Social Work Commons^™

Determinants Of Health Disparities Among African And Caucasian Americans With Chronic Kidney Disease, Renal Cell Carcinoma, And End-Stage Renal Disease, Kathleen Cosgrove

The Graduate Review

Many studies have confirmed the disparity that black patients have an increased prevalence of severely impaired kidney function compared to whites. Without dialysis, or a kidney transplant, chronic kidney disease will progress to a fatal prognosis of end-stage kidney failure. The most common type of kidney cancer, renal cell carcinoma, occurs most often in adult males, age 50-70. Diabetes and hypertension are two of the most determinant factors of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the United States, which most often develops following a chronic kidney disease (CKD) diagnosis. The poor are most susceptible to disease due to high risk community …

Bullying In Grade School Children And Its Connection To The School-To-Prison Pipeline, Alyssia Chantel Hence

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This thesis will explore connections made between the school-to-prison pipeline and bullying. Specifically, findings from a qualitative study conducted in 2016 will be presented and used to inform a review of the literature on bullying to explore connections between the two. The topic of bullying emerged as a prevalent theme among students who participated in the qualitative study by Hence (2017) titled, "Can You Hear Us Now? Engaging young African American Voices in Urban Communities and Schools". This study explored zero tolerance policies, school discipline practices, and its impact on the educational experiences of African American students. The study also …

Canine-Assisted Therapy: The Impact Of Service Dog Partnership On Symptoms Of Ptsd In Veterans, Katherine Ankenbauer

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This literature review will seek to review and analyze the efficacy of Canine-Assisted Therapy as a complementary method for combat veterans suffering symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress .Disorder (PTSD), with a particular focus on those who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and/or Operation New Dawn (ONO). In recent years, many programs, agencies and therapists have more frequently incorporated the use of service dogs into therapy for post-deployment veterans. In past decades, some studies' results were deemed inconclusive by accredited authorities due to their low level of generalizability and lack of quantitative methodology and analysis. However, …

Forty Year War: Analyzing America's Shifting Crack Cocaine, Sarah Reasoner

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Understanding the impact of American drug laws created as part of the War on Drugs is vital for social workers in their pursuit for social justice and effective advocacy. This policy analysis utilizes the David Gil policy analysis framework (1970) to evaluate the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 and the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010. These two laws concerned mandatory minimum sentences for crack cocaine. This research seeks to compare and contrast the history behind these laws, their intended and unintended consequences, and the values underlying these laws. This analysis shows the Anti-Drug Abuse Act and the Fair Sentencing Act …

An Introduction To Feminism And Cross-Cultural Body Image In The United States, Laura Darnell

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Feminism is a social movement that aims to end the oppression of women and to create opportunities for advancement of women. There are several types of feminism that have their own set of values and beliefs: liberal feminism, radical feminism, cultural feminism, and womanism. Central to these types of feminism is the call for sexism to cease and for women to have equal opportunity. Embedded within modem feminism is intersectionality, which is described as the effect of multiple oppressions that affect women. Misogyny, the hatred of women, affects the way that women feel about themselves. This is done through a …

2018 Adult Foster Home: Resident And Community Characteristics Report On Adult Foster Homes, Paula C. Carder, Sheryl Dejoy Elliott, Ozcan Tunalilar

Institute on Aging Publications

Adult foster homes (AFH) are small, residential settings that are licensed to provide assistance to older persons or adults with disabilities. These settings may offer a home-like setting in which residents’ independence, personal choice, and decision-making are promoted. 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. Adult foster homes offer a variety of services, including daily meals, housekeeping and laundry, assistance with personal care needs, medication administration, monitoring of health conditions, communication with residents’ health care providers, and social and recreational activities.

This …

[Social Work] Newsletter, 2018, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Social Work.

Social Work Newsletter

Inside This iIssue:
--2018 Year in Review
--Professor Highlights
--Student Highlights
--Student Services
--In the Field
--Agency Highlights
--Alumni Highlights

Student Perspectives On Application Of Theory To Practice In Field Practicums, Anne Marie Scaggs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The field practicum is designed to offer students the opportunity to integrate knowledge and practice prior to graduation; however, students continue to lack the ability to connect theory to practice within the field practicum. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the beliefs, attitudes, and perspectives of social work students regarding the application of theory to practice within the field practicum. The conceptual framework included concepts of empowerment, empowerment theory, and social constructivism. The research question addressed how social work students at a local university described the issues related to connecting theory to practice within the field …

