Social Work Commons^™

Racial And Ethnic Diversity In Undergraduate Social Work Programs: How Are Programs In Rural Areas Faring?, David L. Beimers, Brian Warner, Paul Force-Emery Mackie

Social Work Department Publications

Social work programs have a long-standing commitment to recruiting and educating racially and ethnically diverse students. However, some programs in rural areas have greater difficulty meeting this commitment. This study examined racial and ethnic diversity within baccalaureate social work (BSW) programs, focusing primarily on student enrollment, faculty, perceptions of diversity, and interventions to attract students. Program directors of BSW programs from 10 Midwestern states were surveyed. Forty-two programs responded. The results indicate that as a whole, social work programs differ in their levels of racial and ethnic diversity. However, BSW programs in rural areas tend to have fewer students and …

Barriers To Critical Thinking Across Domains, Reed Geertsen

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

The transfer of critical thinking across domains presents both a significant

challenge and meaningful opportunity for college education as well as

programs of continuing education and · efforts to encourage lifelong learning.

After examining different approaches to teaching critical thinking, this paper examines some of

the barriers to transfer across domains using an interactionist perspective. This perspective

underscores the fact that developing and using critical thinking is a lifelong endeavor due to the

tunnel-vision tendencies that naturally follow from situated learning in a particular domain. Two

case studies are presented to illustrate the potential blinding effects of situated learning

resulting …

Play And Learning In The Primary Years .G2200, Jennifer Gerdes, Tonia Renee Durden, Lisa M. Poppe

Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families, and Schools: Faculty Publications

During the school day, there should be opportunities for children ages 3-8 to gain a deeper understanding of academic concepts through play. Children’s play needs to be encouraged as an essential part of their healthy development. A wide variety of play experiences is necessary to develop a complex and integrated brain.

Research collected as part of the report Crisis in the Kindergarten: Why Children Need to Play in School (2009) shows that children are spending fewer than 30 minutes a day in purposeful play or choice time in the kindergarten classroom, even less in grades 1-3. In contrast, young children …

Brain Development And Learning In The Primary Years .G2198, Jennifer Gerdes, Tonia Renee Durden, Lisa M. Poppe

Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families, and Schools: Faculty Publications

In the primary years, children are beginning to think in complex ways about themselves, their environment, and others. Teachers can play a role in honing children’s brain development and learning.

The Importance Of Outdoor Experiences In The Primary Years .G2202, Jennifer Gerdes, Tonia Renee Durden, Leanne Manning, Julia C. Torquati

Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families, and Schools: Faculty Publications

Daily experiences in natural environments can have immediate and long-lasting benefits for children. Increased physical activity is associated with decreases in depression and anxiety and increases in levels of concentration. It also is a key strategy in addressing childhood obesity.

Research overwhelmingly supports the need for children to experience natural environments often and in a variety of ways. For many reasons, children are spending increasing amounts of time inside the house watching television and playing video games. Also, many schools are cutting recess times or eliminating recess all together in favor of spending more time during the day focusing on …

Social Workers' Awareness Of Permanency Readiness Services In San Bernardino Children And Family Services, Maria Vanessa GáLvez, Cynthia Morales Guerra

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to explore social workers' awareness of permanency readiness in the county of San Bernardino Children and Family Services within the foster care system. The intent was to update social workers on how to develop with youth, caregivers and other partners, successful strategies to improve transition practice and outcomes in their daily comprehensive assessments, planning, and practice (Family 2 Family, 2012).

Social Workers' Perceptions Of Psychotropic Medication Use On Children And Adolescents In Foster Care, Tina Latrice Johnson Hollman, Dominic Marcus Ruffin

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the attitudes of social workers' regarding psychotropic medication use on children in foster care. This study also addressed any prospective concerns that social workers may have had as they relate to psychotropic medications being administered to children in foster care.

A Mixed Methods Examination Of Structural Bigenderism And The Consequences For Transgender And Gender Variant People, Kristie Lynn Seelman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For years, transgender activists and their allies have spoken out about the oppression that transgender and gender non-conforming people experience in relation to societal systems and institutions, due to policies and practices that do not acknowledge non-binary experiences of gender, that do not recognize that one's gender may change over time or may not match cultural expectations for gender expression, and that punish and discriminate against trans people (Gilbert, 2009; Lombardi & Davis, 2006; Markman, 2011; Spade, 2006; WWRC, 2010). Scholars have called for human services professionals and researchers to critique the failures of institutions in society (and the people …

Robert Frost's "Mending Wall" As An Allegory Of Tolerance: Understanding, Acceptance, And Invitation, Kristina Hansen

Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy

Lane Fischer’s discussion of the nature of law in Turning Freud Upside Down (2005) describes tolerance as the combination of understanding, acceptance, and invitation to do better. This conceptualization of tolerance is equated to love for the other. The poem “Mending Wall” by Robert Frost is analyzed as an allegory of tolerance so defined.

