Diane S. Young

When Moms Are Incarcerated: The Needs of Children, Mothers, and Caregivers

Maternal incarceration increasingly contributes to the number of children placed in kinship care arrangements. The needs of incarcerated women, their children, and the childrens caregivers have historically been dealt with in isolation. Practitioners across substantive areas of corrections, child welfare, and aging must think creatively and collaboratively about ways to positively assist these families. This paper examines the needs of children, imprisoned women, and the childrens kinship caregivers from an ecological theoretical perspective. Key findings from evaluation studies of programs designed to strengthen families affected by maternal incarceration are discussed. Finally, interventions that increase adaptive exchanges between incarcerated women, their children, and the childrens caregivers are suggested.

Mothers Making Tenure

This study examines the experiences of 22 tenure track mothers in university social work programs who responded to a mail survey. Qualitative analysis is used to explore the mothers’ experiences combining the roles of academic and mother. Struggles encountered, personal strategies used, and helpful university policies and barriers are described. Suggestions for change are offered.

Challenges for Formerly Incarcerated Women: A Holistic Approach to Assessment

This article describes the development of a practice model for assessing formerly incarcerated women in a “one-stop,” holistic approach. The gender-specific theoretical framework that enables the women to prioritize steps of reentry is discussed in light of the survival, relational, educational, vocational, treatment, health and mental health needs of recently released women.

Career Decisions and Experiences of Social Work Faculty: A Gender Comparison.

This study uses quantitative and qualitative findings from a mail and online questionnaire to examine the experiences and perspectives of 76 doctoral-degreed social work faculty about the factors that affected their career decisions. The authors discuss similarities and differences between women and men in job-related decision making. Respondent perceptions of gender-related barriers and organizational supports when working toward career goals are presented and implications for social work education programs are explored.

Incorporating Content on Offenders and Corrections into Social Work Curricula

This article presents suggestions for incorporating content on adult offenders and corrections across diverse curriculum areas, including human behavior in the social environment, practice, research, and social welfare policy. Social work educators are provided with guiding principles for work with offenders and with many concrete strategies for integrating material on this often forgotten population into already existing courses.

Addiction, Abuse, and Family Relationships: Childhood Experiences of Five Incarcerated African American Women

Abstract Young, poor African American women are at high risk for victimization and stigmatization through multiple avenues, including childhood sexual abuse, drug use, and incarceration. This study describes the childhood experiences of five imprisoned African American women who have extensive histories of drug addiction and criminal behavior. Through the use of personal interviews and qualitative analysis, the womens childhood experiences are explored with attention to the themes of alcohol and drug use, sexual abuse, and mother-daughter relationships. Relational theory provides a conceptual framework for the analysis. Practice and policy considerations are discussed, with an emphasis on benefiting women with histories of abuse and addiction.

Predictors of Placement on a Jail Mental Health Unit: Assessing Equitable Access to Care

This paper presents findings about the clinical, criminal, and demographic characteristics associated with placement of inmates on the mental health unit of a county jail. Access to intensive mental health services was examined through retrospective review of the health and mental health records of 290 male and female jail inmates. Prior psychiatric treatment, use of greater numbers of illegal drugs, more days in jail, and being female were significantly associated with placement on the mental health unit. Overall, women of all races/ethnicities had greater health and mental health problems as measured by the clinical variables than men of all races/ethnicities.

Infection Control in Jails and Prisons: A Two-Tiered Intervention

A two-tiered intervention is proposed to address the high prevalence rate of infectious disease among inmate populations and the communities from which they come. A facilitative climate is created (first tier) within which to implement an infection control program (second tier) geared specifically to the needs of an inmate population and its community. The program is based on collaboration between public health and corrections organizations. Targeted groups and intervention components are outlined. Historical and empirical support for the intervention is explored. Organizational and policy requisites for successful implementation are discussed.