Social Work Commons^™

"Does Anyone Believe Me"?: The Traumatization Of Domestic Violence Survivors In The Criminal Justice System, Olivia Depalma

Master of Arts in Human Services

Survivors of domestic violence are often subject to chronic trauma as well as a heightened risk of injuries and mental health problems and disorders. The intention of the author is to focus on how trauma impacts a survivor’s ability to maneuver and interact with the criminal justice system (CJS). Prior studies have shown how survivor’s behaviors, usually the result of trauma, can lead to misconceived notions and beliefs in court officials and those involved in the CJS. Survivors will often face judgment, doubt, and criticism in the CJS, and this can impact their willingness to come forward, report the abuse, …

Life Skills Program For Young Adult Males In A Transitional Living Facility, Victoria Burleson, Lesley Khan-Farooqi Phd, Otd, Otr

Fall 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project was created to bring awareness and provide skills to young adult males living within a transitional living facility to increase their independence, well-being and quality of life. The role of OT in transitional living facilities exists however the lack of literature allows for OT services to be expanded in non-traditional setting. This project and others similar benefit the young men to have positive outcomes and address obstacles this population faces,

A Phenomenology Of Post-Adoption Experiences Of Adoptive Parents, Omowunmi Omotade Ehikhametalor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study aimed to describe the post-adoption experiences of adoptive parents in Jamaica. Studies carried out in other jurisdictions are valuable but do not capture the unique experiences of adoptive parents in Jamaica; therefore, this current study sought to fill the research gap. This study's theoretical framework comprises Schlossberg’s transition theory, attachment theory, and parent effectiveness training (PET). Data were collected from a stratified purposive sample of twelve participants using a brief demographic survey, in-depth interviews, and participant journaling. The data were analyzed using Moustakas’ model, and four themes emerged, namely: the inception of adoptive parenthood, the journey …

Extension Agents’ Perceptions Of Community Readiness For Farm Stress And Suicide Prevention Efforts, Paula Yuma, Melissa Pearman Fenton, Lorann Stallones, Morgan Valley

Transforming Communities

The aim of the present study is to describe how Extension Agents in rural Colorado perceive their communities’ readiness to engage with farm stress and suicide prevention services and resources. Interviews were conducted with Extension Agents from five Colorado counties experiencing high suicide rates. Interview questions were based on a Community Readiness for Community Change framework, and inductive analysis was used to generate themes from the data. Results demonstrate that while prevention efforts are underway, community awareness remains low. In addition to structural barriers associated with rurality (e.g., lack of mental health providers), stigma remains a significant barrier to help-seeking. …

Resilience And Risk In Delinquents Of Color, Carla Victoria Alves

Honors Program Theses and Projects

This study examines the interplay of risk and resilience factors influencing the overrepresentation of youth of color in the juvenile justice system. A mixed-methods design integrates qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with youth, families, and community stakeholders and quantitative data analysis of existing statistical information on juvenile delinquency rates and resource availability. The study employs the Eco developmental framework to explore the influence of systemic racism, socioeconomic disparities, and family dynamics as risk factors alongside protective factors such as strong family support, culturally relevant interventions, and community-based programs. The findings highlight the complex interplay between these factors across multiple ecological …

Participatory Longitudinal Qualitative Interview Study To Understand Autistic Gynaecological And Obstetric Health: The Autism From Menstruation To Menopause Study Protocol, Amy Brown, Kathryn Williams, Aimee Grant, Gemma L. Williams, Harriet Axbey, Abigail Wilkins, Ellen Firth, Hazel Lim, Helen Cave, Christina Nicolaidis, Multiple Additional Authors

