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Articles 241 - 270 of 557

Full-Text Articles in Social Work

Value Co-Creation Paradigm Framework For Integrating Evidence-Based Practices In Child Welfare, Georgina Horton Jan 2022

Value Co-Creation Paradigm Framework For Integrating Evidence-Based Practices In Child Welfare, Georgina Horton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAlthough there has been increased utilization of evidence-based practice (EBP) in child welfare services, it has not been comprehensively incorporated or fully embraced by key decision makers. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore a value co-creation (VCC) paradigm as a viable framework for collaboration between stakeholders in child welfare, and to explore what attitudes are necessary to enable child welfare stakeholders. The VCC paradigm framework comprising three elements (engagement platforms, experience domains, and capability ecosystems) was used to guide the study. Data were collected from semi structured, in-depth interviews with four key decision makers in the …


Emerging Adults' Lived Prenatal Care Experiences As First-Time Mothers: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study, Linda Mcclerklin Jan 2022

Emerging Adults' Lived Prenatal Care Experiences As First-Time Mothers: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study, Linda Mcclerklin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPrenatal care is fundamental in the lives of expectant mothers. Studies have highlighted the prenatal care experiences of mothers ranging from adolescents to older women, which included the experiences of emerging adults. However, emerging adults bring particular social, emotional, and developmental concerns to pregnancy experiences that are distinct from those of their counterparts. This study explored these experiences to answer the question of what are emerging adults’ lived prenatal care experiences are as first-time mothers. Interpretive phenomenology and assumptions from critical race, feminist, communication, and intersectionality theories helped frame the study. Through purposive and snowball sampling, nine participants were selected …


Human And Social Services Direct Service Professionals' Perception Of Late-Life Cumulative Grief And Loss, Deanna Robinson Jan 2022

Human And Social Services Direct Service Professionals' Perception Of Late-Life Cumulative Grief And Loss, Deanna Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Globally, the adult population 65 and older is anticipated to grow, signaling the necessity of awareness of late-life issues and concerns. Although research has shown that losses and changes in late life are anticipated, there is very little empirical evidence of how HSPs direct care professionals understand, assess, or perceive the complexities of cumulative grief and loss in their 65 and older clients. Charmaz’s constructivist grounded theory (CGT) (2014) was used as the conceptual framework a qualitative methodology to explore the understanding, assessment, and perception of the complexities of late-life cumulative grief and loss of HSPs working with adults 65 …


Job Satisfaction And Burnout Among Social Workers Providing Services To Veterans, Toni Jones Jan 2022

Job Satisfaction And Burnout Among Social Workers Providing Services To Veterans, Toni Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social workers have been documented both experiencing job satisfaction with decreased levels of burnout and suffering from high stress and burnout. The job demands-resources (JDR) model was used to guide this study. The purpose of this study was to examine how social workers working with the veteran population describe how their job satisfaction affects their perceptions of burnout. A basic qualitative study design was employed with a purposeful sample of 12 social work participants drawn from multiple facilities that provide services to veterans. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and were analyzed using a thematic coding process, validation through member …


Coping With Sibling Suicide: The Experiences Of Saint Lucians Of African Descent, Charmaine Hippolyte Emmanuel Jan 2022

Coping With Sibling Suicide: The Experiences Of Saint Lucians Of African Descent, Charmaine Hippolyte Emmanuel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe loss of a loved one to death is difficult. However, the loss to suicide entails increased pain and anguish due to the stigma attached to suicide. Sibling loss to suicide is a global concern as individuals can experience complicated grief reactions, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal ideations. These health concerns can negatively impact the individuals’ health and general well-being in the absence of healthy coping mechanisms. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Saint Lucians of African descent. The participants were 20 to 60 years old and had lost a sibling to …


The Perceptions And Practices Of Child Welfare Caseworkers And Decision-Making Related To Reunification, Sonja D. Ulrich Jan 2022

The Perceptions And Practices Of Child Welfare Caseworkers And Decision-Making Related To Reunification, Sonja D. Ulrich

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The child welfare system exists to support safe and healthy families. When children cannot remain safely with family, they are removed and often placed with nonrelatives. Only half of all of the children removed from their homes achieve reunification. In the current study, research questions examined the perceptions of caseworkers in determining whether or when a child could reunify with their family of removal, and how the perceptions of the caseworker affected their practice regarding reunification. Using social learning theory as a framework, a caseworker’s decisions were viewed as a balance between their work environment and their personal perceptions. Following …


