Social Work Commons^™

Using “Remote” Training And Coaching To Increase Providers’ Skills For Working Effectively With Older Youth And Young Adults With Serious Mental Health Conditions, Janet S. Walker, Caitlin Baird

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Since about the turn of the century, a growing awareness of the poor outcomes resulting from “as usual” community mental health care has led to increasing efforts to implement programs and interventions with empirical evidence of effectiveness. However, these efforts have encountered numerous barriers, in particular the high cost of implementation, which has severely limited uptake and sustainment of empiricallysupported programs and interventions. Typically, the largest contributor to cost is the training and coaching required to ensure provider competence and fidelity to the intervention or program model. This paper describes a social innovation that aims to provide high-quality training and …

Female Genital Mutilation In The United States: Estimating The Number Of Girls At Risk, Phyllis Chesler

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

Female genital mutilation (FGM) destroys the capacity of women to experience sexual pleasure. It causes serious medical complications such as bleeding, painful urination, cysts, dangerous and recurrent bladder and urinary tract infections, the growth of scar tissue that make marital intercourse a nightmare and that turns childbirth into an experience of danger and torture. Due to immigration, FGM now poses a potential health crisis in the West, both in Europe and in the United States. To estimate how many girls who live in the West are at risk, one can measure the prevalence of FGM in the non-Western countries where …

The Implementation Fidelity Of The Family Finding Intervention Through The Lens Of Permanency Specialists, Liat L. Shklarski

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The Family Finding intervention is a six-stage intervention that aims to improve the well-being of youth lingering in foster care by searching for and engaging adults who can provide them with permanent relational connections (Campbell, 2010). Preliminary research on fidelity to the Family Finding intervention indicated gaps in its implementation (Malm, Vandivere, Allen, Williams, & McKlindon, 2014; Vandivere & Malam, 2015). This study sought to explore how implementation fidelity occurs in real-world settings and the factors that promote implementation fidelity for the intervention.

An explanatory sequential mixed methods inquiry was employed to examine permanency specialists’ perceptions of the implementation of …

Exploring Narratives Of Adolescent-To-Parent Abuse, Sofia Oviedo

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Adolescent-to-parent abuse (APA) is an often hidden form of family abuse that evidences a breakdown in the parent-child relationship with damaging effects on the physical and emotional well-being of parents and youth. This study aimed to examine the experiences of parents affected by APA, the effects on the parent-child relationship, and on parent identity. It also explored how APA influenced the relationship dynamics during conflicts, how parents managed these conflicts, and how parents viewed their power within these interactions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 parents who resided in two major cities in the US (Seattle, WA and New York …

The Moving On Program And Supportive Housing Residents With Histories Of Homelessness, Kimberly Livingstone

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Supportive housing is the main strategy assisting formerly homeless people to live in the least restrictive settings and as independently as possible. There has been a greater focus on efforts towards homelessness prevention and remedies to minimize the experience of homelessness, which have been further fueled by the demand for supportive housing and a drive for cost effectiveness. Meanwhile, there have been attempts to ensure that those living in supportive housing are only those who continue to need comprehensive long-term support to live independently in the community. To accomplish this, and in line with the Recovery Movement, programs assist people …

Adults Formerly In Foster Care Narrate Schooling Experiences, Danielle Walker

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Roughly 400,000 children are in foster care in the United States (Lash, 2017, p. 5). These youth are less likely to graduate high school than their non-foster peers (Barnow et al., 2015). While several barriers contribute to the poor educational outcomes for children in foster care, research has noted that the label “foster child” is associated with negative connotations and differential teacher treatment (Altshuler, 2003; Finkelstein, Wamsley, & Miranda, 2002). In spite of such observations, little research has emphasized the perspectives of those in foster care. To fill this gap, this qualitative study posed the following question: How do adults …

Fatal Attraction : Intimate Partner Violence Among Black Lgbtq Relationships., Amberli A. Seay

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Social workers play a pivotal role in intervening in instances of intimate partner violence. It is imperative that social work intervention education is relevant, competent and inclusive. In this study, a content analysis is conducted on the true-crime documentary series, Fatal Attraction. Fatal Attraction targets Black audiences and sheds light on Black victim-survivors and perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV). The documentaries in this series act as a resource to understanding representation and treatment of Black LGBTQ. The following research questions are explored and discussed: 1. To what degree are Black LGBTQ victims and perpetrators of IPV represented in media? …