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Autism is a lifelong minority neurotype present from birth. There is a dearth of credible evidence to suggest gender variation in Autism prevalence, despite historical under-diagnosis of women. Autistic people Assigned Female At Birth (AFAB) have worse physical and mental health compared with non-Autistic peers. To date, the reproductive health experiences of Autistic AFAB people have been under-investigated.Methods and analysis This study aims to co-develop a quality improvement intervention to improve the reproductive health of Autistic people. The study uses Community Partnered Participatory Research (an approach similar to Community-Based Participatory Research), largely through a Community Council that co-governs the study. …

“It’S Not Just Finding Them A Job”, (Re) Imagining Meaningful Employment And Economic Inclusion Among Forced Migrants: Narratives From Service Providers, Hanna Haran, Yesenia Alvarez Padilla, Jaclyn Kirsch, Arati Maleku

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

Refugees and other forced migrants encounter numerous obstacles in securing employment that match their skills and qualifications. Building upon existing migration literature that explores integration into the United States labor market, this study investigates economic inclusion and the challenges and opportunities newcomers face in obtaining meaningful employment and utilizing their past education and work experience. We collected data through one-on-one interviews with service providers and community leaders (N = 11) engaged in refugee and forced migrant employment support, with over half (54.4%) identifying as migrants themselves. Data was analyzed using grounded theory techniques. The analysis yielded five overarching themes: (1) …

Universal Basic Income Policy And Its Potential Impact On Welfare Reform, Adriana S. Hines, Lindsay Gietzen

Pacific Journal of Health

This systematic review synthesizes the current Universal Basic Income (UBI) research. As income inequality continues to affect health outcomes, UBI has been proposed as a strategy to reduce gaps in healthcare access, food security, housing, and overall well-being. The review examines 12 peer-reviewed articles to understand how UBI can impact the direct and indirect factors contributing to the disparities that the current welfare system may not adequately address. The findings indicate that UBI can help alleviate poverty-related stress, potentially leading to better mental and physical health outcomes through improved nutrition, more stable housing, and greater life satisfaction. Additionally, UBI has …

Decentralized And Divided: Philadelphia’S Public Assistance System And Community-Based Initiatives, Gianna Casey, Shari Orisich

Honors Theses

Public assistance programs and community-based initiatives have aided Philadelphian’s residents in a cohesive effort to fill the gaps of community-needs. While both are inherently different in their methodologies and executions, their structures are built upon a collective foundation of legislative principles and policy-based ordinances in Philadelphia. These concepts, first began with poor laws and religious organizations in the 19th century, have turned into a complex system that has fallen tremendously short of sufficiently addressing the specialized needs of Philadelphian families. The surrounding laws for public assistance program administration (e.g. TANF and WIC), are founded within the objectives of these poor …

Meeting People Where They Are At: Master Of Social Work Portfolio, Zachary Palmer Alexander

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio documents my understanding and ability to apply the ten social work competencies through a combination of assignments completed over the course of this degree as well as through examples from the internship and practicum placements I engaged in to develop practical experience. The paper is organized into sections that capture the Five Elements of Integrated Practice and the social work competencies that correspond to each element. Within the discussion of each competency is an examination of the four Dimensions of Practice and how they were applied within each competency both in my assignments and my work. Accompanying examples …

Re-Imagining Technical Communication Concepts Through A Social Work Lens: A Case Study And Content Analysis Of The Department Of Aging And Rehabilitative Services, Jonas Kee

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This thesis highlights how traditional technical communication concepts such as social justice rhetoric, disability studies, and user experience (UX) are re-imagined through the lens of Department of Aging and Rehabilitation Services (DARS) professionals. In this thesis, I present information gathered from a content analysis focused on four documents used within the DARS office, a survey, and interviews administered to DARS Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselors. This thesis analyzes the documents, survey, and interview questions through the experiences of DARS professionals, clients, and external stakeholders. This thesis concludes with business and pedagogical implications regarding the field of UX and how to effectively …

Msw Portfolio, Melissa Sue Wells

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio showcases examples of the work I have completed throughout my master's program.

