Judy Fenster

Transracial Adoption in Black and White: A Survey of Social Worker Attitudes.

ABSTRACT An analysis of 363 questionnaires filled out by social workers in the United States assessing their attitudes on transracial adoption (TRA)-i.e., black children being adopted by white parents-found: (1) White social workers were more in favor of TRA than were black social workers; (2) African American respondents who were members of the National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) had less favorable attitudes toward TRA than black social workers who were not NABSW members; (3) for black respondents, TRA attitudes were also associated with income level and identification with ones own ethnic group. Implications of the findings were discussed.

The Relationship Between Optimism About Race Relations, Black Awareness, and Attitudes Toward Transracial Adoption

Abstract Social workers in the United States were queried on their attitudes toward transracial adoption (TRA), defined here as African American children being adopted by White parents. An analysis of 363 questionnaires found that optimism about the future of race relations was the most powerful predictor of TRA attitudes. For both African American and White social workers, more optimism about race relations was associated with positive attitudes toward transracial adoption. Among White respondents, optimism about race relations was also related to lower levels of conservatism and higher levels of altruism; among African American respondents, racial optimism was associated with less emphasis on Black awareness. For African American social workers, a stronger commitment to promulgating Black awareness was also associated with less support for TRA. Implications of the findings for social work practice were discussed.

Race, religion, altruism, and the transracial adoption debate: A survey of Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish social workers

Abstract An analysis of 363 questionnaires assessing social worker attitudes toward transracial adoption (TRA)‐i‐e., black children being adopted by white parents‐found interactions between race, religion, and altruism in influencing TRA views. Among white social workers, those who were Catholic and those who were altruistic had more favorable attitudes toward TRA than those who were Protestant and those who were less altruistic. However, altruism was not correlated with TRA score among white Catholics. Among black social workers, no relationship between religion, altruism, and TRA score was found. Religiosity was not related to TRA score for either black or white social workers. Implications of the findings were discussed.

Web-Based Social Work Courses: Guidelines for Developing and Implementing an Online Environment.

Although web-based courses in schools of social work have proliferated over the past decade, the literature contains few guidelines on steps that schools can take to develop such courses. Using Knowles’s framework, which delineates tasks and themes involved in implementing e-learning in social work education, this article describes the cultivation of an online environment at one school of social work. We outline the steps and procedures used, as well as issues addressed in developing online and blended courses. Recommended strategies for creating a supportive environment for delivering social work content online are provided.

Implementing a Gero-Infused Curriculum in Advanced-Level MSW Courses in Health, Mental Health and Substance Abuse: An Evaluation

This article presents evaluation results from a curricular innovation aimed at increasing the capacity of social work graduates to serve older adults in health, mental health, and substance abuse settings. Working as a team, faculty developed, incorporated, and evaluated gerontology-infused syllabi and teaching modules in multiple sections of the 3 courses, with 2 sections serving as a comparison group. Results indicated that students exposed to the gero-infused curriculum increased their age-related knowledge and self-competence from pre- to posttest, and achieved a greater increase in knowledge than did the comparison group. Implications of the findings to social work education are discussed.

Can a Course Change Social Work Students’ Attitudes toward Harm Reduction as a Treatment Option for Substance Use Disorders?

ABSTRACT With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, health care workers will need skills in engaging and treating increased numbers of Americans seeking help for substance use disorders (SUDs). Unfortunately, students in social work and related fields have been found to hold negative views of persons experiencing an SUD. This study examined whether a 15-week course changed graduate social work students’ attitudes regarding persons with SUDs and the philosophy and practice of harm reduction. Results indicated that, though students’ beliefs about harm reduction approaches were more positive after completing the course, there was no change in student attitudes toward those who struggle with SUDs.