bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Internet-based Spousal Communication during Deployment: Does it Increase Post-deployment Marital Satisfaction?
Authors: Ponder Warren N. , Aguirre Regina T. P.
Published: June 2019

The purpose of this study was to explore the question: Is a service member’s post-deployment marital satisfaction correlated with frequency and mode of communication during deployment? This study used an anonymous exploratory design with a sample of 119 Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) or Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) married veterans. Service members who communicated daily during deployment with their spouses had higher marital satisfaction scores than those who communicated less than once per week. Additionally, participants who used US mail had the highest marital satisfaction scores compared to telephone and internet-based communication. This study expands the overwhelmingly qualitative current literature to include quantitative analysis of this topic. This study also depicts the veterans’ experiences since many of the previous studies of this topic used samples of spouses.
Promoting Military Cultural Awareness in an Off-post Community of Behavioral Health and Social Support Service Providers
Authors: Luby Christi Duette
Published: June 2019

Due to U.S. military Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) efforts and ongoing Overseas Contingency Operations, the number of military servicemembers and veterans seeking civilian-based services has increased. As the military presence grows in previously underrepresented areas, the need for culturally competent providers will also increase both on and off military installations. The purpose of this article is to promote military cultural awareness, while suggesting ways to enhance existing community behavioral health and social support services. It builds on a review of the extant literature and findings from a community assessment to introduce civilian providers to some specific issues affecting servicemembers and their families. A framework describes ways to increase military cultural competence and build community capacity to enhance civilian-based services. In addition, two appendices list some common military terminology and multiple training resources available through military organizations and websites.
Problem-based Learning Strategies for Teaching Military Social Work Practice Behaviors: Review and Evaluation
Authors: Whitworth James D. , Herzog Joseph R. , Scott Diane L.
Published: June 2019

This article outlines and evaluates a military social work course as it has been taught by three social work faculty members at two universities in the southeastern US. The authors highlight why these courses are needed within social work undergraduate and graduate programs. They report how CSWE-identified military practice behaviors are addressed within the course. They also describe how practice-based learning approaches appear to be ideally suited for teaching military social work curricula. Data on student perceptions of military social work courses and the application of problem-based learning are presented along with an assessment of knowledge gains and ability to practice military social work. Findings reflect that social worker students find these courses helpful and that they believe that problem-based courses in this subject help prepare them for initial work with this population. They also highlight the need for an extensively updated military social work textbook addressing major changes within the military and social work over the last decade.
Gendered Immigration: Implications and Impact on Social Work Education
Authors: Agbényiga DeBrenna LaFa , Huang Lihua
Published: June 2019

Gendered immigration is a frame of reference for contextualizing the need for gender-specific immigrant services. Like other immigration societies, the United States disproportionately pays less attention to immigrant women. This article is a conceptual examination of the critical challenges faced by immigrant women from a global perspective. Special attention is given to the importance of social work education regarding service delivery structures for an increasing number of immigrant women in the United States.
The Unique Mental Health Needs of Military Women: A Social Work Call to Action
Authors: Osborne Victoria A. , Gage L. Ashley , Rolbiecki Abigail J.
Published: June 2019

Women involved in all aspects of the United States Armed Forces face mental health needs that are unique from women in the general population. Because the most recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are involving more women in combat situations, social workers encounter female clients who are increasingly experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, substance misuse, and sexual violence. Special attention must be paid particularly to women who serve in the National Guard or Reserves, as they have different concerns than enlisted active duty women. These concerns include less social support and fewer resources upon return from deployment. Thus, it is imperative for social workers in the community to be aware of these military women’s experiences and unique mental health challenges in order to effectively treat their needs.
Lessons Learned in Afghanistan: A Multi-national Military Mental Health Perspective
Authors: Nedegaard Randall C. , Foster Rachel E. , Yeboah-Ampadu Mercy , Stubbs Andrew J.
Published: June 2019

America has been at war for almost 10 years. Because of this, continuing missions in the Middle East require the support and cooperation of our allied North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces from around the world. In this paper we provide an overview of the mission at Kandahar Air Field (KAF) and the Multi-National Role 3 hospital located at KAF. Next, we explain the mental health capabilities and unique perspectives among our teammates from Canada, Great Britain, and the United States to include a discussion of the relevant cross-cultural differences between us. Within this framework we also provide an overview of the mental health clientele seen at KAF during the period of April 2009 through September 2009. Finally, we discuss the successes, limitations, and lessons learned during our deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan.
War-related Trauma: Increasing the American GI’s Resilience through Marriage
Authors: Ponder Warren N. , Aguirre Regina T. P.
Published: June 2019

