Digital Commons Network^™

Children Without Futures: A Feasibility Study Comparing Characteristics Of Families Who Have Children Placed In Long And Short-Term Foster Care, Kaye Hutchins

Dissertations and Theses

Many children drift into unplanned long-term foster home care, under conditions unsatisfactory for the child, his own family and the foster parents. Current practice in foster care often contributes to foster children growing up without the necessary love, support and guidance from a family that he can call his own. Recent publications in social work journals have suggested that a lack of consistent family relationships may be injurious to the emotional development of children. Social workers have become increasingly dissatisfied with a "helping process" that may, in fact, generate more harm than help. Originating from the social worker's dissatisfaction with …

Nursing: A Profession In Process, Mary Elizabeth Dilling Rambousek

Dissertations and Theses

The general concern of this thesis is with the professional status of nurses in the United States. Specifically, the focus is on the progression of nursing along the occupation continuum toward professionalism. The perspective of this study was adopted from Elliot A. Krause's discussion of "A Historical Perspective" in his "The Sociology of Professions." Krause maintains that an analysis of the past key periods of the history of an occupation can provide a basis for predicting what it will become in the future. The acceleration of change in all aspects of society, and particularly in the role of the nurse …

Proposals For The Establishment Of Social Service Departments At St. John's Hospital And Cowlitz General Hospital, Longview, Washington, Beryl P. Robison

Dissertations and Theses

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Work from Portland State University, it was my desire to do a Practicum which would be of benefit to the community where I live, Longview, Washington. One area in which the shortcomings were apparent was pointed out to me time and again by my husband, who is a practicing physician in Longview and through my own contacts in the community, i.e., neither Cowlitz General Hospital nor St. John!s Hospital had a Social Service Department. Therefore, I have written proposals for a Social Service Department for each hospital. …

An Exploratory Analysis Of Developmental Sequences In Interorganizational Coalitions Involved In Community Planning, Clifford Albert Snyder

Dissertations and Theses

This study is one of four exploratory studies concerned with coalitions of organizations that are formed to plan and develop social welfare programs within the local community. Although each study was conducted independently, taken together, their major purpose was to develop some insights and knowledge into the behavior of organizations and the ways in which they interact as they work together to develop community programs. They are then, exploratory studies of interorganizational behavior.

A Scale Of Verbal Accessibility In Mild And Borderline Retarded Adults, Keith Baker

Dissertations and Theses

This is the forth study of verbal accessibility undertaken at the Portland State University School of Social Work. The first two completed in the years 1967 (Kresse, et al., 1967) and 1968 (Walker, et al.,1968) dealt with the area of marriage. The third completed in 1969 (Metz, et al., 1969)dealt with the authoritarian family ideology. The intent of this study is to determine if that material can be applied to use with the retarded adults being placed from Fairview Hospital and Training Center . This is the major State Institution for care and treatment of the mentally retarded in the …

A Descriptive Study Of Educational Background, Contraceptive Knowledge, And Choice Of Agency Among Selected Girls 18 Years Old And Under Seeking An Abortion At The University Of Oregon Medical School, Carol A. Carter, Lititia J. Kirk, Jane F. Ogier

Dissertations and Theses

This study was conducted at the University of Oregon Medical School located in Portland, Oregon. This school has performed many abortions since Oregon liberalized its abortion law in 1969. In Oregon in 1968 before the abortion law was changed there were 238 abortions performed, 35% of these were for women under the age of 19. During 1971 there were 6,997 abortions of these 2,625 were for girls of age 19 and younger.

An Attitudinal Survey Of Forty-Four Juvenile Court Counselors Regarding Due Process Standards In Juvenile Cases, Jerry Robert Franklin

Dissertations and Theses

In late 19^th century America, new schools of criminological thinking asserted that crime had its origins in a complex blend of environmental and social factors rather than in the moral deficiencies of the offender. Partly as a result of this new attitude the handling of offenses by juveniles became differentiated from adult cases, first through the construction of separate penal institutions and, beginning in 1899, through the establishment of courts specializing in juvenile cases.

