Showing papers in "Journal of Family Social Work in 2003"
TL;DR: Both positive and negative influences on youth substance use by various family members within kinship groups are identified, with significant implications for alcohol and drug prevention and intervention activities with American Indian youth.
Abstract: Extensive research has focused on risk factors for and social influences on alcohol and drug use by adolescents. While peers tend to be most the influential, parents and families are also important, with specific parental behaviors and particular family dynamics identified in the literature as having a protective or risk effect on youth. However, this line of research has not examined the differences in family influence on youth of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds. This qualitative research study of American Indian adolescents identified both positive and negative influences on youth substance use by various family members within kinship groups. The widespread influence of specific kinship members on high-risk behaviors of American Indian youth has not been previously identified. These findings have significant implications for alcohol and drug prevention and intervention activities with American Indian youth.
37 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a post-discharge outcome interview for alumni of foster care was designed by four peer foster care agencies, and 222 alumni were interviewed six months after being discharged from foster care services.
Abstract: A post-discharge outcomes interview for alumni of foster care was designed by four peer foster care agencies. Across all four agencies, 222 alumni were interviewed six months after being discharged from foster care services. Outcome domains, based on common measurement practices in child welfare and on social validation studies, include type of living environment (e.g., restrictiveness), placement stability, homelessness, school performance, employment, self-sufficiency, aggression, criminal behavior, substance use, relationships, community involvement, protection from harm, satisfaction, and impact of services. Results of the outcomes were compared to nationally sampled studies of children not in care. Generally, alumni reported positive outcomes across the various domains. The type of foster care, length of care, and age of alumni influenced the results. Implications for expanding this study to establish national benchmarks for outcomes, service use, and cost in foster care conclude the article.
30 citations
TL;DR: Using data from a 1999 national sample of families, this paper reported their findings on how the presence of family strengths and the likelihood of achieving positive family outcomes vary across income groups using a Family Strength Index.
Abstract: Using data from a 1999 national sample of families, the authors report their findings on how the presence of family strengths and the likelihood of achieving positive family outcomes vary across income groups Data from a Family Strength Index is reviewed and indicates that income differences primarily discriminate on the economic assets of families but not on the relational and social support assets of families A discussion of the implications of the findings for practice and future research is also included
23 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a study involving systematic random samples of 225 male and 232 female military veterans respectively that had received services at a VAMC in the South was conducted, where the purpose was to examine what ecological factors predict a diagnosis of PTSD among those veterans.
Abstract: This was a study involving systematic random samples of 225 male and 232 female military veterans respectively that had received services at a VAMC in the South. The purpose was to examine what ecological factors predict a diagnosis of PTSD among those veterans. As expected, gender differences in relevant predictors of PTSD were observed: Generally, interpersonal factors, depression and fearfulness were more important to PTSD among women. Among men, self-efficacy, resilience, suicidal thoughts, alcohol and other drug abuse, and combat stress were more relevant. However, physical and non-physical abuses in the family-of-origin were significantly related to PTSD for both women and men, albeit those abuses were more important for female veterans. Conceptual and family social work implications of the study were discussed.
21 citations
TL;DR: This article explored the efficacy of programmed parenting interventions for incarcerated men and found that children are adversely affected by the absense of fathers, while some authors, researchers, and government view fatherhood as an incarcerated fathers have not been considered a viable intervention.
Abstract: Incarcerated fathers or men in the role of father or surrogate father in the US are approaching rates that could be considered epidemic in proportion. Children are adversely affected by the absense of fathers. Some authors, researchers, and government view fatherhood as an incarcerated fathers have not been considered a viable intervention. This study explores the efficacy of programmed parenting interventions for incarcerated men.
20 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a social work model for assisting clients with pet loss is presented, which blends traditional grief therapy with the ecosystems perspective of social work practice, and applies that to loss specific to the death of a companion animal.
