Digital Commons Network^™

Winter 2015, Department Of Conflict Analysis And Resolution

DCRS on the Move

No abstract provided.

Resiliency Of Multiple-Placed Foster Youth Experiencing Emotional Competence: A Mixed-Methods Study, Audrey Murph-Brown

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to address the resilient processes of multiple placed foster youth to develop age-appropriate emotional competence. Adding texture to the study was the role played by race and culture. Inherent to the study were the voices of successful multiple-placed foster youth. The research attempted to respond to gaps in the literature regarding African American and Hispanic youth placed in foster placements that, if better understood, can positively impact the livelihoods of other multiple-placed foster youth. The minor participants, 10 to 17 years old, selected for this study were no longer wards of the state, having been …

Conceptions Of Mental Illness: Cultural Perspectives And Treatment Implications, Lena Hall

Quadrivium: A Journal of Multidisciplinary Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Innovations In Research With Medically Fragile Populations: Using Bulletin Board Focus Groups, Karen Cook, Susan Jack, Hal Siden, Lehana Thabane, Gina Browne

The Qualitative Report

A new group of medically fragile young adults are graduating from pediatric palliative care programs with limited expectations to live beyond early adulthood, and no comparable adult services to support their complex needs. Accessing this population is difficult because of the complexity of their conditions, the extensive personal and equipment supports that limit feasibility for travel, and divergent communication abilities. Therefore, we undertook a descriptive case study using an asynchronous modification of an online focus group, a bulletin board focus group (BBFG). The greatest strengths of the BBFG are the appeal of this methodology for young adults and the multi …

Predictors Of Post Foster Care Functioning: Assessing Emotional Intelligence In Foster Alumni, Nicole Englebert

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined factors predictive of post foster care outcomes, with a particular focus on Emotional Intelligence (EI). EI was conceptualized using Bar-On's mixed model approach. Central study questions examined whether EI offered incremental prediction of several meaningful outcomes, over and above other contextual and individual variables. Outcomes included educational attainment, income level, various domains of Quality of Life (QOL), and mental health functioning. Twenty one foster alumni participated in the study. Correlational and hierarchical regression analyses were performed. Predictor variables were organized into four blocks and entered using a hierarchical method in the following order: contextual foster care factors, …

Coming Out, Coming Together, Coming Around: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Of Families' Experiences Adjusting To A Young Family Member's Disclosure Of Non-Heterosexuality, Denise M. Fournier Rodriguez

Department of Family Therapy Dissertations and Applied Clinical Projects

Young people who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) are disclosing their sexual identity--or coming out--at progressively younger ages, making it more important than ever for the general population to understand, tolerate, and accept diversity in sexual identity. This study was designed to fill the gap in the existing literature about how the coming out process affects LGB young people's families of origin. Three LGB young people participated in the study, along with a member of each of their families. The researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with each of the participants, as well as a conjoint interview with each of …

Through Their Eyes: Using Photography With Youth Who Experienced Trauma, Karen Rice, Sarah Primak, Heather Girvin

The Qualitative Report

Adolescent youth in foster care are often exposed to multiple traumas and often leave the child welfare system without processing thoughts, feelings, or plans for the future. This study employed photo elicitation with a group of adolescent youth in foster care to discover what is important to them. Eight themes emerged. Family and friends, or the need to have someone who is always there for them was the most frequent theme photographed. Utilizing photo elicitation with youth who have been abused and/or neglected is an engaging and empowering method as it allows for individualized case planning that is guided by …

Refugee Children’S Adaptation To American Early Childhood Classrooms: A Narrative Inquiry, Megan A. Prior, Tricia Niesz

The Qualitative Report

Researchers have suggested that a paucity of research exists on refugee youth in early child hood education settings. Arguing that children’s stories provide educators a valuable resource for understanding the meaning children make of initial cross - cultural experiences, this article presents a narrative inquiry into the stories and artwork of three early childhood students, along with the narratives of their families, all Karen refugees from Myanmar. Examining what these stories reveal about the children’s initial experiences in an American early childhood setting, we share their stories of adaptation, their experiences of cultural dissonance, and their illustrations of change over …

Adolescent Dating Violence Prevention And Intervention In A Community Setting: Perspectives Of Young Adults And Professionals, Donna S. Martsolf, Crystal Colbert, Claire B. Drauker

