bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Need for Interagency Collaboration for Children with Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities and Their Families
Authors: Anderson Jeffrey A.
Published: April 2013

Children and youth with emotional and behavioral disabilities often have multiple needs that can require the simultaneous involvement of several child-serving agencies (e.g., child welfare, special education, juvenile justice, and mental health). Unfortunately, disparate definitions and eligibility criteria that are used to identify these disabilities have prevented agencies from collaborating or even communicating about the children with whom they work, resulting in a pervasive lack of coordination among service providers. During the past 15 years, however, there has been an increase in the number of multiagency, community-based programs for children and youth with emotional and behavioral disabilities, sometimes referred to as “systems of care.” In this paper, information about commonly used federal definitions of emotional and behavioral disabilities and a description of how variance in definitions and eligibility criteria contributes to the inability of agencies to work together to meet the needs of children and families are presented. Additionally, methods for developing community-level, interagency eligibility criteria for serving children who have needs that cross agency boundaries are addressed. Finally, a recently created system of care, the Dawn Project, located in Marion County, Indiana, is described.
The Adoption and Safe Families Act: Creating a False Dichotomy between Parents' and Childrens' Rights
Authors: Stein Theodore J.
Published: April 2013

At the end of 1999, there were approximately 550,000 children in foster care in the United States, almost double the number in care in the mid-1980s (Administration for Children and Families, 2000). This increase has been attributed to various factors from parental use of illegal drugs to over zealousness on the part of professionals who have misinterpreted the reasonable efforts requirement in federal law to require such extraordinary efforts that families have not been reunited nor children freed for adoption. In the 1990s, Congress acted several times to reduce the foster care population by increasing a child's chance of being adopted. In 1994, the Multiethnic Placement Act, which supports transracial adoptions, was enacted. The 1994 Act was amended by the Adoption Promotion and Stability Act of 1996, making any consideration of race, color, or national origin in placing a child for adoption a potential violation of the anti-discrimination provisions in the 1964 Civil Rights Act. In 1997, Congress enacted the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), discussed below in detail, which reflects a shift in philosophy away from the family-preservation/family-reunification theme that has been prevalent since 1980 to a focus on achieving permanency through adoption. In this article, I question the necessity of ASFA and the false dichotomy it creates between parents-rights and childrens-rights. Following a brief discussion of the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 the key provisions in ASFA are reviewed. Next, I will argue that ASFA is unnecessary because its goals were attainable under the AACWA, had there been proper implementation.
Immigrants and August 22, 1996: Will the Public Charge Rule Clarify Program Eligibility?
Authors: Swingle Digna Betancourt
Published: April 2013

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996, known as the welfare reform law, placed great restrictions on the ability of legal immigrants to access and qualify for public benefits. Although many of these benefits were later restored, immigrants have not been utilizing them for fear of being considered a “public charge” resulting in possible deportation. Immigrant advocates and healthcare providers have expressed concern that the underutilization of services by immigrants places families and children at-risk for potential public health consequences. The Immigration and Naturalization Service has proposed a policy to clearly define the public charge rule, and the consideration of immigrants' eligibility or ineligibility for different assistance programs. This article traces the history of the public charge rule, provides an analysis of unresolved issues under the proposed policy, and discusses implications for the field of social work
Effectiveness of Help Lines among Sociopolitical Minorities: A View from Both Sides of the Line
Authors: Ben-Ari Adital , Azaiza Faisal
Published: April 2013

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 3-year help line project as an alternative modality of help among the Arab population living in Israel. Specifically, the authors examined the perception and experience of help among both users and service providers. The research sample consisted of 131 callers and 15 volunteers. Questionnaire items included the reason for and timing of the call, the degree of help received, and the extent of improvement in the problem. Findings show a significant improvement in the severity of the problem following the help line conversation. In addition, a significant majority of the callers reported that they would use the service again in the future and would recommend it to others.
“Dime con Quien Andas”: Notions of Chicano and Mexican American Families
Authors: Méndez-Negrete Josephine
Published: April 2013

Social workers, whether family practitioners or not, have historically begun their examination or analysis of what constitutes family with normative understandings. To more comprehensively intervene with families, social work practitioners need to begin with a broad understanding of family. Given U.S. ethnic demographic shifts, and changes in economic trends, social workers will have to entertain a myriad of family form in their assessments, as they necessarily interact with a multiplicity of situations that require alternative models for understanding family.
Recruiting a Community Sample of African American Subjects: The Nuts and Bolts of a Successful Effort
Authors: Clay Cassandra , Ellis Michael A. , Amodeo Maryann , Fassler Irene , Griffin Margaret L.
Published: April 2013

