Social Work Commons^™

Messages And Misogyny: A Creative Intervention Portraying The Embodied Experiences Of Internalized Misogyny, Margaret Janse Van Rensburg

Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Friends In Our Lives: Perspectives Of Young People Who Participated In A Professional Mentoring Program, Kristian Jones, Karryn Satchell, Lakindra Mitchell Dove, Julissa Muñiz, Erik Hulman, J Mark Eddy, Kevin Haggerty, Deborah Cohen, Martie Skinner, Koren Hanson

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Mentoring programs are popular interventions to support holistic development for young people. One specific model of mentoring that has emerged over the past few decades in the United States is professional mentoring. Research has illustrated that this model of mentoring may be particularly helpful for young people who could benefit from extra support in their lives that a volunteer mentoring program does not have the capacity to provide. Despite the emerging utilization of professional mentoring programs, little is known about the ideal characteristics of a professional mentor and young people's experiences in these professional mentoring programs. This study interviewed 12 …

Navigating The Transition: A Study Of Faculty Experiences With Institutional And Collegial Support, Lorri S. Mcmeel, Felicia Murray

Social Work Department Faculty Conferences

Faculty in higher education, especially in applied disciplines like social work, are expected to excel in teaching, research, service, and collegiality. Despite these demands, formal preparation for new faculty is often limited. This qualitative study explored the experiences of 36 full-time faculty members in social work and related disciplines regarding their preparedness for academic roles. Using an exploratory approach and thematic analysis, four themes emerged: (1) Mentorship and Professional Support, (2) Institutional Training and Resources, (3) Self-Directed Learning and Adaptation, and (4) Challenges and Barriers to Preparation. Findings revealed inconsistent onboarding, limited mentorship, and a reliance on self-navigation, with disparities …

Sedentary Behaviors And Functional Disability Among Chinese Older Adults (2008–2018): Evidence Including Mahjong, Yen-Han Lee, Yen-Chang Chang, Minzhi Ye, Cai Xu

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Purpose: This study examined how different types of sedentary behavior relate to changes in functional disability, measured by activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), among Chinese older adults.

Major findings: Using data from 17,939 participants in four waves (2008–2018) of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), sedentary behavior was categorized into four types: none, playing mahjong only, combining these with other sedentary activities, and other activities alone (e.g., reading and watching TV). Cox two-state regression models estimated the hazard of transitioning in ADL and IADL disability. Engaging in sedentary behaviors was generally …

Over 30 Million And Growing: Child Development Accounts Around The World, Li Zou, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

This report discusses the global reach and origins of Child Development Account policies, documenting impacts on approximately 32 million children worldwide. The policies range from Singapore’s comprehensive asset-building framework to Kazakhstan’s pioneering National Fund for Children. The seven policies highlighted here represent growing efforts to provide structured and lifelong asset-building across the full population, beginning as early as birth.

This report was updated in January 2026 to correct typographical errors in the monetary figures reported for South Korea.

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Positive Childhood Experiences, And Digital Media Use Among Children And Adolescents In The United States, Elizabeth L. Crouch, Emma Boswell, Monique J. Brown Ph.D., Kevin J. Bennett

Publications

No abstract provided.

Identifying Motivators For Retention Of Service Workers In Youth Group Care Programs, Michelle Lynn Briegel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Residential group care programs in Calgary, Alberta, Canada face challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified human service workers. This workforce retention issue affects the quality of care provided to vulnerable children and youth, as well as the overall stability of residential group care. The purpose of this qualitative action research study was to explore why service workers in front-line jobs choose to stay in their positions in youth-serving residential group care programs, guided by Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation. Nine participants were recruited through purposeful sampling via social media and email, with the criterion that they had been employed at …

“It’S Like Having That Supervisor In The Room”: Examining Ai As A Reflective Partner, Elizabeth Matthews, Dania Lerman, Nellie Beach, Dana Wiczyk, Lauri Goldkind

Social Service Faculty Publications

Objective: Reflective practice is vital to high-quality therapeutic work, enabling clinicians to critically examine their professional practices. Increasing opportunities to engage in reflective processes stands to increase clinician wellbeing and thereby improve quality of care. Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI), specifically large language models, provide new ways for clinicians to gain insight into their work. This study explores a unique unintended consequence of GAI clinical notetaking platforms, the support of reflective practice among mental health clinicians.

