Social Work Commons^™

School-Based Mental Health Referrals’ Representation Of Actual Mental Health Disorders Among Adolescents, Alva M. Dominguez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Increasingly, health providers are recognizing the importance of providing behavioral and mental health services to children and adolescents. As a result, school districts are adopting the School-Based Mental Health Program approach to provide mental health services to their students. The purpose of this study is to test if there is a disparity between children being referred due to externalizing behavior versus internalizing behaviors. The data was collected from archival sources, and it was analyzed utilizing the SPSS software for a quantitative and descriptive study. The findings indicated that students experiencing Internalizing and/or Externalizing behaviors are almost equally receiving services. This …

Perceptions On The Aging Population: Disparities Among Graduate Social Work Students, Ashlee Taylor Crosson, Kelsey Marie Goodwin

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Social workers are needed to meet the needs of the growing aging population. Yet, there is a shortage of social work students entering the field of gerontology as opposed to child welfare, school social work, or family services. The proposed study used a qualitative research design to explore why social work students are underrepresented in areas that serve older people. A sample of 58 graduate social work students from several universities in Southern California completed open-ended questions on a scale (N = 58). Thematic analysis of the data revealed four major factors that account for the underrepresentation of social work …

Religion And Mental Health Service Utilization Among Hispanic Communities, Victor Ortega

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study aims to describe the relationship between religion and mental health utilization as perceived through Hispanic (Spanish speaking) individuals in religious communities. Previous studies have conducted research on the relationship between utilization of mental health services and religiosity, however there is limited research that describes the relationship between the two variables within the Hispanic population. This study seeks to find what the perception of mental health utilization is within the Hispanic community. Research has been conducted through a qualitative approach by interviews with individuals who have consented to be audio recorded. The data was then transcribed, for the purposes …

Social Workers Perspectives On The Causes Of Placement Instability Among Adolescents, Adella Jimenez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Various levels of research over the past three decades have concluded that children are harmed by constant changes to where they reside when they are removed from the care of their parents. Regardless of that, minimal research has been conducted to investigate this problem from the perspective of the social worker. This study explores the problem of placement instability among adolescent populations from the perspective of foster family agency social workers in Riverside County, California. Interviews with foster family agency social workers were conducted using a digital voice-recording device. The audio files were transcribed to text and thematically analyzed for …

The Effects Of Trauma From Multiple Placements Of Foster Youth, Savannah Perez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Over the course of several decades, the foster youth population continues to grow due to various forms of abuse that have occurred in the biological home. Many foster children experience multiple placements which ultimately cause a significant amount of trauma due to placement instability. The study examined trauma of instability among foster youth and discussed interventions that could be implemented when working with resource families and foster youth within the field of social work.

A post-positivism paradigm was used to focus on understanding the trauma of placement instability. A total of six face-to-face interviews of master’s level social workers were …

Preventing Gambling Harm – Targeting At Risk Gamblers, Eija Pietilä

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

No abstract provided.

Supportive Supervision And Resiliency Ohio - Guidance For Coaches Supporting Resilience, Quality Improvement Center For Workforce Development

Other QIC-WD Products

I. Preparation for Coaching Session A. Preparation of Supervisor ➢ Review Coaching Skills and Coaching Process (see Pgs. 4-5 Coaching in Child Welfare Participant Guide from the Supervisor’s Coaching Training) ➢ Reflect on how coaching builds a trusting relationship ▪ Commitment to confidentiality ▪ Clear mutual understanding of coaching, the process and expectations ▪ Modeling the coaching mindset/skill set ➢ Review the basics of Resilience Alliance (Handout of Slide Deck provided at the Supervisor’s Coaching Training) B. Preparation of Caseworker (can be done by supervisor in unit/team meeting) ➢ Discuss how Resilience coaching is a part of supportive supervision ➢ …

The Influence Of Gambling On The Immigrant And Refugee Community, Tamika Harvey

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

The state of Pennsylvania approved new gambling activities, such as internet gambling and “Play at the Pump” to increase revenue in effort to support special populations. Forming partnerships with community leaders the City of Philadelphia learned how former and new gambling activities has impacted the special population group involving the immigrant and refugee community. The discussion will consist of gambling related activities commonly practiced in their culture and the challenges faced when attempting to access services for problem gambling.

