experiences and perspectives of racially and sexually minority social work students enrolled at Fort Hays State University. By integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches, the study aimed to uncover the unique challenges these students face, such as feelings of belonging, microaggressions, and a lack of culturally competent mentorship. It also highlighted resilience strategies and institutional supports that contribute to their academic and personal success. The findings offer valuable insights for social work educators and administrators seeking to foster more inclusive and supportive environments for minority and sexual students in rural PWIs.

Managing The Cost Of Services For People With Disabilities: International Approach. Part Ii: Ohio, United States, Dana Pugh, Jaroslaw Richard Romaniuk

Faculty Scholarship

Introduction: Four years of managing a housing network for people with disabilities prompted a rethinking of the financial management of the services offered. Clients with different needs require diverse professional staff for their home care. Emergency situations require that professionals offering assistance maintain the highest level of education possible. Financial resources often limit the quality of care for people with disabilities. Method: This paper is based on a literature search and on professional experience (Dana Pugh) in the management of a housing program for people with disabilities in Cleveland, Ohio (USA). Findings: In Poland, people with disabilities usually live with …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And High School Dropout: The Roles Of Student Disengagement And Social Support, Rachel D. Pounders

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

More than two million students a year leave high school without a completion credential (NCES, 2024). Students who drop out are at-risk for detrimental long-term outcomes physically, mentally and economically (Rumberger, 2020). Students with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are significantly more likely to have poor educational outcomes, including school dropout (Metzler et al., 2017; Pan et al., 2019). However, there is limited insight into what affects the pathway between ACEs and poor educational outcomes for students (Dupéré et al., 2019; Morrow & Villodas, 2018). Informed by prominent dropout theories with ecological foundations and the theory of stress and coping, this …

Auto-Enrollment, Auto-Escalation, And The Need For Retirement Plan Portability: Implications For Secure 2.0, Stephen Roll, Mathieu Despard, Selina Miller

Center for Social Development Research

The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 aims to improve the retirement security of low-income U.S. households by making retirement saving easier, automatic, and more attractive. The act’s provisions focus on employer-sponsored retirement-savings plans. This brief examines how low-wage employees utilize employer-sponsored retirement-plan features, how they say they would respond to automatic contribution increases, and how job transitions impact their retirement savings decisions. Data come from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility survey, which collects data from a nationally representative sample of vulnerable workers in the United States.

This is the second research brief in a series examining the implications of …

Disrupting The Abuse-Prison Nexus: The Gendered Violence Of Prosecution And Abolitionist Feminist Approaches To Social Care Work, Sid P. Jordan, Emily Thuma, Aylaliyah Assefa Birru, Deirdre Wilson, Romarilyn Ralston, Norma Cumpian, Joseph Hankins

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

The vast majority of people in U.S. women’s prisons are survivors of interpersonal violence, a pattern that organizers and advocates have referred to as the abuse-to-prison pipeline. This article critically examines criminal prosecution from the perspectives of survivors of interpersonal violence who faced long prison sentences in California. In-depth interviews and group discussions were generated through a participatory process at a gathering to launch the University of California Sentencing Project, a partnership with the community-based organization California Coalition for Women Prisoners. The twenty-two formerly incarcerated participants had collectively spent more than 300 years imprisoned. Drawing on their lived experiences spanning …

Retirement Plan Access Among Low-Wage Workers In 2024: Implications For Secure 2.0, Stephen Roll, Mathieu Despard, Selina Miller

Center for Social Development Research

Households in the United States struggle to save for retirement, and the problem is acute for low- to moderate-income (LMI) households. In 2022, the federal SECURE 2.0 Act created an expansive suite of policy approaches to facilitate saving in LMI households. This brief discusses key provisions of the act and presents findings from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM) survey of a nationally representative sample of vulnerable workers in the United States. The findings suggest opportunities to improve upon the SECURE 2.0 Act’s provisions.

