Showing papers in "Families in society-The journal of contemporary social services in 2001"
TL;DR: In this paper, the author proposes a model based on acceptance of one's lack of competence in cross-cultural matters, which can be seen as an alternative to the notion that one can become competent at the culture of another.
Abstract: Cross-cultural competence has become a byword in social work. In a postmodern world in which culture is seen as individually and socially constructed, evolving, emergent, and occurring in language (Laird, 1998), becoming “culturally competent” is a challenging prospect. How do we become competent at something that is continually changing and how do we develop a focus that includes ourselves as having differences, beliefs, and biases that are inevitably active. After considering this and several other contemporary perspectives on cultural competence, the author questions the notion that one can become competent at the culture of another. The author proposes instead a model based on acceptance of one's lack of competence in cross-cultural matters.
208 citations
TL;DR: The circumstances faced by grandparents who become caregivers for their grandchildren are complicated and stressful as mentioned in this paper, and they acquire problem-specific coping strategies, which include taking action, talking about feelings, religious faith, focus on the grandchild, outreach to others, and some “less desirable” means.
Abstract: The circumstances faced by grandparents who become caregivers for their grandchildren are complicated and stressful. Indepth interviews were conducted with 54 grandparent caregivers (37 grandmothers and 17 grandfathers). Analysis of qualitative data involved the use of QSR NUD*IST software for organizing and coding interview transcripts. Subsets of financial, family, and legal problems specific to grandparent caregiving were identified. Grandparent caregivers acquire problem-specific coping strategies, which include taking action, talking about feelings, religious faith, focus on the grandchild, outreach to others, and some “less desirable” means. Caregiver satisfaction was related to the joys of children, the tasks of child rearing, participating in grandchildren' s activities, a new focus for life, and watching a child' s accomplishments. This study identified the need for additional research about interventions for the stress and coping responses of grandparent caregivers.
193 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a review of some of the conflicts between traditional problem-based assessments and alternative, strengths-based approaches is presented, which offers useful tools and strategies for incorporating client-centered, strengthsbased practice in settings where social workers are required to use assessment processes based on the medical model and deficit-based language of psychopathology and the DSM.
Abstract: This is a review of some of the conflicts between traditional problem-based assessments and alternative, strengths-based approaches. It offers useful tools and strategies for incorporating client-centered, strengths-based practice in settings where social workers are required to use assessment processes based on the medical model and deficit-based language of psychopathology and the DSM. It also promotes a process of infiltrating, influencing, and transforming the of assessment process so that it reflects a more holistic and strengths-based social work perspective. Examples are provided for incorporating the strengths perspective in practice.
158 citations
TL;DR: The TSI scale purports to measure disturbed beliefs that may be caused by direct traumatic experience or repeated exposure to details of clients' traumatic stories as discussed by the authors, which is a measure of vicarious trauma in a random sample of master's level clinical social workers.
Abstract: (TSI)-Revision L (Traumatic Stress Institute, 1994) as a measure of vicarious trauma in a random sample of master' s level clinical social workers. Forty-nine items from six subscales of the TSI were used. The scale purports to measure disturbed beliefs that may be caused by direct traumatic experience or repeated exposure to details of clients' traumatic stories. Results of correlational analyses of the TSI score with study variables and exploratory multiple regression analysis on the TSI score indicate its association with younger age, more reported somatic symptoms, lower annual salaries, lower scores on the Perceived Social Support (PSS)-Friends subscale (Procidano & Heller, 1983) and greater burnout as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory (Maslach & Jackson, 1986). TSI scores were not associated with social workers' personal trauma history, their reported weekly amount of face-to-face client contact, or a self-report of the level of intrusiveness of client material into the social workers' lives...
149 citations
TL;DR: This paper found that a mix of personal resiliency, interpersonal capacities, and social resources facilitated women in their successful re-entry after release from prison, and suggested practice and policy changes to assist women in the transition from institution to community.
