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Autonomy, Compassion, And Connection: Msw Portfolio, Lucy Elizabeth Chadwick

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Msw Portfolio, Mallory Phillips

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

"La Experiencia Universitaria"- Asset-Based Community Needs Assessment For Uconn Waterbury’S Hispanic Community, Ilene Garcia

Honors Scholar Theses

An asset-based community needs assessment for the Hispanic community of the University of Connecticut’s Waterbury campus was conducted. The community needs assessment uncovered assets that support students, as well as the need for additional resources to promote success in higher education. Information was gathered from the campus community regarding current documented practices such as informal or formal support to aid Hispanic students in their college experience relating to their wellbeing, academic success, and career development. A town hall meeting for the community of students on campus was conducted to impart the information gathered and gather further feedback from students. The …

Impact Of Parent Reported Adverse Experiences And Other Family Stressors On Child Development And Home Visitation Participation Among Immigrant Families, Fithi Andom

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines variations in early childhood developmental and socioemotional health as well as level of participation in home visitation among recent immigrant families according to reports of adverse experiences (including poverty, intimate partner violence (IPV), and prior history of child protective services (CPS) involvement), maternal depression, and parent–child relationship measures. The period of early childhood is dependent on positive parenting to support optimum development, but parenting may be particularly sensitive to the detrimental influences of adverse experiences. Less is known about how the relationship between parenting, adverse experiences, and child development may differ for immigrant families. Home visitation has …

Emotion Regulation Strategies And Perceived Emotional Intelligence: The Effect Of Age., Iwanna Sepiadou

Adultspan Journal

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. We also investigated the possible effects of age on the aforementioned variables. The total sample consisted of 379 people (158 men, 220 women, 1 unreported). Across participants, 273 were young (20-39 years old) and 106 were middle-aged (40-65 years old). We found statistically significant positive correlations between the dimensions of perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of cognitive reappraisal and negative primarily correlations between the dimensions of perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of …

Pennsylvania School Social Workers’ Trauma-Informed Practices: Status And Future Needs, Jessica L. Schoonmaker

Social Work Doctoral Dissertations

The idea of trauma-informed practices is a broad concept that can be utilized to create a safe environment in which individuals, families, communities and organizations that have been exposed to trauma can be and feel supported. Trauma-informed practices are important due to the pervasive nature of trauma exposure (Kilpatrick et al., 2013). Traumatic experiences can impact individuals’ physical and mental health over the course of their lifespans (Avery, et al., 2021; Centers for Disease Control, 2021; Gonzalez et al., 2016; McWey, 2020; Mersky et al., 2019; Porche et al., 2016; SAMHSA, 2014a; Trauma Informed Care Implementation Resource Center, 2021; Zyromski …

Perspectives Of Stress And Coping Among Older, College-Educated African American Women, Jacquelyn Victoria Coats

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Older African American women have excess rates of stress-associated chronic diseases. Yet, there is limited research exploring the intersectional position of older African American women to identify within-group differences in stress experiences. Specifically, stress and coping among college-educated women in later life has been largely overlooked. As trends show increasing rates of African American women attaining higher education, research investigating stress and coping among this group of high socio-economic status women is a valuable contribution to aging and public health. This study employed constructivist grounded theory methods guided by the Intersectional Life Course Perspective and the Transactional Model of Stress …

An Exploration Of Forgiveness In Social Work Practice, Allison Carter

Honors Program Theses and Projects

This thesis explores the practice of forgiveness and forgiveness therapy and its implications for social work practice and education. An extensive literature review discusses the history, present uses, and benefits of forgiveness therapy, exploring real-world examples of forgiveness in practice, specifically macro examples relating to generational trauma including the national apology in Australia, and the truth and reconciliation commission in South Africa. The review will also touch upon trauma informed practice and the gaps related to the concept of diversity in professional and scholarly literature. This work utilizes grounded theory, using the extensive literature review to build upon the applications …

School Social Workers Conducting Home Visits: Practice And Perceptions, Sadie K. Kinnarney

Social Work Doctoral Dissertations

School districts are serving populations of students being faced with more multiplex sets of individual, school, family, and community level risk factors (Berzin & O’Connor, 2010; Boske & Benavente-McEnery, 2010; Frey et al., 2012; Kelly et al., 2010). Many children are unable to respond effectively to the school setting due to the stress in their family’s lives and the stressors in their home environment (Openshaw, 2008). There is knowledge that social and environmental constraints can negatively affect a child’s role in an educational setting and a student’s capability to learn tends to be challenged if their emotional and physical needs …

