Social Work Commons^™

Student Satisfaction With The Quality And Quantity Of Mental Health Services Offered By Their Msw Programs, Willa R. Mayo

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study sought to explore the mental health needs of clinical MSW students, and the degree to which they feel satisfied by the quality and quantity of mental health services provided to them by their schools. For this mixed-methods study, 111 current MSW students were surveyed, representing twenty eight different graduate programs. Participants reflected on their experiences with counseling services at their schools and commented on their level of satisfaction with the resources provided to them. Overall, 13% of respondents reported being “somewhat” or “very satisfied,” 31% were “not very” or “not at all” satisfied, and 50% were “neutral.” Areas …

Guidelines For Affirmative Social Work Education: Enhancing The Climate For Lgbqq Students, Staff, And Faculty In Social Work Education, S. L. Craig, E. J. Alessi, M. Fisher-Borne, Michael P. Dentato, A. Austin, M. Paceley, A. Wagaman, T. Arguello, T. Lewis, J.E. Balestrery, R. Van Der Horn

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

This report is intended to provide guidelines for the creation of social work educational environments that are affirmative of lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and questioning (LGBQQ) students, faculty, administrators, and staff. Creating affirmative social work educational environments for transgender and gender nonconforming populations is addressed in a companion document, Guidelines for Transgender and Gender Nonconforming (TGNC) Inclusive Social Work Education.

Beyond Group Work Camp: A Bridge To Symposia And Conference Participation Via Professional Presentations, Shirley Simon

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

The purpose of this paper is twofold - to describe a Group Work Camp workshop that facilitates continued professional involvement beyond the camp experience, and to share the information offered in this session. The workshop provides information about developing peer-reviewed presentations for professional association conferences and addresses the benefits of such presentations. It identifies different presentation formats and describes the abstract preparation, submission and review processes. It addresses the dissemination of supplemental material related to the presentation. Detailed recommendations for navigating the preparation and presentation processes are shared with the hope of easing anxieties for new presenters. By scheduling the …

Social Work For Social Justice: Strengthening Practice With The Poor Through Catholic Social Teaching, Julia Pryce, Michael S. Kelly, Mary Lawinger

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

No abstract provided.

Composing An Aesthetics Of Performance Pedagogy, Brian Kelly, Aimee Wodda

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

We present a collaborative audio and video-based performance ethnography and companion essay that expands upon our experiences in a graduate-level performance ethnography seminar. Our performative text explores the potential for audio and video-based performance ethnography as an important pedagogical tool that prioritizes alternative ways of knowing that are deeply related to nondeliberative groupwork practice. Following a review of our process, we propose an aesthetics of performance pedagogy and discuss the importance of liminality in our work. Implications for practice include providing educators with critical opportunities to contribute to students’ awareness and understanding without demanding conformity to particular ways of knowing.

Group Work Camp, Brian L. Kelly, Jennie Fleming

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

The editorial to Vol. 26, No. 3 of Groupwork.

Being A Neurobiologically Informed Play Therapist, Rana Hong, Christie M. Mason

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

This article offers a foundation for becoming a neurobiologically informed play therapist. Following a discussion of the history of neurobiologically informed approaches to treatment an overview of key principles of neurobiology is provided, synthesized from publications by leaders in the field. Principles are then used to explain play therapy interventions used in client cases. Drawing on concepts from recent neurobiology, this article ends with recommendations toward becoming a more neurobiologically informed play therapist

Maternal Allostatic Load During Pregnancy: Predicting Length Of Gestation, Molly Malany Sayre

Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work Faculty Publications

Allostatic load, or the “wear and tear” on the body due to stress, is thought to have a negative impact on length of pregnancy and contribute to health disparities in preterm birth. However, the magnitude of the effect on birth outcomes is unknown, in part due to questions of timing of measurement of allostatic load during pregnancy. This study used linear regression analysis of data from 156 pregnant women to test whether allostatic load is a predictor of length of gestation in the study sample, finding that third trimester allostatic load predicted length of gestation among women with full-term births. …

