bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Service-Learning and Social Work Competency-Based Education: A "Goodness of Fit"?
Authors: Phillips Amy
Published: June 2019

As social work education moves to a competency-based approach, faculty are increasing their use of pedagogical tools designed to provide students with opportunities, in addition to traditional field placements, to develop practice skills. Faculty are no doubt turning to service-learning, and other forms of experiential education, to provide these opportunities and to offer an additional means for departments to demonstrate and measure student practice behaviors. To help focus the use of service-learning in social work education, this article uses sources from the larger service-learning field and from social work scholarship to examine the nature of service-learning, to review current service-learning trends, to summarize its use in social work education, and to raise questions about its goodness of fit with competency-based education.
Psychodynamic Theory
Authors: Deal Kathleen Holtz
Published: June 2019

Psychodynamic theory, a theory of personality originated by Sigmund Freud, has a long and complex history within social work and continues to be utilized by social workers. This article traces the theory’s development and explains key concepts with an emphasis on its current relational focus within object relations
theory and self-psychology. Empirical support for theoretical concepts and the effectiveness of psychodynamic therapies is reviewed and critiqued. Future directions are discussed, including addressing cultural considerations, increasing research, and
emphasizing a relational paradigm
Prevention as an Explicit Part of the Social Work Profession: A Systematic Investigation
Authors: McCave Emily L. , Rishel Carrie W.
Published: June 2019

Historically, social workers have espoused a philosophy of prevention. However, this philosophy has not consistently translated into prevention-focused social work practice. This gap in social work practice is of concern given the growing federal attention placed on prevention efforts in key social work arenas, such as health, mental health, and substance abuse. In an effort to illustrate this practice gap, this article presents a systematic investigation of the status of prevention and social work through the examination of three seminal indicators including: the social work literature, the 2009-2012 National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Social Work Speaks, and the 2008 Educational Policy Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Results indicate that the social work profession lacks an emphasis on prevention, as well as cohesiveness regarding prevention across social work practice, education, and scholarship. Opportunities for integrating prevention into the profession are highlighted for key stakeholders, namely social work scholars, educators, and practitioners.
The Evolution of Social Work Ethics: Bearing Witness
Authors: Reamer Frederic G.
Published: June 2019

The evolution of ethical standards in social work, and conceptual frameworks for examining ethical issues, is among the most compelling developments in the history of the profession. Since the formal inauguration of social work in the late nineteenth century, the profession has moved from relatively simplistic and moralistic perspectives to conceptually rich analyses of ethical issues and ethical guidelines. This article examines the evolution of social work ethics from the profession's earliest days and speculates about future challenges and directions.
Longitudinal evaluation of outcomes for youth with serious emotional disturbance during two years of Children’s Psychosocial Rehabilitation
Authors: Williams Nathaniel J. , Sherr Michael
Published: June 2019

This study assessed the course, rate, and significance of change in participants’ day-to-day functioning during two years of Children’s Psychosocial Rehabilitation (CPSR). Hierarchical linear mixed models were used to analyze Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS) outcome data for 49 youth with serious emotional disturbance, aged 7 to 17 years. The authors estimated participants’ change trajectory, difference in initial versus 16-month status, and difference in rate of change between the first 12 and last 8 months of the study. Controlling for age, participants improved by 13.73 points on the CAFAS every four months, generating a statistically and clinically significant improvement from intake to 16 months. The rate of change decreased significantly to 1.37 points per wave during the last 8 months of the study. CPSR participants improve significantly during treatment, with the majority of changes occurring in the first year.
Attitudes Toward Same-Gender Adoption and Parenting: An Analysis of Surveys from 16 Countries
Authors: Montero Darrel
Published: June 2019

Globally, little progress has been made toward the legalization of same-gender adoption. Of the nearly 200 United Nations members, only 15 countries with populations of 3 million or more have approved LGBT adoption without restrictions. The objectives of this paper are, first, to provide a brief background of the obstacles confronting same-gender adoption including the role of adoption agencies and parenting issues; second, to discuss the current legal status of the 15 countries which have approved same-gender adoption without restrictions; third, to report on recent public opinion regarding the legalization of same-gender adoption and parenting, drawing from previously published surveys conducted in 16 countries; and, fourth, to explore the implications for social work practice including social advocacy and social policy implementation.
Special Needs Adoption and Foster Exigencies (SAFE): A Model for Case Managers
Authors: Linton Kristen , Birmingham Andrea , Case Loren , Ezzy Laura , Ferguson Jandee , Harrison Courtney , Launiu Leina'ala
Published: June 2019

