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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Readiness Of Adolescent And Young Sickle Cell Patients To Transition From Pediatric To Adult Care, Tanisha D. Belton Jan 2022

Readiness Of Adolescent And Young Sickle Cell Patients To Transition From Pediatric To Adult Care, Tanisha D. Belton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) face many challenges as they enter adulthood; therefore, preparing for the transition to adult care is crucial. Assessing the knowledge and skills adolescents and young adults (AYAs) possess before transitioning to adult care can aid in the success of their transition. However, a gap exists regarding factors attributed to guiding patients’ sense of readiness. The purpose of this quantitative study, driven by the theory of self-care management of SCD, was to examine the self-perceived readiness of SCD patients as they prepare to transition to adult care. Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 68 sickle …


Assessing Relationships Among Autonomy, Supportive Leadership, And Burnout In Public Elementary Teachers, Jana Rose Benson Jan 2022

Assessing Relationships Among Autonomy, Supportive Leadership, And Burnout In Public Elementary Teachers, Jana Rose Benson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractStress and burnout among teachers are serious problems because of the negative consequences associated with them that have contributed to the current crisis in the American education system. Until the problems of teacher stress and burnout are understood and addressed, efforts to restructure American education cannot succeed. This study assessed the relationships among perceived autonomy, perceived transformational leadership style and burnout in public elementary teachers, and the moderating/mediating influence of teacher orientation (Montessori and traditional) on burnout levels. An integration of Maslach’s multi-dimensional burnout theory, self-determination theory, and the theory of transformational leadership formed the theoretical foundation of the study. …


Adoptive Parents Are Socially Affected By The Behaviors Of Adolescents With Reactive Attachment Disorder, Latoya C. Geter Jan 2022

Adoptive Parents Are Socially Affected By The Behaviors Of Adolescents With Reactive Attachment Disorder, Latoya C. Geter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research regarding the experiences of adoptive parents in the Midwest has revealed feelings of social isolation. Further research is warranted focusing on social issues adoptive parents of reactive attachment disorder (RAD) youth experience in the South. This could serve as a comparison to the findings from research focused on the Midwest. There is a gap in the research and knowledge regarding the social issues adoptive parents of RAD youth experience in Arkansas. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the daily, lived experiences of adoptive parents of adolescents with RAD living in rural areas. Attachment theory was the …


Value Co-Creation Paradigm Framework For Integrating Evidence-Based Practices In Child Welfare, Georgina Horton Jan 2022

Value Co-Creation Paradigm Framework For Integrating Evidence-Based Practices In Child Welfare, Georgina Horton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAlthough there has been increased utilization of evidence-based practice (EBP) in child welfare services, it has not been comprehensively incorporated or fully embraced by key decision makers. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore a value co-creation (VCC) paradigm as a viable framework for collaboration between stakeholders in child welfare, and to explore what attitudes are necessary to enable child welfare stakeholders. The VCC paradigm framework comprising three elements (engagement platforms, experience domains, and capability ecosystems) was used to guide the study. Data were collected from semi structured, in-depth interviews with four key decision makers in the …


Development Of A Capacity Building Program To Promote Trauma-Informed Services, Juan Miguel Medina Jan 2022

Development Of A Capacity Building Program To Promote Trauma-Informed Services, Juan Miguel Medina

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Wichita County, Texas experienced decreased academic performances of elementary level children in 24 out of 45 communities. Higher numbers of traumatic experiences increase a child's risk of not meeting developmental benchmarks. The purpose of this capstone project is to support the development of a trauma-informed capacity-building program. Ungar's resiliency theory was used to understand the factors related to building resilience in children to prevent trauma. Using action research, the researcher explored how developing program content may improve an agency's system readiness to deliver effective trauma-informed care. Data were collected from a focus group with local social workers. Content analysis was …


Influence Of Clinical Supervision On Licensed Clinical Social Workers’ Confidence In Implementing Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Jamie Rebecca Leigh Jan 2022

Influence Of Clinical Supervision On Licensed Clinical Social Workers’ Confidence In Implementing Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Jamie Rebecca Leigh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) require clinical supervision when they are new to the field or new to a treatment method. The supervision is meant to guide the LCSWs as they learn new skills and build confidence. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand how LCSWs described the impact clinical supervision had on their confidence in implementing trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) with youths in a North Carolina intensive in-home program. Social cognitive theory was the framework for this study. Semistructured interviews were completed with 10 participants. Thematic coding was used to identify themes. All participants reported …


