Social Work Commons^™

Tennessee Prostitution Amnesty Law Analysis, Emma Sharou, Ally Biegel, Allene Fields, Kennedy Kittner

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Currently, people engaging in prostitution who report crimes in Tennessee can face charges should their involvement with prostitution come to light during the report. This barrier to services can prevent individuals from seeking help and infringes upon their rights as crime victims. The Tennessee Prostitution Amnesty Law aims to remove this barrier and seeks to combat the violence experienced by individuals engaging in prostitution by safely providing them with a voice to report crimes against themselves and others without facing charges for prostitution. Additionally, the law states that providing a voice for these individuals will in turn create more opportunities …

The Start Of A New Revolution: Addressing Government Failure In Ending Homelessness In Nyc, Ruth Lovely Joseph

Publications and Research

Homelessness is a serious issue in New York City. This project involved research to establish the causes of the homelessness problem in NYC, investigate current solutions currently being implemented by the city, and finally to develop a detailed proposal about a community-based approach to homelessness.

The guiding research questions include: What are the major causes and effects of homelessness in New York City? What are the challenges and shortcomings of existing New York City programs addressing homelessness? What elements should a successful community-based organization include in order to address these shortcomings? What are the underlying biases and moralistic assumptions that …

The Long-Term Health And Developmental Impacts Of Children Born At Low Birth Weight, Kathryn Grace Kelly

Honors Theses

The state of Mississippi currently has the highest incidence of low birth weight (LBW) births in the United States. LBW is a negative birth outcome which can lead to suboptimal pediatric health and development. The primary goals of this thesis are to identify the long-term outcomes associated with LBW and to present potential interventions to address LBW. A combination of literature review and quantitative data analysis were used to inform the objective of this thesis. A variety of physical health, behavioral health, and other long-term issues were found associated with LBW. The consequences of LBW place LBW children at a …

Addressing Domestic Violence As A Wicked Problem With Ericka Kimball, Ericka Kimball

PDXPLORES Podcast

Ericka Kimball is an associate professor at the School of Social Work at Portland State University. Kimball's research focuses on domestic violence and healthcare domains to understand and develop alternatives to current practices. This work is informed by a "wicked problems" framework that addresses the complexity of interactions between systems at the intersection of domestic violence and healthcare.

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Organizational Change Process Milwaukee - Needs Assessment Summary, Quality Improvement Center For Workforce Development

Other QIC-WD Products

Exploration of Needs

The Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development (QIC-WD) worked with the Division of Milwaukee Child Protective Services (DMCPS) to conduct a needs assessment. A variety of information was explored to learn about the current workforce and the agency’s workforce practices, including 1) recruitment, hiring, and retention metrics and processes, 2) organizational culture and climate, and 3) other workforce processes and initiatives, such as onboarding, mentoring, supervision, performance management, and employee recognition. More specifically, four major types of information were considered: 1) objective data from various agency databases and reports; 2) subjective perceptions of staff and supervisors, …

Onboarding Program Eastern Band Of Cherokee Indians - Needs Assessment Summary, Quality Improvement Center For Workforce Development

Other QIC-WD Products

Exploration of Needs

The Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development (QIC-WD) worked with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Family Safety Program (FSP) to conduct a needs assessment. A variety of information was explored to learn about the current workforce and the agency’s child welfare workforce practices, including 1) recruitment, hiring, and retention metrics and processes, 2) organizational culture and climate, and 3) other workforce processes and initiatives, such as onboarding, mentoring, supervision, performance management, and employee recognition. More specifically, four major types of information were considered: 1) objective administrative data; 2) subjective perceptions of staff and supervisors, gathered …

Competency-Based Personnel Selection Oklahoma - Needs Assessment Summary, Quality Improvement Center For Workforce Development

Other QIC-WD Products

Exploration of Needs

The Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development (QIC-WD) worked with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) to conduct a needs assessment. A variety of information was explored to learn about the current workforce and the agency’s child welfare workforce practices, including:

1. recruitment, hiring, and retention metrics and processes,
2. organizational culture and climate, and
3. other workforce processes and initiatives, such as onboarding, mentoring, supervision, performance management, training, and employee recognition.