Children with special needs disproportionately receive child welfare services in out-of-home placements, such as foster and adoptive homes. This theoretical model has been developed to describe or explain exigencies of adoptive and foster families of children with special needs (n = 82). A web content analysis, including theme, feature, link, exchange, and language analyses, of online discussion forums of adoptive and foster parents of children with special needs using a phenomenological framework was conducted. Inductive and quantitative web content analyses were conducted on themes. Parenting concerns were clustered into two main themes, disability and placement issues, and focused on children’s pre and post placement needs. A phenomenological analysis resulted in the development of the Special Needs Adoption and Foster Exigencies (SAFE), which outlines exigencies of adoptive and foster parents of children with special needs during engagement, assessment, and intervention phases of case management.
A First-Hand Account of Title IV-E Child Welfare Initiatives in Social Work Education and Practice
Authors: Ellett Alberta J.
Published: June 2019

This article describes the personal experiences and insights of a child welfare practitioner and professor derived from 20 years of involvement in IV-E agency/university partnerships. The author describes perspectives from her work in IV-E programs in multiple contexts (federal, state, and local). Included are descriptions of important historical events and changes in IV-E programs that have served to facilitate or impede successful child welfare practices and the education of IV-E students. Emphasis is given to the importance of: (a) communicating the complexity of work in child welfare particularly by IV-E students; (b) the challenge of sustaining effective IV-E partnership programs; (c) designing and implementing sound IV-E program evaluation procedures; and (c) understanding the political and policy-driven contexts framing current CW practices.
The Profession’s Role in Meeting its Historical Mission to Serve Vulnerable Populations
Authors: Bowles Dorcas Davis , Hopps June Gary
Published: June 2019

This article provides an historical account of how the profession of social work met or failed to meet its mission in the provision of services to those who were poor, oppressed, and vulnerable to societal injustices from the mid-twentieth century, including the turbulent Civil Rights Era, to the early twenty-first century. The profession’s growth and expansion and the challenge of mediating resistance to change are highlighted based on eyewitness accounts.
Building the Profession’s Research Infrastructure
Authors: Vourlekis Betsy S. , Zlotnik Joan Levy , Ramos Juan , Ell Kathleen
Published: June 2019

Beginning in 1988, the social work profession undertook a twenty-five year endeavor to enhance its research capacity and to assure greater representation of social work research needs, priorities and findings at the federal level, where major policy initiatives take place. Described here are some of the key processes, highlighting the efforts to achieve professional solidarity, and the interventions, by social workers, federal "insiders" and outside advocacy agents that carried the work forward. Details and accomplishments of this long-term, carefully sustained, and still incomplete professional self-strengthening change strategy provide insights for future collective professional endeavors.

Twenty-five years ago the social work profession began a sustained effort to strengthen its research infrastructure in support of demonstrating practice effectiveness, advancing knowledge for critical social problems, and informing national policy. The steps and processes undertaken and the outcomes achieved by this effort have been described elsewhere (Austin, 1998; Corvo, Zlotnik, & Chen, 2008; TFSWR, 1991; Zlotnik, Biegel, & Solt, 2002; Zlotnik & Solt, 2006, 2008). What we want to capture through this, our eye-witness account, are some of the nuanced and specific actions, obstacles, and decisions involved in this effort. Recreating this case study of a profession's self-strengthening change strategy – targeted both to the external environment and its own internal one – can provide insights for future profession-wide, collective efforts.
Dual Degree Social Work Programs: Where are the Programs and Where are the Graduates?
Authors: Miller Shari E. , Hopkins Karen M. , Greif Geoffrey L.
Published: June 2019

This article presents results of an exploratory study designed to survey the dual degree graduates of one large school of social work, and to report on the prevalence and types of dual degree programs offered at accredited schools of social work in the U.S. Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered from 72 dual degree graduates. Income, career trajectories, identification with social work, satisfaction with the decision to obtain a dual degree, whether graduates would encourage others to follow the dual degree path, and implications for the social work profession and social work education are discussed.
Attachment and Alternatives: Theory in Child Welfare Research
Authors: Washington Karla T.
Published: June 2019

In an effort to improve the effectiveness of their services with children and adolescents, many social workers consult research guided by attachment theory. This article provides a brief overview of attachment theory with specific attention given to its application to contemporary child welfare research. Criticisms of attachment theory are discussed in detail, along with possibilities for alternative research frameworks including crisis intervention, anti-discrimination, social construction, and critical social work theories.
Communication Technology Integration into Social Work Practice
Authors: Bullock Angela N. , Colvin Alex D.
Published: June 2019

