bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fostering Interdependent versus Independent Living in Youth Aging Out of Care through Healthy Relationships
Authors: Antle Becky F. , Johnson Lisa , Barbee Anita , Sullivan Dana
Published: April 2013

Although the child welfare system has historically provided “independent living” services, youth aging out of foster care are at increased risk of negative outcomes such as poverty substance abuse, and homelessness. This manuscript builds upon the recent shift to “interdependent living” approaches by describing skills for various stages of relationships, including the youths relationship with their caseworker and foster family, centering around the need to define clear expectations and model healthy relationship skills. Youth must recognize their risk patterns and need for professional support, and develop educational/vocational goals for mentoring. Future relationships often include reconnecting with birth families and dating/romantic relationships, requiring an exploration of physical and emotional safety and establishment of healthy patterns for life-long relationships.
Structural Design for a University–Agency Research Collaboration: Bridging an Historical Distance
Authors: Goughler Donald H. , Anderson Carol M.
Published: April 2013

Social service agencies need the knowledge that can be gained through research, and universities are equipped to conduct research. It seems like a natural partnership. Yet, university research conducted in agencies often fails to satisfy the interests of either party. In seeking successful frameworks for meaningful applied research in community settings, universities and agencies must form an intentional relationship that integrates the capacities of the differently oriented partners. This article describes a partnership framework in which both community agency staff and university researchers discarded the usual disunified approach to addressing service questions and committed to an embedded, interactive, investigative model in which all participants merged their specific skills to gain mutually fulfilling outcomes.
Power, Pathological Worldviews, and the Strengths Perspective in Social Work
Authors: Grant Jill G. , Cadell Susan
Published: April 2013

This article takes up Blundos (2001) assertion in this journal that in order to practice from the strengths perspective, social workers need to alter their “frames.” Expanding on this assertion, we specify a particular frame that requires change: a pathological worldview. Examining the strengths perspective with regard to a Foucauldian analysis of power, we argue that to thoroughly implement the strengths perspective, we need to consider the dividing practices that allow us to maintain power and that reflect a pathological worldview. This article provides considerations for social work practice that will be of interest to practicing social workers and social work educators interested in continuing to develop their strengths-based practice.
Correlates of African American Children in and Out of Their Families
Authors: Curtis Carla M. , Alexander Rudolph
Published: April 2013

Most African American children reside with their families but a large number do not due to placement in child protective services, the juvenile justice system, or in relative care. Social disorganization theory provides that societal change produces social disorganization, which may cause social problems. Some neighborhoods are better able to address problems than are others. In this study, the authors use social disorganization theory to understand the separation of African American children from their families. The U.S. Census Bureau (2000a) defines census tracts as similar to neighborhoods. An evaluation of 263 neighborhoods in Franklin County, Ohio, found moderate support for social disorganization theory in that 11 of 19 demographic variables were significantly correlated with whether African American children lived with their families or elsewhere. A perceptive analysis shows that lower percentages of demographic variables are significantly correlated with children remaining in their homes.
Justifying Sex: The Place of Women's Sexuality on a Social Justice Agenda
Authors: Bay-Cheng Laina Y.
Published: April 2013

Within popular and professional discourses, consideration of women's sexuality often centers on its dangers and difficulties: unintended pregnancy, infection, varying forms of coercion and objectification, and sexual dysfunction. Such rhetoric is so persistent that sexuality itself is often perceived as inherently risky and dangerous. The present article challenges this equation by arguing that women's sexual vulnerability is attributable to social injustice and inequality on the basis of gender, heteronormativity, class, and race, rather than sexuality itself. The emerging interdisciplinary movement toward positive sexuality, including the relevance of desire and pleasure to social justice and social change, is reviewed with particular attention to the ways in which social work is especially well suited to assume a positive, social justice orientation to women's sexuality.
Youth as Partners in Curriculum Development and Training Delivery: Roles, Challenges, Benefits, and Recommendations
Authors: Clay Cassandra , Amodeo Maryann , Collins Mary Elizabeth
Published: April 2013

This article describes youth involvement in a set of national curriculum development and training projects focused on assisting foster youth to transition successfully out of the child welfare system. Various forms of youth involvement occurred in these projects: youth served on advisory committees, as focus group members, as curriculum reviewers, and as trainers and cotrainers. The benefits and challenges of youth involvement, identified by project staff and youth themselves, are outlined. Recommendations are presented for working with youth more effectively, for example, ensuring that the organization is prepared for substantial mentoring of youth and seeking certain groups of youth that match the project's needs. Recommendations are presented that are relevant to a host of educational and human service settings.
Effects of Maternal Employment and Receiving Welfare on Family Outcomes among Low-Income Families
Authors: Lee Kyunghee
Published: April 2013

