Practical Applications Of Play Therapy Principles In Early Childhood Classrooms, Colleen D. Martinez, Beth A. Trammell

Perspectives on Early Childhood Psychology and Education

Play in early childhood is a central tenet to everyday life for children and is thus of great importance to early childhood practitioners. However, the wide variety of definitions, policies, and practices related to play make implementing it effectively in the classroom nuanced. This article explores components of both child-led and adult-led practices—viewed through the lens of play therapy—to aid early childhood educators in applying these practices in the classroom. Case examples from the authors are included to further explore these topics in real-life situations.

Guest Editor's Introduction: Methodological Innovations For Advancing Early Childhood Educational And Psychological Research, Anthony Mangino Ph.D.

Perspectives on Early Childhood Psychology and Education

The goal of this special issue is to provide you, the inquisitive reader and developmental scientist, with some of the methodological tools to aid in augmenting your analytic capacity.

The Impact Of Trump Administration Immigration Policies On Connecticut Educators And Families, Elena C. Bielesz

Honors Scholar Theses

Anti-immigrant rhetoric, policies, and practices, which have grown increasingly prevalent due to the current national political climate, have adverse effects on the mental health of immigrant families and the teachers that support them in Connecticut. This study seeks to represent the opinions of Connecticut K-12 MLL (Multilingual Learners) Education Teachers and Administrators whose daily lives are impacted by the anti-immigrant and anti-refugee policies and procedures. The study employed a human subjects-based approach supported by a review of related literature. MLL Educators from around the state of Connecticut were interviewed. These interviews found that while immigration-based trauma and stressors are common …

Msw Professional Portfolio, Sierra Trivaye Singer

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Hi Friend! Msw Portfolio Of Community Building And Advocacy, River Gerard Segar

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This MSW Portfolio emphasizes the importance of being rooted in community and demonstrates how to engage in community building in a way that helps center marginalized voices. This portfolio also highlights advocacy in the United States for transgender people and asserts the need for increased cultural competency in clinical practice with people in non-monogamous and/or kink relational structures.

Moving Forward, Sarah Blackford

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio demonstrates my learning and development through the MSW program at the University of Montana.

Rooted In Dignity And Hope: Clinical Practice, Advocacy, And Compassionate Care, Holly Ann Harris

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This MSW portfolio reflects my personal and professional journey toward becoming a social worker grounded in dignity, hope, and compassionate care. Inspired by early life experiences that shaped my understanding of the connection between dignity and hope, I entered the University of Montana’s MSW program with the goal of becoming a counselor supporting individuals and families experiencing grief, loss, and mental health challenges. Through coursework and the completion of my generalist and specialist practicums in hospice and the emergency department, along with ongoing critical self-reflection, my perspective has expanded to include a deeper understanding of systemic barriers, social justice, and …

Practicing In Broken Systems: An Advanced Integrated Social Work Portfolio, Andrew Tomt

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio documents my development as an advanced integrated social worker within behavioral health and crisis response systems. Grounded in the ten CSWE competencies, it illustrates my progression from foundational generalist practice to a more complex, systems-oriented approach that integrates ethical decision-making, trauma-informed care, research-informed practice, and policy awareness. Drawing on my practicum experience in Mobile Crisis Assessment and Triage (MCAT) in Spokane, Washington, the portfolio demonstrates my ability to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate across micro, mezzo, and macro levels. It highlights my commitment to social justice, cultural humility, and least-restrictive care, while also addressing the challenges of working …

Master Of Social Work Portfolio - Rooted In Relationship: A Journey Toward Integrated, Justice-Oriented Social Work Practice, Elisabeth Noel Marshall

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio represents my professional development throughout the Master of Social Work program at the University of Montana. Grounded in systems and ecological perspectives, trauma-informed practice, and the Just Practice framework, this work demonstrates the integration of clinical, mezzo, and macro social work practice across diverse settings, including therapeutic residential care, collegiate wellbeing, assisted living, and substance use treatment.

Through direct practice experiences, policy analysis, program evaluation, advocacy, and community engagement, this portfolio highlights the development of competencies aligned with the Council on Social Work Education’s Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. Particular emphasis is placed on relationship-centered practice, justice-oriented advocacy, …

Practicing What I Value: Growth And Identity In Social Work, Janelle Diane Schmit

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio showcases my growth as a social worker during the MSW program, highlighting both my academic accomplishments and practicum experiences. It contains artifacts that illustrate my proficiency in the key areas of social work practice. Guided by my personal and professional values, my work focuses on empowering individuals and communities in a variety of settings.

