Digital Commons Network^™

Prevent Recidivism In Charles County, Maryland, Erin L. Gormley

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal: The goal of this social change portfolio is to prevent recidivism by offering a six-month life skills group at the local Health Department in Charles County, Maryland. The long-term goal of this prevention program is to reduce recidivism in Charles County by 5% in one year.

Significant Findings: Charles County, is a populous county in the State of Maryland with limited resources for adults with arrest records related to substance abuse. There are currently no long-term structural or prevention programs to assist with reintegration. The recidivism rate in the State of Maryland is near fifty percent (Maryland.gov, 2020). The …

Post-Partum Depression In Low-Income Hispanic Women In Bexar County, Texas, Emily Johnson

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this prevention program is to prevent post-partum depression (PPD) among Hispanic women in Bexar County, Texas. To aid in achieving this goal, I will offer low-cost psychoeducation counseling groups that run for 16 weeks per session to educate pregnant, low-income mothers about the signs and symptoms of PPD. These groups will also teach coping skills to help combat the symptoms of PPD. I will also offer a free workshop at a local community center that teaches mothers how to recognize the signs of PPD and introduce the group counseling classes. This project will track public …

Pornography A Public Health Crisis In Utah, Candace A. Green

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal is to reduce Utah’s teenage pornography consumption by 25% through the implementation of an in-home program where parents and guardians can learn communication skills, teach their children about the risk factors and dangers of pornography addiction, and apply prevention strategies and protective measures in their own home.

Significant Findings: Pornography use is more prevalent now than at any other time in history. Much of this can be attributed to our cell phones and the 24-hour internet access we have at our fingertips which makes viewing sexually explicit material a few seconds away at all times. Utah …

Increasing Awareness Of Sexually Transmitted Infections In Adolescents And Sexual Minorities, Carrington Kaiser

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: My goal is to reduce the transmission of sexually transmitted infections in adolescents and sexual minorities by increasing access to contraceptives, STI testing, and comprehensive sexual health education.

Significant Findings: The population addressed in this paper is adolescents and LGBTQ+ youth. Indiana is not required by law to teach sexual health education, let alone comprehensive and medically accurate information (Siecus, 2021). Sexual orientation and gender identities are not required in sex education even though men who have sex with men have the highest risk for STIs (Siecus, 2021; Blackwell, 2018). According to the Center for Disease Control and …

Increase Awareness Of Adolescent Depression And Suicidal Ideations In Orleans County, Vermont, Nicole Corbett

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: Collaborate with Vermont SPC and NAMI chapter of Vermont as well as school behavior team and school-based clinicians to implement a mental health /suicide prevention program for the local middle school and high school to be implemented during the 2022-2023 school year with a minimum of four contacts/events.

Significant Findings: This social change portfolio was developed to increase awareness of the mental health needs of adolescents in Orleans County, Vermont, and to investigate the next steps in building a prevention program to support this population. Adolescent depression and suicidal ideation affect the lives of over a quarter of …

The Pathology Of Ideology: Authoritarian Leadership In Science Fiction Film, Kimberly Yost

Interdisciplinary Journal of Leadership Studies

This article explores ways in which selected science fiction visual narratives depict white male privilege as a pathology affecting social systems and how those who are marginalized, oppressed, and traumatized in these dystopic social systems choose violence to overcome the authoritarian leaders.

Empowering Young Adult Women Through Female Role Models In The Old Testament, Jean B. Bingham, Barbara Morgan Gardner

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

The following is Barbara Morgan Gardner’s interview of President Jean B. Bingham about women in the Old Testament and young adult women today.

Barbara: What do you remember about teaching the Old Testament as an early-morning seminary teacher?

