Social Work Commons^™

Advancing Trauma-Informed Systems Change In A Family Drug Treatment Court Context, Laurie Drabble, Shelby Jones, Vivian Brown

Faculty Publications

A growing body of literature documents the importance of trauma-informed and trauma-specific services and systems change in both addiction treatment and child welfare fields. The overall aim of this qualitative study was to explore barriers, benefits, and facilitating factors associated with a trauma-informed systems assessment and improvement initiative conducted in the context of a family drug treatment court (FDTC). Semistructured in-depth interviews with 12 key informants and historical analyses of project documents over a 4-year time span were conducted. Results underscore the relevance of trauma-informed systems change in collaborative contexts designed to address the complex needs of children and families.

Louisiana Department Of Children And Family Services : A Case Study Of Child Welfare Workers' Burnout, Crystal Ward

LSU Master's Theses

Social work can be an extremely gratifying profession. However, social workers who are exposed to graphic realities related to vulnerable and traumatized individuals and families may experience challenging workload demands and increased levels of burnout. To best understand and support these key human service workers, it is important to investigate variables influencing levels of burnout. In this study, the author examined whether specific individual worker characteristics contribute to burnout among child welfare workers in Louisiana. Characteristics were compared to individual variables such as job tenure, agency department, supervisor/front line worker, and educational background. The Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) was completed …

Responding To The Child Welfare Workforce Crisis Here And Now: A Constructivist Approach To Understanding Supervision, Abigail K. Wyche

Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, the author argues that there is strong evidence that the child welfare workforce continues to be in crisis. While a great deal of research has indicated that supervision is closely linked to the crisis, extremely high rates of turnover have not been notably reduced through the efforts of administrators or academics to change supervisory practices. Therefore, the author makes the case that it is time to employ an alternative methodology—constructivist inquiry. Constructivist inquiry is based on paradigmatic assumptions that make it distinct from the functionalist approach that researchers most commonly use to understand the child welfare workforce …

The Effect Of Neglect In Infancy On The Ability To Attach To Adoptive Caregivers, Lisa Marie Christoffer

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between neglect in infancy and the child's ability to form attachments in an adoption context. Most of the current research assesses the effect of all forms of maltreatment on attachment behavior. However this study aimed to investigate one type of maltreatment, neglect, on attachment behavior.

Child Welfare Professionals On Kinship Caregivers: Attitudes And Implications, Kimberly Ann Brisebois

Wayne State University Dissertations

In 2006, new policies mandated Ontario child welfare agencies to explore potential placements with kin when children are removed from their homes. The philosophical basis driving Ontario policy is the belief that family-based care is better for children. Despite the dramatic rise in the numbers of kinship homes, controversy continues to surround the mandated exploration of kin (Geen, 2003). Kinship policies have required shifts in child placement practices and have imposed changes in the beliefs, attitudes and norms of child welfare professionals. Early practitioners tended to pathologize kinship networks and worked from the belief that children required rescuing from abusive …

Identifying Potential Mediators And Moderators Of The Association Be-Tween Child Maltreatment And Bullying Perpetration And Victimization In School, Jun Sung Hong, Dorothy L. Espelage, Andrew Grogan-Kaylor, Paula Allen-Meares

Social Work Faculty Publications

A growing body of literature is demonstrating associations between childhood maltreatment and bullying involvement at school. In this literature review, five potential mediators (explanatory) and three potential moderators (mitigates or exacerbates) of the association between childhood maltreatment and school bullying are proposed. Mediators include emotional dysregulation, depression, anger, and social skills deficits. Moderators reviewed include quality of parent-child relationships, peer relationships, and teacher relationships. Although there might be insurmountable challenges to addressing child maltreatment in primary or universal school-based prevention programs, it is possible to intervene to improve these potentially mediating and moderating factors.

