Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Due Process Rights And Litigation Strategies For Homeless Youth Under Federal Law, John A. Salois, Liz Harding Chao

Maine Law Review

Over fifty years after the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, this Article explores the due process rights youth have in shelter and other transitional housing covered under the Act. Further, this Article explores whether youth have a property interest under the Act’s recent reauthorization under the Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act of 2008. This Article also discusses the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act and the due process rights youth have in shelter and other housing options covered under the HEARTH Act’s extensive funding of homeless programs. Additionally, this Article explores litigation strategies that youth and advocates …

The Psychological Impact Of Parenting Child Victims Of Trauma, Stephanie Faulkingham

Dissertations

Abstract

Research indicates that non-offending caregivers of traumatized children (NOC) is a population with an elevated risk for increased levels of depression and anxiety and are an underserved population for mental health services. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine if screening caregivers of traumatized children using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) improves identification of depression and anxiety. Participants of this investigation were individuals enrolled in the Children’s Advocacy Services of Greater St. Louis’ 12-week parenting group, TASK (Trauma, Assessment, Skills, and Knowledge). Each participant was asked to complete the PHQ-8 and …

Truth, Resilience, And Healing: Deepen Understanding Of Native American Federal Boarding School Histories, Toya D. Holiday

Dissertations

Indigenous communities have endured the long-standing impacts of U.S. Federal Indian boarding school policy. The history of Indigenous boarding school policies and the underlying intent to enact cultural genocide is unknown and unacknowledged. The perspectives of Indigenous Peoples have been excluded from dominant narratives, and until recently, from heritage site programming, leading to intergenerational trauma, fragmented identities, and the misrepresentation of Indigenous cultures and experiences. This basic qualitative study asked the question: When the four-truth framework, developed by the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, is applied to U.S. Federal Indian boarding school policy, Native American boarding school history, and …

A Sweetgrass Method Of Bullying Prevention For American Indian/Alaska Native Part 2, M. Standing Eagle Baez Ph.D., C. Allison Baez Ph.D.

Journal of Indigenous Research

Bullying is widespread in the United States. Bullying negatively impacts all youth involved, including those who are bullied, those who bully others, and those who witness bullying, known as bystanders. The Sweetgrass Method (SGM) is a culturally responsive framework that empowers Native and non-Native practitioners working with American Indian/Alaska Native clients. The method focuses on the initial dialogue of building a healthy relationship through self-reflection, communication, and continuity. The SGM looks at weaving Western and traditional approaches into a tailored approach that is culturally responsive to the individuals they serve. The SGM provides a framework by weaving the three strands: …

He’S The Kid That No One Wanted: An Autoethnographic Examination Of Preschool Suspensions And Expulsions From A Mother’S Lens, Lisa M. Smith

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This autoethnographic research examines the personal and professional journey of advocating against preschool suspensions and expulsions through the lens of a Black mother. Titled He’s The Kid That No One Wanted: An Autoethnographic Examination of Preschool Suspensions and Expulsions from a Mother’s Lens, " it dives into the complicated challenges faced while confronting exclusionary disciplinary practices in early childhood education. This research aims to illuminate the societal and institutional roadblocks encountered when navigating systems of power and to explore the impact of these challenges on both personal identity and professional advocacy. Using a blend of social media artifacts and memory …

The Co-Occurrence Of Autism Spectrum Disorder And Aarskog-Scott Syndrome In An Accomplished Young Man, Raisa S Romanova, Oksana I Talantseva, Katerina V Lind, Victoria A Manasevich, Julia E Kuznetsova, Elena L Grigorenko

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives/Background: Aarskog-Scott syndrome (AAS), also known as faciogenital dysplasia, is a rare X-linked genetic disorder primarily characterized by its diverse physical manifestations. Previous evidence suggests a potential association between AAS and neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Methods: This case study presents a male adolescent with ASD and a novel genetic variant in FGD1 underlying AAS. We conducted comprehensive clinical, genetic, and behavioral assessments to characterize the neurodevelopmental presentation. Moreover, we examined the existing literature on AAS and comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders.

