Social Work Commons^™

Potential Impact Of Eitc Adjustments On Financial Self-Sufficiency Among Low-Income Families: A Simulation Model, Younghee Lim, Catherine Lemieux

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Policies that help low-income mothers find and keep employment as a means of obtaining self-sufficiency have been a focal point of the welfare reform debate in the past decade. In the midst of this dialogue, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) has gained popularity as one of the core work support programs for America's low- and moderately low-income families with children. This study compares the estimated effects of EITC when its value deteriorated in the late 1990s with that of a simulated EITC for which the real value kept pace with the actual cost of living on welfare caseload reductions. …

Documentary Photography In American Social Welfare History: 1897-1943, Peter Szto

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This is a study of documentary photography in American social welfare history. The study examines the emergence of photography as a tool of social policy, and in particular, key practitioners who shaped the perception of American social welfare. Within the social welfare literature, this topic is largely unexamined yet invaluable to an understanding of American social welfare. Photography performed a highly instrumental role by providing visual evidence as an innovative way of seeing and analyzing social problems. This image-based approach to social welfare analysis influenced how society viewed itself and the social environment. The goal of this study is to …

Review Of Social Work With Latinos: A Cultural Assets Paradigm. Melvin Delgado. Reviewed By Barbara J. Robles., Barbara J. Robles

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Melvin Delgado. Social Work with Latinos: A Cultural Assets Paradigm. New York: Oxford University Press, 2006. $35.00 hardcover.

Globalization, Precarious Work, And The Food Bank, Ernie S. Lightman, Andrew Mitchell, Dean Herd

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper explores whether people are better off working in the precarious employment associated with a neoliberal globalized economy. Firstly, we show the impacts of globalization on the composition of food bank users in Toronto, Canada. We then compare two groups offood bank users, one with at least one household member working, the other without. Our findings demonstrate that the life experiences of the two groups remain depressingly similar: those employed remained mired in poverty and continued to lead marginalized, precarious lives. The lack of investment in education or training characteristic of 'work-first' welfare reforms leads to unstable, low-paid work …

Family Foster Care For Abandoned Children In Egypt, Hamido A. Megahead

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The profile of Egyptian foster children has changed tremendously since the establishment of Egyptian family foster care in 1959. This is a result of changes in foster family practice and changes in the profile of foster families. The changes in family foster care practice included terminating the use of wet nurses and replacing them with Childhood and Motherhood Care Centers and by determining a specific age that foster children would leave the foster care system. The changes in the foster family profile included the educational qualifications offoster mothers, the jobs offoster mothers and foster fathers, the motivation to be a …

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 35, No. 2 (June 2008)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• GLOBALIZATION, PRECARIOUS WORK, AND THE FOOD BANK - Ernie S. Lightman, Andrew Mitchell and Dean Herd
• FAMILY FOSTER CARE FOR ABANDONED CHILDREN IN EGYPT - Hamido A. Megahead
• POTENTIAL IMPACT OF EITC ADJUSTMENTS ON FINANCIAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY AMONG LOW INCOME FAMILIES: A SIMULATION MODEL - Younghee Lim and Catherine Lemieux
• TRANSFORMING CAREGIVING: AFRICAN AMERICAN CUSTODIAL GRANDMOTHERS AND THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM - S. Yvette Murphy, Andrea G. Hunter and Deborah J. Johnson
• DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY IN AMERICAN SOCIAL WELFARE HISTORY: 1897-1943 - Peter Szto
• USING SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION THEORY AS A FOUNDATION FOR MACRO-LEVEL INTERVENTIONS IN COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY HIV …

Using Social Construction Theory As A Foundation For Macro-Level Interventions In Communities Impacted By Hiv And Addictions, David Allen Patterson, Robert H. Keefe

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Many professionals working with people living with HIV and alcohol and other drug addictions rely heavily on micro and mezzo-level interventions. The authors argue that although these approaches are effective for helping people living with some social problems they are too narrow for working effectively with HIV-positive and alcohol and other drug-addicted individuals. The authors use social construction theory to analyze the social problems of HIV/AIDS and addictions and make recommendations for macro-level interventions that may help curtail the dual problems of HIV and addictions.

Review Of Working Mothers And The Welfare State: Religion And The Politics Of Work-Family Policies In Western Europe And The United States. Kimberly J. Morgan. Reviewed By Katherine Van Wormer., Katherine Van Wormer

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Kimberly J. Morgan. Working Mothers and the Welfare State: Religion and the Politics of Working-Family Policies in Western Europe and the United States. Palo Alto, CA: Stanford University Press, 2006. $22.95 papercover.

