Social Work Commons^™

Caregiver Incarceration, Stigma, & Mental Health, Megan West, Megan Madden, Ramsey Wilson, Brandon Pelletier

Thinking Matters Symposium

Parental incarceration has adverse effects on children and young adults socially, physically, and mentally (Phillips et al., 2002). Caregivers with either past or present incarceration experiences increase adolescents’ tendency to correlate behaviors with exposures to traumatic events (Kautz, 2017). Our research question for this project is, “what is known about perceived stigma, mental health symptoms, and caregiver incarceration?” A systematic literature review has been conducted to determine various themes that arise in research examining stigma, mental health symptoms, and parental incarceration. The group has been conducting this research through twenty-eight separate databases in order to compare themes that have been …

Intersectionality And Accessibility To Social Services, Nora Khuder

Thinking Matters Symposium

In times of a crisis the intersectionality of sex, class, and ability creates a vulnerable population. Many available “resources'' are exhausted, due to high demand. Intersectionality signifies the impact of multiple intersecting identities in society as a direct correlation to the specific and unique barriers of marginalized groups. Resources are currently limited due to the lack of representative data. Although many studies have been conducted, many researchers have failed to capture the need of social services in rural areas.

The Impacts Of Social Media Sites Such As Instagram And Facebook On Emerging Adult’S Perceptions Of Self-Esteem And Body Satisfaction, Wynne Cushing, Samantha Shandorf, Courtney Piccirillo, Abby Frazier

Thinking Matters Symposium

This study investigated the impacts of social media use, specifically Facebook and Instagram, on emerging adults’ perceptions of self-esteem and body satisfaction. Limited research exists regarding the influence of demographic variables, such as gender, race, and geographic location, on the relationship between social media use and negative outcome variables. The researchers utilized a cross-sectional survey design with a target population of University of Southern Maine students. Researchers hypothesize that emerging adults who spend more time on Facebook and Instagram are more likely to have lower self-esteem and body satisfaction than emerging adults who spend little to no time on Facebook …

Understanding How Nimby-Ism Shapes Portland, Maine’S Homeless Policies: A Qualitative Study, Eleanor Ginder

Thinking Matters Symposium

On June 17, 2019, after a prolonged period of community concern, the Portland City Council voted to relocate the city’s homeless shelter from the rapidly gentrifying Bayside neighborhood to a wooded area at the city limits. As municipal shelters continue to move away from metropolitan areas, the impact of NIMBY-ism on local and state policies related to homelessness cannot go unnoted. By analyzing publicly available testimony that occurred in the months after the decision to relocate, a variation of NIMBY-ism begins to emerge. This phenomenon, which could be referred to as “neo-NIMBY-ism” is characterized by individuals with lived experience of …

Impact Of Viewing Fatphobic Messages On Facebook In Generation X, Emily Gobi, Anna Biasin, Emily Baronfeld

Thinking Matters Symposium

Social media has been found to directly affect body image dissatisfaction (BID), which is defined as a discrepancy between how a person views their weight, shape and size, and what is indicated by objective measures (Silva et al., 2011). Previous studies on body image and social media have mostly been limited to women and girls (Ginsberg et al., 2015), and little research is available for individuals past early adulthood. The current study surveyed individuals from Generation X, defined as anyone born between 1965 and 1980. In addition, this study recruited participants from all genders, asking participants to self-identify as male, …

Indigenous Experiences Of Social Services, Oaklin Blaisdell, Haley West, Sammy Ellie Mackinnon, Brianna White

Thinking Matters Symposium

Native, Aboriginal, and First Nations individuals experience higher rates of homelessness, food insecurity, sexual violence, and other social inequalities than people of other races (Christensen et al., 2017; Shoemaker et al., 2020; Du Mont et al., 2017; Wahab & Olson, 2004; McCarron et al., 2018; Moullin et al., 2019; Myhra et al., 2015; Stevens et al., 2015; Cueva et al, 2020), and there is a distinct lack of resources for these individuals. However, when individuals do access available resources, they often experience anti-Native sentiment (Hoss & Blum, 2019; Pedersen et al, 2006). Thus, we hope to learn about Indigenous peoples’ …

Child Welfare Service Worker's Perspective Of The Juvenile Justice System, Valorie Antone, Kathryn Whitehead, Alexander Comeau, Zoe Donvan

Thinking Matters Symposium

Prior literature indicates youth who have had adverse childhood events or are diagnosed with a mental illness are more likely to become involved in the juvenile justice system (Chappard & Maggard, 2020). While research has been performed to involve juvenile justice workers and juveniles that have been involved in the system, there has been little involvement by the child welfare workers who have followed the trajectory of the youth from the beginning of involvement. This study investigates the perceptions of child welfare workers regarding youth involvement in the criminal justice system, addressing a current gap in the literature. In terms …