Family Meetings : Facilitators Reflect On Neutrality And Family Empowerment, Ona B. Belser

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Abstract

Client-Provider Relationship And Treatment Outcome: A Systematic Review Of Substance Abuse, Child Welfare, And Mental Health Services Research, Christina Andrews

Faculty and Staff Publications

This systematic review reports on the association of the client-provider relationship with service outcomes across 3 service sectors: substance abuse, child welfare, and mental health. The review includes 60 research reports meeting inclusion criteria: 25 in substance abuse, 7 in child welfare, and 28 in mental health. For each social service sector, we analyze the association of the client-provider relationship to intermediate and ultimate outcomes. In addition, we examine potential moderating mechanisms of rater type (i.e., client, provider, and observer) and treatment setting (i.e., inpatient, outpatient, other). Social services research increasingly seeks to identify the active elements that affect outcomes …

Foster Care Workers' Emotional Responses To Their Work, Alissa Schwartz

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The field of child welfare struggles with high rates of job turnover. This study describes the contributors to and experiences of foster care workers' emotional responses to their work. Uniquely drawing from the field of Positive Psychology, it describes and conceptualizes the relationships of multi-level contributors to foster care workers' emotional reactions at work. In-depth interviews conducted with 25 foster care workers found that negative emotions were more prominently featured than positive, but that working in an agency with positive workplace characteristics mitigated this relationship. Theoretical implications and limitations of taking a Positive Psychology approach to the study are discussed.

Experience Of Supervision Scale: The Development Of An Instrument To Measure Child Welfare Workers' Experience Of Supervisory Behaviors, Mary Parente

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop and test the Experience of Supervision Scale, which measures the experience of supervisory behaviors from the perspective of child welfare workers. Child welfare supervision is gaining increased attention as states struggle to improve performance measures of their child welfare systems. However, the lack of a standardized instrument which measures supervision through an analysis of supervisory behaviors from the supervisee’s perspective has hindered efforts in these areas. The Experience of Supervision Scale is based on Kadushin’s three function casework supervision model of supervision (administrative, educational, and supportive) which was chosen as the theoretical …

The Relationship Between Vicarious Traumatization And Job Retention Among Child Welfare Professionals, Jennifer S. Middleton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation study examined the relationship between vicarious traumatization and job retention among 1,192 child welfare professionals in five different child welfare organizations. Propositions from Constructivist Self Development Theory (CSDT) were utilized to examine the differential factors influencing the impact of vicarious trauma on child welfare professionals' intent to leave their organization, including coping strategies, professional efficacy, and professional satisfaction. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to assess the degree of fit between the observed data and several hypothesized theoretical models examining the relationship between vicarious trauma, coping strategies, professional efficacy, professional satisfaction, and retention. Findings from SEM analyses revealed …

What Are The Characteristics Of Families With Three Or More Referrals To Children And Family Services Within A Twelve Month Period?, Elizabeth Irene Valenzuela

Theses Digitization Project

In order to better serve those famailies that are chronically involved with Children and Family Services and prevent their future involvement with the system, social service workers should be able to identify and understand what characteristics are causing referral. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of families with three or more referrals within a twelve month period that significantly impact the number of referrals a family receives.

Effects Of Substance Abuse Services On Child Reunification, Peter Charles Shorts

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to conduct a descriptive and inferential analysis of the effect of substance abuse treatment upon the family reunification process. The research revealed a significant relationship between the median age of custodial parents whose parental rights were terminated and the median age of parents whose parental rights were not terminated.

Participants' Perceptions On The Effectiveness Of The "Parents In Partnership" Program Of Los Angeles County, Shaniece Anejo Hunter-Moffett

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to examine participants' perceptions on the effectiveness of the "Parents in Partnership" program (PIP) of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Parents in Partnership (PIP) is a collaborative effort between the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and parent partner paraprofessionals toward facilitation of safe reunification and permanency through education, support and mentoring of birth parents. The program's sole goal is the timely and safe reunification of children and their families. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with fourteen participants in the PIP program. Both mentors and mentees were interviewed.

Black American Perceptions Of Social Workers, Ron-Niece Qashaun Charesse Paul

Theses Digitization Project

This study examines Black Americans' perceptions of social workers and of the role of the Black church and extended family in assisting individuals in the Black community. The study employed a survey design with self-administered questionnaires. Sixty respondents participated in the study and the study was conducted at two Black churches in the San Bernardino County.

