Social Work Commons^™

Can Establishing Partnerships Between College Campuses And Nonprofit Organizations Be Mutually Beneficial?, Crystal S. Aschenbrener Msw

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

More than ever nonprofit organizations need to find creative ways to be resourceful and cost effective in achieving their mission. Partnerships between college campuses and nonprofit organizations can be a mutually beneficial way of meeting nonprofit’s program goals while empowering college students, who are the next generation of volunteers, donors, and professionals. With these partnerships, nonprofits gain new ideas and extra working hands though established projects while students gain field experiences and the opportunity to apply their course knowledge. With this article, readers will understand the benefits of building as well as a step-by-step model to develop such partnerships.

Faculty Perceptions Of Differences Between Teaching Rural Appalachian And Urban Social Work Students, Lonnie R. Helton Lisw-S, Acsw

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Faculty who teach social work students in both rural Appalachian colleges and urban settings often notice differences in how these students approach learning and respond to the classroom environment and university setting. There is limited research on how Appalachian college students experience higher education and how they perceive the benefits of a college degree. This qualitative study explored the perceptions of social work faculty members at three Appalachian and three Midwestern universities, who have taught rural Appalachian students, as well as students from urban areas. Findings indicated that faculty mostly viewed Appalachian students as being different from urban students. Appalachian …

Who Wants To Do Rural Social Work? Student Perceptions Of Rural Social Work Practice, Amy Phillips Mssw, Phd, Andrew Quinn Mssw, Phd, Thomasine Heitkamp Msw

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

In response to growing concerns about the national shortage of rural social workers, the researchers surveyed and interviewed 115 social work students (97 BSW, 18 MSW) to ascertain their career plans and perceptions of rural social work practice. Although more than half reported living in rural communities at the time of their high school graduation, over 70% indicated a preference for practicing social work in or near an urban area. Students articulated multiple incentives that would attract them to rural social work and expressed a clear understanding of how various systems (social service, legislative, community, and educational) could provide these …

Social Work Student Interests In Rural Practice, David D. Barney Msw, Mph, Phd, Timothy Barnett-Queen Mdiv, Msw, Phd, Betty E.S. Duran Msw, Mph, Iván De La Rosa Msw, Phd

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

This study of BSW and MSW students (N = 122) in the School of Social Work at New Mexico State University reports student attitudes, concerns and interest in rural social work practice and rural social work practice curriculum. Strong support for rural social work practice and concomitant rural curriculum was evidenced by 93% who believed that social workers should practice in rural areas and 22% who ideally want to practice only in a rural community. Originally conceptualized and conducted to gather background data in support of a rural social work practice curriculum minor, its broader implications for rural social work …

A Case Study Of Health Risk Behaviors In A Sample Of Residents In Rural Appalachia, Gretchen E. Ely, Patricia G. Cook-Craig, Mark B. Dignan, Carol R. White, Sandy Good, Shelli Deskins

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

The purpose of this paper was to examine health risk behaviors from a sample of adults living in one of the nation’s poorest counties in Central Appalachia. A descriptive secondary analysis of data collected for a public health surveillance project was conducted to determine the most pressing health problems and risk behaviors affecting this unique population. Residents reported high rates of hypertension, back pain, and sleep problems. They also reported very low levels of physical activity. A discussion of results is provided, including a comparison of the study population to information from national surveys. The limitations of the study and …

From The Editor, Peggy Pittman-Munke Ph.D.

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Journal of Contemporary Rural Social Work

Volume 2, Number 1

Spring 2010

From the Editor: Peggy Pittman-Munke, Murray State University

A Conceptual Model For Rural Social Work, Michael R. Daley Ph.D.

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

As long as social workers have considered rural social work unique from other fields of practice there has been a search to capture the essence of rural social work. Is it a rural-urban dichotomy, is it geographically or community bound, and what are the principles that guide rural practice? Answers to these questions are important to education for future social workers and rural practice. The author examines key issues in rural social work and their influence on rural social work.

A Retrospective Study Of Teen Pregnancy In West Virginia From 2003 -2008: A Descriptive Analysis, Emily L. Mccave Msw, Phd, Ashlea Shiflet Msw Candidate

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

In 2006, West Virginia surpassed the national average birth rate for teens ages 15 to 19 years old. Through the use of the state wide Birth Score data, this article presents a retrospective examination of 8,094 teens who gave birth in West Virginia during the years of 2003-2008. Descriptive data on health issues such as prenatal care, infant birth weight and mortality, as well as demographic characteristics, such a racial background and Medicaid status are presented. Implications of these health issues are discussed along with special considerations for health providers who work within the Appalachian region.