Assessing Institutional Response To Sexual Violence On College Campuses: The Relationship Between Organizational Characteristics Of Colleges And Adherence To National Guidelines, Lisa Macri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a cross sectional exploratory study assessing adherence to the federal campus sexual violence Clery Act and Title IX guidelines among a national sample of (n=94) institutions of higher education (IHE) to determine if there are any relationships between organizational characteristics and CSV policy adherence using a three-part index of compliance: (1). Levels of IHE compliance to federal policies; (2). Levels of IHE provision of CSV prevention services and programs; and (3). Levels of IHE provision of CSV interim and supportive measures. Resource Dependency Theory (Pfeffer & Salancik, 1978) informed the study's primary hypothesis that an IHE's reliance …

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Homeless Chronicity, And Age At Onset Of Homelessness, Joseph T. Tucciarone Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Childhood adversity is associated with numerous negative outcomes across multiple domains, including mental and physical health, interrelationships, and social functioning. Notably, research suggests that childhood adversity has a dose-response relationship with these outcomes; that is, greater numbers of adverse experiences in childhood are associated with worse outcomes. These outcomes overlap with many risk factors of homelessness. This study sought to address two questions: 1) Does a dose-response relationship exist between childhood adversity and chronic homelessness? 2) Does childhood adversity negatively predict the age at which homelessness first occurs? Adults experiencing homeless who are accessing homeless services in the Tri-Cities area …

State Law And Child Welfare Policy Role In Nonparental Family Composition, Laura Alison Caliendo

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Children in nonparental care have worse outcomes than children in the general population, Federal child welfare policy has prioritized kinship care in an effort to improve outcomes for children; however, it is unclear if the intended child outcomes are achieved. Research shows outcomes vary depending on the type of nonparental family with whom a child lives, due in part to relationship but also to access to services and child welfare system supports. This research defines first five nonparental family types and then uses the framework of ecological systems theory to examine if state laws and child welfare policy influence the …

Associations Of First Trimester Co-Use Of Tobacco And Cannabis With Prenatal Immune Response And Psychosocial Well-Being, Kristin Ashford, Amanda Fallin-Bennett, Andrea Mccubbin, Amanda T. Wiggins, Sheila Barnhart, Joshua A. Lile

Perinatal Research and Wellness Center Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: This study aims to describe the association of first trimester co-use of tobacco and cannabis with maternal immune response and psychosocial well-being, relative to tobacco use only.

METHODS: A preliminary midpoint analysis included 138 pregnant women with biologically verified tobacco use, 38 of whom (28%) also tested positive for recent cannabis use. Maternal perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale), depressive symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), and serum immune markers (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNFα, CRP, MMP8), were collected, although cytokine data were only available for 122 women.

RESULTS: Participant average age was 29.1 years, approximately half had a high …

Drug Overdose Prevention: Needs Of Healthcare Professionals And First Responders, Jessica Groeneweg, Lynn Castrianno, Gaylene Armstrong, Jeanette Harder, Rachel Lubischer, Dawne Frain

Reports

Purpose and Background
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) partnered with Support and Training for the Evaluation of Programs (STEPs) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Grace Abbott School of Social Work, to complete a statewide needs assessment between October 2018 and April 2019. The purpose of this needs assessment was to gauge the capacity of statewide systems in Nebraska to respond to surges or clusters of intentional, unintentional, and unknown drug overdoses, especially in high-burden areas and with a focus on opioids. The hope of the results from this needs assessment is to inform DHHS …

Unseen And Unheard: Exploring The Mental Health Of Mostly Heterosexual College Students, Shannon Pendleton

Lyle S. Hallman Social Work Theses and Dissertations

College years have long been understood to be a difficult yet important developmental period in an individual’s life, which may be particularly challenging for sexual minority students who tend to face discrimination on campus, which can undermine their mental health. Research in both college student and non-college student samples has shown that mostly heterosexual is a distinct sexual orientation. However, little is known about the wellbeing of individuals, including college students, who identify as mostly heterosexual. Moreover, among college students, little is known about the intersections between a mostly heterosexual identity and mental health. This study examined the association between …

2019 Petersheim Academic Exposition Schedule Of Events, Seton Hall University

Petersheim Academic Exposition

2019 Petersheim Academic Exposition

Social Work, Politics, And Social Policy Education: Applying A Multidimensional Framework Of Power, Amy Krings, Vincent Fusaro, Kerri L. Nicoll, Na Youn Lee

Social Work: School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Other Works

The call to promote social justice sets the social work profession in a political context. In an effort to enhance social workers’ preparedness to engage in political advocacy, this article calls on educators to integrate a broad theoretical understanding of power into social policy curricula. We suggest the use of a multidimensional conceptualization of power that emphasizes mechanisms of decision making, agenda control, and attitude formation. We then apply these mechanisms to demonstrate how two prominent features of contemporary politics—party polarization and racially biased attitudes—affect the ability of social workers to influence policy. Finally, we suggest content that social work …

A Practical Resource For The Social Sciences: A Book Review Of Bruce Friedman’S The Research Toolkit - Problem Solving Processes For The Social Sciences, Sarah E. Faubert

The Qualitative Report

Bruce D. Friedman provides an invaluable resource for social science researchers and practitioners to add to their “toolkit.” This book provides practical and straightforward guidance for understanding and conducting qualitative and quantitative research. As a social science researcher, sessional instructor, and doctoral student, reading this book answered important questions I had regarding the research process and implications of social science research. This review will discuss the primary tenets of the book as well as the relevance of this toolkit for student-researchers.