The uses for communication technology continue to grow in the United States. Technology is changing how people collect and share information and is reshaping how people interact with one another. As a result of this transformation, the use of technology has evolved in social work practice. Communication technology is being incorporated into traditional social work practice for administrative and therapeutic purposes. This article will examine a theoretically based direction for the future creation of technologically driven interventions in social work practice and address both the challenges and opportunities communication technology poses for social work practice.
A Game-based Intervention – a technical tool for social workers to combat Adolescent Dating-Violence
Authors: Sorbring Emma , Bolin Anette , Ryding Jennie
Published: June 2019

Dating violence prevalence is increasing and effective prevention and intervention methods are needed in order to adress this growing social problem. The use of on-line game-based intervention programmes open ups new possibilities for social worker practice of interventions on a large scale. The purpose of this study was to examine young people´s experiences of a on line game-based intervention programme designed to adress dating-violence among youths. Swedish youths that took part in the intervention programme were interviewed in focus-groups. Results indicate that the use of a game as an intervention method for this socially sensitive topic was perceived as positive by the young people, seeing it as a new, engaging and interesting method. The findings from the study indicate that on-line game-based programme addressing dating violence between young people has the potential to be used as a technical tool in social work practice.
A Conceptual Framework for Information Technology in Social Work Practice
Authors: Fitch Dale
Published: June 2019

This article describes how information systems research in the human services can be facilitated with a conceptual framework that addresses the fundamental roles of data, information and knowledge in understanding organizational information systems. Using methodologies originating in information systems and organizational research, the resulting conceptual framework explains how we are to understand information technology from the perspectives of clinical social work, supervision, social work administration, policy, and community collaborations. It concludes by reminding us that to the extent we have done little to educate our students on the differences between data, information and knowledge, and to educate them based on research performed in our human services agencies, is the extent to which our professional practice relative to technology will not advance in the 21st century.
End-of-Life Issues in the United States after Terri Schiavo: Implications for Social Work Practice
Authors: Montero Darrel
Published: June 2019

The very public death of Terri Schiavo in 2005 alerted Americans to what is a growing ethical, medical, and social crisis: the status of end-of-life issues and decisions in the United States. Currently, Oregon is the only state to give terminally ill patients the right to end their lives, with physicians’ help, if they so choose. Public opinion data from 1977 to the present show that Americans support greater rights for individuals facing end-of-life decisions--up to and including physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. This paper considers the status of end-of-life issues in the United States after Terri Schiavo’s death and examines the opportunities for advocacy by social workers who serve clients and families encountering this complex and controversial issue.
Using Internet-Based Videos as Pedagogical Tools in the Social Work Policy Classroom
Authors: Leukefeld Sarabeth
Published: June 2019

Students often feel disconnected from their introductory social welfare policy courses. Therefore, it is important that instructors employ engaging pedagogical methods in the classroom. A review of the literature reveals that a host of methods have been utilized to attempt to interest students in policy courses, but there is no mention of using internet-based videos in the social welfare policy classroom. This article describes how to select and use appropriate internet-based videos from websites such as YouTube and SnagFilms, to effectively engage students in social welfare policy courses. Four rules are offered for choosing videos based on emotional impact, brevity, and relevance to course topics. The selected videos should elicit students’ passions and stimulate critical thinking when used in concert with instructor-generated discussion questions, writing assignments, and small group dialogue. Examples of the process of choosing videos, discussion questions, and student reactions to the use of videos are provided.
Lawyers are counselors, too: Social workers can train lawyers to more effectively counsel clients
Authors: Boys Stephanie K. , Hagan Carrie A. , Voland Valerie
Published: June 2019

Attorneys new to practice often find themselves completely unprepared to assist emotionally distraught clients. Traditional law school curricula do not mandate coursework on how to interview clients or how to involve clients in the representation plan. The knowledge, values, and skills taught in schools of social work can be useful tools to address many common challenges faced by lawyers. The authors argue for transdisciplinary education in which social work educators teach courses in law schools. Systems theory, cultural competence, and the strengths perspective are used as examples of practice approaches that could greatly enhance the services provided to clients seeking legal services.
Social Work with Veterans in Rural Communities: Perceptions of Stigma as a Barrier to Accessing Mental Health Care
Authors: Stotzer Rebecca L. , Whealin Julia M. , Darden Dawna
Published: June 2019

The nearly decade long efforts in the Global War on Terror have led to increasing numbers of Veterans of the armed services returning to rural locations, but little is known about their needs. However, recent research suggests that rural Veterans face a host of issues, but perhaps more importantly, are facing heightened levels of stigma in rural areas related to their health and mental health. This paper examines how mental health stigma in the military may feed into stigma in rural communities and serve as an additional barrier for Veterans in rural areas who are struggling with mental health concerns. Recommendations for the unique role of social workers in serving these Veterans, as well as addressing community issues around stigma, are addressed.
Cultural Sensitivity in ATOD Agencies: Administrator and Staff Perceptions in the Hispanic Heartland
Authors: Hodge David R. , Cardenas Paul , Montoya Harry
Published: June 2019