Reducing Racial Disparity Of Youths Referred To The Juvenile Center, Kimberly Paige Jan 2022

Reducing Racial Disparity Of Youths Referred To The Juvenile Center, Kimberly Paige

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2018, The Juvenile Center in St. Louis, Missouri acknowledged that they needed to decrease the racial disparity in the numbers and percentages of Black youths who were overrepresented compared to White youths at the front-end intake step of the facility. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain insight as to whether there were alternative actions for police officers after they arrested the youths but before they referred them to the front-end intake step of The Juvenile Center. The main method of collecting data was an ethnographic interview in the form of a questionnaire to gather the community …


Youth And Family Factors Affecting Completion Of A Diversion Program, Teresita Nuguid Jan 2022

Youth And Family Factors Affecting Completion Of A Diversion Program, Teresita Nuguid

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (FDJJ) has launched several diversion programs for at-risk youth in the state of Florida. Prior studies revealed the efficacy of diversion programming in helping mentally ill individuals, the community, and the criminal justice system. This study addressed a gap in the literature regarding how youth and family factors and characteristics can determine program completion. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate youth and family factors and characteristics associated with program completion for participants in diversion programs in the state of Florida. The family systems theory used for this study supports the idea …


Returning Home: The Reported Reintegration Experiences Of Parents/Guardians Of African American Female Youth, Jenay Garrett Jan 2022

Returning Home: The Reported Reintegration Experiences Of Parents/Guardians Of African American Female Youth, Jenay Garrett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American, female youth remain overrepresented in juvenile detention centers. Parental involvement has been identified as a major factor in the success of a youth’s reintegration into the community post detention; however, there is limited information about the experiences of parents/guardians of African American female youth during reintegration. The purpose of this generic, qualitative study was to gain insight and understanding regarding the reported reintegration experiences of parents/guardians of African American teenage daughters returning, home post detention, regarding their role development as parents/guardians during that time. The theoretical framework for this study is parent development theory (PDT) developed by Dr. …


Human Service Professionals’ Perceptions Of Parentification, Monica Christa Whitson Jan 2022

Human Service Professionals’ Perceptions Of Parentification, Monica Christa Whitson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social researchers coined the term parentification to describe parent–child role reversal and inappropriate familial roles such as adult-like tasks children are held accountable to complete. Previous researchers have not addressed two issues: (a) whether human service professionals [HSPs] adopt the destructive/maladaptive viewpoint or adaptive/resilient viewpoint surrounding parentification and (b) whether HSPs’ preconceived views and attitudes impact service delivery to parentified persons. Obtaining the perceptions of HSPs may allow more insight into what interventional methods need exploring when working with those individuals. The purpose of this generic, qualitative inquiry was to explore the perceptions of male HSPs regarding parentification and how …


Intersectionality And Community-Based Counseling: Experience Of African American Female Sexual Minority Youth, Lauren Smith Jan 2021

Intersectionality And Community-Based Counseling: Experience Of African American Female Sexual Minority Youth, Lauren Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The social problem examined in this qualitative analysis is the limited available knowledge on the experience of ethnic minorities who are also sexual minority youth. Sexual minority youth are at increased risk of experiencing mental health disparities compared to their heterosexual peers. Due to the increased risk for psychosocial stressors such as substance use, suicidal ideation, suicidal attempts, homelessness, and trauma, clinicians should be aware of the intersectionality of identifying as a sexual minority youth who is also an ethnic minority. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the experiences of African American sexual minority female youth ages …


Understanding Parental Responses To Having An Lgbtq Child, Donnell Mccutcheon Butler Jan 2021

Understanding Parental Responses To Having An Lgbtq Child, Donnell Mccutcheon Butler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Current research about parents of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (LGBTQ) children does not provide insight into whether attitudes towards sexual minorities, relational self-esteem, and sex-role stereotypes predict parents’ emotional responses when learning their child is LGBTQ. The purpose of the study was to investigate factors influencing parental responses when learning about their children’s LGBTQ identities using the social identity theory. The research questions were (a) are there statistically significant relationships between parental responses, negative attitudes toward sexual minorities, parents’ relational self-esteem, and sex-role attitudes and (b) do negative attitudes toward sexual minorities, parents’ relational self-esteem, and sex-role …


