bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Solution-Focused Approach to Case Management and Recovery with Consumers who Have a Severe Mental Disability
Authors: Greene Gilbert J. , Kondrat David C. , Lee Mo Yee , Clement Jeanne , Siebert Hope , Mentzer Richard A. , Pinnell Shelly R.
Published: April 2013

Community mental health systems have been increasingly emphasizing providing services and using interventions that support mental health consumers recovering from severe mental disability. It has been noted in the literature that the strengths approach to case management is supportive of mental health consumers experiencing recovery. Although strengths-based case management has been operationalzed by six principles and five functions, it has not been very well operationalized at the micro level of direct interactions between case managers and mental health service recipients. This article describes how the perspective of and techniques from solution-focused therapy can be used to further operationalize the strengths perspective for these direct, one-on-one interactions to facilitate mental health consumer recovery.
Social Work in Political Conflict
Authors: Baum Nehami
Published: April 2013

The aim of this study is to direct attention to the impact of political conflict on social work. To this end, the responses of a group of Jewish Israeli social workers to a knotty labor relations dilemma between a Jewish Israeli mental health facility director and a paraprofessional Palestinian employee were analyzed. This report presents a picture of social workers’ active avoidance of the cultural and political aspects of the problem. The loaded political conflict between Israelis and Palestinians undermined the social workers’ ability to respond to the problem with the requisite cultural sensitivity. It is imperative that greater professional attention be given to the impact of political conflict on social work.
Caring for Our Elders: A Contemporary Conundrum for Working People
Authors: Swanberg Jennifer E. , Kanatzar Terri , Mendiondo Marta , McCoskey Margaret
Published: April 2013

As the U.S. population of individuals older than age 65 increases, so does the number of employees providing informal care to aging family members and friends. Yet few studies have investigated the types of elder care issues that employees encounter and the strategies used to care for their elder loved one. Using quantitative data, the authors describe the types of elder care situations experienced by individuals employed at one large organization. The authors present demographic information about employee caregivers and the people for whom they are seeking services, the reasons employees seek elder care consultation and services, and the types of services offered by the elder care program. Employees’ perceived benefits of utilizing elder care resources programs are also examined. Implications for practice, policy, and further research are discussed.
Predicting Functional Improvement over Time in a System of Care
Authors: Anderson Jeffrey A. , Effland Vicki Sprague , Kooreman Harold , Wright Eric R.
Published: April 2013

Understanding the conditions under which children benefit most from systems of care approaches can help administrators allocate scarce resources, improve services, sustain existing systems, and implement new initiatives. The purpose of this study was to determine whether demographic characteristics, referral source, Medicaid status, presenting problems, or place of residence predicted improvement over time in a system of care. Results indicate that age at enrollment was the only variable that predicted functional improvement after 6 months of system of care involvement. Further research is needed that explores differences in effective service provision for younger and older children served in systems of care. These findings support the growing recognition that prevention and early intervention should be core aspects of children's social services.
Parents’ Influence on Youths’ Civic Behaviors: The Civic Context of the Caregiving Environment
Authors: Kelly Diann Cameron
Published: April 2013

The family system, or the caregiving environment, facilitates the socialization of youth into society. This article explores the influence of parents’ civic behavior within the caregiving environment on the prosocial civic behaviors of their late adolescent and young adult children. Using secondary data from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement National Youth Survey, this exploratory study examines behaviors among 1,000 youths ages 15 to 25 years. Parents’ voting behaviors and parent–child political communication were significant measures related to youths’ value of voting and performance of service (volunteering). The findings suggest that an altruism-rich, caregiving environment is a significant familial context to promote and sustain civic engagement among youths.
Treatment Family Foster Care: Its History and Current Role in the Foster Care Continuum
Authors: Dore Martha Morrison , Mullin Deborah
Published: April 2013

This article reviews the historical development in the United States of treatment family foster care as an alternative to the psychiatric hospitalization or long-term residential treatment of children and youth with serious emotional and behavioral disorders. Treatment family foster care has developed in three discrete systems of care: juvenile justice, child welfare, and mental health. The authors examine the relative contribution of each of these systems to its development, its current role in the provision of services to children with emotional and behavioral challenges, and the evidence-base for this form of care.
Keeping Them Home: Aboriginal Out-of-Home Care in Australia
Authors: Valentine Bruce , Gray Mel
Published: April 2013

