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Historical Trends In State-Level Adc/Afdc Benefits: Living On Less And Less, Sandra Wexler, Rafael J. Engel

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper, using government statistics, describes state-level variation in ADC/AFDC benefits from 1940-1995. The findings illustrate that the "race to the bottom" began in 1975, especially among higher paying states. The concomitant declines in benefit value relative to the poverty line places TANF-dependent recipients in serious jeopardy. Implications for education and advocacy are discussed.

Legislators' Perceptions About Poverty: Views From The Georgia General Assembly, Elizabeth L. Beck, Deborah M. Whitley, James L. Wolk

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This study sought to explore legislators perspectives about causes of poverty. Members of the Georgia General Assembly rated the importance of 10 behavioral and structural explanations of poverty, and indicated whether they thought poor women and children would be better served under AFDC or TANF. Whereas all groups of legislators found behavioral explanations moderately important, there was significant variation by race, gender, and political party about the importance of structural explanations of poverty. Support for several structural explanations of poverty correlated with a preference for AFDC, but no correlations were found with behavioral explanations. This study holds implications for affecting …

E. Franklin Frazier And The Interfacing Of Black Sociology And Black Social Work, Jerome H. Schiele

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

E. Franklin Frazier is known almost exclusively for his scholarly contributions after the publication of his seminal book, The Negro Family in the United States. Less is known about Frazier's professional life and scholarly contributions during the period when he was Director of the Atlanta School of Social Work between 1922 and 1927. Frazier was part of that generation of black scholars who benefited from the fluid interfacing of sociology and social work characteristic of the early part of the 20th century. While director of the Atlanta School, Frazier made significant contributions to the knowledge base of social work and …

A Socio-Economic Analysis Of The Three Paths To Social Security Reform, Rebecca A. Van Voorhis

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

As this century ends, old-age pension systems worldwide are experiencing tremendous strain and undergoing rigorous examination. At issue is the ability of current schemes to survive demographic changes which threaten to bankrupt most OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) members' old age pension systems by the early part of the twenty-first century (Peterson, 1996; Steuerle & Bakija, 1994; World Bank, 1994). A variety of proposals have been advanced in response to this concern, which reflect different underlying values and priorities. Varying significantly in their recommendations for the appropriate balance between public and private efforts, these proposals form a continuum …

Bridging The Divide: The Casework Policy Link, Peggy Pittman-Munke

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The professional history of social work in the United States of America is entering its second century. From this vantage point, it is possible to draw on. the past to develop ideas that will work for the future. Contemporary social workers often view the profession as dichotomized between those who deal with individual issues through counseling and private practice and those who are concerned with social change through policy reform. Mary Richmond, pioneer in the professionalization of social casework, offers a tightly integrated model which demonstrates how social casework and social reform can serve to reinforce and support one another …

Review Of The Poor Belong To Us: Catholic Charities And American Welfare. Dorothy M. Brown And Elizabeth Mckeown. Reviewed By Dorothy Van Soest, University Of Texas, Austin., Dorothy Van Soest

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Dorothy M. Brown and Elizabeth McKeown, The Poor Belong to Us: Catholic Charities and American Welfare. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1998. $45.00 hardcover.

Out For Equity, A Case Study, Erin Beaudry

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of the study is to explore the effectiveness of such a program and if found useful, to put forth information that can assist social workers in starting such a program in their school systems. Homosexuality has been a controversial subject in our society for many years. Society has reacted to the topic in many different ways including ignoring, condemning, or accepting gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals for who they are. The framework for this study is based on Systems Theory and focuses on the power the education system has in affecting the lives of gay, lesbian, and bisexual …

Nurturant And Provider Role Saliency Of Fathers In Traditional And Non-Traditional Families, Michael R. Hacker

Theses and Graduate Projects

Although identity theory, out of symbolic interactionism, has been suggested to be the most useful framework for understanding the changing roles of fathers, little systematic research has been done to apply this framework to fathering roles, and especially the specific roles of provider and nurturer. In this study, seven fathers, four in economically traditional families and three in economically non-traditional families, were interviewed using a structured interview schedule. This interview focused on the saliency of the roles of provider and nurturer for fathers and the strain in fulfilling aspects of both as predicted by identity theory. The content analysis revealed …

A Survey Of Teen Pregnancy With The Latino Community, Deborah C. Rodarte-Carrasco

