Social Work Commons^™

Passing Ashley’S Law – Protecting Persons With Disabilities From Violent Crimes, Paula Vigil, Jeff Spears

Transforming Communities

This commentary is the personal story of Paula Vigil and common macro practice strategies implemented to pass Ashley’s Law. Ashley was the daughter of Paula and suffered from Rett Syndrome. Rett syndrome is a rare genetic neurological disorder that leads to severe impairments, affecting nearly every aspect of life. Rett particularly affects speech, purposeful hand use, and coordination, leaving individuals understanding more than they can communicate. In 2021, Ashley was raped by her mother’s boyfriend and passed away in the Spring of 2024 due to the trauma and complications of Rett Syndrome. The boyfriend received a sentence of 13 years …

It’S Complicated: The Level Of Risk Assigned To A Missing Person, Time They Were Missing For, And The Tasks Performed By Police Investigators., Karen Shalev, Craig Collie

International Journal of Missing Persons

This study examines the number of tasks police investigators perform by the level of risk assigned to cases and the length of time the investigations take to resolve. It analyses 40,091 solved cases from 2019 using data from eight English police forces, as part of a wider research project of missing person investigations demand on police resources. The findings show that (1) low and high risk with a search area cases have a relationship to the duration of the investigation; (2) there is a relationship between the risk classification and the number of tasks assigned to the case; (3) the …

Supporting & Protecting Repeat Missing Children From Different Residential Environments: A Scoping Review, Kirsty Bennett Dr, Petra Salisbury, Rebecca O'Keefe, Sharon Vincent, Bethany Mccarthy

International Journal of Missing Persons

Repeat missing children pose a significant financial burden onto services, including the police, social services, and health providers. Recognising that 37 to 65 percent of missing child reports each year are repeats, efforts have been made by academics and practitioners to understand this societal problem. Research has identified the risks causing children to go missing and the harms that they experience, but these focus primarily on children missing from residential care only. This PRISMA (2020) scoping review of 76 studies explores strategies implemented to prevent repeat missing episodes, and the role/influence of the home environment (e.g., with parents/guardians, and foster …

Hypertension In Black Adult Women: Interdisciplinary Perspectives, Leacha Clark, Lindsay Gietzen

Pacific Journal of Health

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, each year, more African American women die from heart disease than breast cancer, lung cancer, and strokes. According to research, hypertension extends from lack of exercise, smoking, poor diet, and obesity. Moreover, many other contributing factors elevate blood pressure, such as stress, anxiety, trauma, environmental surroundings, and genetics. Stress influences blood pressure, which onsets through maladaptive coping, such as smoking, high alcohol consumption, poor diet, and poor lifestyle choices. How does stress affect Black women experiencing multidimensional stress, racial discrimination, and social disadvantage from daily irritants, which may continue to be …

Use Of The Dla-20 For Multidisciplinary Assessment And Treatment Of Asd, Elizabeth Kipana Walton Brummett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study involved exploring multidisciplinary professionals’ perceptions of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) treatment using a focus group. Using the ecological systems theory (EST), this study involved exploring the Daily Living Activities (DLA-20) assessment as an assessment and treatment planning tool for ASD. Clients are considered by those involved in ASD treatment to be high or low-functioning based on IQ variance or other areas of functioning. Research on using the DLA-20 for assessment and treatment planning could build knowledge for communicating ASD treatment needs based on specific areas of functioning. The two focus groups in this research project included mental health …

Collaboration Of Social Workers And Other Support Professionals Working With Individuals Diagnosed With Autism, Brooke Ashley Humphrey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Autism is occurring at an increasing incidence in the United States, and it does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status; therefore, the need for collaborative care across multiple support systems is increasing as well. There are few studies that described collaborative approaches across systems for individuals diagnosed with autism. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to better understand how social workers and other support professionals use interprofessional collaboration when working with individuals diagnosed with autism. The concepts that grounded this study included Sundet et al.’s collaborative, dialogue-based clinical practice (CDCP) model. Data were collected through …

Social Workers' Challenges And Successes In Working With Black Men During Times Of Social Upheaval., Eric Dewayne Franklin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

U.S. social workers experienced challenges and successes when working with Black male clients in mental and medical health and addiction therapy or treatment settings before and during the simultaneous events of the COVID-19 pandemic, political elections, and racial violence/social injustice movements of the late 2010s–early 2020s. This project addressed the lack of knowledge regarding evidence-based practices to address the challenges and positive therapeutic experiences of social workers, specifically those working in clinical practice with Black American male clients. The theoretical framework for this study was Bell's critical race theory. The generic qualitative research design was used to address three research …