Branch Campuses: Extending The Reach Of Social Work Education, Simon Funge, Dana Sullivan, Larry Owens, Whitney Harper

Social Work Faculty Publications

The study explored the characteristics and experiences of branch campus social work education programs and educators in the U.S. Eighty-one (n = 81) branch campus social work educators in 26 states completed an online survey. Findings revealed that undergraduate and graduate branch campus social work education was primarily delivered face-to-face to non-traditional students. Half of these programs were recently established, and the majority were expected to grow. However, teaching these students was not necessarily viewed as a shared responsibility. Though some branch campus faculty reported higher workloads and limited connections to parent campus colleagues, faculty generally reported great satisfaction teaching …

Homelessness Among Youth, Reyna Sanchez

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Bowling Green Welfare Home - Bowling Green, Kentucky (Sc 3390), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and scans (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3390. Two reports on the Bowling Green Welfare Home, 1023 Adams Street, Bowling Green, Kentucky. The first lists expenses from 1932-1934 and provides a short history and a list of residents. The second, by Marie Pennington, is dated 1936 and reports on the home’s history, personnel and finances, and describes a few of the welfare cases.

Social Justice Through The Lens Of The Cross: A Case For A Biblical Foundation Of Social Work, Allison P. Kasch

Senior Honors Theses

Social work values social justice, as the profession promotes the well-being of society and the rights each person holds. Although social justice is a core value of social work, it is necessary to address the value’s foundation, and questioning the “why” behind social justice calls for a deeper understanding of social work. Using the “Inside-Out” apologetic approach demonstrates how the secular grounding of social work neglects to provide the foundation required to make claims on the necessity of social justice. A Christian foundation, however, offers the grounding needed to support the values and mission of social work, and it is …

Exploring Cancer Health Disparities Among Formerly Incarcerated African Americans, Vickii Coffey, Tera Ivy, Brittany Harding, Mary Muse, Carolyn Rodgers, Lori Crowder, Shirley Spencer, Joseph Strickland, Giesela Grumbach, Linda Campos-Moreira, Delawnia Comer-Hagans, Alicia Matthews

Research Days

Incarcerated populations have a higher burden of chronic disease and elevated risk factors for cancer (BJS, 2012). In 2013, cancer (31%) and heart disease (26%) accounted for over half of all prisoner deaths. The Genomics Research Program of the National Cancer Institute’s Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (2016) identified incarcerated persons as an understudied population about which there is limited data regarding cancer risks and outcomes. A majority of studies on corrections populations focus on health issues associated with reduction of infectious diseases such as HIV, Tuberculosis, and Hepatitis. Scant research has been conducted on issues associated with …

Behavioral Health Practice Competencies Among Graduate Social Work Students: A Program Evaluation, Jane C. Barney

LSU Master's Theses

The Health Services and Resource Administration (HRSA) of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has recognized a need for mental health and substance abuse services for children, adolescents, and transitional youth who are at-risk for developing behavioral health disorders. In response to this need, the Obama administration delegated funds to multiple universities for the purpose of expanding the social work labor force. Louisiana State University is among those that received a block grant, allowing some of the students in the School of Social Work to participate in a Behavioral Health Workforce Education Training (BHWET) Program. This quasi-experimental study …

Falling On Deaf Ears: Social Workers’ Attitudes About Deafness, Hearing Loss, And Deaf Cultural Competence, Esperanza J. Garibay

LSU Master's Theses

D/deaf and hard of hearing people have lower health literacy and higher rates of misdiagnosis of serious illnesses than their hearing counterparts (Sheier, 2009). This is, in part, a result of the inaccessible and culturally incompetent care provided to d/Deaf and hard of hearing individuals (Kuenburg, Fellinger & Fellinger, 2016; Hoang, LaHousse, Nakaji & Sadler, 2010 Sheier, 2009). Inaccessible and culturally incompetent care may be byproducts of human service providers’ attitudes towards d/Deaf and hard of hearing people (Ulloa, 2014; Cooper, Mason & Rose, 2005), and providers’ level of competence with properly caring for d/Deaf and hard of hearing clients …

