Social Work Honors Theses
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13013/2158
2024-03-29T05:28:27ZThe Necessity For Disability In Social Work Education
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13013/2995
The Necessity For Disability In Social Work Education
Jarvis, Alexa
Although over a quarter of the United States population has one or more disabilities, past studies and reviews of the social work curriculum indicate that students do not receive a well-rounded education on the topic. Building upon previous studies, this research study aimed to further understand social workers’ education around disability in their social work programs. Social work students and graduates (N=78) completed an anonymous online survey exploring this topic. Social workers strongly believe that this is an important topic for social work education. While most learned about mental health disabilities, fewer than half reported learning about other types of disabilities (e.g., cognitive/intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, hearing disabilities, visual impairments, invisible disabilities). Only one-third believed they had learned how to recognize ableism in practice. These findings suggest that while some programs include substantial disability content, other programs have substantial work to do in this area. Implications from this study urge social work programs to enhance visibility about disability in both the curriculum and the community. Most social work students understand the importance of disability education and wish it was covered more in the classrooms. The voices of disabled students indicate that disability is something that warrants more presence and celebration in social work programs. Another important implication is that the level of disability education a social work student receives is dependent on the program they attend, so disability is a topic that is being covered in some courses and programs. This demonstrates the need for consistency amongst accredited social work programs to ensure students are equally prepared to work with disabled clients.
2023-05-01T00:00:00ZAn Exploratory Analysis of the Lived Experiences of the Glass Sibling
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13013/2984
An Exploratory Analysis of the Lived Experiences of the Glass Sibling
Ritchie, Abigail
Glass siblings are siblings of individuals with disabilities or chronic physical or mental illnesses. While the literature is replete with information on individuals with disabilities, there is limited research about the lived experiences of glass siblings. This qualitative research study seeks to understand the experiences of individuals with siblings with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Three themes emerged from the study, including (a) Carrying Guilt, Anxiety, and Empathy, (b) Social Support is Essential, and (c) Doing What Needs to be Done. The overall findings implicate social work professional efforts that validate the glass siblings’ experiences, increase connections to adequate support, and mobilize resources that reduces stress related to caregiving.
2023-05-01T00:00:00ZExamining Solitary Confinement On The Well-Being Of Black And Hispanic Men
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13013/2637
Examining Solitary Confinement On The Well-Being Of Black And Hispanic Men
Flores, Karina
Solitary confinement practices are harmful to the health and well-being of individuals. Little is known about how these practices affect the overall well-being of Black and Hispanic men. This paper aims to examine the overall well-being among Black and Hispanic men experiencing solitary confinement in U.S. prisons and assess if their experiences preclude them from pursuing a quality of life upon release. The paper sought to answer two questions: (1) What is the relationship between solitary confinement and well-being among Black and Hispanic men? (2) Is solitary confinement harmful to societal reintegration efforts among formerly incarcerated Black and Hispanic men? Findings reveal that solitary confinement negatively affects the well-being of Black and Hispanic men and that these men are more likely to recidivate without effective rehabilitation.
2022-05-01T00:00:00ZResiliency In Child Welfare Workers Through The COVID-19 Pandemic
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13013/2623
Resiliency In Child Welfare Workers Through The COVID-19 Pandemic
Bertrand, Grace
The purpose of this study is to understand the overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child welfare workers. First a deep investigation into resiliency in social work, strategies for resiliency, and worker resiliency through the pandemic in general was done. Next, a section on child welfare workers explains the challenges they face along with research on resiliency in the field. Lastly a section on COVID-19 investigates the possible impacts of the pandemic on child welfare workers and globally to give context. This research has found that child welfare workers have felt burnt out, isolated, and negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022-05-01T00:00:00Z