Suicide Bereavement And Community Resource Use From A Clinician’S Perspective, Kristina Rose Culpepper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social workers, clinicians, and mental health professionals commonly work to positively influence their client’s lives. Social workers specifically abide by the principle of pursuing social change for vulnerable populations. As suicide remains one of the top mental health concerns worldwide, the suicide-loss population continues to grow. Suicide loss is a social problem that affects all cultures and impacts individuals and communities. The suicide-loss population is vulnerable with seemingly limited research-based interventions and resources. The research addressed how clinicians describe the availability and benefit of community resources at each system level. This study was guided by systems theory, which allows clinicians …

Burnout And Employee Satisfaction Of Mental Health Clinicians In Corrections, Jeremy C. Capuyon, Lindsay Gietzen

Pacific Journal of Health

Approximately 1.9 million individuals are currently incarcerated within the United States. Rehabilitation and preparation for parole back into the community is common goal amongst correctional facilities. Mental health clinicians (social workers and psychologists) within the correctional facilities are providers who assist in the rehabilitation of inmates. Unfortunately, mental health clinicians in correctional facilities experience high rates of burnout and low levels of job satisfaction, resulting in an increase in turnover rates. This research project looks to investigate the impact burnout and employee satisfaction has on mental health clinicians who work in correctional settings. Furthermore, this research project compares burnout and …

Co-Creating Experiences Through The Use Of Arts In Social Work Education, Keiron Hatton, Tracey Maegusuku-Hewett, Jo Redcliffe

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

The inclusion of citizens in social work education was initiated over 30 years ago and continues to travel a ‘long and winding road’. Social work education in the UK faces increasing pressure from a range of stakeholders including citizens who use services, regulatory bodies and the media to demonstrate that newly qualified social workers are competent and uphold public trust. While social work education and practice within England and Wales draw on similar traditions in theory and practice, there are important differences in the national and institutional frameworks within which they operate. This article illustrates some of these differences through …

A Veteran Mental Health Approach Sustaining Identity Post-Military Life: A Comprehensive Overview, Darren Sosa, Lindsay Gietzen

Pacific Journal of Health

Veterans and their mental health face readjustment challenges based on veteran identity, intersectionality, and experiences from their time serving in the military. This comprehensive overview and PRISMA analysis investigate the current evidence-based practices of veterans' identity and intersectionality. Specifically, psychoeducation and evidence-based practices for veterans readjusting back into their communities. A gap identified in this research’s findings calls for suggestions for future research on the veteran population and intersectionality. No specific psychoeducation or evidence-based practices tailored for identity readjustment or veteran intersectionality were found. This research constructs a tailored framework of suggestions for current and future evidence-based practices for the …

Silent Suffering: The Plight Of Foreign Doctors In The Workplace, Minzhi Ye, Mamta K. Singh

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

The narrator describes situations where she faced discrimination from health care professionals including her colleagues and patients. This left her feeling frustrated and unsafe in the healthcare environment.

Enhancing Public Library Staff's Responses To Socially Vulnerable Patrons Experiencing A Psychological Crisis, Brianne Hanson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social workers and other specialized staff employed at U.S. public libraries work daily to de-escalate and provide crisis response to socially vulnerable patrons. However, there was a gap in cohesive and generalizable information regarding how specialized program staff respond to patrons’ psychological crises. The aim of this qualitative force field analysis study was to identify and document a model procedure for library staff to implement during a customer crisis. A secondary aim was to inform the actions and de-escalation approaches taken by staff members during these incidents. Study participants included 12 specialized staff members currently working in public library programming …

Ceo/Cfo Of Rural Area Nonprofits’ Experiences With Obtaining Grant Funding, Kimberly Michelle Bounds

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For many NPOs, obtaining funding can be a challenge. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore CEO/CFO rural area nonprofits’ experiences with obtaining grant funding for their programs. The conceptual framework that guided this study was the critical rural theory. Participants were obtained using purposeful sampling and snowball sampling via flyers placed on social media outlets. Data were collected from open-ended, semi-structured interviews with nine CEO/CFOs of rural area nonprofits. The data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six phases for thematic analysis. Seven themes were developed from the data analysis and placed in separate sections. The …

Interventions Human Service Professionals Provide To Prevent Human Trafficking, Danielle James

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human trafficking is a global crisis that impacts individuals across all cultures and communities. The purpose of this single intrinsic case study was to explore the interventions that human service professional directors use to prevent human trafficking in Missouri. Trauma-informed approach was used as the conceptual framework. Participants included seven human service managers and program directors who have successfully implemented interventions to prevent human trafficking. Data were collected from one-on-one, semi-structured interviews with six participants. The data were analyzed using Yin’s five components of data analysis. Seven key themes emerged: the need for multiagency human service collaboration to prevent human …

Identifying The Benefits Of Black Owned Barbershops In The African American Community, Tanya Elizabeth Greene