The Social Worker’S Experience Regarding Social Isolation In Middle Schools, Jeanne Williams Jan 2022

The Social Worker’S Experience Regarding Social Isolation In Middle Schools, Jeanne Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractMiddle school is a time when adolescents struggle with social challenges, self-identity, and self-esteem. Social workers are critical stakeholders to support families in schools; these professionals serve in a unique capacity to assist with attendance, provide medical and behavioralsupport and connect families with resources to mitigate barriers to students’ success. Little is known, however, about the role social workers play in preventing and addressing the social isolation of middle school students. The purpose of this project was to explore the role of the social worker as it relates to preventing and addressing the social isolation of middle school students. Self-determination …


African American Youth Decline To Extend Foster Care Despite Their Needs, Rhonda Flowers-Corpening Jan 2022

African American Youth Decline To Extend Foster Care Despite Their Needs, Rhonda Flowers-Corpening

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIn the United States, African American children are disproportionately placed in foster care and experience a myriad of problems, including physical and emotional abuse. As a result, negative post-discharge outcomes are revealed in existing literature, such as substance abuse, unemployment, homelessness, sexual promiscuity, and mental health issues. The purpose of this generic qualitative inquiry was to explore the foster care experience from the perspective of African American foster care alumni. The goal was to understand why the decision is made not to extend foster care services, despite their ongoing needs for support and lack of preparation for adulthood. Ecological Systems …


Stigma Toward People With Opioid Use Disorder In Southwest Michigan, Kathy A. Carruthers Jan 2022

Stigma Toward People With Opioid Use Disorder In Southwest Michigan, Kathy A. Carruthers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The opioid epidemic is one of the largest health problems in America. In one Southwest Michigan county, opioid overdose deaths increased from 36 deaths in 2008 to 104 deaths in 2017. In the same county, stigma was identified as the highest-ranked reason people do not seek opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine knowledge that social work practitioners have regarding stigma toward people who inject drugs with OUD in Southwest Michigan. The purpose aligned with social work values as people with OUD are marginalized and cannot advocate for themselves. The theoretical framework that guided …


Human Service Professionals’ Perceived Ability To Support Title I Schools During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Michael Dewayne Brown Jan 2022

Human Service Professionals’ Perceived Ability To Support Title I Schools During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Michael Dewayne Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human service professional practitioners (HSPPs) who work in Title I schools help students overcome challenges including absenteeism and behavioral problems and serve as liaisons between the school, family, and student. The pivot to online education during the COVID-19 school shutdowns meant that HSPP services also pivoted. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to understand how HSPPs perceived their ability to serve Title I students during the pandemic through the lens of Bandura’s self-efficacy theory. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 15 HSPPs who delivered services to Title I students before and during the pandemic. Participants reported their service delivery …


School Social Workers’ Perceptions Of Compassion Fatigue Syndrome, Gloria I. Collazo Cartagena Jan 2022

School Social Workers’ Perceptions Of Compassion Fatigue Syndrome, Gloria I. Collazo Cartagena

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School social workers face domestic violence, trauma, social violence, and mental and emotional health problems in their work context. Indeed, compassion fatigue results from professionals’ continuous exposure to these problems. This study explored school social work professionals’ perceptions of compassion fatigue. For this, the following questions were explored:the perception of school social workers working for the Puerto Rico Department of Education about compassion fatigue.


How Social Workers Contribute To Outcomes Of Adolescent Participants In Wilderness Programs, Tracy Dockler Jan 2022

How Social Workers Contribute To Outcomes Of Adolescent Participants In Wilderness Programs, Tracy Dockler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The wilderness environment has become recognized as a viable treatment modality for addressing the psychosocial and behavioral needs of treatment-resistant adolescents. Even though social workers provide services in these specialized programs, little is known about how they perceive the contributions they make to the outcomes of the adolescent participants. The conceptual framework of wilderness treatment with a focus on the wilderness experience, as well as on the physical, social, and psychosocial aspects of participant functioning guided this study. In this qualitative study, a semistructured interview guide was used to elicit the thoughts of five master’s level social workers (MSWs) regarding …