This study investigated how maternal employment and welfare-receipt were associated with family outcomes, using data from the Infant Health and Development Program (IHDP). This study looked at mothers and children among low-income families who received welfare and/or were employed during the first 3 years of the child's life. Mothers whose incomes were from welfare only had lower outcomes than mothers who earned some or all their income from employment. Those in the intervention groups receiving enrichment services had more positive outcomes than those of the group with only follow-up. The findings suggest that maternal employment for low-income families should be encouraged when mothers are ready to participate in employment and when support systems such as quality child care are provided.
Exploratory Study on the Factors Affecting Marital Satisfaction among Remarried Korean Couples
Authors: Kim Hyosoon
Published: April 2013

This study examined 157 remarried couples with middle or high school children to identify factors affecting marital satisfaction. Sociodemographic factors such as sex, family income, type of remarried family, and presence of a biological child of the remarried couple were identified as independent variables associated with remarried couples’ marital satisfaction. The results of an analysis of the effects of all factors on marital satisfaction indicated that role ambiguity was found to be the most significant factor explaining the level of remarried couples’ marital satisfaction, followed by role conflict, conjugal communication, family boundary ambiguity, family support, and type of remarriage in descending order of statistical significance. Concluding practical recommendations for social work are made based on these results.
Resiliency: The Essence of Survival in Chaos
Authors: Carp Joel M.
Published: April 2013

Disaster mental health work requires additional skills and an enlarged vision of the human condition that values the resiliency and strengths that people have. Using models most social workers are trained to apply in clinical work is a potentially dangerous trap: People are likely to be perceived by professionals as victims or broken people, and lacking needed strength and resilience if that clinical lens is automatically or universally applied to people who experience traumatic incidents (terrorism, natural disasters, or the unexpected or violent death of a family member, peer, or significant other). Focusing only on the individual in these situations can cause professionals to lose the ability to focus equally upon the institutional and communal social systems that have also been thrown into chaos.
Is Constituent Feedback Living up to Its Promise? Provider Perceptions of Feedback Practices in Nonprofit Human Service Organizations
Authors: Campbell David A.
Published: April 2013

In recent years, leaders of nonprofit human service organizations and their funders have made a significant investment in systematic data collection and analysis to analyze program activities. Using data gathered from a survey and 5 focus groups of members of a national organization of human service providers, this study evaluates providers’ perceptions of the practices they use to gather feedback from service beneficiaries and other stakeholders. The study developed a 6-element framework of feedback purposes to frame current practices. The study found that providers are actively engaged in feedback activities but are dissatisfied with their efforts, attributable to disagreements over the purpose of feedback, concerns over the value of data collection instruments, and the lack of organizational capacity.
Defining a Foster Care Placement Move: The Perspective of Adults who Formerly Lived in Multiple Out-of-Home Placements
Authors: Unrau Yvonne A. , Chambers Ruth , Seita John R. , Putney Kristin S.
Published: April 2013

Several studies have demonstrated that children who experience multiple placements are more likely to experience behavioral problems and are less likely to achieve reunification. However, little is known about how move transitions–-from one foster home to another, from foster care to birth family home, or between family placements and group care facilities–-are perceived or experienced by children in foster care, or those formerly in foster care. This qualitative study examines the definition of foster care placement moves from the perspective of adults formerly in foster care. Participants identify both physical and psychological shifts as key dimensions of the placement change experience. Some study participants viewed returning home as “just” another placement. Implications for child welfare policy, research, and practice are briefly discussed.
Caregiver Substance Use and Trauma Exposure in Young Children
Authors: Sprang Ginny , Clark James J. , Staton-Tindall Michele
Published: April 2013

This study examines the differential experiences of three groups of children: children living in homes with caregivers who had used methamphetamine, those living in homes with caregivers who used other drugs, and those in homes where there was no evidence of caregiver substance misuse. A random sample of 1127 children was selected from the public child welfare log of open cases in fiscal year 2005-2006. Results indicate that caregiver methamphetamine use was a robust correlate of trauma exposure, with interpersonal violence being the most prevalent form of trauma exposure. Practice and policy implications are presented for a wide range of professionals working with these children.
The Buffering Effect of Nonparental Adults on the Relationship between Parent-Adolescent Communication and Adolescent Risk Behavior
Authors: Rishel Carrie W. , Cottrell Lesley , Stanton Bonita , Cottrell Scott , Branstetter Steven
Published: April 2013