More specifically, four major types of information were considered: 1) objective data from various agency databases and reports; 2) subjective perceptions of staff and supervisors, gathered …

Redeveloping Homeless History And Chronicity Documentation: A Study For Heartland Family Service, Rachel Riede

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

In recent months, the Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program at Heartland Family Service (HFS) has seen substantial delays during their intake process, specifically when it comes to verifying a client’s HUD-required homeless history. This has led to an increase in program vacancies, fewer clients served, and an underutilization of the program’s budget, which could also induce more permanent defunding in the future. While the agency is working to address this problem by retraining all of their case managers on how to collect homeless histories, this project seeks to instead identify and address the problem through the case managers’ perspective. Through …

A Spatiotemporal Analysis Of Food Pantry Accessibility In Washington County, Arkansas, Coleman Warren

Industrial Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Food pantries are an essential resource for impoverished and food insecure communities. Washington County, Arkansas has a food insecurity rate of 14.3% as compared to the national average of 10.9% (Feeding America, 2019). The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank has a robust pantry network in Washington County to support families and individuals who struggle with food insecurity.

We conducted a spatiotemporal analysis of food pantry accessibility in Washington County, Arkansas to evaluate the effectiveness of the food pantry network in Washington County at supporting communities with the most need. This analysis was conducted using the Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (2SFCA) method …

Impacts Of Post-Incarceration Programming For Women's Lives And Local Communities, Megan Greenslade

Sociology and Criminology Undergraduate Honors Theses

Previous research on reentry programming has focused mostly on male inmates and less attention is given to female inmates. In Arkansas, where female reentry rates have recently increased, research is needed to add to the conversation surrounding effective programming for previously justice-involved women, its impact on their lives and behaviors, and how this can influence the likelihood of recidivism. This qualitative study also aims to discover whether reentry programming can have a positive impact on the local community. Residents and staff at a local Northwest Arkansas transitional housing facility for previously justice-involved women were interviewed to analyze the effects of …

Intersections Between Social Work And Public Administration: A Case Study Of Urban Water Poverty, Katherine M. Lindsey

Social Work Theses - Archive

Despite infrastructure advances, water testing, and environmental policies, there are still areas in the United States that lack clean water. Some communities are negatively impacted by policies, location, socioeconomic status, water obtainment methods, and racial, ethnic, or cultural differences. Social workers desiring to intervene may not know where to begin. To identify potential interventions, this case study examines how the community of Green Tree Estates gained access to clean water through advocacy efforts and community organizing. This community, located within a large city in Texas, is a previously annexed, small mobile home community consisting of a Hispanic, Spanish speaking population …

Challenges Experienced By Rural Informal Caregivers Of Older Adults: A Scoping Review, Jon Shuffler

Social Work Theses - Archive

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to document the state of the literature regarding the challenges experienced by rural informal caregivers of older adults in the United States. Methods: A scoping review of peer-reviewed academic articles published through December 1, 2021, was conducted, utilizing the scoping review framework of Arksey and O’Malley (2005). The initial search resulted in 1,255 articles for review, of which 12 studies were included for the final review. Results: Thematic content analysis was utilized to identify emerging themes of challenges experienced by rural informal caregivers of older adults. The identified themes of challenges include a …

I Kissed Shaming Goodbye: Mental Health Implications Of Christian Purity Culture, Danielle Miriam Stillman

Social Work Theses - Archive

This study investigates the impact of Christian “purity culture,” a particular variety of shame and guilt-based approach to sexual development, on the millennial generation. An emerging body of personal reminiscences and essays have been written about the experience of growing up as part of this culture and the damage that has resulted from the teachings impressed upon those born from 1981-1996 during their adolescence. The research introduces social work theory and recommendations for working with the population’s mental health treatment into the body of literature. Data was collected through qualitative methods of research in personal interviews conducted with the researcher …

Uncertain Times In An Already Uncertain Context: Foster Parenting Stress & Resilience During Covid-19, Erin M. Findley

