Social Work Commons^™

Connecting Families Through Cash Transfers And An Enabling Environment In Colombia, Mexico, And The Philippines: A Qualitative Study, Johanna K P Greeson, John Gyourko, Sarah Wasch, Kristin Mallory, Lory Fehlig, Cesar Jácome, Nestor David Lara Yanes, Fátima Areli Ruiz Gutiérrez, Dennis Guamos, Adele R. Lehman

Faculty Scholarship

Nearly 700 million people worldwide live in extreme poverty, and almost half of the world’s population lives below the poverty line. Cash transfer programs are increasingly used to address poverty’s effects on family well-being, yet less is known about how families experience programs that combine cash transfers with peer-driven mutual aid. Children International’s (CI) Community Independence Initiative (CII) provides conditional cash transfers and promotes family-led goal setting, mutual support, and shared learning. This qualitative study explored how families in Colombia, Mexico, and the Philippines experienced CII and made meaning of its material and relational components. We conducted focus groups with …

Left Behind In Lockdown: A Scoping Review Of Covid-19’S Impact On The Lives Of Transition-Age Foster Youth, Johanna K P Greeson, Sarah Wasch, John Gyourko, Antonio R. Garcia, Hannah Bennett, Kate Greco, Liya Cha

Faculty Scholarship

This scoping review asked: What is known about the scope and nature of research on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on older youth with foster care experience in the United States, including the types of studies, samples and outcomes examined? Guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute framework and PRISMA-ScR, we searched 11 databases and grey literature sources (October2024 to January 2025). Eligible studies were United States based, published from 2020 onward and included primary data on foster youth or relevant professionals. Thirty-two studies met inclusion criteria. Most studies were descriptive or cross-sectional, reflecting early phases of the pandemic. Mapping …

Understanding Child Welfare, Richard P. Barth, Jill Duerr Berrick, Melissa Jonson-Reid, Antonio R. Garcia, Johanna Greeson, John Gyourko, Brett Drake

Faculty Scholarship

This volume provides a foundational overview of the means by which the United States (and, to a more limited extent in coverage, other peer nations) endeavor to protect children from child maltreatment and related harms. Readers will be exposed to the best evidence available on the ways that child welfare and ancillary services operate and the results they achieve. This entails a comprehensive review of recent scholarship on scores of child welfare topics.

Applying An Intergenerational Lens To The Associations Between Childhood Intimate Partner Violence Exposure, Child Maltreatment, And Adolescent Dating Violence Perpetration, Laura A. Voith

Faculty Scholarship

Reports estimate that approximately 35 percent of U.S. adolescents have dated or are currently dating, making the fact that over a third of those youth have reported experiencing some form of adolescent dating violence (ADV) in their relationships, incredibly concerning. An estimated 31 percent (~4.5 million) of dating youth report perpetrating ADV and 35 percent (~5.1 million) report ADV victimization. Childhood exposure to intimate partner violence (eIPV) and child maltreatment have both been linked with the experience of ADV, however, results vary greatly across studies, particularly regarding ADV perpetration. This study is additive by improving upon ADV measurement limitations from …

Examining The Effects Of Mental Health And Parent–Youth Relationship On The Associations Between Childhood Violence Exposure And Adolescent Dating Violence Perpetration, Laura A. Voith

Faculty Scholarship

Background/objectives: Adolescent dating violence (ADV) is a serious public health concern affecting youth worldwide. Potential risk factors of ADV include child maltreatment (CM) and intimate partner violence exposure (eIPV), though existing research on ADV perpetration specifically is inconsistent. There is limited research on co-occurring eIPV and CM, despite co-occurrence in 30–60% of homes where there is one. This study aims to address these gaps by testing the impact of childhood violence exposure on ADV perpetration and assessing two potential, theory-informed mitigating factors—mental health and parent–youth relationship. Methods: This study utilizes moderated-mediation structural equation modeling with longitudinal data from a sample …

Managing The Cost Of Services For People With Disabilities: International Approach. Part Ii: Ohio, United States, Dana Pugh, Jaroslaw Richard Romaniuk

Faculty Scholarship

Introduction: Four years of managing a housing network for people with disabilities prompted a rethinking of the financial management of the services offered. Clients with different needs require diverse professional staff for their home care. Emergency situations require that professionals offering assistance maintain the highest level of education possible. Financial resources often limit the quality of care for people with disabilities. Method: This paper is based on a literature search and on professional experience (Dana Pugh) in the management of a housing program for people with disabilities in Cleveland, Ohio (USA). Findings: In Poland, people with disabilities usually live with …

