Social Work Commons^™

Comments On Treasury Notice 2025-68, Jin Huang, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

In December 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service announced their intent to issue regulations concerning Trump Accounts (also known as 530A accounts), requesting public comments on the intended regulations and related provisions. This testimony presents comments submitted in response to that request. In it, Jin Huang and Michael Sherraden summarize evidence from the SEED for Oklahoma Kids experiment (SEED OK), Maine’s My Alfond Grant, and Rhode Island’s CollegeBound Baby on the effectiveness of automatic enrollment in policy. They discuss the use of Social Security numbers, a centralized clearing fund, and a designated custodian network as tools …

Perceptions Of Former Inmates’ Mental Health And Substance Abuse Treatment Received During Incarceration, Garla Kathleen Snapp-Hart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Access to effective behavioral treatment is critical for the imprisoned population and newly released individuals to reduce reentry into the penitentiary system. Social workers within correctional facilities can determine the need for treatment, how often treatment is required, what specific treatment is necessary, and what resources will be needed to provide those treatments. A qualitative exploratory design was used in this study. I explored the quality of behavioral health treatment provided to the incarcerated population. Systems theory was used as the theoretical framework this study. There were 17 participants in this study who had been incarcerated in a Kentucky prison …

Ethical Decision-Making And Modification Of Service Delivery: Social Workers In Connecticut During Covid, Marie Elana Hollingsworth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social work professionals often experience demanding and intense situations while facing organizational restructuring during crisis situations. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the viewpoints of frontline social workers regarding their ethical decision-making processes in response to the mandatory modifications of the service delivery protocol during the COVID-19 pandemic. Enck’s biomedical and ethical decision-making framework grounded the study. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with 10 frontline social workers in Connecticut who had been employed with a social service agency for at least 3 years, but no more than ten. Findings from coding and thematic analysis yielded …

Secondary Students’ Mental Health And Absenteeism Post-Covid-19: School Social Workers’ Perspectives, Tiffany Hines Sutton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School social workers practice in a post-COVID-19 educational context where anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation are closely associated with chronic absenteeism among middle school students. This practice problem is central to clinical social work because distress-based avoidance is often misinterpreted as defiance, resulting in punitive responses that intensify disengagement. The purpose of this doctoral project was to explore how school social workers perceive and respond to the interconnected dynamics of student mental health and chronic absenteeism following COVID-19. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory guided the inquiry. A qualitative descriptive design was employed using semi-structured interviews with 10 middle school social workers …

Impact Of Suicide Literacy In Hispanic/Latinx Communities, Denisse Centeno Lamas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Left Behind In Lockdown: A Scoping Review Of Covid-19’S Impact On The Lives Of Transition-Age Foster Youth, Johanna K P Greeson, Sarah Wasch, John Gyourko, Antonio R. Garcia, Hannah Bennett, Kate Greco, Liya Cha

Faculty Scholarship

This scoping review asked: What is known about the scope and nature of research on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on older youth with foster care experience in the United States, including the types of studies, samples and outcomes examined? Guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute framework and PRISMA-ScR, we searched 11 databases and grey literature sources (October2024 to January 2025). Eligible studies were United States based, published from 2020 onward and included primary data on foster youth or relevant professionals. Thirty-two studies met inclusion criteria. Most studies were descriptive or cross-sectional, reflecting early phases of the pandemic. Mapping …

We Got You Sis: Body Mapping As An Embodied Pedagogical Approach To Sexual And Reproductive Justice Studies, Renata J. Hall

Feminist Pedagogy

No abstract provided.

