Social Work Commons^™

Community Assessment: Strengths And Challenges Of American Indian Youth, Yvonne L. Barrett

Theses and Graduate Projects

This qualitative study used focus groups to conduct an assessment of capacities and needs of a large upper Midwest American Indian community's views of adolescents who have mental health issues and are violent. The study elicited feedback from 1) providers serving American Indian youth and their families and, 2) the community in general. A total of eleven individuals participated in two focus groups. The interview questions covered the areas of personal experiences with adolescents, strengths and challenges of American Indian youth, available resources and whether they meet the needs of American Indian youth. Findings reveal that the strengths of family, …

The Treatment Experience Of Women Survivors Of Sexual Abuse With Co-Occurring Issues Of Substance Abuse, Barbara E. Harschutz

Theses and Graduate Projects

The high incidence of co-occurrence of women survivors of sexual abuse with substance abuse and the historical differences between mental health and substance abuse treatment were cause for exploration of current treatment available to this population. The purpose of this study was to explore what treatment encounters have been effective for this population of women to recover. Through interviews this exploratory, qualitative study gave six women survivors of sexual abuse with substance abuse who have been involved in treatment a voice that provided needed information for treatment design and implementation. It attempted to answer what treatment services currently offered are …

Section 504 Of The Rehabilitation Act Of 1973: Are Public School Social Workers Viable Candidates As Section 504 Coordinator, Melissa J. Murphy

Theses and Graduate Projects

There has been a resurgence of the use of Section 504 in the public school system in part because of the increase in diagnosed ADHD among children. Schools need to legally provide accommodations and/or modifications to a child diagnosed with a disability which significantly inhibits one or more major life activity. Traditionally, school administrators have had the responsibility of writing and coordinating Section 504 plans. Studies have shown that many of the Minnesota Public School Districts have been out of compliance with Section 504 guidelines. School social workers' primary responsibility is to work with children in the schools that are …

An Historical & Policy Analysis Of The Patient Self-Determination Act As Part Of The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act Of 1990 (P.L. 101-508), Kristine H. Kaehn

Theses and Graduate Projects

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-158) was the federal legislation that included the Patient Self-Determination Act, now referred to as advanced directives. This historical and policy analysis as a qualitative method of research will examine the legislative policy that was passed by congress and signed into law by the president of the United States as well as the public regulations developed by the executive branch. This law requires that patients in health care facilities receiving federal funds (Medicare and Medicaid) receive information regarding advanced directives. This research and its findings will attempt to provide the social work …

Social Workers And Battered Women: A Study Of Professional Beliefs, Timothy Moe

Theses and Graduate Projects

This quantitative study explored the beliefs of child protection social workers in regard to battered women and domestic violence. A self-administered, mailed survey was used to gather information on some of the key beliefs that have been identified in the literature. In general, prior studies show that social workers stereotype battered women and respond to their needs in a manner that is insensitive or inappropriate.

Surveys were mailed to all 68 child protection workers in the North Central Region of Wisconsin. The region is composed of 15 counties; each county employs social workers who perform child protection duties. Forty-six surveys …

Prevalence Of Physical And Psychological Abuse In Adolescent Dating Relationships In A Suburban High School, Stacy L. Johnson

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study is to measure the prevalence of violence in dating relationships in a suburban high school. Although dating violence is commonly considered male to female aggression, the research reviewed in this study indicates that girls are perpetrators more often than boys are. The Revised Conflict Tactics Scale was administered to tenth and twelfth grade students at a suburban high school. There were 126 surveys distributed and 12 were returned. The findings show that 84% of the students admitted to at least one violent incident with their dating partner in the past year. The results of this …

A Historical Comparison Of Treatment Between Male And Female Sex Offenders In The Correctional System, Weida Y. Allen

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of the historical research study is to explore the correctional system's rehabilitation and treatment perspective for both male and female sex offenders. Treatment has been deemed essential for all offenders; while it might not mean a cure, it does give offenders some tools to prevent further offenses.

Literature emphasizes the importance of treatment and rehabilitation for the sex offender. Historically, the female offender has been ignored in the area of treatment and rehabilitation. Sexual offenses are generally perceived as a male phenomenon.

