Social Work Commons^™

A Boiling Pot Of Animosity Or An Alliance Of Kindred Spirits? Exploring Connections Between Native Americans And African Americans, Hilary N. Weaver

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The relationship between indigenous people and people of African heritage in the United States is a long and complex one. An examination of historical and contemporary connections between indigenous persons and African Americans not only clarifies complex and frequently overlooked parts of American history but sets the stage for examining future possibilities. It is useful for helping professionals to understand these relationships since this history may serve as the basis for positive connections or animosities between clients and professionals. This article begins with a discussion of selected historical intersections between these populations that highlight the complex and varied nature of …

Racial/Ethnic Differences In Religious Congregation-Based Social Service Delivery Efforts, R. Khari Brown

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The current study utilizes Swidler's (1986) cultural toolkit theory to explain racial/ethnic differences in American religious congregations' provision of social service programs. This study suggests that black Americans' reliance upon structural tools to assess poverty contributes to their congregations being more heavily involved than majority white congregations in the provision of social services that attempt to make a longer-term impact on community life (i.e. academic tutoring and job training). In contrast, white Americans' greater reliance upon individualistic tools to understand poverty arguably contributes to their congregations being more heavily involved in the provision of programs that have a shorter- term …

Transforming Caregiving: African American Custodial Grandmothers And The Child Welfare System, S. Yvette Murphy, Andrea G. Hunter, Deborah J. Johnson

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Growing numbers of African American grandmothers are raising grandchildren under the auspices of the child welfare system; however, little is known about the manner in which child welfare policies and practices impact custodial grandparenting. Based on focus groups with African American grandmothers who are raising grandchildren as formal kinship caregivers, this study explored the ways in which the new formalized relationship between the child welfare system and African American custodial grandmothers is transforming the meanings and practices related to intergenerational caregiving in African American families. Drawing on cultural and historical traditions, grandmothers forge a transformative partnership with child welfare that …

Acculturation And Mental Health Among Mexican Immigrant Women, Monique Diana Castaneda

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between the independent variable of acculturation and the dependent variable of mental health. The sample was drawn from a group of Mexican immigrant women residing in San Bernardino, California.

Being Accountable: Overrepresentation Of Children Of Color In The Child Welfare System, Victoria Lee Scheele, Juliana Francesca Simixhi

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to examine the ethnic composition of families enrolled in Voluntary Family Services (VFS) as well as service delivery and service completion rates among the various ethnic groups utilizing these services.

Social Workers' Views About Disproportionality Among African American Children In Child Welfare, Hortense Granderson

Theses Digitization Project

This study explored social workers' views (attitudes and perceptions) on reasons and causes for disproportionality among African American children in the child welfare system. This study contributed to social work practice, policy, and research because it is the first study of its kind for Riverside County where information is readily available to understand the reasons and causes for disproportionality among these children according to social workers.

Obstacles And Aspirations Amongst Hispanics And African Americans In Pursuing A College Education, Monica Avina

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to identify the obstacles faced by African American and Hispanic students as well as the motivations that help them thrive in today's society through a college education. This is important for social workers who work with ethnic minorities because by learning about ways in which these two groups are still being oppressed, they can find ways of empowering them to overcome barriers to accessing higher education. 85 students from Hispanic and African American descent at California State University San Bernardino were surveyed.

Down Syndrome: Parental Strategies For Stress Among Cultures, Claudia Edith Campos, Lizbeth Anahi Corrales

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this research was to examine the perceptions of parents of different cultures on how to cope with stress in relation to caring for a child with Down syndrome. This study targeted parents that attend Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles (DSALA) support groups. DSALA has support groups all over Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The sample of participants consisted of nine Caucasian, eight Latino, and three multiethnic mothers for a total of twenty.

Greek-Letter Membership And College Graduation: Does Race Matter?, Ronald E. Severtis Jr., C. Andre Christie-Mizell

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Research, utilizing a nationally representative sample of 3,712 Americans, revealed that Greek-letter membership increases the probability of college graduation more for African Americans than for European Americans. Conversely, father's education is a more robust predictor of educational outcomes for European Americans compared to their African American counterparts

Color-Blind Individualism, Intercountry Adoption And Public Policy, Pamela Anne Quiroz

