Digital Commons Network^™

Recognizing Child Abuse In The Classroom, Carolina Cervantes, Nancy Garcia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify educators’ perceptions of Mandated Reporting Training. This study used a quantitative design with 88 participants from Southern California. Child abuse can impact a child’s life severely and may even cause death in extreme situations. Child Protection Services receives millions of child abuse allegations every year. Abuse continues to be underreported despite state regulations that require teachers to complete the Mandated Reporter Training. Professionals in the educational field believe this training is insufficient as it is only taken once a year and does not provide enough information to report and identify abuse. This …

The Perception Of Social Work Students On Elderly Abuse, Fatima Guadalupe Graciano, Melinda Cholico

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perception of elderly abuse among the social work students. The research study explored students understanding of different types of abuse among the elderly. The exploratory research project utilized a qualitative approach that consisted of one-to-one zoom interviews using open-ended questions to obtain information about the students’ insight, feelings, and experiences on the topic of elder abuse. The study sample consisted of five participants of an MSW program. Zoom interviews were conducted, audio-recorded, and were transcribed for analysis. The research findings show that students who have experience working with older adults or …

Perceived Barriers Affecting Lgbtq Community From Mental Health Services, Baltazar Pulido-Mejia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The LGBTQ community has been viewed as a high-risk group for mental health disorders. Untreated mental health disorders place members in this group at a higher rate for substance use and chronic medical illness. This study examined perceived barriers members from the LGBTQ community face when accessing mental health services. The chosen paradigm structure has a focus on human behavior which is conducive in exploring the study question that addresses specific barriers that the LGBTQ community may perceive as harmful. This study found barriers present internally and externally within the LGBTQ community. Internally within the LGBTQ community a fear of …

Unifying Is Medicine: Providing Holistic Treatments For Substance Use And Truama, Dulce Virginia Leguizamo, Erika Zemmol

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The focus of this qualitative, exploratory research project will be holistic treatments for clients with trauma and substance use. The researchers hypothesize that some of the most effective treatments incorporate the five virtues of compassion, cultural sensitivity, community, competency, and client-centeredness. Another important element which these researchers have identified is honoring the mind-body-spirit connection in helping clients heal from trauma and substance use. These researchers conceptualize an effective treatment for clients with trauma and substance use as what we call The Medicine of Unifying. Incorporating the five virtues, we hypothesize that The Medicine of Unifying can be achieved by uniting …

What Blind Or Visually Impaired People Experience When They Request Workplace Accommodations, Silvia Blanco

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Workplace accommodations can be categorized as tools or processes that are needed by a person with a disability to complete their job responsibilities. Research has demonstrated that the provision of reasonable accommodations has been linked to the employability rates of people with disabilities. Considering that the passing of the ADA occurred over 30 years ago and that the persistently high unemployment rate amongst the blind and visually impaired population remains a prevalent issue, it is important to evaluate what blind or visually impaired individuals face when requesting workplace accommodations. Research on this topic will help identify any significant contributing factors …

Mental Health In Child Welfare Social Workers, Sintia Mota Muniz

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research project focuses on child welfare social workers’ mental health and what mental health services they can benefit from having. For this study, the six participants were recruited from the Southern California area. They all currently work in the child welfare field. The data for this qualitative study was collected through interviews. All interviews were completed telephonically and then transcribed for data analysis. The study findings found the lack of management support in child welfare agencies and a lack of self-care practice have a negative effect on social workers’ mental health and their service delivery. The findings revealed that …

How Does Compassion Fatigue Affect Geriatric Social Workers In Their Personal And Professional Lives?, Nicole Elise Dawson, Joanna Romero Jacobo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study aims to research how compassion fatigue (CF) affects geriatric social workers in their personal and professional lives. Currently, there is little exposure on what the symptoms look like in CF among social workers, especially geriatric social services practitioners. The significance of this study is to address CF and how it may affect social workers in their daily activities. Geriatric social workers who work on a regular basis with vulnerable populations can lead to experience symptoms of CF. These symptoms include: emotional disconnect from their clients, less motivated at work, apathetic towards sensitive situations and affecting their quality of …