The current study tests the hypothesis that nonparental adults serve as a buffer for adolescents by examining the moderating role of nonparental adults in the relationship between parent-adolescent communication and adolescent risk behavior. Results confirm the buffering hypothesis; there is a significant relationship between parent–adolescent communication and adolescent engagement in risk behavior, but this relationship is weaker for adolescents who report strong relationships with nonparental adults. These findings inform social work practice with adolescents, families, and communities by suggesting the importance of encouraging the development of relationships between youth and nonparental adults. Implications for practitioners, policymakers, and future research are discussed.
Indicators of Quality in Kinship Foster Care
Authors: Falconnier Lydia A. , Tomasello Nicole M. , Doueck Howard J. , Wells Susan J. , Luckey Heather , Agathen Jean M.
Published: April 2013

Kinship care for at-risk children is an increasingly popular alternative to traditional foster care. Despite the rationale for such placements, questions remain about the quality of kinship care compared to other foster placement alternatives and about how to evaluate its quality. The purpose of this study was twofold: a review of the literature to explore the characteristics of children and caregivers in kinship homes, and an examination of existing tools for measuring kinship care quality. A total of 25 predictive, correlational, qualitative, and meta-analytic research studies were reviewed. Children in kinship care were found to experience unique circumstances that should be considered when developing a comprehensive instrument for measuring quality of kinship care. Development should include collaboration among kinship care stakeholders in order to address the unique real-life circumstances of both caregivers and their kin.
When African American Teen Girls’ Friends Are Murdered: A Qualitative Study of Bereavement, Coping, and Psychosocial Consequences
Authors: Johnson Celeste M.
Published: April 2013

This qualitative study examines how African American teen girls grieve the loss of their friends who die from murder. Semistructured interviews were held with 21 African American teenage girls who experienced such a loss. The data analysis was guided by grounded theory. The emergent themes were classified into 3 major areas: mourning, coping, and psychosocial consequences. The mourning experiences ranged from uncomplicated bereavement to traumatic grief and depression. Three coping strategies emerged from the data: private strategies, public strategies, and context support strategies. Psychosocial consequences included associated losses, living challenges, and aspects of resilience consisting of constitutional factors, meaning-making efforts, and contextual supports of the participants. The implications for social work practice and social work education are discussed.
Latino Church Leaders and Domestic Violence: Attitudes and Knowledge
Authors: Ames Natalie , Hancock Tina U. , Behnke Andrew O.
Published: April 2013

This article describes two focus groups that explored Latino church leaders' attitudes and knowledge about domestic violence. Participants were well aware of the intergenerational nature of domestic violence and suggested both religious and secular interventions. They were opposed to separation or divorce and did not view abusers as being responsible for their violent behavior. Some participants disclosed significant personal experience with domestic violence. Results suggest that efforts to engage Latino church leaders in domestic violence prevention/intervention should acknowledge the religious and cultural importance of keeping families together, build on the positive aspects of traditional male/female roles in Latino cultures, and incorporate opportunities for sharing and healing from personal experiences.
Issues of Care Are Issues of Justice: Reframing the Experiences of Family Caregivers of Children with Mental Illness
Authors: Suiter Sarah VanHooser , Heflinger Craig Anne
Published: April 2013

Persons who care for children and adolescents who are experiencing mental illness often incur a considerable burden as a result of their care work. Furthermore, caregivers living in rural areas often have increased difficulties as a result of longer travel times, lack of specialty services, and fewer community resources. While there is ample evidence documenting caregiver burden, it continues to go largely unaddressed by mental health care systems and economic and legal structures that might instead be altered to better support primary caregivers. In this article, we report the experiences of 42 rural primary caregivers for children and adolescents with mental health issues and apply a justice framework, informed by feminist care theory, to suggest possible alternatives for building mechanisms for caregiver support.
Doing Good Science without Sacrificing Good Values: Why the Heuristic Paradigm is the Best Choice for Social Work
Authors: Heineman-Pieper Jessica , Tyson Katherine , Pieper Martha Heineman
Published: April 2013

