Digital Commons Network^™

Where The Shadows Mark Me, Jan A. Wozniak

Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture

No abstract provided.

Midday Rehearsals—Philosopher’S Walk, Early Term, Jan A. Wozniak

Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture

No abstract provided.

Cv: Tammy Thurman (Criminal Justice), Tammy Thurman

Justice, Law, and Public Safety Studies Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

Examining Job Demands And Resource Factors Impacting Job Satisfaction Amongst School Social Workers, Charmagne Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the relationship between job demands and resources and job satisfaction among school social workers in North Carolina. School social workers are vital members of the school ecosystem, supporting the development and well-being of students, families, and communities. Grounded in the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theoretical framework, the impact of years of experience, caseload size, role ambiguity, burnout, and job autonomy on job satisfaction among school social workers was examined. The current study included 92 school social workers from twelve counties in the Sandhills and Research Triangle regions of North Carolina who completed …

The Relationship Between Agency Understaffing And Administrative Burdens In Snap And Medicaid, Guangli Zhang, Stephen Roll, Mathieu Despard

Center for Social Development Research

For families trying to enroll in public programs to meet essential needs like food and health care, speed and timeliness can be critical. But people face numerous barriers in enrolling in these programs and in maintaining eligibility once enrolled. This research brief uses a new measure of staff workloads in public benefit agencies for every U.S. state and examines the link between these workloads and the experience of administrative burdens among low-wage workers. The analyses draw upon data from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility Survey.

Camp Staff Self-Care: What Are We Encouraging, What Are We Observing?, Megan Owens, Alexandra Skrocki, Melissa Van Scoy

CompassPoint

Self-care is widely discussed within nursing literature, most often referencing a patient’s ability to care for themselves or address their own needs when dealing with chronic illnesses and diseases (Kickbusch, 1989; McCormack, 2003). Social movements related to women’s empowerment, health and wellness, and the COVID-19 pandemic expanded this research toward understanding how self-care practices combat stress and negative emotions among employees in helping professions (Martinez et al., 2021). Summer camp work may be considered a helping profession given the level of care and responsibility attributed to camp staff.

The Impacts Of The St. Louis Guaranteed Basic Income Program On Credit Health, Hannah Allee, Grace Anderson, Rachel Barth, Laura Brugger, Meihsi Chiang, Alex Dobill, Leah Hamilton, Ashley Moore, Liz Rolf, Stephen Roll, Guangli Zhang

Center for Social Development Research

How does guaranteed basic income influence the credit of recipients?

In late 2023, the City of St Louis launched a pilot program providing $500 a month for 18 months to more than 500 low-income St. Louis households with children. Researchers from the Center for Social Development and the Brown School Evaluation Center conducted a mixed-methods evaluation of the program, tracking recipients’ journeys over the pilot’s duration. This brief presents findings from analyses of administrative credit records on the effects of the St. Louis Guaranteed Basic Income Program on the credit scores, payment delinquencies, and credit utilization of participants.

The Impacts Of The St. Louis Guaranteed Basic Income Program On Quality Of Life, Hannah Allee, Grace Anderson, Rachel Barth, Laura Brugger, Meihsi Chiang, Alex Dobill, Leah Hamilton, Ashley Moore, Liz Rolf, Stephen Roll, Guangli Zhang

Center for Social Development Research

How does guaranteed basic income influence recipients’ quality of life?

In late 2023, the City of St Louis launched a pilot program providing $500 a month for 18 months to more than 500 low-income St. Louis households with children. Researchers from the Center for Social Development and the Brown School Evaluation Center conducted a mixed-methods evaluation of the program, tracking recipients’ journeys over the pilot’s duration. This brief presents findings on the effects of the St. Louis Guaranteed Basic Income Program on participants’ quality of life, including the ability to meet daily living expenses, the well-being of participants and their …

The Impacts Of The St. Louis Guaranteed Basic Income Program On Economic Security, Hannah Allee, Grace Anderson, Rachel Barth, Laura Brugger, Meihsi Chiang, Alex Dobill, Leah Hamilton, Ashley Moore, Liz Rolf, Stephen Roll, Guangli Zhang

Center for Social Development Research

How does guaranteed basic income influence the economic security of recipients?