Whittier Scholars Program

The purpose of this paper is to determine, by the use of a survey, if differences in personal, social and family behaviors can be detected within two groups of demographically similar Latina females; one group who became teen mothers and the other who did not, in an attempt to distinguish factors that will help parents and adolescents reduce teen pregnancy. Previous research has mostly focused on the reasons why certain groups have higher rates of teen pregnancy than others have, but only one study (Hanson and Ginsberg, 1989) was done in a similar manner as this study has been designed. …

A Secondary Data Analysis Of The Womankind/Centers For Disease Control Evaluation A Study Of Hospital Staff S Ability To Engage, Assess And Refer Victims Of Domestic Abuse, Victoria M. Hanson

Theses and Graduate Projects

This is a secondary data analysis of an evaluation of a domestic violence program in a hospital setting in the Midwest. Hospital staffs in five hospitals who work in either the Emergency Department, Intensive Care, or Perinatal/Ob/Gyn were surveyed to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors regarding domestic abuse. This secondary data analysis looked at the results of the 320 completed baseline surveys to examine if hospital staff who have a high concordance with feminist principles perceive themselves as having a high ability to engage, assess, and refer victims of domestic abuse. Multiple regression was used to compare practitioner …

Service Usage As A Measure Of Program Effectiveness: One Agency's Experience, Lisa M. Powers

Theses and Graduate Projects

This is a program evaluation of a community support program for adults with a serious and persistent mental illness. Since the deinstitutionalization of persons with a serious and persistent mental illness, many programs have been developed with the aim of keeping this population as independent in their communities as possible. Existing research shows the effectiveness of community-based programs in reducing acute care hospitalizations for this population yet fails to determine which components of these programs are most necessary and for whom. A simple random sample of currently active files (N=38) was conducted, and data was collected on type and frequency …

Outcome Based Data Analysis Of A Therapeutic Foster Care Program, Lisa M. Silvestri Adamich

Theses and Graduate Projects

Therapeutic foster care (TFC) is quickly becoming a favored placement option by case managers for children and adolescents. As the number of agencies that provide therapeutic foster care programs increase, case managers question what constitutes successful and failed placements of adolescents in the TFC system. This exploratory, quantitative study focuses on data analysis of a therapeutic foster care program. Data analysis will consist of evaluating matched intake and discharge information of approximately 32 adolescents (32 intake/discharge records) from January l, 1998 through December 31, 1998 as well as evaluating discharge records of those youth admitted prior to 1998 and discharged …

Wisconsin Reforms Welfare: The Experiences Of Recipients, Kimberly Lewis

Theses and Graduate Projects

This mixed qualitative and quantitative exploratory study was conducted in an effort to expand the knowledge base regarding Wisconsin welfare recipients under the new welfare reform policy titled "Wisconsin Works" or ("W-2"). A mixed research design was used in order to capture the experiences of "W-2" welfare recipients from their perspectives. A purposive sampling technique was utilized in conducting interviews of 6 participants who were receiving welfare in the state of Wisconsin. The interviews focused on several areas that are assumed to lead to self-sufficiency under the "W-2" policy, including food and shelter, child care, transportation and job skills/training. Content …

Nonprofit Board Composition And Organizational Effectiveness: A Case Study, Terence Edward Hildebrandt

Theses and Graduate Projects

No abstract provided.

An Assessment Of Decision-Making By Adolescents In A Community-Based Youth Program, Mary Beran Skjold

Theses and Graduate Projects

This exploratory research compares the decision-making skills between youth board members and youth non-board members within the context of a community-based youth group. The goal was to determine whether youth board members were more advanced in their decision-making skills than youth non-board members and were these skills utilized in other area of life.

The research design is both quantitative and qualitative: the survey had twelve questions and the interview had six open-ended questions. Twenty adolescents answered the written survey and, of these twenty, there were ten adolescents who were interviewed. The survey questions covered the areas of future work, ideology, …

An Exploratory Study Of Violence Intervention Program, Laura Turgeon

Theses and Graduate Projects

Teen violence has become increasingly prevalent. There have been several incidents over the last few years of violence in schools that have received national attention. Shootings by teens in Paducah, Kentucky and Springfeld, Oregon, for example are incidents in which the culmination of many factors comes in to play. There is a concern about dealing with troubleed youth and how to help them deal effectively with anger and violence.

