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Articles 1 - 30 of 37
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Dynamic Domain Score Changes As Predictors Of Juvenile Recidivism: Evidence From Washington State's Pact, David Wayne Sattler
Dynamic Domain Score Changes As Predictors Of Juvenile Recidivism: Evidence From Washington State's Pact, David Wayne Sattler
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Juvenile probation agencies routinely administer risk-need assessments. However, evidence remains limited regarding the association between changes in scores from repeated risk-need assessments and recidivism among justice-involved youth. Grounded in general personality and cognitive social learning theory and the risk-need-responsivity model, this quantitative study examined whether changes in dynamic scores on the Positive Achievement Change Tool were associated with recidivism among youth on juvenile community supervision in Washington State. Using 24,929 paired initial and final Positive Achievement Change Tool assessments, the study analyzed total and domain-level dynamic score changes with recidivism measured during the 24 months following the final assessment. Logistic …
The Role Of Leaders In Promoting Life Skills Development Among Youth Through Faith-Based Nonprofit After-School Programs: A Qualitative Study, Jacquelyne S. Snyder
The Role Of Leaders In Promoting Life Skills Development Among Youth Through Faith-Based Nonprofit After-School Programs: A Qualitative Study, Jacquelyne S. Snyder
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this qualitative embedded multiple-case study was to explore how leaders at a faith-based nonprofit community center cultivated after-school programs that supported the development of youth life skills. The theory guiding this study was Burns’ transformational leadership theory, which explains the behaviors youth leaders fostered to create a supportive learning environment in after-school programs. The central research question explored how transformational leadership practices influenced the development of youth life skills in a faith-based nonprofit community center. The case study design enabled the researcher to explore how life skills developed naturally within the community center setting. The sample of …
Mandated Reporting Experiences And Professional Quality Of Life Among Missouri K-12 Mandated Reporters, Kristina L. Gregory
Mandated Reporting Experiences And Professional Quality Of Life Among Missouri K-12 Mandated Reporters, Kristina L. Gregory
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Child maltreatment is associated with significant developmental, psychological, and behavioral consequences for children. Educators often serve as frontline identifiers of suspected abuse and neglect and are legally required to report concerns to the state’s child welfare agency. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational study was to examine relationships among mandated reporting exposure, perceived reporting ambiguity, trust in Missouri’s Children’s Division, and professional quality of life among Missouri K–12 school-based mandated reporters. Professional quality of life was measured through compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. This study brings these factors together to better understand how educators’ reporting experiences and …
Growing Up Without A Father: A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experience Of Black Women In The Church, Jada She'ree Adger Byrd
Growing Up Without A Father: A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experience Of Black Women In The Church, Jada She'ree Adger Byrd
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of Black women who grew up in the faith community without a present father in the Southern region of the United States. The central research question that guided this study was, "What are the lived experiences of Black women who grew up in the faith community without a present father?" The theory that guided this study was intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989, 1991), as this theory provides a framework for the understanding of how intersecting identities, including race, gender, and spirituality, shape an individual’s interpretation of father absence. This study …
Restoring Trust And Relational Depth In The Philadelphia Seventh-Day Adventist Church Through Structural Family Therapy Interventions, Laundale Leopold Munroe
Restoring Trust And Relational Depth In The Philadelphia Seventh-Day Adventist Church Through Structural Family Therapy Interventions, Laundale Leopold Munroe
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This Doctor of Ministry action research project addressed the challenge of unclear relational and leadership boundaries associated with reduced trust, emotional comfort, and healthy communication within the Philadelphia Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bronx, New York. The purpose of this project was to implement and evaluate an eight-week Structural Family Therapy-informed intervention designed to strengthen trust, emotional comfort, leadership clarity, relational boundaries, and healthy communication among church members. The goals were to increase participants’ awareness of congregational relational patterns, encourage healthier interpersonal interactions, and cultivate practices that support sustained relational health. A mixed-methods action research design was employed with eighteen adult …
Building And Sustaining Foundations That Ground The Faithful: Helping Young Adults Stay Connected To Faith And The Church, Abe Thompson
Building And Sustaining Foundations That Ground The Faithful: Helping Young Adults Stay Connected To Faith And The Church, Abe Thompson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Today’s prevailing cultural philosophy is lost in a malaise of confusion and deception. Children and young adults from Christian homes and churches are being lured by these deceptions. Even churched students and graduates from Christian schools (like Colorado Springs Christian School) are hemorrhaging from the body of Christ at unacceptable levels. This DMin thesis project report demonstrates that, on a continuum of touchpoints in the spiritual formation journey, Camp Elim staff and Gap Year programs are an effective model for those seeking to restore young adults, ages eighteen to twenty-nine, to fulfilling, rich, and committed involvement in the body of …
