Daniel Finnegan

Effects of Brief Computer Training on Attitudes toward Computer Use in Practice: An Educational Experiment

Abstract The question of how best to introduce microcomputer technology into the regular social work curriculum is a difficult one. Although initial exposure and learning in context are pedagogically desirable, the prospect of adding more content to beginning practice courses is problematic. This article reports the results of an experiment designed to examine the effects of a minimal training intervention on master of social work degree students interest in, use of, and attitudes toward computer use in social work practice. Two sections of Social Work Practice 1 taught by the same instructor were used. All students reported high interest, usage, receptivity, and ownership. At posttest and one-semester follow-up, nonsignificant differences were found between training and control sections on measures of use, interest, and attitude. Integration of microcomputer training across the social work practice curriculum is recommended.

The Effect of Mandatory Furloughs on Self-Determination, Financial Strain, and Decision to Leave the California State University System in Social Work Faculty

In uncertain economic times, universities have taken steps to address financial problems by including the use of business models. In 2009, the California State University (CSU) system implemented furloughs of a 10% pay reduction and 18 days removed from the academic calendar. Faculty in 16 CSU schools of social work participated in a Web-based survey (Nu2009=u2009118) regarding the effect of the furlough along with their intent to leave the CSU system. Results found that minority faculty reported higher financial strain. The regression of significant variables on intent to leave found that feelings acknowledgment and financial strain predicted 36% of the variance. Loss of CSU social work faculty is likely to affect the quality of education. Implications for retention are discussed.

A Concurrent Validation Study of the Alcohol and Other Drug Identification (AODI) Scale

ABSTRACT This study measured the concurrent validity of the Alcohol and Other Drug Identification (AODI) scale, a measure of barriers to social workers addressing substance abuse issues with their clients. The scale was administered along with the Drug and Drug Problems Perceptions Questionnaire (DDPPQ), a measure of mental health workers attitudes toward working with substance abusers. A total of 197 graduate social work students and field supervisors participated in a Web-based administration of the scales. Principal components analysis indicated that three subscale factors of the AODI remained, with two items deleted. All subscale factors of the AODI negatively correlated with the DDPPQ, indicating evidence for concurrent validity.

Furloughs and Faculty Management of Time: Maintaining Quality in an Economic Crisis

An anonymous Web-based survey was used to gather the perceptions and experiences from 114 faculty members teaching in 16 social work programs in the California State University system about the effect of severe budget cuts on their educational activities. Most respondents reported they worked on their furlough days and maintained the same or larger workload that they had before the furlough. Larger workloads, diminished feelings of personal accomplishment, and stressful interactions with students were associated with higher levels of emotional exhaustion. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Family Unity Meetings: Decision Making and Placement Outcomes

ABSTRACT The sample consisted of all families (747) who were invited to receive a Family Unity Meeting from a Public Child Welfare Agency in a large urban county. Data was derived from the review of agency case files. The design was a retrospective case review with an embedded prospective study. This study describes factors that distinguish between CPS clients who accept an invitation to participate in a Family Unity Meeting (FUM) and those clients who decline to participate. The meeting process is described, and logistic regression is used to identify variables that predicted successful outcomes FUM meetings. Families with reunification as a goal were the most likely cases to agree to participate followed by Voluntary and Permanency Planning cases. Cases with severe neglect were the least likely group to participate in a meeting process. Approximately nine people attended an average meeting. Maternal relatives were more likely to attend than paternal relatives. Empirical evidence was found to support the notion that FUM expands the notion of family. Only 38% of children were placed with a parent after a meeting, but 82% of children were placed with a family member. Children were not placed with either the parent or family if the social worker had placement as a goal before the meeting. Cases with permanency plans were also less likely to be placed with the family. Social workers were more likely to agree with a placement with relatives if they had a concern about parental drug abuse. Having a maternal aunt in attendance at the meeting was predictive of having a child placed with the family. Social workers and families stated concerns prior to the meeting diverged. Families were more concerned with economic and financial issues than were the social workers. Social workers were more concerned with child protective service issues (type of abuse, placement issues, etc.) and the behavior of the parent (substance abuse, mental health, etc.) than was the family. Paying attention to family issues such as finances may be a necessary precursor to families focusing on more complex matters like substance abuse or parenting practices. Placement outcomes were consistent with workers goals stated before the meeting. If a social worker said they wanted to place a child with the family before the meeting, that placement was most likely the outcome of the meeting. Social workers may be guiding the decisions of the family. If this interpretation is correct then it raises questions about who makes decisions at the meeting. An alternative conclusion is that the social workers are good diagnosticians who know prior to the meeting if placement is necessary, and know what decisions the family will make.

A Computer-Assisted Self-Interview (CASI) Assignment in the MSW Classroom

ABSTRACT This article reviews the research regarding computer-assisted self-interviews and describes a specific program, the Addiction Severity Index-Multimedia Version (ASI-MV), a self-administered audio assessment of substance use as well as concurrent psychosocial problems. This program was integrated into a graduate substance abuse course through a simulated exercise intended to introduce students to computer-based assessments. Students (N = 21) later evaluated the exercise and their reactions to computerized assessment at the end of the semester. Overall, students reported increased assessment skills, more comfort with the use of computers to assess clients, and willingness to incorporate computers into social work practice.