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European Welfare Policy: Squaring The Circle. Vic George And Peter Taylor-Gooby (Eds.).

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Vic George and Peter Taylor-Gooby (Eds.), European Welfare Policy: Squaring the Circle. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1996. $49.95 hardcover.

Degreed And Nondegreed Licensed Clinical Social Workers: An Exploratory Study, John T. Pardeck, Woo Sik Chung, John W. Murphy

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This exploratory study focuses on 155 randomly selected respondents who obtained a clinical license in social work with or without the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. Ninety-seven of the respondents obtained a license with an MSW degree;fifty-eight obtained a license without the MSW degree. The two groups of respondents completed a survey instrument that explored their basic demographic characteristics, their attitudes and behaviors related to practice, and their philosophical and political attitudes toward practice. The researchers found few statistically significant differences between the two groups of respondents. The article offers implications of these findings for the profession of social …

Miles To Go: A Personal History Of Social Policy. Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Miles to Go: A Personal History of Social Policy. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1996, $22.95 hardcover.

An Afrocentric Perspective On Social Welfare Philosophy And Policy, Jerome H. Schiele

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Although much of the literature on American social welfare philosophy and policy is progressive and sincere in its objectives to dismantle poverty and economic oppression, the literature is limited in two important areas: 1) identifying American social welfare philosophy and policy as primarily Eurocentric in its worldview, and 2) applying the cultural values of people of color as a conceptual base to advance and diversify views on social welfare philosophy and policy. To address this gap, this paper draws on the viewpoints of a cadre of social scientists called Afrocentrists and applies the Afrocentric worldview to deseribe how it conceives …

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 24, No. 2 (June 1997)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• INDOCHINESE MENTAL HEALTH IN NORTH AMERICA: MEASURES, STATUS, AND TREATMENTS - Thanh V. Tran and Donna L. Ferullo
• AN AFROCENTRIC PERSPECTIVE ON SOCIAL WELFARE PHILOSOPHY AND POLICY - Jerome H. Schiele
• TOWARD A SOCIOCULTURAL CONTEXT FOR UNDERSTANDING VIOLENCE AND DISRUPTION IN BLACK URBAN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES - Linwood H. Cousins
• RECONSTRUCTING SEX OFFENDERS AS MENTALLY ILL: A LABELING EXPLANATION - Rudolph Alexander, Jr.
• PERSONAL NARRATIVE AND THE SOCIAL RECONSTRUCTION OF THE LIVES OF FORMER PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS - Robin M. Gilmartin
• ETHICS IN FIELD EDUCATION: PROMISE, PRETENSION, OR PRACTICE? - Gary Mathews, Susan Weinger, and Marion Wijnberg
• THE …

Toward A Sociocultural Context For Understanding Violence And Disruption In Black Urban Schools And Communities, Linwood H. Cousins

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article examines violence and disruption in a Black urban school and community. The author argues that an unempowering framework of culture has restricted our understanding of violence and other social issues affecting Black schools and communities. From such a backdrop, a sociocultural framework is presented that captures the strain, solidarity, and contemporary emergences that area part of school, American and Black culture, and a part of the context in which violence occurs in Black schools and communities. Broad implications are posited for human service policy, research, and direct practice.

Reconstructing Sex Offenders As Mentally Ill: A Labeling Explanation, Rudolph Alexander Jr.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

A growing number of states are being pressured to keep incarcerated sex offenders behind bars longer. The response to this pressure has been to look to the mental health system and retrieve civil commitment for sex offenders, a policy largely abandoned in the 1960s. In the 1970s, the courts ruled that civil commitment to a mental institution required that the individual be both mentally ill and dangerous. So legislators, with the support of a few mental health professionals, met this requirement by legislatively reconstructing sex offenders as mentally ill and permitting their indefinite commitment to mental institutions. The author discusses …