Results: The patient demonstrated features consistent with both AAS and ASD, presenting with characteristic physical features of AAS …

Building Supportive Third Places: The Use Of Arts-Based Programming In Family Resource Centers To Promote Resilience And Prevent Maltreatment, E. Susana Mariscal, Bryan Victor

Social Work Faculty Publications

Family Resource Centers (FRCs) have the potential to function as welcoming "third places"-similar to public libraries-that effectively support families while avoiding the stigma often associated with formal interventions. This article explores how arts-based programming can be integrated into FRCs to strengthen family protective factors and healing through non-clinical approaches. We provide an illustrative case example, detailing how federally-funded FRCs in Indiana offered a manualized sequence of A Window Between Worlds (AWBW), a 10-week trauma-informed nonclinical arts program. Facilitated by trained community members, AWBW emphasized safety, peer connection, and creative expression. Our evaluation showed significant reduction in trauma symptoms among caregivers …

Understanding Rural Schools’ Capacity To Learn About Evidence-Based Practices That Promote Youth Mental Health: A Comparative Case Study, Savannah Hobbs, Elaine S. Belansky, Nick Cutforth, Cynthia Hazel

The Rural Educator

Amid growing student mental health concerns, numerous evidence-based practices (EBPs) exist to promote student mental health, but most rural schools do not have these practices in place. Little is known about the organizational capacity of rural schools to learn about and select youth mental health EBPs, or the role research intermediaries can play to support these processes. In this study, 11 middle school staff from three rural school districts participated in surveys and semi-structured interviews to provide information on how schools learn about and select mental health EBPs, related barriers and facilitators, and the role of intermediary support. A semi-structured …

Psychosocial Supports For The Physical And Mental Health Of Youth With Autism And Other Neurodevelopmental Disabilities., Melissa Campbell, Elizabeth Hastings, Paige Mcardle, Darren Olsen, Kathryn Benton, Cy Nadler

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

One in six youth has a neurodevelopmental disability (NDD), and autism diagnostic rates continue to rise. Before and after a diagnosis, families need trusted sources of guidance to navigate co-occurring medical and psychological conditions, and to manage unique stressors including transition to adulthood. However, medical professionals from all specialty areas struggle to identify resources to support the complex psychosocial and healthcare needs of these patients and their families. This primer on psychosocial supports for youth with autism will explore the major mental and physical health stressors faced by affected youth and families, and discuss opportunities for primary care and other …

Constantly Connected: What Healthcare Providers Need To Know About Vicarious Trauma In An Evolving Digitally Connected Global Community., Meghan Kanya, Patricia Davis, Gail Robertson

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Easy access to streaming news and sensational headlines has transformed society's exposure to traumatic narratives. From personal stories on social media platforms to news articles about violence in communities, patients and their caregivers may not recognize their exposure as traumatic nor recognize their psychological sequalae as unhealthy. In addition, youth with trauma-related mental health symptoms are not consistently identified in pediatric primary care clinics. Due to the increase in proximity to traumatic stories, healthcare providers working with youth require additional skills designed to engage patients and families in conversations about exposure to violence via technology and symptoms of vicarious trauma. …

Heat Camps: Juvenile Curfews, Extreme Heat & The Eighth Amendment, Norrinda Brown

Washington and Lee Law Review

For decades, in the summertime, America has confined certain of its youth in what are essentially open-air heat camps. In city after city, camp-form is established through the enactment of warm-weather juvenile curfews which keep the youth at home or in state-sponsored centers during summer nights and, increasingly, during days as well. Local governments justify these curfews with general notions of “public safety,” including to protect the youth they confine. But the laws are not benevolent. Reducing youth mobility by curfew results in exclusion, oversurveillance, and potentially lethal heat punishment of the youth, possibly in violation of the Eighth Amendment. …

Foreword: Children And Constitutions In The Anthropocene Era, Catherine Smith

Washington and Lee Law Review

In Spring 2025, the Washington and Lee Law Review held its Lara D. Gass Symposium, Children and Constitutions in the Anthropocene Era. It consisted of a keynote address by Julia Olson, Co-Executive Director and Chief Legal Counsel of Our Children’s Trust, and three panels: “Children, Climate Change, and State Constitutions”; “The U.S. Constitutions and the Meaning of ‘We the [Young] People’”; and “Youth-Powered Litigation and Global Constitutionalism.” The heavily attended Symposium was a tour-de-force in the field of children’s rights.

