Digital Commons Network^™

Perceptions Of Hospice Among Social Work Students: The Influences Of Sociodemographic Factors, Delia Vanessa Valenzuela

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The older adult population is rapidly growing along with the use and continued need for hospice care services. Due to these circumstances there is on ongoing demand for experienced and knowledgeable social workers to meet the unique needs of this population. Research in this study indicates that social workers currently working in the hospice field do not feel adequately prepared to work with dying and bereaved patients. Furthermore, research shows a lack of education within social programs and social work textbooks regarding the subject of end of life care. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding …

Family Stabilization: Does It Work?, Angela M. Mckindley

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this research study on family stabilization is to identify whether this program is working while CalWORKs participants are achieving their educational goals. Family stabilization is a county program that assists those who need supportive services in domestic violence, mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness. The first phase was to assess the participant’s knowledge and understanding of the family stabilization program. The second phase involved a focus group, who could express their questions or concerns regarding the family stabilization program. The final stage was to review and interpret the information provided, in hopes to clarify the participants …

Social Workers Perspectives Of The Protective And Risk Factors That Affect Youth In The Juvenile Justice System And Child Welfare System, Guadalupe Citlalli Torres, Victoria Vanesa Mariscal

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Youth who have experienced maltreatment and the dysfunction of multiple placements are at risk of engaging in delinquent behaviors. Studies from various professionals found specific risk and protective factors that affect youth from being involved in the juvenile justice system. The current study adds significantly literature by identifying the risk and protective factors that affect foster youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice system based on social workers perspectives. The results indicate almost 93% of the participants agreed that multiple placements, 74% agreed that physical abuse, 61% agreed that group homes, and 67% agreed that sexual abuse serve as …

The Factors Involved In Cases Of Removal Of Infants: A Social Workers' Perspective, Mindy Lizbeth Cervantes, Alma Esther Manzano

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine social workers’ perspectives on the risk factors that are associated with cases of removal of infants. A quantitative survey design was utilized, using self-administered questionnaires that were distributed electronically to social workers located in San Bernardino County. The sample consisted of 94 participants, and the majority of the participants were White, non-Hispanic females. The study found that social workers identified substance abuse, the lack of infant’s physical safety in the home along with the age of the infant, and the lack of parents’ readiness to take part of the safety plan as …

Kinship Support Group: Addressing Grandparent Caregiver Challenges, Danya Brenda Cervantes

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Grandparent caregivers to their grandchild(ren) is a growing population that is not completely understood. This study explored the challenges faced by grandparent caregivers to their grandchild(ren) and how being part of a kinship support group can help in addressing the challenges. A qualitative research design was used for the purpose of gathering first account narratives from the participants in the study. California Family Life Center, a kinship support agency was contacted and allowed the researcher to reach out to grandparents who were interested in taking part of the study. Seven participants took part in this study. This study concluded that …

Beliefs About Religion And Spirituality Among Helping Professionals In A Group Home, Dominic Williams

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study will examine how religion impacts adolescents in a group home setting, and how they perceive its importance in their lives. The data was gathered using a qualitative method, and included interviews with a sample of staff members (all adults) who work with adolescents in a group home setting.The helping professionals were interviewed and asked 15 questions pertaining to their knowledge regarding the ways in which their subject residents embraced religion and spirituality. This included their observations as to frequency of prayer or meditation, reading or studying of sacred texts, meetings such as prayer meetings or other ritual activities, …

Treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Aging Veterans: What Works?, Heather Renee O'Dell Lewis

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious condition with debilitating symptoms which affects military veterans and has been understudied in the older population. Aside from treating the veterans of the Vietnam War and World War II, as service members from more recent conflicts age, the mental healthcare system needs to be able to treat them with empathy and effective therapies. As there is a need for future research focusing on this population, this paper reviews the current literature and utilizes Grounded theory to further the research related to PTSD in aging veterans. A selection of mental health clinicians with experience …