Inclusion Of Social Workers In End-Of-Life Discussions In Intensive Care Units, Olivett D. Underwood-Mobley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Clinical social workers have roles in providing end-of-life care in the United States. Although clinical social workers are present in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting and have expertise to address end-of-life care dynamics, social workers are not consistently included in end-of-life discussions in the ICU setting. The purpose of this action research study was to explore the barriers that prevent clinical social workers from being included in end-of-life discussions in the ICU and how clinical social workers perceive their roles in end-of-life discussions in the adult ICU setting. Open-ended questions were used to gather data by facilitating 4 focus …

Adolescent Engagement In Home-Based Treatment: An Action Research Study, Krystal Finch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adolescent engagement in home-based treatment is a challenge within the social work field. Studies have suggested that the foundation of clinical practice relies on the clinician's ability to understand the process of engaging adolescents in treatment, which may also include a period of adaptability, relatability, and connectedness within the treatment setting. The purpose of this study is to explore the clinical practice approaches, roles, and experiences utilized in home-based treatment to adolescents residing in a large city in northeastern United States. This study was grounded in the ecological systems theory which provides social workers with an opportunity to assess the …

Evidence-Based Child Welfare Screening And Assessment Practices, Melissa Hardin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this action research project was to examine the screening and assessment behaviors of child welfare workers in the southwestern region of the United States. The study addressed whether social workers' knowledge of evidence-based practice influenced their implementation of evidence-based practice in child welfare screening and assessment, and whether the agency environment affects evidence-based practice implementation and use. The family systems theory was used to evaluate child welfare practitioner work and systems theory was used to evaluate the child welfare system in the region of the study. A focus group comprised of seven social workers practicing in the …

How Social Workers' Perceptions As Mandated Reporters May Impact Reporting Suspected Child Abuse, Dorothy Goulart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Child maltreatment is a worldwide concern. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, social workers are mandated reporters. When there is reasonable suspicion, they are required by law to report suspected child maltreatment to the appropriate Child Protective Services office. In this study, the research problem was the underreporting of child maltreatment, even when reasonable suspicion existed. The purpose of this study, as reflected in the research questions, was to understand social workers' perceptions of their role as mandated reporters, to explore how their perceptions impacted reporting, and to develop recommendations that could be implemented to help ensure appropriate reporting. An action …

Social Work Practice With Older Adults, Carley Yvonne Vailu'u

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social workers working for adult protective services (APS) face many clinical challenges to ensure the safety and well-being of older adult clients. APS social workers often interact with older adults who engage in self-neglecting behaviors that compromise their ability to function in a healthy and independent manner. The purpose of this research study was to explore challenges in direct social work practice to identify how APS services can be improved when working with the older adult population, particularly individuals who engage in hoarding behaviors. Using action research methodology, 2 focus groups were conducted to explore the experiences and knowledge of …

Combat-Related Reproductive Trauma: Implications For Quality Of Life And The Reproductive Narrative, Laura S. Covington

Bryn Mawr College Dissertations and Theses

Little research exists on the experiences of a combat-related injury that impairs fertility. This dissertation is a qualitative exploration of the lived experiences of military members after a genitourinary (GU) injury. It addresses the biological, psychological, and social impact on quality of life during recovery and subsequent attitudes about family development and sexual functioning. Building on both the life course perspective and the reproductive story model, this dissertation reviews literature on military culture, GU injury, and infertility to give a context to further analyze the essences of the phenomenon (Elder & Giele, 2009; Jaffe & Diamond, 2011).

This study is …

When There Are No Therapists: A Psychoeducational Group For People Who Have Experienced Social Disasters, Joshua Miller, Xiying Wang

School for Social Work: Faculty Publications

A social disaster is when categories of people are politically or socially targeted by virtue of their social identities and suffer ongoing targeting and oppression. Survivors of social disasters often experience similar traumatic symptoms as those of survivors of natural disasters but, unlike most other types of disasters, the threats that caused the trauma and the conditions that undermine survivor’s identity, safety, trust, and sense of control continue to exist. This article shares a model of a psychoeducational group developed and field tested by the authors and used with a group of people targeted because of their queer identities.

Livable For All Ages: Evaluating Perceptions Of Community In An Intergenerational Context, David L. Ferrell

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

Aging-friendliness work uses a model of eight core domains to assess and achieve communities in which people are more equipped to age well, and remain in their community as they age. These domains are broken into the built environment (i.e., Housing, Transportation) and the social environment (i.e., Communication, Social Inclusion, Employment). This dissertation is centered on the efforts to make communities more aging-friendly, and focuses specifically on the Livable Lexington initiative. This dissertation utilized an exploratory study of a pre- and posttest evaluative design to pilot intergenerational discussion groups as a potential intervention. Intergenerational discussion groups were developed with the …

A Mixed Methods Analysis Of Gender Differences In Symptom Progression And Trauma Narratives During Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Sarah A. Ascienzo

