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Rebuilding The Inner City: A History Of Neighborhood Initiatives To Address Poverty In The United States. Robert Halpern.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Robert Halpern, Rebuilding the Inner City: A History of Neighborhood Initiatives to Address Poverty in the United States. New York: Columbia University Press, 1995. $49.50 hardcover, $17.00 papercover.

Rights And The Common Good: The Communitarian Perspective. Amitai Etzioni.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Amitai Etzioni (Ed.), Rights and the Common Good: The Communitarian Perspective. New York, St. Martin's Press, 1995. $35.00 hardcover.

Purchase Of Service Contracting Versus Government Service Delivery: The Views Of State Human Service Administrators, Peter M. Kettner, Lawrence L. Martin

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Purchase of service contracting (POSC) as a mode of human service delivery is based largely on untested normative grounds. This article presents the results of a national study comparing the views of state human service administrators on the relative merits of POSC versus government service delivery in four issue areas: (1) service costs, (2) service quality, (3) bureaucracy and red tape, and (4) effect on government employees. The study results provide some support for POSC in three of the four issues areas. The study finds that geography plays no role in the views of state human service administrators, but that …

A Second Chicago School: The Development Of A Postwar American Sociology. Gary Alan Fine (Ed.).

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Gary Alan Fine (Ed.), A Second Chicago School: The Development of a Postwar American Sociology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995. $70.00 hardcover, $22.50 papercover.

Crime And Inequality. John Hagen And Ruth Patterson (Eds).

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

John Hagen and Ruth Patterson (Eds), Crime and Inequality. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1995. $45.00 hardcover, $16.95 papercover.

The Economics Of Aging. James H. Schultz.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

James H. Schultz, The Economics of Aging. Westport, CT: Auburn House, 1995. $69.50 hardcover, $19.95 papercover.

Poverty, Family Support, And Well-Being Of Infants: Mexican Immigrant Women And Childbearing, Margaret Sherrard Sherraden, Rossana E. Barrera

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Data reveal that despite high levels of poverty, Mexican immigrants have relatively few low birth weight babies. This unusual pattern suggests that there are "protective" social factors mediating the effects of povertyperhaps especially family support. Our study, based on in-depth interviews with immigrant women in Chicago, finds that family support does protect some women from delivering a low birth weight infant but it does not protect women living in extreme poverty. Implications for services to Mexican immigrant women in childbearing years and their families are presented. These findings also speak to broad issues in social policy, especially the need for …

Factors In Length Of Foster Care: Worker Activities And Parent-Child Visitation, Maryellen White, Eric Albers, Christine Bitonti

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This is an exploratory case study investigating factors potentially related to length of foster care placements in a small western state. Findings of earlier researchers are supported. More frequent visits by natural parents are associated with shorter foster care placements.

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 …

Race And Ethnicity In America: Meeting The Challenge In The 21st Century. Gail E. Thomas (Ed.).

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Gail E. Thomas (Ed), Race and Ethnicity in America: Meeting the Challenge in the 21st Century. Washington, DC: Taylor and Francis, 1995. $29.95 papercover.

Perinatal Loss And The Marital Relationship, Karilyn K. Alexander

Theses and Graduate Projects

This exploratory study examined the perceived stress and conflict that resulted in the marriages of 32 individuals who experienced perinatal loss and chose to participate in this study. The research sought to better understand the stress couples perceive in their marriages in relation to the level of attachment to the fetus following a perinatal loss. This study also focused on the social support received from inside and outside the marriage following a loss, and how the support influenced the marital stress experienced. Two copies of the self-administered questionnaires were sent to each couple who volunteered to participate. The findings indicated …

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 …

An Exploration Of The Role Of Computer Mediated Communications In The Lives Of Older Adults, Joanne Middaugh

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study is to explore the use of the Internet bulletin boards/Usenet newsgroups, email, and chat services by adults over age 50. Review of the literature showed that social isolation of older adults has many causal factors. Studies found that the use of telephone support groups has been helpful with cancer patients and caregivers of end-stage AIDS and Alzheimers' patients. Older members of an Internet bulletin board were invited to complete a questionnaire requesting information about their use of computer-mediated communications. Findings showed that 100% of those surveyed perceived an increase in their social network using computer …

An Exploratory Study Of Resilience Among American Indian Human Service Professionals, Georgette M. Bunker

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study explores the link between Native American cultural factors and the concept of resilience. The research design utilized personal interviews with 12 Native Americans in positions of leadership within their own community, to explore questions about protective factors, risk factors and cultural factors. The bicultural continuum was used to study participants to self assess their degree of assimilation. Findings did reflect some similarity between protective factors identified in the resilience literature and cultural factors. Discussion of findings addresses how increased knowledge of the Native American culture can assist practitioners in the assessment of resilience when working with Native American …