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate why African American men are less likely to seek mental health support in conventional settings. Black-owned barbershops are a substantial presence in the Black community as they offer a dual purpose. Barbershops not only create a sense of male confidence internally and externally but offer an unorthodox way of healing. Insight into the perceptions, attitudes, and insights were gathered to acquire helpful information to contribute to more positive outcomes for African American men in mental health. Semi-structured interviews provided data to find common themes among 10 African American male participants to …

The National Fund For Children In Kazakhstan, Aytakin Huseynli, Li Zou, Michael Sherraden, Jin Huang

Center for Social Development Research

The government of Kazakhstan officially launched the National Fund for Children, a Child Development Account (CDA) policy, in January 2024. The policy represents a long-term commitment to investing in Kazakhstan’s future generations and to building a new post–fossil fuel economy. This brief documents what has occurred.

Planting The Seed: Using Research As A Tool To Revitalize Puberty Ceremonies In Anishinaabe Communities, Miigis B. Gonzalez, Alexandra Ziibiins Johnson, Lisa Awan Martin, Jillian Naawakwe, Jillian Fish, Lalaine Sevillano, Melissa L. Walls, Lee Obizaan Staples

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to honor the wisdoms of Anishinaabe Elders, community and culture by interweaving these teachings with my own (first author) Anishinaabe experiences and a research project. Ceremonies are an important health practice for Anishinaabe people. This project aimed to gain a clearer conceptualization of the protective role of Anishinaabe puberty ceremonies on health in adolescence and across the lifespan. Design/methodology/approach Spiritual offerings guided this project at every stage including inviting Elders and community members into shared spaces of storytelling and teaching elicitation and grounding me as I carefully adopted the use of a western …

Understanding The Dynamics Of Board-Executive Director Relationships In Nonprofits: A Qualitative Study Of Youth-Serving Nonprofits In Utah, Jaxon Didericksen, Jayme E. Walters, Dorothy Wallis

Social Work Faculty Publications

A functional positive relationship between the executive director (ED) and the board of directors (BOD) is crucial to nonprofits meeting their missions. The present qualitative study sought to identify factors—including traits, behaviors, processes, and experiences—associated with positive relationships between BODs and EDs in youth-serving nonprofits in Utah. Surveys were utilized to identify pairs (N = 6) of board chairs and EDs who had high relationship satisfaction. Individual semi-structured interviews were employed with each participant. Transcripts were analyzed using two-cycle coding, descriptive and pattern coding in which three themes emerged: (1) Background; (2) Roles; and (3) Leadership. The findings illustrated …

Review Of “Social Entrepreneurship In India: Quarter Idealism And A Pound Of Pragmatism” By Madhukar Shukla (2020), Meena Raghunathan

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

The article is a review of ‘Social Entrepreneurship in India: Quarter Idealism and a Pound of Pragmatism’ by Madhukar Shukla. It summarizes and offers clarification and elaboration of key concepts covered in the book. These include the definition of social entrepreneurship, the taxonomy of social entrepreneurs, what characterizes them, various forms that such organizations may take, and whether social entrepreneurs are fundamentally different from other entrepreneurs or similar in many ways.

The review points out the value of the book for those in social development, argues that the book is for India as well as of universal interest, and …

Therapeutic Modalities: A Visual Resource For Clinicians And Students, Karen Magruder

Mavs Open Press Open Educational Resources - Archive

This guide serves as a tool for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of therapeutic approaches, whether you're preparing for licensing exams or refreshing your professional practice. Each section has been thoughtfully curated by Master of Social Work (MSW) students at the University of Texas at Arlington, who have distilled complex concepts into clear, accessible content geared for the visual learner. This resource provides a practical and engaging way to review various therapeutic modalities essential for effective clinical practice.

Navigating Involuntary Care Home Closures: Professional Perspectives And Thematic Analysis Of Failures In Norfolk, Farah-Leila Mughal, Vikki Bunting, Jessica Ruth Austin

Journal of Social Care

The Care Quality Commission is responsible for regulating care homes across England to make sure that residents are respected and provided for. But what happens when they find a home who are not doing this? Little is known about commonalities in the main failings that preclude a care home’s closure after CQC intervention and little is known concerning the effects of closing down a home on healthcare professionals. To understand the common themes precluding care home closure and whether debriefing can aid healthcare professionals in dealing with the emotional challenges of care home closure. This study used thematic analysis to …

A Workforce Development Team’S Reflections On Social Work Retention And Turnover In South-East London, Uk, Mark Taylor, Shalini Abrol, Sharon Frieslaar, Corlea Taylor

Journal of Social Care

Statutory children’s services in England experience a high turnover of social work staff. Workforce development teams from these services are seen as part of the solution to reduce the haemorrhaging of social workers. However, how do those working in these teams imagine the world of staff turnover? This paper presents the perspectives of three experienced social workers from a workforce development team in South-East London on staff churn and retention. Informed by a collective experience of over 80 years in social work practice, management and mentoring roles, Sharon, Shalini and Corlea reflect and speculate on two contrasting experiences of social …

The Role Of Library Social Workers, Christina Veatch

Social Work Student Projects

This infographic goes over the key ways in which the new field of library social workers benefit the community through working at the library. Library social workers work with patrons, library staff, and community members.

