Social Work Commons^™

Family Histories And Multiple Transitions Among Homeless Young Adults: Pathways To Homelessness, Kimberly A. Tyler, Rachel M. Schmitz

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

This study explored the early family histories of homeless young adults, the types and number of transitions they experienced, and their pathways to the street. Intensive qualitative interviews were audio taped and transcribed with 40 homeless young adults 19 to 21 years of age in the Midwest. Findings show that family backgrounds were generally characterized by substance use, child maltreatment, and witnessing violence, all of which provide social context for understanding why so many of these young people opted to leave home in search of an alternative living situation. The current findings also reveal that while some young adults ran …

Seed For Oklahoma Kids: Experimental Test Of A Policy Innovation In A Full Population, Lisa Reyes Mason, Yunju Nam, Margaret Clancy, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

The Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis has implemented an ambitious policy demonstration: SEED for Oklahoma Kids (SEED OK). This initiative uses multiple research methods, including a scientific experiment in a full population, to test a policy innovation. The innovation is providing a Child Development Account (CDA) to all children at birth. In SEED OK, randomly selected newborn children in Oklahoma received a college savings account “seeded” with a $1,000 initial deposit, plus additional components of the SEED OK intervention. This case study describes the multiyear process of designing and implementing SEED OK and sheds light …

The Impact Of Asset Ownership On Future Orientation Of Youth And Their Parents: Evidence From The Youthsave Ghana Experiment, Gina A. N. Chowa, Rainier D. Masa

Center for Social Development Research

Future orientation influences a variety of desirable behaviors, but few researchers have studied the impact of economic resources on future orientation. In this study, we investigate whether and how asset ownership influences future orientation of Ghanaian youth and their parents. Results of propensity score models suggest that asset ownership has a positive effect on future orientation of youth and their parents. Ownership of household possessions, including televisions and modes of transportation, contributes to higher levels of future orientation among youth and parents, but livestock ownership has a negative effect on future orientation. Asset ownership provides individuals and households with a …

Visual Demonstration Of Academic Performance And Parental Involvement In Ghana, David Ansong, Gena A. N. Chowa

Center for Social Development Research

Visual Demonstration of Academic Performance and Parental Involvement in Ghana

Investigation Of Child Headed Households In Mozambique, Africa, Gerald Cochran, Jini Roby

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Child headed households (CHHs) are homes lead by “…children [who] live alone and manage the household without guidance and economic support from adults” (Aspaas, 1999, p. 202). This definition may or may not exclude adults as residents of the home. Some CHHs have adults residing in the home, but the child most certainly is the leader and the responsible one of the home. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has spread across the African continent causing children to be left as orphans and/or left to care for themselves and others (Foster, Shakespeare, Chinemana, Jackson, Gregson, Marange, & Mashumba, 1995). However, HIV/AIDS is not …

Brief Research Report: Sociodemographic Factors Associated With Hiv Status Among African American Women In Washington, Dc, Dexter R. Voisin

Faculty Scholarship

Introduction: African American women living in Washington, DC have one of the highest Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidence rates in the US. However, this population has been understudied, especially as it relates to factors associated with HIV status. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined sociodemographic factors that were associated with having a negative or positive HIV status among a sample of 115 African American women between the ages of 24 and 44 years. We assessed such factors as age, education, sexual orientation, household income, sources of income, number of children, length of residency tenure in Washington, DC, and level of HIV-prevention …

Grant Application: Photovoice, Lilia Bottino, Collyn Baeder

Photovoice: A Visual Narrative Into The Lives Of Maine Refugee Women

IPEC Mini-grant application for funding of UNE student project Photovoice: A Visual Narrative into the Lives of Maine Refugee Women. Photovoice was proposed as a participatory action strategy which would provide Maine refugee women the opportunity to teach their community and policy makers about health and social issues they face. A UNE MSW student and MPH student sought to understand the barriers to health that Maine refugee women face. They proposed a project where participants would be given a camera to take photos of perceived health and social problems refugees face living in Maine. The photos would seek to …

International Views On Rape Crises: A Comparative Study Between American And Italian Rape Recovery Centers, Allyson Ugolini, Dr. Shirley Cox

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This project’s goal was to compare and contrast two culturally diverse, American and Italian, rape recovery centers and the social work systems that run them. Research findings will benefit and enlighten both societies on each other’s methods and ways of operation, allowing them to take the positives and the negatives of their respective systems and learn from them.