The Phenomenology Of Residential Youth In Child Welfare Settings And The Social Workers Who Work With Them., April Leigh Rorabaugh
The Phenomenology Of Residential Youth In Child Welfare Settings And The Social Workers Who Work With Them., April Leigh Rorabaugh
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This phenomenological study examines the experiences and challenges faced by social workers in child placement for adolescents aged 12-18 within North Carolina’s child welfare system, an issue that warrants immediate attention. Hardworking and determined social workers are on the ground fighting in an already overtaxed system that is resulting in options that are frighteningly few for the care our youth so desperately need. Many of the most vulnerable children in the welfare system are being placed in other states for residential treatment. This is not only traumatic but also robs youth of everything they are familiar with at such a …
A Phenomenological Study On The Experiences Of Educators As Mentors For Homeless And Highly Mobile Students In A Rural Community, Tracy Dawn Mcpheron
A Phenomenological Study On The Experiences Of Educators As Mentors For Homeless And Highly Mobile Students In A Rural Community, Tracy Dawn Mcpheron
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to explore how educators perceive an implemented mentoring program in which they will serve as mentors of homeless and highly mobile students in a rural school district. The mentoring program will include educators working as mentors to students coded as homeless through the McKinney-Vento Act for Homeless Education. The educators participating in the mentoring program will be the participants in this study. The participants will include middle school (6th-8th grade) through high school (12th grade), teachers, counselors, librarians, the district’s homeless liaison, and the federal programs coordinator for an East Tennessee school …
Establishing The St. Paul Ame Church’S Community Youth Chaplain Ministry To Equip African American Youth To Manage Their Mental, Emotional, And Spiritual Health, Michelle A. Creer
Establishing The St. Paul Ame Church’S Community Youth Chaplain Ministry To Equip African American Youth To Manage Their Mental, Emotional, And Spiritual Health, Michelle A. Creer
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
African American youth face a myriad of challenges that negatively impact their well-being. As such, this study explores the role of community youth chaplaincy interventions in helping African American youth manage their mental, emotional, and spiritual health. The study focused on training the trainers who will guide and support the young people. The training and self-application/intervention centered on building resilience, identity formation, addressing racial trauma, and nurturing spiritual growth through understanding that God created participants in His image and their identity is in Christ. Nine adult participants who are engaged in churches and activities within the African American community, contributed …
Building Belonging: Designing A Training Program To Foster Inclusion In Children's Ministry, Amanda J. Lemieux
Building Belonging: Designing A Training Program To Foster Inclusion In Children's Ministry, Amanda J. Lemieux
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The strategic problem aims to address how to train volunteer children’s ministry workers to feel more confident and well-equipped to handle children with diverse needs. Paul wrote in Romans that one should be accepting of all people just as Jesus accepted (Rom. 15:5-7). Humanity is created in the very image of God, the Creator. It is essential to recognize that everyone is created in God’s image and, therefore, deserves to be treated as such (Gen. 1:27). A healthy children’s ministry should ensure that all children are not only welcome within the classroom but also taught in a way that they …
Impact Of Trauma-Informed Care On The Restorative Justice Ecosystem, Amy Kight
Impact Of Trauma-Informed Care On The Restorative Justice Ecosystem, Amy Kight
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Created and titled as the ARTIC Project (Activating Restoration through Trauma-Informed Courts), this research addresses the gap between industrial/structural realities and relationship/nurturing realities within Substance Use Disorder (SUD) recovery and restorative justice paradigms. Grounded in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), the project emphasized that sustainable behavioral change requires balancing connection with correction (KPICD, 2022). Through a biblical lens, the researcher posits complete healing only comes from our Heavenly Father and occurs on an individual level. With this in mind, TBRI research affirms that organizations do not change people - people change people (KPICD, 2022). This intentional relationship between God, Creation, Others, …
Integrated Growth: Developing A Sustainable Continuum Of Whole-Person Discipleship For Cultivating Healthy Leaders, Joyce A. Smith
Integrated Growth: Developing A Sustainable Continuum Of Whole-Person Discipleship For Cultivating Healthy Leaders, Joyce A. Smith
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Leadership, particularly within ministry contexts, involves complex responsibilities that often lead to chronic stress, burnout, and diminished well-being. These challenges underscore the need for a holistic, sustainable framework that supports leaders in every dimension of life. This Dissertation in Praxis explored a biblically grounded, multidimensional wellness initiative designed to foster integrated health among ministry leaders at The Harvest Church, a nondenominational congregation in North Houston, Texas. Framed by biblical principles of stewardship, wholeness, and relational unity, this study implemented and assessed a structured wellness program addressing four critical domains of a leader’s well-being: emotional resilience, financial stability, physical/nutritional health, and …
