Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

An Investigation Of Volunteer-Student Relationship Trajectories Within School-Based Youth Mentoring Programs, Thomas Keller, Julia Pryce

Julia Pryce

This prospective, mixed-method study investigates the development of school-based mentoring relationships using direct observations, in-depth interviews, and questionnaires from the perspective of mentors and students. A pattern-oriented analysis of qualitative data explores the diversity observed in the life-course of mentor-student relationships. Systematic variation in developmental trends across relationships revealed four distinctive groupings. Some relationships showed progressive improvement in strength and quality. Others started well but reached a plateau and did not become particularly close. A third group struggled throughout to make a connection. Finally, some relationships succeeded after a breakthrough to overcome their challenges. These inductively derived categories are corroborated …

A Comparative Analysis Of The Perception Of Mothers And Fathers Toward Their Mentally Retarded Child, Edward J. Gumz

Edward J. Gumz

No abstract provided.

The Abcs Of Gfe, Brandon Youker

Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

Goal-free evaluation (GFE) is the process of determining something’s merit intentionally without reference to its stated goals and objectives. The following PowerPoint presentation describes GFE and discusses preliminary attempts at operationalization. The video concludes with a lively discussion where audience members challenge Dr. Youker on GFE's feasibility and merit. . *This presentation is available at The Evaluation Center's website archived as an Evaluation Café presentation: http://www.wmich.edu/evalctr/2012/11/goal-free-evaluation-an-analog-experiment-comparing-goal-free-evaluation-and-goal-based-evalation-utility/

Gold Coast Health Careers Forum, Hilary Gallagher

Hilary Gallagher

No abstract provided.

Attempting Preventing Reinventing The Wheel: Establishing Chicano/A-Latino/A Studies At A Midwest Urban University, Joseph A. Valades, Theresa Barron-Mckeagney, Michael Carroll, Lourdes Gouveia, Lucy Garza

Michael W. Carroll

“This session will focus on the personal observations of three faculty who sought to establish a minor in Chicano/a-Latino/a Studies . . . Follow our graphic accounts as we wrestle with the decision of actually embarking on such a quest amidst our thencurrent demands of doctoral coursework, research, teaching and tenure.” In the fall semester of 1995, Chicano/a Studies was formally recognized as a "minor" at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Two years previously, three faculty members from the College of Public Affairs and Community Service at UNO diligently worked to gather student and faculty support and put the …

Bullying And Cyberbullying: What Volunteers Need To Know, Sue Martin

Sue Martin

No abstract provided.

Partner Violence Assessment In Rural Health Care Clinic, Ann Coker, Vicki C. Flerx, Paige H. Smith, Daniel J. Whitaker, Mary Kay Fadden, Melinda Williams

Dan Whitaker

Objectives. We sought to determine the frequency of intimatepartner violence by type in a large, clinic-based, nurse-administeredscreening and services intervention project.

Methods. A brief intimate partner violence screen, which includeditems to measure sexual and physical assaults and psychologicalbattering (using the Women’s Experience With Batteringscale) was administered to consenting women receiving care at1 of 8 rural clinics in South Carolina.

Results. Between April 2002 and August 2005, 4945 eligible womenwere offered intimate partner violence screening, to which 3664(74.1%) consented. Prevalence of intimate partner violence ina current (ongoing) relationship was 13.3%, and 939 women (25.6%)had experienced intimate partner violence at some point …

Beyond Dogma: The Role Of "Evolutionary" Science And The "Embodiment" Of Archetypal Energies, Carroy U. Ferguson

Carroy U "Cuf" Ferguson, Ph.D.

