Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Grow Your Own: Educating Social Workers In Rural And Frontier Areas To Address The Behavioral Health Workforce Crisis, Michelle M. Levy, Christina D. Boyd

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Workforce shortages in behavioral health are a longstanding reality in most rural areas. Given the increasing impact of mental health and substance abuse in rural communities, it is critical to seek solutions to address the inadequate number of behavioral health professions in these areas. This paper focuses on a university’s efforts to prepare and support master’s level social workers for practice in their rural and frontier communities to address behavioral health workforce shortages.

Attuning To Need: Reconceptualizing “Help” In Poor Rural Areas, Jennifer M. Frank, Laura Brierton Granruth, Brittany Leffler, Rachel Preibisch, Dawn Watson, Heather Girvin, Mary Glazier

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Social isolation is closely linked to overall health and well-being and is a serious concern for those in rural areas. Our research seeks insights into the needs experienced in poor rural areas by utilizing letter writing between students and community agency participants as a research methodology. In the letters, we observed that community participants relied upon friend and family style relationships and even viewed their agency relationships as such. This suggests that transforming "professional helping relationships" into alliances that are less impersonal might be in order. Such relationships and connections seemed conducive to the development of empowering self-efficacy. This finding …

Review Of The Book Rural Poverty In The United States, Peter A. Kindle

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Review of the book Rural Poverty in the United States

Stinky Water And Other Ills: Environmental Justice For Rural Services, Michael R. Daley

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Environmental justice concerns affect rural communities and the people who are members of them. Social workers’ long-standing involvement in improving living conditions of the people and communities with whom they work make environmental justice an important responsibility. Yet there is a rural-urban divide on topics related to the environment, and rural and urban communities tend to establish different environmental priorities. Rural communities tend to prioritize local conditions and solutions over global and societal ones. Rural people distrust national policies especially those established by governmental as not being responsive to their interest. Some common environmental rural problems are identified. Environmental justice …

Work Experiences Of Rural Social Workers In The United States, Jayme E. Walters, Aubrey E. Jones, Aaron R. Brown

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

Rural social workers face unique challenges and opportunities as they seek to address the needs of rural Americans. Using social media, rural social workers in the U.S. were recruited to describe their characteristics and explore factors related to their job satisfaction, burnout, and organizational commitment. Analyses included univariate descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and multiple regression. The sample (N = 192) represented 146 counties in 36 states. Participants tended to be White, female, MSW-degreed direct-service providers. Participants were moderately satisfied with their organizational environments and workloads. Age, being Black, and working in settings other than child welfare were most strongly related …

Promoting Environmental Justice Research And Practice For Social Workers In A Rural State: Methodology And Findings Of A Pilot Qualitative Study, Monika Leininger, Kirsten Havig

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Environmental justice work is an emerging field of practice that recognizes the interrelationship between social, economic, racial, gender, and environmental injustice and the impact social workers can have for policy and practice. Despite inclusion of environmental justice knowledge and practice as critical elements of ethical social work, little research exists on the topic in the professional knowledge base. Additionally, little research exists to date that specifically examines environmental justice knowledge and practice in a rural area. This pilot study examines awareness and knowledge of environmental justice issues and practice amongst licensed social workers in a rural western state using focus …

Thinking Outside The Girl Box: Teaming Up With Resilient Youth In Appalachia, Rolanda L. Ward

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

The fortitude of an isolated community is lived through the words of the writers. While Spatig and Amerikaner sought to examine the cultural norms and experiences of girls in a community not on the radar of most, they were surprised to find themselves a part of the story. Their struggle with this unexpected development, ultimately leads the reader to the conclusion that community work is not only transformative for the youth who are served, but also the professionals who serve them, and the researchers who seek to work in partnership to record their journey. This text challenges social science researchers …

Women Ascending To Leadership Positions In Rural Nonprofit Organizations, Jose Carbajal, Kristin Bailey-Wallace, Bonita B. Sharma, Tiffany Bice-Wigington, Wilma Cordova, Shanta Scott, Aparecida De Fatima Cordeiro Dutra

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

This study investigates women’s experiences as they ascended to leadership roles in nonprofit organizations in rural communities, primarily in East Texas. The aim of this study is to understand the lived experiences of women in top management as they ascend into leadership positions, as the characteristics and experiences of effective leaders in rural nonprofits may differ from those of urban nonprofit agencies. There is limited research regarding women’s leadership experiences in rural nonprofit organizations. Using a phenomenological inquiry approach, we interviewed 32 women currently serving in leadership roles in rural nonprofit organizations. The research question guiding this phenomenological study was: …

Contemporary Mental Health Care In Rural Areas: Challenges And Strategies, Whitney Cassity-Caywood

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Mental health care and illness prevention present distinct challenges in rural areas with limited resources. This paper examines rural-specific mental health care concerns and uses a public health prevention model to discuss the most current and prolific strategies to address these issues. The unique role of the social work profession in implementing these strategies is highlighted.