Abstract: Eighteen female ex-prison inmates describe the strengths they used to manage their reentry after release from prison. As a group, the women stressed that a mix of personal resiliency, interpersonal capacities, and social resources facilitated their successful transition. On the basis of study findings, the author suggests practice and policy changes to assist women in the transition from institution to community.
136 citations
TL;DR: The strengths perspective challenges our personal and professional conventions, our habits of the mind as discussed by the authors, and challenges our cultural and professional traditions that assume that truth is discovered only by looking at underlying and often hidden meanings that only professional understanding and expertise can decipher and amend.
Abstract: The strengths perspective challenges our personal and professional conventions, our habits of the mind. Shifting from the world of traditional practice to that of a strengths frame challenges our cultural and professional traditions that assume that truth is discovered only by looking at underlying and often hidden meanings that only professional understanding and expertise can decipher and amend. This paper explores this challenge as necessary if practitioners are to truly embrace a practice based upon strengths, resilience, and empowerment.
111 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a case study is delineated, a number of spiritually-based interventions that flow from the instrument are reviewed, and sample questions are provided, as well as suggestions as to when spiritual genograms may be particularly applicable.
Abstract: Clients' spiritual and religious beliefs are often significantly shaped by family influences, particularly among many minority populations. Spiritual genograms offer an assessment method that highlights the spiritual and religious strengths that may exist within clients' families and depicts how these multi-generational dynamics inform current spiritual functioning. Information is provided on how to construct a spiritual genogram, as well as how to conduct an assessment, elicit spiritual strengths, and shift toward planning interventions. A case study is delineated, a number of spiritually-based interventions that flow from the instrument are reviewed, and sample questions are provided. The paper concludes by offering a number of suggestions as to when spiritual genograms may be particularly applicable.
97 citations
TL;DR: Using a strengths-based perspective, this paper looks at the experiences of family caregiving to the chronically ill using a qualitative inquiry, thus providing a positive experience for the caregiver and care recipient.
Abstract: Using a strengths-based perspective, this paper looks at the experiences of family caregiving to the chronically ill. Qualitative research allows researchers and practitioners to gain a deeper understanding of the family caregiver experience, adding breadth to the assessment and intervention process. Themes generated from a qualitative inquiry on the impact of the caregiving experience for the caregiver are explored and discussed in terms of implications for strengths-based practice, thus providing a positive experience for the caregiver and care recipient.
72 citations
TL;DR: The authors conducted interviews with participants who had completed preservice training in preparation to become a foster parent and found that training and other factors helped them decide whether or not to become foster parents.
Abstract: This article describes influences on individuals' decision to become or not become a foster parent. Interviews were conducted with participants who had completed preservice training in preparation to become a foster parent. Participants described how training and other factors helped them decide whether or not to become foster parents. Implications for foster care professionals are related both to foster parent training and to foster parent recruitment.
67 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on the relationship between spirituality, religion, and mental health, and discuss the challenges for practitioners that hinder such work, as well as the importance of exploring this subject with clients.
Abstract: Based on input from a range of clients, this article focuses on the relationship between spirituality, religion, and mental health. Spirituality and religion are rich areas for discussion with clients, and are often a hidden source of both problems and inspiration. Included here are some basic principles for practitioners to think about regarding spirituality and religion: supporting spirituality as a client strength, examining religious and spiritual struggles as a source of conflict and constraint, being cognizant of the relationship between social work values and religious values, and being culturally sensitive about spirituality as it affects client assessment. There is also a discussion of the challenges for practitioners that hinder such work. As the dialogue grows about the place of spirituality in social work, this article affirms the significance of exploring this subject with clients.
63 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the costs and benefits of utilizing nonoverlapping shift work as a strategy for balancing and weaving work and family were analyzed in an attempt to further understand the benefits and costs of utilizing shift work.
