Social Work Commons^™

Investigating The Impact Of Sibling Foster Care On Placement Stability, Jeffrey David Waid

Dissertations and Theses

Sibling relationships are an important, yet under investigated aspect of foster care research. Despite the fact that between 65-85% of children in care have brothers and sisters, only recently have child welfare researchers begun to explore the complex and dynamic nature of sibling relationships in substitute care settings. Although cross-sectional and longitudinal studies suggest differences in placement stability and permanency outcomes for siblings placed together versus those placed separately, the conditions under which sibling relationships influence placement stability, permanency, and well-being in foster care settings remain unknown.

This dissertation investigated how family dynamics and home setting characteristics influenced the likelihood …

Evaluation Of The Kindergarten Readiness Partnership & Innovation Grants, Beth L. Green, Lindsey Brianna Patterson, Mackenzie Morris, Lindsey Anne Cochran, Callie H. Lambarth

Early Childhood

In July 2014, Oregon’s Early Learning Division provided first-time funding for sixteen communities across the state to implement Kindergarten Readiness Partnership & Innovation (KRPI) projects. The KRPI projects share the common goal of improving children’s school readiness and, ultimately, improving school success and reducing the achievement gap. To achieve these goals, grantees were given considerable local flexibility to implement innovative approaches in one or more of the following areas:

1. Supporting kindergarten readiness skills and smooth transitions to kindergarten;

2. Increasing family engagement in children’s learning and connecting families and schools;

3. Providing professional development to early learning and/or elementary …

It’S Not As Simple As It Sounds: Problems And Solutions In Accessing And Using Administrative Child Welfare Data For Evaluating The Impact Of Early Childhood Interventions, Beth L. Green, Catherine Ayoub, Jessica Dym Bartlett, Carrie Jeanne Furrer, Adam Von Ende, Rachel Chazen-Cohen, Joanne Klevens, Peggy Nygren

Center for Improvement of Child and Family Services Publications

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in using administrative data collected by state child welfare agencies as a source of information for research and evaluation. The challenges of obtaining access to and using these data, however, have not been well documented. This study describes the processes used to access child welfare records in six different states and the approach to combining and using the information gathered to evaluate the impact of the Early Head Start program on children’s involvement with the child welfare system from birth through age eleven. We provide “lessons learned” for researchers who are attempting …

Focal Point, Volume 29, Portland State University. Regional Research Institute

Research and Training Center - Focal Point

This issue of Focal Point focuses on trauma–informed care and its growing relevance in research, official policy, practice methods, and organizational structure.

Learning From Educators Of Color: Licensed But Not Teaching In Oregon’S Public Schools, Ann Curry-Stevens, Analucia Lopezrevoredo

Center to Advance Racial Equity Publications and Reports

While the Minority Teachers Act has long been in existance (since 1991), it has not been enforced. It aims to ensure that the population of teachers represents the diversity of students in Oregon’s public classrooms, but remains far below those target levels. Today in Oregon, 35.5% of students are of color, while only 8.3% of Oregon’s teachers are of color.

Over the last two years, the Oregon Educator Equity Advisory Group (OEEAG) has been generating data to understand this issue and to make recommendations to the legislature to improve the diversity of educators in Oregon’s schools. Part of this investigation …

Got Hair That Flows In The Wind: The Complexity Of Hair And Identity Among African American Female Adolescents In Foster Care, Lakindra Michelle Mitchell Dove

Dissertations and Theses

African American children are disproportionately over-represented in the child welfare system. Many of these children linger in the system and experience disconnection from their biological families, communities, cultural beliefs, values, and practices. Familial socialization and cultural exposure are essential to developing a positive ethnic identity and self-concept. For African American female adolescents, hair and hair care are critical areas for such socialization and support. This qualitative study explored the hair and hair care perceptions and experiences of African American female adolescents in foster care. The goal was to examine hair and hair's connection to, and influence on, sense of self …

Motivations Of Yoga Teachers And The Impact Of Training And Teaching, Casadi "Khaki" Marino

Student Research Symposium

Objective: Most research on yoga focuses on efficacy with physical and mental health conditions. Little attention is given to yoga teachers. This project focused on motivations to engage in yoga teacher training and the personal impact of training and teaching.

Methods: 10 yoga teachers practicing in a metro area were engaged in individual interviews. They were asked what led them to yoga teaching, plans regarding teaching, barriers faced to engaging in training, the challenges of training and teaching, and self-care. Interviews were transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis.

Results: Participants reported realizing significant benefits from yoga practice and desire to …

Keep Your Head In The Game: Fosterclub And The Better Futures Project At Portland State University, Lee Ann Phillips, Isha Charlie‐Mccneeley, Timothy Bell, Celeste Bodner, Laurie E. Powers, Sarah Geenen

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

This workshop, developed through a partnership between Better Futures and FosterClub, is focused on the challenges youth transitioning from foster care may face while pursuing their goals around higher education.