The Causes Of Recurrence Of Maltreatment In Child Welfare, And The Impacts Of The Family Team Decision Making Initiative, Juana Lorena Gonzalez

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to identify causes and impacts on family when children re-enter child welfare as a result of recurrence of child maltreatment and what child welfare agencies are doing to reduce those incidences.

Reunification Outcomes For Hispanics In The Child Welfare System, Lucia Aguirre Coronel

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to identify any contributing factors to the overrepresentation of Hispanic children in the child welfare system. This study used an exploratory design and quantitavie methods to examine reunification oucomes of 100 case files in a county in Southern California.

Mental Health Service Access Among Children And Adolescents Involved With Child Welfare Services, Junqing Liu

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Most research on children's access to mental health has focused on child and family factors (e.g. child's age and ethnicity), with little attention being paid to service system factors such as service referrals and insurance. Furthermore, most research conducted to date on mental health service access has been cross-sectional without considering how service access and needs change over time. This dissertation study aims to address these oversights by examining over time service system change and the impact of service system factors on the relationship between service needs and access. The study employs multilevel and longitudinal regression analyses (STATA) using five …

The Foster Care And Adoption Process Through The Eyes Of Prospective Parents, Nancy Hocking Berger

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Every year, thousands of children wait in the Michigan foster care system for a permanent family. Families that express interest in foster care or adoption encounter a complicated and complex child welfare system. In the end, the majority of families that express interest do no progress to fostering or adopting (Katz, Wilson & Green, 2005). There are potential barriers at every step of the process that can impact a family's progress towards providing a home and a family for a waiting child (McRoy, 2007). This study seeks to answer the question: Once interest has been expressed, what are the reasons …

An Exploration Of The Paradigm Of Kinship Caregiving And Caregivers' Experiences With Child Welfare And Public Welfare Systems Using Critical Theory Analysis, Tara Valinchus Dejohn

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Kinship caregiving as a paradigm in the United States (US) is historically linked to slavery subcultural practices. Over time, dominant US systems have vacillated in demonstrating formal acknowledgement of kinship as an acceptable family unit and in availing resources to support kinship caregiving. The patterns and practices of these variations pertaining to kinship caregiving as a paradigm has received little attention despite documentation of its increased utilization in public child welfare and welfare systems. This exploratory case study responds to the paucity of knowledge regarding the systemic shifts towards the kinship caregiving paradigm and the perspectives of kinship caregivers who …

University Scholar Series: Laurie Drabble, Laurie A. Drabble

University Scholar Series

Alcohol and Drug Addiction Among Marginalized Populations of Women

On September 29, 2010 Laurie Drabble spoke in the University Scholar Series hosted by Provost Gerry Selter at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library. Laurie Drabble is an associate professor in Social Work with her research focusing on understanding alcohol and drug-related problems among marginalized populations of women and she has conducted a number of studies exploring collaboration between addiction treatment and child welfare fields. She has worked as Executive Director of the California Women's Commission on Alcohol and Drug Dependencies and a consultant in prevention strategies, strategic planning, and …

First Jobs Academy Work Readiness Training For Child Welfare Involved Youth: Trainer Guide, Amy Beaulieu (Ed) Mssw, Lcsw

Children, Youth, & Families

This curriculum focuses on mastery of knowledge, skills, and abilities related to work readiness in four main competency areas:

Communication: Articulates thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively; demonstrates public speaking skills; writes work-related materials clearly and effectively.

Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving: Exercises sound reasoning and analytical thinking; uses knowledge, facts, and data to solve workplace problems.

Professionalism: Demonstrates personal accountability and effective work habits, such as punctuality, working productively with others toward a goal, and time and workload management.