Managing The Cost Of Services For People With Disabilities: An International Approach. Part I: Poland, Dana Pugh, Jaroslaw Richard Romaniuk

Faculty Scholarship

Introduction: The cost of care for people with disabilities is rising, whereas all forms of support for them are decreasing. Countries and communities develop different ways to serve the disabled. We examined the comprehensive state of care from the perspective of cost management of services for individuals with disabilities in Poland. Method: This paper is based on a review of relevant international literature, with a special focus on the situation in Poland. A keyword search was completed in both Polish- and English-language databases. Results: In Poland, people with disabilities usually live with their families, and specialized services are offered outside …

The Transformation Of Social Work In Ukraine Before And During The War, Jaroslaw Richard Romaniuk, Kathleen J. Farkas

Faculty Scholarship

Background: This article aims to review the development of the social work profession in Ukraine and to describe the impact of social, economic and political changes on social work practices and education. Methods: A comprehensive literature review and participant observation methods informed this study. A case study of a Polish community’s response to Ukrainian war refugees illustrates how social workers might capitalize on current social structures to continue strengthening civil society in Ukraine. Findings and Discussion: Social Work, focusing on the fit between person and environment, is shaped by knowledge, culture and belief systems. Ukraine’s history and transition from communist/centralized …

Leczenie Uzależnień Materiały Na Zamówienie [Addiction Treatment: Requested Materials], Jaroslaw Richard Romaniuk

Faculty Scholarship

Książka będąca poradnikiem i przewodnikiem po świecie uzależnień jest zbiorem wcześniej opublikowanych artykułów autora, który ma bardzo bogate doświadczenie teoretyczne i praktyczne w tym zakresie. Autor pokazuje swoje spojrzenie na uzależnienia chemiczne i behawioralne, na rolę stresu i traumy w leczeniu uzależnień. Niejako przy okazji dzieli się szeroką i ugruntowaną wiedzą o najnowszych metodach leczenia w USA i wyjaśnia wiele kwestii związanych poruszanymi zagadnieniami, jednocześnie wskazując na wiele wątpliwości i pytań, na które trudno udzielić jednoznacznej odpowiedzi. Tym samym dowodzi, że problematyka uzależnień i ich leczenia jest wielowymiarowa i skomplikowana, co utrudnia stosowanie metod i praktyk.

Głównym walorem tej książki …

Exploring Low-Income, Black Fathers' Strengths And Barriers To Positive Change Using Qualitative Methods, Katie N. Russell, Ashley Withrow, Laura A. Voith, Carmen Vernon, Hyunjune Lee, Sherise Mckinney

Faculty Scholarship

Objective: The goal was to explore low-income, Black fathers' personal strengths and barriers to engaged fatherhood, healthy relationships, and economic stability. Background: Fatherhood programs often rely on case management and education to promote positive fathering, healthy relationships, and economic stability. However, methods should be tailored to fit the strengths and needs of participating fathers. Low-income, Black fathers face additional challenges related to systemic discrimination and structural violence that can hinder their success. To effectively serve this group, research is required to understand their relevant strengths and barriers. Methods: Semistructured focus groups explored fathers' personal strengths and barriers specific to the …

Using Multiple Lenses To See An Invisible Group, Kathleen J. Farkas, Jaroslaw Richard Romaniuk

Faculty Scholarship

Social work in Poland and in the United States shares the values of human dignity and self-determination, but there are often value conflicts in terms of how various groups experience social roles and social expectations. This paper explores the use of multiple lenses to understand the past and current conditions for LGBT+ people in Poland. An international, university-level collaboration uses a framework of “invisible groups” to highlight the needs of those who are on the margins of society and whose human and individual rights are suppressed. The article reviews the results of a recently published on-line survey of LGBT+ populations …

Living Apart After Adoption Or Guardianship: Perspectives Of Adoptive Parents And Guardians, Nancy Rolock, Amy E. Korsch-Williams, Chelsea Flanigan

