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Hss 295, Juline A. Koken

Open Educational Resources

This syllabus contains links to existing OER materials as well as additonal readings for our HSS 295 Community Organizing class.

Table Of Contents, Editorial Board, Law School Faculty And Administration

Nevada Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Rehumanizing Reintegration: Intensive Case Management Effectively Supporting Community Re-Entry Post Incarceration In Canada, Sheena Brown, Ardavan Eizadirad

Education Faculty Publications

This article examines the effectiveness of intensive case management (ICM) as a rehumanizing framework for supporting racialized individuals transitioning from incarceration to community re-entry in Canada. The study focuses on the Prosper program delivered by the community organization Amadeusz (learn more at https://amadeusz.ca/home), which provides culturally responsive, relationship-centered supports for individuals facing firearm-related charges. Guided by Critical Race Theory and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies, two focus groups with six racialized female caseworkers were conducted alongside examining archival interviews and program evaluation data. Thematic analysis identified three interconnected dimensions of effective reintegration practice: (1) building trust through relational accountability, (2) integrating culturally …

Strengthening School Social Work: Improving Student Outcomes Through Stronger Support Systems, Kaitlyn Dailey, Faridah Kassim, Rhaleecia Rahming, Angela Soto

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

School social workers are essential to student well-being and academic success, yet current caseloads and unclear role expectations prevent them from providing effective, evidence-based support. School social workers improve graduation rates, reduce behavioral challenges, and strengthen school engagement, but only when staffing levels and role clarity allow them to work within their professional scope. Without policy action, Minnesota schools will continue to rely on crisis-driven models that leave students without early intervention and place social workers at high risk for burnout. Rural districts will face even greater inequities, as many students already depend on schools as their only access point …

No Community Left Behind: Investing In Mental Health Service Access In Rural Minnesota, Keaton Anderson, Madison Demars, Trisha Graves-Petron, Cheyenne Munoz

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

Much of Minnesota has a shortage of mental health providers due to specific problems around graduating workers, recruiting them and keeping them once they are hired. Lower salaries, older population bases, and inconsistent healthcare coverage all contribute to the shortage of providers in rural areas. Long distances between mental health facilities and stigma in mental health care exacerbate the shortage. More than 1.2 million Minnesotans live in rural communities and of those at least 25% do not have access to reliable broadband internet. Rural areas face significant behavioral health workforce shortages, as seen in Figure 1. Minnesota needs to invest …

Accountability For Unlawful Actions By Ice In Minnesota, Luisalfredo Garcia, Ore-Ofe Oluwajobi, Gabriela Passmore, Mariah Wabasha

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

Immigration enforcement actions have escalated since December 2025 under “Operation Metro Surge”, with deployment of 4,000 ICE agents to the Twin Cities and rural Minnesota. ICE occupation within Minnesota has included an unprecedented number of people, both documented and undocumented, who have been detained by ICE agents and unlawful actions by ICE. With federal agents disregarding constitutional laws and human rights, there has not been legal accountability or consequences for the traumatic incidents inflicted on Minnesota by Department of Homeland Security. Policy oversight must be implemented to ensure proper accountability for illegal or unjust actions.

County Funding Matters To Ensure Families Stay Together: Minnesota African American Family Preservation And Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (Maafpcwda), Jessica Dewar, Taryn Dolan, Destiny Fairbanks, Christina Albers

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

African American children remain disproportionately represented at every stage of Minnesota’s child welfare system, including reports, investigations, and out-of-home placements. Although the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act was designed to address these inequities through active efforts and family preservation, many county agencies lack the staffing, training, and resources necessary to fully implement the policy. Without additional investment in counties, the goals of the Act cannot be fully realized.