Method: Semi structured interviews were conducted with clinicians (n = 17) to learn about their experience using GAI clinical note-taking platforms. Interviews were recorded …

System Barriers To Brokering School-Based Versus Community-Based Therapeutic Services From The Perceptions Of School Social Workers In Georgia, Jessica Ochei-Gilliam

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Barriers to brokering therapeutic services cause challenges for school social workers to address their students’ mental health needs, especially in Georgia, where students’ mental health needs are high. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore school social workers’ perceptions of the system barriers related to brokering these services. The research questions explored school social workers’ perceptions of brokering on-site versus community-based therapeutic services in the state of Georgia. In addition, this study inquired about the system barriers that school social workers face when brokering these services. This study was grounded in the ecological systems theory, which argues that …

The Case For Automatic Enrollment In Trump Accounts: Lessons From Maine’S Cda, Margaret Clancy, Jin Huang, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

In 2014, Maine's statewide Child Development Policy, the My Alfond Grant, transitioned from an opt-in enrollment structure to an automatic one. Written as federal policymakers weigh enrollment options for the new Trump Accounts, this brief highlights lessons from Maine's transition and findings from the the SEED for Oklahoma Kids experiment, offering recommendations for implementing the new federal policy.

Gender Diversity, Substance Cognitions, And Alcohol, Nicotine/Tobacco, And Cannabis Use Among Youth, Luisa Kcomt, Philip T. Veliz, John Jardine, Rebecca J. Evans-Polce, Jennifer Clift, Sean Esteban Mccabe, Cynthia Arslanian-Engoren

Social Work Faculty Publications

Purpose: We aimed to classify youth using a longitudinal, multidimensional construct of gender, and examine associations of gender subgroups with substance cognitions and substance use.

Methods: We used data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (N=11,868 youth ages 9-10 years at baseline [2016-2018] through the year 4 follow-up [ages 13-14 years, 2020-2022]) to conduct latent class models using measures of gender identity, felt gender, gender expression, and gender non-contentedness. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess associations of gender classes with curiosity to use, intention to use, and use of alcohol, nicotine/tobacco, and cannabis, respectively, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. …

Nevada's Healthcare And Education Workforce Pipelines, David Damore, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Policy Briefs and Reports

With ongoing workforce shortages in K-12 education, healthcare, and mental and behavioral health—occupations central to the HEAL (health, education, administration, and literacy) economy—this brief utilizes the Nevada P-20 to Workforce Research Data System (NPWR) and data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to explore the current and projected landscape for these workforces in Nevada. Examining the demographic characteristics of those participating in focused career and technical education training and those earning relevant postsecondary credentials illuminates gender disparities in Nevada’s healthcare and education workforce pipelines. After reviewing the current state of these workforces and assessing the available NPWR data, we …

Study Of Parental Substance Use Effects On Children, Cydnee R. Lacy

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

Many children with substance use and mental health problems witness substance use and mental health struggles in their household. Research has shown a strong connection between parental substance use disorders (SUDs) and the likelihood of children engaging in similar behaviors. Existing literature uses data collected before the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas this study utilizes data collected during the pandemic. It is essential to examine whether the relationship between parental substance use and children’s substance use increased, as children spent more time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prevalence of substance use and mental health problems will be used to examine the …

Developing And Validating The Perceived Youth Barriers Scale (Pybs): A Bottom-Up Approach To Assessing Barriers Faced By Underprivileged Young Adults, Rana Hong, Philip Young P. Hong, Ja-Young Cho

