Digital Commons Network^™

Lesbian Battering: An Exploratory Study, Raquel Volaco Simoes

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this research study was to examine the incidence of same-sex female battering. An overview of the existing material on lesbian abusive relationships confirmed the need to further validate and clarify this problem. The Conflict Tactics Scales, Couple Form R, was used to gather data. Fifty percent of the sample reported having perpetuated or experienced physical abuse in current or past relationships. Due to the sample size, the results from this study may not be generalized to the larger lesbian/bisexual community.

Adolescents' Perceptions Of Long-Term Hospitalization And Post-Hospitalization Experience, Mary J. Kacvinsky

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to provide a description of adolescents' perceptions of their long-term hospitalization and post-hospitalization experience. The study sample included ten previously hospitalized adolescents (aged 13-18) who had been hospitalized long-term (6+ weeks) at Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, Twin Cities Unit, a pediatric orthopedic hospital. They were interviewed by telephone to get their perceptions of past hospital experiences. Study findings indicate that adolescent patients become very knowledgeable about life in the hospital and what is allowed and expected of them. Findings are consistent with the review of the literature which indicated that, giving up independence …

Socio-Economic And Political Implications Of The Termination Of General Assistance Benefits For Undocumented Victims Of Torture In Minnesota, Evelyn C. Lennon

Theses and Graduate Projects

The Minnesota State Legislature amended the General Assistance benefits statutes, effective October 1, 1993, to exclude undocumented persons. This research project attempts to define the socio-economic and political issues as they impact victims of political torture who reside in Minnesota without legal status. The history of public assistance, its underlying social problem, and its judicial context reveals the controversy over entitlements versus rights. Social program and policy systems analysis highlights the linkage between the goals and objectives of the legislation and the message that is inherent in the delivery of services. An examination of the files of four clients of …

A Short-Term Group Model For Female Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Linda M. Pavic

Theses and Graduate Projects

The current changes in the health care system require mental health professionals to provide short-term, cost-effective services that are accessible to a broader population. Chrysalis Mental Health Clinic is meeting this challenge. The clinic has designed and implemented a short-term psycho educational group model for female survivors of childhood sexual abuse. This thesis is an evaluation of the group model's effectiveness from the members' perspective. The evaluation examines the following three research questions: 1) From the group members' perspective, how helpful is the psycho educational approach of the short-term group model at Chrysalis Mental Health Clinic?; 2) Was a feeling …

Services For Homeless Youth: A Needs Assessment And Program Design, Noya J. Woodrich

Theses and Graduate Projects

Homelessness among youth is a problem that is growing in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The purpose of this study was to examine the services currently available for this population and to assess whether or not they are sufficient enough to serve the population of young homeless adults. Research for the study was done by looking at existing records such as studies done by the Minnesota Department of Education, and the Minnesota Department of Education. A local study done by the Wilder Research Center on homeless youth and a program evaluation done by the Bridge Inc., was also used to …

Case Evaluation Of The Student Leader Program At Tanglen Elementary School, Renee E. Ward

Theses and Graduate Projects

It is apparent that the educational system is very influential upon children's learning abilities. Therefore, schools may be a key place to teach problem-solving skills at an elementary level. These skills wilt be needed to confront societal conflicts that await them as adolescents and adults. This thesis identifies a student leader program in an elementary school that trains sixth grade students to become leaders and mediate conflicts with kindergarten through fourth grade students. The evaluation of this program finds that student leaders successfully attain leadership roles as peer mediators, and also role model problem-solving skills as well as positive behavior …

The Evaluation Of Organizational Structure In The Rape Crisis Movement In Minnesota From 1970-1990, Cheryl A. Champion

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study documents the changes in the organizational structure of the rape crisis centers (RCC) in Minnesota. It compares the organizational types of similar alternative agencies with those organizational types that emerged in RCC. It considers a framework that predicts at what period in the natural history of a social movement changes in organizational structure and personnel occur. It determines how the evolution of RCC reflects this framework. Finally, it assesses the relationship between feminist ideology and organizational functioning. Several findings emerge from this study. Over time, RCC evolved from grassroot collectives into programs of the Minnesota Department of Corrections. …

Changes In Labor Force Activities And Income Of The Elderly Before And After Retirement: A Longitudinal Analysis, Namkee G. Choi

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper analyzes the changes in work hours and the economic profile of the elderly for a period of 11 years before and after retirement. Workers of all economic status decreased their work hours gradually as retirement approached. But findings show that, as they decreased their work hours, workers with higher preretirement economic status experienced more drastic reduction in income than those with lower economic status. Nevertheless, the preretirement income gap was maintained in postretirment economic status mostly due to differences in asset income and pension benefits. Policies to assist low-income retirees are recommended.