Mental Health Among The Latinx Population, Jocelyn Mendoza Sierra

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Mental health in the Latinx community has been stigmatized for several years. In the Latinx community mental health is disregarded and oftentimes not addressed and overlooked by immediate family members. The purpose of this study is to address the reason why people do not access mental health services. The methods used in this study consisted of a qualitative approach and participants were asked open ended questions. A total of eleven participants (N=11) were gathered and consisted of both female and male participants who identify as Latinxs. The key findings from this research indicate that seeking mental health services was viewed …

Social Workers Perception Of Factors Effecting Client’S Return To Skilled-Nursing Care Facilities Post-Discharge, Francesca Salvatierra, Angela Bonilla

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The following study explored the factors effecting client’s return to skilled nursing facilities post-discharge, from the perspective of the social workers and social services staff working within skilled nursing facilities. The significance of this research was to gain a better understanding from the individuals working closest to the problem, and to use the information gained to develop further research regarding the issue of rapid-readmission post discharge. This study was qualitative with the use of an interview guide. Audio data was collected through 9 Zoom interviews and then transcribed for content analysis. Through content analysis the researchers examined the respondent’s answers …

Child Abuse And The Implementation Of Preventative Services, Kayla Graves, Kimberly Macias

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Parental attitudes towards child protection have proven to be essential to engagement in safety seeking measures. Studies indicate when parents feel motivated about participating in child abuse prevention services that the effects of child abuse prevention programs can be beneficial for both parents and children. Previous research suggests that parents are the change agent for their children and gauging parents’ ideas about child abuse prevention programs (CAP). This is essential because parents are a pivotal partner in lowering the rate of child abuse. This research aims to identify when parents feel positively about the benefits of CAP, parents will feel …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Adult Substance Use, Mariah Garcia, Melissa Berry

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study sets out to contribute to the already existing data on ACEs as well as substance use in adulthood. In this quantitative descriptive study, the researchers addressed the relationship of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adult substance use. Psychological, physical, and cognitive health issues may occur in adulthood due to ACEs (Shin et al., 2017). Being exposed to one or more ACE during childhood can cause poor coping skills and result in adult substance use (Shin et al., 2017). Bringing greater attention to the prevalence of ACEs can help social workers create more sensitive assessments, screening tools, and treatment …

Early Life Stress And The Resulting Effects On Behavior Of Children Under The Age Of Five In A Domestic Violence Shelter, Jordan Singleton

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

It is an unfortunate reality that domestic violence affects people across the world, men, women, and children. When men or women leave a domestic violence situation, they often take their children with them but are often unaware of the damage that has already been done. Even if the children have not suffered physical abuse, there are many changes going on in the brain just from either witnessing or hearing abuse take place. With domestic violence often going unreported, it can be incredibly difficult to reach the children who are affected. However, when a parent enters a domestic violence shelter with …

Electronic Device Use: How It Affects The Well-Being Of Children And Adolescents, Sabrina Rodriguez, Amandalee Merryman

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Electronic device use among children and adolescents is omnipresent. Literature suggests an inverse correlation between electronic device use and the overall well-being of children and adolescents. The current study employed an explanatory research design to explore the association between excessive device use and the well-being of children and adolescents. Researchers collected and analyzed quantitative data in the form of archival data from a local school district’s mental health department. A total of 50 participants, ranging from ages 5 to 17, were randomly selected from the 2018-2019 archived case files. The results of the study suggest that electronic device use has …

Foster Youth's Attachment Styles, Brenda Garcia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This proposed study explored if there was a common attachment style taken on by foster youth. The study explored the types of attachments that are exhibited from foster youth through the perspective of a social worker. The results potentially had an impact on the practices that are used by social workers who have constant interaction with this vulnerable population.

Public Perception And Influential Sources Toward Child Welfare Services, Melissa A. Teague, Nicolas A. Hollis

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to answer the following questions: “What is the current public attitude toward public child welfare services and what sources of information have been used to formulate these attitudes?” In answering these questions, child welfare agencies would have a better understanding of what populations to promote public outreach, education, or further community involvement based on demographics and/or which venues to implement such outreach.

