Social Work Commons^™

The Development And Implementation Of Trauma-Informed Care Within A Clinical Setting, Molly Hildebrandt

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This capstone project facilitated the classification of CSSM as a trauma-­‐informed service system for children. Following a specific framework, the project included the development and implementation of an intake model for the agency to follow in order to begin the process. The student designed a new intake procedure, in which all children were screened for the possibility of trauma and then linked with a trauma-­‐ informed therapist based on a positive screening. This procedure produced the ability to effectively link children with trauma-­‐informed services.

Best Practices For Implementing Trauma-Informed Care With Youth Who Are Homeless Or At- Risk Of Being Homeless, Ellen Morrow

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Exposure to traumatic events during childhood can affect brain development, how someone reacts to stress, and what they may find threatening or unsafe. Trauma can be a precursor to the development of a range of psychopathology including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, personality distortions and psychosis (APA, 2000, Rose, Freeman & Proudlock, 2012). Left untreated trauma can also result in medical conditions later in life including heart disease, cancer, respiratory problems and social conditions such as homelessness, prostitution or delinquency (Steele & Malchiodi, 2012; WISQARS, 2010). Maschi and Schwalbe (2012) cite studies which estimate up to 93% of …

Community Activism: Social Work From A Macro Level, Gil Villagran

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Direct social work practice as a counselor, therapist, parent educator, child welfare case manager, probation officer, domestic violence or substance abuse treatment counselor are all professional roles that serve individuals, couples and families in need of assistance, treatment, remedial therapy. Human service professionals who work in such direct practice roles are to be valued, honored, commended, and paid well for service to their clients.

Congruence Between Nursing Home Resident And Staff Caregiver Perceptions Of Residents' Self-Perceived Autonomy, Paul E. Urbanski

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This qualitative cross-sectional study examines autonomy among long-term care residents and how certified nurse aides (CNAs) understand resident autonomy as expressed through residents' preferences. The study took place at one long-term care facility with N = 12 (7 residents and 5 CNAs). A phenomenological perspective is utilized in order to describe the meaning residents ascribe to personal preferences and the influence frailty has on those preferences. In addition, certified nurse aides, self-described as competent to report on a participating resident's preferences were interviewed separately. Open-ended interviews were conducted and the data obtained was examined for congruence between the resident's and …

Influences On Social Workers' Approach To Informed Consent Regarding Antidepressant Medications, Janet Acker

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Psychotropic medications have become an increasingly frequent aspect of mental health treatment, and social workers are uniquely poised to have insight to a client's experience of medication treatment as well as to observe and process with the client the way that medications are working or not working. They are also obligated to support clients with a meaningful informed consent process. This study adopts the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1988) as a lens through which to better understand the factors related to clinical behavior around informed consent when social workers are working with those who are using or considering antidepressant …

An Exploration Of Social Supports And Cultural Traditions On The Development Of Posttraumatic Growth Among Adult Haitian Immigrants, Patricia L. Weldon

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The research objective was to explore how post-traumatic growth is expressed in Haitian immigrants and what role social supports and cultural traditions may play in the development of post-traumatic growth. Post-traumatic growth is defined by positive changes in one or more of five domains including; personal strengths, relating to others, appreciation of life, spirituality and life philosophy (Calhoun & Tedeschi, 2006). Conceptual frameworks of constructivism (Rodwell, 1998), strength based approach (Saleebey, 2000)and eco systems theory (Bronfenbrenner, 1979) were employed to guide the study.

Acculturation, Family Dynamics And Psychological Well-Being Among Asian And Hispanic Adolescents In Immigrant Families : A Comparative Analysis, Yong Li

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Past research has consistently supported the view that adolescents in both Asian and Hispanic immigrant families may experience mental health problems such as depression and low self-esteem. The mechanisms influencing psychological well-being (PWB) may be conditioned by unique aspects of Asian and Hispanic culture. Based on the ecological systems framework, family systems theories, acculturation theories, and relevant literature, factors such as family dynamics, acculturation and their interactions may be important in shaping adolescent PWB. Examining these factors from a comparative perspective, between Asian and Hispanic adolescents, could provide new insights into the ways culturally responsive and competent services are planned …

Networking And Performance Of Community Based Organizations In Taiwan : A Social Capital Perspective, Yi-Yi Chen

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Developing partnerships is a crucial strategy for Community based organizations (CBOs) to maximize service capacity, serve clients of diverse needs, and compete for funding, yet the evidence is scant. The study asks whether organizational networking is helpful to a CBOs' service performance and whether the effect of networking varies by certain organizational features of a CBO. The research framework is built with the literature review of social capital theories with a focus of organizations, community practice models, and case studies on CBOs' networking. Two forms of networking, within and beyond community, are hypothesized as associated with two traits of performance, …