This study evaluated one program that directly addresses the issue of youth violence. The school is located in a metropolitan area and works in collaboration with the county to provide a …

Self-Esteem In Adolescence Females: The Athletic Connection, Debra Smith Wagner

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study investigated the self-esteem, feelings, and experiences of five exceptional skill level and five average skill level female adolescent athletes. Although mainly a qualitative study, with emphasis given to in-depth interviews, this research design also used a quantitative instrument in order to record the self-esteem of each subject. Both methods were used to generate themes and analyze concepts relating to the self-esteem and experience of female adolescent athletes. The quantitative instrument revealed that all athletes had self-esteem scores in the average to very high categories. Exceptional skill athletes did have higher mean scores than the regular skill athletes and …

The Study Of The Use Of Advance Directives In Minnesota Nursing Homes As Perceived By Social Workers, Denise Sigstad

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study sought to discover the use of advance directives as reported by nursing home social workers. The focus is on residents who are living in nursing homes and are sixty years old or older. One hundred social workers in Minnesota were randomly surveyed on the current rate of advance directive use, barriers to completing the forms, and perceptions from social workers about whether they have or not have adequate knowledge and education to teach about advance directives. A review of the literatiare on advance directives shows the average use is only 5-18% for the elderly population. Survey findings confirm …

The Parent-School Partnership: Exploring The Role, Needs, And Barriers Of Parent Participation, Bethany J. Jarvis

Theses and Graduate Projects

The research reveals that a positive and active partnership between schools and parents is essential in successful learning and student achievement. Despite the comprehensive research in this area, educational practitioners remain ambivalent about parental involvement in schools, and parent participation is weak in many schools even when parents are invited. An exploratory study which addressed the role, needs, and barriers of parent participation was conducted using surveys to parents who have a child or children enrolled at Cambridge Elementary School. Cambridge Elementary School is located approximately 60 miles north of the Twin Cities Metro Area, and has close to 890 …

A Century Of Child Placing: 1900-1998, Laurie Boros

Theses and Graduate Projects

The following historical study explored and analyzed the policies in child welfare from 1900-1999 with a special emphasis on the last twenty years. The research attempted to discover common ideologies from the last century and to compare and contrast modern day child welfare practices to the turn of the twentieth century child welfare practices. Using content analysis, this qualitative study examined historical and current documents in search of common factors in the last century in the field of child welfare mid the placing out of children.

The data revealed areas in the field of child welfare that have been present …

Youth In Treatment Foster Care Homes: Outcomes At Discharge, Joey S. Glassman

Theses and Graduate Projects

This exploratory quantitative study examines existing records of 193 youth discharged from treatment foster care homes between January 1, 1997 to December 31, 1997 and whether a correlation exists between the number of youth with mental health issues in a treatment foster care home, and the achievement of positive, non-institutionalized or negative, institutionalized outcomes at discharge. This research was compiled from treatment foster care homes in the Minnesota based Human Service Associates therapeutic foster care agency. According to Public Law 97'272 and social work ethical practice, the child welfare system strives to place children in the least restrictive, nurturing living …

Lesbian Mothers' Interaction With The Lesbian Community, Victoria L. Grimm

Theses and Graduate Projects

Empirical evidence dating back almost 30 years shows no significant differences between children raised by homosexual and heterosexual parents. Now concentration must shift to how lesbian and gay parenting cope and fulfill their parental roles ln the face of multiple discriminations from both the heterosexual and homosexual communities. A format of focus group discussions is a non-threatening method to determine the level of social changes that lesbian mothers experience after children are added to their families. This study concentrates solely on three lesbian mothers. The participants were solicited through newspaper and bulletin board ads and "snowball" sampling. Major themes that …

Policy Analysis Of Wisconsin's Domestic Violence Mandatory Arrest Law, Holly C. Mcabee

Theses and Graduate Projects

This exploratory paper is an attempt to examine the factors that led to the criminalization of domestic violence. Beginning with an overview of the history of reform movements to end family violence, the report then reviews the factors that influenced the enactment of mandatory arrest policies in Wisconsin, as well as across the United States. The last sections critically examine existing research on the deterrent effects of arrest. Research suggests that arrest may have some deterrent effects on different offender subgroups, however, may be a relatively weak sanction and deterrent effects may be short term. The greatest point of intervention …