The Case For Permanent Foster Care, Judy Fenster

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article reviews historical developments in the social institution of foster care, leading up to the permanent planning revolution and current family preservation policies in the United States. Success rates of adoption, family preservation, and family reunification programs are examined, and a rationale for the inclusion of "permanent foster care" as an option for children is presented. Permanent foster care has several advantages: 1) it is federally and automatically funded; 2) it can lead to increased supervision of foster parents; 3) it creates more permanence for more children; 4) it promotes attachment through ensuring both child and foster parent stability. …

Review Of Clinical Social Work: Definition, Practice And Vision. Rachelle A. Dorfman. Reviewed By Cynthia Franklin, University Of Texas, Austin., Cynthia Franklin

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Rachelle A. Dorfman, Clinical Social Work: Definition, Practice and Vision. New York: Brunner/Mazel Publishers, 1996. $24.95 paper cover

Review Of The Politics Of Child Abuse In America. Lela B. Costin, Howard Jacob Karger And David Stoesz. Reviewed By Jill Duerr-Berrick, University Of California, Berkeley., Jill Duerr-Berrick

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Lela B. Costin, Howard Jacob Karger and David Stoesz, The Politics of Child Abuse in America. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. $29.95 hardcover.

Review Of Children In Groups: A Social Work Perspective. Marian Fatout. Reviewed By Charles Garvin, University Of Michigan., Charles Garvin

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Marian Fatout, Children in Groups: A Social Work Perspective. Westport, Ct: Auburn House, 1996. $49.95 hardcover.

Personal Narrative And The Social Reconstruction Of The Lives Of Former Psychiatric Patients, Robin M. Gilmartin

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This study explores ways in which high-functioning former patients integrate the experience of prior psychiatric hospitalization into their lives and find meaning from that event. The narratives of two individuals are presented and discussed in relation to social role theory, social constructionism, and labeling theory. The narratives underscore that the process of integrating and making meaning of important life events such as psychiatric hospitalization occur within a social context. Understanding mental illness and psychiatric hospitalization in familial, social, and political terms was instrumental in helping these individuals to reconstruct personal narratives in order to overcome shame and internalized stigma and …

Review Of Spirituality In Social Work Practice. Ronald K. Bullis. Reviewed By Lolita Perkins, Louisiana State University., Lolita Perkins

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Ronald K. Bullis, Spirituality in Social Work Practice. Washington, D.C. Taylor and Francis, 1996 $24.95 papercover

Under Attack: Fighting Back: Women And Welfare In The United States. Mimi Abramovitz.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Mimi Abramovitz, Under Attack: Fighting Back: Women and Welfare in the United States. New York: Monthly Review Press, 1996. $26.00 hardcover, $13.00 papercover.

Who We Are: A Second Look. Margaret Gibelman And Philip H. Schervish.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Margaret Gibelman and Philip H. Schervish, Who We Are: A Second Look. Washington, DC: NASW Press, 1996, $27.95 papercover.

Building America: The Democratic Promise Of Public Work. Harry C. Boyte And Nancy N. Kari.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Harry C. Boyte and Nancy N. Kari, Building America: The Democratic Promise of Public Work. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press, 1996. $54.96 hardcover, $18.95 papercover.

Evaluation Of The Effects Of A Conflict Resolution Program On The Behavior Of Middle School Students, Julie A. Collins

Theses and Graduate Projects

Interpersonal violence has become a leading cause of death and injury among adolescents in the United States. The Unites States Department of Justice reports three million crimes-or about 11% of all crimes, occur each year in public schools. With this increasing trend, interventions are needed, to assist adolescents decrease levels of individual anger and frustration and to learn skills to resolve conflict. A ten-week Conflict Resolution group was implemented in an inner city school in Minneapolis, MN. Each child was asked to complete a pretest/posttest, before the group began and following the last group meeting. This questionnaire evaluated their knowledge …

Comparing Two Support Groups' Impact On The Development Of Middle School Students' Self-Esteem And Internal Locus Of Control, Gary S. Johnson