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

This study aimed to develop a measurement tool that assesses barriers faced by minority young adults using a bottom-up scale development approach. In Phase I, 27 psychometric items were identified through deductive content analysis from focus groups with minority young adults (n = 16). In Phase 2, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with 225 participants revealed the scale to a 5-factor model consisting of 18 items with strong model fit, validated by two domain experts. The Perceived Youth Barriers Scale (PYBS) effectively captures underprivileged young adults’ perceptions of barriers that will contribute to improved advocacy, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) in …

Libraries And Human Trafficking: A Study Of New Jersey’S Public And Academic Library Engagement In Anti-Trafficking Efforts, Christabelle Robinson, Daniela Peterka-Benton

Articles, Presentations, and Reports

This study, conducted through the Global Center on Human Trafficking, explores the underexamined role of public and academic libraries in addressing human trafficking across the state of New Jersey. Despite limited formal guidance on their role in anti-trafficking efforts, libraries are increasingly acting as informal hubs for access to resources, education, and social service referrals. Through a statewide survey and qualitative responses from library professionals, this research examines how libraries are currently engaging in training, social work partnerships, programming, and public awareness initiatives. Findings reveal that while only a small percentage of libraries have received formal training, there is widespread …

Patricia A. Tomson Center For Violence Prevention Fall 2025 Newsletter, University Of Northern Iowa. Patricia A. Tomson Center For Violence Prevention.

Patricia A. Tomson Center for Violence Prevention Newsletter

Contents:

--- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa MVP Training
--- Fall MVP Training
--- MVP Student Leadership Summit
--- Michigan MVP Partnership

Perspective: Restoring Rest-The Critical Role Of Sleep In Foster Care Well-Being, Jill Mcleigh, Anna Wani, Likhita Shaik

Health Status, Outcomes, and Literacy and Healthcare Utilization

In 2023, approximately 400,000 children were in foster care in the United States, a population disproportionately affected by trauma, instability, and systemic inequities.1 These children face chronic disruptions in sleep—an essential physiological process that underpins physical development, learning, emotional regulation, and overall health.²⁻⁴ Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), including abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, are prevalent in this group and contribute to significant sleep disturbances through pathways of hyperarousal, stress dysregulation, and recurrent nightmares. 3,4 Understanding the interplay between foster care, social determinants of health (SDOH), and sleep health disparities highlights opportunities for targeted interventions to improve outcomes.

For questions about …

A Spanish-Language Adaptation Of The Brief Wisconsin Inventory Of Smoking Dependence Motives Among Mexican And Mexican-American Adults Who Smoke, Yessenia Castro, Jose E. Velasquez, Zully C. Guerra, Tatiana Londoño, John R. Moore, Nazanin M. Heydarian

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Introduction: The smoking pattern of Latino smokers differs from non-Latino white smokers such that physical dependence may not be a strong motivator for smoking among Latinos. Multidimensional measures of dependence may be more useful, but there is a lack of psychometrically sound multidimensional Spanish-language measures. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of a Spanish-language adaptation of the Brief Wisconsin Inventory of Dependence Motives (Brief WISDM) for use among Spanish-speaking Latino smokers in the U.S.

Methods: 287 Spanish-speaking Mexican-origin smokers in the U.S. responded to a revised set of Spanish Brief WISDM items. Confirmatory factor analyses and model trimming procedures were …

Disability And Human Trafficking: Prevention Education And Professional Training, Andrea Nichols, Sarah Slutsker, Melissa Oberstaedt

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

Aim: This pilot study aimed to explore the intersection of disability and anti-trafficking prevention and training efforts from the perspectives of human trafficking survivors with disabilities and the professionals who work with them to inform further research.

Methods: The current study draws from in-depth interviews with seven participants, including two survivors and five professionals who regularly worked with human trafficking survivors with disabilities. Data analysis involved independent co-coding of transcribed interviews by a three-member research team to identify core themes and subthemes.