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This three-article, mixed-methods dissertation looked at the nature of U.S. foster parent stress and resilience both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first article employed a Qualitative Interpretive Meta-Synthesis (QIMS) approach to answer the question, “What do foster parents tell us about their greatest points of stress in the foster care system?” Foster parent voices (n=572) from twenty-one existing qualitative articles were analyzed until themes emerged. The second article aimed to fill a gap in the literature with a deeper understanding of foster parents’ lived experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with n=20 foster parents across …

The Health In Mental Health: Exploring Individualized Holistic Health Practices As A Process To Transform Mental Health, Craig Craig Keaton

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

Mental health problems are on the rise, especially among college students. Problematically, the two most common approaches - pharmacotherapy and talk therapy - are either grounded in a limited and suspect evidence base or is not an approach that reaches most people in need of and wanting mental health support. There is, however, a growing body of evidence supporting a health-based approach to mental health, including the application of nature, exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle. As well, with an expansive definition of health, there are even more practices, such as art, writing, and social connection to support better health and mental …

Child Protection Policy Dimensions Across Catholic Archdioceses And Civil Statutes : A Comparative Content Analysis, Jeffrey Trant

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Since 2002, the Catholic Church in the United States has enacted a national child protection framework to address child sexual abuse. However, child protection policies within the context of the Catholic Church are currently not well understood. This study was guided by the following questions: (1) How do child protection policy dimensions differ in Catholic archdioceses in the United States? (2) How do child protection policy dimensions differ across and between Catholic archdioceses and civil statutes? The present study utilized a generic qualitative methodology employing comparative content analysis to conduct a policy analysis using publicly available child protection policies from …

Self Care And Burnout Among Child Welfare Workers During The Coronavirus Pandemic, Stephanie Carranza, Claudia Castillo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The study was designed to explore associations between burnout and self-care practices among child welfare social workers and how they were impacted during the Coronavirus pandemic. The researchers completed a qualitative study with research participants by completing interviews via Zoom. All research participants composed of current and former child welfare social workers. Through the data gathered, the researchers found that there were no associations between burnout and self-care practices during the pandemic. It was concluded that burnout has remained consistent regardless of self-care practices prior and during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Improving Parenting For Families With Involvment In The Child Welfare System: Perspectives Of Social Workers And Parents In Southern California, Laura Velazquez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Child neglection has been a concerning topic in today's society. Therefore, parent classes have been implemented as a method of prevention services. Through evidence-based interventions and the effective outcomes programs parenting classes have stopped incidents of child neglect and abuse by providing parents with the knowledge, education, and skills to prevent this from occurring. This research was qualitative, and the data collected allowed the researcher to discover the outcomes of how parent education can prevent child neglect. This study had 15 participants, 8 parents, and 7 social workers (N = 15). The findings from this research both from a …

Utilization Of Telemental Health By Mental Health Professionals During Covid-19, Zayne Boudreauxramirez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

It has been established that certain barriers and benefits affect a mental health professional’s attitude towards using telemental health. The purpose of this study was to examine a possible relationship between mental health professional’s discipline, theoretical orientation, and treatment approach with their attitudes towards telemental health utilization. This study collected data from 117 mental health professionals from California. A principal component analysis uncovered four factors with attitudes towards telemental health: confidence with telemental health, concerns about telemental health, peer influence, and professional support & behavioral intent. This study showed significant relationships between discipline, theoretical orientation, and treatment approach with confidence …

Financial And Familial Challenges Faced By Undocumented First-Generation Students In Higher Education, Alexia Garcia, Karen Murillo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

As a first-generation student, it is difficult to navigate a higher education with little to no support. Having an undocumented status as a first-generation student the challenges and barriers increase. This study utilized snowball sampling through qualitative virtual interviews with 10 undocumented first-generation students. The data collected from the interviews was presented using content thematic analysis. The three major themes identified were access and barriers to financial resources, meeting family and educational expectations and perseverance. The findings identified the limited financial resources for undocumented students, and the influence of the family unit on the student’s educational experience. A key finding …