This study was undertaken to examine the attitudes of juvenile probation officers toward the Supreme Court’s Kent, Gault and Winship decisions which made a number …

Selection Of Practice Models For Social Work, Linda Fritz

Dissertations and Theses

This paper will focus upon the value positions underlying two social work models: the traditional or psychodynamic and that of behavior modification. It is recognized that there are areas in which those two approaches do not seem far removed, e.g., with some neo-behaviorists and/or some ego psychologists. However, to the extent that the lines become very blurred, so does the clarity of position or practice. Like many practitioners who claim to be “eclectic,” it becomes extremely difficult to find out where they are and what they do value at a given point in time. Why do social workers become so …

Preschool Predication Of First Grade Social And Emotional Adjustment, Benjamin Sherrill

Dissertations and Theses

The prediction and/or early identification of problems of the first grader are of concern of concern to educators, school psychologists, and those engaged in elementary school social work. Social and behavioral problems interfere with the child's ability to succeed in school and it is clear that if these difficulties could be anticipated early in the first grader's school experience there could be immediate intervention to enhance his chance for success.

The Role Of Social Work In Genetics Counseling, Diane Margaret Plumridge

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this practicum is to demonstrate the need for social workers to be employed by Genetics Clinics as a member of the genetics team, the hypothesis being that there is need for social work involvement in the field of medical genetics. Research was completed through a survey of the literature in the field of: counseling problems in genetic counseling, social work involvement in genetics clinics, the role of nursing in genetic counseling, and psychological studies concerning problems of genetic counseling. Literature in these areas was extremely limited During the summer of 1971, a questionnaire was sent to ninety …

Testing Of A Design For Client Evaluation Of A Conciliation Service, James A. Dudley, James C. Euler, Peter Njoroge, Richard Streissguth

Dissertations and Theses

This study is an attempt to develop, design, and implement procedures for better data collection in the future and for an evaluation of the services provided in the past.

Conciliation Courts have developed across the country on the notion that case work services can, at best, save a marriage from divorce and, at least, can do no harm. Evaluation of the effectiveness of conciliation services is limited and contradictory.

This practicum is an attempt to develop a research design which can measure the effectiveness of conciliation service. We consider the first priority to develop a work­able design which will insure …

Guidelines For Agency Based Day Care Programs For Children Ages 0-3 Years, Elizabeth H. Minifie

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this practicum is to demonstrate the need and appropriateness of agency based group day care programs for children ages 0-3 years, to indicate some guidelines based on a collation of recent, but partial and not fully developed studies consistent with the aim of maximizing the socialized development of each child, with certain desired characteristics in mind as end products. Daycare needs have been studied from several approaches: on a city, state and national level describing the need in terms of "slots" to fill, and from a neighborhood based approach where needs are being met by neighbors in …

An Approach To The Decentralization Of Health Care Services In Multnomah County, Oregon, Stephen L. R. Cook, Roger George Philippi

Dissertations and Theses

In the past several years, the subject of health care delivery has assumed increasing importance as a public issue. Congressional hearings, public and private commissions, and task forces have investigated the functioning of the health care system in depth, reporting that access to the system is impeded by financial barriers and by inefficiency of the delivery system. Medicare and Medicaid have attempted to surmount the financial barriers for, some segments of the population, and more inclusive health insurance proposals are being considered in Congress. The Healthright program, under the Economic Opportunity Act, has stimulated efforts to improve the delivery system …

Behavioral Characteristics Associated With Accidental Poisoning In Childhood, Nancy Koroloff, Emily Tufts

Dissertations and Theses

Two groups of parents from different socio-economic levels were questioned about the behavioral characteristics of their children before 18 months and subsequent incidences of accidental poisoning. The data collected showed proportional numbers of accidental poisonings regardless of parent education, race or income. Unusual activity in the child before 18 months was the best predictor of accidental poisoning during childhood.