Studies have shown PTSD has a negative impact on close relationships among Vietnam War veterans. Recently, studies have replicated these findings in the Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) cohort. Currently, over half of the military is married and veterans are returning from combat with elevated rates of PTSD. Thus, investigating which symptom clusters influence marital satisfaction of the veteran the most is important for assisting social workers and other mental health professionals in identifying and prioritizing treatment goals. The current study identifies which of the four PTSD symptom clusters impacts marital satisfaction the most in returning combat veterans using regression analysis. The emotional numbing cluster negatively impacted marital satisfaction whereas the hyper-arousal cluster positively impacted it. Using all 17 Post-traumatic Disorder Checklist-Military (PCL-M) questions as possible predictors of veterans’ marital satisfaction, regression analysis revealed five of the questions account for 26 percent of the variance in marital satisfaction. Clinical implications and recommendations are explored.
Build it Together and They will Come: The Case for Community-based Participatory Research with Military Populations
Authors: DeVoe Ellen R. , Ross Abigail M. , Paris Ruth
Published: June 2019

In this article, we describe the methodology broadly known as community-based participatory research (CBPR) and identify its relevance to social work intervention research with families serving in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF). Since the inception of OEF/OIF, much has been written about low rates of service utilization among military service members and families to address deployment and combat-related concerns. Barriers to participation include difficulty accessing programs, mistrust of clinicians/researchers, concerns about confidentiality, stigma, and career implications, and perceptions of program effectiveness. Because CBPR values the community’s inherent resilience and expertise about its own needs, this method can be important for the development of feasible, culturally-relevant and evidence-based prevention and intervention models for military populations. To illustrate, we provide an overview of our implementation of CBPR to develop and test a home-based reintegration program for military families with very young children. Implications for social work practice and research are discussed.
How Are We Doing? Agency/University Collaboration for Assessment of Client Outcomes
Authors: Cohen Carol S. , Phillips Michael H. , Chierchio Marianne
Published: June 2019

Assessment of client outcomes in social work practice has new urgency in today's service environment. However, traditional visions of agency staff as doers and social work educators as thinkers limit opportunities for collaboration. The Agency/University Collaboration model integrates doer and thinker roles, providing opportunities to both enhance assessment of client outcomes in practice and bring current practice knowledge into the social work classroom. An example of a multi-site-parenting program illustrates how agency administrators and educators may forge collaborations. The authors discuss relevant issues, such as ownership of collaboration, appraisal of risks, and pacing the work.
Towards a Research Agenda for Social Work Practice in Virtual Worlds
Authors: Anstadt Scott P. , Burnette Ashley , Bradley Shannon
Published: June 2019

Due to the unique applications of virtual reality in many modern contexts, Second Life (SL) offers inimitable opportunities for research and exploration. A review of current research regarding SL has examined the influence of real world social influences in online interactions and what the effects on users may be. This suggests the importance of developing an understanding of the relationship between users’ real life and their Second Life, and how the two are related. Some research has begun to reveal the effectiveness of telecommunication and computer simulation with certain clients in the fields of mental health and social work, yet there is a lack of sufficient research done within the context of virtual worlds. The implications for social work intervention in virtual reality could solve persistent concerns with transportation, distance, access to services and education, however questions about the relevance of social work practice in SL and the potential for implementation must be answered.
Exploring Empathy Embedded in Ethics Curricula: A Classroom Inquiry
Authors: Gair Susan
Published: June 2019

Empathy is considered to be a crucial ingredient in social work practice. Research on empathy is abundant although literature describing the teaching and learning of empathy, and in what contexts empathy might be taught best, is less common. The primary aim of this exploratory, classroom-based research undertaken in 2011 was to explore empathy with second year, social work students, thereby building on previous research, and linking it to education and practice. The findings suggest students may acquire a conceptual and definitional understanding of empathy by early in their course, but may need more proactive support to transform that learning into deeper empathy. A key speculation underpinning this exploratory inquiry, that cultivating empathy within an ‘ethics’ unit might prove more potent than within a ‘skills’ unit, was not supported. The need for further research into empathy, particularly cross-cultural empathy, is a recommendation of this research.
Advancing Discussion of Federal Faith-based Social Service Policies through Overview and Application of Established Health Services Research Models
Authors: Garner Michelle D.
Published: June 2019