Abstract: Approximately half of American households include at least one companion animal. These anilmas quickly become members of the family. When the animal dies, the human grieves the loss much as they would gieve the death of any family member. This article presents a social work model for assisting clients with pet loss. This model blends traditional grief therapy with the ecosystems perspective of social work practice, and applies that to loss specific to the death of a companion animal. Social workers must increase their competence in addresing issues of pet loss with clients. This model can provide a fundation for the development of the competence.
20 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a study of 82 foster families from one southeastern United States metropolitan area using the Family Hardiness Index (FHI) showed that foster families who reported an intent to continue to foster also scored higher than those who did not intend to continue.
Abstract: Recent research in the area of foster care has examined a number of external factors that may influence foster family retention. However, insufficient research has been devoted to the question of foster family hardiness, or internal strengths of foster families, and how it may affect retention. Hardiness in families means that families possess a belief that they can control or influence events of their experience, feel deep commitment, and anticipate change as a positive challenge. Additionally, hardy families exhibit a confidence in their abilities. Utilizing the Family Hardiness Index, this research reports findings from a study of 82 foster families from one southeastern United States metropolitan area. Foster families who reported an intent to continue to foster scored higher on the Family Hardiness Index than families from a non-clinical sample. Foster families who reported an intent to continue also scored higher than those foster families who reported they did not intend to continue. Logis...
18 citations
TL;DR: Health care providers need to understand grandparent-grandchild families and provide comprehensive services accordingly–not only addressing the grandparents' health needs and concerns, but also striving to create a nurturing community for grandparents and their grandchildren.
Abstract: Sixty-five grandparents participated in a study to determine the health status of grandparents who were raising their grandchildren. Grandparents were recruited from community-based grandparent groups and were asked to complete standardized and investigator-constructed questionnaires. Results showed that some grandparents enjoyed good health and, in fact, looked upon this experience as a positive one. However, most reported that their health was compromised. While physical functioning was one of the major problems, dependent on age and gender, other problems emerged as well. Health care providers need to understand grandparent-grandchild families and provide comprehensive services accordingly–not only addressing the grandparents' health needs and concerns, but also striving to create a nurturing community for grandparents and their grandchildren.
17 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined wives' assessments of marital quality including contextual life changes before their husbands' retirements, and compared the assessments of the same wives following their husbands" retirements.
Abstract: Recent studies view retirement as a family transition that affects others in the close family circle, as well as the retiree, and is a process that occurs over time, and not as a single event. It therefore behooves us to learn more about how husbands' retirement affects the women with whom male retirees share their lives. Furthermore, most previous research has studied the wives of retirees using cross-sectional designs. In general, findings have indicated that husbands' retirement has little effect on wives' marital quality. This study is an advance over much of the previous research in that we use a longitudinal design. We have examined wives' assessments of marital quality including contextual life changes before their husbands' retirements, and have compared the assessments of the same wives following their husbands' retirements. To study these phenomena, we used data from the Normative Aging Study, administering the DAS to 61 wives prior and subsequent to husbands' retirement. We used means ...
17 citations
TL;DR: The Integrated Team Case Management Approach as discussed by the authors was developed in response to research findings and experience to support families in early childhood intervention and early childhood resiliency and reducing adverse outcomes through a systematic process of program development, and it considers not only the optimal program models to be applied, but the details of implementation and the role of quality management and program evaluation.
Abstract: Recent interest from a variety of disciplines in supporting families for the purpose of enhancing resiliency and reducing adverse outcomes highlights the challenges and opportunities involved in using research to inform social work practice and policy. Over the past two decades a tremendous amount of research in prevention and early childhood intervention has been carried out, but it is often difficult to translate this research into practice and policy. There is a need to move beyond finding the ideal program model toward the application of important research findings through a systematic process of program development. In developing social work programs to support families it is important to consider not only the optimal program models to be applied, but the details of implementation and the role of quality management and program evaluation. The paper reports upon the development of the Integrated Team Case Management Approach which was developed in response to research findings and experience ...
