Diane L. Zosky

Improving the Research Climate in Social Work Curricula: Clarifying Learning Expectations Across BSW and MSW Research Courses

Abstract Research courses are associated with performance anxiety and educational insecurity for many social work students. This paper makes the case that student anxiety associated with research courses is rooted in the history of the social work profession, and this history sheds light on the present day climate of research in social work education. The authors suggest that improvement to the research climate in social work education requires an “institutional” response. To that end, this paper describes a committee process that resulted in changes to one schools curriculum policy by revamping student learning objectives for a sequence of five research courses that spanned BSW and MSW programs. The committee produced a continuum of student learning expectations based on Blooms taxonomy, which represents a logical progression of knowledge and skill competencies as students advance through their course work.

A Matter of Life and Death: The Voices of Domestic Violence Survivors:

In light of recent threats to funding for essential services, this qualitative study asked women survivors of domestic violence what they would do if their current services were no longer available. The themes seemed to span a continuum of resilience, from continuing to look for a way to escape the abuse, to uncertainty, to hopelessness and fear, and to resignation by staying in the abusive relationship. The majority of women reported that if domestic violence services were not available, they would remain with their abusers with dramatically negative consequences.

Wearing Your Heart on Your Sleeve: The Experience of Burnout Among Child Welfare Workers Who are Cognitive Versus Emotional Personality Types

This study explores if child welfare workers who are predominantly cognitive in their personality type, rather than emotionally predominant, experience less burnout in their work. The thinking versus feeling and sensing versus intuition poles of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator were used to determine predominance in cognitive or emotional personality type and the Maslach Burnout Inventory was used to measure burnout. There was no statistical difference found on burnout scores based on personality type. These results have implications for child welfare organizations and on the recruitment and retention of a qualified work force. Selective recruitment based on personality type may not contribute to better retention of workers.

A Comparison of Subsidized Guardianship and Child Welfare Adoptive Families Served by the Illinois Adoption and Guardianship Preservation Program

Abstract This study compares the outcomes of 113 subsidized guardianship families and 733 child welfare adoptive families served by a therapeutic counseling program for adoptive/guardianship families at risk of child placement or dissolution. No significant differences are found in the percentage of children in placement at the end of services or the level or parental commitment to their children. Children in subsidized guardianship families are more likely to be minority children who are older at removal from their birth families and at placement with their current families. Also they are less likely to have a history of abuse than children in adoptive families.

Nontraditional Students in Social Work: A Diversity Within

The demographics of students in higher education have been steadily reflecting an increasingly diverse student population. One of the fastest growing groups in this population is that of nontraditi...

Projective Identification as a Contributor to Domestic Violence

Many explanations have been given as to why men batter. Rarely are deep unconscious intrapsychic processes identified as contributing reasons. One way that violent men may use their partner to fill emotional needs is through the primitive defense of projective identification. Projective identification may be invoked by men to induce the other partner to carry split off threatening parts of the self that are too anxiety provoking to retain. The occurrence of projective identification could therefore be an important intrapsychic and interpersonal dynamic that contributes to the escalation of tension prior to the violent episode.

Disruptions in the Separation-Individuation Process of Domestically Violent Men -- An Empirical Examination of Mahler's Theory

ABSTRACT In the past twenty-five years, domestic violence has emerged as a significant social issue for research and theory development. This paper proposes an examination of domestic violence through the lens of Margaret Mahlers separation-individuation theory of development. This paper examines the existing empirical literature of domestically violent men using Mahlers theory of development. The paper then discusses the results from an empirical examination of the hypothesis that men who batter evidence disruptions in the separation-individuation process. This study has implications for treatment of domestically violent men, and suggests that interventions should include models that develop insight into the effects from developmental ruptures.

Connecting youth in foster care with needed mental health services: Lessons from research on help-seeking

Abstract This article examines how adolescents seek out help for their mental health problems by providing an overview of the research from the health and social service literature. The main goal of the paper is to explore the concept of adolescents help-seeking in relation to the foster care experience. Two models of help-seeking and health care utilization are reviewed in an effort to gain a better insight on improving the help-seeking skills for foster youth. These skills can then become “life-long skills” that the adolescents can draw upon for their enhanced independence and self-sufficiency, especially as they leave foster care and enter adulthood. However, the review of the literature leads the authors to the conclusion that youth in foster care may not be viewed as help-seekers but rather as “help-receivers.”

“Walking in her shoes”: The Impact of Victim Impact Panels on Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence

ABSTRACT Restorative justice models have had success with some issues within the criminal justice system; however, advocates and researchers within the intimate partner violence practice community have been reluctant to embrace this model. Criminal justice responses for intimate partner violence continue to be founded on a blend of retributive and rehabilitative justice models. Despite this reluctance, use of the restorative justice intervention of victim impact panels, may have targeted utility for increasing perpetrators’ empathy for their victims. The author 2examined responses from perpetrators who were mandated to participate in a victim impact panel experience as part of the coordinated community system response to intimate partner violence.

What’s in a name? Exploring use of the word queer as a term of identification within the college-aged LGBT community

ABSTRACT The language one uses for self-identification can be instrumental in the development and integration of one’s sense of self. This is particularly true regarding gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation. This seems to be particularly marked with use of the term “queer.” This research project explored terms that college-aged people use for self and other reference, especially use of the word queer. The results from this study provide empirical evidence that college-aged people have reclaimed the word queer as acceptable for gender or sexual orientation identification, although it is not the most frequent term used for their own self-identification.