Abstract: Qualitative data are analyzed in an attempt to further understand the costs and benefits of utilizing nonoverlapping shift work as a strategy for balancing and weaving work and family. In addition ...
TL;DR: Cultural beliefs of Chinese American families are discussed in relation to their caregiving experience of a mentally ill relative as mentioned in this paper, and the implications of such beliefs to mental health professionals are discussed.
Abstract: Cultural beliefs of Chinese American families are discussed in relation to their caregiving experience of a mentally ill relative. Implications of such beliefs to mental health professionals are hi...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe three case vignettes that illustrate how therapists and clients working together in a resilience framework can discover and bolster strengths that can lead to more enhanced and satisfying lives.
Abstract: Resilience is the capacity to bounce back in the face of adversity and to go on to live functional lives with a sense of wellbeing. People can become resilient even though they may have lived in stressful and neglectful family and community environments. The author describes three case vignettes that illustrate how therapists and clients working together in a resilience framework can discover and bolster strengths that can lead to more enhanced and satisfying lives.
TL;DR: The authors examines the experiences of inner city youth who claim to have been subjected to excessive police force or misconduct or both, and examines the consequences of these encounters and their implications for service providers and policymakers.
Abstract: The interaction between police and young people living in the inner city has received limited empirical review. This paper examines the experiences of inner city youth claiming to have been subjected to excessive police force or misconduct or both. The discussion is informed by a study of encounters between a sample of the two groups. The author contends that hostility and strain between police and inner city youth, particularly youth of color, are increasing. The paper also examines the consequences of these encounters and their implications for service providers and policymakers.
TL;DR: This paper identifies and evaluates measurement instruments that can be used in practice with families—from a strengths perspective—and will also enable social workers to document service effectiveness.
Abstract: Social work practice from a strengths perspective is increasingly a preferred mode of practice. In the current environment of managed care in many fields, practitioners are required to measure and document various aspects of client problems and service effectiveness. The problem focus is inconsistent with the strengths perspective, but strengths-based practitioners are not immune from the accountability demands. This paper identifies and evaluates measurement instruments that can be used in practice with families—from a strengths perspective—and will also enable social workers to document service effectiveness.
TL;DR: The authors discusses the experience of motherhood from a feminist perspective drawing evidence from my personal experience as a mother, a contemporary feminist, and a migrant woman, as well as from the view of a current study on childbearing and childrearing among Thai immigrant mothers in Australia.
Abstract: This paper discusses the experience of motherhood from a feminist perspective drawing evidence from my personal experience as a mother, a contemporary feminist, and a migrant (immigrant) woman, as well as from the view of a current study on childbearing and childrearing among Thai immigrant mothers in Australia. The paper presents the challenge of motherhood from an immigrant mother's perspective. It is argued that immigrant mothers are twice a minority and hence twice marginalized when placing their situations within Australian society. Women's personal narrative has implications for social work practice. Many migrant mothers would possibly benefit from a social service intervention that attempts to reduce their marginality in Australian society.
TL;DR: Social work, as a profession, is struggling to determine the value of postmodernism and spirituality, and how these approaches to life provide alternative ways of interpreting the universe and the nature of social work practice as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Social work, as a profession, is struggling to determine the value of postmodernism and spirituality, and how these approaches to life provide alternative ways of interpreting the universe and the nature of social work practice. Although social work is founded on both a liberal arts and a social science education, some authors are challenging social work's historical emphasis on the social sciences; they advocate that social work instead reconsider the role of the humanities as a force affecting practice. While social work continues to root its practice in modernity, determinism, and the social sciences, the possibility should be considered that postmodernism, spirituality, and the creative writing process have the potential to expand social work to a more creative and meaningful kind of practice. By exploring the relationships between power and knowledge, pathology and creativity, core identity and multiple selves, it becomes clear that our subjectivity, our human potential, and our voices can facilitate...