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study compared the effectiveness of two support group models in a middle school setting. ls the introduction of Health Realization (HR) concepts in a support group more effective than a standard support group without HFI concepts in increasing self-esteem (SE) and internal locus of control (lLC) of participating middle school students? Eighteen 7th grade students were randomly assigned to a support group with HFI concepts or a support group without HR concepts. Pre- and post test scores from the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale for Children (N-S) and the Piers-Harris Children's Self Concept Scale (P-H) were used to assess …

Transracial Adoption And Post-Placement Services, Alisha Kaul-Nelson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Transracial adoption, the adoption of a child that is of a different race than that of the adoptive family, is a controversial issue. With the disproportionately high number of children of color in foster care, transracial adoption is a viable option to provide these children with permanent families. Transracially adoptive families need support and available services to adjust satisfactorily to the adoption. Nine transracially adoptive families completed a self-administered questionnaire about participation in and availability of post-placement services. Data did conclude that services are being offered to families and that these families are utilizing services to assist in adjustment to …

Hiv Prevention Strategies Available In Substance Abuse Treatment Programs For Women In The Twin Cities Area, Cathleen A. Holmberg

Theses and Graduate Projects

Overall, the fastest growing populations of HIV infected individuals are women, African Americans, and heterosexuals. Women who are infected with HIV via drug use now constitute the largest subgroup of women with AIDS in Minnesota. Drug treatment programs for women have been largely impacted within the past few years with the HIV epidemic. Previous research indicates that skills-building and cognitive-behavioral techniques used within drug treatment programs for women are effective in decreasing their risk for HIV infection. This exploratory study aimed to find out how substance abuse treatment programs for women in the Twin Cities area are addressing the problem …

Exploring Parents Satisfaction With Collaborative Services Offered By A County Human Service Agency And School District, Tracy R. Sopiwnik

Theses and Graduate Projects

Collaborative services provide a model of prevention and early intervention. These services are comprehensive, accessible and consumer driven. The purpose of this study was to obtain parents' perceptions of the experience with a collaborative program composed of a rural central Minnesota school district and a neighboring human service agency. This exploratory study uses both qualitative and quantitative information. A survey of a sample of parents asked them to rate how accessible were the services provided through the collaborative and how satisfied they were with these services. The questionnaire focused on the type of in-home counseling services received, the helpfulness of …

Youth Homelessness, Nanci Jo Zenner

Theses and Graduate Projects

This descriptive study identified the characteristics of youth applying for services at Minneapolis Youth Diversion in Minneapolis, Minnesota, between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 1996. Minneapolis Youth Diversion is a non-profit, youth serving agency, located in Minneapolis. An analysis of 507 intake sheets were reviewed to determine the factors related to youth homelessness. These factors included characteristics related to gang involvement, ethnicity, and abuse history. The average age of youth applying for services was age seventeen. More females than males applied for services, and a majority of the youth were African American, contradicting the literature which indicates that most …

Their Silent Voices Are Calling Us: The Efficacy Of Art & Play As Methods Of Intervention In Social Work Practice With Young Children Who Have Been Abused Or Neglected And Who Hove Limited Verbal Language Skills, Brenda F. Watson

Theses and Graduate Projects

This research is a qualitative case study. It evaluates the effectiveness of art and play as nonverbal forms of communication techniques that con be used in social work practice. These techniques con assist social work practitioners working with children ages 3-5 years who hove been traumatized by abuse or neglect. This age group does not hove the verbal language skills necessary to effectively communicate their experiences, feelings and needs. Because young children have not developed the verbal language skills needed to communicate their feelings and needs effectively, alternative nonverbal forms of communication must be used to provide age and developmentally …

The Utilization Of Hospice Care In Assisting To Meet The Needs Of Family Members Of Terminally Ill Patients, Karen S. Cartwright

