Social Work Commons^™

A New Era In Living Arrangements: Determinants Of Quality Of Life Among Chinese Older Adults, Minzhi Ye, Yiwei Chen, Yisheng Peng

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Empty-nest older adults are the fastest-growing population in China. There are three objectives of the present chapter: (1) to provide a national portrait of the changing pattern of co-residence of older adults in the past decade; (2) to identify the sociodemographic determinants of empty-nest families among community-dwelling older adults; and (3) to examine the relationship between older adults’ living arrangements and quality of life. We used the 2006 and 2010 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) samples to document the trends in the rates of co-residing families. In addition, we tested sociodemographic factors that may impact older adults’ living arrangements using …

Twenty Reasons To Publish In Dignity, Donna M. Hughes

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.

Why Isn’T There A Garden At School? Assessing Five River Metro Parks’ Green Schoolyards Program, Kaleigh Jurcisek

Honors Theses

School gardens have been shown to have positive effects on children’s academic performance and personal lives. Five Rivers’ Metro Parks has a program in place to encourage and assist schools, within the Dayton region, to implement school gardens and/or habitats. This research examines the efficacy of the Green Schoolyards program through surveys and interviews with teachers and staff of 15 schools where the program has made at least one contact. This research will help inform the Five Rivers staff by identifying perceived benefits and constraints related to implementing school gardens, and may facilitate the expansion of the Green Schoolyards program. …

Evaluation Of The Impact Of Social Work Services In Rural School Districts, Breanna Heinrich

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students in rural communities are often subject to unique barriers and challenges that impact their holistic emotional, cognitive, physical, and social success in school. Because these factors have a strong impact on school attendance, behavior, and overall success, educators have begun to implement social work programs within both rural and urban school districts across the nation. While existing research affirms the effectiveness of school social work, very little research has been conducted to determine the effect in rural school districts. This paper evaluates the impact of a newly developed social work pilot program in two West Texas school districts implemented …

Oregon Community-Based Care Survey: Adult Foster Homes, Paula C. Carder, Sheryl Dejoy Elliott, Ozcan Tunalilar, Sarah Dys, Margaret B. Neal

Institute on Aging Publications

Adult foster homes (AFH) offer long-term services and supports to older adults and people with disabilities who wish to remain in the community but need assistance with personal care and health-related tasks. This report focuses on Oregon AFHs that are licensed to care for individuals aged 65 and older and younger adults with disabilities. Homes may be licensed for one to five residents and must be staffed 24-hours daily to respond to residents’ scheduled and unscheduled needs or requests.

This report provides an in-depth look at a sample of Oregon AFHs. Since no central dataset of AFH services, staff, and …

Expand Paid Family And Medical Leave, Ernest Gonzales, Nancy Morrow-Howell, Huy Ho

Center for Social Development Research

This policy action statement was developed by members of the network engaged in the Grand Challenge to Advance Long and Productive Lives. The Grand Challenges initiative’s policy action statements present proposals emerging from Social Innovation for America’s Renewal, a policy conference organized by the Center for Social Development at Washington University in collaboration with theAmerican Academy of Social Work & Social Welfare, which is leading the Grand Challenges for Social Work initiative to champion social progress through a national agenda powered by science.

Reverse Civic And Legal Exclusions For Persons With Criminal Charges And Convictions, Carrie Pettus-Davis, Matthew W. Epperson, Annie Grier

Center for Social Development Research

This policy action statement was developed by members of the network engaged in the Grand Challenge to Promote Smart Decarceration. The Grand Challenges initiative’s policy action statements present proposals emerging from Social Innovation for America’s Renewal, a policy conference organized by the Center for Social Development at Washington University in collaboration with theAmerican Academy of Social Work & Social Welfare, which is leading the Grand Challenges for Social Work initiative to champion social progress through a national agenda powered by science.