Recruiting a heterogeneous community sample of White and African American subjects for a research study is a challenging task. Researchers have frequently failed to recruit African Americans or to recruit racially balanced samples. This paper describes the experiences of one social work research team in recruiting a community sample of White and African American women. Specific strategies are presented as a primer for developing samples that are diverse and balanced sociodemographically. A recruitment model is proposed, including use of multiple strategies, simultaneous attention to each segment of the targeted population, and periodic midcourse correction. The results of our recruitment efforts suggest that attracting a sociodemographically balanced sample can be successful when appropriate strategies are implemented.
Reviewing a Manuscript: The Reviewer's Experience and Standards
Authors: Drisko James
Published: April 2013

This section allows readers to “meet” authors and to learn about the personal inspirations and influences that compel people to write for publication. We invite all readers to share their own literary experiences. In this issue, we hear from author James Drisko.

– Howard Goldstein, Editor
The Experience of the Puerto Rican Family When a Member Has HIV/AIDS
Authors: Roldán Ida
Published: April 2013

As of June 2001, it was estimated that 22,000 people were living with AIDS in Chicago (CDC, 2001b), and 15% of these were Hispanic, of which 39% were Puerto Rican (Chicago Department of Health, 2000b). Although in recent years Chicago has seen a drop in HIV/AIDS-related deaths, HIV/AIDS is still devastating many Puerto Rican families. Many of those infected face the challenges of living with a chronic terminal disease, feeling alone and rejected by family and community. This research article summarizes the results of a qualitative study that explores the unique meanings that the Puerto Rican culture assigns to AIDS. The primary objective of this study was to capture the experience that is unique to the Puerto Rican family when a member has HIV/AIDS.
Organizational Prevention of Vicarious Trauma
Authors: Bell Holly , Kulkarni Shanti , Dalton Lisa
Published: April 2013

For the past 30 years, researchers and practitioners have been concerned about the impact of work stress experienced by social workers. Although research on burnout has been a useful field of exploration, a new concern has arisen about work stresses specifically associated with work with victims of trauma. The concept of vicarious trauma provides insights into the stresses of this particular kind of work. Like the burnout research, early research on vicarious trauma has identified both personal and organizational correlates. In this article, the authors review the growing literature on the organizational components of vicarious trauma and suggest changes in organizational culture, workload, group support, supervision, self-care, education, and work environment that may help prevent vicarious trauma in staff.
Choice within Entrapment and Entrapment within Choice: The Challenge Facing Battered Women who Stay
Authors: Ben-Ari Adital , Winstok Zeev , Eisikovits Zvi
Published: April 2013

In the present study, the authors explore the differential meaning of choice among battered women who stay in violent relationships and challenge the either/or paradigm that equates leaving with choice and staying with entrapment. A theoretical sample of 25 interviews was selected from a database of 120 in-depth, qualitative interviews with cohabitant couples who remained together despite violence. Sampling and data analysis followed the principles of grounded theory. Findings are organized around 2 conceptual categories: choosing to stay and being prevented from leaving. Each of the categories is examined in relation to both temporal and spatial dimensions. This conceptual framework implies that choices may be constructed by battered women.
Poverty in the “Promised Land”: Therapeutic Intervention with Immigrant Caucasus Families in Israel
Authors: Shamai Michal , Moin Victor , Sharlin Shlomo A.
Published: April 2013

In this article, the authors describe an attempt to adapt an existing model of therapeutic intervention with poor and disorganized families to ethnic minority immigrant families. Major elements of postmodern thinking along with elements from the narrative approach were utilized as part of the psychosocial intervention with the families. The evaluation of outcome was based on both quantitative and qualitative methods and considered the perspectives of the families as well as those of the social workers. Significant differences before and after the intervention were found within the experimental group, as well as between the experimental and the control groups in the 2nd measurement. In the qualitative analysis, families in the experimental group described greater changes than the control group. The discussion is centered on the attempt to explain the reasons for the model's effectiveness with immigrant populations and on the evaluative method.
Cults and Families
Authors: Whitsett Doni , Kent Stephen A.
Published: April 2013

This article provides an overview of cult-related issues that may reveal themselves in therapeutic situations. These issues include: families in cults; parental (especially mothers') roles in cults; the impact that cult leaders have on families; the destruction of family intimacy; child abuse; issues encountered by noncustodial parents; the impact on cognitive, psychological, and moral development; and health issues. The authors borrow from numerous theoretical perspectives to illustrate their points, including self psychology, developmental theory, and the sociology of religion. They conclude with a discussion of the therapeutic challenges that therapists face when working with cult-involved clients and make preliminary recommendations for treatment.
Child Support Enforcement: The Ignored Component of Welfare Reform
Authors: Wolk James L. , Schmahl Sandra
Published: April 2013