A Survey-Based Study Of Social Workers' Critical Consciousness And Practice With Lgb Clients, Cynthia Lynn Bott

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Social workers are responsible for providing the majority of mental health and substance abuse services in the United States in the role of direct service. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LBG) individuals utilize these services at rates that are believed to be higher than other populations. The field of social work embraces social justice as one of its core principles. This cross-sectional survey of 220 BSW and/or MSW social workers investigates two questions: what is the relationship among key aspects of social worker critical consciousness, i.e., attitudes about social justice, change agency, and awareness of heterosexism; and in what ways does …

A Multiple Case Study Exploring The Intervention Processes Influencing Success For Dd/Mi Dually Diagnosed Adolescents, Julanne Colvin

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Given what has been described in the literature about the life circumstances of youth who are dually diagnosed with a developmental disability and a mental or behavior disorder, we know that in the trajectory of their lives they are likely to live out of their homes and communities for lengthy periods of time in order to receive specialized treatment. The Intervention and Supports for Adolescents and Families (ISAF) program, an integrated multi-disciplinary treatment approach, was designed to cross over multiple service systems to address the challenges of delivering services to dually diagnosed youth and their families and reduce the risk …

Quality, Objectivity, And Tone In Media Portrayals Of Care For Older Adults, Jennifer Van Loan

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

In response to the growing population of older adults who will need assistance to care for themselves, this research evaluates media coverage of care options for older adults presented in local newspapers, an informational resource used by baby boomers and older generations interested in planning for their futures and caring for their loved ones. Computer databases for four newspapers representing the Capital Region of New York State were scanned for keywords to identify articles about older adult care, then articles were reviewed to ensure they were relevant to older adult care. A quantitative content analysis was performed on the articles …

A Multilevel Investigation Of The Influence Of Family And School Level Factors On Age Of Sexual Initiation : A Focus On Sex Differences, Candace White

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background and Purpose: Early sexual initiation is associated with unwanted pregnancy, depression, and other health risks, yet sexual intercourse is occurring at earlier ages than in past decades and teen pregnancy rates in the U.S are the highest in the

Two Sources Of Child Care Assistance And Their Relationship With Maternal Employment : Evidence From The Fragile Families And Child Well-Being Study, Manrong Chen

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This study aims to understand how child care assistance from informal social support networks and from governmental sources relate to the employment of mothers with young child(ren), and how the two sources of child care assistance relate to each other. Both the availability and utilization of child care assistance are investigated.

Re-Arrest Among Juvenile Justice-Involved Youth: An Examination Of The Static And Dynamic Risk Factors, Jun Sung Hong, Joseph P. Ryan, Yu-Ling Chiu, Bushra Sabri

Social Work Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study is to investigate the static and dynamic risk factors for re-arrest among detained youth by examining gender, race/ethnicity, age, special education and mental health variables (i.e., anger/irritability, depression/anxiety, somatic complaints, suicide ideation, thought disturbances, and traumatic experiences). The demographic profiles of detained youth with one admit were also compared with those with multiple admits to the juvenile detention center. With regards to static risk factors, older, white, and special education were significantly at risk of re-arrest. Concerning dynamic risk factors, only anger/irritability predicted re-arrest. Practice implications are also discussed.

Frequency, Patterns, And Preferences Of Lubricant Use During Anal Intercourse Within Male Sexual Partnerships In Lima, Peru: Implications For A Rectal Microbicide Hiv Prevention Intervention, Jesse L. Clark, Hector Salvatierra, Eddy R. Segura, Ximena Salazar, Kelika Konda, Jerome T. Galea, Jeffrey D. Klausner, Thomas J. Coates, Carlos F. Caceres

Social Work Faculty Publications

Understanding current practices of lubricant use during anal intercourse can help to assess the contexts for the introduction of topical rectal microbicides as an HIV prevention tool for men who have sex with men (MSM). We used quantitative and qualitative methods to assess: current patterns of lubricant use; preferred characteristics of commercial lubricant formulations; and social and behavioral contexts of lubricant use within male sexual partnerships in Lima, Peru. Between 2007 and 2008, we conducted a quantitative behavioral survey with 547 MSM followed by qualitative individual and group interviews with 36 MSM from Lima, Peru. Approximately half of all participants …

Review Of They Say Cut Back, We Say Fight Back! Welfare Activism In An Era Of Retrenchment, By Ellen Reese, Sanford F. Schram

Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research Faculty Research and Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Hpv And Genital Warts Among Peruvian Men Who Have Sex With Men And Transgender People: Knowledge, Attitudes And Treatment Experiences, César. R. Nureña, Brandon Brown, Jerome T. Galea, Hugo Sánchez, Magaly M. Blas

Social Work Faculty Publications

Background: Several studies have assessed the epidemiology of HPV infection among MSM, but no qualitative studies have specifically assessed how HPV and genital warts (GW) affect South American men who have sex with men (MSM) and male-to-female transgendered women (TG). This study explored the knowledge, attitudes and experiences of Peruvian MSM and TG regarding HPV and GW.