Opioid Use And Harm Reduction, Elise Bourassa, David Lee, Jason Rogers, Christian Silverthorne

Thinking Matters Symposium

Calls for various harm reduction approaches to the opioid epidemic are increasing in activist communities (Chapkis, 2020; Kennedy-Hendricks et al., 2019; Sederer & Marino, 2018). Given that harm reduction approaches, if implemented, will be provided by people in various helping professions, the current study investigates the relationship between choice of human service-focused college major and level of support for harm reduction interventions for people who use opioid drugs. A quantitative survey that aims to measure knowledge and perceptions of harm reduction strategies has been disseminated to students in social work, counseling, public health and nursing departments at the University of …

Impact Of Paid Internships For Msw Students, Veronica Gillen, Wendy Myers, Julie Tennille

Social Work (Graduate) Student Work

A review of the literature indicated graduate education debt disproportionately impacts students who are black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), women, and of low socioeconomic status (SES). Required unpaid internships further negatively impact degree completion, quality of life, and perception of graduate program experience. This study focused on the impact of $10,000 stipends awarded to Master of Social Work students in their final year of practicum at integrated care settings as a result of a competitive application process through a grant-funded project. The primary Research Question was to explore differences between graduation rates over the last two years between stipend-funded …

Examining The Experiences Of Community College Students, Melanie Snyder, Bayley Saffier, Abigail Mclane, Colleen Keeler, Zsa Zsa Alston

Social Work (Graduate) Student Work

Community colleges often have low graduation and retention rates but are more accessible to individuals from low- and moderate-income backgrounds due to affordable tuition. Receiving financial aid, such as the Pell Grant, has a positive influence on ability to achieve academic goals. The aim of this study was to investigate impeding and strengthening factors that impacted academic goal attainment in community college students eligible for the Pell Grant. Data was collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews with current financially eligible Pell grant community college students (n=62). The research team conducted thematic analysis guided by empowerment and strength-based theories. Participants reported on …

Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence And Coping Among Children In The United States: A Meta-Analysis, Sarah Vengen

Social Work (Undergraduate) Student Work

Thorndike included emotional intelligence (EI) when he defined social intelligence (SI) (Sharma, 2008) due to the influence of social and cognitive functions on SI and EI (Schutte et al., 1998). Salovey and Mayer later developed a Four-Branch Model for EI including the following skills: 1) perceiving/identifying emotions, 2) integrating emotions into thought processes, 3) understanding emotions and 4) managing emotions. A meta-analysis on the construct of EI revealed many available methods for evaluating the presence and extent of EI such as the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory and the Wong and Law EI Scale. These scales and questionnaires measure qualities and …

Supporting Those With Mental Health Diagnoses: An Evidence-Based Practice Guide For Social Work Practitioners, Kimberlie Lassen-Johnson

Evidence-Based Social Work Practice Guide Series

An evidence-based practice guide that explores 5 ways for the general public to support those with mental health and mental health diagnoses. These 5 topics consist of getting to know people with mental health diagnoses, practicing wise mind, re-evaluating your values, establishing boundaries, and challenging your negative thinking.

Economic Stress Among Low Income Latino Adolescent Fathers: An Application Of The Vulnerability-Stress-Adaptation Model, Diana Cedeño, Autumn M. Bermea, Heidi Adams Rueda, Michelle L. Toews

Social Work Faculty Publications

Latino youth are more likely to live under the poverty line and to become adolescent parents. Although research exists examining adolescent mothers, less is known about adolescent fathers, particularly Latino adolescent fathers. Much of what does exist uses a deficit lens, as opposed to one of strength and resilience. Although adolescent fathers sometimes do struggle in their transition to fatherhood, it is critical to understand the positive ways in which they adapt. The present study uses in-depth interviews and applies the vulnerability-stress-adaptation (VSA) model to understand parental adaptation processes among a sample of low-income Latino adolescent fathers (N = …

Trauma-Informed Practice In K-12 Schools: An Evidence-Based Practice Guide For School Administrators, Emily A. Ross

Evidence-Based Social Work Practice Guide Series

This guide will assist K-12 school administrators in implementing better trauma-informed practices in their schools. School administrators consist of leaders and decision-makers in a school system. Specifically, this information is directed toward principals, vice principals, and any other key personnel. Of course, administrators should direct trauma-informed practices with the guidance of school counselors who have the proper training regarding trauma-informed interventions. School counselors’ efforts to promote positive mental health outcomes and social emotional learning will be significantly more impactful with the support of school administrators. The following recommendations are not all inclusive but will lay the groundwork for implementing trauma-informed …