Effects Of Foster Care On The Family System, Rochelle Del Greco

Theses and Graduate Projects

Despite volumes of studies and research on foster care as an intervention, there has been very limited research conducted on the effects foster care has on the family system as perceived by the foster parents. This study attempted to find some preliminary information about how the foster family is affected by foster children living in their home. Surveys were sent to 50 foster families in a rural county in Minnesota. The survey looked for correlations and frequencies in variables that had both positive and negative impact on the family system. As identified by the learning theorists, children learn from the …

Perceptions Of Intimacy By Men Who Choose Violence: An Exploratory Study, Sigrid Finke

Theses and Graduate Projects

This exploratory study examined the perceptions about intimate relationships of 21 heterosexual men who had been court-ordered to domestic abuse groups at an urban social service agency. Within four separate focus groups, six open-ended questions were asked about intimacy, gender role beliefs, and perceptions of relating to partners, other adult males, and children. Findings indicated that the men with traditional outlooks (i.e. those w'ho had a strong belief in male headed households), expressed a more difficult time with intimate situations. Those men who held liberal views (i.e. that both men and women share both provider and care taking roles), tended …

The Satisfaction Of Adoptive And Non-Adoptive Foster Parents : Why Are They Satisfied?, Monicke L. Baker

Electronic Dissertations and Theses

This paper examines the perspectives of foster parents on their role in the lives of their foster children, with emphasis on the laws, Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 that govern the foster care/adoption system. This paper will present different views, both good and bad, of adoptive and non adoptive foster parents: the experiences, emotions, and feelings they experience in wanting to be a permanent parent and placement for their foster child /children, when they are unable due to various circumstances. Five foster parents were interviewed. Results showed that foster parents are satisfied but it is due to …

An Historical Analysis Of Open Adoption In The United States, Molly Crosby Cave

Theses and Graduate Projects

Adoption has been a way of creating families for centuries. The trend toward more direct and communicative relationships between adoptees, birth parents and the adoptive parents is gaining favor in the adoption arena. The purpose of this analysis is to place an historical context on the evolution of open adoption and to analyze its strengths and weaknesses. The outcome of this research indicates that open adoption is a positive way to build families and create lasting relationships between the adoptee, birth parents and adoptive parents.

Physical Violence During Pregnancy: Maternal Complications And Birth Outcomes, Vilma E. Cokkinides, Ann L. Coker, Maureen Sanderson, Cheryl Addy, Lesa Bethea

CRVAW Faculty Journal Articles

Objective: To assess the association between physical violence during the 12 months before delivery and maternal complications and birth outcomes.

Methods: We used population-based data from 6143 women who delivered live-born infants between 1993 and 1995 in South Carolina. Data on women's physical violence during pregnancy were based on self-reports of partner-inflicted physical hurt and being involved in a physical fight. Outcome data included maternal antenatal hospitalizations, labor and delivery complications, low birth weights, and preterm births. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to measure the associations between physical violence, maternal morbidity, and birth outcomes.

Results: The prevalence …

Social Work Assessment: Case Theory Construction, Cynthia D. Bisman

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

To intervene effectively, social workers need to make sense of clients and their situations. A case theory approach to assessment provides a framework to formulate assessments that are clear and directly related to the real-world problems clients present. Explaining the problem situation, case theory forms the foundation for selection of intervention strategies and methods to achieve change. Building case theory requires practitioner abilities to form concepts, relate concepts into propositions, develop hypotheses, and organize these into a coherent whole. Including case background information, observations and relevant professional literature, case theory presents an accurate and cogent comprehension of the client Two …

Preadolescents With Attachment Disorders: An Explanatory Study In A Residential Treatment Center, Teresina J. Schellinger

Theses and Graduate Projects

An increasing number of children are failing to develop secure attachments to caregivers. Many are involved with the child welfare system and display an overwhelming number of problems--emotional, cognitive, developmental, physical, moral, behavioral, and social. This exploratory study using qualitative and quantitative methods addresses how one residential treatment center has worked with this population. Case records, selected through a purposive sampling, of 14 discharged preadolescents and information from key informants support findings of this research. Themes discovered assist this treatment center, and possibly others, in understanding the relationship between the behavioral and therapeutic needs of these children and the practice …