Integrative Synchronicity: Learning To Hold The Space Between, Kelsey M. Bogumill

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Msw Portfolio, Hannah N. Vasquez

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio documents my development as a Master of Social Work student, demonstrating integration of relational, trauma-informed practice with systems-level analysis. Drawing on coursework and practicum experiences, it illustrates competency across micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice. Selected artifacts highlight the application of theoretical frameworks, engagement in critical self-reflection, and a commitment to advancing social justice. Particular emphasis is placed on caregiver engagement, community-based practice, and addressing structural barriers that impact well-being. Overall, this portfolio reflects my readiness for professional social work practice and my commitment to equitable, relationship-centered, and systems-informed approaches.

Msw Portfolio, Trebor J.C. Riddle

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Introduction

My development throughout the Master of Social Work program at the University of Montana has been guided by a longstanding understanding that social work is more than direct service. This belief was central to my decision to pursue an MSW rather than a master’s degree in counseling. While I value clinical skill and therapeutic relationships, I have always been drawn to the broader scope of social work, the profession’s commitment to social justice, systems change, and the integration of individual well-being with structural transformation. Over the course of this program, that orientation has deepened and become more theoretically grounded, …

From Sea To Shining Sea: A Mastery Of Social Work Through A Critical Thinking And Social Justice Lens, Paige M. Gilchrist

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Completing a Master of Social Work degree across three years and two universities, Paige Gilchrist outlines how she has mastered the Five Elements of Advanced Integrated Practice and Ten Competencies required by the University of Montana to prove social work competency through a social justice lens.

Exploring How Parental Substance Abuse Experiences Shape Black Women’S Interpersonal Relationships, Samele Mayfield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Transforming Experience Into Practice: A Portfolio Of Growth, Identity, And Leadership, Ana I. Loli

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This professional portfolio documents the integration of my academic learning, practicum experience, and personal transformation throughout the Master of Social Work program at the University of Montana. Drawing from trauma‑informed, anti-oppressive, and culturally responsive frameworks, I demonstrate competency across micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice, with particular emphasis on ethical decision-making, ADEI engagement, community assessment, policy analysis, research-informed practice, and collaborative leadership. Through narrative reflections and applied artifacts—including case analyses, simulated clinical sessions, community-based research, organizational evaluation, and leadership implementation—I illustrate how meaning, context, power, history, and possibility shape my approach to social work. This portfolio highlights my development …

Clinical Service Providers’ Perception Of Trauma Symptoms Among African Americans, Sam D. Alemayheu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Evidence-Based Coaching And The Decision-Making And Cultural Responsiveness Of Child Welfare Professionals, Kenisha Coon-Santiago

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Companionships, Transportation, And Health Among Members Of A Hispanic Senior Center: A Sociometric Social Network Dataset, Rebecca Mauldin Phd, Msw, Vismaya Prakasan Msis, Akshay Thakare Msis, Rupal Parekh Phd

Social Networks for Social Good Collection-Archive

This dataset contains survey and social network data from 42 members of a predominantly Puerto Rican senior center in Hartford, Connecticut. It includes two linked components (1) participant-level information on demographics, health, mobility, and transportation, and (2) a sociometric network of companionship ties among members. The data are designed for use in social network analysis and research on aging, mobility, and social relationships. These data can be used to explore questions such as how companionship ties are structured among older adults in a community setting; whether individuals with similar characteristics (e.g., age, gender, health status) are more likely to form …

Decision-Making Of Adult Children Not Using Schedule I Substances Like Their Parents, Deanna Alberta Mccloe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Sustaining Care In The Nonprofit Sector: A Qualitative Study On Burnout, Secondary Trauma, And Compassion Fatigue, Anna Kate Kelly, Alexia Angton Phd

Sociology and Criminology Undergraduate Honors Theses

Given the high emotional toll of nonprofit work, burnout, secondary trauma, and compassion fatigue are prevalent among employees. This study examines how these phenomena manifest in individuals' everyday lives. Drawing on in-depth interviews with eleven nonprofit workers in the South-Central United States, the findings reveal three primary themes: the consequences of emotional labor, frustration with the system, and supportive strategies. Overall, participants described a tension between finding deep purpose and meaning in their work and experiencing an emotional burden that shapes how they engage with the world. These findings have implications for mental health care, organizational practices, advocacy and policy, …

Community Justice Advocates: Increasing Access To Legal Resources In Utah, Natalie Maria Rust

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

A large access to justice gap exists among defendants in debt collection cases. The gap arises from steep legal fees, a lack of accessible resources, and the complexity of the legal system. The Community Justice Advocates of Utah was founded in 2024 through the Utah Regulatory Sandbox and authorized under the Supreme Court of Utah to bridge this gap. Community Justice Advocates (CJA) are trained human service professionals authorized to provide limited-scope legal advice in various areas. The Transforming Communities Institute (TCI) at Utah State University joined this network in 2025, launching a pilot program training human service professionals in …