This tidy will give an in-depth view of treatment process and the research on the effectiveness …

Home Of The Shepherd: A Study Of Past Program Participants' Experience Of Organizational Values, Cynthia J. Foster

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study examined value congruency within an organization as experienced by clients as a measure of organizational effectiveness. Twenty-six females, all of whom were past program participants, were involved in the study. Study participants completed a self-administered questionnaire devised to elicit perceptions of their experience of the organization's values. Study participants had departed from the organization at least six months or longer prior to the study. Findings suggest that the values of the organization were evident in the services clients received. The clients' experience of the organizational values also had a positive effect on the clients' ability to accomplish their …

The Experience Of Recovery From The Perspective Of Chemically Dependent Women: A Qualitative Study, Heidi Kammer Jensen

Theses and Graduate Projects

Research on the experience of chemically dependent women has evolved over the past two decades. This qualitative study contributes to the increasing research on women's issues by exploring the experience and meaning of recovery for women. An interview guide was used to conduct in-depth interviews with six women about their meanings of recovery and motivation for seeking and maintaining recovery Content analysis was used to find common themes of the recovering experience. Results of the study concluded that recovery for a women is not only sobriety, but also includes change and self-discovery. Findings displayed themes of insight and pain as …

A Study Of Perceived Barriers Of Minnesota Family Investment Program Participants In Moving From Welfare To Work: An Analysis Of Three Perspectives, Patrick J. Pischke

Theses and Graduate Projects

The past decade of welfare reform emphasized moving welfare recipients from public assistance towards economic self-sufficiency through employment. This exploratory quantitative study compared perceived barriers,welfare recipients face when seeking employment through the perspectives of the welfare participants (n=265), county financial supervisors (n=74), and employment service supervisors (n=56). The study used secondary data from three rural studies conducted by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. A comparative analysis was completed using a triangulation method of the most perceived barriers to employment. A theoretical analysis which utilized the general systems theory and eco-systems perspective was also completed. The findings revealed that the …

Restorative Services: Inventory Of Minnesota's Restorative Services And An Examination Of Integration Of Restorative Philosophy In Service Providers' Policies And Procedures, Deanna L. Mundt Steckman

Theses and Graduate Projects

Restorative services are offered in various settings where harm has occurred and, it has been unclear what is available in Minnesota. Minnesota, as a national leader in restorative justice, has been unable to compile a comprehensive list of restorative service providers until now. An open- and closed-ended questionnaire was sent to potential Minnesota restorative service providers. The intent was to determine what types of restorative services and models are practiced by what types of agencies, where services are provided, and to examine to what extent restorative philosophy values are integrated into agency policies. Various univariate and bivariate analysis were utilized. …

Policy Analysis Of Minnesota's Department Of Children, Families, And Learning Violence Prevention Plan, Todd S. Harvey

Theses and Graduate Projects

School violence has received major publicity in recent years due to several violent and premeditated school shootings that received national attention. Gallup polls have indicated over the past three years that school violence is the top concern of parents, resulting in increased public pressure upon school administrators and legislators to develop effective school violence prevention policy. This study examined the Minnesota Department of Children Families and Learning (CFL) official violence prevention plan entitled Unlearning Violence. The analysis compared Minnesota's plan with elements identified in the literature as critical and necessary to prevent violence. The results of the analysis found that …

The Role Of The School Social Worker With English Language Learner Students In Suburban Elementary Schools, Pamela Sue Storry

Theses and Graduate Projects

This descriptive study explores the role of the school social worker with English Language Learner (ELL) students in suburban elementary schools. It has become increasingly more common for classrooms to have students who do not speak English and spend part of their school day in an English Language Learner class. The purpose of the study is to provide information and awareness of immigrant issues to school districts, social workers and teachers. Three school districts with similar demographics, northwest suburbs of a metropolitan area, participated in the study. A survey that included both quantitative and qualitative questions, focused on the role …

Recovering From Mental Illness, Karla Schmitt

Theses and Graduate Projects

Only recently has the notion of recovery for people diagnosed with a serious and persistent mental illness been considered a possibility. Because of this, research on the topic is limited. This qualitative study sought to explore what the concept of recovery means to people diagnosed with a mental illness. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data. Grounded theory analysis was used to identify common themes. Factors that were identified as hindering the participant's recovery were the following: frustration with the 'system' and dehumanizing mental health professionals. Factors that were identified as fostering their recovery included: medications, a sense …

Environmental Factors That Affect Juvenile Delinquency, Helen Marie Lewis

Theses and Graduate Projects

This qualitative study explored the environmental factors that affect juvenile delinquency. One of the most important family life factor that places children at risk for delinquency is inadequate supervision. Findings suggest that there is a strong commonality between truancy and corrections. Five Juvenile Probation Officers and five Children and Family Social Workers were interviewed using open-ended questions. The interviews focused on the services provided to the adolescents and their families by each professional. Results indicate the importance of prevention and intervention at the micro and macro level. Implications for social work practice is also discussed.