As climate chaos mounts, young people around the world are pressing courts to reconceptualize the meaning of liberty, equality, and …

Lgbtqia+ Materials In The Elementary School Library – Examining Purchase And Use: A Mixed Methods Approach, Valerie Byrd Fort

Theses and Dissertations

The need for and importance of diversity in children's literature is well documented, and this study adds to that body of research by addressing LGBTQIA+ materials in elementary school libraries. This mixed-methods study investigates the attitudes, selection, purchasing, and use of LGBTQIA+ materials written for an elementary school age audience by elementary school librarians in U.S. public schools.

Using a national survey distributed electronically to elementary school librarians, quantitative data from 325 participants were collected to examine the extent to which librarians purchase and use LGBTQIA+ materials. Additionally, qualitative insights were obtained through semi-structured interviews with 15 survey respondents, offering …

Anxiety And Depression In Today's Youth: A Current Look Into Assessment And Treatment., Meredith J. Scafe, Meghan Kanya, Meaghan Flynn, Ram Chettiar

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children's Hospital Association declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health. Rates of anxiety and depression in youth continue at unprecedented levels, contributing to rising numbers of suicide attempts and lowered school attendance. Though many medical providers are trained to assess and provide recommendations for anxiety and depression, many report feeling ill-equipped to address these concerns in a timely, feasible, and effective manner. We review the existing literature on screening for anxiety and depression in the medical setting …

Trauma-Informed Training For Early Childhood Educators, Tarah Bryant

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

More students are arriving in the early childhood classroom with trauma. This trauma can lead to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), ADHD and reactive attachment disorder. This leads to early childhood teachers feeling burned out and experiencing secondary trauma. Despite this, early childhood educators are not getting additional training that would help support children who have exposure to trauma. In addition, the training they have received doesn't include classroom strategies or social-emotional materials that would address the uptick in trauma-impacted children. The purpose of this study was to look at the perspectives of early childhood educators when it comes to their …

Chronic Illness Education 2025: Pediatric Depression And Anxiety: Hope Through Healthcare, Andreas Mozny, Arjan Goenaga Castillo, Audrey Millar, Ebony Williams, Griffin Lotze, Haytham Al-Qasmi, Kamontip Jongnarangsin, Tricia Jain

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Washington State Supreme Court Hosts A Call To Justice For Native Tribes, Adam Eisenberg

Articles

In June 2025, the Washington State Supreme Court held a remarkable, first of its kind symposium called, “TÁĆELŚW SIÁM- A Call to Justice for Indigenous Peoples.” TÁĆÁĆELŚW SIÁM- a Salish term for welcoming a respected person–set the tone for the full-day event. The state Supreme Court bench and its guests met in the Washington State Temple of Justice to hear a variety of indigenous and ally voices speak about historic injustice and generational trauma. It was also an opportunity to learn about many of the contemporary legal issues faced by tribes, and the need to respect tribal sovereign

Catholic Social Services In Ukraine During The Current War Against Ukraine, Olga Nedavnya

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the organization and content of the social work of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) and the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine (RCC in Ukraine) during the ongoing war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The application of the social services of these Churches, its performers and beneficiaries, and the features of the implementation of humanitarian charity in wartime are identified. In the UGCC, social work is supervised by its Department of Social Service, in the RCC in Ukraine by the Caritas-Spes Commission, and the relevant practical activity is carried out mainly through the specific Catholic organizations …

Feasibility And Acceptability Of A Brief Intervention For Youth Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors Among Pediatric Primary Care Providers, Caitlin M Pinciotti, Erica Buckland, Taryn L Mayes, John L Cooley, Sean M Mitchell, Lucas Zullo, Jennifer L Hughes, Puja G Patel, Colleen Neal, Melissa Defilippis, Taiwo T Babatope, Carmen Cruz, Madhukar H Trivedi, Eric A Storch, Wayne K Goodman, Laurel L Williams, Joan R Asarnow

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Suicide is a leading cause of death among youth, and rates continue to increase across the United States. Pediatric primary care providers (PCPs) are uniquely positioned to identify acute periods of increased suicidal ideation and provide timely intervention.