Understanding Inclusion-Exclusion In Social Service Organizations, Eva Andrea Rizzo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the present study was to explore the effects inclusion-exclusion on the job-related attitudes of the organizational workforce. These attitudes included job satisfaction, organizational commitment, burnout, and turnover intention. A quantitative survey was conducted using a sample of employees of a social service organization in San Bernardino County. Participants include employees from all levels and program areas of the social service organization. Study data was collected through the use of a self-report questionnaire. Measures were used to explore commitment to the organization, diversity perception, job satisfaction, turnover intention and burnout, the dependent variables. Using SPSS software to …

Foster Care Independent Living Program And Adolescent Success, Sherisee Bossett

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The research topic discussed will explore Independent Living Program (ILP) services within the parameters of the foster care system. The research conducted followed guidelines within the positivist paradigm along with quantitative data collecting to gather information regarding experiences of youth while in the program and independence after the program through the utilization of surveys from those who have emancipated from the foster care system. Participants were eighteen years or older. The study included 28 participants who ranged in age and gender. Surveys were collected and analyzed using Qualtrics and SPSS software. The data collected and analyzed in this research revealed …

Beliefs About Social Workers Among Black Males, Tavon Antonio Harris

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

It’s been more than a decade since the National Institute of Mental Health (NAMI) initiated its public campaign, ‘Real Men Real Depression.’ Despite increased awareness, research and relevant studies indicate that African American / Black men continue to underutilize mental health treatment while still having the highest all-cause mortality rates of any racial/ ethnic group in the United States. When reading this statement, one must question what impact that the beliefs about ‘social workers’ through the lens of Black males in the United States, may play. This very simply, yet flammable, question not only seems pertinent but also seems to …

Perspectives Of Mental Health Treatment, Dale Marie Craig

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study looks at the perceptions of mental health treatment that the general public may have. This study consisted of a sample size of 106 respondents to a survey that was placed on social media web sites. The positivist paradigm was used to assess the general public’s perceptions about mental health treatment and mentally ill persons. Descriptive analyses were used to discover the relationship of possible negative perceptions toward mental health treatment the general public may have on a mentally ill person. Findings of the survey showed no significant relationships of negative public perceptions that would adversely affect a mentally …

Beliefs About Fatherhood Among Social Workers, Abraham I. Acklin

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research was conducted to study the beliefs about fatherhood among social workers. Data for this project were gathered through separate interviews which were conducted using a sample of five individual social workers that worked with children and families. The participants were asked a series of questions regarding their beliefs about fatherhood. Ultimately, this study found that social workers believe that fathers are important and can contribute to their children’s lives in a healthy manner through emotional, educational, and financial support.

The results from this study suggest that fathers play an important role in their children’s lives and greatly contribute …

Social Work Students’ Prepardness For Grief And Loss Services, Luis Andres Mitchell, Juan Felipe Murillo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Expectedly and unexpectedly, people pass away. Millions of individuals die in the United States every year. Loss is a natural part of life and some will need grief and loss support. Social workers are in a position to support individuals with grief and loss and end-of-life issues. However, are students ready to provide these services? This study surveyed undergraduate and graduate social work students’ perceived competence in providing grief and loss services. The sample consisted of students in the School of Social Work at California State University, San Bernardino. The study found that respondents in both programs did not feel …

Foster Parents' Perceptions Of Barriers To Accessing Substance Abuse Treatment For Foster Youth, Tiffany Sabrina Harrington

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

As Counties continue to grow and the need for foster parent’s increases, resources become scarce. In San Bernardino County, Juvenile drug court is no longer offered, which has led to fewer resources for foster parents in need of substance abuse treatment services. Without access to juvenile drug court, foster youth are often in need of substance abuse treatment services after they have been placed, as part of rehabilitation and success.

Substance abuse issues are often found at the initial interaction of children and family services, and foster youth agencies; however, for ongoing treatment, there are few resources. The purpose of …

Examining The Ways Mental Health Professionals Strengthen Their Skills And Stay Motivated While Providing Services To Children And Families, Jennifer Romo, Shamille Antoinette Wener

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the ways mental health providers continue developing and strengthening their skills to have a great impact and overall beneficial effect on the families they are supporting. An interview questionnaire was created to explore participants’ experiences working with families and their children to generate an understanding of their current experiences in the mental health field. Through this study we have learned that the mental health providers are aware of the traits that they have to possess in order to provide the best care for the clients and their families. The participants in the …