Since the 1990s, federal policies have allowed public funds to support social services provided through pervasively faith-based organizations (FBOs). Public and academic discourse on these policies tends to be marked by limited data, narrow scope, and the lack of an appropriate analytic framework to adequately consider and critique the merits of the policies, as social workers are compelled to do. The goals of this study are to identify, and preliminarily apply, an established policy analysis model appropriate for use with FBO policy in order to progress discussion. Health service researchers Aday, Begley, Lairson, and Balkrishnan (2004) provide a theoretically based policy analysis framework, which is appropriate for this task and for use by social workers. Their effectiveness, efficiency, and equity policy analysis model is presented along with data and analysis intended to help frame and progress productive discussions on FBO policies within and beyond the profession.
Development Innovations through Entrepreneurial Microfinance and the Attempt to Achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals in Bangladesh
Authors: Ahmed Saleh
Published: June 2019

As one of the countries in the Global South, Bangladesh has experienced numerous development challenges since its liberation in 1971. Bangladesh has showcased how to fight against poverty and to initiate meaningful change and development in human lives. Nobel Prize (2006) winner Grameen Bank is one of the popular development innovations in the country. Since the beginning of this Bank in the early 1970s, microfinance and entrepreneurship development with small amounts of money have proliferated to nearly every corner of the globe with the paramount goal of alleviating global poverty and ensuring human development. Like all other new social science techniques, the societal revolution brought about by microfinance expansion has left substantial room for refinement and further support by empirical evidence. This article critically evaluates a non-governmental initiative to empower extremely poor women through entrepreneurial microfinance, and examines the socioeconomic impacts in achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UNMDGs). This article covers both primary and secondary information. The aim is to demonstrate how countries of the Global South can use carefully designed microfinance projects to address major development challenges and meaningfully contribute to creating a more equal, humane society.
Examining Predictors of Social Work Students’ Critical Thinking Skills
Authors: Deal Kathleen Holtz , Pittman Joan
Published: June 2019

This study examined BSW, MSW and PhD social work students’ (N=72) critical thinking skills using the California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST). Social work students who tested as more open to experience on a personality inventory, took chemistry in college, and reported having both parents with a college degree had higher critical thinking skills. There was a trend toward higher levels of critical thinking as academic levels increased. Implications and recommendations are discussed for social work classrooms, field practica, and admissions.
Faculty-Student Collaboration: Issues and Recommendations
Authors: Barretta-Herman Angeline L. , Garrett Kendra J.
Published: June 2019

This exploratory qualitative study of 11 social work faculty identified the
benefits and risks of faculty-student collaboration. Benefits articulated include
helping students learn to write for publication, learning the publication process, getting
innovative student material published, and enriching the project through
shared problem-solving. The benefits, however, must be weighed against the risks of
exploitation of the student collaborator. Successful faculty-student collaboration in
this dual relationship demands that faculty take responsibility for safeguarding
boundaries, following the NASW Code of Ethics, and openly negotiating roles, tasks,
workload, and order of authorship with the student.
The Generalist Model: Where do the Micro and Macro Converge?
Authors: Miller Shari E. , Tice Carolyn J. , Hall Diane M. Harnek
Published: June 2019

Although macro issues are integral to social work, students continue to struggle with the acquisition of knowledge and skills pertaining to larger systems. Educators have developed innovative methods to integrate learning across systems of various sizes however it appears an imbalance persists. This challenge is supported by baccalaureate student responses to a social work program evaluation. Four years of data from 295 undergraduate students revealed that they felt less prepared to practice with larger, macro systems. Changes in curriculum to reflect collaboration and holism, and more research are needed to adequately provide macro learning and macro practice opportunities within the generalist model and in the context of the current socio-economic-political environment.
Developing the Social Empathy Index: An Exploratory Factor Analysis
Authors: Segal Elizabeth A. , Wagaman M. Alex , Gerdes Karen E.
Published: June 2019

Social empathy, the ability to understand people from different socioeconomic classes and racial/ethnic backgrounds, with insight into the context of institutionalized inequalities and disparities, can inspire positive societal change and promote social well-being. The value of teaching social empathy and creating interventions that promote social empathy is enhanced by the ability to measure and assess it. This article provides a validation of the Social Empathy Index, a tool that practitioners can easily use to assess individuals’ levels of interpersonal and social empathy. An exploratory factor analysis was used to validate the instrument and confirm the conceptual model for social empathy.
Re-imagining Citizenship, Re-imagining Social Work: U.S. Immigration Policies and Social Work Practice in the Era of AZ SB1070
Authors: Kang Hye-Kyung
Published: June 2019