Faculty Scholarship

Background: For children who are not reunified with their biological family members, the child welfare system promotes legal permanence through adoption or guardianship. The intent of adoption and guardianship is a safe home where children develop familial relationships that last a lifetime. However, issues may arise that result in children or youth living apart (LA) from their families after adoption or guardianship. In this study, LA is defined as a youth living outside the home after adoption or guardianship for two weeks or longer because the youth was receiving treatment in a residential or hospital setting, in a juvenile justice …

Bullying Victimization And Perpetration: Some Answers And More Questions, Dexter R. Voisin, David B. Miller

Faculty Scholarship

The U.S. government has defined bullying victimization as “any unwanted aggressive behavior(s) by another youth or group of youths who are not siblings or current dating partners that involves an observed or perceived power imbalance and is repeated multiple times or is highly likely to be repeated”.1 Conceptualizations of bullying and the use of the term vary by audience and context. For instance, for some, bullying behaviors might include acts of aggression or violence, whereas for others bullying might center on name-calling, exclusionary social practices or even spreading rumors and vicious lies.2

The Relationship Between Religion, Substance Misuse, And Mental Health Among Black Youth, Dexter R. Voisin

Faculty Scholarship

Studies suggest that religion is a protective factor for substance misuse and mental health concerns among Black/African American youth despite reported declines in their religious involvement. However, few studies have investigated the associations among religion, substance misuse, and mental health among Black youth. Informed by Critical Race Theory, we evaluated the correlations between gender, depression, substance misuse, and unprotected sex on mental health. Using multiple linear regression, we assessed self-reported measures of drug use and sex, condom use, belief in God, and religiosity on mental health among a sample of Black youth (N = 638) living in a large midwestern …

Competency-Based Social Work Education: 25 Years Of Innovation & Leadership, Zoë Breen Wood, Marjorie N. Edguer, David L. Hussey, Mark Chupp, Grover C. Gilmore, Paul M. Kubek

Faculty Scholarship

The white paper chronicles the 25-year history of one graduate school of social work’s efforts in competency-based curriculum innovation. The authors argue that curriculum change is organizational change and share their experiences with a variety of curriculum assessment, design, and delivery efforts. Beginning with the development of the first social work competencies (labeled Abilities), pioneering efforts in assessment and holistic curricular design and delivery are reviewed. A new, one-semester, social work generalist curriculum is introduced. Emphasis is placed on the importance of developing a competency-based curriculum that is integrated both horizontally and vertically and that engages the social work student …

Pathways From Exposure To Community Violence To Bullying Victimization Among African American Adolescents In Chicago’S Southside, Dexter R. Voisin

Faculty Scholarship

The present study proposes and examines the pathways from exposure to community violence to bullying victimization through the influences of depression, exposure to peer delinquency, and drug use among 638 African American adolescents (aged 12–22) from low-resourced neighborhoods in Chicago’s Southside. The study found that African American adolescents who were exposed to community violence were likely at risk of bullying victimization, depression, exposure to peer delinquency, and drug use. Depression can heighten the risk of bullying victimization. These findings have implications for future research.

The Longitudinal Relationship Between Broken Windows And Sexual Behaviors Among African American Girls In Juvenile Detention: The Moderating Effects Of Sexual Sensation Seeking And Parental Monitoring, Dexter R. Voisin

Faculty Scholarship

Objective: Broken windows theory has been applied in public health to understand how neighborhood disadvantage contributes to health risk and disparities. This longitudinal study examined the relationship between a broken windows index (i.e., a proxy for neighborhood disadvantage) and sexual behaviors and whether sexual sensation-seeking behaviors and parental monitoring moderated that relationship. Method: Participants were 188 African American adolescent girls incarcerated in a short-term detention facility in Atlanta, GA. Participants completed audio computer-assisted self-interviews at baseline, 3, and 6 months; interviews assessed neighborhood disadvantage, sexual risk behaviors, sexual sensation seeking, parental monitoring, and demographics. Results: Longitudinal findings indicate that the …

Supervision For Advocacy: Supporting Self-Care, Kathleen J. Farkas, Jaroslaw Richard Romaniuk

Faculty Scholarship

The objective is to examine the intersection of advocacy for social change, the individual’s emotional costs of advocacy, and the use of trauma informed care in supervisory practice to encourage and support advocates and their work. Supervision models exist, but none address the needs of advocates who might become targets for scorn and persecution. The literature on trauma informed care provides a direction to improve the support and supervision of advocates, especially those who use their personal experiences as examples in their work. We reviewed data bases and relevant literature regarding supervision and the principles of trauma informed care. Periodical …