Spark Abstract, Mackenzie S. Arnold, Aliya L. Mcclarney, Sophia F. Horn, Kayla R. Willmann, Breah Forrester

SPARK Symposium Presentations

TN NASW Day on the Hill Abstract Submission

Belmont University BSW Program

Contributors: Mackenzie Arnold, Breah Forrester, Sophia Horn, Aliya McClarney, Kayla Willmann

Abstract

Firearms are the leading cause of death for children in Tennessee, and according to Everytown for Gun Safety, from 2015 to 2023, there were 158 unintentional shootings of children in Tennessee. MaKayla Dyer was one of these children. She was shot by her 11-year-old neighbor who obtained access to a loaded, unsecured firearm he found in his home. He was charged with first-degree murder and sentenced to eight years in juvenile prison, while his father, who …

Unveiling The Multidimensional Impact Of Sex Trafficking: Insights From Survivors, Claudia G. Interiano-Shiverdecker, Devon E. Romero, John J. S. Harrichand, Jessica Martin, David J. Thompson

Trauma Counseling and Resilience

This transcendental phenomenological study delves into the lived experiences of 10 women who experienced sex trafficking. Through in-depth individual interviews, participants unveiled a narrative marked by coercion, manipulation, and multifaceted abuse. Despite variations in the duration and onset of their ordeals, participants uniformly expressed the profound and lasting impact of sex trafficking across numerous facets of their lives. Psychological distress, physical ailments, disrupted vocational trajectories, strained relationships, and spiritual upheaval were recurrent themes, illustrating the pervasive nature of their trauma. This research highlights the urgent necessity for holistic support and intervention strategies tailored to the intricate and multidimensional needs of …

Community-Oriented Policing In A Majority-Black Neighborhood: In Search Of A Local Solution To A National Problem, Nasaskyia R. Hicks, Shanada Mcfadden, Natallia Sianko

Transforming Communities

Few issues loom larger today than how the United States can rehabilitate its criminal justice system. Although justified and undoubtedly timely, the national focus often shifts attention away from local, interpersonal, and community processes that shape how criminal justice is administered and experienced differently in communities across the country. Our goal is to contribute to the national conversation on community-oriented policing and social innovation to improve police-community relations and increase public trust in majority-Black neighborhoods. This article offers a call to action for the scientific and policy communities to reflect on effective practices that bring the voices of local stakeholders …

Enhancing Clinical Training Through Community Engagement, Tammy Taylor, Jan Thornton, Jeff Spears

Transforming Communities

Practice courses in the field of social work use a student only approach to roleplaying. This traditional approach to developing clinical skills fails to incorporate feedback from seasoned professionals in the field. Utah State University is a land-grant institution educating social workers across the state. In two generalist practice classes, faculty incorporated twenty-four licensed clinical therapists to observe and provide real feedback on various therapeutic modalities to MSW students. Students reported an appreciation for the feedback provided and more confidence in their clinical skills. Community partners felt a sense of contribution to knowledge in developing the clinical social workers of …

A Qualitative Approach To Identifying Obstacles To Mental Healthcare In The Rio Grande Valley From The Perspective Of Mental Healthcare Professionals., Shania M. Linder, Cristian Botello, Raquel Villarreal, Nelda Rodriguez, Mario Gil, Dayana Zamora

Research Symposium

Background: There are many factors that prevent members of the Hispanic/Latino community from accessing mental health resources. This is important to investigate because there is a lack of knowledge on why residents of the Rio Grande Valley, an underserved region of South Texas, are unable to access and/or utilize mental health resources.

Methods: A focus group session was held at a mental health counseling clinic in Cameron County, Texas on February 1, 2024. The participants consisted of mental health professionals, such as two mental health clinicians, a clinical counselor, two school counselors, a licensed professional counselor supervisor, and a …

Organizational Supports For Promoting Evidence Use In Private Child Welfare Agencies, Crystal Collins-Camargo, Emmeline Chuang, Bowen Mcbeath

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

There is minimal literature about the organizational supports that private child welfare agencies have in place to pursue positive outcomes for the children and families they serve. This study drew upon the perspectives of 27 senior managers of fourteen nonprofit child and family serving agencies in six U.S. states to examine the extent to which agencies employed organizational supports for evidence use. We identified four types of organizational supports: technical and knowledge management infrastructure, leadership and strategic alignment, and linkage and exchange efforts. Managers described whether and how they used these supports to facilitate evidence-informed decision-making and practice. Managers also …

Adult Sexual Grooming: A Systematic Review, Christin Aletky, Bonita Sharma, Jose Carbajal, Tia Eubank