Rural Pregnant And/Or Parenting Teenagers And Their Informal Support Systems, Rhonda Burns

Theses and Graduate Projects

Pregnant and/or parenting teenagers are influenced by education level, socioeconomic status and social support systems. Numerous studies of urban pregnant and/or parenting teenagers have examined the formal support systems and their efficacy. Few researchers have examined rural pregnant and/or parenting teenagers and their informal support systems. This quantitative study surveyed 37 pregnant and/or parenting teenagers receiving case management services through Kandiyohi County Family Services, resulting in 7 respondents. The research questions included:

1. What are the perceptions and of rural Kandiyohi County pregnant and/or parenting teenagers regarding their informal support systems?
2. What are their interpretations of the support being offered?
3. Do …

Parent/Caregiver Satisfaction With A Youth Diabetes Climc In A Rural Setting, Donald E. Holland

Theses and Graduate Projects

Studies have shown that a valuable source of information for people who have diabetes and who live in an urban area can be a multi-disciplinary diabetes clinic. This study examined the perceived benefit of such a clinic for the parents/caregivers of children diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes. Using a questionnaire, 112 parents/caregivers of children with diabetes were surveyed; 51 returned the surveys within the time alloffed, and these were used in the analysis. These children and the parents/caregivers were served by a multi-disciplinary diabetes clinic located in the rural Minnesota town of Willmar. Their rcsponses were recorded and analyzed, and showed …

An Evaluation Of The "Freshman Academy's" Programs Effectiveness To Provide A Smaller Community Environment, Dru Kneeland

Theses and Graduate Projects

Large schools of 1000 + students have become very prevalent. Studies have shown, however, that small size and tight-knit structured learning communities allow the school to give increased amounts of attention to students (Cotton, 1996). In larges chools, a sense of anonymity prevails causing students to feel disconnected and without roots, sometimes leading to frustration, anger and rage. As the last few years have shown, the results are violence, anti-social behavior and other serious violations of community rules. Research has shown that small schools have a better chance of meeting the needs of these disenfranchised adolescents by giving them roots …

Admitting A Loved One To A Nursing Home: A Family Experience, Karen Hinrichs

Theses and Graduate Projects

Admitting a loved one to a nursing home is often a traumatic event for family members. The Minnesota Department of Health states that nursing homes are experiencing higher resident turnover rates due to shorter lengths of stay for nursing home residents. With increased resident turnover, social workers have less time to orient each resident's family to the facility. Yet, numerous studies have concluded that residents, family members, and staff are more satisfied in nursing homes that view the resident and family as clients rather than only the resident. A needs assessment was completed in a 140-bed nursing home in a …

Is Mother Loss Curriculum Effective In Promoting A Healthy Grieving Process?, Patricia A. Hill

Theses and Graduate Projects

The death of a mother for a daughter carries certain effects that are different than those experienced with the death of a father or another loved one. This practice evaluation was initiated to study the effectiveness of the curriculum in promoting a healthy grieving process. Current literature is minimal in regards to the impact of mother loss on adult daughters as well as methods in which to assist adult daughters through the grief process. The research design and method included a grief/depression self test which was administered as a pre/post-test and eight weekly evaluations. Both were quantitative although the evaluations …

A Hermeneutic Experience Of Social Workers With Dying Prisoners, Ted R. Page

Theses and Graduate Projects

This hermeneutic qualitative study sought to discover the effectiveness of social work practice with dying male prisoners. An in depth interview was conducted of two male social workers who have worked with dying male prisoners. Hermeneutics is an interpretative approach to understanding the world around us through the narratives of the participant, in this study the social worker's narrative. This study attempted to catch a glimpse into the world of social workers as they practice their craft with dying prisoners. One social worker went into the prison to serve the dying prisoner, the other social worker helped early released dying …

Female Adolescent Offender's Experience With Restorative Justice Practice, Leslie Ann Houghtaling

Theses and Graduate Projects

This hermeneutic study examines the lived experience of one female juvenile offender as she went through the restorative justice practice of either victim-offender mediation (VOM) or group conferencing. Hermeneutics is an interpretive approach to looking at everyday experiences and uncovering what is usually hidden from us. When asked about her experience, one theme stood out as essential for the participant: becoming trustworthy. Several aspects including being listened to, re-developing relationships, and making amends with those who were harmed by the crime marked the participant's transformation. These findings correspond with Erikson's psychosocial stages of adolescence and young adulthood, as well as …