At individual and collective levels (locally, nationally, and globally), humanity is currently entertaining many challenges and opportunities for growth. In my view, these challenges and opportunities are connected to Energy shifts that are taking place on the planet, and the inability of some to move beyond dogma in relating to these Energy shifts. By its pre- and proscriptive nature, dogma fosters limiting beliefs that often interfere with how best to relate to these Energy shifts as vibrational beings in an evolving, vibrational world. Here, I want to briefly identify some of the limiting effects of dogma, and the role of …

Gaining Ground, Losing Ground: The Paradoxes Of Rural Homelessness, Cheryl Forchuk, Phyllis Montgomery, Helene Berman, Catherine Ward-Griffin, Rick Csiernik, Carolyn Gorlick, Elsabeth Jensen, Patrick Riesterer

Rick Csiernik

The study examined rural housing and homelessness issues and looked at similarities and differences between rural and urban areas. It involved a secondary analysis of focus group data collected in a 2001-06 Community University Research Alliance study of mental health and housing. The findings highlight concerns regarding the lack of services, which can precipitate a move from a rural to an urban community. Inadequate transportation services often posed a challenge to rural residents attempting to access services. Many participants preferred rural living but felt they had to choose between residing where they wanted to and having access to essential services. …

Cross Cultural Service Learning With Native Americans: Pedagogy For Building Cultural Competence, Patricia Bolea

Patricia S Bolea

Abstract: This paper articulates a curricular approach that centers on a Native American Service Learning course. Social work students engage in cross-cultural immersion on a reservation in the United States. By examination of historical United States policy impacting Indian Tribes, contemporary experiences that challenge basic instruction in public schools, students examine the social work profession’s complex role in participation with as well as eradication of entrenched social problems. Implications for social work education include an examination of transformative learning theory and service learning pedagogy as tools for the creation of democratic civic engagement in social work leadership. A preliminary evaluation …

The Vital Role Of Social Workers In Community Partnerships: The Alliance For Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender And Questioning Youth, Michael P. Dentato, Shelley L. Craig, Mark S. Smith

Michael P. Dentato

The account of The Alliance for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (GLBTQ) Youth formation offers a model for developing com- munity-based partnerships. Based in a major urban area, this university-community collaboration was spearheaded by social workers who were responsible for its original conceptualization, for generating community support, and for eventual staffing, administration, direct service provision, and program evaluation design. This article presents the strategic development and evolution of this community- based service partnership, highlighting the roles of schools of social work, academics, and social work students in concert with community funders, practitioners and youth, in responding to the needs …

At "Ground Zero": September 11, 2001, Michael P. Dentato

Michael P. Dentato

The author relates his personal experience, and the response of the Body Positive staff members, during the attack on the World Trade Center, a handful of blocks away from the office on September 11, 2001.

Minority Stress Predictors Of Substance Use And Sexual Risk Behavior Among A Cohort Sample Of Men Who Have Sex With Men, Michael P. Dentato

Michael P. Dentato

This study examined the impact of factors associated with minority stress theory, including experiences of external prejudice, expectations of rejection and internalized homophobia, upon a cohort sample of men who have sex with men (MSM). Resultant associations with substance use, defined as one time use of a club drug prior to baseline; and sexual risk behavior, defined as unprotected insertive and receptive anal intercourse with primary and non-primary partners, was examined. In addition, this study compared whether each individual aspect of minority stress (external prejudice, expectations of rejection and internalized homophobia) independently or collectively predicted substance use and sexual risk …

Families Affected By Substance Abuse, Annmarie Mumm, Lenore J. Olsen, Darlene Allen

Annmarie Mumm

A generalist approach to practice with families affected by parental addiction is presented. Using a model program for working with parents and children who have been affected by substance abuse, the article illustrates the application of the problem-solving process to effect change at multiple levels, including individual, family, community, organizational, and policy-making levels. The authors describe assessment and intervention strategies at each of these levels and conclude with an evaluation of the project's success.

Latino Students In Springfield: An Educational Profile, Lorna Rivera

Lorna Rivera

With financial support from the National Council of La Raza, the Gastón Institute is developing "Educational Profiles" for the sixteen Massachusetts public school districts with the highest Latino student enrollments: Boston, Springfield, Lawrence, Worcester, Holyoke, Lowell, Lynn, Chelsea, New Bedford, Brockton, Fitchburg, Salem, Chicopee, Framingham, Haverhill, and Somerville. The profiles present basic data provided by the Massachusetts Department of Education including information on student enrollment, MCAS results, dropout rates, and student aspirations. We hope this information will be used by Latino students, parents, educators, and policy-makers to make informed decisions and improve public education for Latino students in Massachusetts.