This article examines the foster care1 (referred to as out-of-home care) of Aboriginal children2 in Australia. It discusses the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle (ACPP), the role of indigenous kinship care,3 and the self-determination of Aboriginal people. Given the history of Australia's stolen generations (generations of Aboriginal children who were forcibly removed from their families), the primary concern is to keep Aboriginal children at home within their families, communities, and culture. All Australian jurisdictions support the concept of Aboriginal self-determination and the ACPP. However, they do so from within a framework informed by non-Aboriginal values. As a consequence, Aboriginal people are frustrated about mainstream understanding of self-determination and the ACPP. The authors argue that for both of these objectives to be achieved culturally appropriate policies and practices are needed.
Care of Orphans: Fostering Interventions for Children Whose Parents Die of AIDS in Ghana
Authors: Ansah-Koi Alice A.
Published: April 2013

One of the devastating social problems associated with HIV/AIDS is the increasing number of children who are orphaned within relatively short periods of time. The increasing number of orphans resulting from AIDS calls for a review of the support and care systems available for them. This article addresses fostering as a traditional care and support system for orphans in Ghana, especially those whose parents have died of AIDS. Strengthening of, and support for, foster care through governmental and community efforts is advocated. The enormous nature of the burden of care and support for such orphans calls for individual, community, societal, and even global efforts.
Training, Co-Training, and Cross-Training of Domestic Violence and Child Welfare Agencies
Authors: Nuszkowski Melanie A. , Coben Jeffrey H. , Kelleher Kelly J. , Goldcamp Jennifer C. , Hazen Andrea L. , Connelly Cynthia D.
Published: April 2013

As a result of the frequent co-occurrence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and child maltreatment, national organizations have recommended that child welfare systems (CWS) and domestic violence service (DVS) organizations be trained, co-trained, and cross-trained on IPV and child maltreatment. The objective of this study was to describe the training reported by local CWS and DVS agencies on the topic of co-occurring abuse. Structured telephone interviews were conducted with 73 CWS and 76 DVS agencies. Approximately half of the DVS agencies and two thirds of the CWS agencies achieved less than 50% of the total possible training score. However, several sites demonstrated strong training. Future research should identify additional factors that facilitate or impede the recommended training for CWS and DVS agencies.
Support Needs of Family Caregivers of People who Experience Mental Illness and the Role of Mental Health Services
Authors: Shankar Janki , Muthuswamy Senthil Sonai
Published: April 2013

Family caregivers are an irreplaceable resource for the mental health services system and the pillars on which the system currently rests. Addressing the needs of these caregivers is therefore crucial for the survival of the system. This paper will present findings from a qualitative study that aimed to explore the experiences and needs of family caregivers whose relatives were at various stages of recovery from mental illness. Participants for the study were members of carer support groups as well as non-member caregivers from various regions of Sydney, Australia. The findings highlight the heterogeneity among caregivers, the diversity in their needs, and the difficulties they experience in accessing support from public mental health services.
Post-September 11 Mental Health Service Help Seeking among a Group of Highly Exposed New York City Parents
Authors: DeVoe Ellen R. , Bannon William M. , Klein Tovah P. , Miranda Claudia
Published: April 2013

The current study examines factors related to mental health help seeking among highly exposed New York City parents of young children (< 5 years) after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Data were gathered from 180 parents through in-depth interviews 9 to 12 months postdisaster. Parents described family disaster-related experiences, mental health, changes in parenting and couple function, and mental health service use. In a multivariate model, child direct exposure to the World Trade Center disaster, as well as parent and child mental health symptoms 1 to 3 months post-September 11, were significant predictors of parent help seeking. Findings suggest the need to design disaster relief services that consider family disaster exposure and postdisaster family mental health symptoms, including the functioning of young children and related parental stress in the postdisaster context.
Working and Poor: A Panel Study of Maturing Adults in the U.S.
Authors: Caputo Richard K.
Published: April 2013

This study uses data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and highlights the extent of poverty and working poverty between 1986 and 2004 (N = 5,164). Over one third (34.2%) of the study sample lived in a poor family at least one year, and nearly one fourth (24.2%) lived in a working poor family at least one year. In addition, almost three fourths (70.1%) of those who lived in a poor family at least one year also lived at least one year in a working poor family. Differences were found by gender and race/ethnicity. Findings suggest that poverty as a social problem is better formulated in terms of working rather than nonworking poverty and that gender and race/ethnicity disparities are prevalent. Policy options, such as expansion of the earned income tax credit and implementation of a basic income guarantee, are explored.
Barriers to Employment among TANF Applicants and Their Consequences for Self-Sufficiency
Authors: Dworsky Amy , Courtney Mark E.
Published: April 2013