Administrator and staff perceptions (N = 72) of alcohol, tobacco, and other
drugs (ATOD) agency cultural sensitivity were explored in a predominantly
Hispanic rural area with elevated levels of acculturation and high ATOD usage.
While providers generally agreed that a relatively moderate need existed for training
related to cultural issues, a more nuanced picture emerged in the purview of culturally-
related barriers. Administrators viewed the lack of appropriate interpreters and
language as a greater barrier than did the staff. Administrators also held higher perceptions
of agencies’ cultural competency. The overall high assessment of cultural
sensitivity may result from the substantial number of Latino providers.
Social Work Programs' Use of the World Wide Web to Facilitate Field Instruction
Authors: Finn Jerry , Marson Steven M.
Published: June 2019

Employing a systems model, this study presents a content analysis of the Websites of social work academic programs in the United States. A sample of 292 academic programs was extracted from the Baccalaureate Programs' Directors' (BPD) online directory of CSWE-accredited social work programs. Of these, 119 were MSW or MSW/BSW programs; the remaining 173 were BSW programs. Although many aspects of Website content were examined, field curriculum was the central focus of this study. The results demonstrate the wide variety of information included on the Websites. MSW and MSW/BSW program Websites offer more information than BSW programs. However, most programs are not making use of the Internet to obtain feedback, create interaction, or provide support. A variety of model Websites are offered to assist social work academic programs develop and maintain their own Websites.
The Dialectic Method: A Critical and Postmodern Alternative to the Scientific Method
Authors: Dybicz Phillip , Pyles Loretta
Published: June 2019

This paper introduces Hans-Georg Gadamer's dialectic method and elaborates upon its application to social work inquiry. Its strengths lie in its ability to uncover social constructed truths, to explain human behavior in a non-deterministic manner that emphasizes personal agency and empowerment, and to foster a consciousness-raising process that leads to praxis. This makes it ideally suited for knowledge gathering by practitioners in the field who seek to apply postmodern practice approaches such as the strengths perspective, solution-building therapy, and narrative therapy. Examples are given of its application to both micro and macro practice concerns.
Perceptions of Welfare Recipient Fraud and Provider Fraud: A 20-Year Follow-Up
Authors: Roff Lucinda Lee , Klemmack David L. , McCallum Debra M. , Conaway Michael B.
Published: June 2019

This study replicated Roff & Klemmack's (1983) investigation of adult Alabamians' opinions regarding the degree to which welfare recipients and welfare employees defraud the government. The majority of the current respondents continue to see recipients as dishonest, but the mean recipient fraud index score dropped from 13.34 to 11.34. As was the case in the earlier study, beliefs that recipients defraud the government predicted lower support for government programs. The percentage of respondents who believed welfare employees to be dishonest doubled from 15.4% to 30.0% from 1981 to 2000, and the mean worker fraud index score increased from 4.14 to 7.02. Consistent with the previous study, beliefs that welfare employees are dishonest predicted higher, not lower, support for government programs and services. Social workers should be aware that a growing proportion of the population questions the integrity of those running welfare programs.
Beyond Social Exchange Theory: A Theoretical Shift for Mentoring Relationships in the Federal Workplace
Authors: Majiros Chad
Published: June 2019

This paper examines the principles of social exchange theory associated with the application of mentoring for knowledge transfer in the federal workplace. Specifically, federal workplace is intended to mean any U.S. government agency defined by bureaucratic processes in its operations. Max Weber’s (1930) comparison of a bureaucracy to an iron cage is both classical and paramount to this discussion. Within the iron cage, Weber posed the further the organization perfects its operation, the more dehumanized the interaction between players (Farganis, 2011). Most important, due to the hierarchical structure and emphasis on career progression associated with the bureaucracy, mentoring relationships are often forged in a knowledge economy. Over time, mastery of skill is supported by a grasp of institutional history and organizational knowledge. Contemporary social work is aptly suited for investigating the barriers to, behavioral elements of, and best practices for fostering effective mentoring relationships in facilitating knowledge transfer between federal employees.
Expanding Our Community: Independent and Interdependent Factors Impacting Refugee Successful Community Resettlement
Authors: Agbényiga DeBrenna LaFa , Barrie Salamatu , Djelaj Valentina , Nawyn Stepanie J.
Published: June 2019