Under The Guardianship: Experiences Of Mothers In Egypt’S El Nayaba El Hesbaya, Hana Khayry

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the intersectional lived experience of El Nayaba El Hesbaya in Egypt. El Nayaba El Hesbaya, operating under Law 119/1952, is the administrative and judicial body responsible for overseeing the financial and legal affairs of minors whose father or mother had passed. Hundreds of thousands of mothers in Egypt have (had) children under the guardianship of El Nayaba El Hesbaya. This research delves into the experience of mothers whose children are or were under the guardianship of El Nayaba El Hesbaya, examining how it shape(s/d) their everyday life as women, mothers, widows or ex-wives, citizens, and legal subjects. …

Integrating Future Factory-To-Factory (F2f) Manufacturing Through System Of Systems Engineering (Sose): A Framework For Capability Beyond Constituent Systems, Polinpapilinho F. Katina, Hengtao Tang Ph.D., Anouar Hallioui

Faculty Publications

System of Systems Engineering (SoSE) is an emerging discipline focused on the design, integration, and evolution of metasystems—composed of multiple autonomous yet interdependent systems. These systems of systems (SoS) offer capabilities that exceed those of any individual constituent systems by enabling synergistic coordination, interoperability, and dynamic adaptation across diverse operational contexts. This study pursued three primary objectives: (i) to examine the role of integration in enabling emergent capabilities beyond those of individual systems, (ii) to explore SoSE as a framework for orchestrating Future Factory-to-Factory (F2F) Manufacturing, and (iii) to assess the implications of SoSE to address volatile, uncertain, complex, and …

Navigating Care And Self-Care: Understanding Latina Caregivers’ Prioritization And Engagement In Self-Care Practices, Denise A. Longoria, John M. Gonzalez, Romeo Escobar, Nelda Rodriguez

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Introduction: Latina caregivers face significant physical and mental health risks due to the demands of caregiving. The decision to become a caregiver is often influenced by various factors including cultural values such as familismo and marianismo. It is essential that caregivers recognize the importance of self-care to prevent burnout. Without self-care, caregivers face an increased risk of stress, which can negatively affect physical and emotional health.

Methods: A qualitative approach using focus groups to explore Latina caregivers’ understanding and engagement in self-care.

Results: Findings suggested that participants understand the need for self-care; however, family and cultural needs were prioritized. When …

School Social Workers In Practice: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study On Understanding Role Navigation And Providing Mental Health Support In Educational Settings, Jennifer J. Bowers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of school social workers as they navigated their professional roles in supporting student mental health within educational settings. Grounded in Organizational Role Theory and Ecological Systems Theory, the study explored the meanings participants assigned to their roles, the challenges they encountered, and factors that supported or hindered their work. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit 11 licensed and unlicensed school social workers employed in the South Florida Tri-County area. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews and analyzed using epoché, horizontalization, and thematic clustering. Findings revealed four interrelated themes: navigating roles and …

Platforms For The Development And Sustainability Of Practice Research In Social Work: An International Cross-Case Analysis, Bowen Mcbeath, Michael J. Austin, Ilse Julkunen, Maija Jappinen, Lynette Joubert, Ralph Hampson, Rosaleen Ow, Lars Uggerhoj

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose:

This paper presents an institutional and organizational comparative case analysis of practice research platforms in social work, which are institutionally embedded partnerships of university-based research centers, organizations delivering social services and healthcare, and other knowledge intermediaries that connect social work practice and research.

Methods:

An institutional and organizational comparative case analysis is presented concerning four practice research platforms from the USA, Finland, Australia, and Singapore.

Results:

We identify similarities and differences in the platforms’ purpose and basic goals, administration and financing, and substantive and methodological foci in the development of social work practice research studies.

Discussion:

We conclude by …

Survivors Of Sexual Trauma: Abortion Experiences Of Black Women In The Southern United States, Katie Grace Geter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women who experience both sexual trauma and abortion within their lifetime are highly likely to struggle with serious mental health symptoms; however, social work students and practitioners lack education and knowledge on how to serve these women. Recent events, including the uprising of gender and race related movements, COVID-19, heightened political division, and increased governmental control on abortion rights also impact social-work practice. Acknowledging intersectionality, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of abortion for Black women in the Southern United States who have a history of sexual trauma. The experiences of 6 Black women with …

Toward Transformative Social Protection: Integrating Economic Empowerment And Addressing Graduation Challenges In Egypt’S Takaful And Karama Program, Mennatalla Ahmed Zayed