Methods: We performed a qualitative study consisting of fifteen in-depth interviews and three focus groups carried out in Lima, Peru with diverse MSM and TG groups, including sex workers. Resulting data were analyzed by applying a systematic comparative and descriptive content …

Predictors Of Practice Approaches And Activitives Of Louisiana School Social Workers : Toward A Model Of Practice, Laura Richard

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

ABSTRACT The purpose of the current exploratory-descriptive study was to examine the role of school social workers in Louisiana (N = 378) and the relationship of roles in different school settings and with different caseload sizes. The information gained was used to develop a conceptual model of practice and a job description for Louisiana school social workers. In addition, predictors of the types of practice approaches and practice activities used in the different school employment settings and with different caseload sizes were also included. The school social workers were employed in school districts in Louisiana and completed an online or …

Parental Influence On Inhalant Use, Alina M. Baltazar, Gary L. Hopkins, Duane C. Mcbride, Curtis J. Vanderwaal, Sara Pepper, Sarah Mackey

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this article is to examine the dynamics of the relationship between parents and their adolescent children and their association with lifetime and past-month inhalant usage. The population studied was seventh- through ninth-grade students in rural Idaho (N = 570). The authors found a small, but consistent, significant inverse correlation between parental bonding and monitoring of behavior and inhalant usage. There was also a significant positive correlation between verbally aggressive behavior in the family and inhalant use. The data imply that family interaction may play a significant role in the use of inhalants and that the family can …

Eliminating Sexual Harassment Of Adolescent Girls In Bangladesh: A Comparative Analysis Of Multi-Level Strategies, Kristan Bakker

Capstone Collection

As a result of civil society and the government of Bangladesh’s commitment to reach universal education and gender equality, great strides have been made in secondary school enrollment with the number of girls attending now on par with that of boys. However, a consequence of the increased mobility of adolescent girls in public places is increased incidences of sexual harassment. In 2009 and 2010 there was a rash of suicides. Adolescent girls who had been victims of sexual harassment took their own lives to escape the pain and shame brought on by a culture that blames girls for men’s unwelcomed …

Assessing Self-Efficacy Of Cultural Competence With Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Clients: A Comparison Of Training Methods With Graduate Social Work Students, Steven D. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

Graduate social work students are mandated to be cultural competent to work with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients. This exploratory study examined how best to teach graduate social work students to be culturally competent in working with LGB clients by assessing their perceived competence of attitudes, knowledge and skills as well as their demonstrated competence through case vignettes.

The study compared a current pedagogical method of infusing LGB material across the curricula with two types of brief trainings (didactic lecture and experiential) . This mixed methods study utilized a pretest/posttest design to examine the effects of the trainings as …

Rampage School Shootings: A Content Analysis Of Media And Scholarly Accounts Of Perpetration Factors Associated With The Phenomenon, Philip Mongan

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

When school shootings occur in primary or secondary schools they draw a massive amount of media attention. Frequently, after the shooting stops, the media begins to prognosticate about the factors that led to the occurrence of the tragedy. However, there is a dearth of research examining those factors that are perpetuated by the media, as well as the factors that are most discussed in scholarly publications. Therefore, the aim of this research project was to explore the perpetration factors that have been perpetuated by the media, and compare those to the perpetration factors that are most frequently discussed by researchers. …

Factors Affecting End Of Treatment Symptom Severity For Children Receiving Trauma-Informed Evidence-Based Treatment, Jessica G. Eslinger

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

The purpose of this project is to examine how the factors of gender, placement status, type of treatment, the number of different types of trauma experienced, and a child’s age at the start of treatment may influence end of treatment symptom severity scores for children ages 2-12 years who received trauma-informed evidence-based treatment for trauma. Method: Caregivers and children receiving outpatient services (N=134) completed the Child Behavioral Checklist, Trauma Symptom Checklist for Young Children, and the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children-Alternate Version at baseline and end of treatment. Hypotheses were tested with a series of ANCOVA analyses, Independent t-Tests, …