Portfolio Project Social Work 599, Christopher S. Plummer

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Abstract This portfolio reflects the culmination of my journey to earn a Master of Social Work (MSW) and demonstrates my mastery of the 10 core competencies outlined by the University of Montana School of Social Work. Through the lens of the five elements of advanced integrated practice, this work illustrates the transformation I underwent as I developed the skills, knowledge, and values essential to ethical and effective social work practice. Each section of this portfolio provides evidence of my growth in applying critical self-reflection, integrating historical and cultural contexts, bridging direct practice with community intervention, engaging in evidence-based practices, and …

Where I’M Meant To Be: Reflections From My Msw Experience, Brittany Nicole Mathena

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Msw Professional Portfolio, Jessica J. Christian

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Msw Portfolio, Nichole Nuehring

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

The Fundamentals Of Advocacy, Tiffany Borland

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

A portfolio on a compilation and a celebration of my work throughout my MSW program.

Crafting The Wings Of Tomorrow's Leaders, Anushka Sharma

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

SOAR is a social impact initiative I founded in partnership with Big Brothers/Big Sisters Lafayette. We provide novel leadership and character development resources for local Lafayette youth. The motto—engage, uplift, and achieve—speaks to my aims for inspiring the next generation of leaders, within Purdue members and local youth. This reflection essay is an opportunity to express the aims of SOAR, the intentionality behind this initiative, and how I hope to contribute to the development of youth in Lafayette and beyond. Mr. Brennan’s visit is a milestone for SOAR, and having the opportunity to converse with a renowned youth development leader …

Women, Collective Creative Practice, And Community Health, Anne Hensley

Honors Theses

A growing body of research shows that art therapy yields positive outcomes for those experiencing stress and mood disorders. Creative arts therapies have been shown to lower cortisol, improve personal and universal outlook, decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression, increase self-esteem and confidence, alleviate burnout, help individuals to cope with trauma, and support brain function through activity-dependent plasticity. However, little research has been done on collective and collaborative arts, and the enhanced benefits communal practice might bring. Additionally, art therapy is inaccessible to many, due to a dearth of practitioners and cultural and socioeconomic barriers to participation. Peri-, menopausal, and …

Local View: Boulder Tells Deeper Story, Susan Reay

Social Work Faculty Publications

When my son, a freshman at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, placed his hand on the glacial boulder outside Morrill Hall, he turned to me and said, “I guess it’s my turn to keep watch over the rock now.”

His words marked a poignant moment that connected our family history to Nebraska’s geological and cultural legacy and our enduring ties to the university.

This boulder, an artifact of Nebraska’s glacial past and human history, is more than a simple chunk of granite. Originally found on my family’s farm near Hartington, Nebraska, in 1869, it carries a story etched on its surface …

Nature Of Child Welfare Social Work, Sarah Vail Anders

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Social workers in the field of child welfare ensure the safety and well-being of children. While this career field is rewarding, it results in high levels of stress, burnout, and fatigue for workers. To support the challenging needs of child welfare social workers and to enable them to successfully protect children and support their families, an examination of the nature of child welfare social work was conducted. The purpose of this study was to understand the nature of child welfare social work in North Carolina, which was gained through a qualitative transcendental phenomenological study. Twenty-one child welfare social workers were …

Transdisciplinary Collaboration Of Healthcare Professionals And The Emotional Connectedness With Working With Patients Coping With Death And Dying, Princess Nguyen, Lindsay Gietzen

Pacific Journal of Health

Abstract

Purpose: This study explores how an integrated approach to care for patients and families by transdisciplinary healthcare teams provides opportunities for a patient-centered care approach to support quality of life throughout one's chronic illness and at the end-of-life. Discussions and conversations about impending death or dying are often challenging and a complex task for healthcare professionals in whatever settings. While there is an understanding of aspects of collaborative care and transitions and processes to support patients and families about how to cope and communicate about death and dying, it is essential to recognize how best to support end-of-life care …

