Digital Commons Network^™

Aboriginal Child Welfare, Deena Mandell, J. Clouston Carlson, Marshall Fine, Cindy Blackstock

Partnerships for Children and Families Project

As the relationships between Canada’s Aboriginal peoples and the state undergo changes, the issue of Child Welfare is in the foreground; for it is around the well being, education and care of Aboriginal children that much of the painful historical relationship between First Nations and Canadian government has been played out. In this paper we consider the major issues in Canadian Aboriginal child welfare, drawing upon an extensive review and synthesis of current theory and research. Although there is an abundance of material available concerning Aboriginal child welfare, much of it exists outside mainstream academic child welfare literature. Some of …

Language Brokering: A Parent's Perspective, Lucy Sloan

Theses Digitization Project

Language brokering is known as the translating transaction between two individuals. This study seeks to investigate the language brokering which occurs between Latino parents and their children. In particular, it seeks to examine Latino parents' comfort level in different brokering settings/places and with different individuals.

Systemic Barriers That Prevent Mental Health Services From Being Accessed By The Deaf Population, Jen Ruther-Uhrich

Theses and Graduate Projects

Mental health services are essential and need to be equally accessible and non-discriminatory to all individuals within our society. Traditionally, the Deaf community has encountered many hindrances when attempting to access mental health seruices. This study examines the systemic barriers that prevent Deaf individuals from obtaining mental health services in the Twin Cities Metro and regional area. Questionnaires were sent out to 100 individuals that serve Deaf adults with mental illness within the Twin Cities Metro Area. The results from the 48 seruice providers' questionnaires responses show specific qualitative barriers; Community Service Agencies, Cultural Competency, Deaf lndividuals with Additional Needs, …

Short-Term Outcomes For Youth Receiving Runaway And Homeless Shelter Services, Sanna J. Thompson, David E. Pollio, Jodi Constantine, Donna Reid, Von Eugene Nebbitt

Social Work Faculty Publications

Objective: Few studies have assessed the outcomes of runaway/homeless youth that seek assistance from shelter or crisis services, which would provide much needed documentation of intervention effectiveness and point to new directions for service provision. The goals of the current study were to: (1) assess short-term outcomes among runaway/homeless youth using emergency shelters and crisis services and (2) compare short-term outcomes achieved by runaway/homeless youth in crisis shelters with similar youth using other, longer-term treatment modalities. Method: The study sampled 261 youth using runaway/homeless shelters from four midwestern states at intake and six-weeks postdischarge and 47 high-risk youth using longer-term …

Recruitment And Foster Family Service, Mary Ellen Cox, Cheryl Buehler, John G. Orme

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Using data from the National Survey of Current and Former Foster Parents this study examined how foster parents first found out about the need for foster parents (mass media, other foster parents, religious organization, or civic organization) affected foster family service (number of children fostered, years of fostering service, fostering of children with special needs, and families' intent to continue fostering). Respondents who became aware of the need for foster parents through religious organizations fosteredfor more years; respondents who became aware through mass media fostered for fewer years. How foster families first found out about the need for foster parents …

Violence In The Lives Of Rural, Southern & Poor White Women, Naomi Farber, Julie Miller-Cribbs

Center for Social Development Research

Violence in the Lives of Rural, Southern & Poor White Women

First Nations Child And Family Services And Indigenous Knowledge As A Framework For Research, Policy And Practice, Marlyn Bennett, Cindy Blackstock

Partnerships for Children and Families Project

This paper provides an overview of the exciting national developments in First Nations child and family service delivery in Canada with a focus on progressive research, policy and practice. Examples of how traditional concepts of interdependence and the holistic worldview inform program design and delivery within First Nations communities are reviewed. In addition, the paper introduces the mandate, strategic directions and services of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada. This national organization brings together the 105 First Nations Child and Family Service Agencies in Canada to share best practices, develop professional development programs and conduct research. …

Sparing The Rod?: Social Workers And Corporal Punishment, Christopher Omer Brannon, James Oliver Tanghal

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to develop a survey that would provide professionals with an idea as to the thoughts, feelings, and values that social workers held regarding physical punishment towards a child. Social workers stand in a position to intervene in the intergenerational transmission of violence.

Independent Living Programs And Foster Youth Perceptions, Kristin Kay Anthony-Mahler, Robin Patrice Mccall

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to conduct a descriptive and exploratory analysis of Riverside County's Independent Living Skills Program (ILSP) and its ability to prepare foster youth for successful adult transition. A vital component of this study was the exploration of perceived preparedness through the eyes of the participants enrolled in this program.