Lifecourse Patterns Of Productive Engagement Among Rural And Urban Older Adults, Peter C. Sun

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Many older adults are engaged in productive activities that have important ramifications for health in later life. However, little is known about rural-urban patterns of productive engagement across the lifecourse. This dissertation used six waves (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018) of the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study to identify patterns of working, volunteering, and caregiving activities over a ten-year period using multichannel sequence analysis and cluster analysis. The antecedents of the patterns were studied using multinomial logistic regression, and the associations of the patterns with longstanding rural-urban disparities in cognitive functioning and self-rated health were studied using multiple …

The Role Of Social Support In The Mitigation Of Social Worker Burnout During The Aftermath Of Hurricane Maria, Miguel Angel Soto

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social workers are among the first responders to be activated during a natural disaster, and they remain aiding victims through the final stages of the recovery process. During the aftermath of natural disasters, social workers are required to work under extreme pressure and are at an increased risk of developing mental health issues that can affect their ability to provide adequate services. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of social workers who responded to Hurricane Maria regarding the role of social support and its relation to burnout. A purposive selection methodology was applied to …

Perceptions Of Students In A Public Child Welfare Certification Program Following A Mock Testimony Intervention, Monica Hines

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Those in the fields of child welfare and social work often face hard work with few rewards. Child welfare workers are faced with the difficult and demanding challenge of working diligently to ensure the safety and well-being of children. This study aimed to examine the perceptions of child welfare participants enrolled in a child welfare program following a mock testimony intervention through a one-group pretest-posttest design.

The participants in this study were full-time undergraduate (n= 5) and post-graduate (n = 2) students with ages ranging from 19 to 25 years old. All participants attended a mid-sized university located in the …

Progression Of Black Women In Tenure Ranked Positions, Unique Givens

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The intersectionality of race and gender affects the progression and experience of Black women in tenure-ranked positions in higher education. As Black women navigate the tenure process, they encounter systemic issues while fulfilling the criteria of teaching, service, and research. Black women's experiences while obtaining and maintaining tenure-ranked positions in Southern California reflect the discrimination, biases, lack of respect, and value of their roles and contributions to academia. In addition, Black women are being challenged more and questioned regarding their abilities and roles by peers, students, and academic administration. Research studies in the past have demonstrated the underrepresentation of Black …

Homelessness In The Coachella Valley, Katrina Clarke

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Homelessness continues to be a major social issue, as thousands of individuals and families in the United States continue to be unsheltered. This problem is more acute in the State of California. Despite the implementation of poverty-relief programs, this issue has shown no signs of slowing down. The existing literature contains multiple studies conducted on factors associated with homelessness. However, the Coachella Valley, an area located in Southern California, has received little attention from the literature on homelessness. This study sought to understand the phenomenon of homelessness in the Coachella Valley, mainly its causes and means of prevention. Taking a …

Non-Binary Identity Within Competency Training For Mental/Behavioral Health Providers: A Systematic Review, Alexis Mcintyre

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research project aimed to identify the level of inclusion of the identity “non-binary” within LGBTQ+ competency training for mental/behavioral health service. Non-binary has become more widely used within the last decade as LGBTQ+ identifications evolve and become more open. Existing research shows the need for mental/behavioral health services within this community, as well as the biases and misinformation that providers hold about gender identity. This study utilized a systematic review of peer-reviewed articles discussing research on conducting LGBTQ+ competency training for staff providing mental/behavioral health services to look for education on non-binary identity.

