Social Work Commons^™

Review Of Dividing The Child: Social And Legal Dilemmas Of Custody. Eleanor E. Macoby And Robert H. Mnookin With Charlene E. Depner And H. Elizabeth Peters. Reviewed By Terri Combs-Orme, University Of Tennessee., Terri Combs-Orme

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review. E. Maccoby and Robert H. Mnookin with Charlene E. Depner and H. Elizabeth Peters. Dividing the Child: Social and Legal Dilemmas of Custody. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1992. $39.95 hardcover.

Review Of Adolescents And Aids. Ralph J. Diclemente. Reviewed By Ronald Mancoske, Southern University., Ronald Mancoske

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Ralph J. DiClemente. Adolescents and AIDS. Newbury Park, CA: Sage, 1992. $17.95 papercover.

Review Of The Coming Health Crisis: Who Will Pay For Care For The Aged In The 21st Century. John R. Wolfe. Reviewed By James Midgley, Louisiana State University, James Midgley

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

John R. Wolfe. The Coining Health Crisis: Who Will Pay for Care for the Aged in the 21st Century. Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1993. $22.50 hardcover.

Review Of Social Security And Medicare: A Policy Primer. Eric R. Kingson And Edward D. Berkowitz., James Midgley

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Eric R. Kingson and Edward D. Berkowitz. Social Security and Medicare: A Policy Primer. Westport, CT: Auburn House, 1993. $59.95 hardcover, $18.95 papercover.

Review Of Old Age Security In Comparative Perspective. John B. Williamson And Fred C. Pampel., James Midgley

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

John B. Williamson and Fred C. Pampel. Old Age Security in Comparative Perspective. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993. $49.95 hardcover.

Review Of Elders Living Alone: Frailty And The Perception Of Choice. Robert L. Rubinstein, Janet E. Killbride And Sharon Nagy. Reviewed By Martin B. Tracy, The University Of Iowa., Martin B. Tracy

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Robert L. Rubinstein, Janet E. Killbride and Sharon Nagy. Elders Living Alone: Frailty and the Perception of Choice. Hawthorne: NY: Aldine de Gruyter, 1992. $35.95 hardcover; $18.95 papercover.

Mothers Of Incest Survivors: Another Side Of The Story. Janis Tyler Johnson.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Janis Tyler Johnson. Mothers of Incest Survivors: Another Side of the Story. Bloomington: University of Indiana Press, 1992. $20 hardcover.

Partners In Care: Hospices And Health Authorities. David Clark.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

David Clark. Partners in Care: Hospices and Health Authorities. Aldershot, England: Avebury, 1993. $58.95 hardcover. (Distributed in the United States by Ashgate Publishing Co. Brookfield, VT).

Same-Sex Marriage Legislation And The Extension Of Rights To People Who Are Homosexual, Quin Ripley Buchtel

Theses and Graduate Projects

Many of the rights and privileges that heterosexual couples experience in their daily lives are not provided to couples who are gay and lesbian. Even if gays and lesbians choose to form a committed permanent relationship, there are no legal validations or endorsements to insure protection for these unions. The instrument used for this study was an opinion survey. Polled were 41 employees, of a small rural social service agency, who routinely provide a variety of services to diverse populations. The findings suggest that there is resistance to supporting the legalization of same-sex marriages to legitimize these domestic partnerships.

Preserving Families: Does It Work? A Policy Analysis, Karen L. Peterson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Beginning with a look at the historical background of child welfare services in the United States, this policy analysis examines issues surrounding the use of out-of home placement of children as an intervention strategy with families in crisis. In response to the increasing demand for the limited dollars available to provide social services, the high cost of out-of-home placement and concern for the large number of children who experienced lengthy or multiple foster care placements policy makers and service providers are now focusing upon efforts to preserve families and prevent unnecessary out-of-home placement of children. Family preservation services are examined …

The Efficacy Of Residential Treatment Services For A Child Diagnosed With Schizophrenia: A Case Study, Roxanne F. O'Connor

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study examines the effectiveness of residential treatment services for a child diagnosed with schizophrenia. The literature review completed indicates that fewer than 200 cases of childhood schizophrenia have been described in the world literature. Children with this rare disease are served a number of ways in l{Minnesota, one of those ways being residential treatment services. In studying the effectiveness of this treatment modality for a child with schizophrenia, f have completed an intensive ease study of a child who is diagnosed with schizophrenia and has completed residential treatment services. Records were reviewed and interviews conducted with the identified child, …