Forever Changed: The Transformation Of Rural America Through Immigration, Maha N. Younes Ph.D., Elizabeth A. Killip

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

This qualitative case study reveals the impact of immigration on one rural Midwestern community and its longtime residents. The 123 phone interviews and sessions conducted with two focus groups provide compelling insights into residents’ perceptions of immigration and immigrants as well as their ensuing personal and collective struggle with and adaptation to an immigration process that forever changed the community. The residents offer prudent insights for policy makers, immigrants, and other communities facing similar challenges. While the focus of the study is on the macro conversion of the community through the eyes of its residents, the author stresses the need …

Confronting Oppression Not Enhancing Functioning: The Role Of Social Workers Within Postmodern Practice, Phillip Dybicz

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article represents a philosophical hermeneutic endeavor to explore the meaning of oppression as it expresses itself within social work practices based in both modern and postmodern thought. Practices based within the Modern Discourse, drawing from an authority base of scientific expertise, exhibit a disconnect between the goal of enhancing functioning and social work values and concerns such as confronting oppression; this disconnect must be bridged by the social worker. Practices based within the Postmodern Discourse are founded upon the notion of confronting oppressive narratives as their main goal; social work values are an essential component in this process.

Review Of The Latino Threat: Constructing Immigrants, Citizens, And The Nation. Leo R. Chavez. Reviewed By Barbara Robles., Barbara Robles

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Leo R. Chavez, The Latino Threat: Constructing Immigrants, Citizens and the Nation. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2008. $21.95 papercover.

Review Of Health Disparities In The United States: Social Class, Race, Ethnicity, And Health. Donald A. Barr. Reviewed By Krista Drescher-Burke., Krista Drescher-Burke

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Donald A. Barr, Health Disparities in the United States: Social Class, Race, Ethnicity, and Health. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008. $40.00 papercover.

"Like A Prison!": Homeless Women's Narratives Of Surviving Shelter, Sarah L. Deward, Angela M. Moe

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Relying on field observation and twenty qualitative interviews with shelter residents, this article examines how the bureaucracy and institutionalization within a homeless shelter fits various tenets of Goffman's (1961) "total institution," particularly with regard to systematic deterioration of personhood and loss of autonomy. Women's experiences as shelter residents are then explored via a typology of survival strategies: submission, adaptation, and resistance. This research contributes to existing literature on gendered poverty by analyzing the nuanced ways in which institutionalization affects and complicates women's efforts to survive homelessness.

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 37, No. 1 (March 2010)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• THE PRESIDENT'S EMERGENCY PLAN FOR AIDS RELIEF (PEPFAR): A SOCIAL WORK ETHICAL ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS - Robert J. Barney, Stephan L. Buckingham, Judith M. Friedrich, Lisa M. Johnson, Michael A. Robinson, and Bibhuti K. Sar
• CONFRONTING OPPRESSION NOT ENHANCING FUNCTIONING: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL WORKERS WITHIN POSTMODERN PRACTICE - Phillip Dybicz
• EXPLORING HOMEOWNER OPPOSITION TO PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS - Joanna Duke
• EVALUATION OF THE HOUSE OF HEALING: AN ALTERNATIVE TO FEMALE INCARCERATION - Sara Lichtenwalter, Maria L. Garase, and David B. Barker 75
• SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPLICATION OF THE ORGANISM METAPHOR - Gerald V O'Brien
• "LIKE A PRISON!": …

Review Of Inheriting The City: The Children Of Immigrants Come Of Age. Philip Kasinitz, John H. Mollenkopf, Mary C. Waters And Jennifer Holdaway. Reviewed By Joanna Doran., Joanna Doran

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Philip Kasinitz, John H. Mollenkopf, Mary C. Waters and Jennifer Holdaway, Inheriting the City: The Children of Immigrants Come of Age. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2008. $49.95 hardcover

Exploring Homeowner Opposition To Public Housing Developments, Joanna Duke

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper examines the beliefs and attitudes of homeowners in two receiving communities of public housing units. Opposition to housing mobility programs is generally attributed to fear offalling property values and increased crime rates. Given the spatial and redistributive nature of the programs, this paper proposes and explores space and liberty-based ideologies as causes ofdormant opposition persisting beyond relocation. Survey data were collected from two neighborhoods where developments containing public housing were located. Results indicate that ideologies about space and liberty are important to understanding receiving community opposition as well as the extent to which members of the receiving community …

Evaluation Of The House Of Healing: An Alternative To Female Incarceration, Sara Lichtenwalter, Maria L. Garase, David B. Barker

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The House of Healing (HOH) is a court-mandated, community based residential program for female offenders. Women reside with their children at the HOH, which serves as a base from which to receive health/mental health care and substance abuse treatment while working toward successful community reintegration. An evaluation based on the records of 94 female offenders residing at the HOH for various time periods between 1998 and 2006 revealed a significant relationship between residents' reunification with their children and successful completion of the HOH program. Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between successful program completion and female offenders' recidivism.

Social Justice Implications Of The Organism Metaphor, Gerald V. O'Brien

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The denigration of marginalized groups is frequently supported through the widespread employment of metaphors that present a pejorative image of the group in question. The organism metaphor, wherein the target group is portrayed as a threat to the integrity of the social body, is a particularly important metaphoric theme in the advancement of social injustice. Drawing largely from primary source documents, this paper provides an overview of the organism metaphor as it has been employed historically to denigrate various social subgroups. Implications for the social work profession are discussed.