An Attitudinal Study Of Selected Groups In The City Of The Dalles Toward The Community Attention Home, David Clitheroe, Garrett Long

Dissertations and Theses

When a family starts to dissolve it frequently comes to the attention of the court or the welfare department and what happens once its members enter the system can be of critical importance. While the number of adults incarcerated is expected to increase slightly, the alarming fact is that if we continue to confine juveniles at the same rate an increase of 70% between 1965 and 1975 can be expected. These data suggest that we should investigate alternatives to detention, not only because of the increasing pressures of space available but, more importantly, because juvenile detention has shown itself to …

Report On Faculty And Student Evaluation Of Instructors In Direct Service Teaching At Portland State University Graduate School Of Social Work, Janet Mansfield, James Mcdevitt

Dissertations and Theses

The classroom as a messenger of learning and awareness is an honored institution. Education promotes the spirit of inquiry. Concurrently, inquiry spearheads research. As students who have spent many hours in a classroom, we have wondered, inquired, into the spirit of the classroom. Our research is devoted to gaining and establishing a series of perspectives as to what occurs in the classroom.

Our research is concerned with specific characteristics of the teacher-learner relationship and outcomes of that relationship. Specific characteristics of the student-teacher relationship such as effective communication, clarity of course objectives, or the quality of class lectures, have been …

Portland State Perspective; October 1971, Portland State University

Portland State Perspective

A quarterly alumni newsletter. In this issue: national thinking on child care centers; a look at foreign students who are hosted by local families; Rene Dubos speaks on campus.

Age, Emotional Maturity And The Decision To Marry, Patricia Ann Duclos, David F. Thomas, Joanne Zusman

Dissertations and Theses

The decision to marry and choice of mate are two issues contemplated by most individuals during their lifetime. It is our belief that the manner in which an individual makes these decisions is a reflection of that individual’s level of emotional maturity.

In our society, the right to enter into a marriage agreement is largely determined by chronological age. Our research problem began with the hypothesis that there is no direct relationship between chronological age and emotional maturity at the time of marriage.

For our study, marriages were divided into two general categories: 1) teenage marriages in which at least …

Portland State Perspective; June 1971, Portland State University

Portland State Perspective

A quarterly alumni newsletter. In this issue: Dean of Graduate Studies discusses the future of the university's graduate programs; Geology students travel down Green River; scholar introduces German arts festival.

Foster Family Care For The Aged, Donald V. Sekora

Dissertations and Theses

The following was a research practicum instituted as an actual project for the State of Montana Welfare Department between June, 1970, and May, 1971. The project had a two-fold purpose in being conceived: one purpose was to fulfill a graduate school academic requirement; and the second purpose was to fulfill a responsibility to the people of Montana who would eventually gain some benefits from this project. The series of written documents that follow are the description of that project's conception and actualization in six Montana counties. The first part is the project idea and theory; the next two parts consist …

The Father's Role In Treatment: A Survey Of Selected Social Service Programs, Joanne Robertson

Dissertations and Theses

This is a descriptive, partially exploratory study which examined the date obtained from interviews with socials workers in selected social welfare programs in regard to the father in treatment. Explored were descriptive information concerning the agency's characteristics, the type and extend of treatment offered, the involvement or resistance of the father in therapy, and the provision made for a surrogate male model in the event of the father's absence.

The literature revealed that currently there is a growing body of knowledge and theory related to the father's role in the psychosocial development of the child and the consequences of his …

Predictors Of Placement From A Juvenile Detention Facility, Diane C. Brock

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this project was to determine whether certain personal, socioeconomic, and court-related factors are significantly related to the differential placement of delinquent and dependent children from the detention facility at the Donald E. Long Home. A stratified random sample was composed of 173 placements of children who were held in detention after a preliminary hearing.

The review of literature revealed that little systematic. Information is known regarding the placement process as it is related to differential placement of children from a detention facility.

A code sheet was developed for recording the information in the children's records maintained by …

An Attempt To Find Predictor Variables Which Will Discriminate Between Those Patients Who Seek Aftercare Treatment And Those Who Do Not Seek Aftercare Treatment Upon Discharge From A Psychiatric Ward, Nena V. Johnstone, William D. Lynch, Philip M. Baldwin, John C. Kemp

Dissertations and Theses

This is an exploratory follow-up study of the clientele of the Psychiatric Crisis Unit, a short-term, crisis-oriented inpatient psychiatric ward. The main objective of the research was to test the following null hypothesis: there are no significant differences between those individuals who attempt to gain aftercare treatment as opposed to those individuals who do not following discharge from the Crisis Unit.