Transforming Impossible Into Possible (Tip) For Fatherhood: An Empowerment-Based Social Work Intervention, Philip Young P. Hong, Dara Lewis, Jang H. Park, Rana Hong, Ed Davies

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

The purpose of this study is to examine the psychological self-sufficiency (PSS) process among low-income men participating in the Transforming Impossible into Possible (TIP) program and explore the implications of TIP as a fatherhood intervention. Sample from 324 men participating in a community-based fatherhood initiative and four local job training programs in a large Midwestern city was used to examine the group differences in PSS as it relates to economic self-sufficiency (ESS). Men in the fatherhood TIP program and those in the general TIP program had significantly greater relationships between PSS and ESS than those in the non-TIP comparison group. …

Breaking The Cycle: Addressing Housing And Employment Needs For Survivors And Justice-Involved Women, Ziwei Qi, Kaiti Dinges, Cristinia Jimenez, Jessica Warren, Jennifer Hecker, Viviana Lizarraga, Maricela Villa, Linda O'Neal, Dung Kimble, Morgan Hart

BRIDGE Resource Hub

The project Breaking the Cycle of Violence—Addressing Economic Independence for Survivors of Gender-based Violence in Rural Communities aims to advance sustainable, survivor-centered solutions in rural settings. Funded through a competitive award, this initiative supports a one-day virtual teach-in held in April 2021, led by four social enterprises based in Colorado and Kansas. These organizations specialize in providing safe housing, job training, and employment opportunities for women survivors of gender-based violence. The workshop showcases innovative models that integrate residential stability with economic empowerment, with particular attention to the heightened vulnerabilities experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants engage in collaborative dialogue to …

Research And Social Activism In Gender-Based Violence, Ziwei Qi, April Terry, Sonia Salari, Annie Fukushima

BRIDGE Resource Hub

This virtual roundtable, Research and Social Activism on Gender-Based Violence, brings together scholars committed to bridging academic research and grassroots advocacy in addressing gender-based violence. Held on March 16, 2021, and sponsored by the Center for Empowering Victims of Gender-Based Violence at Fort Hays State University, the event features interdisciplinary perspectives from Dr. Annie Isabel Fukushima, Dr. Sonia Salari, Dr. April N. Terry, and Dr. Ziwei Qi. Panelists discuss their respective research on human trafficking, elder abuse, rural criminology, and community-based interventions—exploring how structural inequalities, policy gaps, and geographic isolation impact the lived experiences of survivors. Highlighting innovations in …

Input To Sr On Contemporary Forms Of Slavery, Including Its Causes And Consequences Regarding The Role Of Organized Criminal Groups, Peggy Frazier, Katherine Kaufka Walts Jd

Center for the Human Rights of Children

The Center for the Human Rights of Children (CHRC), in collaboration with signatory organizations, submits this input in response to the call for submissions made by the Special Rapporteur’s Report on the Role of Organized Criminal Groups with regard to Contemporary Forms of Slavery to inform the forthcoming report to the 76th session of the General Assembly. This input will focus upon the role of organized criminal groups with regard to child labor trafficking (forced labor), and specifically, forced criminality as a form of forced labor.1 We provide input on cases both in the interior of the United States, and …

Seductive Details In Training, Megan Paul

Umbrella Summaries

What are seductive details?

In a learning environment, seductive details are interesting but unimportant details that are not necessary to achieve the instructional objective (Garner et al., 1989). The information may be tangentially related to the topic but is not relevant to the main teaching goal. Such details are often included for the purpose of making the topic more interesting and engaging. There are many potential types of seductive details; they can be visual, verbal, or aural—static or dynamic images (e.g., illustrations, photos, animations), written or spoken words (e.g., text, narration), or sounds (e.g., music; Sundararajan & Adesope, 2020).

Why …

Parenting In Poor Health: Examining Associations Between Parental Health, Prescription Drug Use, And Child Maltreatment, Jennifer Price Wolf, Bridget Freisthler, Karla Shockley Mccarthy

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Rationale
Child maltreatment and problematic parenting are related to negative outcomes for children. Poor parental health could be a risk factor for problematic parenting through several mechanisms: 1) inadequate emotional regulation and coping; 2) impairment of parental capacity; and, 3) impairment of the parent-child relationship.
Objective
This study examines relationships between self-rated parental health, prescription drug use, and a broad array of negative parenting outcomes.
Methods
A sample of general population parents of children aged ten and younger was recruited from 30 mid-sized cities in California (n = 681). Weighted mixed-effects negative binomial and logistic regression models were used to …