Journal of Social Work in the Global Community

Grooming is the manipulation and intimidation of people into acts that may appear consensual but are in fact exploitative and harmful, activities they would not have chosen otherwise. Different legal definitions and shifting social perspectives on consent complicate efforts to determine whether a given behavior is a result of informed consent or a response to grooming behaviors. Most studies on grooming and sexual assault focus on adults grooming and abusing children—research on adults grooming other adults is scarce. Therefore, the purpose of our study is to conduct a systematic review of current research on the grooming of adults. We used …

Cost Comparison Of Congregate, Motel, And Village-Type Shelters For People Experiencing Homelessness, Jacen Greene, Todd Ferry, Emily Leickly, Franklin H. Spurbeck

Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative Publications and Presentations

Village and motel shelters exemplify the expanding field of “alternative” shelters for people experiencing homelessness, largely defined in contrast to “traditional” congregate shelters. Little research compares the financial costs of alternative and traditional shelter models. The research team analyzed cost data for 13 alternative shelters (six villages and seven motel shelters) and nine traditional congregate shelters in Portland, Oregon. Costs were assessed per “unit” (i.e. shelter bed or motel room) to account for differences in shelter sizes. Village shelters had the highest per-unit set-up costs ($99,630), followed by motel shelters ($88,462), while congregate shelters had the lowest ($43,692). Congregate shelters …

Explaining The Variance In Cardiovascular Health Indicators Among Asian Americans: A Comparison Of Demographic, Socioeconomic, And Ethnicity, Lalaine Sevillano, Adrian Matias Bacong, Dale Dagar Maglalang

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

BACKGROUND

The Asian American (AA) population is the fastest-growing major racial or ethnic group in the U.S. Typically treated as a monolith in research, disaggregated data show disproportionate cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden among certain AA ethnic groups. This analysis aimed to identify which factors explain variance in cardiovascular health among AA ethnic groups.

METHODS

We analyzed pooled 2010-2018 National Health Interview Survey cross-sectional data from Chinese, Asian Indian, Filipino, and Other Asian adults in the U.S. Coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke were the CVD outcomes of interest. Covariates included sociodemographic characteristics, CVD-related health behaviors (e.g., smoking tobacco, physical …

The Importance Of Country Of Origin In Vaccine Messaging For H-2a Farmworkers, Anna M. Scheyett, Maria Bowie, Virginia Brown, Andrea Scarrow

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: H-2A farmworkers are disproportionately vulnerable to COVID-19 and understanding their beliefs regarding COVID-19 vaccines is important for public health outreach, yet to date little research has examined the influence of country of origin (COO) on the vaccine beliefs of this uniquely transient population.

Methods: Three focus groups (N=30) were held with H-2A farmworkers in South Georgia to explore their beliefs on COVID-19 vaccines, using thematic analyses to identify COO influences on these beliefs.

Results: Family in COO influenced worker vaccine beliefs through direct advice, commonly held beliefs in COO about harmful government agendas via vaccines increased worker vaccine fears, …

Obstacles Imposed By Families Against University Youth Participation In Political Parties In Jordan, Hana H. Al Nabulsi, Asem M. Al-Bakar

An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities)

Objective: This study aimed to identify the obstacles imposed by families that hinder the participation of university youth in the political life from their perspective and investigate the relationship between obstacles imposed by families and certain social variables. Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive approach and the sample was selected by a simple random method and consisted of 250 students from Princess Rahma College at Al-Balqa Applied University and it was distributed electronically. Results: found that the economic situation of the family was one of the prominent obstacles to youth participation in political parties. And there is a …

Women Residential Substance Use Treatment Program: A Quantitative Study Measuring Treatment Perceptions And Spiritual Experience Across Multiple Demographics., Michelle Davidson

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

ABSTRACT

WOMEN RESIDENTIAL SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT PROGRAM: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY MEASURING TREATMENT PERCEPTIONS AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE ACROSS MULTIPLE DEMOGRAPHICS

Michelle Davidson, LCSW

March 24, 2025

Substance use disorders (SUD) present complex challenges that necessitate comprehensive and personalized treatment approaches, particularly for women. Historically, SUD treatments have been predominantly driven by male treatment approaches, often neglecting the unique needs and experiences of women. This cross-sectional quantitative survey study explores the relationship between the variables of client treatment perceptions and spiritual experiences among women in residential treatment for their SUDs. This study utilizes the Treatment Perception Survey and Spiritual Experience Index-Revised to …