Adherence Among Women With Hiv Infection In Puerto Rico, Desiree Ciambrone, Helen Loewenthal, Lauri Bazerman, Carmen Zorilla, Brenda Urbina, Jennifer Mitty

Desiree A Ciambrone

Women are the fastest growing segment of the adult population acquiring HIV, and most women infected with HIV are in their reproductive years. The success of HAART is highly dependent upon the ability and willingness of the individual to adhere to complex antiretroviral regimens. Improved adherence among HIV-infected pregnant women will delay disease progression in the mother and should also reduce HIV transmission to the baby. Modified directly observed therapy (MDOT), may benefit this population. MDOT has been shown to be an acceptable and feasible intervention among HIV substance users; however, no-one has yet evaluated the use of MDOT in …

From Child Abuse To Permanency Planning, Deborah Siegel

Deborah H Siegel

Reviews the book "From Child Abuse to Permanency Planning: Child Welfare Services Pathways and Placements," Richard P. Barth, Jill Duerr Berrick, Mark Courtney, and Vicky Albert..

Selecting Effective Treatments / Book Review, Deborah Siegel

Deborah H Siegel

Reviews the book "Selecting Effective Treatments," by Linda Seligman..

Open Adoption And Adolescence, Deborah Siegel

Deborah H Siegel

In open adoptions, birth and adoptive families exchange identifying information and have contact. Although most adoptions today include some form of openness, much of the public remains wary of this. The purpose of this study was to explore, longitudinally, adoptive parents' perceptions of their children's open adoptions. This article reports the findings of tape-recorded interviews with 31 adoptive parents who were first interviewed when their children were infants and toddlers, again 7 years later, and a third time when their children were adolescents. The study found adoptive parents were committed to maintaining contact with the birth family even when discomforts …

Preventing Adolescent Abuse, Deborah Siegel

Deborah H Siegel

Reviews the book `Preventing Adolescent Abuse: Effective Intervention Strategies and Techniques,' by Richard P. Barth and David S. Derezotes..

Ethical Issues In Open Adoption, Frederic Reamer, Deborah Siegel

Deborah H Siegel

Total secrecy and confidentiality no longer typify adoption in the United States. Today, most adoptions involve an exchange of information or some form of contact between the birth family and adoptive family - so-called open adoptions. This article provides a comprehensive overview of ethical issues associated with various forms of open adoption, including issues of privacy, confidentiality, self-determination, paternalism, conflicts of interest, deception, and truthtelling.We present guidelines for social work practice in open adoptions, based on current ethical theory and ethical standards in social work.

Open Adoption Of Infants, Deborah Siegel

Deborah H Siegel

As the frequency of open adoptions of infants increases, furious debate continues between those who argue that open adoption is a grave mistake and those who assert that it is a long-overdue innovation. This ankle defines open adoption, summarizes the open adoption controversy, and presents a qualitative descriptive study of adoptive parents' reactions to the recent open adoptions of their infants. Findings indicate overwhelmingly positive feelings about open adoption and some issues and concerns unique to the open adoption experience. The ankle concludes that social workers involved in adoptions should move from their traditional stance in directing and defining the …

Defining Empirically Based Practice, Deborah Siegel

Deborah H Siegel

The article deals with a study, which described the integration of research and practice into the graduate social program of the School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago. The need to evaluate the effectiveness of clinical practice is an increasingly frequent theme as agencies scramble for limited funds. Reaganomics has helped bury the once-fashionable belief that social ills can be cured by tax dollars. More than ever, social workers are required to justify the services they deliver. In addition to the economic reasons for the profession's need to integrate research and practice, social workers also have an ethical obligation …