Most of the research and policy debate related to PL 104-193, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, has centered on the time limits, family caps, work requirements, and sanctions imposed on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) recipients and states. While those parts of the bill are critical, this article argues that child support enforcement, which is usually only a footnote in the dialogue, is an integral component of welfare reform and the element that will contribute significantly to raising thousands of women and children out of poverty.
The Myth of Cross-Cultural Competence
Authors: Dean Ruth G.
Published: April 2013

Cross-cultural competence has become a byword in social work. In a postmodern world in which culture is seen as individually and socially constructed, evolving, emergent, and occurring in language (Laird, 1998), becoming “culturally competent” is a challenging prospect. How do we become competent at something that is continually changing and how do we develop a focus that includes ourselves as having differences, beliefs, and biases that are inevitably active. After considering this and several other contemporary perspectives on cultural competence, the author questions the notion that one can become competent at the culture of another. The author proposes instead a model based on acceptance of one's lack of competence in cross-cultural matters.
Monogamous or Not: Understanding and Counseling Gay Male Couples
Authors: LaSala Michael C.
Published: April 2013

Mental health practitioners might be surprised to learn that many gay men establish and maintain relationships that allow outside sexual activity. However, for both monogamous and non-monogamous gay male couples, difficulties can arise which indicate that a couple needs to revisit, revise, or reaffirm their original agreements regarding extrarelational sex. This article reviews the existing literature on monogamous and open gay male unions and offers clinical case examples that suggest how to assess and assist coupled gay men, incorporating an understanding of this aspect of gay male relationships.
Situations and Representations: Feminist Practice with Survivors of Male Violence
Authors: Wood Gale Goldberg , Roche Susan E.
Published: April 2013

Four principles to guide a feminist practice with individual survivors of male violence are described and illustrated. The principles and the processes they activate address both the survivor's situation and her self-representation. They involve challenging oppressive cultural discourse about gender, discourse that devalues, blames and subjugates women and girls, especially as these beliefs are internalized and impact on the survivor's constitution of identity and her subsequent interpretation of experience from that position. Oppressive beliefs, internalized as truths, are repoliticized by connecting their local manifestations to the overarching cultural stories that perpetuate them. The principles and processes are predicated on social constructionist ideas and draw upon structural social work and narrative practices.
Listening to Men's Stories: Overcoming Obstacles to Intimacy from Childhood
Authors: Dorr Carol
Published: April 2013

This article analyzes the interviews of five men who came from abusive or otherwise unhealthy families to understand how they were able to overcome obstacles from their childhood to be more intimate with their own families. The five respondents were chosen from a sample of 103 White, married men ranging in age from 40 to 50 based on their extreme high scores on the Miller Social Intimacy Scale and their extreme low scores on the Family of Origin Scale. Content analysis of interviews allowed themes to emerge that revealed how the five men were able to change their life stories. Their responses fall into three categories that are explored in this paper: (1) childhood role models and alternative caregivers, (2) childhood friends, and (3) transforming experiences in later life. Interview excerpts provide examples of each category. Narrative analysis provided a deeper understanding of the interviews by exploring how the men used language to convey meaning. Attention was paid to the words the men chose, pauses, tone and delivery of speech, and metaphors. Noticing the details of language and how people story their lives adds to knowledge about clients.
The Adopted Child Syndrome: A Methodological Perspective
Authors: Smith Jerome
Published: April 2013

The term adopted child syndrome has repeatedly surfaced to explain behaviors in adopted children that seem rather uniquely related to their adoptive status. Specifically, these include problems in bonding, attachment disorders, lying, stealing, defiance of authority, and acts of violence. While the term has never achieved total acceptance in the professional community because of the lack of uniform empirical data, many theoreticians believe that the adopted child is in an at-risk group for developing emotional problems in as much as she/he is disproportionately represented in mental health caseloads. The use of this pseudoscientific term, which developed as a selected way to describe severe sociopathic behavior, is deeply flawed in its use of scientific and established methodology. The article identifies deviations from major research principles and operations as they directly relate to the “adopted child syndrome.” Finally, a distinction is made between correlation and causation, a distinction that frequently eludes the practitioner in the field.
The Home Environment and Delinquency: A Study of African American Adolescents
Authors: Rodney H. Elaine , Tachia H. Richard , Rodney Laxley W.
Published: April 2013