Disparities In The Pregnancy Experience: A Multi-Case Analysis, Tiffany C. Thomas, Lindsay Gietzen

Pacific Journal of Health

Racial disparities in maternal healthcare continue to be a significant issue, with Black women experiencing worse outcomes compared to White women. Despite improvements in healthcare, Black women are still 2.5 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes, and they face higher rates of preterm births, low birth weight, and insufficient prenatal care. This paper examines the experiences of three African American women from high socioeconomic backgrounds, focusing on where these negative experiences are most common throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care. The study uses the Pregnancy and Maternity Care Patients' Experiences Questionnaire (PreMaPEQ) to explore different stages of care, …

Emotional Wellbeing Of Asylum-Seeking Children After Release From Immigration Detention, Luis H. Zayas, Alice P. Villatoro, Tatiana Londoño, Jaime Fuentes-Balderrama

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Families seeking asylum in the United States are often placed in detention centers after fleeing crime, violence, and government ineffectiveness in their countries. Migration brings more hardship, terror, and trauma. The cumulative psychological and social effects from detention need to be better understood. This exploratory study examines the effects of detention and family separation on immigrant children’s psychosocial wellbeing after released. We recruited 81 Central American children previously detained with their parents to assess their wellbeing since release. A third of the children had been separated from their parents during detention. Over a third of parents and less than a …

'T-W-O': External Challenges And Coping Strategies Of Chinese Social Work Service Organisations During The Epidemic, Bin Xu, Bowen Mcbeath, Haobo Xi

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

During the peak years of COVID-19, Chinese social work service organisations actively participated in the preventing and controlling of the pandemic. These organisations also faced external challenges that reflected changing public health policies, contractual and fiscal changes, and immense service needs. This paper describes the specific external challenges that a purposive sample of 11 Beijing-based social work service organisations experienced because of the pandemic, as well as the strategies they used to address them. We find that project and fiscal precarity were the greatest external risks faced by social service organisations. In order to mitigate these concerns, the organisations actively …

Food Insecurity, Psychological Distress, And Discrimination Of Older Black Women In Central Texas, Revonder Ellis-Vanarsdale

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Food insecurity is an ongoing public health concern in the United States. There is limited knowledge within social work practice about the experiences of food insecurity specifically among older Black women. Historically, older Black women have faced discrimination which can also negatively impact their psychological well-being and ability to obtain an adequate food supply. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore perceptions of how psychological distress and discrimination affect Black women ages 60 and older who are food insecure in Central Texas. This study used social ecological model and intersectionality theory to identify perceived factors that affect …

Breaking The Yoke: A Systematic Unmasking Of Challenges To Sustainable Rural Development In South Sudan, Gai Chol Paul

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

South Sudan, a young nation grappling with the legacy of protracted conflict, faces significant challenges in fostering sustainable rural development. While the immense potential of its vast agricultural lands remains largely untapped, the persistent triple threat of insecurity, deficient infrastructure, and the absence of robust government policy actively hinders progress. The ongoing armed conflict, characterized by inter-communal violence and sporadic attacks, casts a long shadow over rural areas in South Sudan. Thus, I developed this mixed-method multiple-case study, grounded in the sustainable livelihoods framework, to explore challenges that hinder sustainable rural development in South Sudan. I collected data through document …

Exploring The Correlation Between Sdoh And Diabetes Distress In Latinx Adults Ages 18-75, Vanessa Delgado, Erandy Camacho, Cassandra Tagorda-Varo

MSW Capstone Conference

No abstract provided.

Social Work Bias, Attitudes, And Knowledge: Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, Ivy Browder, John Hansbrough Iii

MSW Capstone Conference

No abstract provided.

Diabetes Burnout Among African American And Hispanic Women, Jackelyn Santos, Kalea Robinson, Estefania Vargas

MSW Capstone Conference

No abstract provided.