Social Welfare Commons^™

Who Should Be Responding To Mental Health Crises: A Public Perception Study, Bryan E. Phillips

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project includes a survey which will be evaluating, out of Police Officers, Paramedics, and Mental Health Clinicians, who Intro to Psychology students believe are best fit to respond to Mental Health Crises as well as what factors may influence said belief. To do this they will be provided with a survey that collects demographic information, personal experiences with each profession, and detailed scenario-based questions with differing variables allowing the participants to decide which profession they believe is best equipped to deal with each scenario. This data will then be put into a research manuscript to be presented via posterboard …

Massachusetts Community Mediation Center (Cmc) Grant Program: Fiscal Year 2025 Evaluation Report, Madhawa Palihapitiya, Karina Zeferino

Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration Publications

The CMC Grant Program remains a vital statewide investment in equitable access to justice and community well-being in Massachusetts. In FY2025, the Commonwealth allocated $3,100,202 to the Program, with $2,376,002 awarded directly to 12 community mediation Centers for operational support, technical assistance, and participation in statewide initiatives. These funds continued to serve as the financial foundation of the community mediation system, accounting for half of Centers’ collective revenue and enabling them to leverage an additional $2,435,797 from private, municipal, state, and federal partners—demonstrating strong public return on state appropriations. Despite a funding reduction in FY2025, the Program generated …

Navigating Mental Wellness: A Peer-Led Journey Into Adult Services, Kristin G. Haberek

DSW Capstone Projects

Students with severe emotional disturbances (SED) occupy one of the most underserved intersections in American education and mental health care. As they age out of children’s services, they face abrupt service discontinuation, disrupted therapeutic relationships, and adult systems ill-equipped to meet their needs. These vulnerabilities, including heightened risks of crisis, hospitalization, homelessness, and justice involvement, constitute a central practice problem. This capstone addresses these transitions across three scholarly products: a systematic literature review, a theoretical concept paper, and a practical application paper, tracing a unified arc from diagnosing structural failures to proposing an evidence-informed, equity-oriented clinical response. Synthesizing key findings …

“A Civilised Order”: Political Economy Of Welfare State Development In United States And South Africa, Camden M. Webb

Masters Theses

The welfare state and its development across national contexts in the twentieth century signaled a marked change in the state’s relationship with its citizens. They developed in a structural crisis between two political economy organizations, moving from liberal structures to regulated ones. As the world continues the current ongoing structural crisis out of the neoliberal structure, the future of welfare policy is uncertain. My research presents a Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) using the United States and South Africa as most-different cases to explore the similarities and differences in their national contexts that shaped their welfare state development in the early …

Nh Ece 2026 Policy Data Infographic, Harshita Sarup, Jess Carson, Tyrus Parker

New Hampshire Early Care and Education Research Consortium

The NH ECE 2026 Policy Data infographic provides easy access to data describing and explaining the early care and education landscape in New Hampshire. Learn about Granite Staters' need for child care, the high prices that families face, the low wages earned by child care workers and high operating costs of care, and the economic toll of an uneven supply for the state. The infographic also offers suggestions for building a better system.

Magang Atau Pekerja? Menggugat Status Abu-Abu Tenaga Paruh Waktu Mahasiswa Di Fakultas Hukum Ugm, Patricia Nerissa Krisna Putri, Markus Togar Wijaya

Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan

This study highlights the controversy surrounding the change in nomenclature for student workers at Gadjah Mada University, particularly within the Faculty of Law. The status of these workers has shifted from 'part-time' to 'student intern'. This unilateral change has created a legal grey area that could lead to students being subjected to disguised employment practices. Using socio-legal research methods, this article examines the validity of the 'internship' status based on the elements of an employment relationship (work, orders and wages) within the labour law regime, analysing it using the theory of structural injustice. The research findings suggest that reclassifying part-time …

The Cost Of Getting To “No”: Cultural Evolution Of Community Psychology In Two Indiana Communities, Catherine Cullen, Megan Peek