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Preparation Among Master Of Social Work Students On The Hiv/Aids Community, April Marie Fernandez, Maria Guadalupe Villasenor-Perez

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to examine how well Master of Social Work students were prepared in providing services to the HIV/AIDS population, and if adding HIV/AIDS course in the curriculum would help them feel competent in working with the HIV/AIDS population.

Recognition Of Loss: Disenfranchised Grief And The Children Of Incarcerated Parents, Julia Anna Soto

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to assess provider awareness and perception of service needs, and of the grief and loss issues that children with incarcerated parents face. These issues include the behavioral and emotional state of the child, the attribution of behaviors and emotions to grief, types of referrals, support and services offered for these children, placement disruptions, and keeping maternal contact.

Social Workers' Perception Of The Effectiveness Of The Parent Partner Program Of San Bernardino County, Maisha Lashawn Albert-Alexander, Marion Estelle Wheeler

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this research is to examine social workers' perception of the effectiveness of the Parent Partner program for the San Bernardino County Children and Family Services. This study employed a quantitative study design using an online survey questionnaire. The sample size consisted of 50 Social Service Practitioners and Social Workers II's throughout San Bernardino County Children and Family Services. San Bernardino County Children and Family Services intends to examine its newly introduced program to determine how well social workers and parents are responding to the use of this early engagement strategy as an effective method for faster family …

Assessing Depression Among Elders: How Are We Doing?, Kayli Nicole Stohler

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to understand medical social workers' and licensed registered nurses' decision-making process for recognizing late-life depression. The study participants involved in this research project included 10 medical social workers and 9 licensed registered nurses from Redlands Community Hospital. For this study, interviewing was the primary source of collecting data.

Sexual Exploitation And Juvenile Girls, Kimberly Renell Thompson

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to examine the variables that are associated with sexually exploited juvenile girls in Contra Costa County, and offer rehabilitative services to these girls while they are detained in juvenile hall. This study used quantitative secondary data analysis collected from Contra Costa County Probation Department from December 2012 to April 2013. The data were collected from a random question survey of Probation Officers within this Department.

The Psychological Effects Of Ageism On Older Adults: Are There Any?, Christina Denise Nieblas

Theses Digitization Project

The focus of this study was the psychological effects and experiences of ageism on older adults. Data was gathered qualitatively through interviews with seventeen older adults living in independent living apartments of a continuing care retirement community. The study site was a continuing care retirement community with independent living apartments for older adults in Riverside County, California.

Needs Of Transitional Age Youth, Evelyn Kelli Ensman

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into needs of transitional age youth by interviewing experts in this field. The study participants for this research study are the employees that work with the transitional age youth population. The study participants consisted of: Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Masters level Social Workers (MSW), and Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT). The research site for this study was Bilingual Family Counseling Service, INC located in Ontario, California. It is a non-profit behavioral health-care organization that provides a wide range of services to individuals and families. This study used a post positivist methodology. …

Perspectives On Aging: Stereotypes And Implicit Personality Theories, Reannin Michelle Weinstein

Theses Digitization Project

Current research regarding perspectives on aging discusses perspectives of older adults aged 65+ and college aged young adults, but does not include a discussion of perspectives of individuals aged 30-60 on aging.

Social Workers' Perspectives On Implementation Of Extended Foster Care In San Bernardino County Children And Family Services, Brandi Vanessa Guzman

Theses Digitization Project

This study partners with San Bernardino County Children and Family Services (CFS) to assess child welfare employees on how extended foster care is being implemented. Data was collected via face-to-face interviews with extended foster (EFC) social workers. The goals of this study were to assess the needs of non minor dependents through qualitative interviews with case carrying workers, to assess the strengths and areas of need in services for non-minor dependents, to evaluate initial outcomes of Extended Foster Care (EFC) from the workers perspective, to identify and provide education and training suggestions and materials for future and current child welfare …

Non-Mandated Reporters' Attitudes On Reporting Child Abuse, Christina Ramirez Rivera

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to identify what barriers to reporting child abuse may exist within the population of non-mandated reporters. The number of child abuse reports being filed is on the rise and many of these reports are being evaluated out (not needing follow up).

Ex-Prisoners’ Perceptions Of The Availability And Effects Of Programs And Services In Correctional Settings, Jenna Houston

Undergraduate Review

The U.S. system of retributive justice drives punitive measures, rather than interventions that could reduce recidivism. If prisoners’ needs are not met while serving time within the penal system, their chances of re-offending are greater (Baillargeon, 2010). The purpose of this study was to gather information about correctional programming from male ex-prisoners who have been involved in community re-entry services at Span Inc. in Boston, MA. Furthermore, this study also examines whether or not the programming contributed to positive coping skills during their incarceration as well as adaptation upon reentering the community. Data were collected during ten interviews, using a …