Social Work Commons^™

Experience Of Adults With Special Needs In Sexual Education Programs, Kate C. Hallissey

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Adults with special needs are discouraged from exploring their sexuality, expressing it, accessing sexual health care, and learning about their sexual rights. As a result, this population experiences higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases and sexual abuse than the general population (Saxe & Flanagan, 2014). Adults with special needs deserve to receive sexual education programming that provides them with the information they need to make informed choices about sexuality and relationships. Understanding their experiences in sexual education programs can better inform future programming for this population.

Therapist Experience Treating Female Sexual Assault Survivors, Melinda Irving

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Sexual assault often results in survivors experiencing Post traumatic stress disorder or depression. The phenomena of treating survivors in therapy after a sexual assault, has been researched thoroughly from the view of clients. Qualitative research done from therapists experiences is not as abundant in the literature. Therapists experiences treating female survivors of sexual abuse was explored, using a phenomenological research method. Examining therapist's perspective on providing therapy with survivors, can support other therapists working with women who have survived a sexual assault

Lcsw-Perceived Therapeutic Alliance And Job Satisfaction A Correlational Pilot Study, Daniel J. Kelly

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

One-hundred-and-fifty Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) were sent surveys measuring demographics, therapeutic alliance, and job satisfaction. Past literature suggests that clinician-perceived therapeutic alliance is related to job satisfaction. Results of this study failed to confirm this. Implications and limitations are discussed

Veterans Experience Using Acupuncture As An Alternative Treatment, Stacy Leet

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

There is growing dissatisfaction within the veteran community with their conventional health care options. This dissatisfaction has led to an increase in seeking complementary and alternative treatments, like acupuncture. There is increased need to understand the experience of veterans who use acupuncture as an alternative treatment for their physical or mental health care needs. This phenomenological study interviewed veterans (n=6) to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences using acupuncture as alternative treatment. The outcomes of this study will add to the knowledge base and provide social workers and health providers a wider range of care options that will continue …

The Student Experience Of Sexual Education In Maine Public Schools, Grace Nevins, Michael Johnston

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The modern sexual climate of the Unites States often contradicts the moral values taught to young people in sexual education classes in the public school system. Studies have shown that the traditional “abstinence only” method, which was made popular during the 1990’s, was ineffective in the prevention of young pregnancy and the reduction in sexually transmitted diseases (Schwarz, 2007). Teenagers are increasingly exposed to more sexualized content through a variety of media; however, this often contradicts the messages they receive in schools, particularly the “abstinence only” educational model.

Parenting A Black Child In America: Fears And Experiences, Tonya Bailey-Curry

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

This study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the lived experience of parents with black children by asking the following questions: How do you think your experiences of parenting a black child differs from parents of non-black children? What would you estimate are the differences between parenting a black male child and a black female child? How do you educate your children about engaging with law enforcement? What are your fears in parenting at this time? Ø How is your experience of parenting different than they way which you were raised?

Behavioral Health Unit: Case Study At The Portland Police Department, Anne Sedlack

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

There are 8,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States. 1,000 have some form of specialized policing and response presence - which means that they have at least a few officers who are crisis intervention trained (CIT). 200 of these law enforcement agencies have some form of program that is beyond a few police officers trained in CIT. In 2016, there were 6 departments that were awarded a grant from the Department of Justice and Bureau of Justice Assistance. These six are currently learning sites dedicated to studying the affects of having a behavioral health specialized co-response team. The Portland …

Effects Of Political Environment On Individuals And Relationship, Ariana Blethen

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The intended purpose of this study is to provide participants with a platform to share their experience in both the current political environment and through other political times in their lifetime as an individual and as a person in a same sex relationship. The research question addressed was focused on individual experiences over time, experiences as a couple, views on current politics and perception of the impact of the political environment on individuals and couples’ experience of life. In summation, a primary research question could be brought to “How do you feel the current political environment affects you as an …

The Experiences Of Asylum Seekers Who Are Temporarily Housed By Faith Communities While Experiencing Homelessness, Nicholas Meintel

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The purpose of this study is to gain deeper understanding of the experiences of homeless asylum seeking individuals who were temporarily housed by families in the greater Portland area. In response to the need for housing for asylum seeking families, three local churches founded a housing initiative in 2016 to provide temporary housing and other assistance when the beds were full at the local family shelter. While literature pertaining to the role of faith-based organizations in helping displaced persons is abundant, few studies focus on the experiences of those hosted by faith-based organizations while seeking asylum. The current study seeks …

The Impact Of Incarceration For Women Who Have Children: A Phenomenological Study, Chelsea White

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

To address this gap in the literature, this phenomenological study will investigate the lived experience of incarcerated mothers to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be separated from their child due to incarceration.