School Administrators’ Perceptions On Teaching Foster Children, Tisha Marie Hess Jan 2021

School Administrators’ Perceptions On Teaching Foster Children, Tisha Marie Hess

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children in foster care face multiple barriers compared to their nonfoster peers, especially as it pertains to their educational success. The problem was school administrators, such as principals and assistant principals, face greater challenges in meeting the educational needs of foster children in addition to balancing the extraneous issues foster children face. Using Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the experiences, perceptions, and challenges of elementary school administrators who work with foster youth in one school district in Illinois. The specific focus was on administrators’ role in curriculum design, support services, and ability …


The Impact Of Socioeconomic Status And Ethnicity On Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients, Donald Garret Abshier Jan 2021

The Impact Of Socioeconomic Status And Ethnicity On Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients, Donald Garret Abshier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive and debilitating respiratory condition that leads to significant medial and financial burdens. For many patients with COPD, multiple socioeconomic factors contribute to health disparities, including income, education, employment status, and race/ethnicity. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of SES and race/ethnicity on COPD patients. For this cross-sectional study, using secondary data analysis, the Social-Ecological Model (SEM), which discusses five levels of influence, was utilized. Data from over 3,222 participants aged 18 and over, living in Nevada were obtained from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) study. …


An Educational Program For Nurses To Improve Culturally-Appropriate Mental Health Assessment For Nigerian Immigrant Youth In Central Florida, Blessing Anyaiwe Onyekachi Jan 2021

An Educational Program For Nurses To Improve Culturally-Appropriate Mental Health Assessment For Nigerian Immigrant Youth In Central Florida, Blessing Anyaiwe Onyekachi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractNigerians, like other immigrants, face many health issues with rising waves of conflict and political instability that contribute to high migration rates. As a result, when they arrive in other countries, these immigrants not only have to deal with the trauma they left behind but face issues such as cultural stereotypes, stigma, lack of insurance, cultural and language barriers, poor communication, social discrimination, and low socioeconomic status. The question that this project addressed was whether an educational program for nurses would improve knowledge on culturally-appropriate mental health assessment for Nigerian immigrant youth in Central Florida. This was a nursing staff …


Supervision Needs For Social Workers Providing Home-Based Treatment For Children And Families, Magda Demerritt Jan 2021

Supervision Needs For Social Workers Providing Home-Based Treatment For Children And Families, Magda Demerritt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social workers providing home-based therapy services for children and families face challenges that make it difficult to provide efficient and effective treatment. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the supervision needs of social workers who provide treatment using the home-based service delivery model. The leader-member exchange theory was used to guide the study. Data were collected from a focus group meeting with 10 master’s-level social workers in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Findings from coding and thematic analysis revealed that participants’ needs involved being educated on the value of the home-based model, receiving support and guidance related to their …


Juvenile Justice Workers’ Perceptions Of Teen Court And Traditional Court, Kesla M. Holder Jan 2021

Juvenile Justice Workers’ Perceptions Of Teen Court And Traditional Court, Kesla M. Holder

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The impact of alternative programs for juveniles within the juvenile justice court system was not well understood. Studies such as research from the Annie E. Casey Foundation identified juvenile diversion approaches as an effective method of reducing recidivism in juvenile courts. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to seek understanding of the nontraditional juvenile court process from the perceptions of juvenile justice workers in a local teen court program. Deterrence theory provided the theoretical framework to guide the study. Open-ended survey questions were used to collect data from 11 juvenile justice officers from the local Department of Juvenile …


The Effectiveness Of Rehabilitation And Educational Programs For African American Men With Cocaine Addiction, Hira Chaudhary Jan 2021

The Effectiveness Of Rehabilitation And Educational Programs For African American Men With Cocaine Addiction, Hira Chaudhary

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Drug addiction, especially cocaine addiction is a major problem in the United States. There is a problem in Michigan regarding drugs and a high recidivation rate, especially among individuals with cocaine addiction. Evidence shows that at least 56% of the African American adults in Michigan who are being arrested for cocaine usage had been released from a rehabilitation facility in the past 3 years. Various researchers have investigated the prevalence of drug abuse among the African American population in the United States. Still, there is limited evidence on reducing the recidivation rate among African American men with cocaine addiction. Therefore, …


Improving Staff Retention In Adolescent Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities, Tasha C. Moses Jan 2021