Pass It On: Developing Children's Identity With Biblical Storytelling At First Baptist Church Of Sanford, Caleb Mccord
Pass It On: Developing Children's Identity With Biblical Storytelling At First Baptist Church Of Sanford, Caleb Mccord
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
In a culture where many youths are not only leaving the church but also facing psychological issues like identity crises, it is important that children develop their identity as God’s Word prescribes rather than the preference-based identities pushed by secular parties. To best ensure this development, then it is essential that children receive biblical storytelling from both the church and also the parents at home, the latter of which is underutilized in many modern Christian homes. This thesis posits that if parents are made aware of the need for biblical identity development and trained to do so, then they will …
The Burden Of Care: A Phenomenological Inquiry Into The Lived Experiences Of Homeless Shelter Administrators Leading Through The Pandemic And Lasting Implications On Program Operations, Marie Adele Wilson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The theories guiding this study are Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, conflict theory, and complex systems theory, which explain the relationship between the theory and resource limitations and acquisition, systems, and nature of acquiring human needs. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe homeless shelter administrators'/directors' experiences delivering services during the COVID-19 pandemic on the Eastern Coast of the United States and Texas. It further seeks to unravel how the pandemic informed the delivery of services and program administration related to homeless shelters and its impacts. The research questions sought to understand the impact of COVID-19 on delivering services …
Experiences Of Health And Mental Health Services For Immigrant Mothers From The Northern Triangle Of Central America, Lisa Dianne Vega
Experiences Of Health And Mental Health Services For Immigrant Mothers From The Northern Triangle Of Central America, Lisa Dianne Vega
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of immigrant mothers from the Northern Triangle of Central America with access to health and mental health services in the Southern United States. The theory guiding this study is social constructivism developed by Lev Vygotsky in 1968, as it will seek to understand the greater contexts of the experiences of the participants, both currently, as well as the stories and experiences of their immigration journey. Central American immigrant mothers from the Northern Triangle face many types of traumatic events in their lives. These events began in their home …
Nature Of Child Welfare Social Work, Sarah Vail Anders
Nature Of Child Welfare Social Work, Sarah Vail Anders
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Social workers in the field of child welfare ensure the safety and well-being of children. While this career field is rewarding, it results in high levels of stress, burnout, and fatigue for workers. To support the challenging needs of child welfare social workers and to enable them to successfully protect children and support their families, an examination of the nature of child welfare social work was conducted. The purpose of this study was to understand the nature of child welfare social work in North Carolina, which was gained through a qualitative transcendental phenomenological study. Twenty-one child welfare social workers were …
A Phenomenological Study On The Adult Biological Child's Experience In A Family That Fostered, Melba Richards-Garcia
A Phenomenological Study On The Adult Biological Child's Experience In A Family That Fostered, Melba Richards-Garcia
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Families involved in the fostering process experience a wide range of situations which can impact all family members—both positively and negatively. This includes the biological children of foster parents. While recent research has started to focus on providing support for foster families, most studies primarily concentrate on training and assistance for foster parents. When it comes to the effects of being a biological child within a foster family there exists a gap in the literature regarding long-term support for these family members. The objective of this study is to explore the retrospective experiences of biological children of foster families, who …
Perceptions Of The Pastoral Role In Fostering Generation Z And Millennials' Spiritual Growth Using Digital Platforms, Wanda Elaine Belvin
Perceptions Of The Pastoral Role In Fostering Generation Z And Millennials' Spiritual Growth Using Digital Platforms, Wanda Elaine Belvin
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore pastors recognizing their roles and their perceptions of fostering and nurturing individual spiritual growth in their congregants with emphasis on their Millennials and Generation Z with assistance of digital platforms and its impact on leadership. Since the pandemic, church attendance has been in decline particularly within this demographic and this study explored ways to reduce this trend. The theories guiding this study were servant leadership and spiritual formation. This study focused on individual rather than congregational spiritual growth. Since those in this age group are digital natives, the focus was on …
Leading The Families Of First Baptist Church Of Long Beach, Ca, To Support The Foster Care And Adoption Community, David B. Delaney
Leading The Families Of First Baptist Church Of Long Beach, Ca, To Support The Foster Care And Adoption Community, David B. Delaney
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The PLACED project is a faith-driven initiative to equip First Baptist Church to support the foster care community through practical care, education, and community engagement.