Intergenerational Caregiver Loss And Successful Aging Opportunity Disruption Of Bulgarian Elderly, Daniel Georg Habermann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Identified by European research as an aging crisis, vulnerabilities in the rural Bulgarian elderly population such as intergenerational caregiver loss, are sociohistorical consequences and barriers to successful aging. This transcultural study investigated the aging crisis in rural Bulgaria to create a contextual definition of successful aging and to address successful aging and the identification of challenges and barriers faced by social workers and elders to support successful aging. Guided by continuity theory in aging and contextualized by overarching ecological systems theory, the research questions examined Bulgarian social workers' perceptions and expectations of successful aging and barriers to it. A collaborative …

Project Rafiki: Consumer And Provider Perspectives On Food Assistance And Its Impact On Quality Of Life For Individuals Living With Hiv/Aids, Emily C. Holderfield-Gaither, Saundra Starks, William Mkanta

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Project Rafiki was designed to provide nonperishable food assistance to individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania, East Africa. The research study was developed to examine the extent to which the Project Rafiki food assistance program had impacted its participants over the course of one year. The aim of this research can be divided into five smaller objectives: 1) to gage the effectiveness of the food assistance program; 2) to assist in the expansion of inter-professional knowledge of resource-development regarding health and nutrition for vulnerable communities or rural areas; 3) to involve and immerse students in learning on a global level; …

Profesional Ethics In Rural Social Work Practice, Paul Force-Emery Mackie

Social Work Department Publications

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

1. Describe differences between values, morals, and ethics from a rural practice perspective
   
   
2. List at least 3 common ethical issues identified in rural social service practice that challenges service delivery
   
   
3. Identify 3 rural practice considerations that complicate rural practice from an ethical perspective.

An Assessment Of The Strengths And Needs Of Rural Social Workers In The Northwestern United States, Jon William Talebreza-May, Rachel Jensen, Nathan Shay

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Although rural social work continues to be on the fringe of social work practice in the United States, a committed group of practitioners work to update and expand upon current knowledge (Lohmann & Lohmann, 2005). Studies have been carried out across the country as to the state of rural social work practice, the unique barriers and strengths that come from this line of work, as well as the problems that lead social work to be necessary in rural areas (Daley, 2015; Lohman & Lohmann, 2005; Mackie et al., 2016). Though well-researched in the United States, examination of rural social work …

Childhood Obesity: A Survey Of The Nutrition And Physical Activity Components Of The Coordinated School Health (Csh) Program In Rural Tennessee, Courtney Nichole Haun, Zachary Mahafza, Aj Good, Victor Nettey

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

With the rise in childhood overweight and obesity rates in the United States, understanding the issue has become of mainstay importance. This study provides insight into the nutritional knowledge and related health perceptions of parents’ whose children have participated in a Coordinated School Health (CSH) program in rural Tennessee. Surveys were distributed between two elementary grade level school systems in Washington County, Tennessee, to serve the need of interpreting the knowledge, values, and ideas on childhood health regarding CSH program effectiveness. While our findings across both schools revealed moderate levels of parental knowledge on health and nutritional issues, we also …

Don’T Get The Epizootus! Challenges And Promises Of Modern Rural Health Care, Michael Daley

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Rural communities face a crisis in terms of access, funding for health care, and the overall health needs of these communities. There are also shortages of health care professionals in rural areas. As national priorities shift away from health care to border security, small towns may be hard pressed to meet their residents’ health care needs. Professional advocacy for rural people to address these issues is recommended.

