Social Work Commons^™

Analysis Of African American And White American Cognitive Profiles For Language And Cultural Influences, Nicole Jones

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Abstract

One of the most concerning aspects of special education is the overrepresentation of African American minority youth receiving special education services. Samuel Ortiz and colleagues considered the issue of the representation of the Latino, English Language Learner (ELL) population in special education services based on cognitive performance in relation to the mainstream population. To target this concern they determined an estimated level of expected cognitive performance of ELL’s and impact of language and cultural differences to help eligibility teams more appropriately interpret and place students with the aid of the Culture-Language Interpretive Matrix (C-LIM) model they developed. The current …

Prevalence And Factors Associated With Teen Pregnancy In Vietnam: Results From Two National Surveys, Huong Nguyen, Chengshi Shiu, Naomi Farber

Faculty and Staff Publications

This study asked two broad questions: (1) what is the prevalence of teen pregnancy in contemporary Vietnam; and (2) what selected social, family, and individual factors are associated with teen pregnancy in Vietnam? The study utilized Vietnam Survey Assessment of Vietnamese Youth surveys conducted in 2003 and 2008 to answer the two research questions within the context of fast political, economic, and social change in Vietnam in the last two decades. Results of this study show that the prevalence of pregnancy among Vietnamese teenagers in the surveys was stable at 4%, or 40 pregnancies per 1000 adolescent girls aged 14 …

Quality Of Life Among Young Adults With Spina Bifida, Leah B. Colsch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 1,500 infants born in the United States each year are diagnosed with Spina Bifida. Spina Bifida is a congenital disorder that affects the spinal cord and neurological function. Improved medical treatment has allowed a longer life expectancy for patients with Spina Bifida, and an increasing rate of these patients are surviving through pediatric clinics and preparing for the transition into adult care. Although the number of patients preparing for the transition into adult care continues to increase, there continues to be a scarcity of literature relevant to this population. Furthermore, there is currently no systematic, evidence-based method that reliably …

Most Effective Intervention For Adolescent Substance Use Disorder, Nichole Anderson

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Substance use disorder affects numerous adolescents and researching the most effective intervention is crucial to the rehabilitation of these individuals. This purpose of this study is to offer information about the prevalence of substance use in adolescents as well as the interventions that are available to them and to outline the most effective methods of these interventions. This paper includes a review of evidence based interventions of multiple interventions that are currently used to treat adolescents with substance use disorder and a qualitative study of five individuals who work in social service agencies that offer treatment and interventions to adolescents …

Examining The Term Transgender In Attitude Studies, Amanda Constant

Honors Program Theses and Projects

The purpose of this study is to review the consistency of definitions used for the term transgender in instruments for studies measuring attitudes towards transgender individuals. Scales and measurements used to examine attitudes towards individuals that identify as transgender often do not include a clear definition of the term. There is a lack of consensus on the definition of the term transgender if a definition is presented at all. This is a threat to the validity of attitude studies and perpetuates confusion through misinformation, or lack of information. The rate of discrimination and violence this population faces is distressing. In …

The Effects Of Continuing Education On Nurse Knowledge Of Safe Haven Laws In Illinois, Lindsay Thiemkey Gordon

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Illegal and often fatal infant abandonment is a pervasive public health crisis. Safe Haven Laws (SHLs) help to prevent illegal infant abandonment by allowing specific professionals, including nurses, to accept unharmed newborns within statutorily defined parameters. SHLs have existed for nearly two decades, yet many healthcare workers are not knowledgeable about these laws: this implies that initial efforts to educate healthcare workers about SHLs have been ineffective. Continuing education supports lifelong learning which is a basic tenet of nursing practice. The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to teach nurses about SHLs through evidence-based continuing education. Literature firmly …

Exploring The Unique Experiences Of Biological Children In A Foster Family, Alana Marsh

Honors Projects

:The purpose of the following research was to identify the experiences and needs of biological children in a foster family. An online survey was sent to licensed foster families from a private agency. The survey included questions about the experiences, both positive and negative, of biological children before foster youth enter the home, during their stay, and after they exit the home. Analysis of 21 survey answers and thorough review of literature indicated significant lack of available resources for foster parents to utilize when preparing their biological children for this family change. Results also showed that children held damaging misconceptions …

Food Insecurity And Educational Attainment At The University Of Arkansas, Abigail Macdonald

School of Social Work Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study explores the relationship between food insecurity and educational attainment among Fulbright College of Arts and Science graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Arkansas. A quantitative descriptive survey design was used to collect data on this subject. Arkansas is one the most food insecure states in the country. Existing data suggests a strong correlation between food insecurity and low educational attainment among students in community college settings. However, little empirical research has been conducted to test the relationship between food insecurity and educational attainment among four­-year college students. This study investigates that relationship at the University of …