Children As Witnesses Of Family Violence: Needs Assessment With Program Implications, Beverly A. Seifert

Theses and Graduate Projects

Women who are victims of family violence within a rural Midwestern county receive multi-faceted services from area service providers, while their children who witness family violence receive residual attention. It was the intention of this study to discern the needs of children in this population and to determine if a program of specialized services was indicated. Research for this study was done by interviewing key informants within the service delivery system to pinpoint the percieved physical, educational/cognitive, social, and emotional needs of this population. The findings indicated that there is a need for further services within the Goodhue County area. …

Needs Assessment On Homeless Women, Sandra A. Scott

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the needs of homeless women. This survey included 32 women, who were enrolled in a Transitional Housing Program during 1995. Data collection questionnaire. The collection involved a self-administered questionnaire. The collected data covers several areas: (1) the needs of homeless women from their perspective, (2) improvement in service delivery, and (3) intervention strategies. Of the women surveyed 71.9% were African-American, 12.5% were Caucasian, and 15.6% were Native American. The average age was 25-34. Approximately, 62.5% of the women were single, and never married. And, the women averaged 3-5 children each. Surprisingly, 34.4% …

Adolescents Who Have Experienced Parental Divorce: Saint Paul School Social Worker's Perceptions Of The Challenges And Limitations Adolescents Experience, Ken Kozemzak

Theses and Graduate Projects

Each year close to 1.2 million American marriages end in divorce, disrupting the lives of over one million children. Recent research has studied many adolescents who have been affected by the experience of parental divorce. This exploratory study presents some of that research and examines what challenges/limitations Saint Paul Middle School social workers see with adolescents from divorced families. This study will also describe services social workers offer in response to the needs of adolescents on their caseloads. Social workers at fourteen different middle school in Saint Paul were surveyed. The findings indicate the results of the literature are consistent …

A Descriptive Study Of Adolescent Truancy In Dakota County, Connie Roller

Theses and Graduate Projects

Unexcused absences continue to be a problem for schools, families and communities. In this study 50 subjects aged 12- 16 are described using two different measures. Parent-completed program forms provide information on the variables age, gender, race, family size, family income, chemical use, discipline problems, peer pressure, moves and separation or divorce of parents. The second measure examines the opinions and perceptions of key informants to these and other variables impacting school attendance. The findings suggest a larger than expected percentage of girls and minorities exhibiting this behavior. Key informants identified parent's ability to discipline, student’s chemical use and discipline …

The Empowerment Effects Of Criminal Court Legal Advocacy On Battered Women: An Exploratory Study, Elizabeth M. Jones

Theses and Graduate Projects

This exploratory study examined the relationship between battered women's legal advocacy and empowerment. It was hypothesized that women who received battered women's legal advocacy would be more empowered during their experiences with the criminal court process than women who did not receive legal advocacy. The sample consisted of 73 women in the intervention group and 60 women in the comparison group whose partners had been arrested on fifth degree domestic assault charges. The sample was drawn from 1995 police records, Nine participants completed a self-administered survey. Using measures of central tendency and bi-variate analysis it was found that women with …

Development Of A Support Group Curriculum: Building Self-Esteem With Adolescent Girls, Elaine S. Korsch

Theses and Graduate Projects

In the past few decades educators, social workers and psychologists have been examining the role self esteem plays in young people's development and have explored why adolescent girls as a group show lower self esteem than adolescent boys. The purpose of this project is two fold: 1) to research those factors that influence the development of self esteem for young girls during the time they move into adolescence and 2) to develop a support group curriculum that addresses those factors that put young girls at risk. The curriculum is designed for girls age 12-14 and is to be facilitated by …

A Historical Study Of The Minnesota Model: A Multidisciplinary Approach To Alcoholism Treatment, 1940'S To 1995, John A. Herbaugh

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study is to collect and analyze information about the development of the Minnesota Model and its relationship with the Hazelden Foundation and Alcoholics Anonymous using research literature and the scheduled interviews. The literature search revealed information which questioned specific factors related to the model treatment outcomes, inpatient vs. outpatient, and the lack of social worker participation in the treatment of chemical dependency. The interviews were conducted with three key informants. The use of existing data supported the model but questioned the methodologies to obtain treatment outcomes. The interview findings showed the model’s main objective is to …

Attrition In The Mandated Treatment Of Men Who Batter: A Look At Demographic Influence, Jill A. Yoerger

Theses and Graduate Projects

Descriptive variables associated with men completing domestic abuse treatment programs were found to be influencing factors in earlier attrition research. One hundred clients who attended a Minneapolis-based domestic abuse treatment program were selected for inclusion in this study. Six demographic variables were thought to be predictive of treatment completion or drop out.