Internet Use And Social Isolation: Exploring The Variables, Melissa Marie Allen

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Internet use is a growing trend in today’s society, and there are many variables surrounding use that can potentially affect individuals’ psychological well-being. The purpose of this study is to discover if the motivation for Internet use has a direct effect on individuals experiencing social isolation. An Explanatory Design was utilized for this study, and participants were comprised of 47 adult males and females. Quantitative data was collected for this study through use of online surveys, such as Internet use (observed motivation and frequency) survey, JongGierveld Loneliness Scale (explored emotional and social loneliness) and The Big 5 Personality Inventory (viewed …

Experiences, Challenges, And Resiliency Among Survivors Of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, Coleen Deermer

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This qualitative study sought to explore the personal experiences of those who have been victims of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST), the challenges they faced as they transitioned into survivors, and the factors they attributed to their resiliency. DMST victims are among the marginalized populations enduring social injustices within our communities. Social workers seek to serve these individuals, and yet they are just one part of the system of helping professionals that will encounter these victims. The interactions that DMST victims have with each entity of the system makes a difference in the recovery process as they become a survivor. …

The Transgender Experience, Amanda Lynn Mileham

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to gain a better understanding of transgender people and allow participants to have a voice in describing the experience of those in the transgender community. This study was conducted utilizing qualitative analysis through individual interviews with six participants. One of the major key findings of this study was the prevalence of depression among all participants. Another key finding of this study found safety among peers to be an issue for those transitioning from male to female. From the findings, it is imperative for social work practitioners to understand this marginalized community and be sensitive …

The Disproportionality Of African American Children In The Child Welfare System: A Community Perspective, Ehizele Angel Usigbe, Sheila Maria Mendoza

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

African American communities have been subject to institutional and societal inequalities for much of our nation’s history. A review of the literature has shown that these families have unequal access to resources and opportunities, especially in the comparison to the rest of the population. These factors may contribute to African American children having higher rates of substantiated cases of abuse and neglect, as well as the amount of time that these children spend in the foster care system. A qualitative study was conducted in the form of focus groups. The study examined the African American community’s perspective of the child …

Burnout Rates Among Social Workers: A Systematic Review And Synthesis, Austin Taylor Kimes

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Research suggests that social workers experience burnout at elevated rates; however, no study has developed an average rate of burnout among general social workers and quantitative research on the topic is lacking in general. This study conducted a systematic review and synthesis of the existing literature on burnout among social workers in order to (1) identify average burnout rates among social workers; and to (2) confirm previous findings showing differences between social worker groups by area of employment. A quantitative secondary data methodology was used that included self‑report data from the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) that contained both cross‑sectional and …

Supported Housing Experiences Of People With Serious Mental Illness, Troy Mondragon

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of people living with serious mental illness (SMI) receiving housing assistance. A qualitative method was used to interview five adults with SMI living in a supported housing model. An Ecological Systems Theory (EST) was used as the theoretical orientation for the study. The major themes related to success of the supported housing that emerged were independence, involvement of owners, bonds with tenants, having access and means to resources, and positive engagement in well-being. No themes of unmet needs were presented.

The study concluded people with SMI in need …

Reducing Stress And Increasing Hope Among Typhoon Yolanda Survivors, Maria Victoria Del Fierro, Mary Elizabeth Huxster

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Hundreds of thousands of people are affected by natural disasters every year. Many of these people face mental and emotional consequences from the traumatic experience. Research indicates that the aftereffects of such experiences can result in social, familial, and educational impairments in children. The current study tested the efficacy of a brief cognitive behavioral intervention on elementary school aged children intended to alleviate the mental and emotional consequences following a natural disaster. The study applied quantitative methods through pre and post intervention assessments measuring stress and hope. The participants assessed included 18 Filipino children between the ages of 10-12 years, …

Best Practice Interventions For Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: A Survivor's Perspective, Kurt L. Manio

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore methods of intervention for domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST). Due to the secretive nature of the DMST industry, victims are not only difficult to identify, but are also difficult to gain access to in order to provide effective intervention. This study seeks to overcome these barriers by gaining the perspectives of DMST survivors. This study has a qualitative design, in which 8 survivors of DMST, who are now adults, were interviewed to determine appropriate methods of intervention for child welfare social workers. In doing so, intervention was broken down into three categories; …