This article examines the prevalence of potential barriers to employment using data from a longitudinal study of 1,075 Milwaukee County parents who applied for assistance from Wisconsin's TANF program in 1999. It also examines whether those potential barriers were related to their subsequent employment and earnings. We find that many of these TANF applicants faced significant and often multiple barriers to employment. Moreover, these potential barriers were associated with both a reduction in their likelihood of being employed and lower earnings when they worked. The implications of these findings for welfare policy and practice are discussed.
When Working Harder Does Not Pay: Low-Income Working Families, Tax Liabilities, and Benefit Reductions
Authors: Romich Jennifer L. , Simmelink Jennifer , Holt Stephen D.
Published: April 2013

Under some circumstances, recent reforms to policies that affect the working poor create a barrier to workers who try to increase their families' financial well-being through greater earnings. As earnings rise, benefits are reduced and taxes increase. Together these two factors may mean that accepting a raise or working more hours may not make a worker's family better off financially. This article presents an analysis of the extent of implicit taxation and describes how low-wage workers experience this phenomenon. We address three areas: how benefit programs and the tax system together create high combined tax rates, the implications of this system for low-income families' well-being, and finally, suggestions for practice and reform.
The Collaboration between Welfare and Advocacy Organizations: Learning from the Experiences of Domestic Violence Survivors
Authors: Postmus Judy L. , Hahn Sur Ah
Published: April 2013

The intertwined relationship between poverty and violence, especially in the lives of women on welfare, has been receiving critical attention since welfare reform. The Family Violence Option (FVO), an amendment to the Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation Act of 1996, gives states the flexibility to offer more time for battered women to seek safety. Kansas created the Orientation, Assessment, Referral, and Safety (OARS) program, in which the state's welfare system contracts services with advocacy organizations that provide on-site services for women who qualify to participate under the FVO. This study explored the interagency collaboration model used in Kansas by talking directly with domestic violence survivors about their experiences. The results from this study challenge practitioners to think differently about collaboration to meet the needs of domestic violence survivors on welfare.
Foster Care Independent Living Services: Youth Perspectives
Authors: Petr Christopher G.
Published: April 2013

Emerging adulthood is a phase in the life course recently identified by developmental theorists. For youth in foster care, recent federal legislation in the United States has engendered new programs, typically called independent living programs, to help them become successful adults. This qualitative study reports the findings of interviews with a diverse sample of 27 current and former foster youths in a Midwestern state, focusing on the quantity and quality of independent living services received. The youths reported hopeful expectations and plans for their futures, widespread support for postcustody benefit programs, mixed opinions about the utilization and effectiveness of existing independent living programs, significant educational delays associated with frequent placements while in out-of-home custody, and strong attachments to families of origin.
Frontline Welfare Work: Understanding Social Work's Role
Authors: Radey Melissa
Published: April 2013

From a synthesis of empirical studies examining worker–client interactions under welfare reform, this article identifies frontline workers' responsibilities and the social work profession's role in ensuring qualified workers provide services. Frontline workers impact service delivery through three mechanisms: assessment, information provision, and interpretation of program regulations. However, few workers receive social work training and clients often receive limited, nonindividualized services. Specific recommendations for agency administrators reflect that administrators are critical to improving frontline delivery. They should recognize social work's role, give workers reasonable and achievable job expectations, and collaborate with educators, researchers, and policy makers to support a stipend-based training program for social work students. To buttress the need for such a program, research needs to examine how workers' education levels influence service quality and client outcomes.
Social Workers' Familiarity with Psychiatric Advance Directives: Implications for Education, Practice, and Research
Authors: Scheyett Anna , Kim Mimi , Swanson Jeffrey , Swartz Marvin , Elbogen Eric , Van Dorn Richard , Ferron Joelle
Published: April 2013

Psychiatric advance directives (PADs) are legal documents that allow competent individuals to express wishes for psychiatric care during a future crisis when they may no longer be able to do so. PADs are intended to enhance client autonomy at a time when clients are most vulnerable—when in psychiatric crisis and thus in need of treatment, yet unable to voice their wishes because of illness. Despite their potential utility, PADs are infrequently used. Using data from an exploratory survey (N = 193), we examined social workers' familiarity and experience with PADs and found surprisingly low levels of PAD awareness and experience. We discuss the implications of these findings for social work research, practice, and education, and we offer recommendations for future study.
Exploring the Meaning of Crossing and Culture: An Empirical Understanding from Practitioners' Everyday Experience
Authors: Yan Miu Chung
Published: April 2013