Savings Patterns And Performance In Colombia, Ghana, Kenya, And Nepal, Lissa Johnson, Yungsoo Lee, Michael Sherraden, Gina A. N. Chowa, David Ansong, Fred Ssewamala, Margaret Sherraden, Li Zou, Moses Njenga, Joseph Kieyah, Isaac Osei-Akoto, Sharad Sharma, Jyoti Manandhar, Catherine Rodriguez, Frederico Merchán, Juan Saavedra

Center for Social Development Research

Savings Patterns and Performance in Colombia, Ghana, Kenya, and Nepal

How Do Student And School Characteristics Influence Youth Academic Performance In Ghana? A Hierarchical Linear Modeling Of Baseline Data From The Youthsave Ghana Experiment, Gina A. N. Chowa, Rainier D. Masa, Yalitza Ramos, David Ansong

Center for Social Development Research

Student and school characteristics are associated with academic performance of high school students. However, few attempts have been made to examine the simultaneous influence of student and school factors on academic performance of youth in sub-Saharan Africa. Using hierarchical linear modeling, we examine student- and school- level predictors of academic performance of Ghanaian junior high school students. As other researchers have found, we note that age and gender are significant predictors of academic performance. Student traits, including academic self-efficacy and commitment to school, are positively associated with math and English scores. Class size and presence of a toilet facility are …

Parental Involvement's Effects On Academic Performance: Evidence From The Youthsave Ghana Experiment, Gina A. N. Chowa, Rainier D. Masa, Jenna Tucker

Center for Social Development Research

Research in developed countries suggests that parental involvement is associated with youth academic success, but little is known about this relationship in developing countries. Further, it is unclear which type of parental involvement may impact the academic performance of youth from developing countries. This study examines whether (a) parental involvement at home and in school are meaningfully different constructs in a population of Ghanaian youth and their parents and (b) parental involvement predicts academic performance. Results suggest that parental involvement is a bidimensional construct consists of home and school involvement. The effect of parental involvement on youth academic performance appears …

Child Welfare Partnership For Research And Training: A Title Iv-E University/Community Collaborative Research Model, Laurie Drabble, Kathy Lemon, Amy D'Andrade, Brett Donoviel, Julia Le

Faculty Publications

University-community partnerships are increasingly recognized as valuable in educating students for professional practice and bridging the gap between research and practice. This manuscript describes the evolution and design of a university-community partnership between a School of Social Work in one urban university and local child welfare agencies: the Child Welfare Partnership for Research and Training (CW-PART). This local partnership illustrates types of opportunities and outcomes that emerge when state and local entities leverage greater results from federal funding through partnerships with local universities. The manuscript describes 1), the community-engaged framework used to inform the overall approach and partner roles; 2) …

From The Editor, Peggy Pittman-Munke Ph.D.

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Journal of Contemporary Rural Social Work

Volume 5, Number 1

2013

From the Editor: Peggy Pittman-Munke, Murray State University

Racial And Ethnic Diversity In Undergraduate Social Work Programs: How Are Programs In Rural Areas Faring?, David L. Beimers Ph.D., Brian Warner Msw, Paul Force-Emery Mackie Ph.D.

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Social work programs have a long-standing commitment to recruiting and educating racially and ethnically diverse students. However, some programs in rural areas have greater difficulty meeting this commitment. This study examined racial and ethnic diversity within baccalaureate social work (BSW) programs, focusing primarily on student enrollment, faculty, perceptions of diversity, and interventions to attract students. Program directors of BSW programs from 10 Midwestern states were surveyed. Forty-two programs responded. The results indicate that as a whole, social work programs differ in their levels of racial and ethnic diversity. However, BSW programs in rural areas tend to have fewer students and …

Group Interventions In Rural Schools To Assist With A Community Trauma, Linda Leek Openshaw

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Rural communities and school districts often face traumatic events. These can be the result of accidents, suicides, school bullying, and shootings. This paper documents a group crisis intervention at a rural high school after a horrific traffic accident where a vehicle struck and killed three students. When a crisis takes place in rural schools and communities, group work is an effective tool to offset the effects of grief and distress that students often experience. School personnel must create support groups within a short time following a traumatic event. Interventions are most effective when schools have a pre-determined action plan, have …

Promising Practices In Service-Learning With Grant Writing In Rural Communities, Lillian Wichinsky Ph.D., Barbara Thomlison Ph.D.