Art Therapy And Its Impact Upon Marital Communication With Geriatric Adults Suffering From Dementia And Their Spousal Caregivers: An Exploratory Review And Research Study, Ashlyn G. Kubacak

School of Social Work Undergraduate Honors Theses

The World Health Organization estimated that 47.5 million people across the globe were living with dementia in 2015, and this number is expected to increase and eventually double by 2030. The cost of caregiving for someone who has dementia is substantial, with estimated federal costs fluctuating between 157 billion and 215 billion dollars annually. Sixty percent of caregivers rate the emotional strain of caregiving to be “high to extremely high”, and 40% of caregivers are diagnosed with depression. It is therefore important to provide support not only for those persons with dementia, but also for their caregivers in order to …

"Refugee Industrial Complex," Neoliberal Governance Within The Resettlement Industry And Its Effects: Is An Alternative Structure Possible?, Amira F. Al-Dasouqi

Sustainability and Social Justice

Within the current political climate and discussions surrounding displacement, refugee resettlement is a ‘hot-button’ issue. While working at one of the largest resettlement agencies in New England, the author began to analyze how power itself is structured within the Refugee Resettlement Industry (RRI) nationally. This paper argues that the RRI is embedded within neoliberal governance and can be better understood and improved with this understanding. The author argues for the term “Refugee [Resettlement] Industrial Complex,” to more adequately understand the ways that power is enacted through the current structure, and how it inhibits social justice work rooted in advocating for …

Determining Diesel Education In Urban Middle Schools In Eastern Massachusetts, Julianne Hooper

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Previously conducted studies have illuminated evidence that diesel exhaust emission rates are rising in the United States. Rising diesel exhaust emission rates bring more than a higher concentration of particulate matter in the air. Health complications from breathing in the particles of diesel exhaust place all citizens at risk. However, not everyone is equally at risk. Evidence has suggested children are particularly vulnerable to encountering health obstacles that can be caused by inhaling, these particles. This is due to a smaller lung capacity which requires children to breathe more frequently, their cardiovascular and respiratory systems still being in the developmental …

The Effects Of Alcohol Consumption And Perception Of Normative Behaviors On Risky Sexual Behavior Among College Students, Tayler E. Pollock Ms.

School of Social Work Undergraduate Honors Theses

Recent research suggests that a majority of college students report having sex with multiple partners while practicing inconsistent condom use. These reports can be attributed to heavy drinking habits and perceived approval of behavior based on social interactions. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects that alcohol consumption and perceptions of peer behavior have on risky sexual behavior among college students. The present study recruited 50 students from the University of Arkansas to participate in an anonymous survey on their drinking habits, risky sexual behavior, and their perception of normative risky sexual behavior. Correlational analyses revealed a …

Student's Assistance And Contribution To Their Community After Participating In An Emergency Prepardeness Inter-Professional Collaborative Practice Simulation, Elizabeth Scott, Ronda Chrstman, Sonia Wrate, Rebecca Retzer, Laura Racovita-Szilagyi, Cynthia Gettys, Brooks Kirschmann

Faculty Works

Poster presented at Teaching to Transform for the New Reality of Nursing Practice. The 12th Annual Nursing Faculty Development Workshop at University of Kentucky. Lexington, KY in May 2016.

Women’S Adoption Of Egalitarian Attitudes Through Employment In Mexico, Jeyle Ortiz Rodriguez

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation examines the impact of female employment on Mexican women’s attitudes toward gender equality. Specifically, the objective was to analyze different mechanisms and moderating variables through which female employment affects married and cohabiting women’s adoption of egalitarian attitudes in Mexico. The focus of the analysis was to identify the direct and indirect effects of women’s participation in the labor market through social interactions and housework. Despite the importance of women’s attitudes toward gender equality in their advancement and egalitarian gender relationships, there is a lack of studies that examine this topic in Mexico. The objectives of this dissertation were …

Testing The Mediating Effects Of Resilience And Mental Health On The Relationship Between Acculturative Stress And Binge Drinking Among International Students, Youn Kim

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

The purpose of this study was to test the mediating effects of resilience and mental health (depression and anxiety) on the relationship between acculturative stress and binge drinking among international students in the United States. International students constitute approximately 4% of the total U.S. higher education population. Between 2014 and 2015, nearly 974,926 international students studied at U.S. colleges and universities. This rapidly increasing population faces multiple stressors such as cultural adjustment, academic pressure, financial concerns, language difficulties, and perceived discrimination. According to Hahn (2010), 22.6% of international students were clinically depressed, which is two times higher than domestic undergraduate …

