Social Work Commons^™

Compassion Fatigue In Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program Settings, Sandra Gallegos

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study was conducted to gain further understanding on the possible effects of providing trauma informed care to traumatized children in the foster care system in a Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) environment. STRTP caregivers are prone to be exposed to secondary traumatic stress when working in providing direct care in this type of setting by word of mouth by the youth, placement paperwork of previous trauma and behaviors, and current maladaptive behaviors during placement. With secondary traumatic stress, caregivers are also susceptible to burnout. This study took a positivist approach and collected data from November of 2023-Febraruay 2024 …

Impact Of School-Based Mental Health Services On Student Attendance At A Southern California School District, Johanna Garcia-Fernandez, Morgan Stokes

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

When children experience trauma, it impacts their development, mental stability, learning, and behavior. This causes an increased need for prevention and early intervention mental health services within the public school system. Some California school districts offer mental health services students can utilize at their schools. Social workers are best equipped to assist and provide students with the necessary mental health resources due to their education, training, and role. This study used secondary data from 101 randomly selected Southern California school district participants. This study examined the relationship between children’s attendance, age, gender, primary diagnosis, living arrangements, number of traumatic events …

Covid-19, Social Isolation, And Msw Students’ Mental Health, Cassandra Barajas

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

New literature has found that the COVID-19 pandemic has grown the prevalence of anxiety and depression amongst college students (University Communications, 2021). The purpose of this research study was to further explore how the sudden restrictions and isolation protocols enforced and caused by the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health symptoms amongst MSW students. The study sample consisted of social work students who were 18 years old or older and who were enrolled in a Master of Social Work Program at some point in time during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

This study was conducted using a post-positivism approach and by …

Correlation Of Adverse Childhood Experiences And Somatic Symptoms In Adolescents, Shannon Beaumont

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study set out to identify any correlation between exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and presence of somatic symptoms in adolescents for the purpose of implementing early intervention for adolescents who present with somatic symptoms. This study utilized data provided by the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) and, using Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS), identified correlative relationships between the presence of somatic symptoms an ACEs as well as somatic symptoms and demographic variables. While ACEs did not have a significant relationship with somatic symptoms (p = 0.07; 0.06; 0.07; 0.13), several other variables had a significant relationship …

Surrogacy And It's Effects On The Mental Health Of The Gestational Carrier, Dayjahne Haywood

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Objective: This study examines the process of surrogacy and the effects it has on the gestational carrier's mental health during the pregnancy as well as after. While previous studies have highlighted the positive impact surrogacy has on the intended families and parents, there are few studies exploring the experiences of women who participate in the selfless act of baring another person's child. My study explores and addresses the risks (health and mental health), the screening process, and the ethical issues associated with the surrogacy process. Additionally, I investigate the impact of familial, community, the intended parent(s) support has on the …

The Challenges To The Implementation Of Administration For Children And Families Memorandum: Foster Care As A Support To Families, Rebecca Joan Sullivan-Oppenheim

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess what challenges, if any, there are to implementing the best practices as indicated in IM 20-06. IM 20-06 shifts the role of resource parents (aka foster parents) from being solely a support for the children, to a support for the entire family, including the biological parents. This represents a major child welfare culture shift. It was unknown if the IM information and recommendations were effectively disseminated to all foster care agencies. Interviews were conducted with foster agency case workers with open-ended questions about their beliefs about the relationships between resource parents and …

Lgbtq+ College Students Hopeful Future Expectations, Savannah Hull

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background- The LGBTQ+ community has seen a recent rise in policies and bills that limit or take away rights, including those that limit access to gender-affirming healthcare and remove LGBTQ+ education from schools. These policies have been difficult for the LGBTQ+ community. Objective- The aim of this study was to compare the difference between cishet (cisgender heterosexual) college students levels of hope and LGBTQ+ college students levels of hope, specifically hope in relation to their futures. Methods- This study utilized a cross-sectional design. Qualtrics surveys were distributed and participants answered questions using the Hopeful Future Expectations scale in order to …

Art Therapy For Bereaved Siblings After Pediatric Cancer Death, Daniela Ramirez-Ibarra