TL;DR: The United States is a society diverse in culture, race, ethnicity, religion, and income; one struggling with a past involving oppression as mentioned in this paper, one that must educate ourselves about the many strands of our history; grow to appredate and enjoy the multiple cultures, races, and realities; and recognize the consequences of current and historical oppression.
Abstract: The United States is a society diverse in culture, race, ethnicity, religion, and income; one struggling with a past involving oppression.
inequality, and buried knowledge. In order to heal and strengthen. we must educate ourselves about the many strands of our history; grow to appredate and enjoy the multiple cultures, races, and realities; and recognize the consequences
of current and historical oppression. Social work professionals can and should play a lead role. Social work educators can provide leadership in developing learning opportunities with parallel foci on the history and impact of oppression, and the strength and joy of diversity. After a review of the issues, a model is presented for guidinglfadlitating this early learning.
TL;DR: This article investigated the personal experiences of young noncustodial fathers following separation and divorce using a focus group methodology, and found that the focus group participants discovered and discussed the negative impact of separation on them.
Abstract: The current research investigated the personal experiences of young noncustodial fathers following separation and divorce. Using a focus group methodology, the researchers discovered and discussed ...
TL;DR: For example, this paper found that the relationship a man has with his father and the influence this has on his development of generativity and univocal reciprocity may be more influential to the son's paternal identity than his experience of poverty or violence, and increased efforts should be made to broaden the opportunities poor fathers have to be involved in the lives of their children beyond the economic arena.
Abstract: Interviews were conducted with 20 young men who used General Assistance, many of whom were the fathers of children of poor, unwed mothers. The relationship respondents had with their fathers was examined. For those young men who were themselves fathers, it also explored how those relationships influenced their own paternal identity and the relationships with their children. Findings from this research suggest that the relationship a man has with his father and the influence this has on his development of generativity and univocal reciprocity may be more influential to the son's paternal identity than his experience of poverty or violence. Increased efforts should be made to broaden the opportunities poor fathers have to be involved in the lives of their children beyond the economic arena.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors report survey findings of police officer perceptions and utilization of a domestic violence response team, which involved social workers and trained volunteers providing crisis intervention at the scene of domestic violence crimes.
Abstract: This study reports survey findings of police officer perceptions and utilization of a domestic violence response team, which involved social workers and trained volunteers providing crisis intervention at the scene of domestic violence crimes. The majority of the 219 police officer respondents perceived the domestic violence response team as helpful. Other feedback provided in the survey was used to expand services and to make them more efficient and effective.
TL;DR: In this paper, the importance of public assistance caseworker functioning has been magnified based on personal interviews with 60 caseworkers in states implementing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Abstract: As states implement Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, the importance of public assistance caseworker functioning has been magnified. Based on personal interviews with 60 reci...
TL;DR: Depression and health of grandmothers who co-resided with grandchildren in 1997 in two cohorts of women was examined and health status was found to be a good predictor of depression when accounting for co- Residency and work effort among other factors.
Abstract: This paper examined depression and health of grandmothers who co-resided with grandchildren in 1997 in two cohorts of women, one aged 30-44 in 1967 (N = 2,080), and the other aged 14-24 in 1968 (N = 1,708). Co-resident grandmothers in both cohorts were more likely than other mothers to have higher levels of depression and about one-fifth were likely to exhibit levels high enough to place them “at risk” for clinical depression. Co-residency, however, was not found to be a good predictor of either level of depression or changes in the level of depression, but prior levels of depression were positively related to changes in the level of depression among mothers in general when controlling for current or previous co-residency. Health status was found to be a good predictor of depression when accounting for co-residency and work effort among other factors.
TL;DR: In this article, the role of recovery in helping many women survive the two "diseases" of HIV infection and addiction is described, drawing upon narratives spoken by mothers living with HIV/AIDS.