Adaptation And Initial Validation Of The U.S. Census Multidimensional Deprivation Index For Resettled Afghans, Mitra Naseh, Saria Bechara, Yingying Zeng, Jihye Lee, Miriam Potocky

Forced Migration Initiative

This working paper describes the adaptation, pilot testing, and initial validation of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Multidimensional Deprivation Index (MDI) for use among resettled Afghan refugees. The adaptation process included a scoping review, a qualitative descriptive study, and consultation with a community advisory board. The adapted index was subsequently pilot tested among 336 resettled Afghan households in the United States. Results indicate high rates of deprivation across all seven domains of the adapted MDI. Notably, employment and career mobility domain showed limited association with other domains, confirming the emerging evidence that employment alone no longer could be an indicator of …

Stop Ice: A Call For Accountability, Em Hodge, Kathryn Petzel, Elizabeth Spiegelhoff, Zoe Wetzel

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

Since the beginning of the second Trump Administration in 2025, Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) has increased their activity in conducting operations to deport immigrants and citizens. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recorded nearly 220,000 arrests from October 15th, 2025, through January 20th, 2026. The types of people being detained have almost exclusively been people with no criminal conviction (96.9%) compared to those with a criminal conviction (3.1%). With the increased deportations and killings of citizens such as Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by the hands of ICE officers in Minnesota, action, protections, and accountability is needed more than …

Dyadic Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia Outcomes For Mothers And Their Children: Long-Term Follow-Up Of A Randomized Controlled Trial Of Brief Parenting Interventions, Abigail Sullivan, Sophia Eisenberg Garcia, Maria Kinsey, Komal Brown, Rong Bai, Melissa Mcternan, Seth J. Scholer, Ron Prinz, Julia Fleckman, Stacy Drury, Catherine A. Taylor

Student Publications [Scholarly]

This study was part of a longitudinal follow-up of a 3-armed randomized controlled trial designed to test the effects of two brief parenting interventions, Play Nicely (PN) and Triple P-Level 2 (TP2), to a usual care control on parenting outcomes. Female caregivers with an identified index child (Mage = 3.7 years, standard deviation [SD] = 1.7) were recruited through women, infants, and children (WIC) clinics in the greater New Orleans region. At a long-term (Myears = 5 years, SD = 0.9) follow-up assessment, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) was assessed for a subset of these mother–child dyads during three dyadic interaction …

Time Out For Transfer: Youth Transfer As Punishment, Kristina Kersey

Nevada Law Journal

The confidentiality of the juvenile court, while laudable in protection of the children charged, often means that people, in general, have little understanding of the inner workings of the court. One of the opaquest practices in juvenile court is how, when, and under which circumstances youth are prosecuted as adults. The cases that do reach the headlines are the most salacious, which leads to a confirmation bias on both the need and the appropriateness of the practice of transfer.

Many scholars have discussed the undeniable impact of adolescent development research on juvenile legal jurisprudence and a general reimaging of diminished …

Religious Higher Education Institutions In Ukraine: The Evolution Of The Problem And The Collision Of The "Secular–Religious" Dichotomy, Serhii Kostiuchkov, Vadym Slyusar, Lesya Chervona, Mykola Slyusar

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article is devoted to institutional, legislative, philosophical and communicative analysis of the activities of religious higher education institutions in modern Ukraine, taking into account political, social, legal, religious and communicative contexts. The authors examine the demand for religious education in modern Ukraine, which demonstrates high internal dynamics and promising prospects for the development of the domestic religious educational space. It is emphasised that the functioning of religious higher education institutions in Ukraine is regulated by the principle of constitutional separation of education from religion, while at the same time basic legal norms create specific conditions for the functioning of …

March 2026 Library & Learning Newsletter, Minnesota State University, Mankato. Library & Learning Dean’S Office Communications Team

Library & Learning Newsletters

PDF version of the March 2026 (Volume 4, Issue 8) Library & Learning Newsletter.