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

This paper describes the teaching practices in a community practice course that was designed for using a grant writing project with a service-learning component in a rural community. The course and assignments are outlined. Four critical success factors are: commitment to a service-learning pedagogy, flexibility regarding course objectives, engaged students, and committed agencies. Strategic partnerships and successful grant applications are the best evidence that enhanced the experience for the students and agencies.

Contemporary Rural Social Work - 2013 (Volume 5, Number 1)

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Contemporary Rural Social Work - 2013 (Volume 5, Number 1)

Full issue

Stigma Of Help-Seeking Behavior Following The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Chris R. Locke, Danilea Werner

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

In 2010 the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico caused multiple complications for the environment and people living in the rural regions of coastal Alabama. This study seeks to better understand the role of stigma related to help-seeking behavior of those living in the rural communities. Semi-structured focus groups were conducted one year after the oil spill with 21 mental health professionals and staff focused primarily in Gulf Shores and Bayou La Batre, Alabama. Participants described their interactions with clients needing a wide range of services after the disaster. Constant comparative analyses of the qualitative data yielded …

Cultural Practice Considerations: The Coming Out Process For Mexican-Americans Along The Rural Mexico-Us Border, Dalton Connally Lisw, Rose Wedemeyer Lpc, Scott J. Smith Oakland University

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

As the nation’s Latino and Mexican-American population continues to rise, social workers must consider the unique experiences of these groups. The decision to reveal a lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) identity is often difficult and painful. This decision can be compounded for Mexican-American individuals as Latino heterosexual attitudes about sexuality continue to act as a barrier for Mexican-American LGB individuals and their families who live along the rural Mexico-United States (US) border. This article reviews the implications of lesbian, gay, or bisexual disclosure within Mexican-American families residing in rural communities along the Mexico-US border. The authors review the traditional Mexican-American …

Rural Social Workers’ Perceptions Of Training Needs For Working With Lgbtq-Identified Youth In The Foster Care System, Jean Toner Msw, Ph.D.

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

The article reports on findings from an exploratory qualitative study with rural child welfare professionals concerning their perceptions of services and training needs for working effectively with LGBTQ-identified youth in rural out-of-home care. The study employed focus group methodology with workers from one region of a Midwestern state. Emergent themes corroborated extant research findings, and the three types were (a) an analysis of the current reality of knowledge, services, and training; (b) specific challenges to expanding and/or improving training for rural workers; and (c) recommendations for improving services and climate for LGBTQ-identified youth in rural areas. Implications for rural social …

Rural Food Pantry Users’ Stigma And Safety Net Food Programs, Lori L. Nooney, Elisabetta Giomo-James, Peter A. Kindle, Debra S. Norris, Ryan R. Myers, Alyssa Tucker, Robert Jon Stanley

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Increasing numbers of individuals in our community have been seeking local food pantry assistance. Previous studies of food pantries found that users show low rates of governmental aid receipt, especially in rural areas. We assessed evidence that suggests that post-recession need has mitigated rural reluctance to pursue government assistance. The inadequacy of government and local food assistance to address the problem of food insecurity in our community is discussed.

Improving The Mental Health Functioning Of Youth In Rural Communities, Matthew A. Moore Msw, Ph.D., Betty A. Walton Ph.D.