Improving Staff Retention In Adolescent Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities, Tasha C. Moses

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractHigh direct care staff (DCS) turnover in psychiatric residential treatment facilities presents significant organizational challenges. Insufficient DCS levels and high turnover rates can undermine an organization’s ability to provide quality care to residents who have acute psychiatric symptoms, maintain a safe environment, and achieve strategic goals. This case study was grounded in the Baldrige Excellence Framework and focused on the DCS retention challenges experienced by a psychiatric residential treatment facility in the southeastern United States. Sources of data included semi structured interviews with seven organizational leaders, a review of organizational archival records, and an academic literature review. Thematic content analysis …


Aging Out Of Foster Care And Support Services, Sandra Ifenyinwa Ogbonna Jan 2021

Aging Out Of Foster Care And Support Services, Sandra Ifenyinwa Ogbonna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Youth aging out of the foster care system face many difficulties in transitioning to adulthood. In this exploratory study, the strategies used by foster care social work case managers to help youth successfully age out of foster care were investigated. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory provided the framework through which the research questions were explored. Eight social work case managers experienced with aging-out foster youth participated in qualitative interviews, in which they were asked to define success for youth who age out of foster care and describe the effectiveness of existing strategies for improving the transition into adulthood among youth emancipated from …


The Pertinence Of Risk Management In Behavioral Healthcare Organizations, Mary Darden-Robinson Jan 2021

The Pertinence Of Risk Management In Behavioral Healthcare Organizations, Mary Darden-Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The role of risk management in healthcare settings addressing physical issues has been a focus for scholars since the 1950s. Researchers have demonstrated that effective risk mitigation in physical healthcare settings can decrease medical errors, poor patient care, and litigation. Although there has been a significant focus on the implications of risk management in these settings, there is less research related to this relationship within the context of behavioral healthcare. The purpose of this study was to explore risk-management processes in the setting of a midsized for-profit behavioral health organization on the East Coast of the United States. The Baldrige …


African American, Sexual Minority Women Pursuing Resilience Following Childhood Sexual Abuse, Kastina Diane Hayes Jan 2021

African American, Sexual Minority Women Pursuing Resilience Following Childhood Sexual Abuse, Kastina Diane Hayes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In any form, child abuse is traumatic, and the effects can leave the individual psychologically scarred. Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a specific, worldwide problem that affects individuals of all ethnicities; however, CSA is most prevalent among African Americans in the United States. The adverse effects of CSA warrant proper coping strategies. Though negative coping strategies are innate, positive coping strategies are more beneficial. Sexual minorities are individuals whose sexual orientation or gender identity deviates from the majority of the population (i.e., heterosexuals). Sexual minority women (SMW) with histories of CSA face many tribulations and hardships. Resiliency is a form …


Social Support Experiences Of Stably Housed Emancipated Foster Youth, Camron L. Whitacre Jan 2021

Social Support Experiences Of Stably Housed Emancipated Foster Youth, Camron L. Whitacre

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Youth emancipating from foster care are at increased risk of housing instability and homelessness and have reduced access to needed social supports to aid in the difficult transition to independent living. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived formal social support experiences of stably housed emancipated foster youth. Purposive sampling techniques and inclusion criteria guided the recruitment of nine study participants from a state-administered postemancipation services program to take part in semistructured interviews. A conceptual framework, including social convoy and attachment theories, informed inquiry, and interpretation of findings. Participant lived experiences illuminated the importance of …


Predictive Factors Of Risky Sexual Behaviors Of Emerging Adult Women, Corey Dabney Jan 2020

Predictive Factors Of Risky Sexual Behaviors Of Emerging Adult Women, Corey Dabney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study offered a predictive model to better understand the social dynamics of risky sexual behavior through examining how reproductive coercion, self-esteem, and peer relationships that present with risky sexual behaviors correlate to unintended pregnancy. The participants were 104 emerging adult women between the ages 18-25 who resided in the United States and were proficient in the English language. Using the theoretical lens of reciprocal determinism, direct logistic regression was performed to assess the likelihood that the variables reproductive coercion, peer relationships, and self-esteem would impact unintended pregnancy. The full model containing all predictors was statistically significant, indicating that the …


Behavioral Health Leadership Perspectives On The Transition To Medicaid Managed Care, Cynthia Lyn Gee Jan 2020