Perceptions Of Human Services Case Workers Regarding Culturally Sensitive, Evidence-Based Services In Child Welfare, John Dyrkacz Jan 2022

Perceptions Of Human Services Case Workers Regarding Culturally Sensitive, Evidence-Based Services In Child Welfare, John Dyrkacz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The perceptions of human services case workers toward their racial minority clients may affect the quality of service that racial minority families who are involved in the child welfare system receive. In the child welfare system, some African American families are not offered services that are culturally sensitive or tailored to their race or ethnicity. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore human services case workers’ perceptions of offering culturally appropriate, evidence-based services to their African American and racial minority clients in an Upper Midwest urban setting in the United States. Family systems theory was used to …


Continuity Of Care For Adult Offenders With Severe And Persistent Mental Illnesses: An Action Research Study, Lakeshia C. Gonzalez Jan 2022

Continuity Of Care For Adult Offenders With Severe And Persistent Mental Illnesses: An Action Research Study, Lakeshia C. Gonzalez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For decades, the representation of adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses (SPMI) in the criminal justice system has steadily grown despite public recognition and increased federal implementation of mental health courts and diversion programs. Though more is known about risk factors associated with psychiatric and criminal recidivism among this population, a gap in the literature remains on collaborative interventions and continuity of care between inpatient mental health and criminal justice facilities. Grounded in resilience theory, the purpose of this qualitative study was to examine challenges social workers faced when attempting to facilitate discharge planning between inpatient mental health facilities …


School Social Workers’ Perceptions On Bullying In Elementary Schools, Anna Marie Gustafson Clum Jan 2022

School Social Workers’ Perceptions On Bullying In Elementary Schools, Anna Marie Gustafson Clum

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The social problem of bullying in schools has been an area of study among researchers, but there is a gap on how school social workers can help. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore elementary school social workers’ perceptions on bullying, contributing factors of bullying, and organizational culture on bullying. Sociocultural theory aided in interpretation of results and understanding the social problem of bullying. Nine elementary school social workers participated in semi structured telephone interviews. The phone interviews were analyzed using open coding methods, in vivo codes and phrases, categories, and themes. The study’s findings revealed that …


Influence Of Clinical Supervision On Licensed Clinical Social Workers’ Confidence In Implementing Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Jamie Rebecca Leigh Jan 2022

Influence Of Clinical Supervision On Licensed Clinical Social Workers’ Confidence In Implementing Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Jamie Rebecca Leigh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) require clinical supervision when they are new to the field or new to a treatment method. The supervision is meant to guide the LCSWs as they learn new skills and build confidence. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand how LCSWs described the impact clinical supervision had on their confidence in implementing trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) with youths in a North Carolina intensive in-home program. Social cognitive theory was the framework for this study. Semistructured interviews were completed with 10 participants. Thematic coding was used to identify themes. All participants reported …


Exploring Challenges School Social Workers Face When Advocating Services For Childhood Trauma And Abandonment, Danielle Mozie Jan 2022

Exploring Challenges School Social Workers Face When Advocating Services For Childhood Trauma And Abandonment, Danielle Mozie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School social workers focus on the growth and development of school-age youth by connecting students with resources in the school and community. One population that school social workers provide services for is youth with childhood traumatic backgrounds. This population may have increased behavioral problems, absenteeism, and lower academic achievement. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to better understand what challenges school social workers face when advocating services for school-aged youth experiencing trauma due to neglect from being abandoned. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological system theory was the conceptual framework. Ten licensed master social workers employed as school social workers in the …


Perceived Impact Of Empowerment Through Agricultural Entrepreneurship Among Nigerian Graduate Youth, Jonathan Musa Jan 2022

Perceived Impact Of Empowerment Through Agricultural Entrepreneurship Among Nigerian Graduate Youth, Jonathan Musa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Youth unemployment is a concern in the developing world due to lack of industries to absorb youth. This gemeric qualitative study involved exploring Nigerian graduates of entrepreneurship training in agriculture and their empowerment experiences involving pursuing a related career. The study centered on elimination of poverty from an interdisciplinary perspective. The critical social theory and resilience theory were used as conceptual frameworks. The study included 10 trainee interviews via convenience sampling who worked on an agricultural farm and involved obtaining open-ended data concerning their experiences. Data analysis in the study involved a manual process and Microsoft word was used for …