The literature review suggested that factors positively related to attrition included being under less strain. With this in mind, the revised Strain Theory (Agnew, 1992) was used as the theoretical framework for this study. Strain Theory focuses on negative relationships with others, negative affective states and pressure toward …

Passive Victims Of Peer Bullying And Teaching Staff's Response To Them, Kenneth E. Maher

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study explored teaching staff's ability to identify passive victims of peer bullying, the strategies they use to build up a victim's self-esteem, the strategies they use to teach passive victims assertiveness skills and their views and opinions concerning bullying. Research indicated that passive victims of peer bullying tend to have lower self-esteem and don't have the skills needed to protect themselves when bullied. Since a majority of bullying happens at school, teaching staff have the best opportunity to intervene when bullying occurs.

A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 45 teachers, educational assistants and specialist/support staff at a particular elementary …

Recommendations For Parent Involvement In Elementary School Peacemaking Programs, Louise E. Goetz

Theses and Graduate Projects

Improving conflict resolution and peacemaking programs through the increased involvement of parents has been recommended by several major studies. Programs with intentional parent involvement have not been evaluated, so factors related to effective parent involvement have not been identified. This study asked parents, students and peace educators to identify techniques and preferences for parent involvement and support of student learning in a peacemaking and conflict resolution curriculum. The study population included families and peace educators involved with a peacemaking curriculum taught to second graders. Parents completed a self-administered questionnaire; students were interviewed about their experience with using the material; and …

How Hospital Social Service Directors Perceive The Current And Future Role Of The Medical Social Worker, Molly Schwegman Martin

Theses and Graduate Projects

This research explored the current roles and attempts to understand the future roles of medical social workers in hospital settings. The subjects of this study were members of the Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Social Work Administrators in Health Care who completed a 16 question mailed survey. The findings illustrated the necessity to expand social work services beyond the hospital walls into such areas as emergency rooms, community settings, and physician clinics. The information gathered and compiled for this study will be used by directors of hospital social work service departments, along with medical social workers, to examine and …

An Assessment Of The Employment Needs Of Southeast Asian Refugees On Public Assistance In Ramsey County, Nils Dybvig

Theses and Graduate Projects

As welfare programs focus increased emphasis on employment, pressure to become employed will increase for Southeast Asian refugees who depend upon these programs, and who have very different employment needs from the population at large. A series of in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 Hmong, Cambodian and Vietnamese service providers to gather information about the employment needs of refugees that can be met by welfare reform programs. The findings indicate that welfare programs that require employment for refugees are likely to be successful, particularly if the refugees receive assistance in finding work and incentives that make work more attractive than …

Causes Of Conflict Between Hmong Parents And Their Adolescent Children, Vang Thomas Chang

Theses and Graduate Projects

The phenomenon of conflict between Hmong parents and their adolescent children is increasing and showing potential for further deterioration in relationship in the future. The purpose of study is to gain insights from twenty-seven Hmong service providers who responded to a questionnaire regarding the causes of conflict between Hmong parents and their children in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Moreover, this research is to gain insights into Hmong service providers' awareness, observations, and experience in dealing with Hmong families and their adolescent children effectively. This study will also seek to gain understanding of the phenomenon of conflict within Hmong families …

Fax: May 4, 1996, The White House, Office Of The Press Secretary

Saffy Collection - All Textual Materials

A fax sent to Dr. Edna L. Saffy: Radio Address by The President to the Nation. The press release is about American jobs, families and the economy.

Adoption Assistance Is Crucial To Facilitate Placement And Ensure Permanency For Children With Special Needs: Perceptions Of North Dakota Parents Who Adopt, Kathlyn D. Thoreson

Theses and Graduate Projects

This descriptive study measures and analyzes the benefits and barriers of the adoption assistance program in the state of North Dakota. Data are drawn from a mail survey of the total population of 193 adoptive families, who adopted 250 children with special needs and who were receiving financial or medical assistance through the adoption assistance program in North Dakota as of October, 1995. The response return rate was 60% (116) of the families and was in regard to 65% (163) of the children in the program as of the specified date. Analysis reveals broad themes including the importance of monthly …

Chronic Child Neglect: A Journey Of Junctures, Margaret Shoemaker

Theses and Graduate Projects

Child neglect is the number one reason children are placed in out-of-home care in Minnesota. In this exploratory study, four young adults, with a history of child neglect, family preservation services, and out-of-home placement in one northern Minnesota county, were interviewed. Participants shared their opinions about how social workers and foster parents helped them develop life-sustaining relationships with a family. Findings are discussed in the context of a literature review which explores the relationship between attachment theory, chronic child neglect and the array of family preservation services offered to families. Participants provide advice for practitioners working with families who have …