This study sought to determine the relationship between an adolescent's home environment and his/her involvement in conduct disorder. The study was based on a sample of 556 African American adolescents (85% males) aged thirteen to seventeen and enrolled in violence prevention programs at historically black colleges and Universities (HBCUs) located in eight states and the District of Columbia. The HBCUs in this study have student bodies that are predominantly African American. Data were collected using a condensed version of the Children's Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism (C-SAGA). The results showed that a higher proportion of females than males started physical fights, used weapons to harm, and ran away from home. Proportionately, more males deliberately set fires and destroyed property. The extended family, parents' time spent with the child, home discipline, and family rules were significantly related (p <.001) to incidents of conduct disorder. Implications for social service are suggested.
Permanency Outcomes in Legal Guardianships of Abused/Neglected Children
Authors: Henry Jim
Published: April 2013

Legal guardianships for abused/neglected children are often utilized by the child welfare system to create permanency placements. This descriptive study explores the permanency outcomes for abused/neglect children in legal guardianships. Five hundred forty-five family court guardianship files from two southwestern counties in Michigan were reviewed. The findings indicated that successful permanency was dependent on the reason the guardianship. Legal guardianships established following adjudicated child abuse/neglect (seventy-seven) in family court had a permanency disruption rate of 29%. Guardianships established after child abuse/neglect occurred (thirty-six), but prior to adjudication, had a permanency disruption rate of only 9%. Reasons for the disruptions and potential explanations for these statistically significant differences are examined.
Partner Accounts of Intimate Violence: Towards a Theoretical Model
Authors: Eisikovits Zvi , Goldblatt Hadass , Winstok Zeev
Published: April 2013

The purpose of this study is to provide a structural and contextual analysis of accounts of intimate violence given by cohabiting partners and to identify the dynamics of the interrelationships among the various categories of accounts. The purposive sample consisted of forty respondents (twenty couples) from Northern Israel who had reported at least one incident of violence during the year prior to the study. All respondents were interviewed using an in-depth semi-structured interview format. Thematic content analysis yielded three broad content categories of accounts: (1) what happened in the violent event; (2) why did it happen; and (3) what are the meanings attributed to such violent events. The dynamic interaction among these content categories was examined along personal, interpersonal and social dimensions. A theoretical model summarizing and illustrating the content categories and the dynamic interaction among them is suggested. Finally, some implications for hypothesizing and providing differential interventions are proposed.
Reducing Anxiety through a Structured Writing Intervention: A Single-System Evaluation
Authors: Barrett Michelle D. , Wolfer Terry A.
Published: April 2013

A growing body of empirical research indicates that structured writing interventions produce substantial immediate and long-term benefits, including improvements in cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and physiological functioning. To date, many of these studies have used non-clinical college student populations. In contrast, the present study involves a woman suffering anxiety symptoms resulting from domestic violence, and adopts the structured writing intervention as a self-administered adjunct to her clinical treatment. It uses a single-system design with multiple measures to track progress in reducing these symptoms.
Economic Well-Being in a Youth Cohort
Authors: Caputo Richard K.
Published: April 2013

Using multiple regression analysis on data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, the author found that the level of economic well-being varied by sex and race or ethnicity. Education, hours worked, and marital status were the most consistent predictors of economic well-being, depending on the sex and race or ethnicity of respondents in 1992 and 1985, and self-esteem was also a consistent predictor among Hispanic men and White women in 1992. Nonetheless, the influence of education on economic well-being declined between 1985 and 1992 for all groups except White women, while the influence of hours worked declined for all groups except Hispanic women and Black men. The findings provided empirical evidence for the reported generalized anxiety in regard to people's ability to influence their economic well-being.
Creating Community through Psychoeducational Groups in Family Preservation Work
Authors: Berry Marianne , Cash Scottye J.
Published: April 2013

Intensive family preservation services are a specialized form of child welfare services based on the proposition that an intensive, multisystemic intervention can bolster the family's internal and external resources and prevent further child maltreatment and the need for placement of children into foster care. Research on child maltreatment has identified social isolation as a primary correlate of child abuse and neglect but has also found that informal social support from family and friends can be detrimental to family integrity. Formal pychoeducational support groups are presented and described as an alternative method to create supportive networks for families seeking to remain safe and remain together.
When Dreams Wither and Resources Fail: The Social-Sup -port Systems of Poor Single
Authors: Wijnberg Marion H. , Weinger Susan
Published: April 2013