Results: The results showed a lack of human trafficking prevention education for people with disabilities, as well as …

Venezuelan Migrants In Prostitution: A Personal Decision?, Yazmin Maria Lucila Cadena Camargo, Izara Maite Mondragon Moreno, Isabela Osorio Jaramillo, Paula Angélica Suárez Álvarez, Andrés Duarte Osorio, Carlos Gómez-Restrepo

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

This paper explores the multifaceted experiences of Venezuelan migrant women engaged in prostitution, framed through three critical moments: the “decision to enter in prostitution,” the unique abuses faced, and the resultant consequences on mental, physical, and social health. The study highlights how socioeconomic vulnerabilities—exacerbated by migration and poverty—significantly influence the likelihood of entering prostitution. It also shows how traumatic experiences, particularly in childhood and adolescence, coupled with a lack of support networks, contribute to a heightened risk of exploitation. Eleven life stories were collected through a phenomenological approach, revealing a common narrative of abuse, poverty, and the search for survival …

Portfolio And Appendix Chris M. Larson, Chris M. Larson

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Abstract:

This is a collection of assignments and reflections of my work throughout the course of the Masters in Social Work program at the University of Montana. Included are assignments reflecting on the Indian Child Welfare Act, housing, barriers to care for Non-White and female veterans within the VA clinic, the quality of care in nursing homes, American Drug policy, confidentiality in the YWCA, training on interventions based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, cost benefit analysis of in home care programs, and a proposal for my practicum site Missoula Aging Services. It has reflections on the five elements of advanced practice, …

Housing Options As We Age, Michele Dinman, Jeff Brandt, Logan Fox

Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging

Almost 75% of adults ages 50 and older want to stay in their homes and communities as they age. This is referred to as “aging in place.” Our homes and communities can help us feel safe and give us a sense of belonging and connection. Furthermore, our living situations effect our health and quality of life as well as our ability to live independently. Changes in our physical, psychological, social, and financial well-being later in life can affect our abilities to age in place. Finding the best housing based on our resources, interests, and needs is important for living well …

Job-Training Programs For Older Americans, Byeongju Ryu, Cal J. Halvorsen

Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging

The traditional notion of retirement—stopping work completely to focus on personal pursuits in one’s golden years—is not guaranteed. In the United States, three in four adults plan to work past age 65. Many older adults continue working due to financial necessity, including rising healthcare costs, insufficient retirement savings, and gaps in pension coverage. Low-wage workers, in particular, may struggle to retire at all, forced to keep working to afford basic necessities such as housing and food. Older adults also seek employment for their personal health and well-being, such as staying physically and mentally active, finding a sense of purpose, and …

Toward A Nuanced Understanding Of Health And Human Services Students' Perceptions Of Autism, Leslie A. Meskin, Annemarie Connor, Sarah Fabrizi, Ann Tilman, Joanna Salapska-Gelleri, Noelle Balsamo

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

Continually increasing rates of autism necessitate research-informed preparation of pre-service professionals who will work with this population. This mixed-method study examined health and human services students’ autism knowledge, bias, and interaction to inform training and education needs. Results extend the extant literature suggesting autism knowledge and interaction are necessary but insufficient in mitigating bias. Specifically, the nature of prior interaction, positive or negative, shapes both bias and proclivity for additional interaction. Lastly, self-reflection was identified as a latent and potentially impactful factor in shaping a more nuanced and less biased understanding of autism. Recommendations for education and research are discussed.