The literature on immigrant cultural citizenship (Ong, 1996; Rosaldo, 1997) has argued that traditional and normative definitions of citizenship ignore various forms of civic participation and belonging and fails to capture the experiences of immigrants in an increasingly globalized world (Getrich, 2008), calling for more nuanced and multiple meanings of citizenship. As agents of civil society, social workers have much power in constructing and maintaining (or resisting) normative discourses of citizenship, and how we participate in this process has material consequences for those we serve. Applying poststructural and postcolonial theories, this paper excavates discourses of exclusion and inequity that produce the idea of U.S. citizenship through a critical historical analysis of key U.S. immigration and naturalization-related policies and proposes immigrant cultural citizenship as a conceptual frame for re-imagining social work practice with immigrants.
Journal Writing for Life Development
Authors: Epple Dorothy M.
Published: June 2019

Journal writing can be a creative adjunct to psychotherapy. This article
will describe a qualitative study of the experiences of journal writers. Each participant’s narrative illustrates the integration of Winnicott’s transitional phenomena,
Freeman’s four stages of epiphanies, and Kegan’s adult developmental stages through
journal writing. The central findings of this research are that the experience of the
participants can be identified in the following three categories: therapeutic experience,meditative experience, and a transformative experience. Journal writing can be
adapted by psychotherapists, as an adjunct to therapy, to aid clients in elaborating
their stories, listening within, identifying epiphanies, and moving forward in the
change process.This article will present a case study of one of the narratives from this
research.
Social Work in Natural Disasters: The Case of Spirituality and Post-traumatic Growth
Authors: Jang Li-ju , LaMendola Walter F.
Published: June 2019

This study explored the role of social work in natural disasters by examining the relationship between spirituality and the post traumatic growth of people in
a collectivist culture. In this case, a retrospective study was conducted among people
in Taiwan who had survived a major earthquake five years earlier . The hypothesis
tested was that those who reported higher levels of spirituality would also report
higher levels of post traumatic growth. A concurrent triangulation mixed-methods
design was employed for this study. Six hundred and forty participants completed the
Post traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Twenty-eight others participated in semi-
structured in-depth interviews. Results indicate that, in Taiwan—described here as a
collectivist culture—traditional cultural narratives around suffering and adversity,
many of which are voiced as spiritual beliefs, have a significant effect on post traumatic growth. In this situation, social workers need to work with or support spiritual leaders, folk healers, and indigenous religious organizations, as they provide helping services. Respect for cultural differences may require that social workers primarily act as community organizers or developers, not clinicians focusing on coordination
and development of material resources.
The Perceptions of Mexican-American Men as Fathers
Authors: Shears Jeffrey , Furman Rich , Negi Nalini Junko
Published: June 2019

This qualitative study explores the lived experience of self-identified
Mexican men as fathers. The sample consists of 47 biological fathers of children
residing in Denver, Colorado, all whom are participating in the Early Head Start
Research and Evaluation Project. The data suggests that these fathers engaged in
traditionally conceptualized fathering roles. These men expressed the importance of
being there, teaching, meeting the child’s needs, being a role model, offering emotional support, and giving affection and love. The fathers reported taking more
responsibility, decreasing substance use, and limiting their leisure activities as a
result of becoming a parent. The results suggest that, fathering in and of itself, may
create resiliency and may have powerful positive influences on the lives of fathers.
Changes in Illegal Behavior During Emerging Adulthood
Authors: Haffejee Badiah , Yoder Jamie Rae , Bender Kimberly
Published: June 2019

Emerging adulthood marks a critical developmental juncture during which some individuals disengage from the illegal behavior of their adolescence while others continue to use substances and commit crimes. While risk factors for delinquency during adolescence are well studied, factors that influence persisting or desisting from illegal activities during emerging adulthood have not been fully explored. This mixed methods study utilizes a sample of college students aged 18-25 (N=74) and examines factors differentiating those who abstained from illegal behaviors, desisted from illegal behaviors, and persisted in illegal behaviors. Multinomial logistic regression models indicated peers offending and hours spent studying predicted desisting and peers offending predicted persisting (compared to the abstaining group). Three qualitative themes: family and peer bonds, morals and values, and fear of consequences further explained factors influencing emerging adults’ persisting and desisting choices. Implications for social work practice are explored.
The Integration of Disability Content into Social Work Education: An Examination of Infused and Dedicated Models
Authors: Bean Kristen Faye , Krcek Taylor E.
Published: June 2019