In Thought, Word, And Deed: Suicidal Behaviors Of Adjudicated Youth, Kevin Corcoran, Thomas Crofoot Graham

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study examines suicide ideation, plans, and attempts by youth in two juvenile justice settings: incarcerated youth (n=83) and youth with community service sentences (n=144). The incarcerated sample reported 51% suicide ideation while the community sample reported 22%. For both samples, suicide contemplators were quite likely (60-70%) to have a suicide plan, while about 35% reported a suicide attempt in the past 12 months. Contemplators were distinguishable from noncontemplators on scores for external problems of delinquency and aggression, internal problems of anxiety, depression, withdrawal and somatic complaints, general depression, and general health status. The results have implications for assessment, triage, …

Meeting The Mental Health Needs Of Adolescents With An Ebd Label: An Exploratory Study, Melanie Rivers

Theses and Graduate Projects

This is an exploratory research study focusing on identifoing and meeting the needs of middle school and high school students who have been given a label as being emotionally and/or behaviorally disabled (EBD). St. Paul Public Schools' Social workers serving EBD students were surveyed in order to provide insight into the characteristics and needs of this group, Adolescents with an EBD label (emotionally and/or behaviorally disabled/disordered) may be the most vulnerable group of the "at risk" youth population. The goal of this study was to identify gaps in the current system designed to service this population. The information was collected …

Child Abuse Reported To The Police., David Finkelhor, Richard Ormrod

Crimes Against Children Research Center

Child abuse is commonly regarded as a child welfare problem, and a considerable amount of information has been amassed from this perspective. When a child is assaulted, however, it is not only a child welfare problem, it is a crime, and yet there is a lack of law enforcement data available for researchers to analyze. Use of the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), which collects detailed data about crime and its victims, should help fill this gap. This Bulletin describes NIBRS and its role in depicting police experience with child abuse and reports key findings derived from NIBRS data. Analysis …

Residential Mobility And Youth Well-Being: Research, Policy, And Practice Issues, Edward Scanlon, Kevin Devine

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Despite an extensive body of sociological work suggesting that residential mobility reduces child well-being, the subject of relocation has been largely overlooked in social work and social welfare literature. Recent social policies threaten to increase the incidence of moving among low-income families in the United States. This paper reviews theoretical and empirical literature in this area and finds evidence that residential mobility reduces children's academic functioning, and may negatively affect other aspects of child well-being. These effects are especially strong for poor children from single parent families, making this issue of particular relevance for social work. The authors suggest implications …

The Effects Of New Members On Perceived Group Cohesion, Kristie Lynn Bott, Michele Dawn Reed

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Social Work Students: The Learning Of Professional Values In A Graduate Program, Soyna Hester Farrow, Donna Marie Monroe

Theses Digitization Project

This research may facilitate a discussion concerning the most efficient way of instilling social work values and ethics into the personal value systems of graduate social work students.

Morale And The Mental Health Worker: Burnout In The Department Of Behavioral Health, Karen Lee Banker

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Head Start Participation On Cognitive And Social Functioning Of Children In The United States, Anshumala Ram

Theses Digitization Project

This study examined the effects of Head Start participation on the cognitive and social functioning of children 6 to 14 years of age in the United States.

Grandma's Babies: The Problem Of Welfare Eligibility For Children Raised By Relatives, Rebecca L. Hegar, Maria Scannapieco

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article provides a brief history of children raised by relatives and examines the welfare eligibility of these families, emphasizing changes under the Personal Responsibility & Work Opportunity Act of 1996 (PR&WOA). The revolution in public welfare places many care-giving relatives atfinancial risk. Depending on their states' plans for implementing the PR& WOA, children and their relative caregivers may lose state support. The article presents the social welfare policy responses of a number of states to the problems of kinship care-giving, formal kinship foster care, the PR&WOA, and other social welfare provisions. Unintended consequences of welfare reform are highlighted.

High School Students' Perception Of Developmental Assets, A Gender Comparison, Delia Vandyke

Theses and Graduate Projects

This quantitative study explores the findings from a local study using an instrument developed by the Search Institute: "Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors. This 156-item anonymous survey was administered to 203 suburban high school students who are receiving alternative or non-traditional educational services. The research measures developmental assets, risk, and protective factors and includes a gender comparison. The findings from the survey are compared against a national sample of 24,740 students in 11th and 12th grade. The research is relevant to social workers who want to know how this adolescent population spends their time, what are their perceptions …

Probation Officers Reporting Of Mental Disorders And Treatment Among Juveniles In Ramsey County, Theresa A. Pease

Theses and Graduate Projects

A descriptive research study focusing on the mental health services available to juveniles in the juvenile justice system who have mental health diagnoses. Ramsey county juvenile probation officers were surveyed to provide information regarding this population.