This study provides information on previous studies where researchers have looked at the general role of social work and used the gathered information to assess public sentiment. In past research there has …

Integrating Faith In Social Work, Omar Elhanafy

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Religion and Spirituality are concepts rarely spoken about in social work programs. Many social work students have expressed that they have not received a proper education on integration of faith into social work practice in their programs. Evidence is given to support this claim and this Proposal will discuss this concept, its importance, and highlight the need for this education. This exploratory study will use a qualitative design which will explore the experiences of participants on how comfortable they feel in using faith in social work practice. The proposal will continue to further explore the validity to this claim through …

The Effects Of Perceived Racism And Discrimination On The Mental Health Of Mexican And Mexican American Social Work Students, Karina Duque Sierra

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Research has shown that experiencing discrimination and racism can have significant and negative effects on people’s mental health. Among those affected are Mexicans and Mexican Americans in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine if there was a relationship with self-reported mental health of Mexican/Mexican American social work students and self-reported experiences with racism and discrimination. This quantitative study surveyed 101 participants who (a) identified as Mexican and or Mexican American, (b) were 18 years or older (c) enrolled in college, and (d) identified as either a BASW or MSW student. This study utilized a Qualtrics …

Theory And Diversity: A Descriptive Study Of Erikson’S Psychosocial Development Stages, Anastasiya Samsanovich

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Theories shape society and become a powerful influence on major social decisions. While society has changed over time, some theories—developed decades ago—have remained the same. Among them is the Psychosocial Development Theory developed in the early 1960s by German-American developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst Erik Erikson. Because theories inform practice, it is important to assess their validity. Although widely used over the years and across many disciplines, this theory has not been adequately tested, as the body of scholarship that assesses its empirical contribution is relatively limited in scope. That is, to the researcher’s knowledge, no studies have been conducted under …

Which Interventions Do Social Workers Believe Are Most Effective When Working With Child Abuse Victims?, Ellen Davis

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Child abuse is often a very traumatic experience that can create long-lasting psychological and emotional effects for some individuals. Social workers often provide treatment services, such as therapy and/or case management services, with the goal of assisting child abuse victims in coping with and overcoming the negative impact of the trauma they’ve experienced. This study evaluates the types of interventions social workers utilize when working with child abuse victims, how the interventions address the resulting trauma of child abuse, which interventions social workers believe are most effective when working with this population, and why those interventions are believed to be …

Protective Factors In Parents Who Abuse Substances, Natalie Garcia Ramirez, Riana Melgoza

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research explored the social workers’ perspectives of strengths and protective factors of parents who abuse substances and have history or involvement with public child welfare. The purpose of identifying protective factors in parents who abuse substances is to help mitigate safety risks for children.

The participants of the study are social service practitioners and supervisors with social service practitioner experience in public child welfare. Eight participants were sampled through purposive and convenience sampling. The researchers conducted in depth interviews with the participants to obtain qualitative data regarding their perspective of protective factors of parents who use substances. The participants …

Life Through The Eyes Of An Undocumented Immigrant In The United States, Yesenia Torres

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research project focused on how undocumented immigrants experience their lives in the United States, taking in mind the multiple barriers that prevent them from integrating into the community. This research project surveyed the California State University of San Bernardino School of Social Work students who work or engage with undocumented immigrants. A positivism paradigm research design was used to obtain quantitative data of participant's knowledge of immigrants' past and present experiences while living in the United States. The study's goal was to bring mental health awareness to the well-being and emotional experiences during the resettlement and acculturation of undocumented …

Effectiveness Of Services And Interventions Provided To The Older Adult Population, Michelle Maldonado

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The older adult population is set to increase enormously in the United States. With a larger older adult population, there will also be an increased demand for services. This study worked to identify the effectiveness of mental health services being provided to older adults. Given that service providers are often provided minimal resources, providing efficient services assists with purposefully allocating resources. The study used the post positivist paradigm. The researcher developed a set of questions and conducted phone interviews with mental health service providers of older adults. After transcription, qualitative data analysis was completed to identify meaningful connections. The data …

Ensuring Supportive Treatment For Crossover Youth In Child Welfare, Summer Ann Salinas, Sussana Mendoza

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to identify which supportive services and treatments are aiding minority crossover youth in child welfare. Literature has stated that minority crossover youth are overrepresented in the child welfare system in comparison to their white counterparts. Literature has also stated that crossover youth make subsequent contact with the adult prison systems due to child welfare involvement and other factors. Factors including prolonged group home placements and lack of rapport with mental health providers. Mental health providers lacking cultural competence and trauma-informed practice can negatively impede crossover youth from learning positive, adaptive coping mechanisms that can …