The Qualitative Report

Adolescent dating violence (ADV) is a significant community problem. In this study, we examine the perspectives of two groups (young adults who experienced ADV as teens and professionals who work with teens) on ADV prevention/intervention in a community context. We interviewed 88 young adults and 20 professionals. Our research team used Thorne’s (2008) interpretive description methods to determine participants’ perspectives on community views on ADV, community ADV prevention/intervention programs, and ideal ADV prevention/intervention strategies. Participants perceived most communities as being blind to ADV. They perceived prevention programs as unavailable, inappropriate, or impersonal. Young adults indicated that professionals should use a …

Kenny A. Does Not Live Here: Efforts In Washington State To Improve Legal Representation For Children In Foster Care, Erin Shea Mccann, Casey Trupin

Nova Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Social Work Services On Students With Disabilities, Bridgette D. Webster Wade

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This study assessed the impact of social work services on middle school students with disabilities at a selected district in Louisiana. Students with disabilities who received multiple office discipline referrals and suspensions were referred for social work services assessment. Many had a mental health diagnosis. The majority of infractions were disrespect to authority, willful disobedience, class or school disruption, fighting, dangerous substance, and profanity. The goal of the study was to determine whether social workers adhered to the district’s benchmarks of quality guidelines during the assessment and intervention processes and to ascertain whether there was a decrease in office discipline …

Note On Truncated T Scores In Discrepancy Studies With The Child Behavior Checklist And Youth Self Report, Steven Thurber, William P. Sheehan

Archives of Assessment Psychology

There is an extensive literature on discrepancies between adult informant ratings of symptom severity on the Child Behavior Checklist and ratings by children and adolescents on the Youth Self Report. This article presents an elaboration of a caveat against the use of T scores and for employing raw scores in statistical analyses related to such discrepancies. The T score transformation on these instruments is truncated resulting in reduced variability; this in turn may affect comparability of T scores with data based on the full range of variation. Children and adolescents (N = 236) responded to the items of the Youth …

Providing Attorneys For Children In Dependency And Termination Of Parental Rights Proceedings In Florida: The Issue Updated, Michael J. Dale

Faculty Scholarship

Florida's system for providing protection and safety to children in the State's child welfare system has changed over the past decade. Regretfully, the changes do not appear to have had a significant impact in two areas: increasing the safety and protection of children in the system' and providing children with independent attorneys to advocate on their behalf. Investigations, lawsuits, grand juries, amendments to court rules, and newspaper articles continue to demonstrate the myriad failures in the Florida system. Two notorious examples hi-lite the shortcomings: the cases of the foster child, Rilya Wilson, who disappeared in 2001, and Gabriel Myers, who …

Providing Attorneys For Children In Dependency And Termination Of Parental Rights Proceedings In Flordia: The Issue Updated, Michael J. Dale, Louis M. Reidenberg

Nova Law Review

No abstract provided.

Fall 2010, Graduate School Of Humanities & Social Sciences

CAHSS Graduate SGA Dialogues

No abstract provided.

Specialist Program In School Psychology Handbook Of Field-Based Training Experiences In School Psychology, Nova Southeastern University

College of Psychological Services / College of Psychology Postgraduate Student and Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Specialist Program In School Psychology Handbook Of Field-Based Training Experiences In School Psychology 2010, Nova University

College of Psychological Services / College of Psychology Postgraduate Student and Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Nsu Fischler School Of Education And Human Services Early Childhood Education [2007], Nova Southeastern University

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice College Archive

No abstract provided.

College Student Mentors And Latino Youth: A Qualitative Study Of The Mentoring Relationship, Lisa L. Knoche, Byron L. Zamboanga

The Qualitative Report

This phenomenological study describes the meaning of mentoring relationships from the perspectives of six purposefully selected mentors involved in the Latino Achievement Mentoring Program (LAMP), and investigates underlying themes regarding the mentors’ relationships. Clusters of themes pertaining to the mentors’ relationship with the mentee, the relationship of the mentor with the mentee’s family, and the mentors’ personal and professional development contributed to the meaning of the mentoring relationship for LAMP mentors. Mentors highlighted challenges that characterized the mentoring relationships at various points in time: However, relations hip strengths outweighed potential obstacles. Findings are useful for programs that target Latino youth, …

Handbook Of Field-Based Training Experiences In School Psychology, Nova Southeastern University

College of Psychological Services / College of Psychology Postgraduate Student and Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Developing A Comprehensive System Of Care For Children In Placement With Relatives: Collaboration, Organizational Culture And Family Roles In Local Service Development, Elan Welter Lewis

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to support the development of a comprehensive system of care for grandparents and other relatives raising children, noncustodial parents, and children in out of home placement. The family constellation was changing in the community were the applied dissertation was implemented. Many children were in out of home placement with relative caregivers; there were few resources and no formal system of care designed to respond to the needs of these at risk families. This left many grandparents and other relative caregivers, children, and noncustodial parents without support or access to services.