Despite the large amount of literature on cross-cultural social work practice, the meanings of culture and crossing have not been empirically examined. This article presents the findings of a study involving 30 social work practitioners in a Canadian metropolitan city. Grounded in the lived experiences of the practitioners, at least three different modes of crossing are identified. The findings also indicate that many practitioners tend to define culture as a complex whole, but not in a deterministic manner. Interwoven with race and ethnicity, culture interacts with an individual's preferences and environment. The author contends that to integrate theory and practice, we need to examine how frontline practitioners understand some important but takenfor- granted social work concepts.
The Perceived Impact of Strengths-Based Family Worker Training: Workers’ Learning that Helped Empower Families
Authors: Palmer-House Kathryn E.
Published: April 2013

This qualitative study explored what family workers trained in strengths-based family support learned that helped empower families. Fifteen workers and 25 family members participated. Data analysis uncovered three major skills workers employed that family members perceived as helpful: attending, processing, and meaning-making. Workers reported they learned from working with families, family-worker training, informal support networks, and pivotal disorienting life experiences. Study findings suggest the possibility of three developmental stages in worker learning: (a) socialization or learning to implement strengths-based practice, (b) internalization or resolving dissonance about limited abilities to mediate barriers to family empowerment, and (c) identification or recognizing tacit assumptions and the cultural context of empowerment. This article concludes with recommendations for workers, agency leaders, educators, and future research.
Social Work Research Ethics: Dual Roles and Boundary Issues
Authors: Landau Ruth
Published: April 2013

This article reviews ethical issues and dilemmas that arise from the dual roles of the social work researcher: as scientist and as someone who cares for individuals and groups in distress while exercising social control. There is a fair amount of tension between the roles of social worker and social work researcher due to a lack of clear boundaries of the researcher's function. The ethical dilemmas may vary with the framework in which the research is conducted, the participants, and social work researchers themselves. The current article focuses on issues of informed consent, expectations, and anxieties of the research participants, and ethical dilemmas. It ends with suggestions for ethical social work research.
Families in Crisis: Considerations for the Use of Web-Based Treatment Models in Family Therapy
Authors: Gilkey So'Nia L. , Carey JoAnne , Wade Shari L.
Published: April 2013

Psychological interventions have typically utilized the traditional face-to-face office visit with clients. Although this strategy has proven to be effective (Simpson, Bell, Knox, & Mitchell, 2005), an emerging trend is to offer alternative approaches to therapeutic interventions (Schmidt, 1998). The current study considers the merits and shortcomings of Web-based interventions via synchronous videoconferencing (SVC) with families of children with a traumatic brain injury. Recent research suggests that family therapy offered via SVC has the potential for the delivery of family-based therapy. When using SVC, client readiness to address issues coupled with patience with the imperfection of the technology proved to be important factors. Other factors included the diagnosis and readiness to address identified problems in the context of SVC.
Changing Patterns of Family Care in Uganda: Father Absence and Patrilineal Neglect in the Face of HIV/AIDS
Authors: Roby Jini L. , Shaw Stacey A. , Chemonges Elinor Wanyama , Hooley Cole D.
Published: April 2013

In this study, 162 HIV-positive mothers in Uganda were interviewed about the involvement of fathers and paternal kin, regarding current support they provide to children and as child placement options in the event of the mothers death. More than half of the children had fathers who were already deceased. Another one third had fathers who were alive but did not live with the children. Only 16% of the children were living with and being supported by their fathers. Mothers indicated a strong preference for placement with maternal kin, in contrast to traditional expectations of paternal kin care. Patterns of change in kin care throughout Uganda and sub-Saharan Africa, and implications are discussed in the context of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
It's about Family: The Death of a Close Family Friend
Authors: Beder Joan
Published: April 2013

When an individual dies, the role of the family member(s) is clearly prescribed by society: support, presence, caring, and remembrance. Traditionally, the definition of “family” has broadened to create the “extended family” or “expanded family” with members defined by deep bonds, relationships, and friendships. Currently, close friends who become the extended/expanded family, can be as central as kin to family structure and stability. Therefore, when one member of an extended family dies, the death resonates throughout the entire system affecting not only the lives of the immediate family members, but also those in the expanded circle of family relationships. This article describes the relationships in one extended family and discusses the struggles and counseling interventions used when one member of an extended family suddenly dies.
The Practice of Family Mentoring and Advocacy: A Theoretical Investigation of Critical Issues
Authors: Hess Jacob Z. , Barr Simone C. , Hunt Gladys D.
Published: April 2013