Review Of Good Kids From Bad Neighborhoods: Successful Development In Social Context. Delbert S. Elliott, Scott Menard, Bruce Rankin, Amanda Elliott, William Julius Wilson And David Huizinga. Reviewed By Stephanie Cosner Berzin., Stephanie Cosner Berzin

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Delbert S. Elliot, Scott Menard, Bruce Rankin, Amanda Elliot, William Julius Wilson and David Huizinga. Good Kids from Bad Neighborhoods: Successful Development in Social Context. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006. $80.00 hardcover, $30.99 papercover.

Review Of Polarized America: The Dance Of Ideology And Unequal Riches. Nolan Mccarty, Keith T. Poole And Howard Rosenthal. Reviewed By Joel Blau, Joel Blau

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Nolan McCarty, Keith T. Poole, and Howard Rosenthal. Polarized America: The Dance of Ideology and Unequal Riches. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, 2006. $35.00 hardcover, $18.00 papercover.

Review Of Biomedicalization Of Alcohol Studies: Ideological Shifts And Institutional Challenges. Lorraine T. Midanik. Reviewed By E. Michael Gorman., Bart Grossman

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Peter Schrag. California: America's High Stakes Experiment. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2006. $24.95 hardcover, $16.95 papercover.

Review Of California: America's High Stakes Experiment. Peter Schrag. Reviewed By Bart Grossman., Edward Cohen

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of John Gerring. Case Study Research: Principles and Practices. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007. $70.00 hardcover, $24.99 papercover.

Review Of Long Range Public Investment: The Forgotten Legacy Of The New Deal. Robert D. Leighninger. Reviewed By James Midgley., James Midgley

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Robert D. Leighninger. Long Range Public Investment: The Forgotten Legacy of the New Deal. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 2007. $ 24.95 papercover.

Jobs Aren't Enough: Towards A New Economic Mobility For Low-Income Families. Roberta Rehner Iverson And Annie Laurie Armstrong., James Midgley

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book note for Roberta Rehner Iverson and Annie Laurie Armstrong. Jobs Aren't Enough: Towards a New Economic Mobility for Low- Income Families. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press, 2006. $74.50 hardcover, $26.95 papercover.

The Other Philadelphia Story: How Local Congregations Support Quality Of Life In Urban America. Ram A. Cnaan With Stephanie C. Boddie, Charlene C. Mcgrew And Jennifer Kang., Kristine Frerer

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book note for Ram A. Cnaan with Stephanie C. Boddie, Charlene C. McGrew and Jennifer Kang. The Other Philadelphia Story: How Local Congregations Support Quality of Life in Urban America. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2006. $69.95 hardcover.

The State After Statism: New State Activities In The Age Of Liberalization. Jonah D. Levy, Editor., James Midgley

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book note for Jonah D. Levy, Editor. The State after Statism: New State Activities in the Age of Liberalization. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2006. $55.00 hardcover, $24.95 papercover.

Contesting Communities: The Transformation Of Workplace Charity. Emily Barman., Sara E. Kimberlin

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book note for Emily Barman. Contesting Communities: The Transformation of Workplace Charity. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2006. $53.00 hardcover, $20.95 papercover.

Child Soldiers: From Violence To Protection. Michael Wessells., David K. Androff

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book note for Michael Wessells, Child Soldiers: From Violence to Protection. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2006. $45.00 hardcover.

Health And Work Productivity: Making The Business Case For Quality Health Care. Ronald C. Kessler And Paul E. Stang, Editors.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book note for Ronald C. Kessler and Paul E. Stang (Eds.), Health and Work Productivity: Making the Business Case for Quality Health Care. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2006. $35.00 hardcover.

Attributes Of Effective Head Start Mental Health Consultants : A Mixed Method Study Of Rural And Urban Programs, Mary Dallas Allen

Dissertations and Theses

Early childhood mental health consultation (ECMHC) is the primary strategy implemented by Head Start programs to address the social and emotional needs of children and their families, but little is known about the attributes of early childhood mental health consultants (MHCs) that contribute to consultants' relationships with Head Start staff and to consultation outcomes. The present study examined how attributes of MHCs contribute to positive relationships between the MHCs and Head Start staff and to improved consultation outcomes. Seven attributes of rural and urban mental health consultants were examined: MHC training, supervision, and support; MHC understanding of consultant role; MHC …

The Mercury Connection: Autism And Childhood Vaccines, Sarah Rossi

Pell Scholars and Senior Theses

A literature survey of government and private studies have found that Thimerosal not to be a cause of auism. The reliance on limited, flawed and outdated studies on the effect of ethyl-mercury suggest that more research is needed to understand the effects of ethyl-mercury and particularly Thimerosal. In the meantime efforts should be increased to remove Thimerosal from vaccines world-wide.