Gullah Geechee Families: Land And Culture, Lisa Moore

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

The legacy of Black land ownership and cultural autonomy is not a well-known narrative of Black history in the United States, which is reflected in the dearth of material addressing these legacies. This history presents a narrative of Black rural life in the United States that offers rural social work professionals another framework to understand the legacies of fictive kin and collective values often overlooked when engaging Black families and communities. Gullah/Geechee families represent a narrative of Black life in the United States that reflects the power of being left with opportunities to develop a culture and tradition of collective …

Maneuverability Experiences Faced By Individuals Who Use Wheelchairs In Rural Settings: A Qualitative Analysis, Kaycee Lynn Bills

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

People who have never been in a wheelchair do not understand how difficult simple tasks such as going to work, school, or completely daily living tasks can be. Many studies have discussed the experiences of those who use wheelchairs for mobility. This study qualitatively examines the daily experiences those who use wheelchairs face, despite the advances in policies to accommodate for people who have disabilities. The purpose of this study was to address this social problem by interviewing those who use wheelchairs in order to identify the day-to-day challenges that these individuals face. The sample derived from young adults living …

Social Workers’ Evidence-Based Practice Use And Challenges In Rural Environments: A Systematic Review, Mingun Lee

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Over the past decade, the demand for Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in the social work field has increased. Previous studies indicate that EBP promotes clinical decision making based on current best evidence and decreases the use of ineffective interventions. However, social workers still face a variety of barriers to become evidence-based practitioners. Particularly, social workers practicing in rural areas face increased barriers to make use of evidence in practice. This study conducted a systematic review of current literature to find evidence related to social workers’ use of EBP and their barriers in rural settings. Reviews were limited to social work studies …

Sex Trafficking And Rural Communities: A Review Of The Literature, Ruby Aguirre, Katelyn Harris, Molly Rose Hilgenberg, Melody Soper, Pamela H. Bowers

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Sex trafficking is a pervasive threat across the globe and all fifty states of the United States, especially for underage female youth. However, there is a dearth of literature and awareness in domestic rural areas. Sex trafficking is a form of human trafficking that threatens all communities, including rural areas. This extended literature review looks closely at recent studies, and the grey literature to garner a better understanding of the implications for rural social work practice. The review concludes with recommendations and implications for future research, policy, and practice.

Use Of Evidence-Based Practice To Enhance Decision-Making In Rural Child Welfare Practiceuse Of Evidence-Based Practice To Enhance Decision-Making In Rural Child Welfare Practice, Karen Rice

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Child welfare practitioners need to ensure they employ effective decision-making when implementing services to families at risk for abuse and/or neglect of their children. Utilizing a structured decision making process, specifically an evidence-based process, may enhance case outcomes (Hagermoser-Sanetti, & Kratochwill, 2009). Evidence-based practice is an attempt to bridge the gap between research and practice (Hagell, & Spencer, 2004). Evidence-based practice (EBP) is defined as a “process that blends current best evidence, community values and preferences, and agency, societal, and political considerations in order to establish programs and policies that are effective and contextualized” (Regehr, Stern, & Shlonsky, 2007, p. …

Working With Latinos In Rural Communities: “Nuts And Bolts”, Wilma Cordova, Aparecida De Fátima Cordeiro Dutra

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Latinos currently compromise 16% of the entire U.S. population and 9.3% live in rural areas ((U.S. Census, 2010). These current percentages indicate that most social workers will work with this population at least once during their careers. Therefore, it is important that social workers develop skills and knowledge to work effectively with Latinos. Working with Latinos in our current sociopolitical climate poses many challenges for social workers working in rural areas. However, if social workers adhere to the guidelines and standards initially established by the profession and implement best practices many of their efforts will be successful. This chapter aims …

Working With Latinos In Rural Communities: “Nuts And Bolts”, Wilma Cordova, Aparecida De Fatima Cordeiro Dutra

Faculty Publications

Latinos currently compromise 16% of the entire U.S. population and 9.3% live in rural areas ((U.S. Census, 2010). These current percentages indicate that most social workers will work with this population at least once during their careers. Therefore, it is important that social workers develop skills and knowledge to work effectively with Latinos. Working with Latinos in our current sociopolitical climate poses many challenges for social workers working in rural areas. However, if social workers adhere to the guidelines and standards initially established by the profession and implement best practices many of their efforts will be successful. This chapter aims …

Over The Hill To The Poor Farm: Rural History Almost Forgotten, Michael R. Daley Ph.D., Peggy Pittman-Munke Ph.D.

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Poor farms were important rural institutions that cared for a wide range of poor and dependent people in the 19th and 20th centuries. Yet today they are little remembered. This manuscript discusses these poor farms, their function, operation, who they served, and how they relate to modern day social welfare.