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Children and adolescents whose siblings die due to pediatric cancer are at an increased risk for several mental health issues and high risky behavior engagement. There is currently very little literature on the topic of a sibling’s grief despite its potentially critical and persisting consequences. Through qualitative research in analyzing art projects made by bereaved siblings, this is an exploratory study of how an art program may help bereaved or grieving children access their feelings using a non verbal modality of expression. The research study was conducted at a community-based non-profit organization which focuses on supporting families of children with …

Effects Of Voluntary Removal On An Immigrant Family, Miriam Jimenez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explores the effects on the family system when undocumented parents voluntarily leave the U.S. to gain legal status while their children remain behind. This study looks into the financial, emotional, and relational burden caused by the separation in order to gain legal status. This information is important to find possible alternatives and resources that can help families who go through a similar situation. There is an estimate of 1.1 million undocumented immigrants that can be led to leave the U.S. to gain legal status and spend years in their home country, which could potentially mean separation of families …

Challenges Veterans Encounter Receiving Or Seeking Mental Health Services, Denise D. Contreras, Andrea Ramirez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The goal of this research was to identify the challenges U.S. Veterans faced when accessing mental health services within the Veterans Affairs (V.A.) Healthcare System. The V.A. serves approximately six million U.S. military veterans annually and is considered a leader in providing high-quality care in the USA. Despite the V.A.'s efforts to improve its patient care system, many veterans do not seek treatment or follow through with mental health services. The study found that participants had difficulty getting appointments with V.A. mental health services. When they did, the appointments were usually convenient and took place as scheduled. While some participants …

Impact Of Resource Scarcity On Undocumented Students In Higher Education, Sebastian Melendez Lopez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Much progress has been made in understanding the impacts of identifying as an undocumented student in higher education, but knowledge of the scarcity of resources impacting undocumented students remains limited. Objective: This descriptive study examined the relationship between accessibility to social support and the psychological well-being of undocumented students in higher education. Methods: Quantitative data was gathered cross-sectionally from participants recruited using nonprobability sampling methods. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale and Social Support Survey Scale were used to gather data on participants' psychological distress and social support. A descriptive analysis was performed to yield summary statistics of participants’ demographics, …

Protestant Church Workers' Knowledge Of Child Abuse Reporting And Reporting Behavior, Rachel Juedes

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Child abuse is a prevalent problem on many levels. Mandated reporting laws exist to promote earlier intervention. Studies have shown that mandated reporters are more likely to report if they receive effective training. Protestant church workers interact with many children and need to have enough knowledge to detect and report child abuse. This study utilized a quantitative online survey to answer the question: What are Protestant clergy and church workers’ knowledge about child abuse reporting? Child abuse reporting knowledge was measured in categories of victimization, detection, and reporting. A convenience sample was obtained from attendees at a church conference. Correlational …

Factors That Increase Social Worker Longevity In Child Welfare Services, Heather Lovejoy

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

High social worker turnover rates have impacted Child Welfare Services (CWS) for many years and remains a consistent issue. Retaining child welfare social workers is important to effectively serve clientele involved with CWS. This study sought to identify factors that increase social worker longevity in CWS. Using a post-positivist approach, the researcher gathered qualitative data from employees who previously and currently work for CWS in southern California through interviews. The researcher interviewed ten participants. Of those participants, four are no longer employed with a CWS agency and six remained employed with CWS, all with different lengths of employment and came …

The Increase Of Suicide Risks Amongst Individuals With Mental Health Disorders During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Joanna Flores

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic brought on many challenges, one of them being the increase of suicidal ideation among individuals with a mental health diagnosis. This study seeks to determine the key factors that increased suicidal ideation by interviewing clients from a mental health agency. This is an important topic since suicide rates have been steadily increasing throughout the last 19 years. The researcher conducted one-on-one interviews virtually with mental health clinicians at the study site. The themes found in this study were fear of COVID, isolation, anxiety, and depression. A subtheme found in this study was social isolation. Understanding the key …

Incarceration Effects On Children And Families, Sharon Rose

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Children of incarcerated parents have been found to experience long-term trauma as an effect of parental incarceration. There is little information regarding resources and programs available to these children to mitigate these issues. This study aims to identify recurring themes experienced by children and families separated by incarceration which cause negative long-term issues. The study will identify these overlaps and identify plans that can be implemented by social service agencies to alleviate and diminish the rates at which children are affected by incarceration. The researcher will conduct individual interviews with participants to complete an exploratory cross-sectional study. Data gathered from …

Support For Social Workers Treating Adolescent Substance Abusers, Monica Delucia, Kethura Solano

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study examines the barriers social workers experience when working with adolescent substance users. Research has not fully explored if intervention techniques are effective or suggest other approaches that may support substance use disorder professionals including supervisor support, training, and intervention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if social workers who provide interventions to adolescent substance users have the adequate resources to be successful in their field. The literature review provides a better understanding of the common themes social workers experience when working with adolescent substance users.