A Descriptive Study Of Accessibility To Mobile Crisis Services, Joni M. Heine

Theses and Graduate Projects

Mobile crisis services are seen as a secondary modality in provision of health care services. Past research indicated a lack of integration into the health care system and funding as obstructions. Accessing these services is limited to law enforcement, jails, emergency rooms, crisis line phone contacts, and providers. This research explored a mobile crisis service from greater Minnesota as a primary modality in health care services by examining who was accessing the service, voluntary or non-voluntary individuals in relation to hospitalization, and follow up and does this relationship vary by gender, utilizing the chi-square statistical test. Hospitalization and follow up …

Political Involvement And Noninvolvement Of Social Work Practitioners, Thomas A. Skarohlid

Theses and Graduate Projects

This exploratory study interviewed 8 social work practitioners from a nonprobability convenience sample in the public and private sector, using a one-to-one semi-structured interview guide. Content analysis of interview transcripts identified major themes in the perceptions of social workers involvement or noninvolvement in political activity. Findings suggest that social work practitioners are involved in advocacy activity at both the micro and macro levels. There were differences in personal resources and interests of social work practitioners, that influenced political involvement or noninvolvement in both the public and private sector. The expansion of advocacy beyond casework to the broader aspects of macro …

Methamphetamine Treatment: A Hermeneutic Study, Sandra S. Hamann

Theses and Graduate Projects

This hermeneutic study examines and compares the life experiences of three methamphetamine users who have been in chemical dependency treatment for their methamphetamine use. Findings of this researcher indicate that cognitive behavioral practice models have the best results when working with chemical users. There are few chemical dependency treatment programs which address methamphetamine users as needing different treatment approaches than other chemical users. Research indicates that those chemical dependency programs that address the multiple needs of the methamphetamine users and not just their drug use have the best results with helping them maintain long-term recovery from their chemical use. The …

From A Father's Point Of View: A Hermeneutic Study Of Non-Custodial Fathers And The Contributions That They Make To Their Children's Lives, Susan Pohl

Theses and Graduate Projects

This research is a hermeneutic study of three non-custodial fathers and contributions that they make to their children's lives. The literature review explores how children benefit from the presence of their fathers in their lives. The hermeneutic design was used asking the question, "What do you believe are the contributions that you make to your child's life?" The findings reveal that the fathers believe that they are contributing to their children's cognitive development, the development of humor, educational support, social emotional development, and identity. Implications for social work practice and programming are discussed.

An Evaluation Of Transitional Services - A Program For Youth With Aggressive Episodes, Lyla Peterson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Youth who display aggressive tendencies has been a domain of

increasing interest in the arena of social work. This

qualitative program evaluation examined if Transitional

Services was viewed as helpful in reducing the clients'

aggressive episodes while participating in the program, This

study also investigated Anoka County's Transitional Services and

its mission to promote a smoother transition from a restrictive

out-of-home placement back into the clients home environment.

Five social workers completed a qualitative questionnaire that

focused on the program's services for its assistance in

lessening youth aggression, and factors pertaining to family

reunification. The outcomes are based on common …

Fathers' Lived Experiences Of Perinatal Loss: A Hermeneutic Study, Leann R. Nelson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Despite a growing body of perinatal loss research since 1970, the lived experiences of fathers bereaved by perinatal death are virtually unexamined. This interpretive study presents shared meanings and common themes uncovered, using hermeneutic research methodology, in the transcribed texts of in-depth interviews with three bereaved fathers. The fathers' narratives revealed how they lived with two abiding philosophical questions--"Why us?" and "What if?"--during and for a long time after the actual loss experience. Fathers' cultural understanding of life and death as a natural progression was undermined by their loss experience, leaving them with an understanding of the tentativeness of life …

A Study Of School Social Workers' Perceptions Of Disruptive School Behaviors And Their Role In Response To The Problem, Thomas E. Lucy

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study examines the topic of disruptive behavior in the schools, with a focus on how the role of the school social worker relates to this issue. Specifically, this research asked two questions. First, how do school social workers perceive the issue of disruptive behavior in the schools? Second, what is the role of the school social worker in addressing this issue? To answer these questions, 75 school social workers from the Minnesota School Social Work Association were given a self-administered mail survey. The data showed that school social workers feel disruptive behavior is an increasingly difficult issue faced in …

Substance Dependent Women And Family Support, Christina Marie Decker

Theses and Graduate Projects

This hermeneutic study was undertaken to discover the lived experience of two substance dependent women with family support. This study attempted to capture the experience of two women and show how this experience affected their recoveries. The use of the hermeneutic research method allowed the researcher to engage in a process with the participants, both shaping and being shaped by the experience. The women's experiences were interpreted around the theme of connection. This involved a fluid process by which the women disconnected from original family, connected with other supports and then reconnected with original family in their new role as …