Development And Evaluation Of The Interdisciplinary Graduate-Level Experiential Global Aging Education Program In The United States: A Case Of The Gerontology In Japan Course, Takashi Yamashita, Flavius R W Lilly, Diane B. Martin, Mio Kamijo

Journal of Global Education and Research

The cultural competence of the workforce is increasingly important due to global population aging and the growing diversity of the older population. Experiential learning, particularly through study abroad programs, is a known strategy to enhance these competencies; yet such training remains uncommon in higher education, especially at the graduate level. While the United States is currently a relatively young country with 17% of its population aged 65 years and older, the percentage is projected to increase to more than 21% by the end of this decade. Recognizing the value of learning from a super-aged society, a two-week study abroad course …

Building Connections With Graduate Students Through Credit-Bearing Instruction, Michelle Desilets, Kimberly Pendell

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

Graduate students often need support with research skills and other professional development that is under-recognized by their programs. Librarians play a key role in helping students fill in these gaps. This case study reviews student feedback on a librarian-developed and -delivered credit-bearing course. The course, Library Research and Scholarly Communication Fundamentals, is offered to graduate students across all disciplines. The curriculum is flexible and applicable to each student’s research, covering topics such as researching literature, citation and data management, and publishing in scholarly journals. The course has generated positive and constructive feedback from students, encompassing themes of self-efficacy, improved research …

Implementation And Outcomes Of The Men Of Strength (Most) Club, Marni Kan, Ashley N. Lowe, Jason Williams, Cheryl Roberts, Katherine Suellentrop, Nichole M. Scaglione

Journal of Youth Development

Evidence is lacking for positive youth development programs for boys that use gender transformative approaches and promote peer leadership to prevent sexual violence and teen dating violence. This study aimed to address gaps in violence prevention research and youth development practice by evaluating implementation and outcomes of the Men of Strength (MOST) Club. Sixteen high schools were randomized to MOST Club or a control condition and 60 boys from nine of the schools completed baseline and follow-up surveys. Trained program facilitators completed logs after each session. Although the COVID-19 pandemic interfered with both program implementation and data collection, MOST Clubs …

Simulation Culture And Organizational Readiness In Social Work Education: Examining Faculty Perspectives., Kate Whitney

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

Despite the growing emphasis on simulation-based learning (SBL), faculty perceptions of organizational readiness for this approach in social work education remain understudied. This exploratory mixed-methods study examined faculty readiness across two CSWE-accredited programs using the Simulation Culture Organizational Readiness Scale (SCORS) and qualitative open-ended questions (𝑁=21). Findings revealed modest and uneven readiness across both programs, with full-time faculty reporting significantly lower readiness scores than adjunct and part-time faculty. Qualitative data identified critical needs for foundational dialogue on SBL principles, strategic institutional investment, and targeted faculty development. Participants also expressed concerns regarding the pace of adoption and potential conflicts with the …

Substance Use Stigma: Examining The Role Of Social Work Education., Eboni Burton

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

This study explored the extent of substance use related stigma among social work students and professionals (i.e., BSW, MSW, PHD and DSW) and its relationship to specialized education/training in substance use and professional practice with people who use drugs (PWUD)/live with a substance use disorder (PWSUD). Stigma was measured using the Opening Minds Provider Attitudes Toward Opioid Use Scale and the Medical Condition Regard Scale. The final sample size was 263. Results indicate that current enrollment in a social work program, post degree or non-curriculum related substance use related training, and personal and professional experience with substance use specifically, mitigate …

Emergency Department Boarding For Psychiatric Care: The Effect Of Pointclickcare Integration., Chris Rowan

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

Emergency Department Boarding for Psychiatric Care: The Effect of PointClickCare Integration

Abstract

For many individuals in psychiatric crisis, the emergency department has become the first place to seek help, highlighting gaps in how behavioral health care is accessed and coordinated. In Massachusetts, PointClickCare's Behavioral Health Treatment and Referral Platform (BH TRP) was implemented to centralize and streamline referrals between emergency departments and inpatient psychiatric facilities. This capstone evaluates whether implementation of the BH TRP was associated with changes in psychiatric boarding time at a community hospital emergency department. Using a mixed-methods program evaluation design, this study analyzed de-identified electronic medical …

The Unexplored Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Burnout, And Resiliency Among Hospital Staff., Elizabeth Davis

