Social Work Commons^™

Book Review: The Shaming State: How The U.S. Treats Citizens In Need, Steve Matthewman

Critical Disaster Studies

Salman’s book centers two different constituencies, in two different locations, in the 2010s, who have been impacted by two different disasters. The first group are Iraqi refugees who have been resettled in Wayne County, Michigan. Trying to start again over half a world away, they are trapped in the transit lounge of life, never able to move on, never able to properly belong. They found a state in recession, the automobile industry collapsing, the city of Detroit bankrupt. Their particular county had higher unemployment than the state’s average and a poor median income as well. Economically speaking, ‘Michigan fared worse …

Unified In Christ, David Morris

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

Statement of the Question/Problem

The United Methodist Church is facing a season of incredible struggle. The modern American United Methodist Church is facing a crisis of Division during this season of disaffiliation and restructuring. Division within church is not a new phenomenon. In fact, it is not new in the Methodist tradition. This repeating cycle of denominational fracture begs the question, “why does division in the church happen, and how can we avoid it in the future?” Currently the United Methodist Church is dividing supposedly over the issue of human sexuality. I would argue these divisions do not solely rely …

Matthew's Professional Portfolio, Matthew James Feth

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

A comprehensive summary of my experiences thus far and my mastery of the core competencies of the social work profession.

Autonomy, Compassion, And Connection: Msw Portfolio, Lucy Elizabeth Chadwick

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Msw Portfolio, Mallory Phillips

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Parent Reported Adverse Experiences And Other Family Stressors On Child Development And Home Visitation Participation Among Immigrant Families, Fithi Andom

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines variations in early childhood developmental and socioemotional health as well as level of participation in home visitation among recent immigrant families according to reports of adverse experiences (including poverty, intimate partner violence (IPV), and prior history of child protective services (CPS) involvement), maternal depression, and parent–child relationship measures. The period of early childhood is dependent on positive parenting to support optimum development, but parenting may be particularly sensitive to the detrimental influences of adverse experiences. Less is known about how the relationship between parenting, adverse experiences, and child development may differ for immigrant families. Home visitation has …

"La Experiencia Universitaria"- Asset-Based Community Needs Assessment For Uconn Waterbury’S Hispanic Community, Ilene Garcia

Honors Scholar Theses

An asset-based community needs assessment for the Hispanic community of the University of Connecticut’s Waterbury campus was conducted. The community needs assessment uncovered assets that support students, as well as the need for additional resources to promote success in higher education. Information was gathered from the campus community regarding current documented practices such as informal or formal support to aid Hispanic students in their college experience relating to their wellbeing, academic success, and career development. A town hall meeting for the community of students on campus was conducted to impart the information gathered and gather further feedback from students. The …

Perspectives Of Stress And Coping Among Older, College-Educated African American Women, Jacquelyn Victoria Coats

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Older African American women have excess rates of stress-associated chronic diseases. Yet, there is limited research exploring the intersectional position of older African American women to identify within-group differences in stress experiences. Specifically, stress and coping among college-educated women in later life has been largely overlooked. As trends show increasing rates of African American women attaining higher education, research investigating stress and coping among this group of high socio-economic status women is a valuable contribution to aging and public health. This study employed constructivist grounded theory methods guided by the Intersectional Life Course Perspective and the Transactional Model of Stress …

Dual-System Youth And Emancipating From Foster Care: Examining The Relations Between Delinquency, Independent Living Services, And Criminal Justice Involvement, Dylan Monahan Jones

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Youth who touch both the child welfare system (CWS) and juvenile justice system (JJS), termed dual-system youth, represent a particularly high needs population at risk of poor outcomes into adulthood. Among CWS involved children, youth aging out of foster care are particularly high risk of dual-system status. To help these teenagers in foster care prepare for adulthood, states offer independent living services (ILS). Despite the high risk of JJS involvement of these youth, we know very little of the association between ILS receipt and dual-system involvement. This dissertation has two aims, the first focusing on ILS and delinquency onset during …

Pennsylvania School Social Workers’ Trauma-Informed Practices: Status And Future Needs, Jessica L. Schoonmaker