Children With Incarcerated Parents : A Longitudinal Study Of The Effect Of Parental Incarceration On Adolescent Externalizing Behaviors, Jean Mollenkamp Kjellstrand

Dissertations and Theses

Over the past two decades, the number of imprisoned adults in the United States has quadrupled. Mirroring this trend is the rapidly increasing population of children with incarcerated parents. The initial findings of research on the effects of parental incarceration on children are disturbing, indicating a vulnerable group of children at risk for poor outcomes. Yet, research on these children remains limited. Several studies have focused on the description of these children, yet few have analyzed the relationship between parental incarceration and child outcomes in conjunction with other risk and protective factors. Understanding these relationships is crucial to the development …

The Increase Of Bipolar Disorder In Children And Adolescents, Kristen Wroblewski

Social Work Theses

This cluster study investigates the different possibilities that may have caused an increase in the diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder in children and adolescents, including comparison to diagnosis in other countries. The same criteria for diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder for adults are used for children and adolescents, which may be misdiagnosed due to other disorders having the same characteristics, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In the cluster study, current and past students’ files at an alternative school were analyzed to determine whether the diagnosis had increased within the setting. Main findings were that Bipolar Disorder did increase over the …

The Relationship Between Parental Substance Abuse And The Effects On Young Children, Lindsey Capaldi

Social Work Theses

This was a relational study investigating the implications of a parents drug use on a young child’s life. A review of the literature revealed that a child is severely impacted by their parent’s drug and alcohol abuse. Prenatal or postnatal use of drugs or alcohol can mean health, mental, social and emotional issues for a child. The relational study compared children whose parents have a history of drug or alcohol abuse to the children whose parents did not. The sample was observed in the Head Start setting and consisted of 77 children. The children whose family life did not include …

Foster Youth And The "Aging Out" Age In Rhode Island, Kelsey Creeden

Social Work Theses

Foster care is a temporary placement of children and youth with others outside of their home due to child abuse or neglect. Since its 19th century origins, the foster care system has evolved to focus on three goals of providing safety, well-being, and permanency until the child leaves the system, either by reunification, adoption, or “aging out”. Because these youth often “age out” without a home, job, or support system, programs such as the Life Skills Program and the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative are working toward providing this population with skills that will assist them in successfully aging out …

The Lack Of Mental Health Professionals And Services For Children Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing, Kiley Morgart

Social Work Theses

Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are vulnerable to abuse and are not receiving proper care at an early age due to their parents’ negative reactions towards having a child who has a hearing impairment. The lack of proper care and their vulnerability to abuse puts these children at a high risk of not developing properly. A qualitative study was undertaken using interviews to find services/agencies that provide help to parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing in Rhode Island. Findings indicate that there is a sufficient amount of service for parents but these parents …

Effective Interventions For Treating Superficial Self Mutilators, Maria Palladini

Social Work Theses

Self-cutting is the most common form of self-mutilation in adolescents but there is insufficient knowledge as to which treatment methods to reduce self-mutilation are most effective. This exploration into the causes of self-cutting and the treatment interventions, such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), compares adolescents who had DBT treatment with those who have used other treatment methods. Research findings indicate that the average age of adolescents in treatment was 15 years old and had been in treatment at least one time prior. Adolescents in DBT treatment showed signs in reducing/stopping self-cutting behavior along with improving communication skills with caregivers. Implications …

The Need For Gender And Age Specific Life Skill Groups, Sara Pateras

Social Work Theses

Adolescent life skill groups can strengthen self-esteem, develop appropriate body image, and improve peer and adult relationships while providing a sense of unity and support for its members. By separating boys and girls, adolescent life skill groups encourage the easeful gender specific discussions. This research investigated the effectiveness of adolescent girls’ life skill groups on increasing self-esteem, developing appropriate body image, and improving both peer and romantic relationships. This research evaluated the results of a pre-test and post-test administered to 174 participants in a life skill group ran by Big Sisters of Rhode Island. This study found that the average …

A Call For The Spiritual Dimension To Be Included In Social Work Education, Stephanie Sullivan

Social Work Theses

Spirituality is a concept that is not easily definable and because of that, many people shy away from fully understanding how one’s belief system can affect other factors in life. As a professional social worker, it is one’s duty to look at the whole individual because every system is intertwined with another. When pondering over whether or not aspects of spirituality is used in everyday social work practice, one must ask the question about the worker’s view on spirituality. This qualitative research study shows how spirituality in social work is arguably important both personally and professionally in the profession. After …

Social Work With Affluent And Low-Income Families: Attribution Theory, Katharine Terbush

Social Work Theses

A study to assess attribution theory and the work done by social workers with wealthy and poor families was performed using two vignettes identical in information suggesting abuse, with one described as a wealthy family and the other a family living in poverty. Attribution theory suggests that humans label and assume certain traits to be true of different persons based on their status in our society. A person with a wealthy status may be viewed by their social worker as less likely to be abusive to their children because of their status, while a person living in poverty would be …