A Seat At The Table: Visioning Social Work’S Leadership Future, Lucas Hall

DSW Capstone Projects

This capstone focuses on the history of social work leadership, current trends in social work leadership, what is lacking and where we can go in the future. The systematic literature review was focuses on what is in the literature as it relates to social work leadership preparation. The conceptual paper proposes the creation of social work leadership fellowships and certification programs. Finally, the practice application paper is the full realization of the first two papers. A solution to the crisis of a lack of social work leadership preparation is proposed and fully fleshed out. The solution being the full-scale implementation …

Back To Basics: Re-Envisioning Job Satisfaction Through Social Work-Strengths-Based Leadership, Mary Mcdaniel

DSW Capstone Projects

Social work job satisfaction is a pressing concern, becoming even more dire, in times of depleted social work workforces like experienced in Kentucky in 2021 or during an overall depleted workforce like experienced nationally due to The Great Resignation labor trend of 2022. Over recent years, it has become evident social workers and social service workers are less willing to settle for employment experiences and work environments of high stress, exhaustion, and frustration. Instead, social workers’ work expectations are changing, with social workers looking for positive work experiences such as workplaces which promote wellness, self-care, work-life balance, flexibility, and professional …

Black Youth Are Suffering In Silence: Advancing Social Work Education To Better Address The Mental Health Of African American Youth., Alicia Dawson

DSW Capstone Projects

African American youth’s rates of major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicide have increased in the last three years due to COVID-19 and national social injustices. African American students who seek help at school are less likely to receive adequate treatment from school social workers. Mental health care for African American students should be available, and those services must be effective. African American youth continue to suffer in silence when school social workers lack African-centered conceptual teaching and therapeutic skills. Current social work education curriculums contribute to 'Whiteness,' which influences future social workers to carry biases and …

Adding Value: Off-Roading To Rethink The Needs Of Graduate Student Emerging Scholars, Donna Harp Ziegenfuss

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2019

No abstract provided.

The Classic, Winter 2022, Public Relations

The Classic, 2020-present

Zwemer View: Sabbatical Reflections; around the Green: First PA Grads Begin Careers; In Box; Summer Study; Hired!; Students on a Mission; Campus Life: Dramatic Experiences; New Academic Programs; A New High; Ranking Success; Handyman; Sounding Good; Face Value: Kendall Stanislav; Summer Opportunities; Moving Music; Giving to Northwestern College in 2021-22; Legendary Raiders: Nine faculty and staff give 231 years to Northwestern; Called to Serve; Disciple Maker; Biology's Backbone; Resourceful; Willing Spirit; Bridge Builder; Truth Seeker; Paying It Forward; Adding It Up; Teacher as Servant; Esteemed Educator; Standouts; Servant-Leadership Amid Challenges; Music for the Hurting; Red Zone: Strong and Courageous; Leave …

Tap ‘Follow’ #Fitfam: A Process Of Social Media Microcelebrity, Dominic G. Morais, Florian Hemme, Camille Reyes

School of Business Faculty Research

The practice of microcelebrity in social media has become part of the internet’s mainstream, and has led to the rise of influencers–trusted tastemakers in an industry niche–who are playing increasingly larger cultural and economic roles. Scholars have examined this topic since Senft introduced it in 2001, shedding light on strategies and practices of popular influencers, as well as the cultural milieu contributing to microcelebrity practices. Missing from the literature, however, is an explanation of how these popular microcelebrities reached their social media influencer status. Thus, through phenomenological interviews with 24 participants in multiple areas of the fitness sector, this study …

Mirabile Dictu: Newsletter Of The Bryn Mawr College Libraries

Mirabile Dictu: Newsletter of the Bryn Mawr College Libraries

No abstract provided.

Mentoring Novice Special Education Teachers: A Case Study Of Educative Mentors’ Perceptions, Sherry L. Bochenek

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Special education continues to be plagued with a shortage of qualified special education teachers (SETs). Novice SETs in their beginning years often do not have individualized mentoring support to grow as educators. However, educative mentors can provide scaffolded support and learning opportunities for novice SETs to develop their teaching practice. This case study examined perceptions of two educative mentors on what knowledge and skills are required to support novice SETs when solving problems of practice. Three main findings emerged: a) mentors should foster the development of novice SETs’ self-reflection skills, b) mentors should have content knowledge which includes instructional strategies …

Representations And Perceptions Of Sexual Pleasure In Undergraduate Anatomy And Physiology (A&P) Courses, Brenda Kucha Anak Ganeng