The Changing Nature Of Accountability In Administrative Practice, Lawrence L. Martin, Kathryn Frahm

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article looks at the subject of accountability in the administration of the human services. The history of accountability over the last four decades is chronicled and discussed. The point is made that during this period, funders have largely determined the nature of accountability. Because funders have been primarily concerned with funding, accountability has tended to be financial in nature. The authors argue that the focus on financial accountability had two major detrimental effects. First, programmatic accountability was reduced to secondary importance. Second, a wedge was driven between macro administrative practice and micro direct practice as social work managers and …

Review Of Culture And The Welfare State. Wim Van Oorschot, Michael Opielka And Birgit Pfau-Effinger (Eds.). Reviewed By James Midgley., James Midgley

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Wim van Oorschot, Michael Opielka and Birgit Pfau-Effinger (Eds.) Culture and the Welfare State: Values and Social Policy in Comparative Perspective. Williston, VT: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2008. $140.00, hardcover.

Review Of Adoption In The United States: A Reference For Families, Professionals, And Students. Martha J. Henry And Daniel Pollack. Reviewed By Dorinda N. Noble., Dorinda N. Noble

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Martha J. Henry and Daniel Pollack, Adoption in the United States: A Reference for Families, Professionals, and Students. Chicago, IL: Lyceum, 2008. $42.95 papercover.

Review Of Reassembling Social Security: A Survey Of Pensions And Health Care Reforms In Latin America. Carmelo Mesa-Lago. Reviewed By James Midgley, James Midgley

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Carmelo Mesa-Lago, Reassembling Social Security: A Survey of Pensions and Health care Reforms in Latin America. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. $150.00 hardcover.

Review Of When Mothers Kill: Interviews From Prison. Michelle Oberman And Cheryl Meyer. Reviewed By Mary Ann Kanieski., Mary Ann Kanieski

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Michelle Oberman and Cheryl Meyer, When Mothers Kill: Interviews from Prison. New York: New York University Press, 2008. $24.00 hardcover.

Review Of The Politics Of Identity: Solidarity Building Among America's Working Poor. Erin E. O'Brien. Reviewed By Robert D. Weaver., Robert D. Weaver

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Erin E. O'Brien. The Politics of Identity: Solidarity Building Among America's Working Poor. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 2008. $80.00 hardcover, $28.95 papercover.

Review Of Citizens And Paupers: Relief, Rights, And Race, From The Freedmen's Bureau To Workfare. Chad Alan Goldberg. Reviewed By James Midgley., James Midgley

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Chad Alan Goldberg, Citizens and Paupers: Relief, Rights, and Race, from the Freedmen's Bureau to Workfare. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2008. $22.00 papercover.

Review Of The Nordic Model: Scandinavia Since 1945. Mary Hilson. Reviewed By Anupama Jacob., Anupama Jacob

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Mary Hilson, The Nordic Model: Scandinavia Since 1945. London: Reaktion Books, 2008. $24.95 papercover. (Available From the University of Chicago Press.)

Review Of Against The Wall: Poor, Young, Black And Male. Elijah Anderson. Reviewed By Paul G. Wright., Paul G. Wright

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Elijah Anderson, Against the Wall: Poor, Young, Black and Male. Philadelphia: Pennsylvania University Press, Reissue edition, 2009. $24.95 papercover.

The President's Emergency Plan For Aids Relief (Pepfar): A Social Work Ethical Analysis And Recommendations, Robert J. Barney, Stephan L. Buckingham, Judith M. Friedrich, Lisa M. Johnson, Michael A. Robinson, Bibhuti K. Sar

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the most recent international social program instituted by the U.S. Government to combat HIV/AIDS. Since its inception in 2003, this foreign policy initiative has dedicated $63 billion for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in foreign countries. Despite PEPFAR's many accomplishments, it continues to promote controversial prevention strategies. This paper analyzes these prevention strategies, utilizing social work values as described in the NASW Code of Ethics. Policy, practice, and research implications are discussed.

Institutional Structures Of Opportunity In Refugee Resettlement: Gender, Race/Ethnicity, And Refugee Ngos, Stephanie J. Nawyn

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Previous research suggests that social welfare assistance can further subordinate already disadvantaged recipients. Refugee resettlement, essentially a social welfare program, offers a diferent perspective on how welfare assistance might exert social control. Using data gathered from 60 in-depth interviews with people working in resettlement and observations at refugee non-governmental organizations (NGOs), this paper argues that refugee NGOs provide a complex institutional opportunity structure that has the potential to reproduce the gender and racial/ethnic subordination embedded in refugee welfare policy while also providing opportunities for refugees to counteract subordinating gender and racial/ethnic relations through advocacy and cultural activities. These findings refine …

Review Of God's Heart Has No Borders: How Religious Activists Are Working For Immigrant Rights. Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo. Reviewed By Jennifer Morazes., Jennifer Morazes

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo, God's Heart has no Borders: How Religious Activists are Working for Immigrant Rights. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2008. $21.95 papercover.