Wo’Kikso’Ye!: Live And Remember. Reflections On Akicita Cik’Ila, Little Soldier, Alex Lunderman (1929-2000), Richard William Voss, Joel R. Ambelang

Social Work (Undergraduate) Faculty Publications

It isn’t often that one gets to meet someone like Alex J. Lunderman, Sr. His Lakota name was Akicita Cik’ala (Little Soldier). The co-authors of this reflection worked closely with Alex over the years in different ways. Richard Voss, who is the speaker in this narrative, met Alex (Little Soldier) in his personal spiritual journey that eventually linked to his research interests in a number of collaborations with Alex (Little Soldier) and other Lakota Elders (Voss, R. W., Douville, V., Little Soldier, A., & White Hat, Sr., 1999a; Voss, Douville, Little Soldier, & Twiss, 1999b). Joel Ambelang followed this research …

Engaging Msw Students In Faculty Research: Students’ Perspectives Of Involvement In A Program Evaluation, Rebecca Thomas, Christina M. Chiarelli-Helminiak, Kyle Barrette, Brunilda Ferraj

Social Work (Graduate) Faculty Publications

Engaging social work students in research is challenging, in part, because of the way research is taught in the classroom and the need for learners to effectively develop connections between the “abstract world” of research concepts with the “real world” of professional experiences. This article describes the experiences of graduate social work students involved in a process and outcome evaluation of a community-based program. Analysis of student learning outcomes and the team-based model used to engage students in the evaluation are provided to put forth a paradigm of teaching social work research through direct, supervised, and collaborative engagement.

Determinants Of Health-Related Quality Of Life Of Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease, Shabu Varghese

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

End-stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) constitutes a serious public health problem in the United States. According to the United States Renal Data System (USRDS), in 2013, Medicare spending alone accounts for $30.9 billion for the treatment-related expenses for ESRD. The purpose of this study was to examine the causal relationship of two important determinants, perceived social support and treatment adherence with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of ESRD patients. Using the health belief model and Bandura's self-efficacy theory, the study explained the theoretical underpinnings of the causal relationships of the patient's perspectives of perceived social support …

Maternal Allostatic Load During Pregnancy: Predicting Length Of Gestation, Molly E. M. Sayre

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

Allostatic load, or the “wear and tear” on the body due to stress, is thought to have a negative impact on length of pregnancy and contribute to health disparities in preterm birth. However, the magnitude of the effect on birth outcomes is unknown, in part due to questions of timing of measurement of allostatic load during pregnancy. This study used linear regression analysis of data from 156 pregnant women to test whether allostatic load is a predictor of length of gestation in the study sample, finding that third trimester allostatic load predicted length of gestation among women with full-term births. …

Identifying The Trauma Recovery Needs Of Maltreated Children: An Examination Of Child Welfare Workers' Effectiveness In Screening For Traumatic Stress, Adrienne Whitt-Woosley

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

Children in the child welfare system comprise a group characterized by their exposure to trauma via experiences of maltreatment, under circumstances presenting multiple risk factors for traumatic stress. High rates of posttraumatic stress have been observed in this population. However, there is currently no standard for the universal screening of children in child welfare for trauma exposure and traumatic stress. The purpose of this study was to analyze the trauma experiences of a sample of maltreated children and examine whether child welfare workers are effective screeners of traumatic stress symptoms with children from their caseloads. Method: A sample of children …

Vocational Rehabilitation Outcomes For Hispanic Consumers In Traditional Settlement Areas And New Immigrant Destinations: A 17-Year Trend Analysis, Karen E. Waddle Cinnamond

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

At the end of the 20^th century, economic and political forces converged to create an unprecedented migration of Hispanics across and within U.S. borders. Many migrated for work in new destinations like the Southeast instead of traditional regions in the Southwest. In the Southeast many communities struggled to meet the economic and social needs of its newest members of a population that grew seemingly overnight.