Social work today faces a crucial watershed: Will the field continue to promulgate unsound and detrimental beliefs about social work research and knowledge, or will the field fully embrace the heuristic paradigm and thereby realize its true potential as a first-rate science committed to humanistic ideals? Proponents of unsound and detrimental beliefs have obscured the choice for social workers by systematically and thoroughly misrepresenting the heuristic paradigm, making unwarranted and misleading claims for the paradigms to which it is opposed (logical empiricism and relativism), and confusing the issues at stake for the field. Accordingly, this article helps social workers recognize the tenets and implications of each of the three paradigms for research that social work has available to it—the heuristic paradigm, logical empiricism, and relativism—so that social workers can make a truly informed choice about the best approach to knowledge in their field.
Attitudes toward Traditional Marriage: A Comparison of TANF Recipients and a General Population of Adults
Authors: Taylor Mary Jane , Vogel-Ferguson Mary Beth
Published: April 2013

Marriage enhancement programs enacted under the federal Healthy Marriage Initiative imply that marriage behaviors and attitudes of poor women are different from those of the middle class, and that the cash assistance program is an appropriate venue to change these attitudes. A population of long-term recipients of public cash assistance and a random sample of general population adults were compared regarding views toward traditional marriage. The general population was significantly more aligned with views of traditional marriage, but when factors that directly affect marriage attitudes and behaviors were controlled for, views on traditional marriage were similar for the two groups. Study findings suggest that attitudes toward marriage are not necessarily related to economic status.
Critical Issues for Psychiatric Medication Shared Decision Making with Youth and Families
Authors: O'Brien Megan S. , Crickard Elizabeth L. , Rapp Charles A. , Holmes Cheryl L. , McDonald Thomas P.
Published: April 2013

The primary aims of this article are to describe the current context for youth shared decision making (SDM) within the U.S. children's mental health system and to identify important considerations for the development of this approach as a research and service domain. The notion is substantiated in the literature that participation in treatment decisions can prepare youth for making their own decisions as adults, can be therapeutic, and can have positive effects on their self-confidence and self-esteem. Still, the complex youth–family–provider dynamic raises important issues that need to be addressed before SDM can be successfully implemented.
The Children's Bureau and Passage of the Sheppard-Towner Act of 1921: Early Social Work Macro Practice in Action
Authors: Rodems Elizabeth Sammons , Shaefer H. Luke , Ybarra Marci
Published: April 2013

The Sheppard-Towner Act of 1921 was the first major piece of federal legislation passed in the United States to focus on infant and maternal health. Following its implementation, the U.S. infant mortality rate dropped significantly. A central factor leading to passage of the Act was a body of research conducted by the U.S. Children's Bureau. This research—largely conducted by early social workers—included detailed field studies, analyses of national and state trends in child and maternal health, and cross-national comparisons. This article discusses how the research led to the development of the Act, analyzes the relative importance of the research in the legislative debate, and remarks upon the lessons that this history offers for social workers today.
Perceptions of Family Empowerment in African American Custodial Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren: Thoughts for Research and Practice
Authors: Whitley Deborah M. , Kelley Susan J. , Campos Peter E.
Published: April 2013

Empowerment practice is an approach to help marginalized families reduce their sense of powerlessness. The present study explores empowerment practice with a sample of low-income African American custodial grandmothers. It specifically describes how the effects of a strengths-based community service program influenced caregivers' sense of empowerment. Using the Family Empowerment Scale, the results suggest that the service intervention supports the empowerment dimensions and three subscales (knowledge, advocacy, and self-efficacy); the results did not support the competency subscale. Although all age groups experienced an increase in empowerment, older grandmothers had significant differences in perceptions regarding social systems, as well as a sense of competency as compared with younger grandmothers. Implications for service delivery and future research are presented.
Father Involvement in Botswana: How Adolescents Perceive Father Presence and Support
Authors: Dyer Kerianne , Roby Jini L. , Mupedziswa Rodreck , Day Randal
Published: April 2013

How children perceive parental involvement has implications for their development and well-being, as well as the father-child relationship. Emerging research suggests that father involvement is a multifaceted concept, often driven by evolving cultural mandates. In this study, survey data were collected from 704 adolescents aged 14–16 in Botswana, where the rates of female-headed households and adult HIV infection are among the highest in the world. Fathers who provided both coresidence and financial support were perceived at the highest level of involvement. When considered separately, financial support rather than coresidence was associated with higher levels of perceived involvement. Maternal gatekeeping was also found to be a significant influence on perceived levels of father involvement. Implications for policy, practice, and research are discussed.
Working with Immigrant Clients: Perils and Possibilities for Social Workers
Authors: Jones Susanna
Published: April 2013