Start Lifelong Asset Building With Universal And Progressive Child Development Accounts, Jin Huang, Margaret S. Sherraden, Margaret M. Clancy, Michael Sherraden, Trina R. Shanks

Center for Social Development Research

This policy action statement was developed by members of the networks engaged in the Grand Challenges to Build Financial Capability and Assets for All and to Reduce Extreme Economic Inequality. The Grand Challenges initiative’s policy action statements present proposals emerging from Social Innovation for America’s Renewal, a policy conference organized by the Center for Social Development at Washington University in collaboration with theAmerican Academy of Social Work & Social Welfare, which is leading the Grand Challenges for Social Work initiative to champion social progress through a national agenda powered by science.

Five Ways Consortia Can Catalyze Open Science, Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld, Karen S. Baker, Nicholas Berente, Courtney G. Flint, Gabriel Gershenfeld, Brandon Grant, Michael Haberman, John Leslie King, Christine Kirkpatrick, Barbara Lawrence, Spenser Lewis, W. Christopher Lenhardt, Matthew Mayernik, Charles Mcelroy, Barbara Mittleman, Namchul Shin, Shelley Stall, Susan Winter, Et Al

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

An analysis of more than 50 collaborations shows the secrets of success, write Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld and colleagues from the Stakeholder Alignment Collaborative.

Analysis Of Worcester's Youth Employment Sector, Laurie Ross Phd, Ramon Borges-Mendez Phd, Alex Rothfelder

Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise

Overall, the employment rate for Worcester youth has improved since 2000; yet mirroring the nation, Worcester continues to have a smaller share of youth 16-24 employed. This situation is intensified for youth of color and young people facing barriers such as homelessness, exiting foster care, juvenile justice involvement, and limited English proficiency. Mass, Inc. estimates that in Worcester there are 3400 disconnected youth—756 are between 16-19 and 2644 are between 20-24. From the youth employment program inventory, we learned that the city’s programs offer many opportunities for “first job” experiences; has some exemplary programs that integrate youth development and workforce …

Grandparents Of The Community: Lakota Elders’ View Of Intergenerational Care, Mary Kate Dennis, Nancy J. Kepple, Joseph Brewer Ii

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

This exploratory, qualitative study provides insight into the traditional concept of tiospaye (extended family and kinship to these relations) by Oglala Lakota elders in the modern context of the Pine Ridge Indian reservation in South Dakota. The authors reframe the modern implementation of these traditional practices of kinship as community grandparenting, in which the elders extend the role and responsibilities of grandparenting behaviors to all youths in the community. This study employed Indigenous methodologies, which allowed the 25 elders to share their stories in a culturally tailored, relational manner. The study uses thematic analysis to identify three themes associated …

Parenting A Second Time Around: The Strengths And Challenges Of Indigenous Grandparent Caregivers, Jessica Y. Hsieh, Kristen J. Mercer, Sarah A. Costa

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

Background: There is a lack of knowledge and research of Indigenous grandparents rearing grandchildren. A burgeoning area of research, the literature only includes studies conducted from the year 2002 and onwards. In order to minimize the burdens that Indigenous grandparents encounter when assuming this role, a greater understanding of this population is crucial. This scoping review was undertaken in an attempt to gain insight into and generate awareness of this population, specifically concerning their needs and experiences. Methods: Sixteen databases were searched, including two medical databases and fourteen social science databases. A total of 92 titles and abstracts were independently …

Caregiving Among Community-Dwelling Grandparents In Jamaica, Julian Gm Mckoy Davis, Douladel Willie-Tyndale, Kathryn Mitchell-Fearon, Desmalee Holder-Nevins, Kenneth James, Denise Eldemire-Shearer

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

Grandparents play invaluable caregiving roles in the general upbringing of grandchildren. The objective of the present study is to provide a profile of grandparents providing care to co-resident grandchildren younger than 18 years old in Jamaica. A subsample of 451 grandparents providing care to co-resident grandchildren under than 18 years old was derived from a larger nationally-representative community-based study of 2943 older adults residing in Jamaica. Data pertaining to caregiving, demography, health, socioeconomic status, and social participation were analysed using bivariate and multivariate analyses. Seventy one percent of grandparents were involve in regular care of their grandchildren. Hypertension (65.9%), arthritis …

Locking Up Families Is Inhumane—And Unconstitutional, Lynnette Arnold, Miranda Cady Hallett

Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work Faculty Publications

From the fear of asylum-seekers in Western Europe to the panic around “illegals” in the United States, there is a global backlash against immigrants. These sentiments are increasingly accompanied by a crackdown in enforcement. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed 352,882 people in detention facilities during fiscal year 2016, a sharp increase from the 193,951 detained in 2015.