Ministry And Diversity In The City, William Thomas
Ministry And Diversity In The City, William Thomas
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Central Christian College of the Bible in Moberly, Missouri trains and develops men and women to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and His church. The church of Jesus Christ, biblically, is a multi-ethnic body comprised of men and women of every tribe, nation, language, and tongue. God’s intention is for all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Though the mission of the church is clear, go and make disciples of all nations, Christian colleges have not always developed classes to equip ministry students to effectively minister across lines of racial, cultural, and socio-economic differences. This …
A Phenomenological Study Of The Effects Of Unresolved Sexual Trauma On Intimacy In African American Women Relationships, Gianna Latrice Jackson
A Phenomenological Study Of The Effects Of Unresolved Sexual Trauma On Intimacy In African American Women Relationships, Gianna Latrice Jackson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has multifaceted effects on survivors. The psychological distress stemming from CSA often leads to the development of abnormal cognitions and behaviors that persist throughout a survivor's lifetime. While substantial research has focused on the long-term consequences for women who have experienced childhood sexual assault, there is still a need to explore the experiences of African American (AA) women who have encountered CSA and how it shapes their ability to engage in intimate sexual relationships. This phenomenological study aims to investigate the lived experiences of AA women who have endured CSA, with a particular focus on the …
Early Childhood Teachers' Experiences In Collaboration Practices Related To Developing Professionally: A Qualitative Case Study, Linda Alston-Morgan
Early Childhood Teachers' Experiences In Collaboration Practices Related To Developing Professionally: A Qualitative Case Study, Linda Alston-Morgan
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine early childhood teachers’ experiences in collaboration practices to support teacher professional development in three early childhood schools in Central New Jersey. The theory guiding this study was social cognitive theory by Bandura (1986), which focuses on learning through observations and social interactions. Bandura’s theory aligned with the study and revealed how collaborative opportunities are utilized as an approach to help teachers learn from each other and develop professionally. However, specific activities underlying the professional development of teachers during the collaborative sessions need more exploration. The research included data regarding early …
Relational Evangelism: Family-To-Family Through Recreational Activities, Kimberly R. Williams
Relational Evangelism: Family-To-Family Through Recreational Activities, Kimberly R. Williams
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The goals of this Doctor of Ministry thesis project are to explore and implement an approach to evangelism that has the potential of family connection through relational evangelism. The approach delivers the gospel message through family to family encounters in recreational activities. The church, Idlewild Baptist Church (IBC) has a unique communal opportunity to enhance ministry efforts through relational evangelism. The church leaders at IBC realize that they can do more with their recreation center on their campus by using it as a resource for outreach connecting with unchurched families and families without a church affiliation. An identifiable dilemma in …
Leadership Qualities Needed For A School-Based Police Chief, Tridung Tran
Leadership Qualities Needed For A School-Based Police Chief, Tridung Tran
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Although it has evolved over the years, school-based law enforcement remains vital in a school setting for safety and security. The dynamic of school-based law enforcement has been heavily researched through the popular crime prevention program called School Resource Officer. The introduction of police officers in schools’ thrusts law enforcement’s reputation, abilities, and authority into the spotlight. Limited studies have shown the unique leadership qualities needed to lead a school-based law enforcement agency. Police chief qualification is dependent on the law enforcement agency’s requirements and expectations and often requires years of experience and education. Further, there are excellent police chief …
The Decline Of Youth At Ministry Under The Sky, Wanda Elaine Belvin
The Decline Of Youth At Ministry Under The Sky, Wanda Elaine Belvin
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The decline of youth attending their services is no secret for many churches. The influences of the world, technology, wanting to fit in are just a few reasons youth find other things to do than attend their church services faithfully. Ministry Under The Sky is a small ministry with a big heart. At its birth in 2001, Ministry Under The Sky’s start was in the researcher’s home and her husband, the Overseer of the ministry. God blessed Ministry Under The Sky with its first building in 2007. The church outgrew the first two buildings less than two years each. The …