This study used a qualitative design and interviewed 8 professional social …

Chronic Sorrow And The Impact On Parents Of Children With Disabilities, Rhianna Mayra Nordlund

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Purpose: Chronic sorrow was assumed to be a common feeling experienced by parents of children with disabilities, and if not supported properly it would impede a parent’s ability to support their child through the treatment of a disability and other life stressors that come with a lifetime diagnosis. This research looked to see how family type, the child’s diagnosis, feelings of support expressed by the parent, societal stigma about disability, and coping abilities impacted the parents’ experiences of chronic sorrow and who is was most at risk of chronic sorrow.

Methods: Through a positivist research design, the researcher addressed the …

Minoritized Groups And Social Integration And Recovery Capital Development In Mutual Aid Fellowships, Kaelyn Doyle, Benjamin Wahl

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the level of engagement in recovery oriented mutual aid self-help groups one has, and the development of Recovery Capital (RC), an important variable in the recovery process from substance use disorders (SUDs). This study further assessed the correlation between self-help engagement and RC development for persons from minoritized groups. Results of this study can help social workers understand the efficacy of referrals to free, community-based mutual aid recovery programs for individuals from different demographic backgrounds, particularly those from minoritized groups, who often face barriers to treatment. A survey of …

Alternative Approaches To Police Interventions When Responding To Mental Health Crises Incidents, Karen Rivera Apolinar

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Purpose: This study explored mental health workers perspectives on alternative approaches in responding to mental health crises.

The study was carried out in Southern California, in collaboration with mental health workers who currently work or previously have worked in mental health crisis. It adopted a post-positivists paradigm and data was gathered through individual interviews with mental health workers who have direct experience with mental health crisis response in the community and with the police. The twenty participants in the study were men and women working in the mental health field, and of various backgrounds, licensures, and ages.

The study found …

Increasing Teacher Awareness Of Mental Health In Children, Sarah Alexis Cortes

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Mental health issues in school-aged children have become a larger issue especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Because children spend a large amount of time in a school setting, it is important to utilize teachers to assist in preventing, recognizing, and supporting mental health issues in their students. This can be difficult however, when many states throughout the United States of America, have little to no requirements for mental health training in both their credential programs and their school districts. This can leave teachers feeling less comfortable and lack an understanding of how to prevent, recognize, and support, student mental health …

How Has The Covid-19 Pandemic Impacted Clients Of The Early Development Center, Daniella Loera

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The research project explored the impact of factors that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic and families and children in the early development center, resulting in a decrease of child attendance. This research sought to analyze the impacts in one community to prepare for future national emergencies across different communities. The study was conducted with clients of a non-profit organization that offers services through their early development center for ages six weeks to five years old. Data was obtained through survey responses from participants to analyze their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Responses were analyzed through statistical analysis using SPSS. The …

Former Foster Youth And The Utilization Of Mental Health Services In Postsecondary Education, Jacqueline Viadas, Liliana Lua

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The current research indicates that former foster youth entering post-secondary education do not have the same outcomes as the general population when it comes to the completion of educational goals (AA degree, Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree). This research study used an exploratory design which focused on finding the role that utilization of mental health services and treatments play on academic outcomes for this population. Through qualitative interviews, respondents served as experts in this area and they provided their unique experience regarding this topic. The goal of this study was to reduce uncertainty in the literature, identify past barriers, limitations, …

Assessing Rural Northern California Foster Parent Recruitment Strategies, Ava M. Hagwood

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Purpose: This research proposal aims to better understand the effectiveness of current recruitment of Resource Family Approved (RFA) foster parents in a rural Northern California region. Approximately half of the foster youth at the selected research site were placed out of county due to a lack of available in-county privatized foster homes or RFA foster homes. By assessing the effectiveness of current recruitment rates, researchers identified effective future recruitment efforts. This understanding can lead to an increase in local foster homes and aid increased Family Reunification efforts.