Disability content has been slowly integrated into social work curricula despite the large proportion of social workers supporting people with disabilities and its requirement in social work education by the Council on Social Work Education Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. Schools of social work offer disability content to their students in three ways: infused, dedicated (specialization), or a combination of both. A content analysis of 1620 course titles and descriptions from the top schools of social work was conducted to assess the integration of disability content into social work curricula. Eighty percent of the schools included disability content in their curriculum. Disability content was more likely to be integrated using the infused rather than the dedicated model.
The Need for Advancement in the Conceptualization of Cultural Competence
Authors: Gallegos Joseph S. , Tindall Cherie , Gallegos Sheila A.
Published: June 2019

The concept of cultural competence has become ubiquitous in human services
language and settings. Though the literature from various disciplines is replete with
discussions on the topic, there still exists much disagreement regarding the definition of
cultural competence as well as how to operationalize, test, and apply concepts related to
cultural competence in social service settings. A related issue stems from debate
regarding whether cultural competence is a theory, model, paradigm, framework, or
perspective. Though cultural competence has been referred to as a theory by some
scholars from different disciplines (e.g., Lum, 2005; Blue, Thiedke, Chessman, Kern, &
Keller, 2005; Wu & Martinez, 2006), there is still disagreement about whether the
concepts related to cultural competence actually meet the criteria for a theory and,
consequently, whether they can be used to generate hypotheses and allow for
independent observations that can be used to continue building theory, conduct empirical
research, and provide evidenced-based practice implications. The authors join in this
theory debate through an analysis of the elements of theory and conclude that it has
better fit with the definition of social perspective than it does social theory.
Perceptions of Field Instructors: What Skills are Critically Important inManaged Care and Privatized Environments?
Authors: Kane Michael N. , Hamlin II Elwood R. , Hawkins Wesley
Published: June 2019

There is an increasing demand for social work practitioners to work in
managed care and privatized environments. In an attempt to build social work curriculum
and identify important competencies needed in contemporary service environments,
researchers investigated South Florida field instructors’ (N=79) perceptions
of necessary knowledge and skill to work in environments affected by privatization
and managed care. This study’s findings indicate that field instructors (98%)
identified documentation as the most critically important skill for any social work
position. Additionally, respondents identified intervention evaluation (95%), time focused
and needs-based assessments strategies (94%), and evaluation of progress
through outcome measures (94%) as other critically important skills for current and
future practitioners.
Virtual Worlds and Social Work Education: Potentials for “Second Life”
Authors: Vernon Robert , Lewis Lisa , Lynch Darlene
Published: June 2019

Virtual worlds such as “Second Life” hold promise for social work education. They may be especially useful for distance/distributed education. Social relationships, groups, organizations and entire communities can be modeled and explored for role playing and laboratory instruction. This article provides an overview of “Second Life,” an example of a well developed virtual world. The CSWE Educational Policies and Accreditation Standards are used to examine possible applications. Benefits such as experiential learning opportunities and problems such as technical mastery are discussed. Virtual worlds can support and may even supplant current approaches for distance education.
Information and Communication Technologies in Social Work
Authors: Perron Brian E. , Taylor Harry O. , Glass Joseph , Margerum-Leys Jon
Published: June 2019

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are electronic tools used to convey, manipulate and store information. The exponential growth of Internet access and ICTs greatly influenced social, political, and economic processes in the United States, and worldwide. Regardless of the level of practice, ICTs will continue influencing the careers of social workers and the clients they serve. ICTs have received some attention in the social work literature and curriculum, but we argue that this level of attention is not adequate given their ubiquity, growth and influence, specifically as it relates to upholding social work ethics. Significant attention is needed to help ensure social workers are responsive to the technological changes in the health care system, including the health care infrastructure and use of technology among clients. Social workers also need ICT competencies in order to effectively lead different types of social change initiatives or collaborate with professionals of other disciplines who are using ICTs as part of existing strategies. This paper also identifies potential pitfalls and challenges with respect to the adoption of ICTs, with recommendations for advancing their use in practice, education, and research.
Child Welfare Workers’ Knowledge and Use of a Resilience Approach in Out-of-Home Care
Authors: Thomas Madhavappallil , Reifel Barbara
Published: June 2019

This paper examines child welfare workers’ use of resilience-based knowledge and intervention in a public child welfare system in a county in California. The data for the study were collected from child welfare workers who worked with out-of-home care children (n= 102). Descriptive analysis including chi-square tests was carried out. Findings show that a significant majority of child welfare workers are able to correctly identify risk and protective factors that are central to the concept of resilience. Although a significant majority recognizes the importance of using a resilience-based approach, most workers without a degree in social work are not familiar with it and are not currently using it in their practice. In terms of familiarity with and in the use of resilience-based assessment and interventions, significant differences were found to exist between workers with degrees in social work and workers without degrees in social work. Implications for social work education, agency training, and practice in child welfare are discussed.
Emerging Leaders Project: Connecting University Resources to Community-Based Organizations Supporting Refugee Resettlement
Authors: Hunter Rosemarie , Mileski Kara
Published: June 2019