Databases searched were Social Work Abstracts, …

Effects Of Voluntary Removal On An Immigrant Family, Miriam Jimenez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explores the effects on the family system when undocumented parents voluntarily leave the U.S. to gain legal status while their children remain behind. This study looks into the financial, emotional, and relational burden caused by the separation in order to gain legal status. This information is important to find possible alternatives and resources that can help families who go through a similar situation. There is an estimate of 1.1 million undocumented immigrants that can be led to leave the U.S. to gain legal status and spend years in their home country, which could potentially mean separation of families …

Coping With Stress In Caregiving Among Korean Immigrant Parents Of A Child With Adhd, Jinhee Koo

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Parents of children with ADHD were found to struggle with additional demands in caregiving. Immigrant populations reported acculturative stress as they encountered immigration stressors, including language barriers, cultural differences, lack of social support, discrimination, and so forth. Belonging to both social groups, Korean immigrant parents of children with ADHD are likely to face numerous stressors and undergo a great deal of stress. Nevertheless, little has been known about how they experience stress and coping. It is important to identify their experiences because the knowledge can be used to support their well-being and quality of life. To fill this gap, this …

“I Felt From That Place”: A Qualitative Case Study Of Emerging Practices To Build Youth Peer Supports In Residential Care, Catherine S. Kramer

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background and Purpose: Effectively responding to children and youth who experienced trauma and enter the foster care system is an ongoing challenge in child welfare. In response to the poor outcomes for children and youth in foster care, and the growing understanding of the effects of complex trauma, the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) was enacted in 2018 by Congress to overhaul the child welfare system. Among many required changes, states were required to establish guidance and processes for residential agencies to become qualified residential treatment programs (QRTPs) consistent with federal guidelines, which prioritized becoming trauma informed.

The Complexities Of Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Study Of Health, Behavioral Health, And Quality Of Life Among Women With And Without Disabilities, Anne-Marie Gomes

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background and Purpose: The negative effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on behavioral and physical health and well-being long after exposure are a global and national concern. For over two decades, ACEs have been associated with numerous medical conditions, health risk behaviors, and poor mental and physical health outcomes. However, few studies have examined the effects of ACEs on the health outcomes of persons with disabilities (PWDs). The main objective of this study was to examine the impact of ACEs on women with and without disabilities, their health and well-being.

Reflection And Connection: Trauma-Informed Yoga And Its Aid In Trauma Healing In Female Identifying College Students, Gabrielle V. Sandoval

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic experiences affect female identifying folks at an unequal rate compared to other populations. Trauma-informed yoga (TIY) has become a popular intervention for treatment of symptoms related to trauma. By utilizing tenets such as meditation, intentional movement, and trauma-informed language and positioning, this practice focuses on the mind-body-connection to establish feelings of safety. Although trauma education and interventions are becoming commonly implemented on college campuses, there is a gap in implementation and empirical studies evaluating such campus programs. To explore how TIY could aid this population, a four-week yoga intervention was created. Four participants engaged in a weekly TIY class …

Sexual Exploitation: The Crisis And Eradicative Solution, Tonnie Adams Bracey

Nonprofit and NGO Studies Student Projects

French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr wrote, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” I find this to be true in our current era of the digital age. Although technology has gifted a newly improved and vast method of making worldwide connections and broadening our perceptions and views, a change in how we communicate has conveniently presented itself, but the historic pattern of how we handle these new advancements have indeed stayed the same.
Smart phones are a mainstream vessel employing the world with a plethora of information while giving all sorts of people access to individual’s lives …

The Utilization Of Music And Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response In Reducing Stress, Robert Scott

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Stress is often identified as a “silent killer” and the negative impact on one’s mental and physical well-being is greatly impacted without intervention. This study sought to determine which form of coping, autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) or music, is an effective strategy for reducing stress. The study was conceptualized using the positivist paradigm of research. An electronic survey was dispersed to participants via the website SurveyMonkey. Descriptive data was collected using demographic information gathered during the first portion of the survey. Participants’ self-identified stress levels were gathered before and after they viewed their randomly assigned coping strategy (ASMR or …

The Obstacles Facing Homeless Veterans With Mental Illness When Obtaining Housing, Melissa Miro

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research study explored the barriers that homeless veterans face when seeking housing. The study adopted a post-positivist paradigm, and the data was collected through virtual interviews conducted on Zoom who are in contact with veterans through their employment or personal lives. The barriers mentioned in this study are the type of individual struggles that each veteran faces, the lack of communication between programs assisting veterans, veterans unaware of their services, veterans who have been incarcerated, the type of discharge the service member obtained, and programs being shorthanded. Additionally, the researcher included preferable options for veterans that included The Housing …

Accessibility Of Services For Transgender Adolescents From A Child Welfare Perspective, Eduardo Cedeno

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The following is a quantitative study with an explorative element conducted at Southern California University with a convenience sample of 23 social worker participants with experience in child welfare. A Qualtrics questionnaire was administered during the Fall 2023 semester and was used to assess the social workers perception, preparedness, and knowledge in providing services to transgender youth in foster care. The study aimed to gain an understanding of the overall perception of the effect in available transgender resources and training within the child welfare system.