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The World Health Organization defines sexual pleasure as an important part of positive sexual experiences and sexual health. Despite its importance, sexual pleasure is often omitted from sexual health programming and curricula. Undergraduate human anatomy and physiology (A&P) courses serve as avenues where students who intend to go into health care learn foundational knowledge about human body systems and health; however, to our knowledge, there has been no documentation of if and how A&P students learn about sexual pleasure. A&P textbooks serve as an important resource for curriculum design and learning. I sought to answer the following research question: How …

School-Based Mental Health Professionals’ Perceptions Of And Role In Disciplinary Practices Related To The School-To-Prison Pipeline, Ashlyn Wingate

Masters Theses

The school-to-prison pipeline is a process in which school children are funneled out of the school system and into the criminal justice system through suspension and expulsion, both forms of exclusionary discipline. Suspension and expulsion are ineffective disciplinary policies that have harmful effects on school children, contributing to grade retention, drop-out, involvement in the juvenile justice system, and higher unemployment and incarceration rates as adults. These damaging practices occur in the presence of school-based mental health professionals (school psychologists, school social workers, and school counselors) who are trained to promote the overall wellbeing and success of school children. In the …

Departments, Schools, Divisions, And Colleges: Organization Of Academic Units In Public Master’S Institutions In The United States, Brent Graves, Brian Cherry

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Local Parish Responses To The Global Laudato Si’ Socio-Ecological Agenda, Anne Jennings

Nulungu Research Papers

In this extraordinary time of multiple, interconnecting crises with compounded costs in social, economic, and environmental degradation, calls for transformative change are emerging from all levels – local to global. Ways people living in regional and remote areas of Australia can apply a global Christian agenda that pursues spiritual and ecological changes within their lives, their parishes and local community, are examined in this paper, the question explored is ‘How can people respond to global challenges and embrace ecological conversion within their local parishes and community?’ Consideration is grounded within Pope Francis’ encyclical (teaching letter) Laudato Si’: On Care for …

“No Matter Where You’Re From, We’Re Glad You’Re Our Neighbor”: Enacting Justice Initiatives And Community Formation In Faith-Based Organizations, Jenna M. Smith

Senior Independent Study Theses

Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) in the United States offer a variety of services and influence social dynamics within their communities, specifically in northeast Ohio. Churches, service agencies, and ministries often pursue immigration advocacy initiatives and ground their work in religious doctrine, using frameworks such as ‘hospitality’ and ‘welcoming the stranger’ to motivate their own initiatives and connect with uninvolved or antagonistic populations. Due to current climates of political polarization and dehumanizing rhetoric in immigration dialogues, this study seeks to analyze the ways in which religious actors define and enact community and explore the contributions of the groups in which they serve. …

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 …

Bolstering Leadership Engagement To Community Coalition Work In Rural Appalachia, Melissa Slone

DSW Capstone Projects

Rural Appalachian communities are overwhelmed with high cancer rates, diabetes, disabilities, and substance use disorder. The challenges in addressing these increase when you factor in workforce shortages and limited funding. The literature documents the effectiveness of coalitions in addressing healthcare challenges within communities. The need is for leaders to reduce their hesitancy to engage in community coalition efforts and increase awareness of the impact community coalitions can have on addressing rural populations' health and well-being needs.

Product One was a systematic review focused on research that examined agency leaders’ perspectives on community coalition involvement. The purpose of conducting the systematic …

Healthcare Equity For Transgender Individuals, Mollie Staggs

DSW Capstone Projects

In the field of social justice and integrity, Social Work has dedicated itself to improving the welfare of the world, in which we all participate and interact. There are countless issues in our society that warrant professional attention for the fundamental purpose of positively impacting the livelihood of subcategories of people. For this particular Capstone Project, the focus is on transgender individuals’ systemic healthcare barriers that cisgender people within the United States do not similarly experience. The purpose is to unveil these disparities to then pose progressive alterations within the healthcare system to make the navigation and accessibility better for …

Children And High Conflict Divorce: Using Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy As Treatment, Ashley Berry