Social Work Doctoral Dissertations

The idea of trauma-informed practices is a broad concept that can be utilized to create a safe environment in which individuals, families, communities and organizations that have been exposed to trauma can be and feel supported. Trauma-informed practices are important due to the pervasive nature of trauma exposure (Kilpatrick et al., 2013). Traumatic experiences can impact individuals’ physical and mental health over the course of their lifespans (Avery, et al., 2021; Centers for Disease Control, 2021; Gonzalez et al., 2016; McWey, 2020; Mersky et al., 2019; Porche et al., 2016; SAMHSA, 2014a; Trauma Informed Care Implementation Resource Center, 2021; Zyromski …

Emotion Regulation Strategies And Perceived Emotional Intelligence: The Effect Of Age., Iwanna Sepiadou

Adultspan Journal

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. We also investigated the possible effects of age on the aforementioned variables. The total sample consisted of 379 people (158 men, 220 women, 1 unreported). Across participants, 273 were young (20-39 years old) and 106 were middle-aged (40-65 years old). We found statistically significant positive correlations between the dimensions of perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of cognitive reappraisal and negative primarily correlations between the dimensions of perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of …

A Qualitative Study Of In-School Support For Lgbtq+ Students, Sara N. Barry

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Research suggests that LGBTQ+ students experience higher rates of bullying and harassment due to their gender identity in school. Therefore, the need for schools to create a positive school climate and provide interventions for these students is imperative. This study aimed to understand the effectiveness of these interventions from the perspective of adjustment counselors. This study followed Moustakas's methods of transcendental phenomenology and used semi-structured interviews to collect data. The sample consisted of seven adjustment counselors interviewed on their usage and perceived effectiveness of in-school supportive interventions for LGBTQ+ students. Five themes surfaced: an open and accepting climate, policies, professional …

Paying Caregivers More Could Boost Nebraska’S Economy − New Research, Susan Reay, Ernest Goss

Social Work Faculty Publications

Paid caregivers foster independence and improve quality of life for people with all kinds of disabilities, many of whom need help getting dressed, preparing meals, showering and dealing with other activities of daily living.

An Exploration Of Forgiveness In Social Work Practice, Allison Carter

Honors Program Theses and Projects

This thesis explores the practice of forgiveness and forgiveness therapy and its implications for social work practice and education. An extensive literature review discusses the history, present uses, and benefits of forgiveness therapy, exploring real-world examples of forgiveness in practice, specifically macro examples relating to generational trauma including the national apology in Australia, and the truth and reconciliation commission in South Africa. The review will also touch upon trauma informed practice and the gaps related to the concept of diversity in professional and scholarly literature. This work utilizes grounded theory, using the extensive literature review to build upon the applications …

Lifecourse Patterns Of Productive Engagement Among Rural And Urban Older Adults, Peter C. Sun

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Many older adults are engaged in productive activities that have important ramifications for health in later life. However, little is known about rural-urban patterns of productive engagement across the lifecourse. This dissertation used six waves (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018) of the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study to identify patterns of working, volunteering, and caregiving activities over a ten-year period using multichannel sequence analysis and cluster analysis. The antecedents of the patterns were studied using multinomial logistic regression, and the associations of the patterns with longstanding rural-urban disparities in cognitive functioning and self-rated health were studied using multiple …

School Social Workers Conducting Home Visits: Practice And Perceptions, Sadie K. Kinnarney

Social Work Doctoral Dissertations

School districts are serving populations of students being faced with more multiplex sets of individual, school, family, and community level risk factors (Berzin & O’Connor, 2010; Boske & Benavente-McEnery, 2010; Frey et al., 2012; Kelly et al., 2010). Many children are unable to respond effectively to the school setting due to the stress in their family’s lives and the stressors in their home environment (Openshaw, 2008). There is knowledge that social and environmental constraints can negatively affect a child’s role in an educational setting and a student’s capability to learn tends to be challenged if their emotional and physical needs …

The Role Of Social Support In The Mitigation Of Social Worker Burnout During The Aftermath Of Hurricane Maria, Miguel Angel Soto