Acculturative Stress And Depressive Symptoms Among Korean Immigrant Elders Residing In Non-Korean Ethnic Enclaves, Stephanie Lyu Rhee

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

Few studies have examined the relationships among personal factors, acculturative stress, coping resources, and depression of Korean immigrant elders residing in areas without any Korean ethnic enclave. Based on the stress and coping model and the sociocultural model of stress, coping, and adaptation, this cross-sectional study examined the relationships among acculturative stress, coping, and depression in 111 non-institutionalized Korean immigrant elders aged 60 and older residing in areas without any Korean ethnic enclaves in three neighboring states of Southwestern Ohio, North Central Region of Kentucky, and Southern Indiana. A majority of convenience and snowball sample participated in self-administered mailed surveys, …

Identity Making Process Of Individuals With Mild Intellectual Disabilities, Carolee Kamlager

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

The shadow of stigma theory typically surrounds the research investigation of the lives of individuals with mild intellectual disabilities. McAdams’ life story theory and methodology provide a human development framework as an alternative to the prevailing framework in the field of disability. This study moves out of the shadow of otherness and examines the personal identity making process of twelve individuals with mild intellectual disabilities in the light of human development theory. Findings dispel the assumption that individuals with mild intellectual disabilities construct their lives solely through their disability. Rather, the identity making process includes the influences of socio-cultural events, …

Vulnerability And Mental Health In Afghanistan: Looking Beyond War Exposure, Jean-Francois Trani, Parul Bakhshi

Brown School Faculty Publications

This study examined the prevalence of mental distress among groups in Afghanistan considered to be at risk. Data were drawn from a representative cross-sectional disability survey carried out in Afghanistan including 5,130 households in 171 clusters throughout the 34 provinces of the country. The sample included 838 non-disabled control participants aged above 14, and 675 disabled participants. Results showed that various vulnerable groups (disabled people, the unemployed, the elderly, minority ethnic groups, as well as widowed, divorced or separated women) were at higher risk of experiencing mild to severe mental health problems. The adjusted odds ratio for war-related disability compared …

Oral Care & Asian And Pacific Islander Communities In Oregon, Amira Caluya

Center to Advance Racial Equity Publications and Reports

This report attempts to describe the current knowledge of oral health care access within Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities in Oregon based on secondary data from the Oregon Health Authority’s Smile Survey 2007, Smile Survey 2012; and the Coalition of Communities of Color’s 2012 report, The Asian and Pacific Islander Community in Multnomah County: An Unsettling Profile. To be clear, the 2012 survey report draft is cited most, as the 2012 survey reported more data on children of color compared to the 2007 survey. This paper also attempts to highlight the multifaceted aspects of access to care …

How Welfare Reform Act Affects Elderly Immigrants' Health And Healthcare Service Utilization: Comparisons Before And After Welfare Reform, Younsook Yeo

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The intended result of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193: PRWORA) was to conserve public funds while addressing welfare deficits. To achieve this end, the PRWORA (1) requires immigrants who came to the United States after the law took effect to show proof of U.S. citizenship to be eligible for federally funded public benefits, including Medicaid, unless the states where they lived provide state-funded benefits; (2) reinforced the `public charge law,' indicating that once the Immigration and Nationalization Service deems a post-welfare reform immigrant a public charge, this could result in the …

Family-Related Risk Factors And Their Associations With Behavior Problems Of Children In Foster Care, Jena Leigh Ourso

LSU Master's Theses

Children in foster care are at risk for problems associated with breakdowns in their ecological system. Possible explanations for this may be that children’s daily interactions in early childhood are primarily with their parents. The relationship between child and parent (the dyad) is a crucial part of the way children grow and develop. Past research focuses on the child’s behavior problems as separate and isolated instead of focusing on the behavior problems as a symptom of the dysfunction in the dyad. This study explored the role of two specific risk factors for children in foster care and how these may …

Rape Myth Acceptance Among Law Enforcement, Racheal E. Hebert

LSU Master's Theses

Research demonstrates a positive relationship between rape myth acceptance and sexist beliefs, as well as a negative relationship between rape myth acceptance and victim credibility. The current study assesses the interrelationships between rape myth acceptance, sexism, victim credibility, and victim empathy among law enforcement officers. Law enforcement officers’ individual characteristics are also assessed. An online survey was administered to 24 specialized sex crime law enforcement officers from a city in South Louisiana. There was no significant difference on measures of rape myth acceptance and sexism; however, individual items measuring victim credibility showed a distinct difference between law enforcement officers’ belief …