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

An alarming portion of youth experience traumatic events during childhood, and there is a robust body of literature documenting the adverse consequences of trauma exposure on the developing child. Fortunately, numerous empirically-supported phase-based interventions have been developed for youth that target the deleterious effects of trauma. While several of these interventions have demonstrated symptom reduction from the baseline to completion of treatment, much less is known regarding the trajectory of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) during the course of treatment. Information in this regard may have important implications for service delivery and help to illuminate the mechanisms of change responsible for …

A Later Life Without Children In China : A Cross-Sectional Examination Of Moderators And Mediators Of The Effects Of Childlessness On The Well-Being Of Elders, Junrong Shi

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Adult children played a primary role in support and caregiving for the fast-growing older population in China because of the core value of “filial piety” and underdeveloped formal services in the country. However, an increasing amount of Chinese people will end up with having no children in their later years, either nonparental or no children survived. It is important to understand that how the absence of children affects the health and well-being of older adults to better serve this growing vulnerable population. Limited previous studies focused on the childless older people in China, and little is known about the mechanisms …

In Their Own Voices : A Mixed Methodology Study Of An Independent Living Program For Foster And Homeless Youth, Emily Elizabeth Delorenzo

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of an Independent Living Program in upstate New York on foster and homeless youths’ ability to successfully transition to independence. The quantitative portion of this mixed methodology study examines whether or not the program as a whole had any effect on the progress of youth in the domains of employment, housing and education. The results indicate that greater number of days in the program and a thorough discharge plan were associated with positive outcomes for youth. The qualitative portion of this study provides much needed descriptive data on youths’ attitudes …

An Exploration Of Caregiver Engagement In Residential Treatment For Youth, Raquel Moriarty Derrick

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Support for caregiver engagement in their child’s residential treatment is widespread and growing because of the benefits of caregiver engagement to a youth’s treatment process. This dissertation explores the construct of caregiver engagement, defined as caregiver motivation and expectation for their child’s treatment, caregiver bond with staff and caregiver collaboration on treatment goals and tasks among a cohort of 101 caregivers with a child in a Residential Treatment Center (RTC). Mixed methods were used to qualitatively and quantitatively explore caregiver perspectives and experiences that contribute to or detract from their level of engagement in their child’s treatment process. Findings reveal …

Exploring Religiosity And Spirituality On The Meaning Of Hiv/Aids And Service Provision In Malawi, Sung Ah Choi

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background: Almost two-thirds of the total HIV/AIDS infected populations in the world

Data Note: State Intellectual And Developmental Disability Agencies’ Service Trends, Agnes Zalewska, Jean Winsor, Thinkwork! At The Institute For Community Inclusion At Umass Boston

ThinkWork! Publications

In FY2016, an estimated 638,568 individuals received day or employment supports from state IDD program agencies. This number grew from 455,824 in FY1999. The estimated number of individuals in integrated employment services increased from 108,227 in FY1999 to 120,244 in FY2016. Despite the trend to terminate facility-based services in some states, the overall state investment continues to emphasize non-work services, rather than integrated employment services. Figure 1 shows the trends in the percentage of people served in integrated employment and facility-based and non-work settings between FY2008 and FY2016.

The Ethics Of Dying : An Exploration Of The Right To Suicide And Clinician Response To Self-Determination And Suicidal Ideation Among Adults Who Struggle With Mental Illness, Shelley Bair

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This paper explores the question: What beliefs, values and assumptions do social workers hold when assessing whether or not a person who is a mental health client has the right to suicide? The current literature reveals that individuals struggling with physical disorders deemed extreme and untreatable are likely to be accepted as rational grounds for suicide. Underrepresented in extant research is the critical examination of the desire to die as a rational versus pathological and treatable response to mental health concerns. The study question is examined, in part, through the lens of the Code of Ethics presented by the National …

The Risk Typology Of Healthcare Access And Its Association With Unmet Healthcare Needs In Asian Americans, Yuri Jang, Nan Sook Park, Hyunwoo Yoon, Ya-Ching Huang, Min-Kyoung Rhee, David A. Chiriboga, Miyong T. Kim

Social Work Faculty Publications

Using data from the 2015 Asian American Quality of Life Survey (N = 2,609), latent profile analysis was conducted on general (health insurance, usual place for care and income) and immigrant‐specific (nativity, length of stay in the U.S., English proficiency and acculturation) risk factors of healthcare access. Latent profile analysis identified a three‐cluster model (low‐risk, moderate‐risk and high‐risk groups). Compared with the low‐risk group, the odds of having an unmet healthcare need was 1.52 times greater in the moderate‐risk group and 2.24 times greater in the high‐risk group. Challenging the myth of model minority, the present sample of Asian …