Open Adoption Of Infants, Deborah Siegel

Deborah H Siegel

Adoptions today increasingly include contact between adoptive and birth families. What do these "open adoptions" look like? How do the participants feel about them? This article, based on part of a longitudinal study that first examined adoptive parents' perceptions of their infants' open adoptions seven years ago, explores the parents' reactions now that their children are school age. This qualitative descriptive research revealed changes in the openness in the adoptions over time and identified four dimensions along which open adoptions vary. Findings showed parents' enthusiasm for the openness in their adoptions, regardless of the type and extent of openness. Implications …

Increasing Aging Content Within The Social Work Curriculum: Perceptions Of Key Constituents, Stacey Kolomer, Terri Lewinson, Nancy Kropf, Scott Wilks

Terri Lewinson

This mixed methodology study examines the perceptions of key constituents regarding methods for effectively integrating aging content into the foundation curriculum of the BSW and MSW program at the University of Georgia School of Social Work. Students were asked to complete a survey to determine their perception of geriatric content that existed within the foundation coursework. Following an analysis of the survey results, eight semi-structured focus group discussions were conducted with a purposeful sample of students, faculty, field instructors, social work alumni, older adults from the community, and representatives from aging agencies. The intention of these focus groups was to …

Intrapsychic Predictors Of Professional Quality Of Life: Mindfulness, Empathy, And Emotional Separation, Jacky T. Thomas

Jacky T. Thomas

A growing literature documents the inherently stressful nature of working with persons who are suffering or traumatized, and the potential for the development of stress disorders among social workers and other helpers. Previous studies of compassion fatigue and burnout have provided important information about professional and workplace variables that might influence risk, but little attention has been given to studying intrapersonal skills/abilities that might reduce risk and/or increase resilience and work satisfaction among helping professionals. This exploratory study asked whether levels of mindfulness, empathy, and emotional separation would influence professional quality of life, including compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction. …

Features Of Child Food Insecurity After The 2010 Haiti Earthquake: Results From A Random Survey Of Households, Royce Hutson, Eileen Trzcinski, Athena Kolbe

Royce A. Hutson

Purpose: In January 2010, a 7.0 earthquake struck the island nation of Haiti resulting in the estimated deaths of 230,000 people and billions of dollars in destruction. Researchers estimated that 160,000 individuals died in Port-au-Prince alone. Recently several high profile journals have editorialized that this earthquake was not just a natural disaster and that proper prevention efforts could have reduced the casualties significantly. However, there is a paucity of research on the antecedents to victimization in natural disasters. Using a two-wave 1,500 household survey with the second wave conducted six weeks after the earthquake; this study examines the household and …

Smuggling, Border Security And International Development In Wadi Khaled, Lebanon: Results From A Random Survey Of Households, Royce Hutson, Taylor Long

Royce A. Hutson

Purpose: The prevention the smuggling of drugs, guns, humans, and other criminal contraband has posed a significant challenge for many governments. The problem is even more acute in developing and underdeveloped countries. Of particular concern to international development experts is the ‘enabling environment' for smuggling that is created when communities accept smuggling behaviors as normative. Also, concern has grown that improving border security in smuggling areas may have significant negative socio-economic impacts on these communities. Using a randomized household survey conducted in a frontier region between Lebanon and Syria well-known for smuggling, this study examines factors associated with smuggling behaviors …

Condom Use Among U.S. Young Adult Black Women: An Integrated Cognitive Approach, Grace Loudd

Grace Loudd

This study examines how cognitive influences such as sexual self-schema, HIV-related stigma, perception of HIV risk and condom sexual self-efficacy influence condom use at last sex among young adult Black women. An integrated theoretical framework consisting of The Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory and Intersectionality Theory were presented to explore how these cognitive influences impact condom use at last sex among young adult Black women. The present study was based on a secondary data analysis collected by the Baylor College of Medicine Teen Clinic located in Houston, TX. Young adult Black women with high condom sexual self-efficacy are 33.2% …

Dialysis Rationing And The Just Allocation Of Resources: A Historical Primer., Teri Browne

Teri Browne

No abstract provided.