Training Foster Parents And Birth Families In Caring For American Indian Children Who Have Experienced Both Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Or Effects And Sexual Abuse, Vi E. Rocek

Theses and Graduate Projects

This thesis examines the effects of both child sexual abuse and fetal alcohol syndrome or effects on American Indian children in foster care. These children manifest a variety of particular behaviors and mental incapabilities causing them to be exceptionally difficult to parent. Using a conceptual framework based on the perspectives of ecology, competence, human development, and permanency planning, the author develops a training program for foster parents, birth parents and extended family. The training provides concrete, workable and easy to apply strategies for caregivers to address the special needs and demands of these children. The rationale for joining foster parents …

Special Needs Adoption: Characteristics Of Children Who Wait, Sandra K. Taylor Nelson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Children who have been removed from their birth parent(s)' care,

due to abuse, neglect, or other maltreatment are generally placed in

one of several out-of home placement arrangements. The birth parents

of many of these children subsequently have their parental rights

terminated, and these children then become wards of the State. For

this thesis, case records of seventy children who are wards of the

State of Minnesota receiving services from the Hennepin County

Children and Family Services Department Adoption Program' were

reviewed for the purpose of gathering descriptive information about

this population. This study found that number of placements, Iength …

Assessing Satisfaction Among Clients Of A Probation Service Center, Iris B. Burlock

Theses and Graduate Projects

The Probation Service Center offers supervision to those probationers who are assessed as posing only a minimal risk to the community-at-large. It was started in Dakota County in April, 1992 as a viable means of monitoring this low-risk offender population by using a group supervision format. The initiation of this program was spurred by the immediate need posed by burgeoning caseloads of those providing traditional one-to-one probation. This need became more dramatic in the face of dwindling financial and human resources.

This research looks at the operations of the Probation Service Center from the client's perspective. A client satisfaction survey …

An Historic Review Of Special Education And The Effects Of Segregation On Educational Service Provision, Leslie E. Green

Theses and Graduate Projects

Millions of Americans sincerely believe that children who have special needs are entitled to individualized educational programming. Without this commitment, children who have special needs cannot attain their rightful, productive places in society. The purpose of this thesis will be to trace the origin and the historical development of Special Education. It will also consider and attempt to draw conclusions as to the level of segregation of services provided for students.

Exploration Of Human And Social Service Needs Of The Transgender Community: Guidelines For Social Workers, Lori A. Stark

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this research is to assist the author in developing guidelines for social workers who work with the transgender community, or may come in contact with a transgender client at some point. Although upon completion, this thesis will not be in guideline form, the thesis, as well as the guidelines to follow, will contain definitions and explanations of different areas of the transgendered community, and a list of resource and referral sources that may be useful when working with a transgendered client. The following research questions will be explored in this study : l) What are all of …

Ageism: An Exploration Of Social Workers' Attitudes Toward Psychological Services For Elders, Anita L. Raymond-Wrage

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study sought to explore the value placed on psychological services for elders by social workers. Previous research indicates that psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians and other professionals are biased against the effectiveness of psychological services for older people. Because social workers for elders are often the source of referrals for other types of service provision to meet the needs of older adults, the social worker's ability to recognize depression and to understand the appropriateness of services such as psychotherapy, couple$, group, and family therapy is necessary to ensure all the needs of the older adult are met. By responding to a …

The Impact Of Whole Family Foster Care On Social Support Networks, Sheri A. Olson

Theses and Graduate Projects

This exploratory study examined the impact of a whole family foster care program on the social support networks of parents placed in care. Comparisons of networks of five parents before and during placement were made. The results suggest that a possible relationship exists on the amount of support received. Increases in network size, concrete, informational and emotional support, reciprocity of help, and the amount of contacts were reported by parents during placement in the program. The overall percentage of criticalness decreased during placement. This suggests an improvement in the quality of social support networks during placement in whole family foster …

The Definition Of Stalking: Its Historical Context And Current Status, Christine M. Freund

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study is to examine the historical context of stalking to determine i ts current status as a social problem. in the past 30 years stalking has increased in both reported extent and severity. The study tracked stalking through history from the Roman era to the present. Data was collected through the examination of legal testimonials, popular Literature and articles by those currently working with stalking victims and stalkers. The study found, evidence that stalking is gradually becoming recognized as a social problem.