Transitional Experiences Of Young African American Women In Foster Care, Tiarra Michelle Myers Jan 2022

Transitional Experiences Of Young African American Women In Foster Care, Tiarra Michelle Myers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Emancipated foster youth continue to experience fewer positive outcomes after foster care despite the changes in legislation and the implementation of additional transitional living programs and supports such independent living programs. This quantitative research study followed a non-experimental, secondary data analysis to examine how independent living programs impact the outcomes for African American young women who have transitioned out of the foster care system compared to their Caucasian young women peers at age 17 and age 21. The exploratory study used data from the Children’s Bureau National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) Cohort 2. A cross-section comparison analysis was conducted …


Addiction Therapists’ Working Alliances With Battered Women With Substance Use Disorders, Lee O'Hara Jan 2022

Addiction Therapists’ Working Alliances With Battered Women With Substance Use Disorders, Lee O'Hara

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIn the United States, 1 in 3 people with a substance use disorder is a woman who experienced domestic violence in her lifespan; yet only 1 of 5 people in treatment are women, which implies gender-specific difficulties to therapeutic engagement. There are documented inequalities and unmet needs among battered women with substance use disorders when therapists vary in their ability to form a working alliance with patients. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of addiction therapists’ working alliances with battered women with substance use disorders. The theoretical framework was based in transcendental phenomenology theory and …


Experiences Of Social Workers Providing Sentencing Advocacy For Youth Of Color, Steven Robinson Jan 2022

Experiences Of Social Workers Providing Sentencing Advocacy For Youth Of Color, Steven Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The punitive sentencing of minority youthful offenders is contrary to the juvenile justice system’s founding principles of rehabilitation. Moreover, the introduction of mitigation helps to inform the courts’ decisions on the most appropriate recourse; however, few researchers have studied the experiences of social workers who provide sentencing advocacy for minority youth. This basic qualitative study explored the experiences of social workers in Louisiana involved in addressing sentencing disparities of minority youth and the changes social workers perceive as necessary to reduce these disparities. Six social workers in Louisiana were interviewed regarding their experiences related to providing sentencing advocacy for minority …


Social Work Participation In Living Donor Education To Organ Transplant Candidates, Mary Rzeszut Jan 2022

Social Work Participation In Living Donor Education To Organ Transplant Candidates, Mary Rzeszut

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Living donor transplantation (LDT), despite its documented benefits, does not occur as often as deceased donor transplants (DDT). Transplant social workers are an integral part of the transplant interdisciplinary team and are well trained in conducting psychoeducation. This action research study involved examining social work practice challenges that transplant social workers experience that prohibit them from conducting effective LDT education. The study was guided by family problem solving theory, social cognitive theory and the Afrocentricity perspective to determine how transplant candidates and families can best learn information to discuss and recruit potential living donors. The research questions were about roles …


The Sustained Effects Of Mindfulness-Based Interventions On Distress Symptoms In Female Breast Cancer Patients, Candace K. Sprouse Jan 2022

The Sustained Effects Of Mindfulness-Based Interventions On Distress Symptoms In Female Breast Cancer Patients, Candace K. Sprouse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to illuminate the magnitude and prevalence of distress symptoms among female breast cancer patients and help identify best social work practices for treating distress symptoms in cancer patients. Using the social cognitive model of restorative well-being, the sustained effects of mindfulness-based interventions on distress symptoms female breast cancer patients experienced were examined in this study. Grounded in social cognitive theory, this model facilitated understanding of the recovery of well-being after an emotional setback. This quantitative experimental study included analysis of secondary data with pre- and post testing with multiple follow ups to measure the …


Depression Among Older Immigrant African Women In Metro West Massachusetts, Bi Toh Jan 2022

Depression Among Older Immigrant African Women In Metro West Massachusetts, Bi Toh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThis study addressed depression among older immigrant African Women in Metro West Massachusetts to better understand the causes and prevalence of depression among older women coming from Africa to live in the United States. The study situated older women to be above the age of 55 and focused on exploring the views of social workers in relation to issues of depression among these women. It addressed the factors that influence older immigrant African women’s adaptive capacity in Metro West Massachusetts, the mental health service social workers offer to older women from Africa living in the United States, how social workers …