This exploratory study reports qualitative data gathered from focus groups with social workers who work with immigrant clients in New York City. Social workers were asked to identify challenges and opportunities they encounter as they work with immigrant clients, families, and communities. The author conducted focus groups with 36 social workers. The findings highlight challenges with service delivery systems, how to improve serving the immigrant population, and policy consequences. Most previous studies related to immigration have been from the vantage point of the client. This study fills a gap by exploring the challenges faced by the worker and offers solutions about how to manage the difficult work when serving immigrant clients, particularly the undocumented.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Service Use, and Service Helpfulness among People Experiencing Homelessness
Authors: Larkin Heather , Park Jihyun
Published: April 2013

This study examines categories of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and service use backgrounds among a convenience sample of people experiencing homelessness (N = 224), using logistic regression analysis (n = 174) and descriptive and comparative analyses. Eighty-seven percent reported at least 1 of 10 ACEs prior to age 18. Over half (53.2%) reported 4 or more ACEs. Approximately half reported parental loss, emotional neglect, living with a substance abuser, and emotional abuse. ACEs were significantly correlated with one another. Among those who used prior services, ACEs predicted interpersonal prevention, clinical, and criminal justice services for emotional or substance abuse problems. Most indicated services were helpful. This study provides data for policy and program leaders to ensure at-risk families and communities have access to responsive services.
The Best of Both Worlds: How Kinship Care Impacts Reunification
Authors: Blakey Joan Marie
Published: April 2013

Children entering out-of-home placement because of parental substance abuse often are placed with relatives. Placements with relatives reduce the likelihood of reunification, but little information is available about why this is the case. Using a multiple embedded case study design, interviews with 26 women and 20 professionals explored the ways kinship care influences reunification among African American women with histories of addiction. The results revealed three kinds of kinship arrangements that influenced whether women regained or permanently lost custody of their children: (a) family support with parameters, (b) limited family support, and (c) enabling family support. These findings suggest a need for child welfare agencies to help relative caregivers establish boundaries and limits particularly when substance abuse is an issue.
Controversies in Psychiatry and DSM-5: The Relevance for Social Work (Occasional Essay)
Authors: Littrell Jill , Lacasse Jeffrey R.
Published: April 2013

This essay addresses recent controversies surrounding the forthcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5—the first major revision of the DSM since 1994), as well as questions regarding the safety and efficacy of psychotropic medications discussed in the public domain. Mental health professionals across a wide range of professions have signed a petition to the DSM-5 Task Force protesting changes in the new edition, and critiques of psychiatric medications are increasingly disseminated in the media. These issues have particular relevance for children in foster care, who receive diagnoses and medication at high rates. The general public is increasingly exposed to information on these topics through the media; as advocates and clinicians, it is important that social work practitioners be informed regarding these issues.
The Looking-Glass Self: Looking at Relationship as the Mechanism of Change in Case Management of Persons with Severe Mental Illness
Authors: Kondrat David C. , Teater Barbra
Published: April 2013

Community mental health case management has been an important source of support for persons living with a severe mental illness (SMI) since the shift from hospital-based to community-based services, and it is considered to be a central component of the recovery-based model of care. Fostering a strong and positive relationship between case managers and consumers is important to good case management practice. The ascendance of recovery in the mental health paradigm has invigorated the need for collaborative relationships that open up space for consumers to move toward recovery. Using Cooley's metaphor of the looking-glass self, we examine the consumer-case manager relationship and how it helps create a new, recovery-oriented self in SMI consumers. Understanding this relationship as an important mechanism of change provides a useful model for understanding the impact of case managers on the lives of SMI consumers.
Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) among Child Service Providers
Authors: Esaki Nina , Larkin Heather
Published: April 2013

Despite increasing evidence in the public health field about the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the general population, little is known about the prevalence of ACEs among social service providers. Trauma backgrounds may influence both worker susceptibility to vicarious traumatization as well as clinical decision making. Similarly, individuals with trauma backgrounds are vulnerable to re-enactment of their history. With pressure on social service agencies to demonstrate successful client outcomes, it is critical that agencies explore factors that influence high-quality care. This exploratory study is the first investigation of ACE prevalence among workers in an agency that provides residential treatment, day treatment, and schooling for children with histories of trauma. Study results suggest a high prevalence of ACEs among these workers.
Spirit Lifting: Hope and Recovery in Case Management Practice
Authors: Sullivan W. Patrick , Floyd Destinee F.
Published: April 2013