Recent political decisions to redesign the welfare system compels single mothers to work. With concern for the women and children so effected, this qualitative study explores the views of 42 poor single mothers regarding (1) their aspirations and dreams in relation to work and (2) the helpfulness of their social support networks in enabling them to make transitions to work or to study. Analysis was performed on both the sample as a whole and on subgroups of respondents who were divided by work category, e.g. employed fulltime, employed part-time, women who were students and full-time mothers. Developing meaningful subgroupings of single mothers may help avoid the dangers inherent in lumping all single mothers into a large and potentially inaccurate category.
Mom's House? Dad's House? Attitudes toward Physical Custody Changes
Authors: Coleman Marilyn , Ganong Lawrence H. , Killian Timothy S. , McDaniel Annette Kusgen
Published: April 2013

Normative beliefs regarding postdivorce changes in the physical custody of children were examined. Four hundred and eighty randomly selected adults responded to a vignette about a divorced couple and their 16-year-old child. Conditions in the vignette included child gender, legal custody arrangements, and marital status. Quantitative and open-ended data were collected. Several themes emerged: (a) the parenting ability and lifestyle of fathers are suspect, (b) fathers are more obligated to sons than to daughters, (c) mothers are more obligated than fathers to take their children in when the children want to move, and (d) children's motivations for changing residences are important considerations. Implications for future research and legal custody decisions are discussed.
The Psychological and Emotional Impact of Divorce: The Noncustodial Fathers' Perspective
Authors: Lehr Ron , MacMillan Peter
Published: April 2013

The current research investigated the personal experiences of young noncustodial fathers following separation and divorce. Using a focus group methodology, the researchers discovered and discussed young fathers' issues related to their children, their ex-partners and the judicial system. Results suggest that noncustodial fathers are difficult to engage, yet in need of help. In addition to recommending that counselors become more proactive in their work with noncustodial fathers, the authors discuss several implications for counselors working with young noncustodial fathers and give recommendations for further research.
Chronic Stress: A Conceptual Perspective
Authors: Reding Kathleen M. , Wijnberg Marion H.
Published: April 2013

The case is made for understanding and applying in social work practice current conceptions of chronic stress. Citing literature from the social sciences, the authors develop and describe a comprehensive model of chronic stress, focusing on single mothers that are experiencing economic poverty. The utility of the model lies in its synthesis of concepts that can be used in direct practice, policy development, and program design.
Mental Health Professionals' Contact with Family Members of People with Psychiatric Disabilities
Authors: Riebschleger Joanne
Published: April 2013

Seventy-three community mental health professionals described their contact with family members of people with psychiatric disabilities. Survey questions asked about contact frequency, patterns of contact, and barriers to contact with families. A multiple regression model analyzed facilitators of increased family contact. Professionals reported a median of 2 family contact hours per week. Professionals who served children reported more family contact. Family members most often initiated telephone contact, especially parents, spouses, and siblings. Most frequent activities included listening, accessing information, and helping with resources and coping. Formal family-inclusive interventions were infrequent. Time was the most frequently reported barrier. Serving children and increased consumer contact predicted increased family contact time. Recommendations are offered for family-inclusive mental health practice.
Taoistic Concepts of Mental Health: Implications for Social Work Practice with Chinese Communities
Authors: Yip Kam-shing
Published: April 2013

Traditional Taoism has a strong impact on the mental health of Chinese people. It stresses the transcendence from self and secularity, the dynamic revertism of nature, integration with nature, and the pursuit of the Infinite. Under the influence of Taoism, Chinese may prefer dynamic revertism instead of empowerment; integration with the law of nature instead of environmental change; inaction instead of cognitive and behavioral change; self-transcendence instead of self-actualization; natural science instead of emotional ventilation. The complexity and diversity of the influence of Taoism on various types of Chinese communities are also discussed.
Negotiating Family Relationships: Dementia Care as a Midlife Developmental Task
Authors: Sherrell Kathleen , Buckwalter Kathleen C. , Morhardt Darby
Published: April 2013

This article is based on interviews with a 44-year-old woman who exemplified the concepts of filial anxiety and filial maturity. These two concepts were initially defined by Blenkner in 1965, but more recently they were developed into a conceptual framework for understanding adult child caregiving responsibilities. The process of becoming “filially mature” is one of grieving, mourning, and letting go of previously secure rules and regulations about relationships with parents. This adds to a previously mandated imperative of developmental tasks that one must face at midlife (e.g. dealing with mortality). Augmenting these midlife tasks, parent care can be defined as a positive, growth-enhancing experience, versus the burden-stress model that has previously characterized this experience.
BSW Students Favor Strengths/Empowerment-Based Generalist Practice
Authors: Cox A. Leavelle
Published: April 2013

