Social Work Commons^™

Assessing The Needs Ofsage-Grouse Local Working Groups: Final Technical Report, L. R. Belton, Douglas B. Jackson-Smith, T. A. Messmer

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

Over the last several decades, biologists have grown increasingly concerned about declines in populations of two species of sage-grouse (Centrocercus spp.), a bird whose range covers a vast portion of eleven western U.S. states and two Canadian provinces (Stiver et al. 2006). This chicken-sized bird inhabits sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) habitats on public and private land across its range. Recent declines in population numbers of this bird across its range have generated concern among landowners and state wildlife officials that the bird may be listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Sage-grouse local working groups (LWGs) have emerged as a centerpiece …

Stress And Coping Behavior : The Effects Of Poverty On Women And Children, Laura J. Sorensen Lyons

Graduate Research Papers

The following paper reviews research on poverty, its effects on women and their children, and how they cope with the increased level of stress. There are more single headed households now than ever, the majority headed by women. This adds an increased level of stress on both the women and the children they care for. Research also shows that a large number of these families are also coping with the special needs of their children. This stress leads many women and children to cope in some conventional and unconventional ways.

Schools are playing an increasingly larger role in the lives …

Disruptive Technologies In Systems Of Care: An Exploratory Study Of Social Work With Older Adults In Long-Term Care Facilities, Rebecca Lynn Paskind

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory research was to explore the application of knowledge about disruptive technologies to the long term care setting using the Eden Alternative^TM as an example. The research questions were: What themes of structuration emerge when a long-term care facility implements a disruptive social technology? What is the nature of the disruption between and among workers, long-term care facility culture, and professionals when a new social technology is introduced? How does social work practice with older adults change when a social technology such as Eden is introduced in a long-term care setting? Is Barley's (1984, 1986) …

A Grounded Theory Study Of Grief In The Lives Of Lesbians Age 60 And Older: Implications For Practice And Societal Change, Ginger Charlyne Meyette

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to understand the lived experiences of self-identified lesbians age 60 and older concerning grief related to various life experiences and to develop a grounded theory related to the findings. The purpose goes beyond describing the phenomenon of grief focusing on grief related exclusively to death loss. The purpose includes eliciting comments about grief related to overt or covert discrimination due to ageism, sexism, and/or homophobia as well as the connection between the personal and the political in terms of what needs to change to bring about social justice.

The issue of grief in the …

A Critical Realist Exploration Of The Relationship Between Personal And Professional Value Systems In Social Workers And The Impact On Motivations For Participation In A Social Work Community Of Practice, Philip Jonathan Osteen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study addresses questions about the nature of relationships between personal and professional value systems and between personal and professional identities, about motivations for engaging in a social work community of practice, and about alternative statistical methods for evaluating the psychometric properties of an original measure of motivation for participation in a social work community of practice. By merging communities of practice theory, derived from social learning theory, and critical social realist theory, this study bridges an ideological gap between the origins and evolution of personal and social identities. The study utilizes a mixed-method approach to (1) develop a measure …

Creating An Indian Space In The City: Development, Maintenance, And Evolution Of Cultural Identity And Cultural Connectedness Among Multiple Generations Of Urban American Indians, Nancy Marie Lucero

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the cultural identity and cultural connectedness of multiple generations of American Indians whose families had been living continuously in an urban area for 40 to 50 years. The intent of the current study was to better understand how members of this group developed and maintained their cultural identities while living away from a tribal community and as a small percentage of the population of a large and culturally diverse metropolitan area. The study also sought to identify what constituted cultural connectedness--a term used frequently amongst urban Indians that appears to encompass factors of importance to being American …

Participants' Perception Of The Utility Of An Adult Day Health Care Center, Sherry Ann Snyder

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to assess the participants' perception of San Bernardino Adult Day Health Care. Adult day health care centers serve the mentally ill as well as the mentally disabled and elderly population, and are designed to help keep the participants in the community and free from institutionalization.

Private Foster Family Agencies' Certified Foster Parents' Perceptions Of County Social Workers And Services, Maria Gabriela Casillas

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to explore the support and services available to foster parents from government-run services and to examine attitudes resulting from the contact they have with county social workers and the services they received from them. The foster parent's suggestions and/or responses allowed this study to uncover frequent themes that lead to a theory of their perceptions, and served to add knowledge and make changes in social work practice at the micro and/or macro levels of human organization. This study was conducted with 15 foster parents that provide foster care for the agency, Community Access Network …

The Impact Of California's Service Delivery System On Developmentally Disabled Youth Emancipating From The Child Welfare System, Carey Ann Doetschman

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to examine public child welfare and regional center workers' perceptions of the experiences that developmentally disabled youth have as they emancipate from child welfare services into the adult developmental service sector. Data was collected by interviewing workers from Inland Regional Center and San Bernardino County's Child Welfare Department. The sample of this study included nine case managers and social workers who presented nine cases. Qualitative Interviews were designed and conducted with workers from both agencies utilizing the same basic interview guide.

