Digital Commons Network^™

Educators’ Perception Of Their Psychosocial Support Of Elementary Students In Gabon, Africa, Michel Ikamba

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although educators internationally have often provided care to vulnerable students who struggle to meet the needs of nutrition, health, protection, and access to essential social services, no formal social systems exist in Gabon to aid educators who work with these students. In the absence of relevant local research and drawing on Dewey’s theory of progressive education as a conceptual model, this basic qualitative study asked about educators’ perceptions in limited resource elementary schools in Gabon of the social needs and strategies employed with students who demonstrated signs of disengagement and alienation. Qualitative data collection included semi-structured recorded interviews with 12 …

Guidebook For Clinical Supervision In Nebraska, Susan Reay, Sarah Guyette

Social Work Faculty Books and Monographs

A brief, practical guide to clinical mental health supervision for supervisors and supervisees of individuals seeking licensure or certifications in Nebraska

A Qualitative Investigation Of Organizational Challenges And Facilitators To Screening Individuals Experiencing Homelessness For Hepatitis C Virus (Hcv) In Houston, Texas, Alane Celeste-Villalvir, J Michael Wilkerson, Christine Markham, Lourdes Rodriguez, Vanessa Schick

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Individuals experiencing homelessness may be at a disproportionately high risk for hepatitis C (HCV) because they may be more likely to engage in HCV risk behaviors. Community organizations that provide services to these vulnerable individuals can effectively screen, diagnose, and navigate them into HCV care. However, screening people experiencing homelessness for HCV at such organizations is limited by various challenges that remain understudied, including budgetary considerations and strategies to improve teamwork and communication. Accordingly, this study investigated the organizational challenges and facilitators to HCV screening of individuals experiencing homelessness as reported by homeless services providers.

METHODS: Staff (N = …

The Role Of Organizational Leaders In Employee Self-Care: A Change Management Approach, Olivia Dawn Honaker

DSW Capstone Projects

Although literature demonstrates that helping professionals have had high levels of stress and burnout for decades, the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the issue. The already burdened healthcare workers, now facing increased workloads, long hours, and high-level exposure to trauma, have created an urgency to address this significant risk to helping professionals. The current capstone will bring awareness to organizational leaders regarding the importance of employee self-care and the benefits of implementing employee self-care programs. First, a systematic literature review will examine self-care in helping professions and explore how organizational leaders operationalize employee self-care programs. In addition, the capstone aims …

African American Male Ex-Offenders’ Experiences Of Housing Support And Other Postincarceration Services, Joyce Denise Mcphee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Many male African American ex-offenders lack resources that would allow them to become successful in reentering society. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of male African American ex-offenders regarding homelessness and the search for housing after release from incarceration. Schneider and Ingram’s theory of social construction of target populations was the framework for the investigation. Data were collected by conducting semistructured interviews with 12 adult African American male ex-offenders from the South Florida region of the United States who were experiencing homelessness. Participants self-selected by responding to a flyer posted at a shelter. Data analysis …

Understanding How Healthcare Social Workers Respond To Adult Medical Trauma, Sonya Anthony

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medical trauma in the hospital is a growing health disparity often accompanied by social determinants. Assisting in alleviating disparities and social determinants is a standard of care embedded in social work practice. This research was conducted to examine healthcare social workers’ experiences responding to and managing the psychosocial impacts of adult medical trauma in an acute inpatient environment. The goal of the research was to identify if a need exists for trauma-informed training among healthcare social workers. The research question examined how healthcare social workers respond to medical trauma. The model of case management, trauma-informed care, and systems theory were …

Social Media Use, Acculturation, And Self-Esteem Of Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing Adults, Taylor A. Paglieri, Caroline Kobek Pezzarossi Ph.D, Deborah Schooler

JADARA

Social networking sites (SNSs) have become increasingly popular in modern society; however, research into the impacts of SNS use on Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (D/HH) individuals is lacking. Through an online survey completed by 217 D/HH adults, we examined the demographic predictors of SNS use and how frequent SNS use relates to self-esteem. Deaf acculturation, age, attending a mainstream school with support services, and education level were significant predictors of SNS use for D/HH adults. Furthermore, D/HH adults with increased Deaf acculturation and frequent SNS use reported higher self-esteem.