Improving Access To Food Systems Among Communities Of Color: A Food Justice Issue, Alma M. O. Trinidad, Helen Camden, Anne Coleman

Center to Advance Racial Equity Publications and Reports

Food insecurity and access among communities of color is a major social and health issue. Limited studies rooted in Oregon exist to assist practitioners, policy makers, and scholars in understanding food insecurity and access among recent immigrants and refugees. Using a multiple qualitative methods approach, this study has three major aims: 1) to understand the food access issues, particularly barriers and opportunities, among refugees and immigrants; 2) to investigate the challenges and opportunities of immigrants and refugees in accessing systems that are culturally responsive to their needs and; and 3) to address the gaps of service delivery targeted for communities …

Better Futures: A Randomized Field Test Of A Model For Supporting Young People In Foster Care With Mental Health Challenges To Participate In Higher Education, Sarah Geenen, Laurie E. Powers, Lee Ann Phillips, May Nelson, Jessica Mckenna, Nichole Winges-Yanez, Linda Blanchette, Adrienne Croskey, Lawrence D. Dalton, Amy Salazar, Paul Swank

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

The purpose of the study was to conduct a preliminary efficacy evaluation of the Better Futures model, which is focused on improving the postsecondary preparation and participation of youth in foster care with mental health challenges. Sixty-seven youth were randomized to either a control group that received typical services or an intervention group, which involved participation in a Summer Institute, individual peer coaching, and mentoring workshops. Findings indicate significant gains for the intervention group on measures of postsecondary participation, postsecondary and transition preparation, hope, self-determination, and mental health empowerment, as compared to the control group. Youth in the intervention group …

Meeting The Transition Needs Of Urban American Indian/Alaska Native Youth Through Culturally Based Services, Barbara J. Friesen, Terry L. Cross, Pauline Jivanjee, Ashley Thirstrup, Abby Bandurraga, L. Kris Gowen, Jen Rountree

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

This article reports findings from three qualitative studies exploring supports for positive transitions of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth to adulthood. Community-based participatory methods were employed through a research partnership involving a culturally based community agency, the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA), the National Indian Child Welfare Association, and Portland State University. Studies utilized a Relational Worldview (RWV) framework, where well-being is understood as a balance among the domains of mind, body, spirit, and context. Collectively, findings demonstrate that NAYA employs culturally grounded interventions to overcome the traumatic histories and current oppressive conditions affecting low-income urban AI/AN youth …

Community And State Systems Change Associated With The Healthy Transitions Initiative, Janet S. Walker, Nancy Koroloff, Shawn James Mehess

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

People engaged in efforts to improve services to emerging adults with serious mental health challenges have reached the conclusion that service change at the program or agency level is not sustainable without related changes at the systems or policy level. This article focuses on one set of efforts to create intentional system change at both the community and state levels. These changes were pursued by states and communities that received grants under the federally funded Healthy Transitions Initiative (HTI), with the aim of creating more effective services for emerging adults with serious mental health conditions. The article reviews the development …

A Theory Of Change For Positive Developmental Approaches To Improving Outcomes Among Emerging Adults With Serious Mental Health Conditions, Janet S. Walker

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

Recent evidence attests to the shortcomings of typical services for improving outcomes among emerging adults with serious mental health conditions (SMHCs). Researchers and providers have responded by developing new programs and interventions for meeting the unique needs of these young people. A significant number of these programs and interventions can be described as taking a positive developmental approach, which is informed by a combination of theoretical sources, including theories of positive development, self-determination, ecological systems, and social capital. To date, however, there has been no comprehensive theoretical statement describing how or why positive change should occur as a result of …

The Grand Challenge Of Ending Homelessness, Benjamin Henwood, Suzanne L. Wenzel, Philip F. Mangano, Maryellen Hombs, Deborah K. Padgett, Thomas Byrne, Eric Rice, Sarah Butts, Mathew C, Uretsky

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

The notion that homelessness in the United States can be ended, rather than managed, represents a fundamental shift in expectations that has occurred over the past three decades. Many U.S. cities now have plans to end homelessness. Yet homelessness and housing instability are substantial problems that afflict a diverse group of subpopulations such as families, youth, veterans, and chronically homeless single adults. Ending homelessness for each of these populations may require tailored interventions that are responsive to specific individualized needs. These factors make tackling homelessness a difficult task. Although evidencebased solutions exist for some subpopulations, such as housing first for …

Measuring The Support Networks Of Transition-Age Foster Youth: Preliminary Validation Of A Social Network Assessment For Research And Practice, Jennifer E. Blakeslee