Teamwork & Collaboration:Builds productive and professional working relationships with colleagues, supervisors, and customers; able to work with diverse teams; able to …

Family Preservation In Families’ Ecological Systems: Factors That Predict Out-Of-Home Placement And Maltreatment For Service Recipients In Richmond City, Jody Hearn

Theses and Dissertations

Family preservation services are intended to prevent the out-of-home placement (into foster care or some other alternative arrangement) of children and youth in families at risk of maltreating them. An Ecological Systems perspective of these families might suggest that a family’s context (represented by the variables of poverty, agency services, family history, and individual/caretaker characteristics) must be considered as an over-arching influence in families’ risk and outcomes. The purpose of this cross-sectional secondary data analysis study was to identify layered factors that distinguish family preservation cases in Richmond, VA that experience removal or subsequent abuse or neglect from those that …

A Study Of Abuse Recovery Programs: Perceptions Of Mothers In Recovery, Michelle Larkan

Social Work Theses

There is a strong correlation between parental substance abuse and child maltreatment, and many substance abusing parents do not or are not able to access treatment recovery programs. The literature indicates that 8.3 million children are living with a substance abusing parent in the United States, and of these parents 2.4 million do not receive substance abuse treatment and recovery programs (Carlson, 2006, p.97). As a result, many of these children are removed from their homes due to child maltreatment. This research study examined what mothers in recovery (with children in state custody) in a Northern Rhode Island social service …

Family Group Conferencing Practice, Angela Rodgers, Katharine Cahn

Child Welfare

Oregon has long been known as a site for innovative family engagement practice. Multiple forms of family meetings have been implemented in Oregon over the years and many child welfare offices use some form of intensive efforts to find family for children in care. Beginning in the Fall 2012 and over the next three years, Oregon implemented a federally funded (Children's Bureau) demonstration project, Family Connections Oregon, to test a model intervention, to develop a supportive infrastructure for sustaining family connections practice, and to establish a family voice association at the policy level. These practices are continuing in Oregon through …

Helping Child Welfare Workers Improve Cultural Competence By Utilizing Spiritual Genograms With Native American Families And Children, Gordon E. Limb, David R. Hodge

Faculty Publications

This study represents an initial step at giving child welfare workers an important assessment tool as they seek to provide culturally and spiritually competent services to Native American families and children. In order to determine the relevancy and consistency of utilizing a modified spiritual genogram assessment tool with Native Americans, 50 Native American experts reviewed, rated, and gave feedback on its use. Results showed that while there were limitations in utilizing spiritual genograms, this assessment tool could help child welfare workers become more culturally competent as they develop interventions with Native American families and children.

Why It Makes Sense To Practice Child Welfare Social Work In The Public School System: An Evaluation Study, Desiree Joanne Robinson Moody

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to propose why it makes sense to practice child welfare social work in the public school system (kindergarten through 12th grade), and to evaluate why there is a need for child protective services (CPS) child welfare social workers to be active and out-stationed in the public school setting. A questionaire was developed to interview and obtain responses from nine experienced retired and prior social workers.

Toward Evidence-Informed Policy And Practice In Child Welfare, Julia H. Littell, Aron Shlonsky

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

Drawing on the authors’ experience in the international Campbell Collaboration, this essay presents a principled and pragmatic approach to evidence-informed decisions about child welfare. This approach takes into account the growing body of empirical evidence on the reliability and validity of various methods of research synthesis. It also considers wide variations in the cultural, economic, and political contexts in which policy and practice decisions are made—and the contexts in which children live and die. This essay illustrates the use of Campbell and Cochrane systematic reviews to inform child welfare decisions in the diverse contexts that exist around the globe.

Reunification Outcomes Of Hispanic Families In Riverside County Child Protective Services, Christy Quniterol Sabsook

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to examine the reunification outcomes of hispanic families within Riverside County Child Protective Services. It has been found that for this population, the reunification takes longer than other ethnic groups. Social worker's need to be provided valuable information about the Hispanic population and to increase social worker's cultural sensitivity related to the special needs of Hispanic families.

Understanding The Relationship Between Social Resources And Levels Of Parent Involvement In Illinois Early Childhood Programs: A Program-Level Perspective, Aimee Victoria Hilado

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the number of resources and levels of parent involvement across state-funded preschool programs in Illinois. This dissertation presented a mixed methods study using survey data from the Illinois Birth to Five Evaluation FY09 (n=843) and interviews with ten preschool administrators who completed the survey. Based on the survey data for Illinois state-funded preschools, the number of social resources provided by a program was positively associated with levels of parent involvement. The correlation analysis (r = -0.22, p=.0001) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) F(2,708) = 23.19, p =.0001) findings both …