Objective: The present study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of training and implementation of a primary care-adapted version of Safe Alternatives for Teens and Youth-Acute (SAFETY-A), a brief, strengths-based, cognitive-behaviorally oriented, family intervention for suicidal thoughts and behaviors in youth, among pediatric PCPs.

Method: This multisite pilot study involved collaboration between eight Texas-based academic institutions who assisted with the recruitment and …

Nature's Medicine? The Associations Of Organized Youth Sport, Unstructured Physical Activity, And Land-Use Recreation With Children's Mental Health, Emotional Control, And Social Well-Being, Natalie Stagnone, Katherine Alexander, Kat V. Adams, Travis Dorsch

Human Development and Family Studies Student Research

Physical activity is well-established as beneficial for children’s physical and mental health, yet limited research has explored how different activity types impact psychosocial outcomes. This is a cross-sectional study that examined associations between youth participation in organized sport, unstructured physical activity, and land-use recreation and their psychosocial health. Survey data were collected from 3246 caregivers of children in the Intermountain West region of the United States. Respondents reported on children’s physical activity engagement and psychosocial outcomes, including mental health, emotional control, and social well-being. All three activity types were significantly associated with improved psychosocial health (p < 0.001). Compared to organized sport, unstructured physical activity and land-use recreation were associated with significantly higher levels of mental health and emotional control (p_adj < 0.001), although with a small effect size (η^{2 …}

Non-Profit Mental Health Organization: Overcoming Employee Turnover With Retention Strategies, Navpreet Brar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This professional administrative study explored the root causes of employee turnover at a nonprofit mental health organization, where turnover had reduced treatment consistency, increased emotional distress among clients, and decreased staff morale. The purpose of this study was designed to develop effective strategies to enhance retention, improve employee engagement, and support high-quality patient care through an application of the social exchange theory. The study addressed four practice-focused questions: (a) What are the underlying causes of turnover at this organization? (b) How can effective strategies be developed and implemented to reduce turnover? (c) How can the organization enhance employee engagement to …

Exploration Of Adventure-Based Counseling And Its Impact On The Self-Concept Of At-Risk Youth, Kendall Kern, Mary Bess Pannel, Todd Davis, Thales Barbosa

Journal of Academic Underperformance

Background: Integrating experiential therapy techniques with physical activity and nature improves aspects of self-concept: social connectedness, resilience, and healthy coping skills in the short-term for at-risk, underperforming youth (Kraft & Cornelius-White, 2020). Kraft and Cornelius-White (2020) found that wilderness therapy counselors that taught communication skills and prioritized “group cohesion in group therapy” led to positive “changes to self-concept” (p. 350-351). Purpose: The researchers hypothesize that community-based adventure therapy will have a positive impact on the self-concept in at-risk, rural youth. Methodology/Approach: The researchers utilized a quasi-experimental model to assess the impact of adventure therapy on rural at-risk youth (N~6) after …

Core State Injury Prevention Program Listening Sessions Report June 2025 Report, Camille Velarde, Yvonnie Baik, Elena Martinez, Theresa Cruz

Reports & Documents

Background: Injury and violence remain pressing public health challenges in New Mexico, particularly in rural and underserved communities. To inform prevention strategies, the University of New Mexico Prevention Research Center partnered with the New Mexico Department of Health and local organizations to conduct community listening sessions focused on upstream approaches addressing shared risk and protective factors.

Methods: Four listening sessions were conducted in 2025 with stakeholders from county health councils and community organizations. Using a rapid qualitative analysis approach, researchers analyzed participant perspectives on local injury and violence concerns, familiarity with upstream frameworks, and communication preferences.