The problem identified to be …

Effective Use Of Multimodal Interventions With Adolescents In Residential Care, Brian J. Hawkins

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was written to study the use and effectiveness of behavioral intervention in residential child care facilities, serving adolescents from backgrounds of abuse and neglect. Direct care workers in these out-of-home settings have experienced significant difficulties in managing negative behaviors exhibited by adolescents in care. It was found that direct-care workers were insufficiently trained and lacked understanding in resident behavior, leading to frustration and failure in providing appropriate and effective behavior interventions.

The writer developed a training curriculum to instruct direct-care and social-service staff in multiple methods of management and intervention in negative, unproductive behaviors. Understanding behavior development, …

Addressing The Response And Responsibility Of The Education System To The Social Concerns Of At-Risk Students In American Schools: An Evaluative Study Of A Partnership Intervention Program, Ina Dorman

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The social problems of students and society in general have changed dramatically over the past 2 decades, and school leaders are now challenged with how to address these changes effectively while preserving the integrity and purpose of an institution of learning.

This study identified the social, environmental, and behavioral issues facing students in a large, urban school district with a population of over 250,000 students. This qualitative analysis examined the data and risk factors that impact the academic achievement of students and the response by the organization leaders to respond adequately to the challenges.

The school district is situated in …

Development Of A Portfolio Process For Beginning Early Childhood Education Student Teachers With A Plan For Implementation And Evaluation, Kelly O. Lake

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The Early Childhood Education Department at Santa Barbara City College has the mission of offering coursework and applied student teaching opportunities to those interested in working with young children, birth through age eight. Based on current teacher training practices and an administrative direction, the Early Childhood Education Department has made the decision to implement a portfolio process. However, there is no existing model on campus or any expertise in the Early Childhood Education Department. As a result, the Early Childhood Education Department is faced with a problem.

Research questions focused on identifying the appropriate standards and type of portfolio as …

Reducing Teen Use Of Alcohol And Drugs Through Parent Involvement, Judy Watson Olson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to help parents prevent teen substance use. School leaders and parents were concerned about the high teen substance use by teens. A review of the literature showed that involved and caring parents who monitored their teen’s activities had a positive impact on helping prevent substance use.

The writer worked with school and parent leaders to develop a Parent Network. A directory was written to provide parenting tips and phone numbers so parents could contact each other. Parent leaders recruited other parents to join the Network. Parents were not interested in attending activities, so a parent …

Improving The Representation Of Minority School Age Children In Gifted Education Programs Through A Multifaceted Referral And Evaluation Process, Magali Balado

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to improve the problem that teachers were unable to meet the needs of academically talented minority children. The major goals for this applied dissertation were to increase the representation of academically minority children in gifted programs, provide training to teachers in the area of identifying gifted characteristics, and to develop a multifaceted process for the referral and evaluation of academically talented minority children.

The writer developed training materials to provide in-service and training to teachers, school staff personnel, counselors, and psychologists in the areas of observing and assessing gifted characteristics in academically talented minority children. …

Improving The Word Recognition And Decoding Skills Of High School Students, Dorothy Reed

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide African American high school students with a number of reading strategies that they could use when confronted with unfamiliar words. These strategies would allow the students to recognize unfamiliar words rapidly and independently. Although the participants of the host community continued to make progress academically and are currently in their expected grades they have struggled in the area of reading. None of them have been identified by school officials as students who struggle with reading consequently, these students are not receiving special services in the schools they attend. As a result, African American …

Center For Psychology Studies Newsletter - Summer 2002, Nova Southeastern University

Center for Psychological Studies Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Nsu Summer Instruction Master's Program In Life Span Care And Administration (Lsca) (Child, Youth, And Family Studies): “The Profession And Public Policy” July 5–12, 2002, Nova Southeastern University

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice College Archive

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Management Course Syllabus For The Child And Family Development Program At Southwest Missouri State University-West Plains, Renee S. Moore

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The associate of applied science degree program in child development at Southwest Missouri State University-West Plains contains a management of early childhood programs course. The course is listed in the catalog and is required for successful completion of degree requirements. The problem was that the course had never been taught, did not have a course syllabus, and needed careful curriculum consideration prior to implementation.

The purpose of this study is to develop the course syllabus for an associate level management of early childhood programs course for delivery on the West Plains campus of Southwest Missouri State University. The research question …