The Importance Of Social Support Networks On Mental Health Status Of Custodial Grandparents, Deborah Whitley, Youjung Lee, Yanfeng Xu Ph.D.

Faculty and Staff Publications

This symposium presents a collection of papers that examine the concept of social support and its effect on custodial grandparents’ (CG) mental health state. Each paper explores a different perspective about grandparents’ access to and/or use of social support networks and mental health outcomes; several papers view social support within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nadorff and colleagues explore social support by middle-generation family members and its effects on grandparents’ stress and depressive symptoms. Musil and colleagues report on psychosocial and social support predictors of self-appraised healthcare and financial security by CG during the Covid-19 pandemic. Whitley and Kelley …

The Therapeutic And Psychosocial Effects Of Pets On Individuals In The Usa, Ashley Lytle

Honors Projects

The prevalence of animals in people's lives is ever growing. Many pet owners see their pets as members of their family. Animals can improve one's well being both physically and mentally. They have been used in therapeutic practices, both in one-on-one sessions and group settings. While there are several benefits to owning a pet, they can cause barriers to accessing healthcare and housing, and can be a deterrent to leaving abusive situations. The two roles pets play in people's lives creates a dynamic that is prevalent to several professional fields including social work. Social workers have already begun to acknowledge …

Barriers To Resource Access: The Need For Social Workers As Cultural Brokers In Hispanic Immigrant Communities, Leslie Noemy Reyna

Social Work Theses - Archive

Although the U.S. has more immigrants than any other country in the world (Budiman, 2020), there exists inequality in resource access among U.S. born and immigrants. The inequality has been created and maintained by the development of barriers such as idealization assimilation, forced acculturation, anti-immigrant sentiment and the limitations developed within immigrant serving organizations. Immigrants have tried to overcome these barriers through brokering by brokering through assimilation, brokering through their children and brokering through community health workers known as promotoras. Although the possibility of brokering exists, the question remains: how can immigrants achieve access to resources in a society designed …

Writing Skills Development For Graduate Studies And Career Readiness In Science And Aging Fields: A Case Study Approach, Amanda Stafford Mcrell, Betty L. White, Sue E. Levkoff

Faculty and Staff Publications

Increasing the number of racially and ethnically underrepresented students who pursue scientific graduate studies in programs focusing on science and aging offers an opportunity to increase the number of aging specialists while simultaneously promoting diversity in the research labor market and supporting new ideas. This case study aims to better understand how students participating in an academic preparatory program experience a writing class contextualized within (1) students' writing background and (2) students' future ambitions related to science and aging. The individually-tailored writing class was taught as a critical component of a comprehensive educational program that targets underrepresented racial and ethnic …

The Efficacy Of A Rapid Rehousing Program Serving Adults Experiencing Homelessness In West Central Texas, Unique Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis discusses the dynamics of homelessness and examines one agency (Abilene Hope Haven) that aims to help homeless individuals receive permanent housing. This study explores the characteristics that influence the likelihood of placement in permanent housing within 12 months at Abilene Hope Haven. The different types of supportive housing programs and their roles in helping homeless individuals will be discussed. Secondary data gathered from the Homeless Management Information System were entered into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, and then a logistical regression analysis was created to explain the relationships between the different characteristics and permanency placement. A key …

Enhancing Permanency In Children And Families (Epic): A Child Welfare Intervention For Parental Substance Abuse, Bridget Freisthler, Kathryn Maguire-Jack, Susan Yoon, Elinam Dellor, Jennifer Price Wolf