Conceptualization Of Gender Variant Inclusive Healthcare Service Delivery, Tamesha Rhyne Jan 2022

Conceptualization Of Gender Variant Inclusive Healthcare Service Delivery, Tamesha Rhyne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Gender variant people experience a variety of health concerns for which they seek the assistance of healthcare providers. These concerns may range from chronic health conditions and psychological disorders to gender affirming concerns. Due to living in a heteronormative society, gender variant individuals are more susceptible to experiencing stigmatization, discrimination, and other forms of unfair treatment while accessing healthcare services, which contributes to poor health outcomes. This treatment may be attributed to the lack of knowledge, competency, and training of healthcare providers as it relates to trans-inclusive care. Grounded in minority stress theory and intersectionality theory, the purpose of this …


The Lived Experiences And Perceptions Of Young Adults Who Have Transitioned Out Of State Or Other Care, Linda Rose Ross Jan 2022

The Lived Experiences And Perceptions Of Young Adults Who Have Transitioned Out Of State Or Other Care, Linda Rose Ross

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractOver 20,000 young adults are released from state care annually and 100,000 young adults are released from justice centers. Past studies have revealed that young adults 18-24 years of age transitioning out of care are not prepared for independent living and may face many adversities. The problem is that young adults have difficulties finding permanent housing once emancipated from state care, their biological homes, or juvenile justice centers. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of young adults 18-24 years of age and how their experiences and life skills helped on their journey to acquire …


Empathy-Based Strain Among Social Workers Working With Couples Experiencing Infidelity, Jared And Rachel Taylor Jan 2022

Empathy-Based Strain Among Social Workers Working With Couples Experiencing Infidelity, Jared And Rachel Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) social workers engaged in the practice of couples therapy often work with the issue of infidelity, which can be traumatizing to clients. EFT relies heavily on empathy-based interventions that allow the therapist to experience the pain of clients in the process of facilitating the repair of a couple's attachment bond. Yet the nature of EFT with infidelity can increase social workers’ risk of developing empathy-based strain (EBS), which can lead to personal and professional detriment and practice that harm clients. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe how social workers who practice EFT …


Understanding How Healthcare Social Workers Respond To Adult Medical Trauma, Sonya Anthony Jan 2022

Understanding How Healthcare Social Workers Respond To Adult Medical Trauma, Sonya Anthony

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medical trauma in the hospital is a growing health disparity often accompanied by social determinants. Assisting in alleviating disparities and social determinants is a standard of care embedded in social work practice. This research was conducted to examine healthcare social workers’ experiences responding to and managing the psychosocial impacts of adult medical trauma in an acute inpatient environment. The goal of the research was to identify if a need exists for trauma-informed training among healthcare social workers. The research question examined how healthcare social workers respond to medical trauma. The model of case management, trauma-informed care, and systems theory were …


Professional Identity Within An Evolving Profession: Clinical Social Work In Puerto Rico, Lorna Betzaida Colon Gonzalez Jan 2022

Professional Identity Within An Evolving Profession: Clinical Social Work In Puerto Rico, Lorna Betzaida Colon Gonzalez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

More than three decades of data document the challenges of clinical social workers in establishing their professional identity within the social work profession in Puerto Rico. Less is known specifically about how they identify within interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary teams in the various clinical settings on the island. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of clinical social workers in Puerto Rico regarding their professional identity as compared to generalist social workers. The generic qualitative study was based on the ecological system theory framework. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with a purposive sample of 10 clinical and …


Stigmas Of Alzheimer's Disease And Help Seeking For Alzheimer's Disease Among African Americans, Donna De Levante Raphael Jan 2022

Stigmas Of Alzheimer's Disease And Help Seeking For Alzheimer's Disease Among African Americans, Donna De Levante Raphael

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to examine how the perceptions of stigma of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affected the help-seeking behaviors of African American caregivers. Data used in this study were collected using semistructured interviews with 11 African American caregivers caring for loved ones diagnosed with AD. The conceptual framework of this study was guided by the stigma theory and the sociocultural health belief model. The four types of social stigmas used to assess the effects of the stigma of AD were public, self, courtesy, and structural stigma. Data were analyzed using the Thematic Content Analysis (TCA). Results provided support …