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Multi-dimensional social support is an important factor in any positive transition into young adulthood, and youth who are exiting foster care ideally receive comprehensive social support from a range of informal and formal sources. Yet the social networks of transition-age foster youth are likely influenced over time by child welfare involvement, which can weaken or disrupt natural support relationships, while introducing service-oriented relationships that are not intended to last into adulthood. To better understand the social support context of youth aging out of care, we can apply social network theory and methods to systematically identify their networks of supportive relationships …

Research-To-Practice Brief: Promising Evidence That Early Head Start Can Prevent Child Maltreatment, Rachel Chazan-Cohen, Beth L. Green, Catherine Ayoub, Jessica Dym Bartlett, Adam Von Ende, Carrie Jeanne Furrer

Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention

This brief addresses two main questions in a sample of Early Head Start eligible children: 1) the number and type of maltreatment episodes and 2) the impact of Early Head Start on child and family involvement in the child welfare system. These findings are especially important given the lack of scalable and effective preventive interventions. In addition, they are also timely given the recent interest in fostering collaborations between early care and education programs and child welfare agencies, agencies responsible for overseeing child protection from maltreatment (OHS & ACYF, 2010; ACYF & OHS, 2011; ACYF & OCC, 2011). The current …

Behavioral Health Services Needs And Availability For Young Children Involved In The Child Welfare System, Jill Hoffman, Alicia Bunger, Hillary Robertson, Scottye Cash

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

The purposes of this presentation are to:

• Identify key characteristics of young children (0-5 years old) involved in child welfare
• Learn about the prevalence of behavioral health service needs and use among children 0-5 years old involved in child welfare
• Learn about the availability of behavioral health services targeted toward children aged 0-5 years old
• Have the opportunity to engage in a discussion on this study’s findings and trends they have seen in the populations they serve

Economic Equity In Communities Of Color: The Effectiveness Of Minority Contracting Initiatives, Matthew Chorpenning, Ann Curry-Stevens, Greg Schrock, Nathen Lamb

Center to Advance Racial Equity Publications and Reports

As the movement for racial equity takes hold in Portland, Oregon, we look for examples of where the living conditions of communities of color are improving. One concrete initiative that many point to is the array of minority contracting efforts whereby minority-owned businesses are supported by various levels of government in ways that are entrenched in both policy and practice. This report looks at the most recent data on minority contracting, as well as minority hiring policies, research-based best practices and a case study of the Sellwood Bridge project and determines that much more can and should be done to …

Balancing Work & Family Responsibilities: A Guidebook For Parent Support Providers, Julie M. Rosenzweig, Anna M. Malsch, Eileen M. Brennan

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

This training manual and guidebook for Parent Support Providers has been adapted from Children/Youth with Disabilities: Their Parents are YOUR Employees, a workbook for human resource professionals originally produced by the Work-Life Integration Project at Portland State University. The research behind the manual comes from over two decades of federally funded studies focused on understanding the work-life experiences of parents with children challenged by behavioral health disabilities. Supplemental materials to the manual for group training purposes include a slide presentation, and a training script.

The survey at the end of this manual may be used as a pre/post evaluation of …

Association Of Childhood Physical And Sexual Abuse With Intimate Partner Violence, Poor General Health And Depressive Symptoms Among Pregnant Women, Yasmin V. Barrios, Bizu Gelaye, Qiuyue Zhong, Christina Nicolaidis, Marta B. Rondon, Pedro J. Garcia, Pedro A. Mascaro Sanchez, Sixto E. Sanchez, Michelle A. Williams

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objective

We examined associations of childhood physical and sexual abuse with risk of intimate partner violence (IPV). We also evaluated the extent to which childhood abuse was associated with self-reported general health status and symptoms of antepartum depression in a cohort of pregnant Peruvian women.

Methods

In-person interviews were conducted to collect information regarding history of childhood abuse and IPV from 1,521 women during early pregnancy. Antepartum depressive symptomatology was evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Multivariable logistic regression procedures were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).

Results

Any childhood abuse was associated with …

Waiver Iii: Parent Mentor & Relationship Based Visitation, Beth L. Green, Anna Rockhill, Carrie Jeanne Furrer, Angela Rodgers, Thuan Duong, Amanda Cross-Hemmer, Christine Cooper, Kevin Cherry

Child Welfare

The Center for the Improvement of Child and Family Services at Portland State University was contracted by the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS), Child Welfare Division to conduct the evaluation of the Title IV-E Waiver Demonstration Project. The project was funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Children’s Bureau. Oregon’s IV-E Waiver Demonstration involved the implementation and evaluation of two innovative service models for families involved in the child welfare system: (1) RelationshipBased Visitation (RBV); and (2) Parent Mentoring (PM). Relationship-Based Visitation (RBV) was provided in 13 Districts and 29 counties; Parent Mentoring was …

Family Connections Research Capsules, Center For Improvement Of Child And Family Services

Child Welfare

Family Connections Oregon (FCO) was a three-year demonstration project funded by the Children’s Bureau in which a co-located coordinator provided a package of services - intensive family finding and engagement, family group conferencing, and follow-up - within the first 60 days of a child’s out-of-home placement. These practices are continuing in Oregon through a IV-E waiver demonstration project called Leveraging Intensive Family Engagement (LIFE).