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: Across Ohio, parental substance abuse has contributed to a marked increase in the number of children in foster care. Children exposed to parental substance use have a higher likelihood of physical abuse and neglect, and consequently a variety of physical, psychological and cognitive problems. The Enhancing Permanency in Children and Families (EPIC) program is a collaborative effort between the Ohio State University College of Social Work, two county offices of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, two juvenile courts and local behavioral health agencies. The goal of EPIC is to use three evidence-based and evidence-informed practices to …

Social Work Junior Faculty Perceptions Of Their Doctoral Level Teaching Preparation, Marissa Hardwrict

Dissertations

Each year, hundreds of students graduate with a terminal degree. Many have aspirations to teach at a college or university. This includes graduates of social work programs. However, little information is known about the experiences of teaching readiness of social work Ph.D. graduates. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of social work junior faculty and their perceptions of readiness to teach. Literature reporting on the curriculum in Social Work Ph.D. Programs are linked to students being developed and heavily engulfed in research activities (Acquavita & Tice, 2015; Dinerman et al., 1999; Reneau, 2011). Since many programs …

Ucc Minutes, 11/06/2003, Lon Smith

UCC 2003

Minutes from the 11/06/2003 meeting of the University Curriculum Committee.

The Journey Towards Equilibrium: A Phenomenological Study Of The Master Of Social Work (Msw) Student Experience And Interrole Conflict, Nikol Downing

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the phenomenon of interrole conflict for master level social work (MSW) students in the United States. The two theories guiding this study are role theory and theory of self-care. Role theory allowed a framework for what interrole conflict is and how it impacts individuals who experience it. Understanding role conflict aided in understanding the experience of MSW students during their academic journey. Theory of self- care allowed a framework for understanding how self-care can combat some of the negative results of interrole conflict such as burnout or secondary traumatic stress. This …

Challenges Of Virtual Rds For Recruitment Of Sexual Minority Women For A Behavioral Health Study, Deirdre Middleton, Laurie A. Drabble, Deborah Krug, Katherine J. Karriker-Jaffe, Amy A. Mericle, Tonda L. Hughes, Ronaldo Iachan, Karen F. Trocki

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is an approach commonly used to recruit nonprobability samples of rare and hard-to-find populations. The purpose of this study was to explore the utility of phone- and web-based RDS methodology to sample sexual minority women (SMW) for participation in a telephone survey. Key features included (i) utilizing a national probability survey sample to select seeds; (ii) web-based recruitment with emailed coupons; and (iii) virtual processes for orienting, screening, and scheduling potential participants for computer-assisted telephone interviews. Rather than resulting in a large diverse sample of SMW, only a small group of randomly selected women completed the survey …

Examining Perceived Effects Of Same-Sex Marriage Legalization Among Sexual Minority Women: Identifying Demographic Differences And Factors Related To Alcohol Use Disorder, Depression, And Self-Perceived Health, Laurie A. Drabble, Amy A. Mericle, Cat Munroe, Angie R. Wootton, Karen F. Trocki, Tonda L. Hughes

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Introduction

Reductions in structural stigmas, such as gaining access to legalized same-sex marriage, are associated with positive psychological and physical health outcomes among sexual minorities. However, these positive outcomes may be less robust among sexual minority women (SMW).

Methods

This study examined how perceptions of the impact of legalized same-sex marriage among SMW may (1) differ by demographic characteristics and (2) predict alcohol use disorder, depression, and self-perceived health. A diverse sample of SMW (N=446) completed an online survey in 2020 assessing the perceived impact of legalized same-sex marriage across six social-ecological domains: (1) personal impact, (2) stigma-related …

The Intersection Of Child Welfare Services And Public Assistance: An Analysis Of Dual-System Involvement And Successful Family Preservation Completion On A Maltreatment Re-Report, James David Simon, Amy D'Andrade, Hsun Ta Hsu