In recent decades, populations seeking refuge have underscored the limitations of what have been standard approaches to resettlement. Shrinking resources, post-9/11 increase in security measures, and the diverse needs and assets of new arriving populations have exacerbated existing weaknesses in U.S. social service delivery systems and challenged neighborhoods inexperienced in these areas with complex issues of integration (Kerwin, 2011). In response to these issues, the University of Utah, the Utah State Refugee Services Office, and Salt Lake City Community College started an initiative to support the development of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and provide leadership and organizational training to existing leaders within these communities. The project created a shared space for community capacity building and integration as a two-way process. This paper will describe the formation and impact of the Emerging Leaders Project, a community-based participatory action research (CBPR) project focused on capacity building with new arriving communities in Salt Lake City.
In the Belly of the Beast: A Case Study of Social Work in a Managed Care Organization
Authors: Patchner Lisa S.
Published: June 2019

The employment of social workers within managed care organizations is
a new phenomenon. As such, this case study utilized an exploratory-descriptive
design that assessed social workers as case managers within a Medicaid HMO. The
semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and participant observation suggested
that the use of case management services, delivered primarily by social workers,was
effective in addressing the bio-psychosocial needs of Medicaid consumers within a
provider-driven HMO. Study findings recommend specific knowledge and skills that
social workers need in order to prepare for practice within managed care environments.
Does Personal Distress Mediate the Effect of Mindfulness on Professional Quality of Life?
Authors: Thomas Jacky T.
Published: June 2019

Personal distress is an aspect of the empathy construct which has been negatively associated with a range of psychological and behavioral problems. However, it is unclear whether mindfulness serves to buffer these negative relationships. This study examines direct effects and mediation effects of personal distress and mindfulness among three measures of professional quality of life: compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction. This model was tested using a sample of clinical social workers (n = 171). Results indicated that higher personal distress is significantly associated with higher compassion fatigue and burnout and lower compassion satisfaction, while mindfulness is significantly associated with lower compassion fatigue and burnout and higher compassion satisfaction. Mediation analyses showed significant indirect effects on all three measures of professional quality of life, with effect sizes in the small to moderate range. The indirect effects of mindfulness via the personal distress path accounted for 14-22% of the total effect of mindfulness on the three measures of professional quality of life. Implications for the education and training of social workers are discussed.
Social Workers as Senior Executives: Does Academic Training Dictate Leadership Style?
Authors: Goldkind Lauri , Pardasani Manoj
Published: June 2019

The range and patterns of leadership styles in human service organizations are important for social work educators and their students to understand if social work administrators are to compete successfully in the marketplace for executive director and other top management roles. Using a sample of executive directors of human service organizations located in a state in the Northeast section of the U.S., the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) was used to explore their leadership style. The authors compare various elements of leadership style (charisma, inter-personal transactions, reactions to work issues, etc.) as well as perceptions of effectiveness and satisfaction with leadership style across academic backgrounds of executive directors. These results highlight the competencies required of successful leaders and can assist educators in identifying curricular gaps developing courses preparing social workers for leadership positions in the field. This study provides critical information on the core leadership skills and knowledge relevant for effective social work administration. Implications for social work training and education are discussed as well as possible avenues for curriculum revision.
Mexican Immigrant Families Under Siege: The Impact of Anti-Immigrant Policies, Discrimination, and the Economic Crisis
Authors: Ayón Cecilia , Becerra David
Published: June 2019

Latino immigrants have historically faced many challenges living in the United States (U.S.). The economic crisis combined with new anti-immigration policies and harsh enforcement strategies may exacerbate the stress and anxiety Latino immigrant families already endure as a result of discrimination and financial hardships. The purpose of this study was to understand the current challenges Latino immigrant families encounter within an anti-immigrant social-political environment. Fifty-two first generation immigrants participated in focus group sessions, which lasted between 90 and 120 minutes. The findings reveal that the economic crisis, anti-immigration policies, and enforcement strategies have deleterious effects on Latino immigrant families’ well-being. Participants stated that their limited English proficiency status and racial profiling were the basis for discriminatory practices they endured. Discrimination is experienced through instances of micro-aggression, as well as horizontal discrimination and institutional discrimination. Implications for social policy, social work practice, and research are discussed.
Evaluating Kinship Care Alternatives: A Comparison of a Private Initiative to Traditional State Services
Authors: Ellis Rodney A. , Ellis Gary D. , Galey Rochelle
Published: June 2019