Evidence suggests that despite the aid from resettlement agencies, many refugees find the resettlement process extraordinarily stressful and have reported significant negative mental and physical health outcomes. The literature on refugee resettlement often focuses on the challenges that these individuals encounter in their new environment. However, less research has focused on community barriers and lack of support issues that can prevent refugees from resettling in the U.S. Using qualitative data collected from Burmese and Burundian refugee groups, this article examines the impact of social structures on the resettlement process. Results indicate that gaps in service delivery such as employment and housing are affected by support from the resettlement agencies and the refugees’ social support network. Results of this study contribute to the knowledge based on how best to assist refugee families.
An Interdisciplinary Approach to Developing Innovative Teaching Strategies For Responding to Global Disaster Disasters
Authors: Jones Jenny L. , Rotabi Karen Smith , Levy Jason K. , Gray Lisa A.
Published: June 2019

This paper summarizes the development of an interdisciplinary Faculty Learning Community (FLC) bringing together the Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Social Work and Government and Public Affairs, Department of Homeland Security to develop an in depth, comprehensive pedagogical approach to the many issues associated with disaster risk reduction. As the title suggests, this is an interdisciplinary team that explores learning and demonstrates learning models. This particular FLC focuses on understanding the antecedent conditions and root causes of disaster events. We explore best practices to prevent, mitigate, and prepare for such events in the undergraduate and graduate curriculum with an emphasis on homeland security and social work. The FLC is an example of a non-traditional educational model providing content on disaster risk, response, and global impact. This particular FLC was committed to bringing together appropriate expertise from the academic setting as well as inviting community members and organizations into the classroom to share the “lived experience” and intuitive knowledge about disaster.
Social Work and the Challenges of the Green Economy
Authors: Weber Bret Alan
Published: June 2019

This is an ethnographic account of a social worker’s efforts to create a local “Energy Alliance” to help moderate-income residents reduce energy costs in a small, urban, northern plains community in the United States. Additionally, the initiative would help create jobs, increase energy efficiency, and reduce carbon outputs. While the project met with mixed results, lessons learned are relevant to the emergent intersections of community practice, sustainable community development (economic and social), and social work. The benefits of social work education and experience to this work are highlighted, as are the challenges inherent in planning and implementing green community development.
Adaptations of Truth and Reconciliation Commissions in the North American Context: Local Examples of a Global Restorative Justice Intervention
Authors: Androff David K.
Published: June 2019

Truth and Reconciliation Commissions (TRCs) are restorative justice mechanisms for addressing human rights violations and injustice at the macro level. Mainly applied in the Global South, they have only recently been adapted within North America. The Greensboro, NC TRC was launched by grassroots and community-based organizations in 2004 to examine the causes and consequences of a 1979 incident of racial violence. The Canadian TRC was established in 2008 to address the legacy of colonial policies of assimilation and the forced schooling of indigenous populations. Through a comparison of these two cases, this paper will investigate how the North American context shapes the nature of the problems that these TRCs address, how they are organized, their relationship to the legal system, the role of civil society, and their relationship to poverty and reparations. Implications for social work, restorative justice and the potential for additional TRCs in North America are discussed.
Violence Against Women and Asylum Seeking: Global Problems and Local Practices Applied to Guatemalan Women Immigrating for Safety
Authors: Costantino Roselyn , Rotabi Karen Smith , Rodman Debra H.
Published: June 2019

This paper, based on broader discussions surrounding gender violence and immigration in the U.S., provides critical information on the historical context of extreme violence against women and femicide plaguing Central American societies today. Drawing on experiences of precedent setting cases of Guatemalan women, the authors offer suggestions for culturally specific treatment of and support for women who seek asylum in the U.S. out of justified fear for their and their family members’ lives should they return to their country of origin. The arguments presented are predicated on the belief that women worldwide share experiences of myriad forms of male domination and gender inequality which, however, play out differently on their bodies and lives in ways that must be accounted for in our attempt to offer them appropriate care and assist them in creating the tools they need to change their circumstances.
‘Doing’ Social Work: Critical Considerations on Theory and Practice in Social Work
Authors: Herz Marcus , Johansson Thomas
Published: June 2019

Social work is a multi-dimensional and contradictory field of practice, which often leads to theoretical confusion. Another tendency within social work today is the development of an evidence-based practice. This kind of social engineering, together with the theoretical confusion, might lead to the reproduction and strengthening of dominant discourses and perspectives. Pointing out the need for critical theory to transgress and resist hegemonic practices, the article aims to present ideas on how to theoretically position social work practice within a framework of critical theory. The question is how to combine an ambition to develop suitable methods and to anchor social work in a sound social-scientific context with critical theories concerning, for instance, gender, ethnicity, and class. It is suggested that a movement towards a more deconstructive and reflexive mode of thinking and practicing social work, ‘doing social work’, would enable the field to become more ethical and reflexive.
Policymaking Opportunities for Direct Practice Social Workers in Mental Health and Addiction Services
Authors: Powell Thomas J. , Garrow Eve , Woodford Michael R. , Perron Brian
Published: June 2019