Theses and Graduate Projects

The diagnosis of a teri'ninal illness greatly impacts the patient as well as the entire family system. The relevant literature mentions the concept that hospice can be beneficial to families by assisting them in meeting needs and providing support and guidance. Little research, however, as been done to support these beliefs. The purpose of this research study was to explore what benefits hospice provides to family members of terminally i]l patients. A questionnaire was mailed to 128 primary care persons of patients who were enrolled in the hospice program and died between February 1, 1996 and July 31, 1996. A …

Training For Transracial Adoptive Parents And Professionals Who Care For Transracially Adopted Children: The Roles Of Identity Formation And Self-Esteem In Successful Placements, Robert L. O'Connor

Theses and Graduate Projects

This thesis examines the roles of identity formation and self-esteem development as interwoven determining factors of successful transracial adoptive placements. Transracially adopted children have the arduous and conflicting tasks of 1) conforming to the family culture, and 2) developing identities that are racially different from those who parent them. The goal of such a placement is for the transracially adopted child(ren) and the adopting family to join together to form a new biracial and bicultural family unit. Using a conceptual framework encompassing Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Erikson's Stages of Development, the Dual Perspective, and the Ecosystem Perspective, the author develops …

Educating Children With Developmental Disabilities In Regular Education Classrooms: A Public Policy Analysis, Monique J. Larson

Theses and Graduate Projects

There is much controversy about how and where to best educate children with developmental disabilities. There are those who argue for the integration or complete inclusion of children with disabilities into a regular education environment. On the other hand are those who argue for continued and increased special education services that are provided outside of the regular education classroom. Currently in education there is a wide spectrum of environments in which children with developmental disabilities are being taught. The purpose of this study is to analyze the development and evolution of special education public policy, with an emphasis on the …

A Safe School Plan For Jefferson Elementary School, Jody Ann Kirchner

Theses and Graduate Projects

School violence has become a growing concern in the United States. Although most of the stories reported in the media focus on violence in high schools, concerns for the safety of elementary school students is increasing. Strategies used by schools to maintain safety for students include 1) zero tolerance policies, 2) conflict resolution through peer mediation, and 3) safe school planning. This descriptive research study utilizes safe school planning because of its focus on overall school environment and climate. Secondary data analysis is used to identify students' perceptions of safety at Minneapolis Public School's Jefferson Elementary. Survey questions are categorized …

An Exploration Of Medical Social Workers' Participation In A Grief Education Seminar, Colleen Marie Hoffman

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to design, implement and evaluate a grief and death educational seminar for medical social workers at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This study described a seminar designed by the researcher: "The Grief Journey: Our Patients, Ourselves" and presented findings of the survey questionnaire and program evaluation. The study used primarily qualitative data to evaluate the preparedness of medical social workers in assessing grief after participating in a grief education seminar. The study population (n=23) were men and women participants of the grief education seminar presented January, 1997. The survey questionnaire and evaluations …

An Outcomes Evaluation Of A Family Sexual Abuse Treatment Program, Laura Jean Skogen

Theses and Graduate Projects

Despite numerous studies on the incidence and effects or incest, little information exists on treatment effectiveness. This study employed an ex post facto program outcomes design using a records review to evaluate a Midwestern Family Sexual Abuse Treatment Program (FSATP). Outcomes examined included clients' status at case closing and progress on 10 program goals from a Likert-type Clinical Rating Scale. Significant positive relationships were found between the length of treatment, quantity of family and group treatments, and the status at case closing. These findings suggest that the FSATP should consider the following changes: 1) increase the range of family participation; …

Women And Mid-Life Divorce Losses And Triumphs, Christine Kocinski

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose or this study was to report the findings of a qualitative, exploratory study with women who divorced during the mid-life years of 35-55. Paul Bohannan's six stations of divorce was used as a framework to explore the legal, economic, community, emotional, co-parental, and psychic losses expressed by women as a result of divorcing in mid-life and factors proving beneficial in coping with these losses.

Data from ten open-ended, structured interviews were collected and analyzed. This data revealed themes of depression, anger and sadness, yet hope for further growth and a better life post-divorce recovery.

Implications for social work …