Preparing To Launch The ‘Thinking Healthy Programme’ Perinatal Depression Intervention In Urban Lima, Peru: Experiences From The Field, B. S. Eappen, M. Aguilar, K. Ramos, C. Contreras, M. C. Prom, P. Scorza, B. Gelaye, M. Rondon, G. Raviola, Jerome T. Galea

Social Work Faculty Publications

Background. An estimated 19–25% of perinatal women in low- and middle-income countries are affected by depression which, untreated, is associated with multiple health problems for mothers and children. Nonetheless, few perinatal women have access to depression care. The Thinking Healthy Programme (THP), promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO), is an evidence-based, non-specialist delivered depression intervention that addresses this care gap. However, the WHO THP manual explains intervention delivery but not the antecedents to implementation. Here, we describe a principled, planned approach leading to the implementation of THP in Lima, Peru by the non-profit organization Socios En Salud with community …

Measurement Equivalence Of English Versus Native Language Versions Of The Kessler 6 (K6) Scale: An Examination In Three Asian American Groups, Yuri Jang, Daniel A. Powers, Hyunwoo Yoon, Min-Kyoung Rhee, Nan Sook Park, David A. Chiriboga

Social Work Faculty Publications

The use of languages other than English in population-based surveys is necessitated by the linguistic diversities in the United States. However, inclusion of multiple languages in survey data collection raises concerns about whether an instrument administered in different languages functions equivalently across groups. Using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale 6 (K6), the present study examined differential item functioning (DIF) between surveys conducted either in English or the native language of the groups of Chinese Americans (n = 622), Korean Americans (n = 471), and Vietnamese Americans (n = 513). DIF analyses using a series of multiple-indicator multiple-cause models showed that …

Community Strengthening And Mental Health System Linking After Flooding In Two Informal Human Settlements In Peru: A Model For Small-Scale Disaster Response, Carmen C. Contreras, M. Aguilar, B. Eappen, C. Guzmán, P. Carrasco, A. K. Millones, Jerome T. Galea

Social Work Faculty Publications

Background: Mental health is an important factor in responding to natural disasters. Observations of unmet mental health needs motivated the subsequent development of a community-based mental health intervention following one such disaster affecting Peru in 2017.

Methods: Two informal human settlements on the outskirts of Lima were selected for a mental health intervention that included: (1) screening for depression and domestic violence, (2) children's activities to strengthen social and emotional skills and diminish stress, (3) participatory theater activities to support conflict resolution and community resilience, and (4) community health worker (CHW) accompaniment to government health services.

Results: A total of …

Use Of Technology, Pedagogical Approaches And Intercultural Competence In Development, Dee Ann Sherwood, Marian Tripplett, Sarah Hoyle-Katz, Joy Langereis

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Social work education has placed central importance on the development of intercultural competency and more recently, cultural humility. Strategies for effectively leveraging technology, logistics, place and pedagogy are essential within increasingly diverse education and practice settings. This study explores how two Western Michigan University (WMU) social work faculty members teaching at off-campus sites developed an on-line learning course in Chicago in collaboration with sociologists from the Chicago Center for Culture and Urban Life. Following four weeks of online and Skype-based learning, master’s level social work students interacted directly with diverse communities over an intensive four-day travel experience. Utilizing Freirean pedagogy, …

Assessing The Impact Of Meaningful Employment On The Self-Esteem Of Male Veterans, Gary Grimes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined the relationship between meaningful employment and self-esteem in male veterans. Meaningful employment is an important element of reintegration, the process all veterans go through to transition from active duty military service back into society. Reintegration involves three major areas: physical and mental health, employment, and family and friend relationships. A sample of 30 male veterans were interviewed. After the interviews, two instruments were used to further examine the variables (meaningful employment and self-esteem). The instruments were administered to measure the individual's perception regarding meaningful employment and level of self-esteem. The interviews were the primary focus, with the …

Supporting Recruitment And Retention Of Young African-American And Hispanic Fathers In Community-Based Parenting Interventions Research, Cristina Mogro-Wilson, Crystal M. Hayes, Alysse Melville Loomis, Aubri Drake, Melanie Martin-Peele, Judith Fifield

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Few studies to date have provided strategies for maintaining low rates of attrition when conducting longitudinal, epidemiological, or community-based research with young, minority, urban fathers. This paper highlights lessons learned from a 5-year randomized controlled trial of a fatherhood intervention that designed and implemented state-of-the-art and culturally relevant recruitment and retention methods with 348 young fathers ages 15 to 25. Qualitative findings are drawn from interviews with fathers who had been enrolled in the fatherhood intervention (n=10). While traditional recruitment and retention methods, such as incentives, were employed in this study, non-traditional methods were used as well, such as intensive …