A sample of fifty-one voluntary patients who consented to participate in the study was used in testing this hypothesis. Each subject completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (M.M.P.I.) and a sociological questionnaire while in the Crisis Unit, and a …

Anxiety Level Of Graduate Students In Social Work, Sophia Kouidou-Giles, George Albert Mckee

Dissertations and Theses

This study was designed to determine (1) the trend of anxiety level of social work students, term by term, over the academic year; (2) the cyclical trend of anxiety level of social work students within each term and (3) the effects of age and sex on level of anxiety among social work students.

Anxiety was measured with the IPAT - 8 Parallel Form Anxiety Battery. This test was administered to twenty randomly selected first year students in the School of Social Work during the 1969-1970 academic year at Portland State University. Data was collected from six test administrations which …

A Demographic Study Of Transracial Adoptive Parents, Patricia Lee Hall

Dissertations and Theses

The objectives of this study were to replicate or modify findings of previous studies describing demographic characteristics of white parents adopting black children, and to test a set of hypothesis derived from these studies. These parents were compared to a randomly selected group of white parents adopting white children. Data were collected from records of one public and three private agencies in the state of Oregon. Subjects were parents receiving a child for adoptive placement in 1968. Among the results were the following: white parents who adopt black children had more education and higher status occupations. They did not differ …

Continuance Vs. Discontinuance In Family Counseling, Katherine Anderson, Alice Dudley, Mayetta Rocks

Dissertations and Theses

The study was designed to examine the social workers' and clients' perceptions of change in the treatment process; specifically to examine the question of why clients discontinue service prior to planful termination. Also, the authors attempted to assess the client's perception of gain and the worker's assessment of gain.

Day Care Centers' Manpower Elements And Training Needs, Philip Kwakuvi Kudiabor

Dissertations and Theses

In the Portland Metropolitan area, a wide range of programs and facilities, including informal arrangements, are used for the care of children outside their homes during some part of the day. These programs and facilities include those whose primary purpose is child development, education, or recreation (Headstart, Parent and Child Centers, Nursery Schools, Kindergartens, Extended School Services, and Play School). They also include day care provided by non-profit organizations such as churches and hospitals by private proprietory day care operators and independent family day care homes, and by employers and labor unions in addition to cooperatives. These programs involve a …

An Exploratory Study Of Children’S Mental Health Needs In The Pact Target Area Of Southeast Portland, Richard L. Bossardt, Clifford G. Larsen

Dissertations and Theses

The original, and still primary, purpose of this study was to provide a statistical data base for a grant proposal to fund a children's mental health service agency in the PACT target area of Southeast Portland. Since the conception, the plan has been subsumed under the planning auspices of a group whose aim is to work toward expanding and consolidating mental health services in all dimensions for the Southeast Portland area. The geographical focus of this study is on that section of Southeast Portland which has been designated by the Office of Economic Opportunity as a poverty pocket because of …

Life Styles Of Methadone Treatment Patients: Agreement Of Self Report And Informant Report, Richard Cox, Gary West

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this descriptive study was to reveal the typical life style of a representative sample of fifty male opiate addicts participating in the Oregon Methadone Treatment Program. An important goal of the research was to assess the reliability of information gathered from patients compared to data obtained from an equal number of informants. A highly structured questionnaire was designed to elicit specific responses in order to calculate the degree of concordance between patients and informants to identical items. The findings depicted the modal life style of the subjects as more socially conventional, more responsible, and less antisocial. Although …

Portland State Perspective; April 1971, Portland State University

Portland State Perspective

A quarterly alumni newsletter. In this issue: A review of the administration of Portland State President Gregory Wolfe, and a vision of Portland State's future; notes on the first annual giving campaign organized by the Portland State University Foundation.