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

This study addresses the critical issue of staff turnover at Baptist Health Floyd, where rates exceed national hospital averages. While prior research connects burnout to workplace stressors, less is known about the role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and resilience among hospital staff. Understanding these relationships is essential for improving workforce stability and patient care outcomes. A cross-sectional survey design was used, with convenience sampling of hospital employees and providers (n=207). Data were collected via a Qualtrics survey using validated instruments: the Maslach Burnout Inventory (Maslach et al., 2016), the ACE questionnaire (Felitti et al., 1998), and the Brief Resilience …

Youth Development Opportunities Among Sexual/Gender Minoritized Youth: Who Is Left Out?, Amy L. Gower Ph.D., Ben Parchem, G. Nic Rider, Hana-May Eadeh, Ryan Watson, Samantha E. Lawrence, Stephen Russell, De'shay Thomas, Marla E. Eisenberg

Journal of Youth Development

Youth development opportunities promote health and wellbeing across adolescence. However, scholars have increasingly questioned whether these programs are relevant to and meet the needs of youth with minoritized identities. Using an intersectionality lens, 2022 Minnesota Student Survey data from 8th, 9th, and 11th graders who indicated a minoritized sexual and/or gender identity (N=24,400) were analyzed using exhaustive Chi-square automatic interaction detection to understand how youth’s racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender identities and grade contributed to engagement in youth development opportunities. Mean youth development opportunity scores were lowest among youth with multiple minoritized identities, particularly transgender and gender diverse youth of …

Community-Based Programming And Ecological Resilience In Vulnerable Youth: A Mixed Methods Study, Alicia Mcvarnock, Leanna M. Closson, Meg Ternes, Nichole L. Cole

Journal of Youth Development

This exploratory sequential mixed-methods study aimed to provide a deeper understanding regarding ecological resilience theory among adolescents and emerging adults engaged in community-based programming. Phase 1 participants were 18 Leave Out Violence Nova Scotia Youth Leaders and alumni aged 16 to 31 (M_age = 24.28, SD = 3.75; n = 10 female). Semi-structured interviews were used to examine participants’ past and present experiences with Leave Out Violence Nova Scotia, with a focus on perceptions of resilience in their lives. Results were analyzed through mixed (inductive and deductive) thematic analysis. In Phase 2, a focus group assisted in developing a …

Love, Support, Good Vibes: Unconditional Positive Regard And Lgbtqia+ Youth After-School Stories, M V. Pease, Maggie Brooks, Wilson Lazo-Salmeron, Ayushi Sarkar, Halle Ho-Yee Shen, Sharon Colvin

Journal of Youth Development

LGBTQIA+ youth face high rates of identity rejection and bullying, creating an urgent need for support and affirmation within oppressive societal structures. School environments can uniquely support LGBTQIA+ youth through after-school programming designed to provide positive community experiences. Using qualitative thematic analysis of personal stories from LGBTQIA+ youth (N=94), we examined what LGBTQIA+ youth envision as ideal support within after-school programming. Our analyses, informed by humanistic psychology principles, revealed eight major themes: good vibes, compassion and empathy, non-judgment and acceptance, multidimensional human connection, safety, proxy for home/family, adults and mentors, and altruism. Results indicate the need for warmth, safety, connection, …

From “Scared” To “Empowered”: Lived Experience Of Out-Of-School Youth In The Philippines, Sheilalaine G. Romulo

Journal of Youth Development

In the Philippines, marginalized youth (e.g. out-of-school) are mostly excluded from civic engagement. This study explores how 5 young Filipino leaders, once out-of-school, navigated a community-based alliance with adults. The lifeworld of these young leaders is accessed through a phenomenological interview guided by Max van Manen’s phenomenological method. Their lived experience tells a transformative journey of being scared youth to becoming empowered young leaders who have found their voice after overcoming insecurities, fear of exclusion, and being misunderstood. It can also be gleaned from their lived experience how the adult partners may have contributed to their transformation. This article recommends …