Teaching Macro Practice Through The Use Of Experiential Instruction And Collaboration: A Formula To Create Sustainable Community Resources, Timothy O. Davis Ph.D., Kendal L. Carswell

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

While delivering an organizations and communities class to a cohort of students in an outlying rural area, a social work program explored ways to educate students effectively while simultaneously exploring and devising strategies to fill local gaps in community services. The project utilized evidence-based learning strategies focusing on experiential instruction and collaboration with local community agencies. Using aspects of the flipped classroom as well as service learning, the course was particularly interested in engaging with community stakeholders to identify issues arising from the realities of a rural service environment. Students identified a project, worked with community partners, and delivered recommendations …

Client Satisfaction Survey For Hiv/Aids Dental Care Services: An Example From Rural Texas, H. Stephen Cooper Ph.D., Lcsw, Freddie L. Avant Ph.D., Lmsw-Ap, Acsw, C-Ssws, Kim L. Rich-Rice Ph.D., Lmsw-Ipr

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

The challenges to examining client satisfaction are demonstrated through an evaluation of dental services provided by a regional service provider to people living with HIV/AIDS. The process of developing and administering a measure of client satisfaction is discussed. Forty-one of 350 (11.7%) dental clients chose to participate. Quantitative and qualitative data suggests that overall participants are satisfied with services. Identified concerns included a lack of specialized dental, medical, mental health, and case management services. Implications of the study for service delivery, future evaluations, and rural social work practice are addressed.

Self-Efficacy And Mental Health Services Provided By Rural And Frontier Oncology Social Workers, Lindsey R. Overstreet Msw, Lcsw, Diane A. Kempson Msw, Phd, Carol J. Hermansen-Kobulnicky Phd, Rph

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

This pilot study explores the relationship between self-efficacy and professional behaviors of a non-random membership sample of the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) who practice in rural and frontier settings (N = 19). The New Generalized Self-Efficacy (NGSE) scale was used to measure provider self-efficacy; a researcher-designed questionnaire was used to assess the professional behaviors of conducting mental health assessments and providing supportive counseling to individuals diagnosed with cancer. Pearson correlation and two-sample t-tests were used to analyze data. While study results did not elucidate relationships explored, results revealed a disparity between participants’ overall high sense of professional preparedness …

Gun Control: College Student Attitudes And The Meaning For Appalachian Social Workers, Ida M. Mills, Mark A. Mills

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Senseless and tragic shootings across communities such as Newtown, Connecticut have riveted public attention on gun control. Bombarded by pro- and anti-gun-control forces, policy makers are often reactionary. Social workers must deal with these policies and the clients who fear them. Social scientists have suggested that cultural world views have greater influence on this issue than any other predictors. A survey of rural Appalachian college students (N=294) explored gun control attitudes in order to consider what makes compromise and consensus on the issue of gun control so difficult. It considers these influences and their implications for rural social workers.

Differences Between Children With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders And Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders: Rural Social Work Implications For Prevention, Assessment, And Treatment, Susan M. Ryan, George S. Leibowitz, Jeanne M. Nauheimer, Paul Force-Emery Mackie

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

This literature review examined nine quantitative research studies published between 1992-2013 that compared children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to identify: (a) the differences between these children (e.g., intellectual, behavioral); and (b) the diagnostic tools that may be used to distinguish between them, thereby providing a differential diagnosis. Special focus was placed on rural treatment implications. These studies revealed differences between the intellectual, executive functioning, adaptive behavior, motor, and behavioral skills of children with FASD and ADHD. This review identified neurodevelopmental assessments used in these nine research studies that appear to support learning …

Black Gold And The Dark Underside Of Its Development On Human Service Delivery, Kenneth Flanagan, Thomasine Heitkamp, Randall C. Nedegaard, Dheeshana S. Jayasundara

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

This paper examines perceptions of human service workers regarding their employment experiences and adaptations in oil-impacted rural communities in the Upper Missouri Valley of North Dakota. This study is part of larger pilot project designed to better inform health and human service professionals and elected officials about the nature of human service delivery systems in boomtowns. Qualitative methodologies were employed to analyze information gathered by interviews conducted with 40 human service workers. Both individual interviews and focus groups were conducted. Study findings indicate that the impact of oil on the human service network is complicated. Human service workers in the …

Introduction To Animal- And Nature-Assisted Therapies: A Service-Learning Model For Rural Social Work, Laura J. Praglin, Linda L. Nebbe

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

This teaching note details the teaching philosophy and practices of an innovative university service-learning course in nature- and animal-assisted therapies. The course took place at a wildlife rehabilitation center, and students engaged as counselors, putting academic theories into action by facilitating an “animal camp” for 25 at-risk children. The course represented a “best practice” in rural social work given its intensive focus upon social work’s ecological and person-in-environment perspectives; multidisciplinary, collaborative community-based partnerships; and evocation of a rural schoolhouse model.