Narrative Study Of The New England Innocence Project, Sami-Jo Stubbs, Steven Doyle

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

There is a large body of research related to uncovering the causes behind wrongful convictions (Cerrano, Gould, Hail-Jares, & Leo, 2014; Pinard, 2010). There is a scant amount of research focused on the people and agencies helping to overturn wrongful convictions.This narrative study explored the experiences of staff as a small New England non profit agency that assists wrongfully convicted individuals in proving their innocence.This study explores the stories through interviews with interns, lawyers and other staff at the agency to understand their work with policy and with individuals in the criminal justice system.The purpose of this qualitative narrative is …

Shared Experiences Of Women In Politics, Esther Pew

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

What are the lived experiences of female politicians in the state of Maine who have made the active decision to run for elected office?

• What is the experience like for a woman running for political office?

• What motivates and hinders women in their aspirations to run for political office?

Perceptions Of Successful Aging Among Maine Elders With Physical Limitations: Insights From Qualitative Interviews, Madeline Minor, Rebecca Knight

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Research Question: How do elders living with a disability perceive the aging process?

Racialization Of Heroin Use And The Emergence Of A Public Health Issue, Ellen Pogson

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

How is race used as a tool in newspaper publications to shape public opinion of the heroin epidemic in Portland, Maine, between the years 2014-­‐2016?

How does the portrayal of the heroin user inform public policy and health care interventions?

“Real Possibilities” In The Age Of Successful Aging: An Exploratory Content Analysis Of Aarp Magazine’S Feature Article, Noah Krell

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The specific goal of this exploratory research project is to determine:

• What successful aging themes arise in AARP Magazine’s feature articles?

• Is successful aging represented at the exclusion of other aging paradigms, or do a multiplicity of aging perspectives exist within the sample of articles?

Accounting For Variability In Mother-Child Play, David F. Lancy

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

This paper highlights contrasting perspectives in the study of mother-child play. One contrast emerges as we look at the phenomenon using the lens offered by anthropology as opposed to the more commonly used lens of psychology. A second contrast is apparent from on-the-ground descriptions of childhood in the ethnographic record compared to observations of children in the upper strata of modern society. Psychologists and those public agents who adopt their perspective see mother-child play—from infancy—as both necessary for normal development and an unlimited good. Its self-evident value should be impressed upon those who are as yet, unenlightened. Anthropologists not only …

Marbles And Machiavelli: The Role Of Game Play In Children's Social Development, David F. Lancy, M. Annette Grove

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

The authors review several case studies of children engaged in rule-governed play and conclude that the process of learning rules—and of breaking them and making new ones—promotes what they call gamesmanship. They link the development of gamesmanship to the theory of Machiavellian intelligence, which considers social interaction primary in the evolution of human intelligence. They also question the benefits of adult-managed child play and assess the impact it may have on the ability of children to develop gamesmanship.

Social Workers’ Experiences Using Self-Advocacy On The Job, Jessica Labbe

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

While many social workers spend the bulk of their days helping their clients learn how to advocate, research shows that social workers often do not advocate for their own rights and well-being at work. The qualitative research that exists focuses primarily on social workers in urban areas who work in child protective services and residential treatment centers. In this study, licensed Master’s-level social workers (either LMSW-CCs or LCSWs) in Maine were asked about their experiences of using self-advocacy on the job.

School Of Social Work, April 2017, College Of Health And Human Services

Social Work Newsletter

• WMU Fostering Success program saluted as a 'beacon' for college access
• Dr. Ineke Way will be retiring at the end of the spring semester, after teaching in the School of Social Work since 1991
• Considering a study abroad opportunity? There are openings in the Social Justice and Sustainability in India program, scheduled for fall 2017
• Congratulations
• Upcoming Events

Do #Blacklivesmatter? Implicit Bias, Institutional Racism And Fear Of The Black Body, Reshawna L. Chapple, George A. Jacinto, Tameca N. Harris-Jackson, Michelle Vance

Ralph Bunche Journal of Public Affairs

The paper implores a brief cultural analysis to examine racial tensions and injustices in the U.S. that have led to the Black Lives Matter movement. Specifically, implicit bias is of primary focus as the authors examine how bias of the Black male frames the “Black-as-criminal” mentality, as well as connotes fear of the Black male body. The authors further discuss how fear of the Black face and Black male body has led to discriminatory actions such as institutional racism and, in the most vehement yet consistent cases, the killing of unarmed Black men and women. Cases such as Freddie Gray, …