Analyzing Social Implications Of The Gender Wage Gap, Jessie A. Clarke

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The researcher seeks to understand the gender wage gap in the United States. The research question studied is “Why do women in the United States on average earn less income than men?” Women gain less power and resources as they earn less income than men. The researcher explores the phenomenon in this paper. This research proposal utilizes qualitative methods via interviews, and analysis through coding. In previous research, there is a lack of inclusion on the gender wage gap regarding various identities such as sexual orientation, other gender identities, and race/ethnicity. The researcher hopes to fill in these gaps in …

Potential Impact That Generative Artificial Intelligence Has On Adolescents' Relationship With Parents, David Jimenez Jr., Christal Pelayo, Rebecca Evans

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The development of generative artificial intelligence (AI) into adolescents’ daily lives has introduced both opportunities and concerns regarding family dynamics and psychosocial development. Increasingly, adolescents are using AI tools for academic assistance, emotional support, and transparency on sensitive topics. This study examines adolescents’ attitudes toward discussing personal issues with parents compared to AI platforms and explores the potential relational impacts of AI use on parent–child relationships. Guided by Attachment Theory and Erikson’s Psychosocial Development Theory, this research focuses on adolescents ages 12–16, a developmental stage marked by identity formation and evolving autonomy. The study will include a sequence of recruitment, …

Intimate Partner Violence In Immigrant Communities: A Qualitative Study, Melina Ruiz-Reyes

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an important issue affecting immigrant women, specifically those from collectivistic cultures, due to social norms that can make them highly vulnerable. This study investigates the underlying causes of IPV in these communities, focusing on cultural, legal, and systemic factors. Despite the prevalence of IPV, immigrant women face unique barriers to seeking help, including stigma, legal vulnerabilities, and economic dependence. Previous research has mainly focused on specific ethnic groups, missing a broader, intersectional understanding of IPV across diverse immigrant communities. This study employs a qualitative approach, utilizing semi- structured interviews based on the Danger Assessment for …

Contributing Factors To Child Maltreatment In The United States: A Systematic Review, Klarissa Sedillo, Ashlee Garcia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This proposal will highlight the contributing factors of child maltreatment, specifically focusing on intimate partner violence and parental substance use. The purpose of this topic is to highlight the risks and lifelong impact that family substance abuse and intimate partner violence (IPV) are main factors when it comes to contributing factors to child maltreatment in the United States. These factors often co-occur, creating a risk for children in affected households. Families that have been involved in child maltreatment cases often have a history of abuse or neglect in their own childhood that tend to cause struggles with addiction and violence …

Examining The Effectiveness Of Head Start Programs, Leanne Libas

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Head Start is a federally funded program created in the 1960s by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The program helps low-income families and children with early childhood education and support. Its goal is to empower low-income families to succeed and improve their livelihoods. Although Head Start has existed for over six decades, the program’s effectiveness must be explored. Previous research showed various results on the academic success of former students. Some studies have demonstrated that former students have continued to excel academically. Other studies have shown that the effects of Head Start wane after former students enter kindergarten. The researcher will …

Increasing Mental Health Providers' Confidence When Treating Clients Engaging In Nonsuicidal Self-Injury, Alejandro Quezada Lechuga

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a significant health concern disproportionately affecting the LGBTQIA population and system-involved youth with a prevalence as high as 20% and increasing. Historically, treatment has been inadequate, as interventions were designed to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD), depression, or suicidality. Patients consistently report negative stigma, contributing to poor treatment outcomes and consequently failing to seek professional help or cease treatment. Mental health professionals report experiencing bicurious trauma, increasing the likelihood of burnout. This study aims to evaluate the effects of online self-paced NSSI training on clinical social workers’ confidence when treating clients who engage in NSSI. The …

Utilizing A Social-Ecological Approach To Understand Healthcare Professional's Ability To Identify Child Sexual Exploitation, Vanessa Gudiel, Alyssa Fierro

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Commercially sexually exploited children (CSEC) are an underrecognized population who face barriers when receiving healthcare services in emergency settings. A common theme that prevents them from receiving services is the healthcare professionals' (HP) inability to recognize warning signs and engage with victims. This stems from an absence of CSEC-focused curriculum in institutional settings, leading to a lack of education and confidence in identifying CSEC. CSEC screenings are not mandatory in most healthcare settings, leaving the discretion to the HP and enabling the continued missed opportunity to identify victims. The proposed study will utilize an exploratory design to conduct qualitative interviews …

A Qualitative Study Of Maternal Morbidity And Mortality In The United States, Stacy D. Harris

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Maternal morbidity and mortality (MMM) in America are largely preventable. The aim is to analyze disparities found in women of color regarding MMM in America and evaluate: How does adequate maternal health care affect the morbidity and mortality disparities found in communities of disadvantaged mothers? This research will employ a qualitative analysis of mothers, a more specified age group, and region (West Coast) of the United States. Previous work neglected to obtain in-depth, first-hand interviews with mothers residing regionally in the United States from a specified age group. An interview guide will be used to conduct comprehensive interviews virtually. Expert …