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

A prevailing ideology of color-blindness has resulted in privatizing the discourse on adoption. Color-blind individualism, the adoption arena's version of color-blind discourse, argues that race should not matter in adoption; racism can be eradicated through transracial adoption; and individual rights should be exercised without interference of the state. As privatization has increasingly dominated our world and disparities between countries have grown, so too has intercountry adoption. This paper examines the colonial aspects of intercountry adoption and implications for conceptualizing global human rights from our current emphasis on individual rights, as the real issue continues to be which children are desired …

Latino Participation In Food Assistance Programs: A Study Conducted For Project Bread, Anny Rivera-Ottenberger, Elaine Werby

Center for Social Policy Publications

Concern with low participation rates of households eligible for the Food Stamp program is shared among many groups focusing on the social and health needs of the low income population. While strides have been made in improving these rates, still both nationally and here in Massachusetts too many families are still food insecure, or worse, still hungry. Project Bread, the leading statewide anti-hunger organization, allocates resources for research, programs, and activities to promote greater utilization of the food stamp and other food assistance programs.

Project Bread through its direct service program provides telephone and Internet information and assistance to potential …

Outsiders-Within: Critical Race Theory, Graduate Education And Barriers To Professionalization, Carolann Daniel

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article uses the lens of critical race theory to examine the experiences of minority students in and outside of the social work education classroom. Research has not critically analyzed the structures, policies and practices of graduate education programs and how they influence the socialization experiences of students. Qualitative interviews with 15 African American and Latino students reveal that their experiences are often characterized by marginalization and conflict. They suggest that certain aspects of the professionalization process create and support forces that reproduce stratified social relations. These problematic relations have a negative impact on minority students threatening their persistence and …

Undermining Progress In Early 20th Century North Carolina: General Attitudes Towards Delinquent African American Girls, Tanya Smith Brice

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article examines efforts made to challenge progress towards adequate service provision for delinquent African American girls in early 20th century North Carolina. This article seeks to explore the nuances of aid, from the African American community and by progressive whites, as it relates to legislative efforts, economic backing and public health issues. It also seeks to examine motivations for engaging in undermining activities.

Perceptions Of Social Services Among Immigrants, Javier MartíN Panameno, Carlos Morales

Theses Digitization Project

This project focused on immigrants' perceptions of social services and social workers. The study employed the post positivist paradigm. The project was conducted with legal and illegal immigrants who received services at Bilingual Family Counseling Service in the city of Ontario, CA. The study found that the immigrants' perceptions about social service agencies and social workers were multi-determined by at least three elements: knowledge, experiences, and attitudes. The dynamic interaction between experiences and attitudes shaped the immigrants' perceptions. Most of the respondents had a positive attitude toward social workers and social services agencies.

High School Hispanic Dropouts: Beliefs And Attitudes Among Hispanic Parents, Karina Elizabeth Miranda, Vanessa R. Zambrano

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to examine Hispanic parent's beliefs and attitudes about high school Hispanic drop out rates. This study was conducted to better understand the factors that Hispanic parents believe lead to school dropout as well as prevention.

The Disproportionate Representation Of Blacks In The Child Welfare System Of The County Of Los Angeles And Decision-Making Practices Of Child Welfare Workers, Flora Mae Jones

Theses Digitization Project

The focus of this study is the significant and widespread overrepresentation of blacks in the child welfare system. The study specifically addresses the issue in the context of its association with decision-making practice of child welfare workers in the County of Los Angeles.

Intimate Partner Violence Among Latina Women: In Their Own Words, Sarah Anne Yeung, Yvonne Leticia Quesada

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to develop a deeper understanding of the experiences of Latina women in Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) relationships. Young Women's Christian Association-Women In Need Growing Stronger (YWCA-WINGS) is a program in Los Angeles County that works with victims and survivors of IPV.

Parenting The Second Time Around: Voices From The Hispanic Community On Raising Their Grandchilden, Kellene Marie Lambert, Deborah Ann Price

Theses Digitization Project

This study explores the experiences of Hispanic grandmothers who are parenting a second time around. This study looked at the strengths, needs, services, within their kinship arrangements. Child welfare workers could gain an in-depth understanding in cultural context that could influence their practice and service delivery.

Disproportion Of African American Children In Child Welfare System Crisis, Pamela Janice Jones

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of the Structured Decision-Making (SDM) tool affects the disproportion of African American children accounted for in Riverside County Child Welfare System.

Spirituality In The Daily Lives Of African American Women, Denise Estell Holmes

Theses Digitization Project

This research study was exploratory in nature and used a qualitative approach to learn firsthand from the intimate, personal and subjective experiences of African American women about the importance of spirituality and religiosity in their everyday lives.