This article discusses the results of incorporating the strengths approach into a curriculum that employed a theoretical framework based on systems theory and problem-focused intervention. This approach was introduced in bachelor of social work (BSW) generalist practice courses in a school of social work where social justice is the guiding principle. BSW students used the strengths approach across a variety of client systems including the homeless, pregnant teenagers, the elderly, and the mentally and physically challenged. In a final class assignment, the students presented successful intervention outcomes with diverse populations using clients' strengths as the focus of problem resolution. The students' stories of their work and the use of this method for instruction showed evidence of clients' development of self-efficacy, increased self-esteem, and with clients taking more personal responsibility for their own change. The empowerment/strengths model developed by the author illustrates collaborative intervention with client and practitioner and applies a synergistic process to BSW students' practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
The Power of Group Work with Kids: A Practitioner's Reflection on Strengths-Based Practice
Authors: Malekoff Andrew
Published: April 2013

This narrative reflects a practitioner's formative experience as a VISTA volunteer, forming and working with a group of Mexican American adolescents before receiving any formal education in social work or human services. The author offers seven principles that highlighted the lessons he learned while working with the group and its extended community. The principles provide readers, academics, and practitioners with a foundation and framework for effective strengths-based group work practice with children and youth.
Strengths-Based Recovery Practice in Chemical Dependency: A Transpersonal Perspective
Authors: Moxley David P. , Washington Olivia G. M.
Published: April 2013

Given the tremendous damage chemical dependency can inflict on the human spirit, a transpersonal perspective is relevant to the recovery process because it assigns importance to the development of personal meaning and life purpose. The use of a transpersonal perspective can foster hope for both providers and consumers of services, particularly during periods of recovery when people are struggling with relapse and despair, and when it appears almost impossible to surmount barriers to recovery. During these challenging times people may look to a higher power for strength and fortification however they may conceive of this power (Frankl, 1997).
Postmodernism, Spirituality, and the Creative Writing Process: Implications for Social Work Practice
Authors: Damianakis Thecla
Published: April 2013

Social work, as a profession, is struggling to determine the value of postmodernism and spirituality, and how these approaches to life provide alternative ways of interpreting the universe and the nature of social work practice. Although social work is founded on both a liberal arts and a social science education, some authors are challenging social work's historical emphasis on the social sciences; they advocate that social work instead reconsider the role of the humanities as a force affecting practice. While social work continues to root its practice in modernity, determinism, and the social sciences, the possibility should be considered that postmodernism, spirituality, and the creative writing process have the potential to expand social work to a more creative and meaningful kind of practice. By exploring the relationships between power and knowledge, pathology and creativity, core identity and multiple selves, it becomes clear that our subjectivity, our human potential, and our voices can facilitate very deep intuitive, creative, and transpersonal levels of communication between the social worker and the client.
The Interconnection of Childhood Poverty and Homelessness: Negative Impact/Points of Access
Authors: Schmitz Cathryne L. , Wagner Janet D. , Menke Edna M.
Published: April 2013

Child poverty negatively impacts the development of children; family homelessness compounds the issues. Both have dramatically increased over the last two decades with far-reaching, poorly understood consequences. The impact of the instability of poverty and homelessness on children is often hidden or difficult to comprehend. Few studies critically examine the impact on a child's sense of safety and security. Using mixed method inquiry, this research sought to examine the effects of poverty and homelessness on children 8 to 12 years of age. The voices of the children illuminate the underlying strengths and vulnerabilities. Results indicate that homelessness leaves children feeling a decreased sense of support and an increased sense of isolation.
The Use of Prayer in Group Work with African American Women Recovering from Chemical Dependency
Authors: Washington Olivia G. M. , Moxley David P.
Published: April 2013

The authors discuss the relevance, propriety, and use of prayer in addressing the recovery of women from substance use. They describe the use of prayer to facilitate the process of rehabilitation and recovery of women who are chemically dependent and illustrate the application of prayer in the context of group treatment and support.
Measures for Practice with Families from a Strengths Perspective
Authors: Early Theresa J.
Published: April 2013

Social work practice from a strengths perspective is increasingly a preferred mode of practice. In the current environment of managed care in many fields, practitioners are required to measure and document various aspects of client problems and service effectiveness. The problem focus is inconsistent with the strengths perspective, but strengths-based practitioners are not immune from the accountability demands. This paper identifies and evaluates measurement instruments that can be used in practice with families—from a strengths perspective—and will also enable social workers to document service effectiveness.
Facing Time Limits and Kinship Placements
Authors: Albert Vicky , Iaci Ross , Catlin Sandra N.
Published: April 2013