The Impact Of Intimate Partner Violence On Mental Health Well-Being Among Women Seeking Help From A Police Station, Cecilia Mengo

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

Studies have examined the relationship between IPV and mental health. However, there is limited knowledge on women who seek help from police stations because many studies have used samples of women residing in domestic violence shelters and medical clinics. The purpose of this dissertation is to understand self-reported mental health symptoms among women seeking help from a police station. Evidence shows that there are many variables that affect the link between IPV and mental health. This dissertation specifically explores the impact of demographic risk factors, type and number of IPV incidents, victim referral needs, and protective factors (social support, coping …

The Effects Of Combat Zones On Mental Health Among Civilian Contractors, Vanessa Trupiano

Social Work Theses - Archive

As the number of suicides among the military and veteran population continue to increase each year, concern has generated program and research development. The Department of Defense (2012) discovered 40% of suicides in the military were in the age range of 17 and 24. They also reported that among military members, 42.1% had a mental health diagnosis, 23.0% had a history of substance abuse or addiction, and 13.5% reported a history of self-harm (DoD, 2012), all pieces to the theory of suicide (Van Orden et al., 2010). Another population with similar combat experiences to military members and veterans are civilian …

Victims' Perception Of Power And Identity Intersections: A Human Trafficking Experience, Kathleen M. Preble

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

Human trafficking has become increasingly recognized as a serious form of violence against women. In the identification of human trafficking cases, proof of three elements are required according to the Trafficking Victim’s Protection Act (TVPA): force, fraud, and coercion. While force and fraud appear to be more universally conceptualized across service professionals, there is little consensus concerning the element of coercion. I suggest that it is power, not coercion, that is the key construct in recruiting and maintaining victims of trafficking, and that coercion is a kind of power. Thus, this study examined power in the recruitment and maintaining of …

Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions To Reduce Suicide Attempt And Completion Among Female Service Members And Veterans: A Systematic Review, Alletia D. Smith

Social Work Theses - Archive

This thesis is a semi-replication study that looks at the current knowledge base regarding the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as an intervention to reduce suicide attempt or suicide completion vs. TAU, with the female active-duty and veteran populations. Since 2008, when the original study was conducted, there has been a scarce amount of intervention studies conducted to test CBT interventions within this population. This research used a systematic review methodology to conduct analysis of the 2 studies that were found to meet inclusion criteria. The overall synthesis of both studies found that the combined results of the included …

The Nature Of Kinship Care Relationships And Permanency Outcomes For Foster Children: Implications For Social Work Practice, Policy, And Research, Jolynne Batchelor

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

In recent history, kinship care has become the preferred alternative for placement of children in foster care as evidenced by its codification in federal and state policies. Though kinship caregivers tend to fare more poorly on socioeconomic factors than traditional foster and adoptive parents, children who experience kinship care tend to experience better safety and permanency than children in nonkin placements. The term “kinship” is most often broadly defined in child welfare and includes a child’s blood relatives and others who share no biological ties but have a close psychological relationship with the child. Yet, little is known to date …

Payday Lending: A Value-Critical Analysis Of Three State Solutions, Jocelyn Everett

Social Work Theses - Archive

Payday lending has been a topic of great debate in the US and other developed countries. While some argue that lenders prey on low income and minority populations and trap them in a cycle of debt, others maintain that payday loans fulfill an otherwise unmet need for those in unexpected financial distress. Furthermore, although a consensus has not yet been reached concerning why, there exists a population of payday loan borrowers who continue to roll over short-term loans in an effort to solve their long-term financial problems. This is of particular concern to the field of social work because as …

A Pilot Evaluation Of Jail Programming, Laura Frank

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

Women within the corrections system in the United States has reached staggering numbers. Suicide in the United States corrections system is the leading cause of natural death. This research provides an examination of jail programming's impact on women's suicidality and mental health symptomology. Results showed preliminary support for a holistic, trauma informed program to decrease suicidal ideation and the presence of mental health symptomology.

Anogenital Human Papillomavirus Infection And Hiv Infection Outcomes Among Peruvian Transgender Women: Results From A Cohort Study, Brandon Brown, Jerome T. Galea, Gita Byraiah, Tonia Poteat, Segundo R. Leon, Gino Calvo, Hugo Sánchez, Thomas J. Coates, Jeffrey D. Klausner

Social Work Faculty Publications

Latin American transgender women are highly vulnerable to HIV infection, and although much is known about factors associated with HIV infection in this population, little is known about the association of human papilloma virus (HPV) with HIV infection. We investigated anogenital HPV and cumulative HIV incidence among 68, initially HIV uninfected, Peruvian transgender women enrolled into a 2-year, prospective cohort study: 95.6% had at least one anogenital HPV genotype at baseline, 19.1% had visible anogenital warts, and 6.0% became infected with HIV over the course of the study. Due to the high anogenital HPV prevalence, this population would likely benefit …