Direct practice social workers have potentially significant policymaking opportunities as mediators of top-down policy and as creators of policy where none exists. The power they possess stems from their ‘on the ground’ expertise and the discretion available to them in making practice decisions. By understanding their power as “street-level bureaucrats” they can significantly improve policy. Drawing on policy issues in mental health and addictions services, this article illustrates how social workers can use their power in an ethically sensitive manner to enhance policy outcomes for clients.
Reimagining Field Education in Social Work: The Promise Unveiled
Authors: George Purnima , Siver Susan , Preston Susan
Published: June 2019

The current wave of neo-liberalism in Canada has driven our universities to retreat from their responsibilities as public institutions, accountable to their communities. In this paper we present a case study of field education in Canada and discuss the implications of the neoliberal academy on social work field education. On the basis of our experience as faculty consultants of BSW and MSW students, and coming from a school of social work that embraces an anti-oppression perspective as its guiding philosophy, we undertake a reconceptualization exercise in which we re-imagine field education. We politicize field education as a site with transformative possibilities. We describe the principles and processes that inform our reconceptualization and offer an example of how this might be realized in practice. This paper contributes towards developing new knowledge that unveils the promise of transformative change through a re-imagination of field education.
African-Americans and Clinical Trials Research: Recommendations for Client Engagement
Authors: Moore Sharon E. , Collins Wanda Lott
Published: June 2019

African-Americans have, without their knowledge and consent, been used
as human guinea pigs in scientific and medical experiments by private and governmental
organizations. As a result many African-Americans approach the health care
industry with caution and apprehension. African-Americans are admonished to
remember the atrocities they once experienced and to approach participation in clinical
studies with skepticism. This paper presents an historical overview of conspiracy
theories, discusses various health issues that affect African-Americans, identifies for
whom participation in clinical trials could prove beneficial, and recommends methods
that can be used to attract African-American clients as active participants in clinical
studies.
Student-Identified Strengths and Challenges of Using Blackboard for Group Projects in a Social Work Course
Authors: Littlefield Melissa B.
Published: June 2019

Blackboard (TM) provides social work educators integrated online communication
tools that they can employ to facilitate student learning through features such
as e-mail, discussion forums, file exchange, virtual classroom, and links to online
resources. This study describes students’ experiences using Blackboard (TM) to support
a group project assignment. The majority of students found it easy to use and useful
for the project, and indicated that they would like to use it in other courses. In addition,
students gained technical skills as a result of the group project. Students’ group
project grades and final course grades were comparable to those in other sections of
the same course taught by this investigator.
The findings of this study suggest that online technology can be used to facilitate
group assignments for MSW students. The benefits include increased efficiency of
group functioning and increased accountability of group members. The challenges
include technical problems and student resistance to using the technology.
Equipping Social Workers to Address Spirituality in Practice Settings: AModel Curriculum
Authors: Hodge David R.
Published: June 2019

While there is growing interest in incorporating clients’ spiritual beliefs
and values into social work practice, several studies have shown that social workers
lack the necessary training to address spiritual issues in a culturally competent
manner. This paper addresses this need by providing an annotated spirituality
training course for use in various settings. Topics or domains covered in the curriculum include
ethics and values, research and theory on spirituality, the nation’s spiritual
demographics, the cultures of major spiritual traditions, value conflicts, spiritual
interventions, assessment approaches, and the rights of spiritual believers. A
number of potential assignments are offered,which are designed to promote practitioner
self-awareness, respect for spiritual diversity, and an enhanced ability to
assess and operationalize spiritual strengths to ameliorate problems in practice settings.
Online Social Work Practice: Issues and Guidelines for the Profession
Authors: Menon Goutham M. , Miller-Cribbs Julie
Published: June 2019

There has been growth in the utilization of information and communication
(ICT) tools in the field of social work in recent years.While most of the work has
revolved around community practice, some social workers have moved into the
realm of online, web-based therapeutic practice. This paper discusses important
issues emerging from this new form of social work practice and concludes with suggested
guidelines for the use of ICTs in social work practice.
A Conceptual Understanding of Organizational Identity in the Social Media Environment
Authors: Young Jimmy
Published: June 2019