The study examines the relationship between temporary welfare time limits and foster care relative placement in Nevada. A logit model was specified with a binary dependent variable capturing placement with relatives as opposed to nonrelative family foster care placement or group care. The findings reveal that, all else constant, children from welfare families with more months counted toward their Nevada's time limits are not more likely to be placed with relatives than their counterparts. The findings also show that children from African American families, from large families, or from families receiving cash during removal are more likely to be placed with relatives. The authors suggest that casework activities need to occur before, during, and after children experience foster care placements with relatives.
Ethical Considerations about Spirituality in Social Work: Insights from a National Qualitative Survey
Authors: Canda Edward R. , Nakashima Mitsuko , Furman Leola Dyrud
Published: April 2013

A mixed methods national survey of 2,069 National Association of Social Workers members examined ethical concerns regarding religious and nonreligious spiritual issues in clinical practice settings. This qualitative study focuses on responses to open-ended survey questions and relates them to quantitative findings. Practitioners' insights provide a basis to extend ethical guidelines in practice and education. The findings indicate that most respondents deal with spirituality in practice, and many use general ethical principles and situational considerations. However, they likely lack guidelines for systematic ethical decision making about the use of spiritually oriented activities in practice. The authors suggest ways that social work educators and supervisors should provide ethical guidelines and case examples for spiritually oriented activities in both educational and direct practice contexts.
Structure and Dynamics of Escalation from the Victim's Perspective
Authors: Eisikovits Zvi , Winstok Zeev , Gelles Richard
Published: April 2013

This paper examines escalation to violence in intimate relationships from the woman's perspective. The findings indicate that the process leading from nonviolence to violence is marked by five discernible junctures; at each one there exists the possibility of escalation into violence, or of an “escape-route” back to nonviolence. Control over the situation remains a key factor in managing this process. Women who continue living with their violent partners construct the process in a manner that affords them a measure of control and responsibility at every stage. This enables them to remain in the relationship despite the violence. The paper concludes with suggestions for theoretical and practical implications for assessing the risk and directions for future research.
Developing Cultural Competency with Evangelical Christians
Authors: Hodge David R.
Published: April 2013

Cultural competency with people of faith is stipulated in the profession's ethical standards. Yet, in spite of growing interest in spirituality and religion, a paucity of material has appeared in the literature with the express purpose of developing cultural competency with evangelical Christians, the nation's largest spiritual minority. To address this gap in the literature, salient aspects of the Evangelical cultural narrative are reviewed, which in turn provides the context for a discussion of various practice interventions. More specifically, information is presented on general practice suggestions, clinically oriented spiritual interventions, strategies for school social workers, and national and international social justice issues of concern to all social workers.
Perceived Equality in Spousal Relations, Marital Quality, and Life Satisfaction: A Comparison of Elderly Wives and Husbands
Authors: Kulik Liat
Published: April 2013

The author examined whether equality in 3 dimensions of marriage—power relations, division of household tasks, and equality in resources—affects marital quality as well as general life satisfaction in a sample of 120 elderly Israeli couples. Another goal of the research was to examine whether perceived past assistance from the spouse at a time of need affected the dependent variables and whether this effect was different for husbands and wives. The findings revealed similarities as well as differences in the variables that predict marital quality and general life satisfaction. The relationship among the predictors and the dependent variables was stronger for the wives than for their husbands. Past assistance from the spouse influenced quality of marriage and life satisfaction for both men and women. Moreover, the results revealed a cross-effect, indicating that one partner's reports of past assistance and equality in marriage affected the other's perceptions of marital quality and general life satisfaction.
Kinship Care and Permanence: Guiding Principles for Policy and Practice
Authors: Lorkovich Tami W. , Piccola Trista , Groza Victor , Brindo Merri E. , Marks Jonnie
Published: April 2013

Children have been entering the custody of child welfare agencies at an ever-increasing rate over the past several years. Over 1/2 million children remained in foster care at the end of 2002—about half of whom are over age 9. This article reviews why kinship care is favored, and in part uses lessons learned from the Kinship Adoption Project in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, to discuss barriers and permanence of kinship care, needed shifts in philosophy and policies, and practice strategies to promote permanence in kinship homes. Achieving successful outcomes for children in kinship care requires child welfare policy makers, administrators, and practitioners to make philosophical shifts, policy changes, and practice efforts that support kin caregivers and children.
Directions for Intervention with Adolescent Mothers in Substitute Care
Authors: Stockman Kristin D. , Budd Karen S.
Published: April 2013