Age Discrimination And Depression Among Older Adults In South Korea: Moderating Effects Of Exercise, Hyun Kang, Emily S. Ihara

Department of Social Work - Faculty Scholarship

Background

Dimensions Of Organizational And Personal Evidence Use By Senior Managers In Private Child Welfare Agencies, Crystal Collins-Camargo, Emmeline Chuang, Bowen Mcbeath, Aian Mendoza

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Scholars know little about how human service agency leaders use evidence to improve organizational performance. We draw on interviews with 27 private child welfare administrators in six states to examine how senior leaders use evidence, the types of evidence they use, and specific organizational processes established to support evidence use. Results suggest evidence use in private agencies takes diverse forms, including the analysis of internal data, the use of external research, and evidence-based interventions. We identify actions taken by senior leaders to promote various types of evidence use, including modeling, requiring evidence use in decision-making, establishing performance measures, and developing …

Bridging Gaps, Building Futures: Comprehensive Family And Community Engagement Strategies For Empowering Black Youth (Ages 13-17)., Heather Savage

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

Abstract

Bridging Gaps, Building Futures: Comprehensive Family and Community Engagement Strategies for Empowering Black Youth (Ages 13-17)

Heather Lynn Savage

March 27th, 2025

This study examined family and community engagement strategies that were designed to influence the educational outcomes, mental health, and social behaviors of Black youth (ages 13- 17) in Indianapolis, Indiana. Addressing gaps in research, it explored barriers to engagement and the culturally responsive approaches that strengthened school, family, and community partnerships. Data was collected through focus groups and demographic surveys, providing qualitative insights into the challenges and supports that shaped engagement. Findings from 27 participants (18 youth …

The Complex Relationship Between Veterans And The Va: Veterans' Perspectives Of The Department Of Veterans Affairs., Cowann Owens

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the largest integrated provider of healthcare services in the United States, with 1,298 healthcare facilities available to serve the physical and psychological needs of former military service members. Roughly 15.8 million Veterans live in the United States, yet 43% or 6.7 million are not currently enrolled in services through the VA (United States Census Bureau, 2024). A descriptive qualitative study design was implemented to gain insights into Veterans' perspectives of the VA in hopes of better understanding the factors that contribute to their decision to access care at the VA versus the community …

Environmental Justice And Ecology In Social Work Education: Emerging Trends Among Faculty., Keri Otte

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

March 31, 2025

This paper presents a study of how social work educators in the U.S. are integrating environmental justice and ecological content into social work coursework and /or curriculum. Current literature in this area suggests that educators should be incorporating deep ecology philosophy, using experiential learning techniques, and moving away from anthropocentrism towards ecocentrism. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather data on pedagogical approaches, educator knowledge and previous training, and barriers to content integration. The interviews took place virtually with social work educators from five geographical areas in the United States. The findings illustrate the importance of transformative …

Healthcare Workers' Level Of Comfort Screening For Intimate Partner Violence: Exploring Facilitators And Barriers., Latasha Richard, Seana Golder

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a public health issue that affects over 10 million people annually. Healthcare workers can be the first point of contact for patients experiencing IPV and screening practices are essential to identify those patients. This study aims to explore facilitators and barriers to healthcare workers screening for IPV. This cross-sectional research study was comprised of physicians, nurses, and social workers (n=39) from a Level 1 Trauma Center in Louisville, KY. An online survey was used to recruit participants and gain insight into screening practices that serve as facilitators or barriers. The results indicate that screening practices …

A Study Of Secondary Traumatic Stress In Health Care Professionals In Long-Term Care., Bethany Proudfoot

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

Secondary traumatic stress (STS) is a significant concern for healthcare professionals in long-term care (LTC) settings. This study explores the impact of STS on clinical staff, addressing the research question: How has STS affected employees within the LTC sector, and what resources or support can be provided to mitigate its effects? The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, combining survey data from clinical staff across five LTC facilities in Ohio, incorporating the survey data measuring levels of STS and qualitative responses. Findings revealed that 64% of participants experienced high to severe levels of STS, with symptoms including anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, …