Case managers play an important role in the recovery process for consumers with severe mental illness. This study sought to capture the perspectives of case managers in two Midwestern states regarding the consumers they serve and their beliefs about the concept, process, and possibility of recovery from mental illness. Interviews from 50 mental health case managers were reviewed and rated on the basis of their perceived hopefulness about the prospects of recovery from mental illness. The study revealed that case managers hold divergent views on the definition and likelihood of recovery. The results suggest that practitioners may benefit from additional training and support to further develop their perspectives on recovery, which may also increase their hopefulness toward consumer outcomes.
Social Work Values, Welfare Reform, and Immigrant Citizenship Conflicts
Authors: Pinto Rogério M.
Published: April 2013

The article examines a values conflict between a client's family system, the client's social worker, and the United States government. A practice case illustrates how the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996, commonly known as welfare reform, has forced immigrants to become American citizens, and thereby has caused strife and emotional distress to immigrants and their families. A citizenship choice conflict is analyzed through a values classification model. The social worker, who is caught in the middle of the conflict, must decide whether or not to uphold his clients decision not to become a citizen. A discussion follows, which explores the social worker's ethical dilemma, its outcome, and its justification.
The Meaning of Quality in Kinship Foster Care: Caregiver, Child, and Worker Perspectives
Authors: Chipman Robert , Wells Susan J. , Johnson Michelle A.
Published: April 2013

Though principles, guidelines, and procedures for assessing the quality of foster care in kinship settings have been introduced, research on the factors that mediate the quality and outcome of kinship care has been minimal. To provide insight into these factors from the perspectives of kinship stakeholders, this article presents findings from a qualitative study conducted with kinship caregivers, children living with relatives, and caseworkers of children in kinship placements. Their views on quality care in kinship homes, including factors to consider in the selection and evaluation of kinship placements and opinions of how kinship and nonkinship foster care differ, make unique contributions to the development of standards and measures for kinship foster care assessment. Findings confirm the salience of specific factors present in existing guidelines, build on existing recommendations for the selection and evaluation of kinship homes, and highlight important policy and practice issues for consideration with kinship families.
Media and Society: An Interview with Robert McChesney
Authors: Powell Wiliam E. , Kelly-Powell Mary L.
Published: April 2013

Robert McChesney was interviewed in late 2001 in Urbana, Illinois. He is a research professor in the Institute of Communication Research and the Graduate School of Information and Library Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He is also the noted author of several books including Rich Media, Poor Democracy: Communication Politics in Dubious Times and It's the Media, Stupid! The interview was conducted to broaden our understanding of the interplay of social issues and the media. Being cognizant of changes in the American media is particularly important in the policy arena where the dissemination of information and the shaping of public opinion is critical to the success of our efforts on behalf of our clients. McChesney candidly illuminates his views about the confluence of recent political, social, and economic changes that shape our media, our knowledge, and the context of efforts to affect social change.
An Empowering Approach to Crisis Intervention and Brief Treatment for Preschool Children
Authors: Tyson Katherine
Published: April 2013

This paper presents an approach to crisis intervention and brief treatment for young children based on the new psychology, intrapsychic humanism. After presenting central theoretical principles, these principles are applied and treatment guidelines demonstrated in the treatment process of a three-year-old child named Paul. The research design for the case study is naturalistic uses qualitative methods of data analysis, and draws from the heuristic paradigm (a postpositivist metatheory of social and behavioral research).
Total Force and the New American Military Family: Implications for Social Work Practice
Authors: Knox Jo , Price David H.
Published: April 2013

Increasing numbers of civilian social workers are being hired by the Department of Defense to provide services in military family programs. Recent changes in the American military, commonly referred to as “total force” policy, will bring even more social workers into contact with both active-component and reserve-component military families. The total force policy has caused the military family to be redefined. Still, the military hierarchy, culture, organization, and social support systems are key factors to be considered in the delivery of social services to military members and their families. Critical differences in the needs of reserve-component and active-component military families challenge social work practice. Social work practice has not kept pace with the changing military family environment It is time to incorporate military families into practice as yet another diverse population with whom social workers will interact. This article describes the new American military family, provides principles for practice, and identifies how social workers can respond.
Working with Male Batterers: A Restorative-Strengths Perspective
Authors: van Wormer Katherine , Bednar Susan G.
Published: April 2013

The Duluth model of batterer intervention is based on a feminist critical theory paradigm that makes sense from the point of view of the victim/survivor. Male batterers in treatment, however, may resist many of the precepts of this model. Applying a restorative-strengths perspective to the group process and evaluation may enable us to meet participants where they are and help reduce the resistance, denial, recidivism, and high dropout rates common with this group. Principles of restorative justice may be applied at the community level as well to reinforce community standards of behavior.
Understanding the Life Issues of Spiritually-Based Clients
Authors: Pellebon Dwain A. , Anderson Stephen C.
Published: April 2013