It's Time To Prepare: Death Education For Social Workers, Leah Walton

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to develop a training program for social workers on death and dying. Data was collected by reviewing the literature, conducting interviews with professionals in the field of death and dying, and the participation in a seminar entitled "The Ticking of the Clock and The Tolling of the Bells". The information collected was combined and developed into a training program for social workers in long term care or hospital settings. The training program can also be adapted for use in the class room setting at the undergraduate or graduate level. The training program outlined five …

Implementation Of The Indian Child Welfare Act, Daniel G. Dierfeldt

Theses and Graduate Projects

The Indian Child Welfare Act (I.C.W.A.), P.L. 95-608, became federal law in 1978. Its purpose was to protect Native American children, families and culture. Prior to the passage of the I.C.W.A. Native American children were being placed in substitute care in statistically high numbers The law mandates a system which provides for tribal participation whenever permanent or temporary care is required for Native American children. The I.C.W.A. encourages family preservation and establishes legal protections when children must be separated from their families.

To date little study has been done related to the implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act at …

Respite Care For Children With Emotional / Behavioral Disorders In A Foster Care Setting, Marcia L. Bolte

Theses and Graduate Projects

The Time Apart respite program provides short-term, temporary care, outside the home of the primary caregiver. In the evaluation process, questionnaires were given to social workers and case managers whose clients have used the program and to liscensed, specially trained, foster parents who provided respite services. The study was designed to answer the following seven questions: 1) What are the characteristics of the consumers of this program?; 2) Does the respite provider training address the needs of respite providers in serving the children in their care?; 3) Does the child information packet given to providers supply the information they need …

Development Of Workshop For School Social Workers: A Framework For Addressing Sexually Abused Adolescents, Lisa M. Baird

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to develop a training program to equip school social workers to work effectively with the growing population of adolescents who have suffered sexual abuse. The framework of the program focuses on empowering the victims to move from the mindset of feeling controlled by the victimization to utilizing their freedom to choose positive behaviors and taking responsibility for those choices, despite their suffering.

A workshop was developed for presentation to school social workers. The workshop educates social workers on a framework from which to address the adolescent victim. It presents an overview of sexual abuse, …

Evaluating A Grandparent Support Group, Mary A. Taylor

Theses and Graduate Projects

Having developed a grandparent support group for grandparents raising grandchildren, the author conducted an evaluation of the group using both quantitative and qualitative information from group members. The support group was sponsored by a Western suburban school district in the Minneapolis - St. Paul metropolitan area. The author utilizes attachment theory in an attempt to understand the needs of grandparents raising their grandchildren, an increasing phenomena. After reviewing research findings on the usefulness of support groups, especially those sponsored by schools, the evaluation of this support group and its usefulness to grandparents are presented. Suggestions for future groups and information …

Minnesota Youth In Care: Voices Of Wisdom, Michelle L. Chalmers

Theses and Graduate Projects

Adolescents currently make up the largest proportion of young people entering substitute care in the state of Minnesota. In this exploratory project, eleven young adults with a history of out of home placement in two Minnesota counties were interviewed. Participants shared their perceptions on the degree of influence they feel they had when decisions regarding their placements were made. They provided "advice" for youth currently entering the system and for practitioners working with adolescents in care. A review of the literature exploring the relationship between empowerment theories and youth participation in service provision provides a foundation for the study. Literature …

A Study Of The Characteristics, Experiences, Emotions, Needs Of Primary Caregivers Whose Relatives Were Admitted To A Short Term Rehabilitation Unit In A Health Care Community, Sandra G. Nelson

Theses and Graduate Projects

This research investigated the socio-demographic characteristics of primary caregivers and their emotional experiences at the time of the admission of an older relative to a short term rehabilitation unit of a health care community. The findings indicated that the majority of primary caregivers are adult children and spouses. In addition, the research indicated that family members assume the primary responsibility for their older relatives while they reside in the community. The results of this research differed significantly from studies of long-term care in regards to the emotions experienced at the. time of the admission. This study found that primary caregivers …