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates how Egypt's Takaful and Karama Program (TKP) can enhance long-term poverty reduction and program sustainability through the inclusion of economicempowerment interventions. Based on the frameworks of Social Risk Management 2.0 and Transformative Social Protection, the study places Egypt's experience in the context of international discussions about conditional cash transfers, multidimensional poverty, and graduation models. The study uses a qualitative methodology, conducting semi-structured interviews with academics, civil society experts, and policymakers. The interviews' findings are supported by content analysis of policy documents and impact evaluations on TKP and Forsa. According to the research analysis, cash transfers help alleviate …

Enhancing Social Health Programming For Gbmsm With Meth Use Experience, William O’Leary, David J. Brennan, Yvonne Bergmans, Tim Guimond

Lyle S. Hallman Social Work Faculty Publications

This report presents key findings and recommendations based on a two-year qualitative study involving gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) who have crystal methamphetamine (meth) use experience. We explore barriers and enablers of engagement in social health programming and propose actionable strategies for fostering inclusion, safety, and retention. Our goal is to inform and support providers and stakeholders working with this population.

How Disaster Risk Shapes Voter Turnout, Laura Brugger, Pedro Spindler-Ruiz, J.S. Onesimo Sandoval

Center for Social Development Research

Climate disasters are intensifying. With the intensification comes a growing threat to democracy in the United States and to the communities that depend on fair representation. When disaster strikes, barriers arise that can silence voters, especially in communities already facing systemic inequality. This brief presents findings from an analysis of precinct-level turnout in the 2020 U.S. presidential election across over 2,000 precincts in the three cities. The cities were chosen for their size, diversity, and exposure to climate threats: hurricanes in Miami, Florida, wildfires in Los Angeles, California, and flooding in San Antonio, Texas. The findings underscore the need to …

How Do Social Isolation And Loneliness Vary By Age?, Jihye Baek, Cal J. Halvorsen

Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging

Social isolation and loneliness, which are experienced by many older adults, can negatively impact health and well-being. Although often used interchangeably, social isolation is defined as an objective lack of social ties (e.g., number of close family members or friends) and loneliness as an internal sense of disconnection (e.g., feeling alone even when surrounded by others). Because social relationships, health, and life circumstances change as we age, patterns of social isolation and loneliness may differ by age group. Therefore, this research brief asks, How do patterns of social isolation and loneliness differ across age groups among community-dwelling older adults? 

Calculated Risks: The Power Of Predictive Risk Models To Regulate Families Of Color, Ashleigh Washington

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation examines predictive risk modelling (PRM) in New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS), specifically exploring AI-enabled design features, practices, and encoded and racialized assumptions about risk in child welfare prevention services. Guided by Critical Race Theory and the Algorithmic Ecology framework, this study traces how PRM in ACS evolved from a service termination tool into a broader, largely internal surveillance apparatus that leverages families’ personal information, including health information, to assess risk of future maltreatment and to evaluate contracted service providers. Drawing on analysis of public records and in-depth interviews with Black parents, the findings describe how …

The Satu Wakaf Indonesia Application Development Strategy, Nurul Huda, Nova Rini, Rahma Aini Nur, Ariel Nian Gani, Muhammad Rofi'i, Nur Syamsudin Buchori

Journal of Strategic and Global Studies

The Satu Wakaf Indonesia application is a new platform for digital waqf, which necessitates a strategic policy for its development. The needs of strategic policy stand from the current problems that occur in the implementation of the application. The objectives of this study are: (1) the key sub-elements of the Satu Wakaf Indonesia development strategy, and (2) The Satu Wakaf Indonesia development strategy using the ISM approach. The research method used is a qualitative method with the Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) approach. The data source for this study is the results of filling out questionnaires by expert informants. The results …

Corrigendum To “Decolonizing Knowledge As Epistemic Justice: Key Conceptual Tendencies From The Global South” [Tanzania Journal Of Sociology, Vol. 11, Issue No.2, December 2025: 113 - 128], Richard Sambaiga

Tanzania Journal of Sociology

This article registers corrections done to a reference section of "Decolonizing Knowledge as Epistemic Justice: Key Conceptual Tendencies from the Global South” [Tanzania Journal of Sociology, Vol. 11, Issue No.2, December 2025: 113 - 128]