The Research Capsules associated with this project are included in this record.

Child And Maternal Health In The Slavic Community: Insights On Assets And Priorities, Marie-Elena Reyes, Ann Curry-Stevens

Center to Advance Racial Equity Publications and Reports

The Slavic community’s health is impacted by race and ethnicity, and also by issues that flow from being a newcomer community, and also from their status as refugees. They also bring to the U.S.A. cultural orientation that is collectivist, and shared experiences of persecution and deep distrust of the government. As is detailed in this report, these experiences have an impact on health and wellbeing, and simultaneously have a detrimental effect on the economic stature of the community.

This Community Needs Assessment on the Health of Slavic Children (ages 0-5 years) was conducted to produce a “needs assessment” report outlining …

2014 Oregon General Assistance Study, Karen Cellarius, Mary Oschwald, Sandra Marie Leotti

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

In early 2014, the Oregon legislature and the state Department of Human Services (DHS) commissioned a study to gather input from consumer and non-consumer stakeholders regarding how to most effectively meet the needs of childless adults with disabilities. This study was designed to answer the following questions: (1) What services for childless adults with disabilities exist within Oregon and in other states? (2) What is the need today? and (3) What potential program structures and funding options might address the needs or the target population while also addressing any barriers experienced with the previous program? The following synopsis describes the …

Peer Mentoring In Child Welfare: A Motivational Framework, Anna Rockhill, Carrie Furrer, Thuan Duong

Center for Improvement of Child and Family Services Publications

Peer mentoring interventions for parents with substance use disorders who are involved with the child welfare system are relatively new, complex, individualized interventions and thus need to be understood both in regard to program efficacy and the processes of how they work. This qualitative study of the experiences of parents involved in a parent mentoring program suggested that certain practices helped motivate parents to think and act in ways that supported their goals and child welfare case plans. The three key mentoring practices that emerged were building caring relationships, pro- viding guidance, and putting parents in charge. These practices promoted …

Family Connections Oregon, Center For Improvement Of Child And Family Services

Child Welfare

The State of Oregon was an early implementer of family-centered practices to improve child welfare outcomes by effectively engaging families so that children avoid placement or spend less time in care. Despite this promising history, statewide availability of such practices had not yet been attained. With the support of the Family Connections Grant, Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) partnered with the Child Welfare Partnership at Portland State University’s (PSU) School of Social Work to address this need.

Family Connections Research, Oregon Child Welfare Partnership, Katharine Cahn

Child Welfare

Family Connections Oregon (FCO) was a three-year demonstration project funded by the Children’s Bureau in which a co-located coordinator provided a package of services - intensive family finding and engagement, family group conferencing, and follow-up - within the first 60 days of a child’s out-of-home placement. These practices are continuing in Oregon through a IV-E waiver demonstration project called Leveraging Intensive Family Engagement (LIFE).

Disaggregating Student Outcomes By Race And Income: Educational Equity In Oregon, Anne Sinkey, Ann Curry-Stevens

Center to Advance Racial Equity Publications and Reports

This research seeks to answer an emerging question in public school debates: whether race is just a proxy for income when it comes to disparities in educational outcomes among Oregon’s K-12 students. This research set out to respond to this question, and draws from public school data records to answer the question. We investigated student test scores across three different environments: elementary schools, middle schools and high schools. We also investigated student graduation rates from high school. The pattern of findings is absolutely clear: regardless of the site or type of disparities, when we compare how low-income students fare, all …

Community-Based Participatory Research With Communities Defined By Race, Ethnicity, And Disability: Translating Theory To Practice, Christina Nicolaidis, Dora Raymaker

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is an increasingly popular participatory research approach where community members and academics collaborate as equal partners to conduct research for improving health and wellbeing through action (Isreal et al., 2003; Wallerstein and Duran, 2003). It is a branch of action research in the tradition of emancipatory practice. CBPR grew within the health sciences in the 1990s in response to a number of issues with mainstream health science research and minority communities …

Getting The Most Out Of Vocational Rehabilitation, Research And Training Center For Pathways To Positive Futures, Portland State University

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Your state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program is an important resource for people with disabilities. VR counselors are available to assist young adults with physical, emotional or mental health challenges to successfully pursue their job or career goals. The purpose of this Tip Sheet is to optimize your VR experience. Your counselor wants to see you succeed and will provide information and support to assist you in exercising informed choice throughout the rehabilitation process as you work towards your employment goal.