Scoping Review: Facilitators, Barriers, And Cultural Adaptations In The Caregiver Skills Training Program For Children With Developmental Concerns, Cecilia Montiel-Nava, Maria C. Montenegro, Ana C. Ramirez, Victoria Villarreal, Lucia Murillo Chacko, Pamela Dixon, Sarah Dababnah

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Autism interventions are predominantly developed in high-income countries, limiting access for families in low- and middle-income countries due to systemic, cultural, and logistical barriers. The Caregiver Skills Training program aims to address this disparity by equipping caregivers with practical skills. This scoping review examines the cultural adaptations, facilitators, and barriers to the implementation of Caregiver Skills Training, focusing on its accessibility, feasibility, and acceptability. A comprehensive search of ERIC, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science identified eligible studies that reported cultural or linguistic adaptations of Caregiver Skills Training. Forward searches and manual reference checks supplemented the review. Data were extracted …

Preferences For Game-Based Elements To Increase Preexposure Prophylaxis And Hiv Prevention Engagement Among Latino Men Who Have Sex With Men: South Florida, 2022, Lacey Despres, Edda Rodriguez, Ross Shegog, Stephanie Diez, Susanne Doblecki-Lewis, Kayo Fujimoto, Suzanne Randolph Cunningham, Mariano Kanamori

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We explored gaming elements as a tool to promote engagement in HIV prevention services among Latino men who have sex with men. We conducted thematic content analysis of semistructured interview data that we collected from 12 Latino men who have sex with men (April-August 2022) in South Florida. Themes emerged related to intervention delivery, components, and perceptions. Our findings will guide the development of a game-based intervention to improve preexposure prophylaxis and HIV prevention engagement among Latino men who have sex with men.

No-Show Characteristics Of Rural Clients With Mental Health Conditions, Christy R. Collins, Jose Carbajal

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

The purpose of this study is to report demographic characteristics and appointment compliance factors associated with no-show appointments in a rural clinical setting in East Texas. Describing these variables will expand the existing literature and offer greater clarity not only on why appointments are missed, but also on who is missing them. Therefore, understanding how sociodemographic variables relate to missed appointments may enhance appointment adherence and improve healthcare outcomes for individuals. This study used cross-sectional archival data specifically collected to examine missed appointments among clients at a rural clinic (N = 134). The results indicate that Hispanic/Latino individuals, clients aged …

Rural Voices On The Opioid Epidemic In Deep East Texas, Jose Carbajal, H. Stephen Cooper

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

Opioid use is a major concern in the United States. Rural communities face even greater difficulties in addressing opioid use and related challenges. An appreciative inquiry was employed to assess the degree to which the opioid crisis has affected the rural region of Deep East Texas and to develop recommendations for a regional action plan. One hundred and eight participants attended eleven conversation cafés across the region. Response analysis revealed eight primary themes and 11 sub-themes. Community awareness and education are crucial in combating the opioid crisis, as some participants were unaware of the prevalence of prescription opioid abuse in …

Impact Of Femalized Kinesthetic Learning Model On African American Middle School Girls’ Career Interest, Mercy F. Fash, Andrea Ofori-Boadu

Journal of Global Education and Research

Engaging African American middle school girls in out-of-school-time (OST) Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) programs can boost interest in male-dominated AEC careers. This study adopts Lent’s Social Cognitive Career Theory to evaluate the impact of an OST feminized AEC kinesthetic learning model (fAEC-KLM) on the career interests of this demographic. Through a qualitative research approach, fourteen (14) African American middle school girls from Guilford County, NC, completed pre- and post-interviews on how fAEC-KLM interactions influenced their AEC career interests. Inductive thematic analysis was carried out on transcribed interviews. Results show that effective components, such as lectures on AEC, bridge construction …

Letter From The Editor, Damara Goff Paris

JADARA

This letter from the editor provides an overview of the articles and key contributions featured in the current issue. It also highlights opportunities for readers to further engage with the journal by volunteering as manuscript reviewers. In addition, the editor invites members of ADARA to participate in an upcoming workshop focused on publishing and reviewing manuscripts, designed to support professional development and strengthen the scholarly community.