A View From The Inside Out: Recipients' Perceptions Of Welfare, Mark R. Rank

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Welfare use is a highly stigmatized behavior in American society. The word itself conjures up various images of disdain in the minds of most Americans. Yet how do the recipients of welfare discern and react to being on public assistance? The focus of this paper is on understanding the manner in which recipients view their own situation, how they perceive the general public's attitudes toward themselves, and their views on fellow welfare recipients. Also examined are how such attitudes influence recipients' behavior towards welfare. These perceptions and behaviors are explored in detail through the use of in-depth, open-ended qualitative interviews …

Social Work, Social Science And The Disease Concept: New Directions For Addiction Treatment, Douglas Frans

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The perception of alcoholism and other substance abuse disorders as disease entities is a view ardently defended not only among chemical dependency professionals but, increasingly, by the general public as well. Over the past two decades, this perspective has also become so ensconced within the addiction treatment industry that alternative interventions are almost nonexistent even though evidence of their effectiveness is available (Miller & Hester, 1989). And yet, "no leading research authorities accept the classic disease concept" (Fingarette, 1988, p. 3). Competing views are generally characterized as irresponsible, and their sponsors summarily dismissed as dangerously uninformed by disease view proponents …

Client-Driven Advocacy And Psychiatric Disability: A Model For Social Work Practice, David P. Moxley, Paul P. Freddolino

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper presents an innovative advocacy model designed to assist people coping with psychiatric disabilities to fulfill their basic living needs. The model emphasizes the importance of clients defining their own needs for advocacy and then, with the support and assistance of an advocate, taking direct action to fulfill these needs. The model is elaborated in terms of its basic attributes, the interlocking roles of both clients and advocates, the importance of the advocacy relationship, and seven core processes of advocacy. The authors conclude with a discussion of possible effects of introducing the model into social work practice in mental …

Review Of Out Of Bedlam: The Truth About Deinstitutionalization. Ann Braden Johnson. Reviewed By Kia J. Bentley, Virginia Commonwealth University, Kia J. Bentley

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book Review. Ann Braden Johnson. Out of Bedlam: The Truth about Deinstitutionalization. New York: Basic Books, 1990. $13.00 paperback.

Review Of Vision And Aging: Crossroads For Service Delivery. Albert L. Orr. Reviewed By James A. Leja, Western Michigan University., James A. Leja

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Orr, Alberta L., Vision and Aging: Crossroads for Service Delivery. New York: American Foundation for the Blind. 1992. $29.95 papercover.

Review Of Families And Schools In A Pluralistic Society. Nancy Feyl Chavkin. Reviewed By Steven R. Rose, Louisiana State University., Steven R. Rose

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Nancy Feyl Chavkin (Ed). Families and Schools in a Pluralistic Society. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1993. $59.50 hardcover; $19.95 papercover.

Disabling Barriers: Enabling Environments. John Swain, Vic Finkelstein, Sally French And Mike Oliver.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

John Swain, Vic Finkelstein, Sally French and Mike Oliver (Eds). Disabling Barriers: Enabling Environments. London: Sage Publications, 1993. $22.95 papercover.

International And Transracial Adoptions. Christopher Bagley With Loretta Young And Anne Scully.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Christopher Bagley with Loretta Young and Anne Scully. International and Transracial Adoptions. Aldershot, England: Avebury, 1993. $66.95 hardcover. (Distributed in the United States by Ashgate Publishing Co. Brookfield, VT).

A Nation In Denial: The Truth About Homelessness. Alice S. Baum And Donald W. Burnes.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Alice S. Baum and Donald W. Burnes, A Nation in Denial: The Truth About Homelessness. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1993. $49.95 hardcover; $16.95 papercover.

Child Abuse: Towards A Knowledge Base. Brian Corby.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Brian Corby. Child Abuse: Towards a Knowledge Base. Buckingham, England: Open University Press, 1993. $32.50 papercover. (Distributed in the United States by Taylor and Francis, 1900 Frost Road, Bristol, PA 19007).