The Aaspire Practice-Based Guidelines For The Inclusion Of Autistic Adults In Research As Co-Researchers And Study Participants, Christina Nicolaidis, Dora M. Raymaker, Steven K. Kapp, Amelia E.V. Baggs, Elesia Ashkenazy, Katherine E. Mcdonald, Michael Weiner, Joelle Maslak, Morrigan Hunter, Andrea Joyce

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

As interest in autism in adulthood grows, so does the need for methods to promote the inclusion of autistic adults in research. Our objective was to create practice-based guidelines for the inclusion of autistic adults, both as research team members and as study participants. We conducted an institutional ethnography of three closely related research partnerships that used participatory methods with autistic adults over the years 2006–2018. We used an iterative approach which combined discussions with community and academic partners and artifact review. Guidelines to promote the inclusion of autistic adults as co-researchers focus on being transparent about partnership goals, clearly …

The Role Of Adverse Childhood Experiences In Relation To Opioids, Kay Hanson, Kimberlee Lamoth, Amelia Smith

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The aim of this study is to address the current gap in research regarding the relationship between childhood trauma and the misuse of opioids among women ages eighteen to thirty-five. Research participants were recruited at community service agencies throughout the Portland area and completed questionnaires measuring Adverse Childhood Experiences, substance use, and use of community supports. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess whether a correlation exists between childhood trauma and opioid use and whether community supports moderate this relationship. Findings of this study have the potential to confirm the existence of a correlation between childhood trauma and opioid misuse that …

Opioid Use Treatment Via Telemedicine: Treatment Options For Rural Maine, Benjamin Knapp

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The ongoing opioid crisis has overwhelmed the traditional opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment resources across America. The treatment resources in rural communities have been especially hard hit as geographic and financial barriers limit service capacity. Telemedicine, or medicine delivered via remote means, has been proposed as a potential solution to the lack of conventional opioid treatment resources in rural Maine. Current legalities in the US prohibit telemedicine being used to prescribe opioid agonist drugs, and insurance reimbursement for telemedicine remains a major barrier. This qualitative content analysis looks at the existing research on telemedicine's treatment efficacy for use with OUD …

Professional Impressions And Experiences Of The Complex Needs Of Human Trafficking Survivors, Jackie Klock, Kelsey Haynes

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Abstract Human trafficking is a monumental and pervasive human rights issue, and one that carries immense physical, psychological, and psychosocial repercussions to its survivors. This project explores the complex needs and service gaps that exist for survivors of human trafficking. Through a qualitative study, with six in-person interviews of professional providers in Maine, we gain access to important information regarding complex needs of human trafficking survivors. Using thematic analysis we analyze common themes throughout the interviews in relation to previous literature. Recommendations for practice are also presented.

Experiences Of Veterans With Ptsd And Sud In An Outpatient Setting, Andrew Breault, Hannah Shifflett-Kohler

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

In 2014, there were approximately 7.9 million adults in the United States with co-occurring Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Substance Use Disorders (SUD) (SAMHSA, 2014). Of the veterans who served in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan alone, 30% of those in SUD treatment also meet the criteria for PTSD (Seal et al, 2008, pp. 476). Furthermore, statistics show that about 20 Veterans in the United States complete suicide daily (Spiva, 2019, p. 8). The Department of Veterans Affairs is urgently seeking successful approaches to addressing the high incidence of suicides among all veterans along with the low retention …

Cyberbullying And Suicide Among Lgbtq Youth: Is There A Connection?, Holly Wright, Victoria Wilson Townley

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The suicide rate among children and teens has been rising over the last decade, and members of the LGBTQ youth population are at considerably greater risk for suicide than their heterosexual peers. LGBTQ youth are also at heightened risk of being bullied due to sexual orientation. Recent technological advancements have created a new platform for bullying, that of cyberbullying, which can contribute to feelings of depression and low self-esteem. The detrimental impact that cyberbullying can have on mental health suggests the possibility of a potential connection between cyberbullying and LGBTQ youth suicide. This qualitative study examines the possible link between …

Lgbt+ Teens, Social Media Use & Depressive Symptoms, Megan Curtis, Danielle Ryder

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Sexual and gender minority youth are statistically more likely to face severe mental health challenges than their cisgender, heterosexual peers; they consistently comprise a disproportionate percentage of youth who report experiencing depression, suicide ideation and attempted suicide in the United States every year (e.g. Abreu & Kinney, 2018). The aim of this study was to fill a gap in the current literature base by investigating the effects of social media use on sexual and gender minority youth mental health. The researchers conducted an online anonymous questionnaire targeted toward American LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, etc.) youth ages 14 to 18, …