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Families involved in child welfare services (CWS) and public social services simultaneously, known as dual-system families, have been shown to be at higher risk for repeat child abuse and neglect compared to CWS-only families, yet few studies have examined these families’ characteristics and whether programs like Family Preservation (FP) might help protect their children from a re-report to CPS. Using administrative data on families receiving FP between January 2013 and December 2014 (including a subset of dual-system families), we examined the effect of demographic characteristics and successful FP completion on a maltreatment re-report between 2013 and 2017. Dual-system families differed …

Responding To The Call: Building A Training Program To Diversify The Academy In Alzheimer's Disease Research, Lucy Annang Ingram Phd, Mph, Marvella E. Ford, Christiana L. Johnson, Brianna Ashford-Carroll, Quentun Mccollum, Daniela B. Friedman Ph.D., Sue Ellen Levkoff

Faculty and Staff Publications

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are at the forefront of the United States (US) public health agenda due to their tremendous human and financial burden. Further, disproportionately high ADRD rates among racial/ethnic minorities require incorporating the unique perspectives of racially and ethnically diverse scientists, which will necessitate diversifying the scientific workforce that investigates disparities in aging. The purpose of this paper is to describe the training and mentorship initiatives of the National Institute on Aging (NIA)-funded Carolina Center on Alzheimer's Disease and Minority Research, emphasizing lessons learned from our engagement with underrepresented minority and minoritized (URM) Scientists. We highlight …

Measuring The Impact Of Legal Recognition Of Same-Sex Marriage Among Sexual Minority Women, Laurie A. Drabble, Amy A. Mericle, Angie R. Wootton, Cat Munroe, Libo Li, Karen F. Trocki, Tonda Hughes

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Reductions in structural stigma, such as gaining access to legalized same-sex marriage, is associated with positive psychological and physical health outcomes among sexual minority adults. However, these positive outcomes may be less robust among sexual minority women (SMW; e.g., lesbian, bisexual, queer) than sexual minority men and new measures are needed to develop a more nuanced understanding of the impact of affirming policies on the health and well-being of SMW. This study assessed the psychometric properties of measures developed to assess the psychosocial impacts of legalized same-sex marriage on the lives of SMW. Participants (N = 446) completed an online …

Embracing Entrepreneurship, Naomy Sengebwila, Naomy Nyendwa Sengebwila

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

Embracing Entrepreneurship

How Christian Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship can Lead to Sustainable Communities in Zambia and Globally

Embracing Entrepreneurship

A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Perkins School of Theology Southern Methodist University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Ministry by

Name of Student

Naomy Nyendwa Sengebwila

Name of Student: Naomy Nyendwa Sengebwila

Date: 03/31/2021

How Christian Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Can Lead to Sustainable Communities in Zambia and globally

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …

“I’M Not Dark, I’M Not Light… I’M Medium!”: The Colorism Experiences Of Adolescent African American Girls, Maya Williams

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

While colorism scholars often discuss the effects of skin tone bias on the lives of African American adults, Black youth are understudied. This mixed methods study analyzes the impacts skin tone bias and colorism have on African American girls’ self-concept, impression formation, affiliation with others, attraction to others, and interaction with their environment. This paper proposes a conceptual model that integrates four theoretical models (i.e., critical race theory, intersectionality theory, social identity theory, and skin tone theoretical model) to frame this research. Participants in this study range from ages 11-14 and attend school in Missouri. N=60 girls completed the quantitative …

Stress, Alcohol Use, And Punitive Parenting During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jennifer Price Wolf, Bridget Freisthler, Caileigh Chadwick

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background
Emerging research suggests that parents are experiencing heightened stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parental stress is a risk factor for harsh or punitive parenting, and this association may be exacerbated by the use of alcohol.
Objective
We examine whether parental stress is associated with use of punitive parenting, as well as whether this association is modified by drinking pattern.
Participants & setting
We used advertisements and word-of-mouth to recruit 342 parents living in Central Ohio during the initial stay-at-home order for COVID-19.
Methods
We used geographic ecological momentary assessment (gEMA) to measure parental stress and punitive parenting during three …

