Social Work Commons^™

Client Compliance: Can Community Mental Health Outcomes Be Predicted?, Seth Parrott

Social Work Theses - Archive

The purpose of this thesis project was to gain predictive insight into client behaviors that may affect treatment outcomes. This thesis uses data originally collected for a dissemination trial of Cognitive Behavioral therapy being introduced into Texas' community mental health system. Clients that attend scheduled therapy sessions and complete assigned homework to a higher degree are demonstrating better compliance with their treatment. It was hypothesized that those behaviors while factoring in symptom severity and amount of therapy would predict final treatment outcomes as measured by a decrease in symptoms. Multiple regression analysis of 85 participants all diagnosed with Major Depression …

The Validation Of The Trauma Assessment For Young Children, Heidi Lynne Strickler

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

Young children experience a variety of traumatic experiences ranging from divorce and witnessing family violence, to living with parents who have addictive behaviors, to experiencing severe illness and injury, to experiencing population wide traumas, to experiencing physical or sexual abuse or other forms of child maltreatment. Young children between the ages of 3 and 7 are in the preoperational stage of cognitive development and consequently process these experiences in a different manner than adults. As a result, assessment measures need to take this cognitive processing into account and look at the children's views of their experiences. Psychosocial development is equally …

Factors Associated With High School Completion Among Foster Youth Leaving Care, Elizabeth Garza-Higgens

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This study explores factors associated with high school completion among foster youth leaving care. Educational outcomes for youth leaving care are examined based on an integrative model of ecological theory and attachment theory. The study utilized a cross-sectional, non-experimental design for exploring factors associated with high school completion among foster youth leaving care. A survey instrument was utilized for extracting data from a child welfare agency database. The data was collected one one point in time comparing the differences between youth who completed high school to those who dropped out. Chi-square analysis were utilized for comparing differences between groups and …

Technology And Groupwork: A Mandate And An Opportunity, Shirley Simon, Kahtleen W. Stauber

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

This paper addresses the relationship between social groupwork and technology. It discusses the evolution of online technology—how the technological revolution of the computer, the Internet, and mass access to new communication devices has impacted our lives with unprecedented speed and universality. It acknowledges the natural and understandable resistance of many skilled and renowned groupworkers to the use of these new modalities. It addresses the numerous benefi ts and challenges that technology brings, and the critical and timely need for groupworkers to make the conceptual shift to embrace these modalities. A case is made for groupworkers’ ability to take a leadership …

Sibling Suicide In Indo-American Families: Acculturation, Acculturative Stress, And Family Relationships, Suresh Unni

Dissertations

This study investigated suicide in Indo-American families. Relationships between acculturation, acculturative stress, and family relationships in completed suicides of Indo-American youth were examined. Snowball sampling procedures were used to find six adult sibling survivors of suicide as participants. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted by the researcher. Grounded theory strategies were used to analyze data and generate theory. Analysis of results yielded both protective and risk factors for suicide. Acculturation risk factors resulted from homogeneous populations lacking in diversity while protective factors were progressive and integrated neighborhood and schools. Integration was the preferred mode of acculturation by participants and suicide victims. …

Risk Behavior, Personal Assets And Social Support In The Lesbian And Gay Adult Populations: How These Contribute To Suicidality?, Elizabeth Sabre

Social Work Theses - Archive

The purpose of this exploratory study is threefold 1) to assess whether risk factors for suicide among LG individuals older than age 18 are the same as those among heterosexual individuals; 2) to assess whether suicidality decreases for the LG population; and 3) to identify what factors are associated with this decrease if there is one. Are the risk behaviors that are correlated with suicide risk among heterosexuals comparably correlated among LG individuals? What is the relationship between developmental assets and suicide risk among LG? The research was done online, through social networking sites. The findings were that the main …

Modernization And Contraception In Kenya From 1998 To 2008-2009., Diana Alaka Opollo