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Latino Economic Inequality In New York City: Income And Snap Recipiency, 2013–2023, Oswaldo A. Mena Aguilar

Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies

This Latino Data Project Report analyzes trends in the economic well-being of Latino households in New York City between 2013 and 2023, focusing on household income and participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The findings reveal a paradoxical pattern: although median Latino household income increased over the decade, economic inequality within the Latino community widened substantially. Income gains were unevenly distributed, with higher-income households pulling further ahead while the lowest-income households experienced stagnation or decline. Over the same period, Latino households fell further behind all other racial and ethnic groups in the city. Additionally, Latinos consistently exhibited the …

Social Work In Practice, The Final Stretch, Madison M. Fernandez

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This professional portfolio reflects what I have learned in the MSW program at the University of Montana.

Exiting Commercial Sexual Exploitation, Jeanne L. Allert, Sherri L. Wyatt

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

This study presents one of the largest qualitative samples of exited female survivors of commercial sexual exploitation in the United States to date. One hundred and eighty-nine female survivors participated in a national survey. The participants described their motivations for exiting commercial sexual exploitation, the pathways they followed, the forces that hindered their exit and increased their recidivism, and the assistance they received that ensured a permanent exit. Some of the findings challenge popular narratives on recidivism rates and what keeps women in exploitation, revealing complex relational, behavioral, economic, and systemic influences. Participants spoke about the unanticipated value of incarceration, …

Assessing Community Needs: Human Services For Adults In Millis And Medway, Caitlin E. Coyle, Michelle Ward, Ceara Somerville

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report presents the results of a comprehensive evaluation of issues relating to aging in Millis and Medway. A needs assessment was undertaken in order to support planning on the part of the Towns of Millis and Medway, the Councils on Aging (COAs), and the communities as a whole. Results presented here focus on the characteristics and needs of Millis and Medway residents who are age 60 and older. While the primary goal of this report is to support COA planning, a secondary goal is to present information that will be useful to other Millis and Medway offices and organizations …

Kalayaan (Freedom), Hanapbuhay (Livelihood), And Pagsisibat (Persisting): A Conceptual Unpacking Of Freelance Work In The Philippines, Theresa Anne Nadine L. Rellamas, Danika M. Geronimo, Hazel A. Lao

Social Transformations Journal of the Global South

This article is a conceptual but empirically grounded exploration of how Filipino freelance creatives construct and navigate freelance work. Using the sibat (spear) as a metaphor for movement and survival, the paper unpacks freelance work as hanapbuhay (livelihood) pursued in the quest for kalayaan (freedom). Building from emic narratives of sixteen (16) freelance creatives, the paper develops a conceptual model of freedom through three movements: Kalayaang Magsibat (freedom to enter), Kalayaan sa Pagsisibat (freedom to persist), and Kalayaang Sumibat (freedom to exit). These narratives of freelance work reveal a continual negotiation of autonomy under precarious conditions. Anchored and interpreted through …

Interest Convergence And The Racial Wealth Gap: Defusing Racism's Divide-And-Conquer Via Universal Basic Income, Palma Joy Strand, Nicholas A. Mirkay

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Relationship Between Noun Classes And Plant Folk Taxonomy In Chasu Language Of Kilimanjaro Region In Tanzania, Peter Rabson Mziray

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The current study investigates the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu (G 22). The study focuses on two objectives: the first objective is to describe the plant folk taxonomy in Chasu and the second objective is to determine the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu. Data were collected from rural villages in Same and Mwanga districts by using free listing, field interviews (jungle-walk-and-identify), and written texts containing Chasu plant names. The findings reveal that Chasu folk taxonomy reflects different ethnobotanical categories; including a unique beginner which is mmea/mimea ‘plant(s)’, and three life …

Advancing Children's Mental Health In Nevada, Kelliann Beavers, Christopher Kearney

Lincy Institute Events

Nevada ranks 51st nationally in youth mental health access and services, underscoring persistent shortages and disparities across the state. Nearly one in four youths aged 12–17 (23.5%) experienced a major depressive episode in the past year, and 73% did not receive treatment. Approximately 34,000 Nevada youths have reported suicidal thoughts—an urgent call for prevention and coordinated support.