This paper examines key theoretical underpinnings of an advocacy initiative reaching low-income and African American families in our community. Its practical benefits are proposed to ensue largely from distinct positions on several issues: the scope and location of intervention; the source of intervention (who the primary helpers are); and the nature of intervention (how helping occurs). For each issue, our own specific positions are detailed against a backdrop of competing general stances. Research on similar initiatives is also reviewed in a way that highlights salient and reoccurring themes across the literature. Overall, this inquiry aims to facilitate deliberation among both academics and practitioners regarding the potential of advocacy as a viable supplement to more traditional interventions for struggling families.
Family Reactions to Religious Change: The Case of African American Women who Become Muslim
Authors: Roer-Strier Dorit , Sands Roberta G. , Bourjolly Joretha
Published: April 2013

This paper presents a study of family reactions to African American adult daughters’ conversions from Christianity to Islam. Examining qualitative data from interviews with Christian mothers and Muslim daughters in 17 family units, we explored reactions to a family member's religious conversion initially and over time. We also identified the specific challenges facing African American families when a daughter converts to Islam. We found a wide range of initial emotional responses to an adult daughter's conversion. Over time, the families showed marked changes, predominantly in the direction of increased respect and acceptance. Reactions to the change and the challenges facing the families are discussed in relation to several theories, including ambiguous loss, and implications for practice are described.
The State of Parent Training: Program Offerings and Empirical Support
Authors: Kohl Patricia L. , Schurer Jennifer , Bellamy Jennifer L.
Published: April 2013

Parent training programs, with a range of empirical support, are available to improve parenting skills and reduce child behavior problems. Yet, little is known about programs provided in typical communities. This pilot study's purpose was to identify and describe parent programs–-and the agencies that provide them–-in one midsized Midwestern city. The sample included 21 program directors and 25 practitioners employed by 19 agencies. Data were gathered using structured phone interviews. Of the 35 programs represented, 37.1% were developed by the agency, while close to two thirds were previously developed interventions. Only a small number of the parent programs identified were classified into the category of strong empirical support; however, several included hallmarks often associated with empirically supported parent programs.
Using the Miracle Question in Community Engagement and Planning
Authors: Hollingsworth Leslie D. , Allen-Meares Paula , Shanks Trina R. , Gant Larry M.
Published: April 2013

Actively engaging community members in the revitalization of their neighborhoods is a goal of numerous planning initiatives. In this article, we provide a case example of how the solution-focused brief therapy's “miracle question” was used to engage members of a major metropolitan community in visualizing their dreams and planning strategies for change. Similar to outcomes with therapy clients, community members participated actively and were enthusiastic in communicating their outcomes. Dreams were realistic and important to participants, and suggested strategies were oriented toward first steps and recognized as involving effort by the community. Engagement and retention were sufficient to move forward with immediate actions and longer-term preparation. Benefits and suggested modifications are offered for community practitioners and researchers employing this method.
Toward a Culturally Competent Restorative Justice Practice Framework: A Focus on Asian Americans
Authors: Choi Jung Jin , Severson Margaret
Published: April 2013

This article suggests a culturally competent restorative justice practice framework for Asian Americans. In developing the framework, the historical development and contemporary issues of restorative justice in the West are explored, and the salient cultural traits and core elements of cultural competence with Asians and Asian Americans are examined. Tentative principles are advanced and recommendations are made for developing a culturally competent restorative justice practice framework for this cultural group, who now constitute 4.4% of the American populace, and for whom harmony in interpersonal relationships and the power of shaming are key considerations.
Strengths and Stressors in a Population of Kinship Caregivers: Implications for Caseload Management and Administration
Authors: Blair Kevin D. , Taylor David B. , Rivera Craig J.
Published: April 2013

This article presents the results from 77 interviews with kinship caregivers participating in the child-only component of the TANF program. The authors interviewed caregivers using the Strengths and Stressors Tracking Device (SSTD). Key findings include: Most caregivers and their families possess significant strengths that can be used in a strengths-based approach to case management; environmental stress–-an acknowledged ecological correlate with potential for abuse and neglect–-is an area of strength; and permanency planning and long-term stability of the kinship care situation should be a major focus of social services and case managers. This research offers a valuable contribution to child welfare and kinship care literature because it provides evidence-based research to demonstrate the significant strengths in a caregiving population.
Parents Describe Finding Income and Resources for Their Medicaid-Eligible Children with Disabilities
Authors: Riebschleger Joanne , Sosulski Marya , Day Angelique
Published: April 2013

In the U.S. social system, the roles of work and parenthood are often in conflict, and this conflict is especially problematic for parents of children with special needs. This study was designed to give parents an opportunity to describe their experiences in finding income and resources while caring for a Medicaid-eligible child with a chronic illness or disability. Three themes emerged: work and parenting responsibilities constantly intersected; resources for families were often insufficient or unavailable; and when parents received help, the helpers took extraordinary measures. Findings were compared to those of emerging literature; in addition, parents offered many practice and policy suggestions. Ecological and social construction theory frames were supported, including a need for family-focused perspectives.
Sibling Connections and Reasonable Efforts in Public Child Welfare
Authors: Gustavsson Nora S. , MacEachron Ann E.
Published: April 2013