Multiple stressors on the child welfare system have forced innovative solutions
to the overburdened foster care program. A promising alternative is kinship
care, in which children are placed with biological relatives. Proponents cite the
opportunity to place the child in familiar surroundings, the natural access to additional
family resources, and the degree to which it is sensitive to the norms and values
of non-dominant cultural groups. Various models of kinship care have been
implemented in several jurisdictions, yet little or no research has been done to determine
which alternatives are the most effective. This paper addresses that deficit. It
reports the results of a study that compares stability of placement outcomes between
a program operated by a private,not-for-profit organization (n=60) and a more traditional
program (n=79) operated by a state child welfare agency. Results support
the use of the private alternative over the more traditional state-operated program.
Employment-Related Salaries and Benefits in Social Work: A Workforce Survey
Authors: Kang Suk-Young , Krysik Judy
Published: June 2019

The purpose of this study was to develop a descriptive benchmark of social work employment in Arizona and to provide useful information to administrators, job seekers, and prospective social work students. The results, based on telephone and Internet surveys to a random sample of 463 NASW Arizona members, indicate that salary was positively related to level of education and years of social work employment experience. Salary was also higher for men than for women and higher for social workers with administrative roles compared to other roles. Access to employee-related benefits appeared widespread. Implications are provided for administration and future research.
Service Learning as a Transition into Foundation Field
Authors: Kropf Nancy P. , Tracey Mininder
Published: June 2019

Service learning is a pedagogical method to bridge classroom and community
experiences for students. Although social work education has historically
emphasized this connection through internship experiences, service learning can fill
a different function within the curriculum. This article proposes a service learning
experience to assist graduate students with the transition into their foundation field
placement. Beneficial outcomes of using service learning as an educational bridge
are discussed for students, faculty, and the social work program.
Attitudes Toward Interprofessional Collaboration Among Students in the Health Care Professions
Authors: Park Juyoung , Hawkins Wesley , Hawkins Michele , Hamlin Elwood
Published: June 2019

This study investigated differences in attitudes expressed by medical, nursing, and social work students regarding interprofessional collaboration (a) between physician and nurse, (b) between nurse and social worker, and (c) between physician and social worker. A self-administered cross-sectional survey was presented to participants online. The Jefferson School of Attitudes Toward Physician-Nurse Collaboration (JSAPNC), a modified JSAPNC, and a demographic questionnaire were completed online by 80 students from medicine, nursing, and social work. Significant (p = ≤ .005) differences in attitudes toward interprofessional collaboration (IPC) were noted among social work, medical, and nursing students. Attitudes toward IPC in the health care setting were generally positive, with social work and nursing students showing more positive attitudes than medical students. Additional psychometric tests are required to obtain sound reliability and validity scores for the modified JSAPNC.
Social Networks That Promote Well-Being Among Latino Migrant Day Laborers
Authors: Negi Nalini Junko , Michalopoulos Lynn , Boyas Javier , Overdorff Adrianna
Published: June 2019

Latino migrant day laborers are a transnational population that often travels back and forth between borders in search of economic opportunities. These Latino day laborers (LDLs) are often at risk for exploitation and worker's rights abuses. Despite LDLs' heightened social vulnerability and risks, this population often does not access formal social or public health services due to their undocumented legal status, lack of health insurance and distrust of governmental social services. In light of LDLs' lack of access to formal services, social networks may enhance and protect their well-being and health through the exchange of emotional and social support, as well as the provision of concrete and practical services. Utilizing Berkman, Glass, Brissette, and Seeman's (2000) conceptual framework on social networks and health, this ethnographic study investigates the role of social networks in facilitating the well-being of LDLs (N=150). Implications for social services for this transnational population are also discussed.
Common Elements Across Evidence-Based Trauma Treatment: Discovery and Implications
Authors: Strand Virginia C. , Hansen Susan , Courtney Deborah
Published: June 2019

The social work profession is facing a critical gap in its provision of effective services to an increasingly large number of clients who are affected by trauma. To explore for the presence of common components in evidence-based trauma treatments, a qualitative content analysis of 8 trauma treatment manuals was undertaken. Analysis resulted in the identification of 35 Intervention Objectives and 59 Practice Element codes. These were further organized into nine domains: trauma assessment, safety, engagement, attachment, core treatment interventions, attention to the social context, trauma processing, post trauma growth, and therapist self-care. Future work for the profession may involve synthesizing and integrating what has already been learned, and translating that knowledge into the classroom. Significantly, three domains which stress activities with the client in their social context were found to be common to trauma treatments, including safety promoting activities. Implications for social work education, practice, policy, and research are discussed.
Correlates of MSW Students’ Perceptions of Preparedness to Manage Risk and Personal Liability
Authors: Kane Michael N.
Published: June 2019