Abstract: Drawing upon narratives spoken by mothers living with HIV/AIDS, this article describes the role of recovery in helping many women survive the two “diseases” of HIV infection and addiction. The them...
TL;DR: In this article, the relevance, propriety, and use of prayer in addressing the recovery of women from substance use are discussed, as well as the application of prayer for group treatment and support.
Abstract: The authors discuss the relevance, propriety, and use of prayer in addressing the recovery of women from substance use. They describe the use of prayer to facilitate the process of rehabilitation and recovery of women who are chemically dependent and illustrate the application of prayer in the context of group treatment and support.
TL;DR: In this paper, a transpersonal perspective is presented for the recovery process of chemical dependency, which assigns importance to the development of the human spirit and the ability to cope with the consequences of dependency.
Abstract: Given the tremendous damage chemical dependency can inflict on the human spirit, a transpersonal perspective is relevant to the recovery process because it assigns importance to the development of ...
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of poverty and homelessness on children 8 to 12 years of age were examined using mixed method inquiry, and it was found that homelessness leaves children feeling a decreased sense of support and an increased sense of isolation.
Abstract: Child poverty negatively impacts the development of children; family homelessness compounds the issues. Both have dramatically increased over the last two decades with far-reaching, poorly understood consequences. The impact of the instability of poverty and homelessness on children is often hidden or difficult to comprehend. Few studies critically examine the impact on a child's sense of safety and security. Using mixed method inquiry, this research sought to examine the effects of poverty and homelessness on children 8 to 12 years of age. The voices of the children illuminate the underlying strengths and vulnerabilities. Results indicate that homelessness leaves children feeling a decreased sense of support and an increased sense of isolation.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the results of incorporating the strengths approach into a curriculum that employed a theoretical framework based on systems theory and problem-focused intervention, which showed evidence of clients' development of selfefficacy, increased self-esteem, and with clients taking more personal responsibility for their own change.
Abstract: This article discusses the results of incorporating the strengths approach into a curriculum that employed a theoretical framework based on systems theory and problem-focused intervention. This approach was introduced in bachelor of social work (BSW) generalist practice courses in a school of social work where social justice is the guiding principle. BSW students used the strengths approach across a variety of client systems including the homeless, pregnant teenagers, the elderly, and the mentally and physically challenged. In a final class assignment, the students presented successful intervention outcomes with diverse populations using clients' strengths as the focus of problem resolution. The students' stories of their work and the use of this method for instruction showed evidence of clients' development of self-efficacy, increased self-esteem, and with clients taking more personal responsibility for their own change. The empowerment/strengths model developed by the author illustrates collaborative in...
TL;DR: This article examined the relationship between single parent family status and children's gender and social skills, utilizing a predominantly ethnic minority sample, while controlling for family socioeconomic status (SES), and found that after controlling SES, there would be no differences between children (boys and girls) from single and two-parent homes on measures of social skills and conflict mana...
Abstract: Increases in divorce and nonmarital childbearing have dramatically altered the family lives of children in the United States. The increasing number of children residing in single-parent households often has been linked to many of the nation's most serious social problems, including delinquency, teenaged pregnancy and welfare dependency; in fact, it is widely believed that single-parent families represent a risk factor for children's development. There are several methodological weaknesses in the research used to document the negative effects of single-parent families on children. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between single-parent family status and children's gender and social skills, utilizing a predominantly ethnic minority sample, while controlling for family socioeconomic status (SES). It was hypothesized that after controlling SES, there would be no differences between children (boys and girls) from single- and two-parent homes on measures of social skills and conflict mana...
TL;DR: The term adopted child syndrome has repeatedly surfaced to explain behaviors in adopted children that seem rather uniquely related to their adoptive status as discussed by the authors. Specifically, these include problems in ''behavior problems in...
Abstract: The term adopted child syndrome has repeatedly surfaced to explain behaviors in adopted children that seem rather uniquely related to their adoptive status. Specifically, these include problems in ...