On October 7, 2008, President George W. Bush signed Pub. L.110-351 into law. This major legislation changed child welfare practice. Of particular interest are the provisions concerning sibling placement and reasonable efforts. Both research and advocacy groups have pointed to the important role of siblings, and hence the need to place siblings together or to at least facilitate sibling contact while separated. We briefly review the research on the important role of siblings, examine sibling placements in foster care and kinship care in relation to placement disruption and permanency outcomes, and suggest policies and practices (e.g., family group decision making) to support the sibling bond over time.
The Impact of an Interim Protection Order (Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998) on the Victims of Domestic Violence
Authors: Vogt Tertia , Greeff Abraham P.
Published: April 2013

The primary objectives of this study were to determine the impact of the interim protection order (IPO) on the nature and extent of domestic violence, the general well-being of the victims of domestic violence, and the efficiency of the application procedure for the IPO. A pretest–posttest quasi-experimental research design was used on an experimental ( n = 884) and a control ( n = 125) group. The results indicated that the IPO had a significant impact on certain aspects of physical, psychological, and social well-being and in some areas of domestic violence. The IPO did not have a significant impact on the participants’ experiences of their personal, communal, environmental, and transcendental well-being. Application procedures were found to be satisfactory in most areas.
The Family Development Credential Program: A Synthesis of Outcome Research on an Empowerment-Based Human Service Training Program
Authors: Hewitt Nicole M. , Crane Betsy , Mooney Barbara
Published: April 2013

Movement toward strengths-based, empowerment-oriented practice requires changes in perspective for both practitioners and agencies. A training program addressing those challenges is the Family Development Credential (FDC), implemented in 19 states across the United States since its creation by Cornell University for New York State in 1996. FDC is an inter-agency, locally based professional development program by which human service workers can become more empowered themselves while simultaneously learning knowledge, skills, and values associated with key tenets of empowerment practice. This article provides (a) a description of the programmatic model, (b) analysis of 11 known FDC evaluation studies, (c) synthesis of research findings in 4 outcome areas, and (d) elucidation of a future research agenda for the program including promising theoretical lenses.
Prevalence and Factors of Domestic Violence among Unmarried Mothers with a Young Child
Authors: Huang Chien-Chung , Son Esther , Wang Lih-Rong
Published: April 2013

Using the first 3 waves of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, this article examines the prevalence and factors of domestic violence among unmarried mothers with a young child. The findings indicate that the prevalence of domestic violence for mothers increased substantially in the first 3 years after the child's birth. Findings from regression analyses show that mothers who lived with the father, either as a wife or cohabiting partner, had significantly lower odds of domestic violence in the study measures than mothers who did not live with the father. However, the odds of domestic violence were not significantly different between married and cohabiting mothers. Policy implications are discussed.
Domestic Violence or Elder Abuse? Why it Matters for Older Women
Authors: Kilbane Teresa , Spira Marcia
Published: April 2013

Law enforcement and legal services are 2 systems that respond to reports of abuse against women through programs such as adult protective services (APS) and domestic violence (DV). APS and DV systems operate independently and define the cause of the abuse differently. The designation of a woman as having suffered domestic violence or having been abused often depends on which system she enters. This designation can lead to different options for women to obtain services. Aging may further complicate access and usability of these systems to respond to the needs of abused elderly. Using vignettes, this article explores the definitions of abuse and highlights specific concerns of aging that impact usefulness of services.
Individual and Contextual Correlates of Adolescent Health and Well-Being
Authors: Anthony Elizabeth K. , Stone Susan I.
Published: April 2013

Assessing a broad positive outcome such as well-being presents numerous challenges and empirical investigations are limited. This study used an eco-interactional-developmental perspective based on risk and protective factors to examine individual and contextual correlates of health and well-being in a sample of 20,749 ethnically diverse middle and high school students. School fixed-effects regression analyses modeling a composite measure of well-being as a function of youth, peer, family, school, and neighborhood characteristics indicated that the measure was most stable when modeled as a global (vs. domain specific) composite. relational (vs. expectation and behavioral) characteristics of parental and peer involvement were more influential in predicting adolescent well-being. The implications for interventions striving to enhance well-being across developmental transitions are discussed.
Resilience in Women Sexually Abused as Children
Authors: Simpson Carol L.
Published: April 2013

