Research on Social Work Practice current issue

A Meta-Analysis of Published School Social Work Practice Studies: 1980-2007

Franklin, C., Kim, J. S., Tripodi, S. J. — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:02:50 PDT

Objective: This systematic review examined the effectiveness of school social work practices using meta-analytic techniques. Method: Hierarchical linear modeling software was used to calculate overall effect size estimates as well as test for between-study variability. Results: A total of 21 studies were included in the final analysis. Unconditional random effects model shows an overall weighted mean effect size estimate of .23 for externalizing problem outcomes and .40 for internalizing problem outcomes; both categories were statistically significant at the p < .05 level. Subgroup analysis for academic outcomes showed mixed results for knowledge, attendance, and grade point average outcome measures. Conclusions: Results highlight the positive impact school social workers may have on student emotional, mental, behavioral, and academic outcomes.

Evaluation of Wraparound Services for Severely Emotionally Disturbed Youths

Mears, S. L., Yaffe, J., Harris, N. J. — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:02:50 PDT

Objectives: Services to children and adolescents with a severe emotional disturbance (SED) have long been inadequate. The wraparound approach has emerged as a promising practice that could address the needs of children with SED and their families through a strength-based, individualized, family-focused team process that emphasizes flexible service planning. This study compares the outcomes of youth receiving the wraparound approach with youth receiving traditional child welfare case management. Method: Child behavior and community integration outcomes were measured at intake and at 6 months in services. Results: Results indicated that youth receiving the wraparound approach showed significant improvement on the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS) when compared with youth receiving traditional child welfare services. Results also showed that youth receiving traditional child welfare services experienced significantly fewer placements. However, neither group showed significant differences on other clinical or functional outcomes. Conclusions: Results are discussed, as well as applications to social work practice, study limitations, and recommendations for additional research on wraparound.

The Effects of Cognitive--Behavioral Therapy on Trait Anger and Paranoid Ideation

Gonzalez-Prendes, A. A., Jozefowicz-Simbeni, D. M. H. — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:02:50 PDT

Objective: This study evaluates a cognitive—behavioral anger treatment approach to reduce anger and paranoid ideation on men (n = 32) in treatment for anger problems and compares levels of paranoid ideation with a sample of men ( n = 27) who sought mental health treatment for non-anger issues. Method: A pre- and posttest design is used to evaluate within- and between-groups differences on anger and paranoid ideation. Results: At pretest, the anger group has significantly higher scores on paranoid ideation than the non-anger group. Significant reductions in trait anger and paranoid ideation are recorded from pre- to posttreatment for the anger group. Conclusions: Cognitive—behavioral therapy for anger helps reduce anger and paranoid ideation. Limitations of the study are discussed.

Vulnerability to Foster Care Drift After the Termination of Parental Rights

Cushing, G., Greenblatt, S. B. — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:02:50 PDT

Objectives: After the termination of parental rights (TPR), there is no guarantee that youth will achieve legal permanence through adoption either quickly or at all. This study identifies obstacles in reaching adoption after TPR. Methods: Data are extracted via brief case reviews of 640 children and in-depth case reviews of 145 children to identify potential barriers to adoption. Results: Obstacles in reaching adoption post-TPR include characteristics of youth, foster families, and case practice. Conclusions: Results indicate that improvements in practice such as concurrent planning efforts, continuity of case workers, and addressing foster parent ambivalence about adopting youth with special needs can make a difference for youth in reaching more timely permanence through adoption.

A Culturally Relevant and Responsive Approach to Screening for Perinatal Depression

Price, S. K., Handrick, S. L. — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:02:50 PDT

Objectives: This study presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of a culturally relevant and responsive approach to screening for perinatal depression in low-income, predominantly African American women. Method: The study details the development of the community-informed instrument and subsequent evaluation of its psychometric properties relative to one specific community sample (N = 139). Results: The initial validity and reliability testing of the community-informed instrument reveal a higher internal consistency than the standardized instrument alone (alpha = .87 vs. .80). Subsequent factor analysis and inter-item correlation suggest consistency between most of the community-informed and CES-D items. Conclusions: While limited in scope to the community sample, the study reflects the perceived benefit of integrating community voice to enhance culturally relevant and empirically rigorous practice.

Social Work Abstracts Fails Again: A Replication and Extension

Holden, G., Barker, K., Covert-Vail, L., Rosenberg, G., Cohen, S. A. — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:02:50 PDT

Objective: According to a prior study, there are substantial lapses in journal coverage in the Social Work Abstracts (SWA) database. The current study provides a replication and extension. Method: The longitudinal pattern of coverage of thirty-three journals categorized in SWA as core journals (published in the 1989-1996 period) is examined. Results: The proportion of issues missing from SWA is significantly greater than 0, increase over time, and is significantly biased in favor of NASW journals. Conclusion: The errors in SWA reported here, combined with those previously reported, will exert a long-term negative impact on scholarship unless their existence becomes known to all SWA users and they take steps to compensate for the situation.

Support for Alzheimer's Caregivers: Psychometric Evaluation of Familial and Friend Support Measures

Wilks, S. E. — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:02:50 PDT

Objective: Information on the shortened, 20-item version of the Perceived Social Support Scale (S-PSSS) is scarce. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the S-PSSS Family (SSfa) and Friends (SSfr) subscales. Method: Because of their common coping method of social support, a cross-sectional sample of Alzheimer’s caregivers was relevant for this evaluation. Self-reported data were collected from 229 participants at two caregiver conferences. Results: Factor analysis on each measure indicated a three-factor solution with all items loaded. Reliability was satisfactory. Correlational analyses and odds ratios indicated preliminary construct validity for SSfa and SSfr. Conclusion: The S-PSSS subscales appear to be psychometrically appropriate for potential use in appraising family and friend support among Alzheimer’s caregivers.

Development and Validation of a Measure of Organizational Culture in Public Child Welfare Agencies

Westbrook, T. M., Ellett, A. J., Deweaver, K. W. — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:02:50 PDT

Objective: To develop and explore the validity characteristics of a new measure of organizational culture in public child welfare agencies. Method: Multiple validation methods were used, including expert judgment and criterion-related validity procedures using a statewide sample of 1,033 child welfare caseworkers, supervisors, and administrators. Results: Principal components analyses identified seven measurement dimensions positively correlated with a criterion measure of intent to remain employed in child welfare. Regression analyses showed that four measurement dimensions accounted for 26% of the variation in the criterion measure. Conclusions: The validity evidence for this new measure supports its use in a variety of ways in child welfare practice and in continued research on organizational culture and in child welfare workforce and child outcomes research.