Professional Competencies For Providing Interventions For Gambling Related Problems And Other High-Risk Behavior – Perspective Of Social Welfare Professionals, Neven Ricijas Ph.D., Sabina Mandic Ma, Dora Dodig Hundric Ph.D.

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

Important aspect of the social welfare system is providing interventions for children and youth with behavioral problems, mainly externalizing behavioral disorders, delinquent behavior and addictions. In Croatia, children and youth can be referred to the social welfare system based on the Social Welfare Act, Family Act or Youth Courts Act, depending on the age, etiology and context of behavioral problems.

The main aim of this study was to explore how often social welfare professionals encounter different phenomenological types of behavioral problems and how confident they feel for providing interventions. Special emphasis will be put on gambling related problems among children …

Examining The Impact Of Victimization On Girls’ Delinquency: A Study Of Direct And Indirect Effects, Johanna Peterson, Dana D. Dehart, Emily Wright

Faculty and Staff Publications

Previous research has acknowledged that there is a relationship between victimization and later delinquency, but the specific attributes of this relationship are unclear because measures of both direct and indirect victimization are rarely explored in a single study. We included both indirect and direct victimization to examine which form of victimization was a stronger predictor of substance use, fighting, running away, and sex work among girls committed to a juvenile justice facility. Findings indicated that direct victimization was typically a more salient predictor of delinquency than indirect forms of victimization. Further, running away and sex work appear to be unique …

Examining The Impact Of Victimization On Girls’ Delinquency: A Study Of Direct And Indirect Effects, Johanna Peterson, Dana Dehart, Emily Wright

Faculty and Staff Publications

Previous research has acknowledged that there is a relationship between victimization and later delinquency, but the specific attributes of this relationship are unclear because measures of both direct and indirect victimization are rarely explored in a single study. We included both indirect and direct victimization to examine which form of victimization was a stronger predictor of substance use, fighting, running away, and sex work among girls committed to a juvenile justice facility. Findings indicated that direct victimization was typically a more salient predictor of delinquency than indirect forms of victimization. Further, running away and sex work appear to be unique …

The Lived Experience Of Discharged And Readmitted African Americans With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease To A Safety-Net Hospital, Kiiyonna Jones

Dissertations

Background:Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a debilitating respiratory disease that negatively affects the quality of life of those affected and has been a major contributor to the continuous rise in healthcare cost in the Unites States (Guarascio, Ray, Finch, & Self, 2013; National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, 2009; Shavelle, Paculdo, Kush, Mannino, & Straus, 2009; Scott, Smith, Sullivan, & Mahajan, 2001). In 2014, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) identified COPD as an applicable condition to the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, which penalizes healthcare organizations having readmissions higher than the national average. COPD is the second …

Uprooting: How Can I Ethically Sell My Home In A Gentrifying Neighborhood?, Amie Thurber

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

In areas that are rapidly gentrifying, the decisions sellers make—to whom to sell, and for how much to sell—are of particular consequence to their neighborhood. As someone who studies the myriad harms of gentrification, these decisions were particularly acute when I was facing them myself. Interweaving Nashville history, gentrification scholarship, and personal reflection, this article traces the ways my family navigated the question of how ethically to sell our home in a gentrifying market in order to be accountable to the neighborhoods we left behind.