In late 2023, the City of St Louis launched a pilot program providing $500 a month for 18 months to more than 500 low-income St. Louis households with children. Researchers from the Center for Social Development and the Brown School Evaluation Center conducted a mixed-methods evaluation of the program, tracking recipients’ journeys over the pilot’s duration. This brief presents findings on the effects of the St. Louis Guaranteed Basic Income Program on the economic security of program participants, including their experience of economic hardships, their use of the payments, …

Hardships Increase As Households Rely More On Gig Work, Laura Brugger, Anthony J. Nixon, Amrita Kulkarni, Mathieu Despard, Stephen Roll

Center for Social Development Research

Gig work has grown substantially in the United States in recent years. Although research has examined the relationship between participation in the gig economy and hardship, few studies examine how households’ reliance on gig work relates to hardship experiences. Drawing upon data from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility survey of a nationally representative sample of low-wage workers, this brief explores the relationship between the proportion of a household’s income from gig work and indicators of financial distress: bill payment difficulties, food insufficiency, budget constraints, blood plasma sales, reliance on alternative financial services such as payday loans, and usage of …

Bringing Mutuality And Reciprocity Into Focus: A Case Study On Sustaining University-Community Partnerships For Local Systems Change And Student Learning, Jessica L. Lucero, Lucas Martin, Jayme Walters

Transforming Communities

This case study explores a long-term university-community partnership focused on addressing homelessness, highlighting the principles of mutuality and reciprocity in achieving systemic change. Over nearly a decade, the partnership has evolved to engage university resources, faculty, and social work students through research, courses, and outreach activities, such as community surveys, the Point-in-Time Count, strategic planning, advocacy, and service system expansion. These collaborative efforts have contributed to enhanced public awareness, increased state funding, and the establishment of vital services, including a warming center. The case study also underscores the challenges inherent in community-engaged scholarship, including capacity constraints like funding and staffing …

Development And Evaluation Of The Sex Positivity Inventory For Counselors, M. Ashley Burks, Jennifer Gerlach, Joshua C. Watson

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

The purpose of the study was to clarify the definition of sex positivity and identify sex-positive attitudes, knowledge, and skills through the development and evaluation of the Sex Positivity Inventory for Counselors (SPI-C). The exploratory factor analysis supported a six-factor, 34-item scale, accounting for 32.9% of the variance within the study. The SPI-C had an excellent internal consistency of 0.96 and consisted of the following factors: 1) Procedural Sex Positivity, 2) Comfortability with Sexuality, 3) Perceived Sex Positivity, 4) Fundamental Sex Education, 5) Sexological Worldview, and 6) Unconditional Positive Sexual Regard. Implications for practice, counselor education, and supervision are discussed.

The Counselor Educator’S Guide To Sex Positivity: Ten Strategies For Enhancing Teaching And Supervision, Lorraine J. Guth, Ashley R. Niccolai, Moirin Reynolds, Dana Kirkpatrick

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Despite positive shifts in cultural conversations surrounding sex, there is a lack of institutional focus on sexuality training in counselor education. This is surprising, given that sexuality is an inherently multicultural issue, and a sex positive framework aligns with counseling’s core values which include social justice, resilience, and wellness. We discuss the relevance of incorporating sex positivity in counselor education and provide ten strategies for counselor educators to integrate sex positivity into their teaching and supervision. These recommendations include engage in self-reflection to examine comfort with sexuality; examine curriculum to ensure sexuality objectives are infused in courses; use inclusive language; …

The Social Side Of Aging In Place: Community, Belonging, And Cultural Fit, Michael Crespo

University Honors Theses

Aging in place, or the capacity of older adults to remain in their homes and communities as they age has been a central tenet of the field of gerontology and the gerontological social policy area. Although access to physical facilities and service provision has been the main focus of traditional studies, contemporary experience demonstrates that social and cultural issues are equally important as determinants of the quality of life. This thesis discusses the influence of social networks, cultural congruence, and community belonging on the aging in place experience. The content of the study is based on the Ecological Model of …

Perception Of Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury Regarding The Veterans Administration Rehabilitation Process, Kalangie J. Serrano

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There was a social work practice gap on the perceptions of veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) regarding the Veterans Administration's (VA’s) rehabilitation process in terms of its ability to enhance their vocational skills and employability. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the vocational and employment needs of military veterans with TBI and to understand their perceptions and challenges in navigating the vocational rehabilitation and employment process. Using a generic qualitative approach and ecological systems theory, data were collected through semistructured interviews with seven veterans who had participated in rehabilitation programs. Thematic analysis of the data revealed …

Changing Minds, Changing Behavior The Role Of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy In Addressing Intimate Partner Violence, Natalie Freeman

Graduate Student Thesis

Intervention programs for intimate partner violence abusers are designed to address and mitigate violent behaviors and promote healthier relationships to reduce recidivism. This paper examines various intervention programs and their strategies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), group therapy, and educational programs, along with their theoretical foundations and effectiveness. Cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on altering thought patterns that contribute to abusive actions, demonstrating effectiveness in reducing violent behaviors and promoting emotional regulation. This study utilized a qualitative design in collaboration with Anger Management of the Upstate, where participants in a CBT-based intimate partner violence intervention program completed an anonymous Qualtrics survey exploring their …

