Calvin L. Streeter

Defining and Measuring Social Support: Guidelines for Social Work Practitioners

This article reviews the literature on social support and presents the theoretical foundations and basic concepts of social support. A framework is presented for assessing measures of social support, and eight measures are reviewed using the framework. The framework focuses on basic conceptualizations of social support, the psychometric characteristics of the measures, and their clinical utility. Suggestions are made for both using and improving existing measures of social support in social work practices.

Validity of the Faces IV Family Assessment Measure

The Circumplex Model and its accompanying measure, the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES I, II, and III), are considered one of the state-of-the-art family assessment instruments in the field. A number of concerns, however, have been raised about the validity and reliability of the previous FACES measures and their ability to assess the Circumplex Model. Limitations of previous FACES measures have resulted in the development of the FACES IV measure. Tiesel and Olson recently completed the first reliability and validity study of the FACES IV measure. This article uses data from an adolescent population to further examine the psychometric properties of the new FACES IV measure. Reliability and validity analyses offer both corroborating and contradictory results when compared with the validity study conducted by Tiesel and Olson. Future directions for the development of FACES IV are discussed.

At-Risk Students’ Perceptions of Traditional Schools and a Solution-Focused Public Alternative School

Recent trends in education have drawn attention to students at risk of school failure and dropout in the United States. Alternative schools are one method for preventing the severe and long-lasting consequences of underachievement and dropout. Few research studies have sought the opinions and perceptions of the at-risk students who attend alternative schools through qualitative research methods. This study used qualitative interviews to explore at-risk students’ perspectives about their current alternative school and their former traditional schools. Results indicate that traditional schools are lacking the personal relationships with teachers, schoolwide focus on maturity and responsibility, understanding about social issues, and positive peer relationships that alternative schools often provide. This article offers guidelines to help schools and educators to better support at-risk students.

Assessment of middle class youth at-risk to dropout: School, psychological and family correlates

Abstract High school dropout among middle class, high achieving and majority youth is on the increase. Little research exists that specifically identifies the at-risk characteristics of these youth. Empirical evidence concerning the reasons for school dropout, academic, psychological, and family patterns of 200 middle class dropout youth are presented. Implications for interventions are discussed.

Redundancy in Organizational Systems

In this article, I provide a basic introduction to the concepts and theory of redundancy in organizational systems. The roots of redundancy are explored, and four different types of redundancy are identified and discussed. Assumptions underlying both redundant and nonredundant systems are examined. I also review some of the criticisms of redundancy and examine several problems associated with transferring the concepts of redundancy to social systems.

A Customer-Oriented Model for Managing Quality in Human Services

Abstract The authors examine the unique challenges of establishing and maintaining a quality focus in human services. They also pro-Eose a model, the Gap Model, for measuring and managing quality in uman services. Key concepts on both the customer and provider sides of the model are explained within the context of human services. The authors address the implications for adapting the model for human ser-vice managers.

Validity of the 3-D Circumplex Model for Family Assessment

The Circumplex Model and its accompanying measure, the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale III (FACES III), have emerged as the state-of-the-artfaimly assessment instrument in the field offamily therapy. A number of concerns, however, have been raised about the validity of the FACES III. In response to these concerns, the FACES III has recently been rescored as a linear measure, and a 3-D Circumplex Model has been developed. Data from a clinical adolescent population were used to test the ability of the FACES III to assess the characteristics of families according to the underlying assumptions of the 3-D Circumplex Model. Resultsfrom the study indicate that there is some support for the validity of the 3-D Circumplex Model, but validity problems with the adaptability subscale continue to be a problem for the FACES III.

Social support and psychoeducational interventions with middle class dropout youth

There are substantial numbers of high school dropouts among middle class, high achieving and majority youth. Yet, little research has been undertaken to identify the psychosocial and family characteristics, educational needs, and program requirements of middle class dropout youth. This paper reports the educational history, individual psychosocial characteristics and family backgrounds of 102 middle class dropout youth who participated in an educational treatment program within a university. Data from a questionnaire and a family assessment instrument indicate that middle class dropout youth have a variety of family, social, emotional and learning disorders. Implications for clinical interventions are presented along with a case history and treatment plan of one of the youth in the study.

Responding to the Grand Challenge to End Homelessness: The National Homelessness Social Work Initiative

The American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare adopted ending homelessness as one of its 12 Grand Challenges for Social Work. The National Center for Excellence in Homeless Services supports this Grand Challenge through its National Homelessness Social Work Initiative. This initiative is being carried out through a consortium of schools of social work nationally, emphasizing workforce development and policy advocacy. This major, multiyear initiative applies innovative strategies to service and policy design and social work education. This article describes the overall mission of the Homelessness Initiative and key activities used to strengthen social work curriculum, expand homelessness-related field placement opportunities for students, and impact services through the policy advocacy and dissemination of best practices.

Mapping Community Capitals: A Potential Tool for Social Work

Concept mapping can be a useful tool in social work practice at all levels. Mapping can help clarify and increase comprehension of abstract concepts, such as community capitals or assets. This paper describes community capitals, presents a simple method for mapping community assets conceptually, and demonstrates this method through two case examples. The cases detail activities of two organizations involved in work with communities. The development and leveraging of capitals is illustrated in both instances. Following the case examples, the significance and value of mapping in social work and suggestions for future research are discussed based on the mapping exercise.