Establishing Adult Lifelong Connections For Emancipating Foster Youth, Tylia Lindsey Jones

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to examine the ways in which Riverside County Children's Social Services Workers (CSSW's) are establishing adult lifelong connections for emancipating foster youth. Interviews were conducted with CSSW's from the Independent Living Program (ILP) and the Planned Permanency Living Arrangement (PPLA) units. The purpose of the interviews was to identify resources that CSSW's are using to secure adult lifelong connections for youth transitioning out of the foster care system.

The Relationship Between Kinship Support Services And Placement Outcomes, Maria De Jesus Flores, Jennifer Lau

Theses Digitization Project

This study examined the relationship between kinship support services and placement outcomes using secondary data collected by Chang and Liles (2004) in the Counties of San Bernardino and Riverside. This study aimed at assessing kinship care placement outcomes by reviewing the characteristics of kin caregivers and their dependent children, types of financial support and services received, and contact with social workers. This study sample included 130 kinship caregivers and 291 dependent children from the original study (Chang & Liles, 2007).

Perceptions About The Effectiveness Of Play Therapy Among Parents, Maria Nina Joy Malasig Flores

Theses Digitization Project

This thesis will explore the perceptions about the effectiveness of play therapy among parents. This study will work with Bilingual Family Counseling Services, (BFCS) in Ontario, with their school based program. Their school based program runs throughout the Montclair and Ontario school districts and helps counsel children with behavioral problems who are from 5-12 years of age with play therapy. The issue that will be addressed in this study is to find out through the perception of the parent whether or not play therapy has been effective with their child. This study will survey parents about their child's progress throughout …

Co-Sleeping Deaths In Riverside County, Christine Leigh Brown

Theses Digitization Project

The focus of this study was to look at cases of co-sleeping deaths and find the similarities between them and determine if these deaths were preventable. The research site for this study was the Riverside County Child Death Review, which meets twice a month to discuss all child deaths in Riverside County, as well as Riverside County Child Protective Services. The study participants chosen for this study were from cases discussed at these meetings. The cases for this study were selected from the Riverside Child Death Review Team from the years 2003 to 2008.

Social Workers' Perceptions Of Barriers To Father Involvement In Case Planning In San Bernardino County Department Of Children's Services, Deborah Ann Kay, Tina Marguerite Wright-Ervin

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to examine social workers perceptions of barriers to the involvement of fathers in case planning. Two focused groups were conducted utilizing a sample of eleven social workers from two Children and Family Services offices in San Bernardino County. Participants were asked to express their opinions on what the barriers to father involvement have been in their work experience. Ultimately, the study found that social worker bias, systemic bias, paternity issues, and father's lack of motivation are the four major barriers to father involvement.

Substance Abuse Among The Aging Population: A Needs Assessment, Stephen Michael Clark

Theses Digitization Project

This needs assessment was composed of 33 clinicians' in Riverside and San Bernardino counties that work in the substance abuse field. This study was developed to test if there is a need to increase clinicians' knowledge level base when working with older adults age 65 plus with a substance abuse problem. This needs assessment looked at demographics and tested the differences between self reported knowledge and what instruments their agencies are currently using.

Attitudes Regarding Gang Affiliation Of Select Adolescent Boys Residing In Group Homes, Gina Michelle Aguirre

Theses Digitization Project

This study contains a program evaluation of a four week series of group sessions, involving a variety of group activites, including role plays, exposure to a former gang member, and group dialogues on a variety of topics, to determine whether the program caused a change in the attitudes of adolescent males residing in group homes regarding gang affiliation. The research utilized a convenience sample, utilizing male residents of Fields Comprehensive Group Homes, between the ages of 15 and 18, residing at one of two affiliated locations. Each location housed six adolescent boys. One group home was randomly selected as the …

Group Therapist's Perceptions Of Group Treatment Of Intra-Familial Child Sexual Abuse Offenders, Elena Diana Inzunza

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not therapy is effective among intra-familial child sexual abuse offenders and to identify successful strategies and techniques. An intra-familial child offender is a person whose sexual desire is directed toward children, usually of pre-pubertal or early pubertal age. The distinction within an intra-familial child sexual offender is that the offense was that the victim was within the perpetrator's family.

Caregivers' Perceptions Of Disabled Elders Preparations For A Natural Disaster, Brenda Marie Starkins

Theses Digitization Project

The focus of this research study was to evaluate caregivers' perceptions of how well disabled elders are prepared for a natural disaster. This study was conducted through the Inland Caregiver Resource Center. Participants included six hundred ninety-one caregivers who care for and support the disabled elderly population.