Pengaruh Work Life Balance Dan Burnout Terhadap Tingkat Kepuasan Kerja Karyawan Organisasi Pelayanan Kemanusiaan: Studi Pada Karyawan Organisasi Pelayanan Kemanusiaan X, Diva Arum Pratami Martias

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

Nothing is more important in the work lives of employees of human service organizations than job satisfaction. Job satisfaction is fundamental to employee welfare, organizational sustainability, and welfare services. The study aims to provide an overview of the influence of work life balance and burnout on the level of job satisfaction of employees of humanitarian service organizations. The study results using the Somers’D test partially proved the hypothesis that there is a positive and significant influence of work life balance on job satisfaction of 0.571 and a p-value of 0.000, stating that employees with high work life balance tend to …

Air Untuk Semua: Tantangan Kebijakan Sosial Pada Distribusi Air Di Komunitas Lokal, Rahmalia Rifandini

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

Water is a non-economic good that undoubtedly plays an important role in improving people's well-being. Global data shows that the agricultural sector is the most water- consuming base of life, especially for local communities that rely on agriculture. Increasing food production in the future along with population growth will potentially demand sustainable water resource management. Water regulation plays an important role in determining the allocation, distribution and use of water resources. Lack of availability and access to water creates mutual vulnerability among environmental and social ecosystems. The legitimacy crisis of water governance is a major issue faced by lower-level bureaucracies …

Patricia A. Tomson Center For Violence Prevention Fall 2024 Newsletter, University Of Northern Iowa. Patricia A. Tomson Center For Violence Prevention.

Patricia A. Tomson Center for Violence Prevention Newsletter

Contents:

--- Fall 2024 MVP Train the Trainers
--- Dan Marburger MVP Advocate Award Recipients
--- Welcome New MVP Master Trainers
--- Facilitation Skills Development Videos
--- MVP Student Leadership Summit
--- MVP College Playbook Review Committee
--- Tomson Scholars
--- Oeltjen Scholar
--- Buntrock Foundation Funding
--- Iowa High School Athletic Association's Conference Connections
--- Domestic Violence Awareness Month
--- Iowa Association for Student Councils Conference
--- Iowa School Counselors Assocation Annual Conference
--- AC4C Conference
--- 17th Annual Dissemination and Implementation Conference

Child Maltreatment And Behavioral Health Outcomes In Child Welfare: Exploring The Roles Of Severity And Polyvictimization, Lauren Malthaner, Jill Mcleigh, Gregory Knell, Katelyn Jetelina, Folefac Atem, Sarah Messiah

Behavioral Health/Developmental Delay

Child maltreatment and polyvictimization are known risk factors for long-term detrimental health and development outcomes, including behavioral health challenges. However, effects from specific types and combinations of maltreatments are unclear. This study examined the association between maltreatment or polyvictimization and behavioral health in a child welfare sample.

For questions about this study or others, please email [email protected]

childrens.com/fostercare

Negara Hukum Kesejahteraan Di Batas Pantai: Paradoks Perlindungan Negara Terhadap Masyarakat Pesisir Di Tengah Perubahan Iklim, Aji Baskoro

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

Climate change poses significant challenges to vulnerable coastal communities in Indonesia. As a welfare state, the Indonesian government is expected to safeguard these vulnerable groups through policies that promote their welfare and sustainable livelihoods. However, current policies create a paradox. This article explores this paradox: on the one hand, Indonesia adheres to the welfare state principle, which demands that all government actions be grounded in law, ensuring public safety and welfare. On the other hand, the policies focus on exploiting natural resources, exacerbating the vulnerabilities of coastal communities, particularly in the face of climate change. The article employs a normative …

Late Life Cognitive Function Trajectory Among The Chinese Oldest-Old Population-A Machine Learning Approach, Jierong Hu, Minzhi Ye, Juan Xi

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Informed by the biopsychosocial framework, our study uses the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) dataset to examine cognitive function trajectories among the oldest-old (80+). Employing K-means clustering, we identified two latent groups: High Stability (HS) and Low Stability (LS). The HS group maintained satisfactory cognitive function, while the LS group exhibited consistently low function. Lasso regression revealed predictive factors, including socioeconomic status, biological conditions, mental health, lifestyle, psychological, and behavioral factors. This data-driven approach sheds light on cognitive aging patterns and informs policies for healthy aging. Our study pioneers non-parametric machine learning methods in this context.