Social Work Commons^™

Is Community Based Policing The Answer? Yemen’S Fight Against Aqap, Maximilian Kaehler

Senior Theses

Throughout history we have seen drastic changes in methods for combating terrorism; however, as a society we have never been able to find an effective solution. In recent years we have seen countries use community based policing in an effort to fight terrorism at home; how would adopting community based policing efforts help or hurt countries throughout the Middle East in combating terrorism? I believe that implementing community based policing into these countries would drastically improve civilian and government relationships as well as hinder terrorists’ ability to recruit new member from these areas. I conduct a multi-case study then apply …

Phoenix Ink: Psychodynamic Motivations For Tattoo Attainment By Survivors Of Trauma, December Renee Maxwell

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Tattoos adorn people from all over the world and date back as far as the Stone Age. Tattoos adorn people from all over the world and motivations for tattoo attainment have been studied recently. Still, there remains limited research on the potential therapeutic properties of tattoo attainment, particularly for survivors of sexual trauma. The purpose of this study was to investigate the experience of the tattoo process for survivors of sexual trauma and their motivations for tattoo attainment. This qualitative exploratory study interviewed both survivors of sexual trauma (N=10) and tattoo artists (N=7) to gain a wider perspective on the …

Examining The Needs Of Refugees And Refugee Service Providers: A Case File Examination, Alyson D. Miller

Honors Theses

Refugees are people who have fled their country as a result of experienced persecution or fear of persecution. Research shows that refugees face many challenges and have many needs after being relocated in the United States. Once refugees are resettled, the goal of resettlement organizations and agencies is that refugees achieve self-sufficiency and be integrated into the community. This research aims to discover if refugee demographic characteristics have an effect on the amount of financial assistance refugees receive for relocations or an effect on achievement of self-sufficiency. This research is a quantitative secondary analysis taken from the case files of …

Demographic Differences In Drug Dependency: Implications For Policy, Practice, And Research, Charles D. Baker

Honors Theses

The purpose of this research study was to examine whether there are differences in drug dependency based on demographic characteristics. The four most commonly used or abused drugs were included in this analysis (i.e., nicotine, alcohol, pain relievers, and marijuana). The secondary purpose is to explore whether there were demographic differences in mental health and drug treatment among those with a substance use disorder. Substance dependence is a state in which someone can only function normally with the presence of a drug. Past research has examined this topic to some degree; however, trends often change over time. This study found …

The Impact Of High School Extracurriculars: Similarities And Differences In Sense Of Community Among Competitive, Performance, And Participatory Activities, Erica M. Hawvermale

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Extant research links high sense of community in adolescence to adaptive outcomes such as enhanced motivation, self-efficacy, and coping ability (Battistich, Solomon, Watson, & Schaps, 1997; Vieno, Perkins, Smith, & Santinello, 2005; Henry & Slater, 2007), as well as reduced stress, anxiety, and depression (Chipuer, Bramston, & Pretty, 2002). In light of these findings, the present study was designed to assess the relationship between high school students’ participation in extracurricular activities and their perceptions of sense of community, enjoyment, and commitment, as well as the aspects of these organizations that help to facilitate feelings of community. Study 1 participants (N= …

Working With Mental Illness And The Preparation Of Social Workers, Destini Triplett

Honors Theses

Social workers are often the front line responders for individuals with mental illness. However, there has been limited research related to how social workers are prepared, what the best practices are, and what suggestions have been made to improve preparation in this kind of setting. This research study included a cross-sectional mixed methods study examining the knowledge and preparation of social work professionals as well as recommendations for improving education. The results indicated that social work educators and professionals are competent in their knowledge of mental health. The qualitative responses indicated three overarching themes: (1) confidence in abilities but acknowledgement …

Older Adults And Mobile Technology: Factors That Enhance And Inhibit Utilization In The Context Of Behavioral Health, Alexis Kuerbis, Adina Mulliken, Frederick Muench, Alison A. Moore, Daniel Gardner