The authors present the findings of a parent-training survey conducted with service providers in 28 agencies across illinois that serve teen mothers who are wards of the state During structured interviews, providers reported on parent-training topics, methods of delivery, engagement strategies, assessment, and program-evaluation procedures used with adolescent mothers in their programs. Service providers identified five priority intervention topics: teen-parent concerns (i.e., self-esteem), basic caregiving routines, child health/medical needs, child emotional needs, and discipline. The parent-training methods identified by providers as most effective were informal modeling. didactic classes, home visiting, peer-support groups, and mentoring. Engagement strategies rated most effective with adolescent mothers were provision of food, transportation, and baby-sitting during sessions. Few agencies reported using formal assessment or evaluation methods, despite providers' acknowledgment of the need for these resources. implications of the survey findings for intervention planning are discussed.
Advocacy in Aging: Notes for the Next Generation
Authors: Freeman Iris C.
Published: April 2013

Social work advocacy in aging is marked by enduring issues that call for contemporary skills and technology. Economic pressures on our clients and our agencies have resulted in an unbroken focus on access, quality, rights, and vulnerability. Effective advocacy with and on behalf of increasingly diverse elderly clients will require that we understand and confront the systems that shape our practice.
Advancing Social Work with Older Adults
Authors: Baskind Frank R. , Briar-Lawson Katherine
Published: April 2013

The rapid growth in the older population of the United States and the related increasing needs for services and healthcare providers reveal a crisis confronting U.S. society and the profession of social work. This article highlights the strategic investments of the John A. Hartford Foundation and its geriatric social work education initiatives to address the crisis. The transformative impact of the foundation is seen in the capacity of the social work profession to sustain the initiatives.
Family Characteristics and Dynamics among Families Receiving Postadoption Services
Authors: Gibbs Deborah , Barth Richard P. , Houts Renate
Published: April 2013

Postadoption services are an expanding service sector. This study determined the characteristics of families and children using a postadoption services program in New England. On average, children were 11 years of age at case opening and had been adopted for 6 years. Most had a history of maltreatment (57%), were adopted domestically (67%), and lived in adoptive families with married parents (82%). Almost all had received at least 1 other postadoption service (90%) and many (47%) had received 4 or more. Families' greatest concerns were child development and family relationships, with fewer concerns about culture, race, or birth parents. Although managing their children's behavior was a concern, families reported feeling effective and expressed considerable closeness to their child.
Adult Men's Self-Esteem: The Relationship with the Father
Authors: Dick Gary L. , Bronson Denise
Published: April 2013

This study examined 80 men to determine if their relationship with their fathers during childhood/adolescence could predict self-esteem in adulthood. Adult men's perceptions of their fathers were measured using the Fatherhood Scale (FS). Using logistic regression, the type of relationship with the father, the subject's education, subject's father's education, parental divorce, and whether they lived with their father during childhood/adolescence correctly classified 75% of the men in the predicted self-esteem group. Results indicate significant differences in self-reported measures of fathering between the two groups of men on eight out of the nine FS subscales. The type of relationship these men had with their fathers during childhood was related to self-esteem in adulthood.
Similarities in the Characteristics and Needs of Women with Children in Homeless Family and Domestic Violence Shelters
Authors: Stainbrook Kristin A. , Hornik John
Published: April 2013

Public programs like domestic violence shelters and family shelters are developed for a specific purpose, domestic violence and homelessness respectively. Analysis comparing two separate samples (n = 147 and n = 291) of single-female-headed families using either type of shelter found many more similarities than differences between the populations. Among the similarities are the rates of mental health and substance abuse problems, lifetime rates of victimization and trauma, and issues related to poverty, including difficulty paying bills and rent. These similarities suggest families at both types of shelters may have similar service needs, and families at homeless family shelters would benefit from the wider range of services provided to domestic violence clients, including attention to trauma and violence issues.
Welfare Workers’ Responses to Domestic Violence Cases: The Effects of Training and Worker Characteristics
Authors: Saunders Daniel G. , Holter Mark C. , Pahl Lisa C. , Tolman Richard M.
Published: April 2013

This study evaluated a one-day domestic violence training for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) workers and analyzed the relationship between worker characteristics and the use of work exemptions. In a post-only evaluation, trained workers reported a greater tendency than untrained workers to refer clients to couples counseling, make a safety plan, and file a report to child protection services. In a pre/post evaluation, workers reported after training that they would be less likely to refer clients to couples counseling, and more likely to ask about the emotional and physical impact of abuse, make a safety plan, and ask about access to weapons. Workers most likely to offer a waiver from work requirements reported a higher likelihood of making referrals for a variety of services.