Behavioral Health Leadership Perspectives On The Transition To Medicaid Managed Care, Cynthia Lyn Gee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Healthcare and behavioral healthcare reform are sweeping across the United States to improve health outcomes, increase client satisfaction, and to decrease healthcare expenditures through statewide transitions to Medicaid managed care (MMC). Leaders of behavioral health organizations face significant challenges when implementing wide scale organizational change. A case study design was used to explore senior leaders’ experiences with transitioning from a fee for service environment to MMC at a behavioral health organization, which operates in the Northeastern region of the United States. The Baldrige excellence framework was used as a conceptual lens to assess the organization’s effectiveness in key factors. Senior …


Sexually-Abused Adolescent Females Versus Nonsexually-Abused Adolescent Females Regarding Rorschach Inkblot Assessments, Angela D. Jones Jan 2020

Sexually-Abused Adolescent Females Versus Nonsexually-Abused Adolescent Females Regarding Rorschach Inkblot Assessments, Angela D. Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored differences between female adolescents who experienced sexual abuse as children and those who experienced other forms of trauma or abuse. There is no previous research assessing the differences between these two groups. Some female adolescent victims of sexual abuse are sexually revictimized, sex trafficked, and exhibit delinquent behaviors. If differences are determined, a more tailored and appropriate intervention could be introduced to reduce these youths' revictimization and minimize adult sexual risk. This study was quantitative in nature and assessed the clinical profiles of 27 female adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system for being sex trafficked or …


Leadership Strategies For Reducing Turnover Within Child Welfare Departments, Lace Shelise Whitten Jan 2020

Leadership Strategies For Reducing Turnover Within Child Welfare Departments, Lace Shelise Whitten

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee turnover costs companies billions of dollars annually and can damage business sustainability. Childcare managers who lack leadership strategies may struggle to reduce employee turnover. Grounded in the motivation-hygiene theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore leadership strategies childcare managers in Polk County, Florida, use to reduce employee turnover. Data were collected through semistructured face-to-face interviews with 5 purposively selected childcare managers who have used leadership strategies to reduce employee turnover. Data were also collected via field notes, observations, and company documents. Four themes emerged from the thematic analysis of the data: open communication, feedback …


Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Rates Among Children In Foster Versus Family Kinship Care, Rashanda Allen Jan 2020

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Rates Among Children In Foster Versus Family Kinship Care, Rashanda Allen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children in foster care represent a highly traumatized population. However, trauma researchers studying this population have focused primarily on maltreatment rather than the full spectrum of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) attributes and symptoms for children living in nonkinship foster homes versus kinship foster homes. The purpose of this study was to address this gap in the literature, as well as examine the benefits and limitations of children placed in kinship and nonkinship foster homes. Attachment theory was the theoretical framework. The research questions centered on the prevalence of specific types of posttraumatic stress symptoms for a sample of children living …


Child Welfare Workers' Perceptions Of The Effective Black Parenting Program, Kharmynn M. Bullock Jan 2020

Child Welfare Workers' Perceptions Of The Effective Black Parenting Program, Kharmynn M. Bullock

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The child welfare system (CWS) serves around half a million families each year in America. Of those, in Texas, hundreds of thousands of African American families represent the greatest percentages of families in the CWS when compared with their respective numbers in the general population. In 2013, African American children made up about 13.9% of the overall population of children in the United States; however, these children represented close to 26% (or 101,938) African American children in the system with CWS. Child Protective Services (CPS) has various programs and services, including parent education referrals to social services agencies that carry …


Community-Based Counselors’ Experiences Counseling Female Adjudicated Youth: A Basic Qualitative Study, Ericka Pinckney Jan 2020

Community-Based Counselors’ Experiences Counseling Female Adjudicated Youth: A Basic Qualitative Study, Ericka Pinckney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Licensed professional counselors (LPCs) have encountered difficulties engaging at-risk youth in meaningful treatment. Youth who faced great stress such as abuse, neglect, truancy, family problems, homelessness, and traumatic events have presented with challenging behaviors. Literature suggested adjudicated youth engaged in relational and physical aggression; these behaviors increased the risk for out-of-home placement. Research on community based LPCs’ professional experiences in working with adjudicated female youth is scarce. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore community-based counselors' experiences treating female adjudicated youth. Professional counselors' techniques and strategies were explored. The relational-cultural theory provided the conceptual lens through which …