Nonprofit organizations have increasingly adopted the use of social media over the last several years. This presents a myriad of challenges and opportunities in regards to organizational identity. This paper provides a conceptual understanding of identity as an entry point for nonprofit organizations to deliberate their own use of social media and the relative impact on organizational identity. A theoretical understanding of the formation of social identity situates the development of organizational identity and contextualizes the process in a manner suitable for conversation and strategic decision-making at the administrative level. A conceptual model is presented to illustrate the development and maintenance of organizational identity in the social media environment.
Culturally-Attuned Mentoring for Graduating Latina/o Social Workers to Foster Career Advancement
Authors: Rojas Schwan Nelly , Negroni Lirio K. , Santiago-Kozmon Annette
Published: June 2019

The underrepresentation of Latinas/os in the social work profession, especially in higher levels of administration, has been amply documented. Successful Latina/o professionals can address the need for Latina/o leadership in the field by mentoring new graduates and supporting their development and career planning as they enter the professional world. This article presents an innovative mentoring program for Latina/o social work professionals conceptualized and led by the Latina/o Network of the Latina/o Network of the Connecticut chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). The program matches a Latina/o master’s in social work graduating student with a senior Latina/o social work professional. The model of the mentoring program incorporates a coordinator, a liaison to each mentor-mentee dyad, a mentor-mentee developmental relationship, and group gatherings. A key aspect of the model is the attention to and inclusion of Latino cultural values of familismo, personalismo, confianza, and colectivismo, to foster the development of a sense of community. Empirical and anecdotal data illustrate the outcomes of the program. The implementation of the program, the lessons learned, and its applicability to other professionals and cultural groups are discussed.
The Disproportionality of HIV Transmission Among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men (BMSM): Recommendations for an Effective Prevention Model
Authors: Young Stephen M. , McLeod Timothy
Published: June 2019

The Black community shoulders the heaviest HIV/AIDS burden of any racial or ethnic group in the United States, with Black men who have sex with men being the most impacted subpopulation (CDC, 2011). Health determinants (i.e., behavior, social environment, physical environment, and healthcare) of Black men who have sex with men are examined for consideration in the creation of innovative HIV prevention programs specific to the community. The only two intervention strategies targeting this population approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 3MV and d-up:Defend Yourself programs, are scrutinized, and the theoretical underpinnings of these evidence-based programs (i.e., social cognitive theory, diffusion of innovations) will be examined in order to recommend strategies for future interventions to reach greater numbers within the community.
Strategies for Engaging Men as Anti-Violence Allies: Implications for Ally Movements
Authors: Casey Erin
Published: June 2019

As ally movements become an increasingly prevalent element of social justice efforts, research is needed that illuminates effective strategies to initially engage members of privileged social groups in anti-oppression work. This study presents descriptive findings regarding ally engagement strategies and barriers from a qualitative study of a particular ally movement – male anti-violence against women activism. Twenty-seven men who recently initiated involvement in an organization or event dedicated to ending sexual or domestic violence were interviewed regarding their perceptions of effective approaches to reaching and engaging other men in anti-violence work. Participants viewed tailored engagement strategies that tap into existing social networks, that allow men to see themselves reflected in anti-violence movements, and that help men make personal, emotional connections to the issue of violence as most effective. Implications for engaging men in the project of ending violence against women, and for ally movements more generally are discussed.
The Breakthrough Series Collaborative on Service Integration: A Mixed Methods Study of a Strengths-Based Initiative
Authors: Lietz Cynthia A. , Andereck Kathleen L. , Knopf Richard C.
Published: June 2019

Arizona’s Department of Economic Security (DES) engaged in a strengths-based initiative to increase quality and integration of human services. Twenty teams including employees from state agencies, community leaders, and families were brought together to discuss and implement improvements to a variety of social services. A mixed methods study was conducted to explore the complex process of forming diverse teams to strengthen social services. Specifically, the research team conducted focus groups to collect qualitative data from a purposive sample of the teams to explore their experiences in greater depth. Analysis of the data led to the development of an online survey instrument that allowed all collaborative members an opportunity to participate in the study. Findings suggest that while the teams faced many challenges, a commitment to the process brought perseverance, communication, and creativity allowing this collaborative to initiate 105 activities to bring about positive changes in social services within their communities.
Views of Reference List Accuracy from Social Work Journal Editors and Published Authors
Authors: Wilks Scott E. , Spivey Christina A.
Published: June 2019

Objective:The study’s purpose was to answer two research questions: (1) In
the opinion of social work journal editors, how important is reference list accuracy?
and (2)Who is primarily responsible for the accuracy of reference lists published in
social work journals? Method: A sample of 119 authors and 26 journal editors was
surveyed to ascertain their views on the above questions and additional items.
Results: Regarding the importance of reference list accuracy, editors’ responses
(Likert scale) averaged between moderately and extremely important. Fifty-three
percent of responding editors and 36.5% of authors reported that responsibility is
shared between the editor/staff and manuscript authors; the remaining 47% and
63.5%, respectively, responded that responsibility falls upon manuscript authors.
Responses from authors, mostly educators, revealed a greater-than-moderate
importance (Likert scale) given to instructing students on the accurate construction
of reference lists. Implications for social work education and journal publishing are
discussed.
Equal Access to Justice in a Rural Western State
Authors: Miller Monte
Published: June 2019