Associations Between Masculine Norms And Health-Care Utilization In Highly Religious, Heterosexual Men, Josh R. Novak, Terry Peak, Julie A. Gast, Melinda Arnell

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to use focus groups to explore married men’s avoidance of health-care utilization. Five focus groups of 8 to 10 married, heterosexual, male participants (N = 44) were conducted and analyzed using grounded theory methods. Several important themes emerged connected to how masculine norms were associated with health-care utilization at several domains including at the organizational level (perceptions of doctors), interpersonal level (past family context and current family context), and individual level (illness severity, money concerns). These themes were all connected with the societal theme of masculine norms …

Mental Health Disparities For Latino Immigrants & Its Impact On Psychological Well-Being, Ana Do Rosario Sousa

Counseling Psychology | Master's Theses

In the present study, the researcher sought to examine the factors associated with Latino immigrants and the barriers/challenges that are faced in mental health. The main question that the researcher focuses on in the present study is: What are some of the mental health challenges for Latino immigrants & how do these disparities further impact psychological well-being? Furthermore, the research focuses on highlighting the variables that are increasingly damaging to the minority population of Latinos in the United States. These variables include lack of health insurance, stigma, acculturation issues, legal issues, and biopsychosocial factors, such as socioeconomic class. In multiple …

A Population-Based Study On The Correlates Of Trauma And Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Behaviors Among Adolescents Aging Out Of Foster Care., Jennifer Artis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Children in foster care are confirmed victims of maltreatment who may suffer from chronic trauma. These adverse childhood experiences will often increase the risk of physical and psychological adversities such as self-harm (SH), substance abuse, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), heart disease, depression, etc. Based on previous and current research studies, youth in foster care are less likely to receive adequate treatment for their self-harm behaviors and mental health needs. Failing to provide proper treatment could lead to harmful activities such as deliberate self-harm and potential suicide. This population-based study focuses on the prevalence of SH among youth in foster …

Ethics In Social Work Practice (With A Rural Twist), Paul Force-Emery Mackie

Social Work Department Publications

Social work ethics can be challenging, and in rural areas even more so. What do we know about how to practice in unique and often isolated geographic environments? Join Professor of Social Work and National Association for Rural Mental Health Past President Dr. Paul Mackie for a two-hour training focused on ways to address common ethical dilemmas and challenges faced by behavioral health providers in rural and low-population areas.

A Working Model For Integrating Two Basic Christian Concepts Into Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Lauren Brya

Honors Theses

Social workers and other clinicians have an opportunity to best meet the needs of children and parents working through trauma by utilizing innovative treatment methods in the therapy process. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidence-based practice with research suggesting effectiveness in reducing PTSD and anxiety symptoms. My working model combines TF-CBT components as outlined in the acronym PRACTICE, and the Christian components of prayer and worship. Comprehensive descriptions of both the TF-CBT components and each Christian component are described for educational purposes. The working model suggests powerful resources to utilize with both adult and child clients in a …

A Trauma-Informed Art Therapy Approach For Boys With Sexualized Problematic Behaviors: A Group Method, Rebecca Cyr

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Treatment of sexualized problematic behaviors (SPB) in children and adolescents is a clinically significant issue that has little research to support the fundamental need for treatment. Sexualized problematic behaviors (SPB) can be an indication of a child’s own complex trauma and sexual abuse history. Using a relational, trauma-informed, and developmental approach to treatment in combination with art therapy, children demonstrating SPB can learn how to better express themselves, respect themselves and others, and heal a fragmented sense of self. Developmentally, these children and adolescents are in the stage where identity formation is the main task. Therefore, this series of art …

Dmt And “The Man Box:” Provoking Change And Encouraging Authentic Living, An Arts-Based Project, Steven Reynolds

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This thesis explores the mind-body experience through an arts-based research approach to examine, and redefine the emotional capacity and usefulness of males through societal determinants that limits and hinders men from living their authentic selves. Through the lens of a metaphoric “Man Box” 112 men participated in a workshop recreating their personal narratives of socialization through, style of dress, coping mechanisms, belief systems and who they should be as men through society's standards. In the “Man Box,” male bonding, and emotional feelings are discouraged, while the objectification of women, material property and physical/emotional strength are encouraged. This research investigates the …