Results: Participants identified overlapping …

Which Adolescents Benefit Most From Positive Psychology Interventions: Examining The Common Factors Of Therapeutic Change, Nicolette Bauermeister

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The literature has found positive psychology interventions to be effective at improving the subjective well-being of youth (Tejada-Gallardo et al., 2020). Further research is needed to identify variables such as common factors of change that could be contributing to whether youth report improved outcomes after participating in a positive psychology intervention. This study examined common factors of therapeutic change as predictors for outcomes such as positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction, which are components of subjective well-being. This dissertation aimed to fill the gap in the literature regarding common factors of change as predictors of outcomes in school-based positive …

Civil Status, Single: The Emotional Experiences And Transformations Of Single Teenage Filipino Mothers Across Generations In Their Transition To Adulthood, Gabrielle B. Lumongsod, Ana Sofia V. Collado, Ramona Liz P. Motos, Maria Ysabel A. Ronquillo

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress

Single teenage mothers in the Philippines face unique emotional and psychological challenges as they transition from adolescence to adulthood. These challenges often stem from societal stigma, guilt, and the loss of personal aspirations, which negatively affect their mental health and self-identity. Guided by Intersectionality theory, this study explores the emotional experiences of single teenage Filipino mothers, aiming to understand how early motherhood influences their emotional well-being, identity formation, and personal growth. Six Filipino women, aged 18 to 55, were purposively selected to provide a diverse generational perspective. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s …

Peer-Led Sport Socialization Intervention Programme On Adaptive Behavior Functioning Amongst Children With Intellectual Disability In Kakamega County Kenya, Roselyne Ajwang Odiango Dr

International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness

Peer-Led Sport Socialization Intervention Programme on adaptive behavior functioning Amongst Children with Intellectual Disability in Kakamega County Kenya

Thematic area:”Inclusivizing our world”.

Roselyne Odiango¹ , [email protected] ,Mob:+254725300432 Peter Bukhala^2, ,[email protected],Mob: +254719375170

Department of Health Promotion and Sport Science

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

Corresponding author:Roselyne Odiango Email:[email protected] ,mobile:+254725300432

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare pro-social skills of adaptive behavior functioning levels of children with ID before and after the sport socialization intervention programme in Kakamega County, Kenya. Methodology: This Study used Single Subject Research Design (SSRD) replicated across 8 subjects. …

Effect Of Ipv On Latino Children's Perspectives Of Fatherhood, Elizabeth Berks

University Honors Theses

Intimate partner violence (IPV) can be found in many cultures throughout the world, with varying levels of acceptability, victimization, and perpetration. Approximately one in five couples report experiencing at least one instance of IPV in a given year. Women are victims of IPV more frequently than men, and experience more severe injuries. 20% of women report a lifetime history of physical IPV victimization by their current or past partners. Further, women are also ten times more likely to be killed due to IPV than men are. Presently, empirical research literature surrounding the dynamics and impacts of IPV is heavily focused …

Efficacy Of New Jersey's Child Protection Policy Among Local Superior Courts, Nerissa G. Collins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the existence of New Jersey Department of Children and Family (NJDCF) policy guidelines, it remained unclear whether New Jersey superior courts consistently applied these principles and guidelines in Department of Child Protection and Permanency (CP&P) child abuse cases. Limited research had been conducted to examine how courts interpreted and adhered to these policies in legal rulings, leaving a gap in understanding how NJDCF principles influenced judicial decision-making. This gap in the literature made it difficult to assess whether policy guidelines effectively shaped court outcomes in ways that supported child protection and welfare. Child protective advocate attitudes and opinions concerning …

Bereavement Needs Of Parent-Child Dyads Following Sibling Death, Shannon V. D'Alton

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, nearly 62,000 children and adolescents experience the death of a sibling each year and sibling bereavement is one of the most distressing life events during childhood; however, it has received less attention in research compared to other forms of childhood loss. Bereaved siblings and parents are at increased risk for negative physical and psychological outcomes, yet little is known about their support and resource needs during the early years following the death. A limitation in understanding sibling bereavement is the methodological and ethical challenges of researching this vulnerable population. Consequently, the bereavement needs of surviving siblings …

Children In Foster Care: Outcomes And Nursing Implications, Rachel A. Joseph, Emily Etterman

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

Background: Approximately 407,000 children remained in the foster care system by the end of 2020, with 217,000 entering and 224,000 exiting the system. The foster care system is meant to be a temporary living arrangement for children born into or raised in non-flourishing homes. However, the uniqueness of the system and the interactions of foster parents lead to undesirable foster home situations while the child is left in the system for longer times. The child in foster care faces several adverse life events that make it difficult for the child to develop into a successful adult. Purpose: This paper examines …