Mother-To-Mother: Creating A Peer Mentor Program For Mothers In Homelessness, Taylor D. Hartman

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Mothers with children represent a growing segment of the homeless population. The American Psychological Association (APA) responded to the problem by initiating a task force in 2009 calling psychologists to step forward and enhance the treatment and services available for this population. However, providing treatment is often a challenge for this population because of the power differential and other barriers that negatively impact the potential relationship between mental health providers and the person living in homelessness (Hoffman & Coffey, 2008). The use of a peer mentor to mitigate the risk factors for a specific population has been an effective intervention …

Compassion Fatigue And Educational Preparation Among Mississippi Child Welfare Workers, Meredith D. Mcphail

Honors Theses

The prevalence of trauma among youth involved with the child welfare system affects not only these individuals but also child welfare service providers, namely social workers, who experience this trauma indirectly through interaction with the children. This exposure places service providers at risk for compassion fatigue, in which these workers themselves experience trauma symptoms or are less able to complete job tasks. It is especially important to address the issues of negative personal reactions among this population in order to best care for social service workers in Mississippi and identify strategies to effectively improve Mississippi’s child welfare system. As such, …

Protective Sex: How Being In-Tune With Sexuality Protects Young Women, Catherine Elinor Ertel Baggett

Social Work Theses - Archive

Sexuality has been a widely studied topic which has produced a diverse body of literature covering many different perspectives. However, despite the wealth of knowledge on the topic of sexuality, society maintains a strong taboo on the subject, especially concerning the sexuality of women. Sexual expression is often discouraged in women and used to judge their worth. Coming from a feminist perspective, Objectification Theory (Frederickson & Roberts, 1997) posits that the sexual objectification of women’s bodies, forcing women to value themselves only in terms of how sexually attractive they are to others, has resulted in lower self-esteem and higher instances …

Evaluating The Environmental Effectiveness Of Grassroots Environmental Stewardship Organizations In Maryland, Sarah Close, Dana R. Fisher, William Yagatich, Anya Galli Robertson

Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work Faculty Publications

Small organizations that conduct environmental stewardship projects often lack access to the research capacity, funding, or tools needed to evaluate scientifically the environmental effectiveness of the measures they undertake. Still, evaluation of environmental effectiveness, defined here as the implementation of specific local goals, is prudent where projects are carried out with environmental stewardship goals in mind. We propose and test a process for evaluating environmental effectiveness of stewardship programs in a rigorous, yet feasible, approach through analysis of archived documents, program materials, and project inventories, as well as a survey of program participants. Using three franchises of the Watershed Stewards …

Factors Associated With Managerial Innovation In Public Human Service Organizations, Monica Perez Jolles, Bowen Mcbeath, Sarah Carnochan, Michael J. Austin

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Contextual changes affecting human service organizations have challenged human service managers to adapt through innovation. Yet no research has examined innovation along the spectrum of lower- to upper-level managers in public human service organizations. This study analyzed survey data of 466 public human service managers to examine the relationship between individual characteristics and managerial innovation. Results showed that 38% of managers took an innovative approach to their work, and characteristics of perceived responsiveness to change and evidence-informed practice network involvement were significantly associated with managerial innovation. Managerial innovation could be promoted through the development of evidence-based networks and communities of …

A Qualitative Study Of Job Competencies For Healthcare Social Work Administrators: An Application Of The Short Competency Model Process Used To Identify The Behaviors And Personal Characteristics Of Exemplary Performers, Lashonda Jones-Moore

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Job competencies are central to every organization’ s human resource management system. Competencies can be used to help organizations create high performance cultures, select and hire a workforce, develop leaders, and establish a foundation for training strategies. Social work, as a profession, has developed competency models for many specialized fields of social work. Health is the second most common practice area reported by social workers with a master’ s degree in social work, the predominant social work degree for licensed social workers. In highly structured, rapidly evolving, and complex organizations such as healthcare systems, leaders and managers require distinctively different …

A Comparison Of Younger And Older Couples Coping With Breast Cancer : Examining The Relationship Among Mutuality, Dyadic Coping, And Quality Of Life Of Patients And Partners., Chiara Acquati

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background Despite the extensive literature available about the psychosocial adaptation to breast cancer, the experience of younger women and their partners has been mostly neglected by the research. While younger couples have been identified at higher risk because of less collaborative behaviors, higher vulnerability to distress, and poorer quality of life, in most contributions couples are treated as a homogeneous group. This study was then designed to examine the differential impact of the illness on younger dyads, by comparing them to a group of older couples. A significant gap in the literature about dyadic coping was also addressed, which is …