Juveniles in the juvenile justice system have been identified as having a high incident of mental health disorders and are a population in great need. The goal of the study was to answer several questions related to the number of youth with mental disorders in a metropolitan juvenile justice system. The information was collected using a short survey distributed to the county's 44 juvenile …

Community Assessment: Strengths And Challenges Of American Indian Youth, Yvonne L. Barrett

Theses and Graduate Projects

This qualitative study used focus groups to conduct an assessment of capacities and needs of a large upper Midwest American Indian community's views of adolescents who have mental health issues and are violent. The study elicited feedback from 1) providers serving American Indian youth and their families and, 2) the community in general. A total of eleven individuals participated in two focus groups. The interview questions covered the areas of personal experiences with adolescents, strengths and challenges of American Indian youth, available resources and whether they meet the needs of American Indian youth. Findings reveal that the strengths of family, …

An Evaluation Of Transitional Services - A Program For Youth With Aggressive Episodes, Lyla Peterson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Youth who display aggressive tendencies has been a domain of

increasing interest in the arena of social work. This

qualitative program evaluation examined if Transitional

Services was viewed as helpful in reducing the clients'

aggressive episodes while participating in the program, This

study also investigated Anoka County's Transitional Services and

its mission to promote a smoother transition from a restrictive

out-of-home placement back into the clients home environment.

Five social workers completed a qualitative questionnaire that

focused on the program's services for its assistance in

lessening youth aggression, and factors pertaining to family

reunification. The outcomes are based on common …

Focal Point, Volume 14 Number 01, Portland State University. Regional Research Institute

Research and Training Center - Focal Point

FROM THE EDITORS. It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the premiere collaborative issue of Focal Point. The joint effort between the Center For Effective Collaboration and Practice and the Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children’s Mental Health exemplifies a larger partnership initiative put forward by the Center for Mental Health Services’ (CMHS) Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program. The goal of an enhanced partnership is to promote improved services that lead to better outcomes for youth and their families. Along these lines we hope you find the fruits …

A Direct Practice Evaluation On The Effectiveness Of Using A Strength-Based Approach With Children Living In Foster Care, Emily E. Vincent

Theses and Graduate Projects

This mixed method qualitative / quantitative direct practice evaluation was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of working from a strength-based versus a problem-based approach with children living in foster care. A strength-based approach focuses on a client's positive qualities and identifies the skills they possess that will help them to overcome their situation. The purpose for this approach is to build on and encourage, through a strength-based practice, the certain individual attributes of the child and family and community supports that can enhance resiliency in children.

Three boys living in foster care ages 8-11 were evaluated three times over a …

Faculty Responsiveness Via A Question-And-Answer Newsletter: Its Impact On Student Satisfaction, Daniel Pérez

Theses Digitization Project

This study explores the relationship between student satisfaction and faculty responsiveness to student concerns. "Action Research" was employed. Data analysis focused on group comparisons.

Evaluating Intervention Services For Perpetrators And Victims Of Domestic Violence, Budtri Ay Bhandhumani, Sandra Lea Book

Theses Digitization Project

This study was to evaluate current agency programs that were available to aid victims of domestic violence and their effectiveness in reducing the long-term emotional state of victims. This study included participants from various Domestic Violence Programs located throughout San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles counties.

Social Workers: Their Role And Relationship With The People They Serve, Sheila Moriarty

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to analyze the perceptions that social service workers have of their role and relationship with the people they serve. This study explored these questions of role and relationship through stories told by the social service workers about their work. The literature review reveals that there has been little research looking at the role and relationship with people using the stories of social service workers. Postmodernism and its challenge to the social service worker role as expert is the conceptual framework for this thesis. The research method is hermeneutics. It recognizes the legitimacy of lived …

Adolescents And Young Adults In Transition: From Homelessness To Permanent Housing, Tona L. Willand

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study explores the intrapersonal and environmental factors associated with change in the transition from homelessness to permanent housing from the perspective of young women who have experienced it. Three young women were interviewed face-to-face in semi-structured interviews, using a non-probability convenience sample. Content analysis was used to identify intrapersonal and environmental factors that affected the process of change. Research participants identified goal-directed behavior, persistence and hope as intrapersonal factors in effecting change. Supportive relationships and practical assistance were identified as supportive factors in the transition period. The findings are discussed in relation to research from the literature, and the …

Focal Point, Volume 14 Number 02, Portland State University. Regional Research Institute

Research and Training Center - Focal Point

Young people are assuming more, and more empowered roles in systems of care. They participate actively in planning for their own services and treatment, setting policy, and evaluating programs. This issue includes a discussion of resources that have been developed to help in the process of developing youth-adult partnership in these areas.

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 …