Examining The Correlation Between Childhood Trauma And Suicidal Ideation Among Air Force Airmen, Jennifer L. Thomas
Examining The Correlation Between Childhood Trauma And Suicidal Ideation Among Air Force Airmen, Jennifer L. Thomas
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
For decades, the United States military has been concerned about high suicide rates. Due to the increasing suicide rate within the armed forces, the need to better understand suicide-associated factors such as childhood trauma exposure is imperative. It is important to identify the research gaps that exist for promoting understanding of suicide and suicidal behavior and to enhance identification of those at risk for suicide. While there have been many published studies on the topic, conspicuously absent are studies that have included U.S. Air Force personnel. This research will examine the correlation between childhood trauma and suicidal ideation among Air …
An Assessment Of Dropout Rates Of Former Student Ministry Participants In Self-Identified Evangelical Churches With 500-2000 In Weekly Attendance, Derik Wade Idol
An Assessment Of Dropout Rates Of Former Student Ministry Participants In Self-Identified Evangelical Churches With 500-2000 In Weekly Attendance, Derik Wade Idol
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Over the last quarter-century, there has been a consistent call to reconceptualization and at times reject the youth ministry task resulting from the universally accepted church dropout statistic post-high school graduation. In 2008, Brandon Shields presented a falsification study that disproved the theory that high school graduates are leaving the church at a rate of 70-90% at Southern Baptist Megachurches. The purpose of this study was to examine the claim that 70-90% of youth ministry graduates are leaving the church by researching 17 self-identified Evangelical churches of 500-2000 in average church attendance. The research design was a quantitative replication study …
Overcoming Trauma: A Phenomenological Study Of Adults Who Overcame Childhood Trauma, Mary Ann P. Crowder
Overcoming Trauma: A Phenomenological Study Of Adults Who Overcame Childhood Trauma, Mary Ann P. Crowder
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This transcendental phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of individuals who overcame childhood trauma to become resilient adults. For this study, a resilient adult was defined by successful academic and career outcomes. Successful academic outcomes were operationalized as post-secondary educational attainment and successful career outcomes were demonstrated by steady employment of a professional career pathway. Terr’s (1991) theory of childhood trauma and Garmezy and Rutter’s (1983) resilience theory guided the study designed to answer the following central research question: What are the lived experiences of individuals who have overcome adverse childhood experiences to become resilient adults? The study involved thirteen …
Faith Development Study On Parents As Primary Faith Influencers, Caarne L. White
Faith Development Study On Parents As Primary Faith Influencers, Caarne L. White
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This research study intends to address a problem parents face as the assumptive primary faith influencers in their children's discipleship and spiritual development. The goal is to discover the support parents receive as World Changers Church International members while growing in the Christian faith as a family. The problem manifests when youth pastors and workers struggle to help student ministries make real-life connections through discipleship and mission. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the physical church closure is considered in exploring the study and further augment parents' struggles. In the discovery process, the study will assess how guidance through the Christian …
The Relationship Between Parental Stress And Externalizing Behavior: The Mediating Role Of Family Functioning On Ethnically Diverse Families In Multisystemic Therapy, Jennifer D. Vinces-Cua
The Relationship Between Parental Stress And Externalizing Behavior: The Mediating Role Of Family Functioning On Ethnically Diverse Families In Multisystemic Therapy, Jennifer D. Vinces-Cua
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Parental stress is an expected phenomenon during the parenting of an adolescent. Higher levels of parental stress are associated with an adolescent with externalizing behavior. Parents are instrumental in the development of adolescents and are critical agents of change with youth problematic behavior. Family functioning is often determined in part by a parent’s ability to adequately respond and manage their adolescent’s behavior and their environment. Focusing on improving family relations has been known to positively impact both parent and adolescent. Multisystemic therapy is a well-known treatment for adolescent externalizing behavior and families of diverse ethnicities. Additional attention and resources examining …