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

The objective of this study is to examine the factors that influence contraceptive use in Kenya. More specifically, the study focuses on the determinants of membership in two categories of contraceptive use: modern contraception methods and other contraception methods. Additionally, the study will describe the differences in contraceptive use between 1998 and 2008-2009 and attempt to examine what factors caused and propelled changes. In order to explain the categorical variations, this study uses two theories: modernization theory and human capital theory. In describing changes between 1998 and 2008-2009, this study will examine both individual as well as societal factors related …

Understanding And Promoting The Notion Of Sustainable Development In Countries Of The Developing World, Aminata Lambratu Wurie

Social Work Theses - Archive

God created all humans equal and we all deserve the opportunity to have our basic needs met. This thesis discusses the fundamentals of sustainable development and explains the importance of achieving these measures in order to keep us humans safe, healthy, and prosperous and our Earth functioning properly. The purpose of this paper is to stimulate conversation and action about the state of our planet and its inhabitants; regarding our environmental, social, and economic wellbeing. This work particularly focuses on countries where people are suffering, and fighting to solve extreme poverty, amidst their wealth of blessings. It confers special attention …

Acculturative Stress And Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Latino And Asian Immigrants, Yajaira Villeda

Social Work Theses - Archive

Mental health needs for immigrants are complicated by previous trauma and living in a new country. This study examined acculturative stress (AS) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among immigrants by conducting a secondary data analysis of the 2002 to 2003 National Latino American and Asian American Study (N=3,259). The primary acculturative stressors identified were limited contact with family and friends, difficulties interacting with others due to language limitations and not receiving the same respect as in the country of origin. Latinos experienced more acculturative stress than Asians. Measures of sex, age, race, education, age of immigration, length of stay in …

The Effects Of Personal Trauma History And Working With Clients With Similar Trauma On Well-Being Among Mental Health Counselors, Joel Chaverri

Social Work Theses - Archive

Several studies have researched burnout, compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, vicarious trauma, and shared trauma of practicing mental health professionals. Yet few have focused directly on the impact of personal trauma history on well-being. This study was an online exploratory design investigating the relationships among counselor personal trauma history, well-being, and the effects of seeing clients with similar trauma. Personal trauma history was determined through a demographical survey, and well-being analyzed using the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL). The study examined several demographic variables to determine whether a model exits to predict counselor well-being. While the …

Determinants Of Modern Contraceptive Use In Cameroon From 1991 To 2004, Consoler Tenug Teboh

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

The purpose of this research is to examine the determinants of contraceptive use among women ages 15-49 of childbearing age (WCA) and to describe the compositional and processual changes that have taken place in Cameroon between 1991 and 2004. The study constituted a sample size of 3,871 and 10,656 15 to 49 year old women of childbearing from 1991 and 2004 Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey datasets respectively. Regression results confirmed that there was considerable support for the hypotheses in 1991 and 2004 except for age at first marriage which was significant but contradictory to the direction proposed in the …

Personal And Organizational Factors That Influence The Likelihood That Adult Protective Services Workers Will Remain On The Job Long-Term, Traci Alisia Perry

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

A secondary data analysis will be used to examine data that was originally collected as part of a cross-sectional survey of adult protective service workers from May 2005 to June 2007. The purpose of this study to gain a better understanding of the socio-demographic and organizational factors that may influence the decision of APS workers to remain on the job in state, public welfare agencies. Data will be analyzed from a sample of 673 APS workers in Texas who completed questionnaires after completing classroom and field training in the Protective Services Training Institute. Hierarchical multiple regression and moderation data analyses …

Needs Assessment For A Multidisciplinary Eating Disorder Outpatient Services, Mary Beth Patterson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Research has indicated there is limited specialist multidisciplinary care in non-metropolitan regions and rural communities for eating disorder treatment, leaving patients and professionals dissatisfied with quality of care. The purpose of this project was to assess the need for multidisciplinary eating disorder treatment service in South-Central Minnesota, and if so, to obtain information about the current patient population and treatment of such patients.