The Effects Of Different Types And Patterns Of Services On Successful Reunification, California Social Work Education Center (Calswec), Amy D'Andrade

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Service Delivery Models Of Orthopedic Donations To Low Income Nations, Jean Elizabeth Sigaran

Theses Digitization Project

This study focused on the program designs of nonprofit organizations that deliver orthopedic supplies to low income nations. Successful organizations, whether for profit or not for profit, must consider many factors when creating an effective program design. This study investigated the role stakeholders played in orthopedic supply delivery and what factors contribute to an efficient distribution of resources.

Depression In Korean Immigrant Women, Darin Lee Rorrer

Theses Digitization Project

This study found that the depression levels of Korean immigrant women in the U.S are affected by their education and/or income levels, often stemming from their inability to successfully navigate in the American culture.

Identification Of Effective Outreach Methods For Mental Health Services To The Hispanic Population, Nidia Yamileth Canello

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to find effective outreach methods to the Hispanic population to empower them to seek mental health services when they need them. Hispanics seek mental health services at a lower rate than mainstream America. This community is the most rapidly growing in San Bernardino County, and lack of early intervention when necessary may have costly consequences to Hispanics and society as a whole.

The Role Of Assertiveness And Communication In Adolescent Females' Decision To Engage In Risky, Self-Sacrificing Sexual Behavior, Joanne Bernadette Julien

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to examine the role assertiveness and communication played in the decisions of female teens to engage in risky sexual behavior.

Impact Of Kinship Foster Care On Kinship Caregivers, Oluyemisi Mcmullen

Theses Digitization Project

The focus of this study was to investigate the impact of kinship foster care on kinship care providers in San Bernardino County. This study explored kinship caregiver's perceptions of the impact of an extended period of placement has on the kinship caregiver and their family, the financial impact of caring for the children on the kinship care provider, the stress of coping with any physical mental or emotional problems children may have, and the kinship care providers ability to cope with the demands of the child welfare system.

Parental Substance Abuse Services That Promote Family Reunification Under Adoption And Safe Families Act Timelines, Omeera Qadir

Theses Digitization Project

Parents involved in the child welfare system often receive substance abuse services. However, the Adoptions and Safe Families Act (ASFA) time frames for permanency may not be addressing all of the long-term needs of families who are involved within the system. The purpose of this research study was to assess the effectiveness of substance abuse services in promoting family reunification under the ASFA timelines for parents whose children are dependents of the Juvenile Court. The primary information being analyzed was the case files of 50 families who were involved in Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), Children's Services …

The Utilization Of Temporary Emergency Protective Custody Orders For At Risk Elder And Dependent Adults: An Exploratory Study, Mary Avitia-Torres

Theses Digitization Project

This study discusses how the utilization of temporary emergency protective custody orders would help Adult Protective Services (APS) social workers in San Bernardino County with their modes of interventions. This study sought to identify the gaps and challenges faced by APS social workers and help develop a theory explaining what collaborative efforts are needed by certain agencies in order to deliver effective protective services to endangered elderly and dependent adults. The research site and participants utilized for this study were APS social workers employed in the County of San Bernardino Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) Region One.

Barriers That Affect The Under Utilization Of Mental Health Services Among Foster Children, Haneen Sabah Alghita, Denise Nunez

Theses Digitization Project

There are many barriers that interfere with the utilization of mental health services which include instability of the foster child, county/budget restrictions, racial/ethnic inequality, delivery of service, lack of knowledge and understanding of mental health needs, inadequate training on mental health needs for children among foster parents, social worker caseload and lack of communication between Foster Care Social Worker (FCSW) and County Social Worker (CSW). The purpose of this research is to examine the various barriers that affect the under-utilization of mental health services among foster children. Participants included foster parents recruited from Riverside and San Bernardino County who are …

Contributing Factors To The Over Representation Of African American Children In The Foster Care System, Lamonica Shalice Montgomery

Theses Digitization Project

The focus of the study was the disproportionate number of African American children in the foster care system. The hypothesis stated that drug and alcohol use, and differential sentencing of incarcerated parents have lead to African American children being removed from their families more often than others. These factors also reduced the likelihood of these children returning to their families, thus keeping them in the foster care system longer than any other group of children.

In Our Own Words: A Qualitative Study Of Bachelor And Master Of Social Work Interns At Vitas Hospice, Martha Elizabeth Romero

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of Bachelor/Master of Social Work (BSW/MSW) interns who completed a full year internship at Vitas Hospice in San Bernardino. Using the post positivist paradigm, the researcher interviewed nine previous BSW/MSW interns to find out about their experiences as interns while at Vitas Hospice. The study was conducted by interviewing the nine interns and their responses were used to develop a theory of the interns' experience. These experiences led to learning about what was helpful and what was not helpful for their development as social workers as …

Elder Depression Among Nursing Home Residents, Alejandro Paul Holguin

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this was designed to confirm the hypothesis that depression is prevalent among nursing home residents. Elder depression is a huge problem in society, especially as the older population continues to grow at an alarming rate. This study investigated the correlations between demographic information and item responses.