From Shame To Self-Compassion: Understanding The Experiences And Characteristics Of Self-Identified White Anti-Racist Clinical Counselors In Maine, Rachel B. Wells

Counseling and Psychology Dissertations

Following the rise of the cultural competence movement, clinical counselors demonstrate a fundamental paradox of perpetuating and mitigating racial oppression within the mental health field. There is a growing need for accountability and systemic change as demographic and sociopolitical shifts occur across Maine and the nation. Grounded in Critical Race and Critical Feminist theories, this critical narrative qualitative study explored the experiences, characteristics, and interests served by seven White, self-identified anti-racist clinical counselors in Maine. Clinicians participated in semi-structured interviews, which were then analyzed using a feminist voice-centered relational method, the Listening Guide. Findings revealed the significance of witnessing the …

The Role Of Artificial Intelligence In Reducing Internet Crimes Against Children, Malyssa Shaw

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

When generative artificial intelligence (AI) first surfaced and broke into the public sphere, my immediate concern was in its development, implementation, and harmful applications. I was not surprised when deepfake technology rapidly advanced alongside these new developments and impacted women and children worldwide. Disproportionately, they have been made victims of intimate media forgery as early as the 1990s, with an unprecedented uptick in recent years as a direct result of these developments. In response, I wrote "Deepfake, Real Harm: Protecting Children in the Age of AI", analyzing data specifically regarding child sexual abuse material (CSAM) created with artificial intelligence while …

Exploring Gen Z Adults From Military Families: Perspectives On Work Ethics And Values, Sonia Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research explored the work ethics and values of Generation Z (Gen Z) adults who grew up in military-connected households. The purpose was to identify strategies that enhance organizational recruitment, retention, and engagement. Qualitative research methods, such as interviews and thematic analysis, were used to achieve this objective. Insights into how Gen Z adults from military households perceive their work ethic, prioritize their values in the workplace, and how organizations can integrate those values were gained. Findings revealed that discipline, dependability, excellence, responsibility, integrity, respect, and adaptability defined their work ethic, reflecting values shaped by their upbringing. Participants also expressed …

Faith Versus Safety: Exploring How Black Churches Navigate Through Intersections Of Faith, Culture, Safety, And Social Work When Dealing With Intimate Partner Violence (Ipv), Wanda Rw Mckinley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quality improvement study was to understand the cultural and structural barriers that hinder “Blessings and Grace Church,” a Black faith-based institution, from effectively addressing intimate partner violence (IPV). The study identified context-specific strategies to improve survivor support, enhance safety measures, and strengthen resource accessibility within the church. The goal was to inform culturally responsive and theologically sensitive improvements tailored to the needs of this specific faith-based community. The setting for the study was an urban Black church in southern Texas. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological system theory was the theoretical framework guiding this study. According to this theory, a …

Addressing Injustices Toward Individuals With Schizophrenia-Spectrum Conditions: A Call To Action For Social Work Practice, Shannon M. Blajeski, Lindsay A. Bornheimer, Jessica A. Wojtalik, Lynette Studer, Shelly Ben-David, Patricia R. Turner, Ana T. Flores, Matthew J. Smith, Nev Jones, Jordan E. Devylder

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

The field of social work has a lengthy history of training social workers for community mental health settings, and an ethical commitment to advance human rights and social justice. However, individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum conditions continue to suffer from myriad social injustices, including poverty, social isolation, and lower-life expectancy. This paper outlines these injustices, and reviews historical social work contributions and current training for supporting this population. Finally, the authors outline actions to 1) adopt national practice guidelines that formally acknowledge injustices, including anti-oppressive practice guidelines that are inclusive of lived experience, and 2) revitalize social work’s contributions to models of …

Educating The Whole Child: The Essential Role Of School-Based Mental Health Partnerships In Student Success, Kellye Palmer

The Journal of Advancing Education Practice

Schools are uniquely positioned to serve as gateways for mental health access, yet many educational systems continue to treat mental wellness as secondary to academic instruction. This paper argues that school-based mental health partnerships are as essential to student success as physical education or standardized assessment. Drawing from the author’s experience coordinating behavioral health services within Baltimore County Public Schools, the discussion highlights how integrated partnerships between schools and clinicians reduce barriers to care, improve collaboration among educators and families, and foster early intervention. The paper also addresses the risks of unrecognized mental health needs being misidentified as behavioral or …

Attrition Experiences Among Officers In A Texas Correctional Organization, Dewanou Frejus Aisse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) faces employee retention challenges, and recruiting and retaining correctional officers remains TDCJ’s most significant challenge and highest priority. Correctional facility leaders need to understand these challenges as indicators of workforce sustainability. Grounded in job embeddedness theory, the purpose of this general qualitative study was to explore the turnover experiences of Texas correctional officers, to understand why officers left their jobs, and the factors that contributed to their decisions to stay in their jobs. Participants comprised 11 former correctional officers who had worked between 5 months and 6 years for the TDCJ. Data were …