During the 2024–2025 school year, 31.3% of Clark County School District students were chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), a challenge closely linked to mental health struggles and socioeconomic barriers.

This community forum provided an opportunity to generate dialogue and …

Prahita, Power, And Partnership (Ppp) : Navigating Community-Based Welfare And Clientelism In Myanmar’S Poverty Reduction, Comparative Analysis Of Myanmar And Thailand, Mai Tam Aung Seinn

SOC 605 Comparative Social Policy Research Project - Student Works

Myanmar’s persistent poverty has been deeply rooted in its current political unrest, decades of poor governance, and entrenched clientelism – a system where informal patronage networks exchange material benefits for political loyalty, sidelining equitable welfare delivery (Jones, 2014, Berenschot and Mulder, 2019). The serial issues have now developed into a poly-crisis which consists of a confluence of economic collapse, political instability, and disasters like COVID-19, cyclones, earthquakes, and armed conflicts (UNDP, 2025b). Therefore, the study aims to synthesize Myanmar’s complex interplay between grassroots welfare systems, power dynamics, and external partnerships within Myanmar’s fragile context and proposes to comprehensively investigate poverty …

Wellesley Council On Aging: Planning For The Future, Caitlin E. Coyle, Beth Rouleau

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

Taking a community-engaged approach, this assessment sought to capture the voices, experiences, and aspirations of older adults living in our community. It is designed to support the COA in fulfilling its mission: acting as the community resource for older adults, their families, and caregivers; advocating for their interests; and offering social, educational, physical activity, transportation, and nutrition programs that promote health, independence, and meaningful engagement.

Specifically, this needs assessment aimed to: 1. Describe the demographic and social trends shaping Wellesley’s older adult population. 2. Identify older residents’ priorities, challenges, and unmet needs—spanning health and wellness, housing and mobility, social connection, …

Balancing Act: Addressing Child Quantity-Quality Trade-Off In The Philippine Households With Educational And Health Social Programs, John Andrew A. Alsol, Marie Carroline Magante

Economics Department Faculty Publications

The child quantity-quality (CQQ) trade-off has been extensively studied in economic research since it was first introduced by Becker and Lewis in 1973. Studies have argued that the current economic circumstances and the presence of government aid in education and health determine the existence and extent of the CQQ trade-off. However, there is a dearth of empirically tested research on the possible decreasing effects of social programs on the CQQ trade-off. Using the 2019 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey, this paper seeks to determine the effect of education and health social programs on the CQQ trade-off in the Philippines. Probit models …

Urban Welfare Divergence: An Analysis Of The Factors Shaping Social Housing Policy In Berlin And Vienna, Grace Zheng

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

According to Eurostat, property prices across the 27 members of the EU surged by 47% between 2010 and 2022, while rents increased by 18% during the same period. To mitigate the housing crisis, many governments have turned to social housing—affordable housing that is either government-owned or regulated—as a solution. This paper seeks to answer the following question: Why has Vienna adopted significantly more generous income thresholds for social housing eligibility compared to Berlin? In 2024, the highest income threshold for a four-person household to receive a residential entitlement certificate in Berlin (€57,640) was nearly identical to the threshold for a …

Why Aren’T More People Calling 988 For Mental Health Crises?, Michiko Ueda, Colleen M. Heflin, Yanhong Liu, Qingyi Yu, Seethalakshmi Ramanathan

Center for Policy Research

When someone is in a mental health crisis, calling 911 has long been the default response. However, 911 call centers are not well-equipped to handle mental health emergencies, and law enforcement dispatch can result in unnecessary arrests, hospitalizations, or crisis escalation. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline launched in 2022 is a free, confidential alternative, yet awareness remains low and misconceptions persist. Using data from a 2024 national online survey of nearly 1,900 U.S. adults ages 18-50, this brief summarizes findings about awareness of 988, willingness to use it, and concerns about the service. Results show that only 22% of …