Twenty three inmates from a rural state penitentiary with mental retardation participated in a study on the differential treatment of persons with mental
retardation by the criminal justice system. After obtaining informed consent, the
inmates were screened for appropriateness for the study using the PPVT-R, a proxy
test for IQ. The inmates were interviewed to obtain a social history and given the
CAST-MR, an instrument that measures the competency of a person with mental
retardation to stand trial. Results suggest participants may not have been competent
to stand trial, learned most of what they knew about the criminal justice system while
incarcerated, and had difficulty with interpersonal conflict and conflict with authority.
The combination of these factors suggests that clients in the study may have been
vulnerable to being coerced into confessing to crimes they did not commit. The presence
of an advocate during criminal justice system encounters may benefit persons
with mental retardation.
The Future of Evidence-Based Social Work: An Optimistic View?
Authors: Cournoyer Barry R.
Published: June 2019

The abbreviated article contains a brief overview of the contemporary state of evidence-based social work (EBSW) and projections of its likely future. The forecast is based upon a review and analysis of the current trends and themes reflected in books, journal articles, dissertations, conferences, university programs, centers and resources available through the World Wide Web. The analysis suggests that the future of evidence-based practice (EBP) in social work is likely to be characterized by further evolution, clarification, and explication of the EBP perspective; continued growth and popularity and a commensurate increase in the number of publications about EBP; modest increase in the number of practice-relevant research studies conducted by social workers; slight decrease in the gap between research-based knowledge and actual practice; and continued polarization within the profession about the relative value and utility of evidence-based social work.
Technology Convergence and Social Work: When Case Management Meets Geographic Information
Authors: Vernon Robert
Published: June 2019

Two information management technologies, case management systems and geographic information systems may merge. This will foster better service planning and delivery to people in need. This may also result in continued agency mergers and mission revisions.
Looking Through the Prisms: A Synthesis of the Futures of Social Work
Authors: Daley James G.
Published: June 2019

This article synthesizes the twenty-one articles in this special issue and discusses five common themes and three further issues to ponder. The articles reflect an optimistic but precarious outlook that will require new skills and missions, a strong leadership in a society transforming itself, and increasingly facing a multicultural and global context for effective delivery of services. Evidence-based practice (EBP) is growing into the new paradigm of practice but the profession needs to consider its boundaries. Multi-country comparisons are crucial in selecting new strategies to enhance skills and missions as we embrace an international scope of practice. Finally, the complex issue of how society is evolving is intensifying and, as society seems to be resisting change, the role of social workers as advocates is vital.
Desempenho do mercado de trabalho em Rondônia: especialização das atividades produtivas
Authors: Barroso Ana Cláudia
Published: June 2019

O entendimento da dinâmica do emprego é uma questão importante para a elaboração de políticas econômicas. A história de Rondônia é marcada por ciclos econômicos e tais fatores fazem com que o mercado de trabalho fique em permanente movimento. Daí surge a necessidade de traçar um mapa do mercado de trabalho, a fim de facilitar a compreensão da dinâmica do emprego no estado. Dessa forma, esta pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar o desempenho do mercado de trabalho formal em Rondônia e o processo de especialização das atividades produtivas por meio do Quociente Locacional. Os dados utilizados para a análise do mercado de trabalho formal em Rondônia foram retirados do Ministério do Trabalho e do Emprego (MTE), através da Relação Anual de Informações Sociais (RAIS) e indicam que os setores mais importantes para o estado são a Agropecuária e a Extrativa Mineral, respectivamente.
A identificação dos perfis psicográficos dos consumidores do Sebrae Rondônia
Authors: Rodrigues Cristiano Borges
Published: June 2019

Com o objetivo de traçar um perfil psicográfico do cliente Sebrae em Rondônia considerando a localização geográfica no estado de Rondônia após desenho de ferramenta que considere estilo de vida, valores pessoais, estima, aspirações e motivações; fez-se um levantamento quantitativo com microempreendedores individuais, proprietários de microempresa e de empresas de pequeno porte nos municípios de Ariquemes, Cacoal, Porto Velho e Vilhena. Como resultados, foram desenhadas personas onde se observam diferenças entre os empreendedores dos diferentes tipos de porte de empresa e entre os mesmos quando se considera a região em que a empresa se localiza no estado de Rondônia.