Research suggests that adult women who have experienced childhood sexual abuse (CSA) vary on whether and how they experience long-term effects. According to current literature, the variation appears to be due to both risk and protective factors. In addition, the variation also appears to occur in connection with certain factors that function to help buffer the effects of CSA. The purpose of this study is to identify the protective factors that best predict resilience in a sample of 134 female adults who are members of AMAC (Adults Molested as Children). The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Engaging Men in Clinical Practice: A Solution-Focused and Strengths-Based Model
Authors: Blundo Robert
Published: April 2013

Men growing into adulthood are inundated with cultural messages about what it is to be a man in American society. This cultural message recreates the “code of masculinity” for each man within various ethnic, racial, cultural, socioeconomic, and sexual orientation contexts. Working within the code of masculinity as a cultural practice and building on the strengths inherent within a culture by means of a solution-focused practice is the focus of this article.
Challenges to the Qualitative Researcher Seeking to Study Parental Engagement in Preventive Services: A Reflective Commentary
Authors: Tempel Lorraine R.
Published: April 2013

Through a self-reflective discussion of the author's experiences in preparing to conduct an exploratory pilot study about an aspect of child welfare practice, this article articulates some of the potential disjunctures facing the academically based qualitative researcher in gaining access to and engaging study informants in a practice setting that interfaces with child welfare. The qualitative study sought to understand the experiences of parents and preventive services social workers as they came together in the early engagement process–-following a referral for counseling after a report of child abuse or neglect. Recommendations for researchers pursuing this kind of endeavor are discussed throughout, with an emphasis on the potential pathways to connection in conducting practice-based research.
Patterns and Predictors of Support Group Use by Custodial Grandmothers and Grandchildren
Authors: Smith Gregory C. , Rodriguez Julian Montoro , Palmieri Patrick A.
Published: April 2013

Despite increasing popularity of support groups for custodial grandfamilies, the few published studies to date raise questions regarding actual support group usage and disregard predictors of such use. This study examined patterns of self-reported use, need, and unmet need of both grandparent and grandchild support groups. The Andersen Social Behavioral Model was used to identify predisposing, enabling, and need factors that predicted use in a national sample of 733 grandfamilies recruited by either convenience or population-based strategies. Reported use and need for support groups were lower in the population-based sample, and predictors varied by sampling strategy. The findings are discussed in terms of how they inform service providers and researchers regarding factors that influence support group use by custodial grandfamilies.
Gender Empowerment Measure and Policy Choice
Authors: Seipel Michael M. O.
Published: April 2013

Despite gains made in social circumstances, women in the world still face political inequalities. There are a limited number of women in positions of power. As a consequence, many policy outcomes of the states (governments of countries) reflect masculine values. This study reviews women's influence in states’ policies and examines the relationship between the degree of gender inequality, as measured by the Gender Empowerment Measure and public priority on spending. It is postulated that countries with smaller gender inequality will have a higher ratio of domestic spending (health and education) over military spending. Implications for narrowing the gender gap are presented.
Working toward Sustained Employment: A Closer Look on Intermittent Employment of Rural, Low-Income Mothers
Authors: Sano Yoshie , Katras Mary Jo , Lee Jaerim , Bauer Jean W. , Berry Ann A.
Published: April 2013

Working at one point of time does not always mean sustained employment among low-income mothers. The purpose of this study is to investigate what contributes to the different patterns of longitudinal employment by tracking a sample of 131 rural, low-income mothers with intermittent employment over 3 waves. The intermittent employment trajectories are categorized as job change, job loss, and job gain. A mixed-methods approach was chosen to maximize the complementary nature of quantitative and qualitative data. The findings of both multinomial logistic regression and inductive analysis show that individual, family, and structural characteristics play important roles for sustained employment. Case studies vividly illustrate similarities and differences across the 3 patterns of intermittent employment.
Developing Cultural Competence with Latter-Day Saint Clients: A Strengths-Based Perspective
Authors: Walton Elaine , Limb Gordon E. , Hodge David R.
Published: April 2013

Despite social work's increasing focus on spiritual competency as one expression of cultural competency, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has received little mention in social work literature. This article utilizes a strengths perspective to help social workers better understand the unique cultural and religious dimensions of effective practice with LDS Church (i.e., Mormon) clients. It contains a summary of the basic beliefs, practices, and structure of the LDS Church. We discuss possible value conflicts, identify challenges that may be unique to members of the LDS Church, and provide suggestions for spiritual assessment and interventions. The article concludes by offering suggestions to enhance the cultural sensitivity of services provided to this growing population.
African American and White Mothers’ Substance Abuse, Depression, and Criminality as Risk Factors for Child Behavior Problems
Authors: Smith-McKeever T. Chedgzsey , Falconnier Lydia , Gao Weihua
Published: April 2013