Factors That Contribute To The Reluctance Of Mental Health Treatment Seeking Among African Americans, Natalie Nicole Majors-Stewart

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to perform an in depth examination of the major factors that increase the reluctance among African Americans to seek mental health treatment.

Nineteenth Century Review Of Mental Health Care For African Americans: A Legacy Of Service And Policy Barriers, Tony B. Lowe

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The need to focus on service and policy barriers to mental health service delivery for African Americans remains critical. The purpose of this article is to review nineteenth century care as a method for understanding contemporary service and policy barriers. A case study strategy is used to compare the efforts of Pennsylvania and South Carolina using primary and secondary sources to document these developments through a political economy perspective. These findings suggest that the prevailing social, political and economic realities have created mental health disparities along racial lines. Existing barriers are likely rooted in this same reality.

Multiracial America: A Resource Guide On The History And Literature Of Interracial Issues. Karen Downing, Darlene Nichols, And Kelly Webster., Rose M. Barreto

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book note for Karen Downing, Darlene Nichols and Kelly Webster, Multiracial America: A Resource Guide on the History and Literature of Interracial Issues. Lanham, MD: Rowan & Littlefield, 2005. $35.00.

The Severely-Distressed African American Family In The Crack Era: Empowerment Is Not Enough, Eloise Dunlap, Andrew Golub, Bruce D. Johnson

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Numerous African American families have struggled for generations with persistent poverty, especially in the inner city. These conditions were further strained during the 1980s and 1990s by the widespread use of crack cocaine. For many, crack use became an obsession, dominated their lives, and superseded family responsibilities. This behavior placed additional pressure on already stressed kin support networks. This paper explores the processes prevailing in two households during this period. In the 2000s, children born to members of the Crack Generation are avoiding use of crack but face major deficits from their difficult childhoods. This presents both challenges and opportunities. …

Review Of The Politics Of Multiracialism: Challenging Racial Thinking. Heather M. Dalmage (Ed.). Reviewed By Wilma Peebles-Wilkins., Wilma Peebles-Wilkins

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Heather M. Dalmage (Ed.), The Politics of Multiracialism: Challenging Racial Thinking. Albany, NY.: State University of New York Press, 2004. $65.50 hardcover, $21.95 papercover.

The Correlation Between Social Support, Socioeconomic Status And Psychological Well-Being Among Hispanic Adolescent Females, Xochitl Margarita Alvarez, Marcela Mercado

Theses Digitization Project

The specific purpose of this study was to explore the correlation between social support, socioeconomic status and psychological well-being among Hispanic adolescent females. In examining these specific variables, the researchers obtained a clearer picture as to the predictors that influence Hispanic adolescent female's psychological well-being.

Overrepresentation Of African Americans In The Child Welfare System: Differential Treatment In Risk Assessment By Public Child Welfare Workers, Rebecca Sheree Owens, Courtney Marques Roushion

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to identify salient factors contributing to the overrepresentation of African Americans in the child welfare system. This study seeks to examine whether or not public child welfare workers are biased in their assessments of African Americans, and if years of experience influence their judgment. By understanding some of the salient factors that contribute to these disproportionate numbers, Child Welfare Services can begin to revamp their programs and services to ensure that they are more culturally sensitive and equitable.

African American Caregiver Burden: Stress Factors And Utilization Of Services, Lorna Jean Levias

Theses Digitization Project

The project attempted to understand what factors create the highest levels of stress for African-American caregivers. Quantitative data was gathered from a self-administered questionnaire given to caregivers that attend Inland Caregiver Resource Center and take their loved ones to a Davita Dialysis center in the Riverside area. Participants were asked to complete the Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS) and additional questions regarding demographics and community services known and used by the caregiver. The findings indicated that the age of the patient receiving care and the lack of attendance at any type of support group were the two elements which markedly contributed …

The Effects Of Acculturative Stress On Marital Adjustment Among African Immigrants, Colleen Nomsa Chali

Theses Digitization Project

This quantitative exploratory cross-sectional study collected data through self-administered questionnaires given to 60 African immigrants living in the Inland Empire and Los Angeles area to examine the effects of acculturative stress on marital adjustment.

Review Of Technology And The African American Experience: Needs And Opportunities For Study. Bruce Sinclair (Ed.). Reviewed By John Mcnutt., John Mcnutt

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Bruce Sinclair (Ed.), Technology and the African American Experience: Needs and Opportunities for Study. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2004. $35.00 hardcover.