Understanding the meaning of life events from the perspective of a spiritually-based client Is essential in social work practice. This article discusses several life events that are likely experienced by clients with spiritual worldviews. The meaning of childbirth and the perception of human nature provide Insight into the family's socialization experience. In adolescence, sexuality and the potential for parental conflict emerge as issues that require a spiritually-sensitive approach. In adulthood, the spiritual reality has the most notable impact on an Individual's attitudes, behaviors, and the decision-making process. Because spirituality operates similar to cultural realities, the authors' support the development of a knowledge base for working with clients who have a spiritual worldview.
Collaborative Agency Training for Parent Employees and Professionals in a New Agency Addressing Children's Mental Health
Authors: Werrbach Gail B. , Jenson Cary E. , Bubar Katherine
Published: April 2013

This paper describes an 8-week training curriculum conducted jointly with parent employees and professionals in a uniquely constructed agency. The agency provides case management and wraparound services for children with serious emotional disabilities (SED). Parents of children with SED helped conceptualize the agency, and parent employees play important roles in management and daily operations. Several experiences in developing this rural agency are portrayed and employee views are explored. The greatest focus is on aspects of the collaborative seminar for training employees in implementing the family strengths-based system of care in children's mental health. The curriculum is described, followed by lessons learned and implications for future parent–professional joint training.
Co-Parent Adoptions by Same-Sex Couples: From Loophole to Law
Authors: Crawford Jill M.
Published: April 2013

Society's definition of “family” is rapidly expanding and has come to include single parents, biracial couples, blended families, unrelated individuals living cooperatively, and homosexual couples, among others. Unfortunately, family policy has been slow to catch up to changing trends in modem lifestyles. Specifically, adoption policy has yet to sanction joint adoption by same-sex couples. As a result these couples are forced to manipulate the words of the law and “go in the back door” to be able to parent the children they have so longed for and who desperately need families. The article that follows uses a practice example to examine current policy, cite the need for change, and explore some of the myths and misperceptions that cloud the judgments made by policymakers, court officials, and child welfare professionals, thereby keeping waiting children without families and waiting parents without children.
Continuity and Discontinuity in Marital Life after Retirement: Life Orientations, Gender Role Ideology, Intimacy, and Satisfaction
Authors: Kulik Liat
Published: April 2013

The study examines differences in life orientations, gender role ideology, marital satisfaction, and marital intimacy between a sample of Israeli husbands on the verge of retirement (n = 137) and those who have already retired (n = 211). Results show that the retirees ascribe greater importance to the home and family, whereas the pre-retired husbands give priority to the instrumental aspects of their life. The retired group tended to hold more traditional views about gender roles, while males with working wives (regardless of their own employment status) were found to have more liberal attitudes. Pensioners also tended to report greater satisfaction with marital life. No significant differences were found in regard to marital intimacy; in both groups, the dominant type of intimacy was reciprocity. Except in regard to gender role ideology, no differences were found between husbands of working women and those whose wives did not work.
Coping with the Dual Demands of Severe Mental Illness and Parenting: The Parents' Perspective
Authors: Ackerson Barry J.
Published: April 2013

The experience of parenthood by individuals with severe mental illness has not been well studied. Research on mentally ill parents has focused on their pathology and the potential risk for their children without considering the parents' perspective. This qualitative study used interviews to explore how these parents coped with the dual demands of parenthood and their illness. Participants included individuals whose children are now young adults as well as those with younger children. Themes that emerged were problems with diagnosis and treatment, stigma, chaotic interpersonal relationships, the strain of single parenthood, custody issues, relationship with children, social support, and pride in being a parent. Follow-up interviews focused on the themes of relationship with children, strain of single parenthood, and sources of support. Relationship with children contained three specific topics: discipline, boundary issues, and role reversal. Implications for practice are discussed along with recommendations for future research involving other family members.
After-School Care for Children: A Resilience-Based Approach
Authors: Nash James K. , Fraser Mark W.
Published: April 2013

This paper utilizes a resilience perspective and a review of research to identify societal, community, family, and individual factors related to the after-school period that place many children at increased risk for poor developmental and behavioral outcomes. We define and discuss the importance of four key dimensions of children's after-school experiences: safety, developmental appropriateness, cultural relevance, and stability. We recommend that families and practitioners collaborate and include children in the decision making to create after-school care that is individualized. Whenever possible, after-school settings should include opportunities for both enhancing academic achievement and having fun. While emphasizing that all children need appropriate after-school environments, we discuss the importance of assessment and of plan development and monitoring when working with youths at risk for aggressive behavior, impaired relationships with peers and adults, and poor performance in school.
Elements of Satisfying Organizational Climates in Child Welfare Agencies
Authors: Bednar Susan G.
Published: April 2013