Publications and Research

While numbers and proportions of older adults with behavioral health issues are expected to substantially increase, there is also a widening gap in available services for older adults. Mobile health interventions (mhealth) are a way to address existing barriers to treatment, provide frontline assessment and increase access to services for older adults. Due to perpetuated stereotypes, many assume that older adults do not utilize mobile technology nor will they accept a mHealth intervention. The purpose of this paper is to synthesize contemporary literature from information technology and healthcare regarding: (1) current mobile technology utilization by older adults, particularly in regards …

From The Father’S Heart To Our Hands: Christian Responsibility In The U.S. Foster System, Amelia Tam

Selected Honors Theses

Nearly half a million children are currently served by the child welfare system in the United States. This overwhelming strain on state departments and non-profit placement agencies is compounded by the fact that there are not enough available homes. There appears to be a shortage of capable and resilient foster and adoptive parents. Thousands of children who are ready to be adopted do not have anyone to take them in, and thousands more float in the system until new families agree to foster. This seeming shortage of homes is absurd considering the wealth of compassion and capability within the American …

Consequences Of Transgender Victimization, Zach Reid

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This study reviewed 13 empirical and recent studies dealing with transgender victimization. It details the arc narrative of where bullying begins and what the result is. The study revealed transgender youth and young adults are at higher risk for being bullied which puts them into a statistically more likely category to experience physical harm, sexual harm, and long lasting mental health problems.

Asset Limits For Means-Tested Public Assistance: Considerations For Child Development Account Proponents, Sondra G. Beverly, Margaret M. Clancy

Center for Social Development Research

If low-income families believe that having savings will jeopardize their public assistance benefits, they are unlikely to participate in Child Development Account (CDA) programs. This policy brief (1) documents the impact of CDA savings on five public assistance programs (Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, LIHEAP, and TANF) and (2) identifies opportunities for policy change at the state level. CDA savings held in agency-owned accounts do not affect public assistance because students and families do not own the savings. Personal deposits held in individually-owned CDAs may affect assistance, but our review shows that they often do not, especially when held in 529 college …

Unknown Identities: How Transracial International Adoptees Racially And Culturally Identify In College, Amy Williamson

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This qualitative research study investigated transracial international adoptees (TRIAs) and how they racially and culturally identify in college. This study was meant to bring an awareness to student affairs professionals to increase their knowledge about a population they may encounter. Four TRIAs were interviewed. The findings from the data analysis revealed many TRIAs were uninterested in their birth country growing up, they were connected to their adoptive culture, and they racially identified with their birth race. Areas for future research and recommendations for student affairs are included.

Advisor: Stephanie L. Bondi

Attachment To God, Locus Of Control, And Outcomes In The Brief Alcohol Screening And Intervention For College Students, Misty Schoephoerster

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research shows that aspects of religion and spirituality can influence drinking behavior among university students. Some believe that an internalized commitment to God, or to another spiritual force, is an important component in explaining relationships between religion, spirituality, and drinking behavior. One way of understanding and measuring this internalized commitment to God is based on attachment theory. Another way of measuring and understanding internalized beliefs about the degree to which God shapes behavior is based on the social learning theory concept called locus of control. Conceptually, low God locus of control indicates that one believes God is passive and not …

Increasing Global Context In Social Work Education: Role Of Internationally Experienced Faculty, Sarah Dababnah Phd, Mph, Msw, Sara Goodkind Phd, Msw, Caren J. Frost Phd, Mph, Jody K. Olsen Phd, Msw

Interdisciplinary Journal of Best Practices in Global Development

The infusion of global social work concepts into social work curricula enhances the educational experience and understanding of practice, policy, and research for students at all levels. Having faculty members who participated in global work augments the presentation of these concepts in ways that connect to student learning. Yet, no known research has investigated the role of internationally experienced faculty in promoting a global perspective in social work education and practice. One mechanism for obtaining global experience is through service in the U.S. Peace Corps, an organization that has been available for U.S. citizens to serve their country since the …

Mapping Community Space And Place In Mto Wa Mbu, Tanzania Through Surveys And Gis, Jessica Craigg