DSW Capstone Projects

The act of divorce has been commonplace throughout the world during the 20^th century, plateauing around the 1970s at around 50% of all marriages. While most divorces end peacefully, many contain ongoing conflict which can become detrimental to all involved, including the children. While historical treatment methods focus on changing the behavior of parents, there are instances where these methods may be ineffective, especially when the parents are unable or unwilling to change their conflictual behaviors. Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP), which has been used with individuals who have suffered from trauma, may be an option to use with this population …

Bolstering The Effectiveness Of Exposure-Response Prevention In The Treatment Of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Using Self-Compassion As An Adjunctive Intervention, Whitney E. Dyer

DSW Capstone Projects

Individuals suffering with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) face many challenges receiving proper diagnostics and evidence-based treatment. Furthermore, Exposure-Response Prevention (ERP), the empirically supported gold standard approach for targeting OCD, presents its own challenges. Examining the influences of ERP treatment reluctance is paramount to bolstering the effectiveness of outcomes and safeguarding participant adherence and ultimate success. This Capstone highlights the overlooking of addressing shame within traditional ERP protocol and posits a practice application model that supports the adjunctive use of self-compassion, a potent antidote for shame, within the use of ERP. As treatment hesitation is an inhibitor to relief for OCD sufferers, …

Meta-Practice For The Bachelor Level: A Needed Compliment To The Generalist Model, Patrick Callahan

DSW Capstone Projects

Meta-practice in this concept is the web or roadmap, that is, the interconnectedness of the three pillars of the generalist model of social work. The generalist model teaches that micro, mezzo, and macro are interconnected. However, students and new professionals often do not understand precisely what the connection is. This work gathers the available literature, the conceptual idea of the introduction for the bachelor level of education, and an application of introducing it in a course for instruction. There is a need for introducing meta-practice at the bachelor’s level because of the continued globalization of society. By teaching the concept …

Neuroleadership A New Burnout Prevention Strategy, Zakery David Sloan

DSW Capstone Projects

This capstone project examines the current state of burnout, prevention strategies, prevalence, and introduces neuroleadership as a new leadership theory to advance burnout prevention among the public human service population. Neuroleadership presents a new conceptualization of leadership practice and burnout prevention method by utilizing neuro-informed leadership practices. This new neuro-informed leadership strategy is explored throughout the three major products of this capstone project including a systematic literature review, conceptual paper, and practice application paper.

The first product completed was a systematic literature review. This literature review included a total of 13 articles which were used to answer the research question, …

Defining Posttraumatic Stress In Law Enforcement: Normalizing Trauma Response, Britta D. Caudill

DSW Capstone Projects

Significant inequalities exist within the expectations of police officers regarding trauma exposure and the lack of mental health preventive efforts and treatment opportunities. The prevalence of stigma thrives within the thought process of this culture paired with the expectation for resiliency, as police culture focuses on the ability to repress emotion instead of utilizing appropriate coping methods. This review takes an interesting look at the history, definition, and diagnostic criteria of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by focusing on its evolution within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) over time. The primary goal is to establish a relationship between the definition …

Postpartum Depression: Mitigating Treatment Barriers For Women In Appalachia, Tabitha Simpson

DSW Capstone Projects

This capstone focuses on maternal mental needs, specifically postpartum care and postpartum depression. Each article in this capstone centers on postpartum depression, treatment barriers, introducing standard care of practice for women in rural communities, and identifying gaps leading to further research in postpartum education. Countless articles were read and utilized in conducting the systematic literature review to begin this process.

The first article in the capstone, the Systematic literature review, details the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression and how it differs from a major depressive disorder. A thorough review of the literature was conducted, identifying the central concern of …

Good Trouble: Disrupting The Disproportionality Of Black Boys In Special Education Due To Misdiagnosed And Unaddressed Trauma, Montrell Pryor

DSW Capstone Projects

Black boys experience a myriad of trauma as they navigate through society under the gaze of white patriarchy and archetypes. Whether engaging in trauma or witnessing it, it impacts Black boys tremendously, particularly in the educational setting. What typically looks like misbehavior in the classroom can be symptoms of unaddressed and untreated trauma that have been triggered and exacerbated in the school setting. As a result, this phenomenon contributes to the disproportionality of Black boys in special education and adds to the expansion of the school-to-prison pipeline.

This capstone provides a thorough examination of the literature in the form of …