The Complications When Working With Reactive Attachment Disorder, Susan Herberger, Regene Goens

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study aimed to identify the challenges professional care providers face when working with foster youth experiencing Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). Using a qualitative data approach, the researchers interviewed ten professional care providers and performed a thematic analysis of their responses regarding clients with RAD. The study found that professional care providers find this diagnosis to be rare and have a unique set of challenges. The challenges include identifying the disorder and its origins, working with clients who have extreme mood changes, the labeling and stigma that comes with the diagnosis, building rapport and trust, and the inconsistency the children …

The Effectiveness Of Alcoholics Anonymous In Helping Adult Men Recover From Alcohol Use Disorder, Kenneth Aurthir Wiggins

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research project explored the effectiveness of the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) 12-Step recovery process among males ages 21 to 67 who have abstained from using alcohol for more than one year following residential treatment while using all the suggested AA 12-Step program concepts as their base. This study also examined males ages 21 to 67 that have been unable to maintain sobriety for a year or more following residential treatment while partially using the suggested AA 12-Step program concepts as a base. Participants in the study were enlisted from the recovery community in Southern California, and qualitative interviews were conducted …

To Be Or Not To Be Resilient: Barriers And Facilitators In Coping Skills In Adults Who Have Experienced Domestic Violence In Childhood, Sherri Schweiger

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

This qualitative study was designed to explore people’s experiences of domestic violence during their childhood, and how it has affected their resilience in adulthood. It is important to understand what factors contribute to resilience, especially in those who have faced hardships to better help the future generation become resilient and grow up to be healthy adults. Exploring why some people build resilience and not others will aid in identifying factors that influence coping skills. This paper examines interviews of people who had experienced domestic violence at a young age and how it has affected their adult life. The data …

Vicarious Trauma And Implications For Social Work Students, Maria Watts, Meosha Mcafee

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Social Work students may experience vicarious trauma at some point in their lifetime. Throughout the course of social work students’ internship experiences and outside employment, the management of trauma exposure is a concern within the field of social work. There are very few studies that have been developed in providing a specific rate of vicarious trauma among social workers and have provided quantitative research on the subject. This research study asks: What intervention strategies do social work students implement to address their vicarious trauma? This research conducted a descriptive study that used a quantitative measure to obtain the findings for …

The Need For Financial Literacy In Social Work Education: A Descriptive Study, Tara Mchenry, Belinda Pacheco

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Although extensively researched over the last twenty years, financial literacy is yet to make its way into mainstream social work curricula. This is puzzling because social workers, in general, work with a clientele that consists predominantly of poor and low-income populations. The profession of social work has the unique opportunity to equip its members with tools to educate and assist clients around topics of personal finance and financial insecurity. Using a purposive sampling method, this study explored the need for a financial literacy course as part of the social work curriculum among 102 undergraduate and graduate students in a large, …

Understanding The Relationship Between Academic Burnout And Field Practicum Satisfaction, Maria Luisa Ramirez, Victoria Jakaub

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Burnout is a topic of significant consideration in social work. The present study intended to generate findings to address the student burnout phenomenon and offer suggestive means for advancing social work practice through mediating factors. The research followed a descriptive quantitative study design that focused on investigating the relationship between academic burnout among MSW and BASW students and field practicum satisfaction. Self-administered surveys were administered using the Qualtrics system, and the statistical analysis was conducted using SPPS version 21. Findings indicated a moderate-high burnout effect among MSW and BASW students with a positive association with age and a decreased satisfaction …

Mental Health, Substance Abuse And Recidivism: Perceptions Of Key Justice System Stakeholders In Southern California, Tabari Zahir

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Despite the 2011 landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court ordering the California authorities to address prison overcrowding, the Golden State still faces significant challenges dealing with the size of its correctional population. Recidivism plays a preponderant role in slowing down the momentum toward overcoming relatively high rates of incarceration across the state. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of key human services stakeholders about the intersection of three major challenges in the California criminal justice system: mental health, substance use, and recidivism. Embracing a continuum of care approach, this study ultimately attempted to explore …