Georgia College Student Research Events

Cities throughout the African continent have been developing at an unprecedented pace, many of them due to the influence of the tourism industry. This is particularly true in Tanzania, a country famous for its national parks and their draw to tourists who help provide money for development. However, the only way to get the whole story on how to spend this money is through the experiences and needs of the people themselves. This study focuses on a small town in northeastern Tanzania, Mto wa Mbu, situated near Lake Manyara National Park, and its people’s perceptions of the park and community. …

Nutrition And The Person-In-Environment Perspective: Implications For Social Work, Kayla Harter

Masters Theses

The purpose of this research study was to explore the relationship between nutrition and social work education, practice, and perceptions on nutrition. Licensed master’s level social workers in the state of Michigan (n=45) were recruited online through Grand Valley State University’s School of Social Work listserv, social media, social work professors and colleagues. Participants completed an anonymous online survey through Google Forms which included 18 questions. The online survey involved open and closed-ended questions focusing on 1) integration of nutrition in practice; 2) perceptions on the value of nutrition in social work; and 3) nutrition training during and after graduate …

Usefulness Of Collaborative Family Engagement At Casa Of Montgomery County, Chelsea Bankes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

When children are in CPS care, there is a strong desire to ensure that their cases are executed so the children end up in safe, permanent environments as quickly as possible. To facilitate this goal, there is a partnership between CPS and an organization called CASA, which provides advocacy and support to ensure that the children have their rights represented in court proceedings. To help achieve this goal, Montgomery County has implemented the Collaborative Family Engagement (CFE) model. This model seeks to obtain better outcomes for children by engaging with the child’s family and the community around them. This study …

Bad Medicine: A Panel, Alanah Raianne Williams, Alex Do, Emma Erskine, Page Lemont, Sarah Zaidi, Van Chung, Joiada Munoz, Chelsey Damasco

Collin College Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Student Research Conference

Papers presented:

"Spread the News, Do Not Abuse" by Alanah Raianne Williams, Alex Do, Emma Erskine, Page Lemont & Sarah Zaidi

Abuse needs to be spoken about. The community needs to take action against it, if someone does not, who will? Who will be there to protect the victims of these demeaning situations? This project focuses on the types of abuse, what abuse is, the reason they do it, how it affects the victim's life, and what things can be done to stop it. Awareness and resources are the main focuses of this research project. The video focuses on statistics …

Employee Financial Wellness Programs: A Review Of The Literature And Directions For Future Research, Geraldine Hannon, Meredith Covington, Mat Despard, Ellen Frank-Miller, Michal Grinstein-Weiss

Center for Social Development Research

This is a literature review of studies that have examined the implementation of financial wellness programs in the workplace. The review suggests that employee financial wellness programs (EFWPs) have drawn on both existing and new methods to improve the financial security of employees. Although a number of studies have been conducted on employer-based financial education and retirement planning, evidence concerning the efficacy of EFWPs is limited. Moreover, the methodological shortcomings of studies in the workplace financial wellness field have limited evidence concerning returns on investment and impeded efforts to make best-practice recommendations. Thus, researchers should consider strengthening the evidence base …

Support Experiences Of Church-Going Christian Foster And Adoptive Families Of Children With Special Needs, Taylor Weaver

Senior Honors Theses

Much research is done on the populations of families of children with special needs, church-going Christian families, and foster and adoptive families, but little exists on the families who fall into all three categories. This thesis seeks to help remedy this problem by studying the support experiences of these families. Existing research on foster and adoptive families, families with special needs, and disability in the church is reviewed. A phenomenological study of five parents’ lived experiences was completed through interviews, where three main themes emerged: the importance of informal support, the need for formal support, and the integral role of …

Physical, Verbal, Relational And Cyber-Bullying And Victimization: Examining The Social And Emotional Adjustment Of Participants, Melanie Mcvean

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cyber-bullying has been gaining in popularity as online technology use has greatly expanded in the past decade. There has been quite a bit of research on traditional forms of bullying, which has demonstrated links to various demographic and psychosocial factors. Participation in cyber-bullying and victimization has been linked to some characteristics that are different from other types of bullying. There has been some discussion in the literature regarding whether cyber-bullying is significantly different from other forms of bullying. The literature has also noted the need for more studies utilizing peer-report data. This study utilized peer-report bullying data to examine self-reported …