Syllabus: Ssw Field Instruction 3, Katrina Hannan

Open Educational Resources

Designed to integrate social work knowledge, skills, and values, these courses utilize ecosystems and strengths perspectives alongside a cultural competence model to develop foundational practice competencies for entry-level social work practice. As core elements of the educational program, they bridge academic learning with practical application, enabling students to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings. The practicum experience emphasizes strategies for engaging with diverse populations, advocating for human rights, and promoting social and economic justice. This hands-on experience fosters the development of practice skills that enhance social well-being and prepare students for effective, ethical social work across micro, mezzo, and macro …

Factors Impacting School Social Workers’ Trauma-Informed Support Of Students With Disabilities, La Kisha Miles-Sneed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children with disabilities in underserved New Jersey communities are disproportionately exposed to trauma due to compounding systemic inequities. This basic qualitative study explored how school social workers support these students through special education case management. Grounded in disability critical race theory, the trauma-informed schools framework, and ecological systems theory, the study addressed the primary needs of trauma-exposed students with disabilities and the supports and challenges school social workers face in meeting those needs. Semi-structured interviews with 9 school social workers revealed core student needs: emotional and relational safety, access to school-based mental health services, trauma-informed individualized education program (IEP) supports, …

Understanding Of Internalizing And Externalizing Behaviors Among Youth Who Are Racial Minorities: Identification Of Race-Specific Violence Protective Factors, Caleb Kim, Rana Hong, Hien Nguyen, Raheleh A. Fakhrabadi

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

This study examined how ecosystemic factors—gender, exposure to community violence, attachment to parents, children’s hope, commitment to school, and concern about community safety—affect internalizing and externalizing behaviors among African American, Latinx, and Asian American youth (N = 212) in Chicago. Additionally, this study tested whether CH served as a moderating factor in the relationship between concern about CCS and internalizing and externalizing behaviors among youth who are racial minorities. Hierarchical multivariate regression analyses found that the effects of ecosystemic factors varied depending on the youth’s racial contexts. The moderating effects of CH were found to reduce internalizing and externalizing behaviors …

Land Struggles, Resistance, And Mutual Protection Along The Colorado-New Mexico Border: The Sacred Right Of Self-Preservation, José A. Rivera Ph.D

Faculty Publications

Mutual protection societies proliferated in the American Southwest during a period of rapid social change, 1870-1930, coincident with significant changes in the region’s political economy and increased competition for land and water resources. To resist encroachment and protect their natural resources, hispano communities in Colorado and New Mexico organized mutual benefit and protective associations known as mutualistas, with a large number concentrated in the San Luis Valley of Colorado as well as in many rural counties of northcentral New Mexico. The Costilla Valley of New Mexico is a prototypical hispano settlement initially established as part of the expansive Sangre …

Collaborative Anti-Racist Perinatal Care: A Case Study Of The Healthy Birth Initiatives–Providence Health System Partnership, Roberta Hunte, Susanne Klawetter, Monique Gill, Desha Reed-Holden, Kevin Cherry

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article describes a case study of the partnership between Healthy Birth Initiatives, a community-based organization (CBO) and Black-led public health nurse home visiting program, and the maternal health division of the Providence Health System located in the Pacific Northwest. This study’s purpose was to explore the formation, significance, and impact of this partnership from the perspectives of staff and leadership members from both organizations. We conducted a case study through qualitative interviews with staff, participant observation, and debrief of leadership meetings. We completed a hybrid deductive–inductive thematic analysis of the data, followed by member checking with study participants and …

Abolition And Social Work: Dismantling Carceral Logics To Build Systems Of Care, Durrell M. Washington, Brittany Ribeiro Brown, Diana Ballesteros, Rebecca Lynn Davis

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Social work has historically operated as an extension of the carceral state, embedding policing, surveillance, and punishment into youth-serving institutions under the guise of care. This paper examines carceral seepage—the infiltration of punitive logics into social work practice—across child welfare, education, and juvenile legal, revealing how these systems function as interconnected circuits of criminalization rather than support. Using abolitionist frameworks, we critique social work’s complicity in punitive interventions and address common concerns about safety, scalability, and sustainability. Instead of reforming oppressive institutions, we argue for a fundamental transformation of social work, advocating for non-carceral models such as community-led crisis response, …