Alcohol Use And The Older Adult: Addressing Older Adults’ Perceptions, Megan R. Grisso

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In order to create more efficient, useful alcohol treatment and intervention methods tailored specifically for the older population, it is important to understand the reasons that older adults perceive that they consume alcohol. For this reason, this study explored older adults’ perceptions regarding why they use alcohol. Older adults, age 60 and older, were surveyed through questionnaires completed at senior community centers within San Bernardino County. This was a mixed method design that used qualitative and quantitative analysis for the purpose of exploring the most frequently reported reasons for why older adults use alcohol. The main finding of the study …

Mother And Child Residential Treatment From An Adult Child Perspective: "The Forgotten Voices", April Eden Wilson

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

These days most everyone can say that they know someone who has been impacted by substance abuse and today’s society is very familiar with the fact that it can wreak havoc on families. There has been a significant amount of research devoted to finding not only the best practices to treat families who are impacted by the disease of addiction but there has also been a great deal of attention focused on the adult perspective on these services once they have been received. Where the research is definitely lacking is how the children involved with the services perceive their own …

Social Workers' Attitudes Towards Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual And Transgender Adoptions, Christina Nicole Kemper, Natalie Jazmin Reynaga

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explores the attitudes of social workers in relation to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) adoptions. Race, gender, generation, position and prior LGBT training are factors that can positively or negatively impact social workers’ biases towards LGBT adoptions. Researchers contacted adoption agencies whom agreed to partake in the 26-question survey, including eight demographic questions and an 18 item scale. The current study used an adapted version of the Attitude Toward Gay Men and Lesbians as Adoptive Parent Scale (APS) (α = .95). There were 28 survey respondents, however two surveys were discontinued due to incomplete informed consents. A …

Behavioral Health Professional’S Perceptions Of Early Co-Occurring Disorder Recovery And Smoking Cessation Appropriateness, Paul Terrazas

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Early stages of the co-occurring, mental health and substance use disorder (MH-SUD) recovery process present various social and physical challenges to the recovering person, including habitual cigarette smoking. Presenting smoking cessation to a person with a co-occurring disorder could also depend on behavioral health professional’s perceptions of implementing supplemental services in early recovery. Behavioral health professionals also face the challenge of assessing people’s motivation to quit smoking. Data was collected through an online survey that shaped this quantitative, cross-sectional study focused on understanding perceptions of smoking cessation in early MH-SUD recovery. The study’s data highlighted that the participants (N = …

Community Attitudes Toward Early-Release Offenders Under Ab 109, Mari Lily Herrera, Matthew Erik Mcgiffen

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine community attitudes towards ex-offenders released in San Bernardino under AB 109 on subjects that would likely impact the ex-offender reintegration process. Past research has shown that a community’s willingness to employ and offer social support to ex-offenders has a substantial impact on their probability of re-offense. This study focused on individuals whose roles in the community give them greater influence over ex-offenders. A total of 11 community members participated in this qualitative study. Of the 11 respondents, 4 were employers, 4 were social service workers, and 3 were community center workers. Respondents …

Knowledge And Use Of Family Planning Services By Extended Foster Care Clients, Ashley M. Diaz, Melodie Anne Chronister

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

There has been extensive, mostly negative research on the outcomes of foster care youth. Due to the abundance of this research, Extended Foster Care (EFC) was created to help to provide additional resources and support to young adults in foster care until age 21. This is a fairly new program, therefore little research has been completed. One of the negative outcomes of foster youth is the high pregnancy and parenting rates. The purpose of this study is to be able to understand the knowledge and use of family planning services among the young adults participating in EFC. Understanding this information …

Substance Abuse Among The Elderly: What Works In Treatment, Sophia Morelli

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Social workers are trained during the course of their education to work with the elderly and to understand the various dynamics of aging. These professionals also receive education on substance abuse and how to assess clients as well as link them to appropriate supportive services. How can social workers be more inclined to effectively treat the elderly substance abuser? What are, if any, special considerations a social worker should be aware of when working with the geriatric population? What treatment modalities seem to be more effective with the elderly client? This study utilized a qualitative analysis consisting of interviews with …