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Disparities in mental health outcomes for youth are often found between rural and urban areas. As part of an overarching question about under what circumstances and for whom, the wraparound process is beneficial (Suter & Bruns, 2009), this study specifically examined whether high fidelity to the wraparound model helped bridge the gap between outcomes in urban and rural areas for youth with complex behavioral health challenges. Youth participating in Indiana’s Community Alternatives to Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities Medicaid demonstration grant between 2008 and 2011 (n = 811) resided in urban (n = 615) or rural (n = 196) communities. Logistic …

Book Review: Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement For Addiction, Stress, And Pain, Jay Memmott Msw, Ph.D., Lcsw-Pip

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Book Review: Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement for Addiction, Stress, and Pain Eric L. Garland 2013 Washington, DC: NASW Press 206 pages Softcover: $39.99 ISBN-13: 978-0871014450

Book Review: Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior And The Golden Retriever Who Saved Him, Diane Dacosta

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Book Review: Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him Montalván, Luis Carlos 2011 New York: Hyperion 288 pages Hardcover: $22.99 ISBN-13: 978-1401310752

Review Of Fear Itself: The New Deal And The Origins Of Our Time. Ira Katznelson. Reviewed By Marguerite Rosenthal., Marguerite Rosenthal

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Benjamin Kline Hunnicutt, Free Time: The Forgotten American Dream. Temple University Press (2013). $34.95 (paperback).

Characterizing The Syphilis Epidemic Among Men Who Have Sex With Men In Lima, Peru To Identify New Treatment And Control Strategies, Robert Deiss, Segundo R. Leon, Kelika A. Konda, Brandon Brown, Eddy R. Segura, Jerome T. Galea, Carlos F. Caceres, Jeffrey D. Klausner

Social Work Faculty Publications

Background: Syphilis is an important sexually transmitted infection (STI) with serious public health consequences. Among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Lima, the prevalence and incidence are extraordinarily high. Current syndromic approaches, however, fail to identify asymptomatic cases, and in settings where large proportions of individuals test positive again after treatment, it is frequently difficult to distinguish treatment failure from re-infection. Thus, new approaches are needed to improve treatment strategies and public health control efforts.

Methods/Design: Study participants will undergo baseline testing for syphilis infection along with a behavioral survey covering demographics, sexual behavior, drug and …

Review Of Barrios To Burbs: The Making Of The Mexican American Middle Class. Jody A. Vallejo. Reviewed By Celestino Fernandez., Celestino Fernandez

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Jody A.Vallejo, Barrios to Burbs: The Making of the Mexican American Middle Class. Stanford University Press (2012). $40 (hardcover).

Patients’ Perception Of Patient–Provider Communication In Fertility Preservation Decision Making Among Young Women With Cancer, Aakrati Mathur, E. Roberto Orellana, Amy Frohnmayer, Pauline Jivanjee, Lillian Nail, Brandon Hayes-Lattin, Rebecca G. Block

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Fertility preservation (FP) for patients with cancer is an emerging field. With the advancement of technology, patients may face a complex decision-making process about whether to preserve fertility. The purpose of this article is to explore how young women with cancer perceive patient–provider communication in FP decision making. In this study, 25 women between the ages of 18 and 39 were interviewed retrospectively. They were interviewed one time to learn about their decision-making process related to FP. Results of this analysis indicate that patients seek support and involvement from providers throughout the process of decision making. They prefer providers to …

Review Of Informal Labor, Formal Politics, And Dignified Discontent In India. Rina Agarwala. Reviewed By Jennifer R. Zelnick., Jennifer R. Zelnick

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Rina Agarwala, Informal Labor, Formal Politics, and Dignified Discontent in India. Cambridge University Press (2013). $29.95 (paperback).

Housing Assistance And Disconnection From Welfare And Work: Assessing The Impacts Of Public Housing And Tenant-Based Rental Subsidies, Andrea Hetling, Hilary Botein

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The well-being of families disconnected from welfare and work are of growing concern to policymakers. This article examines the relationship between economic disconnection and housing assistance, a critical source of support that subsidizes what is the largest fixed expense for most households. Results from multilevel logistic models show that the odds ofbeing disconnected are higher for public housing residents and lower for single mothers receiving tenantbased rental assistance in comparison to those in private housing. Findings indicate that housing policies should be considered alongside welfare policy changes aimed at economically disconnected families, and that public housing is a critical site …