The critical role played by child welfare workers in the protection of abused and neglected children is seriously undermined by rapid staff turnover and the impaired performance associated with burnout and job dissatisfaction. This review examines research on job satisfaction in child welfare systems and on factors that influence a worker's decision to leave a job or stay, as well as organizational climate factors which have been linked to job satisfaction, consumer satisfaction, and client outcomes. While ample information is available about what is needed to create satisfying work environments for child welfare workers, this knowledge has not been systematically applied. Incorporating existing knowledge into child welfare practice should be a priority, as should research that focuses on organizational variables that may impact service quality and outcomes as well as employee satisfaction. Questions remain about the long-term impact of increased job satisfaction and improved organizational climate on worker retention and client outcomes.
Sources of Support in a Sample of HIV-Affected1 Older Minority Caregivers
Authors: Poindexter Cynthia C. , Linsk Nathan L.
Published: April 2013

Since more and more family caregivers of persons with HIV disease are parents and grandparents, older persons may be responsible for the well-being of ill or orphaned family members at a time when they may be at risk for their own health and social losses. Re searchers conducted qualitative interviews with twenty older minority informal caregivers of HIV-infected persons to explore their experiences with seeking and receiving informal social support. There were two sources of social support: support from family and friends external to the care dyad and support from the relationship with the HIV-positive care recipient. There was very little support sought or received outside the family of the caregivers; this was primarily because their decisions about disclosing the HIV diagnosis precluded their asking for social support specific to the HIV caregiving. From the caregivers' perspective the most common source of support was not “social” or human; rather, it was strength that came from their spiritual and religious lives or from within themselves. These findings highlight the social isolation of this population, suggesting the need for more awareness and aggressive outreach from the helping professions. More research is needed to determine how decisions regarding HIV disclosure are made, how caregivers sustain support sources that are not specific to HIV caregiving, and how the strong mutual relationship with the HIV-infected care recipient affects coping and bereavement.
Helping Working Poor Families with Low-Interest Loans
Authors: Raschick Michael
Published: April 2013

Creative approaches are needed to help asset-deprived, working poor families. The author evaluates the effectiveness of one such program, the Duluth (MN) Lutheran Social Service Loan Fund Program, which provides low-interest loans to low-income families to help them confront transitional financial crises that prevent them from either continuing their education or maintaining their job. As a result of a partnership between a local human service agency and a community bank, loan recipients are able to build their credit ratings with the bank through timely repayment of their loans. This study shows that the loan fund increased recipients' long-range financial stability and that recipients were highly satisfied with the program.
Welfare “Recidivism” among Former Welfare Recipients
Authors: Cheng Tyrone Chiwai
Published: April 2013

With welfare reform soundly launched and its effects already praised, it is time to examine its impact on former welfare recipients. A typology of adaptation to welfare—comprising dependency, supplementation, self-reliance, and autonomy—was developed based on former welfare recipients' financial status and employment status. An examination was also made of ways in which welfare recipients changed from more independent modes of adaptation (autonomy and self-reliance) to less independent modes (supplementation and dependency). Using longitudinal data extracted from a U. S. Department of Labor survey, event history analysis was applied to investigate changes in adaptation mode and factors contributing to these changes, among former welfare recipients across a period of 1 8 years. The investigation found that return to welfare was uncommon. Furthermore, the results show that nonpoor former recipients most often joined the ranks of the working poor because of welfare reform, ethnicity, education level, occupational skills, family income, housing subsidy, child care, and prior experience in welfare use. Some nonpoor former recipients who spent long spells in welfare returned to welfare because they suffered income reductions and needed food stamps. Working poor former recipients were likely to become nonpoor if they were married and had no need for child care or food stamps. Working poor White, single mothers with little work experience and little child support were likely to return to welfare and become further dependent on it.
Child Neglect and Intensive-Family-Preservation Practice
Authors: Campbell Lynda
Published: April 2013

Australian social workers, like their American peers, have questioned the relevance of brief intensive-family-preservation services (IFPS) to child neglect. Three scenarios involving physical and environmental neglect are compared and contrasted, and the experience of an Australian pilot IFPS program is explored, highlighting the use made of the worker's time in the home, the significance of family history, social support, and issues in termination and follow-up. The case studies suggest three subtypes of neglect, each of which has different implications for the delivery and organization of IFPS.