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social workers are among the first responders to be activated during a natural disaster, and they remain aiding victims through the final stages of the recovery process. During the aftermath of natural disasters, social workers are required to work under extreme pressure and are at an increased risk of developing mental health issues that can affect their ability to provide adequate services. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of social workers who responded to Hurricane Maria regarding the role of social support and its relation to burnout. A purposive selection methodology was applied to …

Perceptions Of Students In A Public Child Welfare Certification Program Following A Mock Testimony Intervention, Monica Hines

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Those in the fields of child welfare and social work often face hard work with few rewards. Child welfare workers are faced with the difficult and demanding challenge of working diligently to ensure the safety and well-being of children. This study aimed to examine the perceptions of child welfare participants enrolled in a child welfare program following a mock testimony intervention through a one-group pretest-posttest design.

The participants in this study were full-time undergraduate (n= 5) and post-graduate (n = 2) students with ages ranging from 19 to 25 years old. All participants attended a mid-sized university located in the …

Coping With Stress In Caregiving Among Korean Immigrant Parents Of A Child With Adhd, Jinhee Koo

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Parents of children with ADHD were found to struggle with additional demands in caregiving. Immigrant populations reported acculturative stress as they encountered immigration stressors, including language barriers, cultural differences, lack of social support, discrimination, and so forth. Belonging to both social groups, Korean immigrant parents of children with ADHD are likely to face numerous stressors and undergo a great deal of stress. Nevertheless, little has been known about how they experience stress and coping. It is important to identify their experiences because the knowledge can be used to support their well-being and quality of life. To fill this gap, this …

“I Felt From That Place”: A Qualitative Case Study Of Emerging Practices To Build Youth Peer Supports In Residential Care, Catherine S. Kramer

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background and Purpose: Effectively responding to children and youth who experienced trauma and enter the foster care system is an ongoing challenge in child welfare. In response to the poor outcomes for children and youth in foster care, and the growing understanding of the effects of complex trauma, the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) was enacted in 2018 by Congress to overhaul the child welfare system. Among many required changes, states were required to establish guidance and processes for residential agencies to become qualified residential treatment programs (QRTPs) consistent with federal guidelines, which prioritized becoming trauma informed.

The Complexities Of Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Study Of Health, Behavioral Health, And Quality Of Life Among Women With And Without Disabilities, Anne-Marie Gomes

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background and Purpose: The negative effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on behavioral and physical health and well-being long after exposure are a global and national concern. For over two decades, ACEs have been associated with numerous medical conditions, health risk behaviors, and poor mental and physical health outcomes. However, few studies have examined the effects of ACEs on the health outcomes of persons with disabilities (PWDs). The main objective of this study was to examine the impact of ACEs on women with and without disabilities, their health and well-being.

Understanding Attitudes Among Professionals Who Interact With Youth Who Exhibit Problematic Sexual Behavior, Erin Gardner

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Problematic sexual behaviors (PSB) among youth have been a prominent public health and social concern. Although these behaviors have previously been considered to comprise a “curiosity” or an “experimentation”, PSB is now recognized as causing harm and suffering for victims and family members while also having a considerable economic influence in medical, behavioral health, social services, and criminal justice systems. Much research has examined how perceptions and attitudes impact our behaviors towards PSB among adults, but none examines how perceptions and attitudes impact our behaviors towards youth. Knowing there are several gaps in literature, the current study was conducted to …

Substance Use & Systems Impact: A Mixed-Methods Community-Based Participatory Action Study, Jordan Dyett

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Individuals, families, and communities who use drugs or have a history of substance use have been highly criminalized, stigmatized, and their perspectives marginalized in research and policy. Furthermore, trajectories of research on this community tend to focus on pathologizing individuals and focus on prevention or abstinence-based outcomes, failing to embrace a broader critique of societal forces that marginalize communities and contribute to substance use. Despite the increase in deaths due to drug toxicity, policy and practice at large have failed to embrace the expertise of those with lived experience using substances, and instead continued to rely on carceral logics to …

Reflection And Connection: Trauma-Informed Yoga And Its Aid In Trauma Healing In Female Identifying College Students, Gabrielle V. Sandoval