Homeless Veterans: Overrepresented And Underreported, Andrea L. Smith

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Ages And Stages: Infant (0-12 Months) .G2103, Tonia Renee Durden, Gail L. Brand, Marilyn S. Fox, Jacqueline M. Guzman, Lisa M. Poppe, Ladonna A. Werth, Mary E. Nelson, Leslie Crandall, Ruth E. Vonderohe, Rasheema Pitt

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

During the first year infants develop quickly, meeting many milestones of early growth. Learn how to recognize these stages and what you can do to help support your infant’s growth and development.

Being a parent or caregiver of an infant can be fun and a lot of hard work. Although caring for a baby may seem like an endless cycle of feeding, soothing, and diapering, the first year of a baby’s life is a time for rapid growth and development (Figure 1). By their first birthday, many infants are beginning to crawl and are even taking their first steps. It’s …

The Effects Of Reiki Treatment On Mental Health Professionals Who Are At Risk For Secondary Traumatic Stress, Martha P. Novoa

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this cross-sectional experimental study was to examine the effects of Reiki on risk level for secondary traumatic stress (STS) among mental health professionals, such as, social workers and licensed professional counselor (LPCs). The sample (N=67) was mostly composed of master social work students (MSW) (61%) from the School of Social Work at Louisiana State University (LSU), professionals social workers (34%), and LPCs (5%). Study participants were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: Reiki, placebo or control group. Dependent variables measured at pretest and posttest were: risk level for STS, anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms, anger and …

An Examination Of Post-Secondary Education Access, Retentionand Success Of Foster Care Youth, Angelique Day

Dissertations

Changes in the U.S. economy have made the attainment of a higher education credential more important than ever to ensure self-sufficiency. Therefore, it is critical that the child welfare, K-12, and higher education systems encourage and support the postsecondary educational aspirations of court wards. When the state makes the decision to remove a child from his/her biological home, it bears the responsibility to provide the educational guidance as well as assistance otherwise provided by families during the transition from high school to college.

This dissertation explores the educational outcomes of older youth in care by first looking at the perceptions …

Living With Bipolar Disorder: A Qualitative Investigation, Richard P. Freedberg

Dissertations

The specific aims of this study were to gain a broader understanding of the lived experience of adults with bipolar disorder and to explore how people diagnosed with bipolar disorder used cognitively, affectively, and spiritually oriented strategies to cope with life stressors and circumstances. The cognitive domain in this investigation was defined as those activities related to how one knows, thinks, or perceives phenomena in a way distinct from emotion. The affective domain referred to the feelings and emotions associated with phenomena that are distinct from cognitive reasoning or knowledge. The spiritual domain was defined as values, attitudes, and beliefs …

Reluctant To Report: The Mandated Reporting Practices Of Child Care Providers, Aileen Mckenna

Dissertations

Child care providers spend far more time with children under age 3, the most likely to suffer severe and fatal abuse and neglect, than any other mandated reporter. Their close relationship with both the child and the family places them in a unique position to observe signs and suspicions of abuse or neglect and to make timely reports to Child Protective Services (CPS). Yet despite this, child care providers rank last among mandated reporters in both reporting suspicions of abuse and neglect and in actual substantiated reports. Only a handful of studies have looked specifically at the decision-making practices of …

Building Layers Of Support At Kpmg Llp: Training Human Resource Professionals For Collaborative Conversations, Eileen M. Brennan, Barbara C. Wankoff, Julie M. Rosenzweig

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

When an employed parent is raising a child with mental health difficulties, there are times when reaching out for support at the workplace is essential. At crisis points when family members must leave work to arrange for immediate mental health assistance and at times when special child care arrangements break down or when children or young people have difficulty at school or in the community, workplace support can be a life saver. KPMG LLP and Portland State University partnered to develop and test a new training program to prepare human resource (HR) professionals to confidently provide workplace supports for the …