U.S. President Donald Trump promises to lock up exponentially more, having made the fight against “illegal immigration” a central plank of his campaign platform. But who are the people incarcerated in these immigration prisons? What are they …

An Exploration Of The Relationship Between Child Welfare Workers’ Ambivalent Sexism And Beliefs About Father Involvement, Katrina Lee Brewsaugh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Research over the last few decades has consistently found that fathers are not routinely included in the provision of child welfare services. The current study examined whether ambivalent sexism on the part of child welfare workers was related to their beliefs about involving fathers. Ambivalent sexism theory posits that gender stereotypes include subjectively positive beliefs in addition to hostile beliefs that both serve to perpetuate patriarchal systems. Participants (N = 490) were currently front-line child welfare workers in the United States who completed an online survey assessing ambivalent sexism and beliefs about father involvement in child welfare cases. Ambivalent sexism …

Students Taking A Right Stand – Male Youth Violence Prevention Through Positive Development And Role Modeling, Katie Dight, Rolanda Patrick, Corey Graham

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Cabarrus STARS is a comprehensive program designed to promote positive youth development for minority male youth through a combination of system-, group-, and individual-level services. Program staff will discuss the successes and challenges they experience in working with a variety of schools, students, and families. Ideal for student support staff and community-based organizations focused on adolescent health.

I Am More Than My Label, Taylor L. Teichman, Enid Melendez

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

This workshop will offer experiential activities for youth allies to explore the foundational intersections between LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness and sexual violence. Introducing a framework of concrete tools, participants will identify at least three core resiliency factors of LGBTQ youth and be able to identify at least three concrete components for fostering community-wide support for these youth.

Some Secrets Should Be Shared: Implementing An Evidence-Based Suicide Prevention Program, Meghan W. Diamon

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Youth suicide is a preventable tragedy that can occur when children's mental health needs are unmet. Participants will discuss published research on risk factors for youth suicide, how to implement an evidence-based prevention program, and how to tackle common obstacles encountered. Participants will be prepared to mobilize school staff, parents, and community members to address the critical issues of depression awareness and suicide prevention.

Black Girlhood: Reshaping The Identity And Improving The Well-Being Of African American Girls, Karla La'toya Sapp Ed.D

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

The identity and overall well-being of African American girls tends to be influenced, both positively and negatively, by the following factors: mass media, gender roles, and environmental factors. Black Girlhood examines the identity development of African American girls utilizing the relational developmental systems theory framework. Black Girlhood also explores the role that mass media, gender roles, and environmental factors shape how African American girls view themselves, while providing interventions that can allow the reshaping of their identity and improvement in their overall well-being.

Preparing For Excellence: Mentoring African American Girls To Encourage Positive Academic, Interpersonal, And Vocational Outcomes, Tera R. Reid

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

African American girls face significant barriers to educational and personal success. Mentoring has been shown to have a positive effect among youth. This workshop will explore the interventions of a mentoring program in Georgia.

This workshop targets anyone interested in practical solutions. Participants will be empowered and engaged to learn specific strategies, interventions, and develop solutions of their own.

No Child Left Behind: Barriers For Youth Aging Out Of Foster Care, Wanda D. Davidson, Alphonso Underwood

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

This presentation will explore the effects of foster care on the attainment of education for youth aging out of foster. There are studies that suggest that older youth and youth of color, are particularly vulnerable to systemic issues which may hinder educational success. The presentation will review research that seek to identify specific barriers to educational success and the role of children services, social workers, teachers and the department of education.

The Development Of An After-School Program For Youth Placed At-Risk: A Collaborative Approach, K. Andrew R. Richards, Victoria Shiver, Michael A. Lawson, Tania Alameda-Lawson

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Educators, program practitioners, and potential community partners may enjoy this presentation on a collaborative approach to improving the lives of youth that have been placed at-risk within and outside of a Title I elementary school’s after-school program. By combining resources, expertise, and disciplines, the program works to develop well-rounded and personally and socially responsible children through academic enrichment, sport-based youth development, and parental engagement.