Methods: The study partnered with a rural Northern California Resource Family Approval (RFA) …

The Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Gang Membership, Johanna Ulloa

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background and Purpose: Youth gang membership is on the rise and has become a significant problem within communities and has led to serious consequences, such as high degrees of delinquency and homicide. Prior research has proposed that history of exposure to childhood trauma is a significant risk factor. Objective:This study examined the association between adverse childhood experiences and gang involvement. Methods: This research was a cross-sectional observational study used to gather quantitative data, using a non-random sampling strategy. Participants for this study included adults (i.e., 18 years or older) within the general population, who were literate in English and …

The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Resilience In Social Work, Margeaux Wilkins, Jazmine Salazar

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

High turnover rates continue to plague the field of social work highlighting the need for a new approach. This mixed-method study explores the relationship between the adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) of social workers and their resilience in the field. Quantitative data was gathered from an online survey including demographic information and social workers’ ACEs scores. Qualitative data was gathered from interviews relating to social workers’ resilience and coping mechanisms employed in the field. The quantitative data was analyzed for any correlations and patterns based on demographic information. A thematic analysis was completed to identify common themes and points of discussion …

Perceptions Of The Impact Of Parental Mental Health On Adult Children, Samantha Ann Gallo-Vargas, Queray Mcmihelk Jr.

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study sought to gain further understanding of the perceptions of parental mental illness on adult children. Previous research suggests that parental mental illness may create generational trauma that impacts children even into adulthood. This study used a qualitative, exploratory approach, including in-depth interviews with eight individuals who grew up with a parent or caretaker with a mental illness. The participants ranged from ages 18 to 45 and came from various cultural and socioeconomic statuses. The interviews followed a semi-structured interview guide that the researchers designed. The findings of this study suggest that most of the participants used their experience …

Exploring Permanency Rates Within The Southern California Counties Of Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino And San Diego, Karrene Turner

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The term permanency within child welfare is the right for all children to have a childhood with a nurturing and permanent family. For children within foster care, it means a permanent family-based living situation with one of the following: parents, permanent placement with relatives, reunification with parents or adoption (Freundlich et al., 2006). The purpose of this study is to examine the perceived differences in permanency rates within 12 months of entry in child welfare within the Southern California counties of Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego within a 10-year time span. The study will use pre-existing data …

Examining The Obstacles In Rehoming The Homeless With Substance Use Addiction, Denise Ortuno

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the obstacles in re-homing the homeless with substance use to provide an understanding of the issues and possible solutions through the lens of social work caseworkers. The method of research was interviewing caseworkers from a homeless shelter that works with the homeless population with substance use. The caseworkers were interviewed via Zoom by the researcher who provided them with questions pertaining to their work with said population. The caseworker’s answers were then coded for themes, and categorized. The results indicated that there is a need to foster trust with the homeless with substance use, in order …

How Language, Healthcare Insurance Status, Stigma, Age, And Educational Attainment Influenced The Utilization Of Mental Health Services Among The Latino Male Population, Esmeralda Solis, Annika Coe

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Latinx individuals comprise the largest ethnic minority group in the US but are the least likely to use mental health treatments despite experiencing increased mental health difficulties. This study conducted a secondary data analysis of the 2020 and 2021 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) by UCLA’s Center for Health Policy Research. This study tested whether mental health service use among Latino males could be predicted based on language, healthcare insurance status, stigma, age, and educational attainment. The logistic regression analysis results explained that of the predictor variables, two, age and healthcare insurance status, were statistically significant. Our research aims to …

Barriers And Challenges That Lgbtq+ Individuals Face When Acquiring Mental Health Care Services., Stephanie Nunez-Rivera

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to address the challenges and barriers that LGBTQ+ individuals face when accessing mental health care services. This research is significant because though LGBTQ+ community faces many challenges such as discrimination and trauma, which greatly affect their mental health, yet LGBTQ+ specific mental health care is not widely available. This unavailability has resulted in only 12.6% of mental health care institutions having LGBTQ+ specific mental health care services. In addition, the small percentage of LGBTQ+ programs that are available in mental health institutions are not available in every city or region, which has resulted in …