Motivation To Move Out Of The Community As A Moderator Of Bullying Victimization And Delinquent Behavior: Comparing Non-Heterosexual/Cisgender And Heterosexual African American Adolescents In Chicago’S Southside, Dexter R. Voisin

Faculty Scholarship

A growing body of research documents that bullying victimization is associated with delinquent behavior. There is an increasing need to better illuminate the factors that might moderate this relationship. This study examined whether the motivation to move out of low-resourced neighborhoods and sexual orientation/gender identity moderated the relationship between bullying victimization and delinquent behavior among a sample of 450 heterosexual and 91 non-heterosexual/cisgender African American youths. Measures considered were bullying victimization, delinquent behavior, sexual orientation/gender identity, motivation to move out, and family demographics. Sexual orientation/gender identity was not associated with youth delinquent behavior after controlling for covariates. Being motivated to …

From Exposure To Violence Between Mother And Her Intimate Partner To Suicidality Experienced By Urban Adolescents In Chicago’S Southside, Dexter R. Voisin

Faculty Scholarship

Although the relationship between exposure to intimate partner violence and youths’ psychological and other wellbeing has been widely studied, there is limited research about how youths’ exposure to violence between mother and her intimate partner may be related to youth psychological wellbeing. The study used a sample of urban adolescents in Chicago Southbound to examine whether youths’ exposure to verbal conflict between mother and her intimate partner is related to their suicidality and whether youth depression and aggression may be in between such a linkage. Our findings indicated that one-third of the youth had suicidal thoughts or suicidal/self-hurting attempts. Youths’ …

American Perspectives On Suicidality Among Men In Poland, Jaroslaw Richard Romaniuk, Kathleen J. Farkas

Faculty Scholarship

This article examines sociological, psychological, and suicidological research on the determinants of male suicide to explore the fact that Polish men complete suicide 7.4 times more than women, a frequency twice as high as in the US. This paper is based upon an examination of relevant literature and statistical databases. A keyword search was completed in both Polish and English language databases. Ideals of masculinity and negative social attitudes towards a non-binary view of gender may increase stressors and discourage men in Poland from revealing their problems while seeking support, explaining the high rates of suicide completion among Polish men. …

Examining The Causal Impact Of Prenatal Home Visiting On Birth Outcomes: A Propensity Score Analysis, Elizabeth R. Anthony, Robert L. Fischer

Faculty Scholarship

Objectives: In Ohio, African American babies die at 2.5–3 times the rate of White babies. Preterm birth and low birth weight are the leading causes of infant mortality. Home visiting is an evidence-based strategy for serving low-income pregnant women; however, there are relatively few rigorous studies examining its effect on birth outcomes. Methods: This study uses a propensity score technique to estimate the causal effect of participation in home visiting on prematurity and low birth weight among a low-income, predominantly African American sample (N = 26,814). Results: We found that participation in home visiting significantly reduced the odds of experiencing …

“Making Sure We Are All Okay”: Healthcare Workers’ Strategies For Emotional Connectedness During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Anna E. Bender, Kristen A. Berg, Emily K. Miller, Kylie E. Evans, Megan R. Holmes

Faculty Scholarship

Healthcare workers have been on the front lines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, treating affected patients and navigating overwhelmed healthcare systems. Emotional connection has been associated with resilient outcomes following collective trauma. This qualitative study examined how healthcare workers define emotional connectedness during the COVID-19 pandemic and their adaptive emotional connection strategies. Data were gathered through the first wave of the online COVID-19 Pandemic and Emotional Well-Being study, a prospective panel study of the psychological impact of COVID-19 on frontline workers and the general public. This study focused on three extended-response questions about definitions of and strategies for emotional connectedness. Data …

Correlates Of Depression Among Black Girls Exposed To Violence, Dexter R. Voisin

Faculty Scholarship

Depression rates for youth remanded to juvenile detention is double that of the general population and Black girls are especially vulnerable. A dearth of literature analyzes the factors that are correlated with depression among system-involved Black girls, ages 12–17 years old. We utilized personal agency to examine the relationship between risk factors (i.e., abuse history, and fear of condom negotiation) and protective factors (i.e., condom self-efficacy, and perceived social support) that might correlate with depression among Black girls exposed to violence. Findings indicate that fear of condom negotiation, abuse history and low condom self-efficacy are correlated with depressive symptomology while …