Few studies in the discipline of social work have identified correlates of preparedness
to manage risk and personal liability among practitioners or students.
This study investigated predictors of MSW students’ perceptions of managing personal
risk and liability (N=116). Four correlates were identified from the standard
regression model that accounts for 43% of the adjusted variance. These predictor
variables included: (a) concern and worry about lawsuits (Beta=-.458, p=.00), (b)
understanding the fit between client advocacy and managed care (Beta=.328,p=.00),
(c) understanding agency documentation requirements (Beta=-.164, p=.05), and (d)
perceptions of field preparation for documentation (Beta=.162, p=.05). Implications
are discussed.
Leadership in Social Work Education: Sustaining Collaboration and Mission
Authors: Call Christine R. , Owens Larry W. , Vincent Neil J.
Published: June 2019

Little research is available depicting how faculty members experience the leadership style of their academic leaders. This paper reports results from a qualitative analysis of responses of 233 social work faculty members from CSWE accredited programs to an open-ended question about how they experience the leadership style of their current academic unit heads. The analysis incorporates feminist and professional social work perspectives.
Poetry Therapy as a Tool for Strengths-Based Practice
Authors: Furman Rich , Downey Eleanor Pepi , Jackson Robert L. , Bender Kimberly
Published: June 2019

This article explores the congruence between poetry therapy and the
strengths perspective of social work. It demonstrates the ways in which poetry therapy
is consistent with the strengths perspective and discusses methods for its utilization
in direct practice settings. Case examples are provided to help the practitioner
learn how to utilize poetry therapy with clients from diverse backgrounds. As a tool
in strengths-based practice, poetry and poetry therapy can help empower clients and
help to focus practitioners on clients’ capacities and resilencies. This article seeks to
expand upon the growing literature of strengths-based social work, addressing how
the theory can be applied to clinical practice situations.
Workers, Education, and Social Change in Brazil
Authors: Mello William J.
Published: June 2019

This article examines how Brazilian labor organizations developed educational programs that simultaneously confronted the issues of large scale illiteracy, particularly among young workers, while at the same time seized the opportunity to educate new generations of social movement and labor activists. Specifically, it explores the educational program Projeto Integrar, organized by the National Confederation of Metalworkers (CNM/CUT), and its importance for the broader process of political transformation presently underway in Brazil.
The Role of Acculturation in the Civic Engagement of Latino Immigrants
Authors: Tucker Cristina Michele , Santiago Anna Maria
Published: June 2019

Despite continued growth and dispersion of the Latino immigrant population in the United States, the lingering effects of a sluggish national economy and growing anti-immigrant sentiments have contributed to ongoing marginalization and exclusion, further hindering their participation in American civic life. Despite these challenges, Latino immigrants have remained engaged, yet the factors and processes that facilitate participation in American society remain poorly understood. Data from the Latino National Survey and focus groups with Latino immigrants were used to examine how variations in levels of acculturation, demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status (SES), and characteristics of the immigrant experience influence the civic engagement of Latino immigrants in American society. We found that citizenship, length of residence in the United States, and higher SES enhanced civic engagement, while brown skin color, migration for economic reasons, and Mexican ancestry decreased participation. The level of acculturation significantly moderated the effects of these contextual factors.
Leadership Development for Latino Community Emancipation: An Integrative Approach in Social Work Education
Authors: Cordero Antonia Elizabeth , Negroni Lirio K.
Published: June 2019

A primary goal of the social work profession is social justice advocacy for disenfranchised and oppressed communities, such as the Latino community. In the context of this paper, leadership development for community emancipation relate to efforts that foster indigenous community leadership designed to procure political rights or equality for their disenfranchised or devalued populations. The paper reviews the literature on Latino/a leadership perspectives, leadership development trends, and best practices that serve as a compatible integrative Latino/a approach. The approach proposes that the process of Latino/a leadership development should be collective, culturally-attuned, transformative, and community emancipatory. The authors present a model for students, alumni, and faculty that incorporates the approach through the use of three components: (1) Sustained institutional commitment, support and resources; (2) Creation of leadership opportunities, mentoring and modeling; and (3) Leadership efforts that foster community emancipation. The approach has been successfully employed for over 30 years in a Latino Project at a New England school of social work. Discussion of the model’s components, a case scenario, considerations for replication of the approach, and future research will be offered.