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic experiences affect female identifying folks at an unequal rate compared to other populations. Trauma-informed yoga (TIY) has become a popular intervention for treatment of symptoms related to trauma. By utilizing tenets such as meditation, intentional movement, and trauma-informed language and positioning, this practice focuses on the mind-body-connection to establish feelings of safety. Although trauma education and interventions are becoming commonly implemented on college campuses, there is a gap in implementation and empirical studies evaluating such campus programs. To explore how TIY could aid this population, a four-week yoga intervention was created. Four participants engaged in a weekly TIY class …

Understanding The Perspectives And Attitudes Of 12-Step Participants Towards Medication-Assisted Treatment, Christopher Scott

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: The effects of living with a substance use disorder (SUD) are vast. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) has grown increasingly popular as a recovery tool among substance users but does not align with the popular 12-step model, which demands complete abstinence from narcotics and mind-altering substances. Objective: The primary aim of this phenomenology study was to explore the perspectives and attitudes towards MAT among 12-step participants. The secondary aim was to compare the responses of treatment and non-treatment professionals. Methods: This study used non-probability sampling methods to recruit participants who reported regular participation in a 12-step program. Semi-structured …

Allowing Latinx Students’ Voices To Be Heard, Sofie Jamieson

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

There are too many Latinx students falling behind academically, and coming to First Tee helped improve their academic performance. The First Tee of Monterey is a local non-profit organization that was established in 1997 and is based in Salinas, California primarily serving students who come from low-income backgrounds. The agency strives to support Latinx students who are fourth, fifth, and sixth grade who have a language barrier, not enough tutoring support, and not enough parent and teacher involvement. This increases the likelihood of dropout rates, mental health issues, and unemployment. Implementing an evaluation that the students can take part in …

Sexual Exploitation: The Crisis And Eradicative Solution, Tonnie Adams Bracey

Nonprofit and NGO Studies Student Projects

French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr wrote, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” I find this to be true in our current era of the digital age. Although technology has gifted a newly improved and vast method of making worldwide connections and broadening our perceptions and views, a change in how we communicate has conveniently presented itself, but the historic pattern of how we handle these new advancements have indeed stayed the same.
Smart phones are a mainstream vessel employing the world with a plethora of information while giving all sorts of people access to individual’s lives …

Primary Care Employees' Knowledge And Self Efficacy About Human Trafficking, Mollie Zehmer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Human trafficking is a worldwide issue that is detrimental to individuals, families, and communities. However, it is a hidden issue, and without proper training, it goes unnoticed. Many primary care employees do not know much about trafficking or how to identify trafficked persons, but with proper training they could potentially help clients that are trafficked persons. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine if human trafficking training would increase primary care employees’ knowledge and self-efficacy about human trafficking. The training included topics such as general knowledge, risk factors, identifiers, and the role of healthcare employees. Participants in the …

Reaping What We Sow: The Implications And Outcomes Of Mississippi House Bill 1125, The “Regulate Experimental Adolescent Procedures (Reap)” Act, Kerigan Brewer

Honors Theses

Mississippi House Bill 1125 (MS HB1125), also known as the “Regulate Experimental Adolescent Procedures (REAP) Act,” was signed into law by Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves in early 2023 (REAP Act, 2023). It is one of multiple policies passed into law that limit the rights of transgender people. This thesis aims to clarify the history of the trans community, dispel myths around gender-affirming health care and the trans identity, and discuss the current state of anti-trans laws and transgender rights. Using a policy analysis framework by DiNitto (2011), MS HB1125 is analyzed on points like its social and economic costs, the …

Lived Experiences, Migration Journey, Religiosity, And Spirituality Depicted In Drawings By Latino Children And Youth Crossing The U.S. Mexican Border: A Qualitative Study., Doroty Magalhaes Sato

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Widespread violence forces thousands of Central American children to endure a hazardous journey toward the U.S. Border seeking refuge. In the Latino community, faith serves as a social movement of resistance against oppression, playing a vital role in migration. There is a paucity of research documenting this experience and children's overall journey. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the lived experience of crossing international borders, religiosity, and spirituality depicted in Latino children's drawings used as coping methods to endure the journey toward the U.S. southern border. This investigation employed Art-based approaches to give voices to children's experiences by analyzing 63 …