Perceived Psychosocial Impacts Of Legalized Same-Sex Marriage: A Scoping Review Of Sexual Minority Adults’ Experiences, Laurie A. Drabble, Angie R. Wootton, Cindy B. Veldhuis, Ellen D.B. Riggle, Sharon S. Rostosky, Pamela J. Lannutti, Kimberly F. Balsam, Tonda L. Hughes

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

A growing body of literature provides important insights into the meaning and impact of the right to marry a same-sex partner among sexual minority people. We conducted a scoping review to 1) identify and describe the psychosocial impacts of equal marriage rights among sexual minority adults, and 2) explore sexual minority women (SMW) perceptions of equal marriage rights and whether psychosocial impacts differ by sex. Using Arksey and O’Malley’s framework we reviewed peer-reviewed English-language publications from 2000 through 2019. We searched six databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, JSTOR, and Sociological Abstracts) to identify English language, peer-reviewed journal articles …

Recognizing Child Abuse In The Classroom, Carolina Cervantes, Nancy Garcia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify educators’ perceptions of Mandated Reporting Training. This study used a quantitative design with 88 participants from Southern California. Child abuse can impact a child’s life severely and may even cause death in extreme situations. Child Protection Services receives millions of child abuse allegations every year. Abuse continues to be underreported despite state regulations that require teachers to complete the Mandated Reporter Training. Professionals in the educational field believe this training is insufficient as it is only taken once a year and does not provide enough information to report and identify abuse. This …

The Perception Of Social Work Students On Elderly Abuse, Fatima Guadalupe Graciano, Melinda Cholico

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perception of elderly abuse among the social work students. The research study explored students understanding of different types of abuse among the elderly. The exploratory research project utilized a qualitative approach that consisted of one-to-one zoom interviews using open-ended questions to obtain information about the students’ insight, feelings, and experiences on the topic of elder abuse. The study sample consisted of five participants of an MSW program. Zoom interviews were conducted, audio-recorded, and were transcribed for analysis. The research findings show that students who have experience working with older adults or …

Understanding The Relationship Between Academic Burnout And Field Practicum Satisfaction, Maria Luisa Ramirez, Victoria Jakaub

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Burnout is a topic of significant consideration in social work. The present study intended to generate findings to address the student burnout phenomenon and offer suggestive means for advancing social work practice through mediating factors. The research followed a descriptive quantitative study design that focused on investigating the relationship between academic burnout among MSW and BASW students and field practicum satisfaction. Self-administered surveys were administered using the Qualtrics system, and the statistical analysis was conducted using SPPS version 21. Findings indicated a moderate-high burnout effect among MSW and BASW students with a positive association with age and a decreased satisfaction …

Supporting Those With Mental Health Diagnoses: An Evidence-Based Practice Guide For Social Work Practitioners, Kimberlie Lassen-Johnson

Evidence-Based Social Work Practice Guide Series

An evidence-based practice guide that explores 5 ways for the general public to support those with mental health and mental health diagnoses. These 5 topics consist of getting to know people with mental health diagnoses, practicing wise mind, re-evaluating your values, establishing boundaries, and challenging your negative thinking.

Parenting In Poor Health: Examining Associations Between Parental Health, Prescription Drug Use, And Child Maltreatment, Jennifer Price Wolf, Bridget Freisthler, Karla Shockley Mccarthy

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Rationale
Child maltreatment and problematic parenting are related to negative outcomes for children. Poor parental health could be a risk factor for problematic parenting through several mechanisms: 1) inadequate emotional regulation and coping; 2) impairment of parental capacity; and, 3) impairment of the parent-child relationship.
Objective
This study examines relationships between self-rated parental health, prescription drug use, and a broad array of negative parenting outcomes.
Methods
A sample of general population parents of children aged ten and younger was recruited from 30 mid-sized cities in California (n = 681). Weighted mixed-effects negative binomial and logistic regression models were used to …