The state-federal vocational rehabilitation system is an important service to meet the economic and social needs of people with disabilities that impair their ability to work. Current scholarship suggests Hispanics and other minorities experience …

Educational Experiences Of Foster Children And Communication Patterns Of Key Stakeholders: The Foster Parent Perspective, Teresa Hardin

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

This research explored the perspective of foster parents on the educational experiences of foster children and experiences of communication patterns with other key stakeholders (social workers, and teachers). Factors focused on were educational experience of foster children, communication patterns, the impact of communication patterns on the educational experience, and barriers to effective communication. Five individuals who were, at the time of the study, foster parents to at least one child were interviewed. Participants openly shared a variety of positive and negative experiences. This study adopted the theoretical framework of Bronfenbrenner’s cultural-ecological theory. Participant interviews were transcribed verbatim and inductive coding …

College-Educated, African American Women's Marital Choices, Katherine M. Oliver

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

This study explores the desire to marry, marriageable mate criteria, and marital choices/options as they pertain to college-educated, African American women within today’s society. A purposive, nationally based sample (N = 95) of never married, college-educated, African American women (i.e., 18 to 40 years of age) was gathered via an online survey accessed by an emailed link. A mixed methods approach was utilized within the survey design, followed by data analyses (i.e., frequencies, two-way analyses) interpreted through a theoretical framework of social exchange. Areas discussed include life goals of marriage, cohabitation, and career; romantic barriers; the perceived availability of …

How Therapists Use And Choose Mindfulness To Treat Trauma, Jessica M. King

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

This qualitative study used the phenomenological method to examine how therapists use mindfulness therapies and interventions to address trauma-salient issues with their clients. Specifically, it explored therapists’ use of and choices about mindfulness-based treatments when addressing post-traumatic stress symptoms, and trauma-relevant emotion dysregulation and attachment injury. Informants were associate and fully-licensed local therapists, recruited using convenience sampling and snowball sampling by word-of-mouth referrals. Data was collected by semi-structured interviewing. Interview data was analyzed with Moustakas’ (1994) recommended procedures for analysis of phenomenological data. Results, Discussion, Limitations and Suggestions for Future Research are described at the end.

Evaluation Of A Diabetes Self-Management Program For Hispanics In Lexington Kentucky: A Pilot Study, Miguel A. Gamboa Oropeza

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Hispanics are more affected by diabetes than non-Hispanic whites and they tend to experience more severe complications. Research shows that although self-management is poor among ethnic minorities, it is even more so among Hispanics. The “Taking Ownership of Your Diabetes” (TOYD) program has been shown to be successful in helping individuals manage their diabetes. However, no work has been conducted with Hispanic audiences in Kentucky. TOYD program allows individuals to modify lifestyle risks and solve problems related to diabetes management. The program was translated from English to Spanish. Hispanics males and females between ages 19 to 75 years …

The Use Of Meditation And Yoga As A Treatment Tool For Juvenile Offenders In Residential Treatment Centers For Relapse Prevention, Danielle K. W. Ballard-Green

Graduate Research Papers

Although crime has continued to decline over the last decade, the incarceration of minority youth happens at higher rates compared to their white counterparts. Incarcerated youth face trauma at high rates. Trauma can impact an individual's behavior and response to stress. Many incarcerated youth have substance use disorders (SUDs) and a relapse of substance use can result in a relapse of criminal behavior. When a youth is heavily immersed within the juvenile justice system, they are often placed within residential treatment centers (RTC). There are minimal treatment approaches that are successful within RTCs; they do not address the difficulty the …

Vicarious Battering: The Experience Of Intervening At A Domestic Violence-Focused Supervised Visitation Center, Tracee Parker

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This descriptive phenomenological research illustrated the experience of women who worked in a supervised visitation program (SVP) specifically developed to address safety concerns related to allegations of domestic violence. The SVP policies and procedures were designed not only to prevent physical assault and abduction but also to intervene in vicarious battering—a term introduced to describe the attempts by men who battered to exert control over, undermine, and/or intimidate the mothers of their children via interactions with their children and the visitation staff. The results of this research demonstrated the challenges of intervening in the context of court-ordered supervised visitation. Data …