Tuning In To Teens (Tint) With Adoptive Parents And Guardians In The Us: The Replication Phase Of Intervention Research, Nancy Rolock

Faculty Scholarship

Ensuring the wellbeing and stability of children with foster care experiences is critical. Between 5% and 20% of children experience post-permanency instability, a reentry into foster care after adoption or guardianship; adolescents are at increased risk for post-permanency instability. Few interventions that aim to reduce post-permanency instability have been rigorously tested. This study adapted and tested Tuning in to Teens (TINT), previously tested in Australia as a prevention program with parents of adolescents. TINT teaches caregivers skills in emotion coaching (responding with empathy, support, and guidance when young people express emotions) while helping them to reduce their dismissive or harsh …

Understanding Wellbeing And Caregiver Commitment After Adoption Or Guardianship From Foster Care, Nancy Rolock

Faculty Scholarship

This study explored data obtained from surveys of caregivers who had previously adopted or assumed guardianship of a child from foster care in two U.S. states (N= 937). Descriptive analyses summarized the demographic and wellbeing characteristics of children and families, and multivariate regression models estimated the association between these variables and caregiver commitment. Consistent with previous research, most caregivers (> 80%) reported positive adjustment across measures, but some caregivers indicated family struggles, such as caregiver strain, child behavior difficulties, and lack of access to adoption-competent services. Higher caregiver commitment was associated with higher family nurturing and attachment, lower caregiver strain, …

Identifying Families Who May Be Struggling After Adoption Or Guardianship, Nancy Rolock

Faculty Scholarship

Targeted prevention efforts after adoption or guardianship from foster care are intended to help families most at-risk and prior to the onset of significant issues. Most adoptive and guardianship families adjust well with supportive services in place; only a small proportion have difficulties that result in children returning to foster care after adoption or guardianship. This study examined the use of administrative data to identify families at-risk for post-permanency discontinuity. Administrative data have some utility for identifying families that may struggle, however, they provide a limited representation of risk. Caregiver survey responses in four states (n=1,670) found that families with …

Conceptualizing The Effects Of Continuous Traumatic Violence On Hiv Continuum Of Care Outcomes For Young Black Men Who Have Sex With Men In The United States, Dexter R. Voisin

Faculty Scholarship

The United States (US) is on track to achieve the 90-90-90 targets set forth by UNAIDS and the National HIV/AIDS strategy, yet significant racial disparities in HIV care outcomes remain, particularly for young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM). Research has demonstrated that various types of violence are key aspects of syndemics that contribute to disparities in HIV risk. However, little research has looked collectively at cumulative violent experiences and how those might affect HIV treatment and care outcomes. Drawing on extant literature and theoretical underpinnings of syndemics, we provide a conceptual model that highlights how continuous traumatic …

Understanding Post Adoption And Guardianship Instability For Children And Youth Who Exit Foster Care: Study Design Options, Nancy Rolock

Faculty Scholarship

For children living in foster care, adoption and guardianship are important permanency outcomes when reunification with their biological family is not advisable. Most children living in adoptive or guardianship families do not reenter state custody after adoption or guardianship finalization. But five to 20% of children may experience post adoption and guardianship instability. “Post adoption and guardianship instability” refers to situations in which children who exit foster care to adoptive and guardianship homes no longer reside with their adoptive parent or legal guardian. Instability may be formal (when a child reenters foster care) or informal (when a child lives temporarily …

Racial And Ethnic Comparison Of Ecological Risk Factors And Youth Outcomes: A Test Of The Desensitization Hypothesis, Dexter R. Voisin

Faculty Scholarship

Minority youth, because of structural, ecological, and societal inequalities, are at heightened risk of reporting depression and experiencing negative sanctions associated with delinquency. Sociological theories suggest that greater exposure to ecological risk factors at the peer, family, school and community levels are associated with elevated rates of youth depression and delinquency. Desensitization theory posits that repeated exposures to ongoing stressors result in a numbing of psychological and behavioral responses. Thus, it remains unclear whether racial/ethnic differences exist with regards to how contextual stressors correlate with depression and delinquency. Using a sample of 616 Black, 687 Latinx, and 1,318 White youth, …