Examining The Effectiveness Of Psychosocial Interventions For Opioid Use Disorder: A Systematic Review, Elizabeth Ashley Contreras

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Due to the increased distribution of synthetic opioids, mortality rates, overdose rates, and addiction related to the consumption of illicit fentanyl have drastically increased over the past years. Although medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the first-line intervention for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), less is known about the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for treating this disorder. Objective: This study aimed to systematically review the literature on psychosocial interventions for treating OUD. Methods: A search was conducted on OneSearch using the keywords “opioid treatment” or “Fentanyl treatment” combined with “psychosocial interventions” or “cognitive behavioral therapy,” or “contingency management” for English articles published …

Parent Involvement And Educational Outcomes Among Latino Families, Diana Garcia, Gabriela Munoz

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Parent involvement has been identified as a vital factor in determining children's success in school and life. Research has largely shown that direct parent involvement improves grades and graduation rates. Research has also shown that the major factors contributing to parent involvement are socioeconomic status and educational attainment. This study explores what prevents Latino parents from effectively engaging in their children's high school education. For Latinos, parent involvement is a struggle due to significant barriers to higher education system knowledge, level of parental acculturation, and technology limitations. This study used a quantitative descriptive approach. The researchers created a survey instrument …

Child Maltreatment Primary Prevention Methods In The U.S.: A Systematic Review Of Recent Studies, Maria Godoy-Murillo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Child maltreatment remains a widespread issue in the United States of America, (U.S.). Identifying effective methods of preventing child maltreatment is key to reducing the prevalence of this issue. Objective: This systematic review provides an overview of contemporary primary child maltreatment prevention methods in the U.S. to investigate their effectiveness. Methods: Using the OneSearch database, the following keywords were included: (“prevention methods” and “child maltreatment”), (“parental leave” and “child maltreatment”), (“primary prevention” and “child maltreatment”), (WIC and “child maltreatment”), (“home visit” and “child maltreatment”), (“child abuse and neglect” and “primary prevention”), (“affordable housing” and prevention and “child maltreatment”), (“early …

Implementation Of Mental Health Services And Curriculum For Elementary-Aged Children, Indra Flores Silva, Jason Kwan

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study’s purpose was to describe elementary school teachers’perceptions about mental health services, curriculum, and their effect on the mental health of elementary-aged children. Our research addressed the question: What are elementary school teachers’ perceptions of mental healthservices and mental health curriculum and their effect on the mental health of elementary-aged children? It is crucial that we study this because many young children struggle with their mental health which can lead to poor outcomes leading into adulthood. This study utilized quantitative data on 28 participants that was collected through Qualtrics. Data was analyzed using SPSS by conducting univariate analysis. Our …

Treatment Not Punishment: Youth Experiences Of Psychiatric Hospitalizations, Maira Ferrer-Cabrera

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study aims to better understand adolescent psychiatric hospitalization regarding the use of coercion at the hands of clinical staff from the perspectives of former hospital staff and former patients' family members. This study was conducted from a critical theory perspective. The researcher surveyed a total of fourteen former staff members and former patients' family members. This research study emphasized quantitative data as the way data was collected. The methods utilized to gather data were online surveys that were collected through Qualtrics and further analyzed using SPSS statistic data editor. The findings of this study showed that 25% of former …

Examining A Relationship Between Sexual Satisfaction And Child Maltreatment, Amanda Titone

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Child maltreatment is prevalent despite extensive research informing interventions. While many risk factors have been identified, exploring additional determinants may improve existing methods or reveal better alternatives. This study’s basis was family systems theory, and it utilized the post-positivist paradigm to explore the topics of relationship fulfillment, sexual satisfaction, and parenting. Qualitative interviews with five heterosexual, cisgender parents born between 1971 and 1991 (average age 39-40) revealed four main themes: participants' childhood/parental relationships, history of abusive relationships, current sex life, and role balancing between relationships and parenting. Although limited by a small sample size and a specialized population (social work …