12 citations
TL;DR: An overview of this model, existing programs in the United States, discusses key elements of the model, summarizes outcomes and comparative cost information, identifies implementation challenges, and provides tips for starting a Shared Family Care program in any community are provided.
Abstract: Shared Family Care is an innovative child welfare service that temporarily places whole families in the homes of community mentors who, along with a team of professionals, help the families to obtain the skills and resources they need to move toward self-sufficiency and adequately care for their children. This article provides an overview of this model, identifies existing programs in the United States, discusses key elements of the model, summarizes outcomes and comparative cost information, identifies implementation challenges, and provides tips for starting a Shared Family Care program in any community.
TL;DR: The potential usefulness of the CHIP-AE as a tool for involving youth living in non-relative foster care in assessing their own health and well-being is demonstrated.
Abstract: The Child Health and Illness Profile–Adolescent Edition (CHIP-AE), a recently developed standardized instrument, was administered to 49 adolescents living in non-relative family foster care under the auspices of the child welfare system in Illinois. Youth reported high levels of satisfaction with their health, academic progress, resiliency and risk resistance, but low levels of work performance. These youth also reported higher levels of psychosocial problems, major and minor adverse effects from injuries, migraines, and chronic medical conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes and sickle-cell anemia. This study demonstrated the potential usefulness of the CHIP-AE as a tool for involving youth living in non-relative foster care in assessing their own health and well-being. Suggestions for future use of the CHIP-AE are discussed.
TL;DR: In this article, a telephone survey was conducted by experts who have research experience in this area to attain a deeper level of understanding regarding the impact of severe mental disorders on parenting abilities, important issues in conducting assessments with these families and implications for the development of services.
Abstract: The assessment and development of competent parenting abilities for parents who have a severe and persistent mental illness is an important topic for social workers in a variety of settings. In order to integrate the current knowledge base regarding parenting issues faced by these families, a telephone survey was conducted by experts who have research experience in this area. Qualitative interviews were used to attain a deeper level of understanding regarding the impact of severe mental disorders on parenting abilities, important issues in conducting assessments with these families, and implications for the development of services.
TL;DR: In this article, a case study that examines the failures of the social welfare system in failing to prevent homelessness is presented, where the authors chronicle one family's homeless experience and examine the social policies and programs that affected them.
Abstract: This article is a case study that examines the failures of the social welfare system in failing to prevent homelessness This article chronicles one family's homeless experience and examines the social policies and programs that affected them The authors make recommendations for further research and policy implementation for vulnerable populations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the goals established by workers and clients in two home-based family service agencies employing different intervention models, identifying and providing descriptive information on the nature of both client-specific and program goals based on 110 case records from both agencies.
Abstract: This study examines the goals established by workers and clients in two home-based family service agencies employing different intervention models. In particular, identifies and provides descriptive information on the nature of both client-specific and program goals based on 110 case records from both agencies. Twenty-one goal categories were developed to reflect various aspects of the encounters with families. Some of the client-specific goal categories were congruent with the program goal while others implied adherence to the idiosyncratic needs of the clients, and there were differences between the two agencies. The goal categories developed here may help practitioners better describe what they do with clients. In addition, the findings suggest outcome indicators for monitoring client progress.
TL;DR: Using stories from Southern women, fictional and real, the authors explored early life experiences and maltreatment in birth families, placement in out-of-home care, and outcomes, using unstructured interviews with two sisters, the creation of stories, and identification of patterns throughout the women's lives.
Abstract: Using stories from Southern women, fictional and real, this article explores early life experiences and maltreatment in birth families, placement in out-of-home care, and outcomes. The method is qualitative, using unstructured interviews with two sisters, the creation of stories, and identification of patterns throughout the women's lives. Their experiences are compared with the experiences of resilient Southern women as presented in popular fiction. Patterns include resiliency, multiple episodes and types of maltreatment, lack of protection, shame, repetition of relationship patterns and intergenerational transmission of trauma, abandonment, scars and ghosts from the past, and mixed success in adulthood. Recommendations for research and practice to improve child and family well being conclude the article.