This study, using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, examines the correlation among maternal substance abuse, depression, and criminality and their impact on child behavior problems within a sample of African American and White mothers. Results show that maternal depression is the strongest predictor of child behavior problems. Race was significantly associated with income, a mother's age at the time of her first child's birth, and depression. Implications for practice include the need for practitioners to prioritize the treatment of maternal depression when working with children who have behavior problems and to not look at race as a cultural descriptor alone, but rather to consider how it may be associated with other risk factors for child behavior problems.
Coparenting in Kinship Families with Incarcerated Mothers: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Strozier Anne L. , Armstrong Mary , Skuza Stella , Cecil Dawn , McHale James
Published: April 2013

The number of incarcerated mothers has risen steadily in the past 20 years, with a majority of the mothers’ children being cared for by relatives, usually the maternal grandmother (Smith, Krisman, Strozier, & Marley, 2004). This article examines the unique coparenting relationship of grandmothers and mothers through qualitative individual interviews with a sample of 24 incarcerated mothers with children between the ages of 2 and 6, and 24 grandmothers raising their children. The study revealed many different variants of healthy coparenting alliances, achieved against often huge odds. Much variation was also discovered in dyads where coparenting alliances were not as successful. Implications for practice include performing structural family assessments, enhancing jail education programs, and offering extended coparenting treatment after discharge.
Sibling Incest: Adjustment in Adult Women Survivors
Authors: Carlson Bonnie E.
Published: April 2013

To measure adjustment of women survivors of sibling incest, 35 adult female survivors and a matched comparison group of 21 women were interviewed and completed questionnaires regarding their adult adjustment. Sibling incest survivors reported significantly higher anxiety, depression, hostility, and adult victimization and lower self-esteem. Beliefs about child sexual abuse mediated the relationship between sibling incest and depression and anxiety for survivors, the majority of whom believed that men cannot be trusted, it is dangerous to let others get close, and that a normal life is not possible for them because of the abuse they suffered. Other forms of child abuse were significantly associated with self-esteem and depression, but not anxiety, among survivors. Adult victimization was also associated with increased depression and anxiety in survivors.
Intergenerational Ambivalence: Aging Mothers Whose Adult Daughters Are Mentally III
Authors: Ingersoll-Dayton Berit , Dunkle Ruth E. , Chadiha Letha , Lawrence-Jacobson Abigail , Li Lydia , Weir Erin , Satorius Jennifer
Published: April 2013

Research on families dealing with mental illness has considered either positive or negative aspects of intergenerational family relationships. The current study extends this work by using intergenerational ambivalence theory to examine aging mothers’ contradictory expectations toward adult daughters who are mentally ill. This study focuses on interviews obtained from a sample of 22 mothers aged 52–90 who expressed considerable sociological ambivalence in relation to their grown daughters. Four strategies of managing ambivalence are identified: excusing behaviors, reducing expectations, adjusting help-giving, and confronting. The implications are that practitioners should be aware of intergenerational ambivalence, help aging parents identify their ambivalence management strategies, and assess the extent to which these strategies are adaptive. Future research directions in this area are also discussed.
The Supervisory Relationship as a Triangle: A Study of Students' Perceptions
Authors: Baum Nehami
Published: April 2013

This article presents a qualitative examination of the supervisory relationship among a field supervisor and multiple students. It examines the perceptions of 75 students regarding differences in their field supervisors' treatment of and relationship with them and their cosupervisees, and the association between their perceptions and their relationships with their cosupervisees. The main findings are that most supervisees (a) perceived differences in their supervisor's treatment of or relationship with them and their cosupervisees and (b) their perceptions of the comparative treatment or relationship tended to be associated with the quality of their relationships with their cosupervisees. Findings highlight the need for supervisors to be aware of supervisees' sensitivity not only to their supervisor's behaviour toward the supervisee, but also to their behaviour toward cosupervisees.
Toward a Broader Definition of Evidence-Informed Practice: Intersubjective Evidence
Authors: Arnd-Caddigan Margaret
Published: April 2013

Evidence-informed practice is highly valued in social work today. There are several forms of evidence-informed practice, including the use of practice-based evidence. To date, the literature on practice-based evidence emanates from an objectivist epistemology. Since the scientific discovery of intersubjectivity, however, there is now strong support for intersubjective evidence that can guide successful treatment. After considering research supporting an intersubjective epistemology, the author discusses the practice implications and provides case examples of how intersubjective evidence can inform decisions regarding the goals and direction of clinical social work.