Policy Design For Multiple Funding Flows Into Trump Accounts, Jin Huang, Michael Sherraden, Lissa Johnson

Center for Social Development Research

The law creating the new Trump Accounts explicitly authorizes employers to provide deposits matching contributions that their employees make to the accounts and also authorizes contributions by philanthropic organizations. Both features are essential for build­ing substantial lifetime assets for America’s children. Implementing them successfully – and ensuring that the funds reach every eligible child efficiently – will require an effective policy platform for routing, verifying, and reporting on third-party contributions. This brief discusses why traditional retail IRAs cannot support matching contributions and how to build a policy platform capable of accommodating multiple contribution streams.

Early Life And Post-Traumatic Growth Among Urban African Americans, J. Howard Streeter Iii

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) has received increasing attention in psychological research, yet the PTG experiences of African Americans remain underexplored. Trauma researchers have established the common prevalence of trauma within this population, but there have been very few studies on how African Americans traverse trauma according to PTG. Understanding PTG in this population is essential for clergy, coaches, parents, counselors, and others who work in these communities. The purpose of this quantitative survey study was to determine whether there was a statistically significant relationship between rumination, religious orientation, religious commitment, and stressful life events (SLEs) and PTG among urban African American …

Book Review: Ecologies Of Inequity. How Disaster Response Reconstitutes Race And Class Inequality, Abel Traslaviña-Arias

Critical Disaster Studies

In Ecologies of Inequity: How Disaster Response Reconstitutes Race and Class Inequality, Sancha Doxilly Medwinter gathered diverse stories about how various migrant communities had to overcome not only disaster but also the overlapping networks established by those who were supposed to support them in 2012 in New York City. Medwinter portrays this contested post-disaster landscape through a thorough data recording of 120 individuals affiliated with various groups: racialized migrants or locals, tenants or property owners, local or external helpers, and those from wealthy or impoverished backgrounds. Ecologies of Inequity refer to the spatialized networks of organizational and interpersonal relations …

A Study On Practical Examples Of Servant-Leadership In Rural Areas Of The Province Of Herat, Afghanistan, Nasir Ahmad Rahimi, Esmatullah Jafari, Hajar Moradi, Barbara Schellhammer, Isabella Rega

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

This study investigates practical examples of servant-leadership in the rural areas of Herat province, Afghanistan. A literature review revealed a significant gap in research focusing on practical instances of servant-leadership in these regions. We employed a qualitative approach, utilizing in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and circle reflections to collect data. Initially guided by Spears’ ten principles of servant-leadership, our data analysis led to a redefinition of both the term and its underlying principles, while remaining true to the original concept. The study identified two types of servant-leaders: traditional leaders, who inherit their roles through family status, and emerging leaders, who …

Bridging Disability Studies And Nursing Education: A Curricular Intervention, Serena Karim

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

Although one in four Americans experience disability in their lifetimes, the majority of nurses and other healthcare professionals feel ill-prepared to care for patients with disabilities (PWD). Factors such as inaccessible healthcare facilities, insufficient clinical knowledge, and biases about the quality of life of PWD contribute to mounting health inequities between PWD and non-disabled people. To further understand how education can impact nursing students’ comfortability and confidence toward caring for PWD, a 30-minute disability studies lesson was implemented for junior-level nursing students. 51 students who attended the lecture provided anonymous pre- and post-lecture surveys, which contained Likert scale and free …

Risk And Protective Factors For Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors For Black Adolescent Males With Exposure To Adverse Experiences Post-Covid 19 Pandemic: Findings From The 2023 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey., Amanda Minogue

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents aged 10-24 in the United States. In 2022, 784 Black adolescent males died by suicide. Recent studies have found that traditionally common associations of risk factors of suicidal thoughts and behaviors are not experienced by Black adolescents, challenging how to determine and detect risk. This dissertation reviewed the variables in the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey that closely align with risk and protective factors of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and the interaction between these and adverse experiences in Black adolescent males. Results of this study found that among the 9 …

Prostitution In Video Games: Stigma, Violence And Male Pleasure, Laura Aguilera-Ávila, Lara Escobar Hernández

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

Prostitution has traditionally been framed in society as a space significantly determined by patriarchal hierarchies, in addition to being affected on many occasions by stigmatisation and violence. The representation of prostitution and of those who practice it in the media is a topic of special interest, since the discourses and messages disseminated by the media play a fundamental role in socialisation. Video games are not exempt from this debate: with millions of players worldwide and a special reach among young people, they are among the most influential media outlets today. This qualitative research analyses a series of titles, both AAA …