The Role Of Research In Social Work Education, Lily E. Defrank

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

This presentation focuses on the assessment phase of the Generalist Intervention Model which is often used by social workers to enact policy change or address social problems occurring within their communities. Research has a significant role in planning these community interventions. This particular project aims to address a gap in diversity education within the current social work curriculum. Although this project is specific to Social Work and is still being implemented, it serves as an example of how students are often the best advocates for their own education and encourages students to seek evidence based arguments when participating in policy …

Understanding Queer/Trans Identity And Faith: An Intersectional Approach, Patrick Dunlap

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Understanding Queer/Trans Identity and Faith: An Intersectional Approach combines the results of several academic projects completed in an attempt understand the intersections of queer/trans identity and faith and presents these projects as complete work, highlighting themes present throughout them, and provides recommendations for further efforts.

Assessing Retirement Needs And Interest In Myra: Findings From The Refund To Savings Initiative, Stephen P. Roll, Jane E. Oliphant, Dana C. Perantie, Michal Grinstein-Weiss, Genevieve Davison

Center for Social Development Research

As part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s ongoing effort to promote the myRA starter retirement account, we used the Refund to Savings Initiative’s Household Financial Survey to assess low- to moderate-income tax filers’ retirement needs, attitudes towards retirement, and interest in a myRA-type account. We also tested different messaging approaches for promoting myRA. The report found that 32% of survey respondents did not own a retirement account and that lack of money and lack of access to an employer-based account were major impediments to retirement account ownership. The report also found that only 10% to 15% of respondents …

Behavioral Health Human Resource Crisis: Rural Responses, Paul Force-Emery Mackie

Social Work Department Publications

No abstract provided.

School Of Social Work, March 2017, College Of Health And Human Services

Social Work Newsletter

• Upcoming Events
• Seven social work graduate students are published in prestigious Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare.
• Register for this upcoming interprofessional training - March 30 from 5-7 p.m.
• Join us April 10 from 12-3 at WMU - Southwest

In Search Of A Forever Home: Raising The Standards For Our Kids, Katarina Barrett, Shelby Marx, Moriah Mueller, Christopher Olson, Michelle Olund-Youngberg

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

There are currently 12,167 children in foster care in Minnesota and 32% experienced multiple placements in 2014. Many children are entering foster care due to concerns of child behavior, parental chemical use, or allegations of maltreatment. After an often unexpected separation from their family, children are then expected to adapt to a new foster family with a new set of family norms and rules. Many children are moved between multiple foster homes, or are returned to their caregivers only to be placed back in foster care at a later time. In the wake of media reports revealing stories of child …

Ensuring Access To Mental Health Care: A Rural Perspective, Shannon M. Bank, Roxanne M. Paulson, Samantha N. Schafter, Anne M. Schuelke

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

Minnesota has been an innovator in developing and expanding mental health services across the state. Although promising policies have been established, mental health treatment disparities continue to hinder functioning for individuals living with mental illness. Availability and accessibility are identified barriers to accessing services in rural areas. With a successful repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), what would seem a right of equality, access to mental health care, could turn from limited access, to none. Thereby invoking true possibilities of increase in mental illness, decline in whole health, lack of health care reimbursements, and essentially, even …

Enhancing Father Involvement In Low-Income Families: A Couples Group Approach To Preventive Intervention, Marsha Kline Pruett, Kyle Pruett, Carolyn Pape Cowan, Philip A. Cowan

School for Social Work: Faculty Publications

To address the problem of fathers’ absence from children’s lives and the difficulty of paternal engagement, especially among lower income families, government agencies have given increasing attention to funding father involvement interventions. Few of these interventions have yielded promising results. Father involvement research that focuses on the couple/coparenting relationship offers a pathway to support fathers’ involvement while strengthening family relationships. Relevant research is reviewed and an exemplar is provided in the Supporting Father Involvement intervention and its positive effects on parental and parent-child relationships and children’s outcomes. The article concludes with policy implications of this choice of target populations and …