Leaving Home Before Marriage: Ethnicity, Familism And Generational Relationships. Francis K. Goldscheider And Calvin Goldscheider.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Frances K. Goldscheider and Calvin Goldscheider. Leaving Home Before Marriage: Ethnicity, Familism and Generational Relationships. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press, 1993. $27.50 hardcover.

The Politics Of Readjustment: Vietnam Veterans Since The War. Wilbur J. Scott.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Wilbur J. Scott. The Politics of Readjustment: Vietnam Veterans Since the War. Hawthorne, NY: Aldine de Gruyter, 1993. $47.95 hardcover, $23.95 papercover.

An Examination Of The Ecosystems Perspective In Consideration Of New Theories In Biology And Thermodynamics, Barney Mcdowell

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Eco-systems perspective and its predecessor, systems theory, have been put forth as the guiding methodological framework for social work. In fact, operationally and theoretically most of these formulations are mechanistic and dualistic. Social work systems theory claims ecology, thermodynamics, and biology as its historical roots. It is, therefore, incumbent on the profession to examine the fundamentals of those disciplines. This paper examines social work's eco-systemic formulations in light of new hypotheses in biology and thermodynamics as well as the ecological crisis of our times. Professionalism will then be discussed as the operational demonstration of social work's mechanistic philosophy.

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 21, No. 2 (June 1994)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• CHANGES IN LABOR FORCE ACTIVITES AND INCOME OF THE ELDERLY BEFORE AND AFTER RETIREMENT: A LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS - Namkee G. Choi
• A VIEW FROM THE INSIDE OUT: RECIPIENTS' PERCEPTIONS OF WELFARE - Mark R. Rank
• AN EXAMINATION OF ECOSYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE IN CONSIDERATION OF NEW THEORIES IN BIOLOGY AND THERMODYNAMICS - Barney McDowell
• SOCIAL WORK, SOCIAL SCIENCE AND THE DISEASE MODEL: NEW DIRECTIONS FOR ADDICTIONS TREATMENT - Douglas Frans
• CLIENT-DRIVEN ADVOCACY AND PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITY: A MODEL FOR SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE - David P. Moxley and Paula P. Freddolino
• A MARXIAN REVIEW OF GERONTOLOGICAL LITERATURE - Stephen M. Marson …

A Marxian Review Of Gerontological Literature, Stephen M. Marson, L. Richard Della Fave

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

A major concern for the sociology of aging and social gerontology is the lack of theoretical rigor. In particular, Birren and Bengtson (1988) describe all of social gerontology as "data-rich but theory-poor." In an effort to deal with the lack of theory, this essay reviews the general social gerontology literature from a Marxian perspective. The findings suggest that the Marxian framework can illuminate aspects of social gerontology hitherto left unexamined in both the academic and applied arenas.

With A Little Help From Our Friends: Social Support As A Source Of Well-Being And Of Coping With Stress, Darlyne Bailey, Donald M. Wolfe, Christopher R. Wolfe

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The relationship between one's psycho-emotional and physiological health has long been of interest to social scientists. While many factors have been examined for their impact on causation and prevention, over the past two decades the concepts of social support, stress and well-being have undergone much scrutiny. In this article the authors provide empirical data to enhance our understanding of the interrelatedness of these three concepts.

Based on the findings from a study of stress and health in organizations, a model is proposed which elucidates some of the conditions under which social support networks mediate the impact of stress on psychological …

Foundation Grantmaking In The 1980s: How Three Human Service Fields Fared, Roslyn H. Chernesky, Irene A. Gutheil

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Analyzing three recent reports on grantmaking trends that use the Foundation (Center's grants database, at picture emerges of how three human service fields-aging, substance abuse, and crime and justice fared in terms of foundation grantmaking during the turbulent period from 1983 to 1987 when federal support was reduced. Despite a sizeable increase in foundation dollars to each field which outpaced overall foundation giving, the authors caution that this increase may not indicate greater foundation commitment to human services.

Review Of Nonresidential Parenting. Charlene E. Depner And James H. Bray (Eds.), Terri Combs-Orme

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book Review. Nonresidential Parenting. Charlene E. Depner and James H. Bray (Eds.)