Kathryn Krase

Differences in Racially Disproportionate Reporting of Child Maltreatment Across Report Sources

Recent attention on disproportionate representation of African-American children in the child welfare system highlights the phenomenon in foster care, with less emphasis placed on the reporting stage. This study examines racial disproportionality and disparity in reports of suspected child maltreatment, across report source, and comparing state experiences. Geographic information systems (GIS) technology is used to report findings through maps. This studys findings highlight that racial disproportionality and disparity in reporting is not a universal phenomenon across the United States, nor across report sources. Efforts to address these phenomena should take notice of differences between states, and trends across report sources.

A Social Work Response to the Affordable Care Act: Prevention and Early Intervention

ABSTRACT The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act represents a reinvestment in primary care, with a focus on prevention of illness and remediation of the impacts of chronic diseases through a behavioral health framework. Licensed social work professionals, specifically those trained in behavioral health, are a natural fit to help implement these new approaches. Though there are many evidence-based interventions that will be helpful, two that come from the field of substance abuse ought to be specifically beneficial: SAMHSA’s SBIRT Model and Motivational Interviewing, developed by Miller and Rollnick. In response to the growing need for specially trained social work practitioners, the Social Work Program at Seton Hall University has developed the initial concentration of its MSW Program around these learning needs.

Examining the Student's Decision to Pursue a Joint Graduate Degree Program in Social Work and the Law

In response to economic and educational trends, an increasing number of American universities are offering joint graduate degree programs in social work and the law. However, little is known about what drives a student to pursue study in these programs. This research study involved qualitative interviews with nine students in the United States either currently enrolled in a joint degree program in social work and law or who considered the joint degree program, but chose a single degree program instead. Interviews focused on what factors drew students to, or deterred students from, dual matriculation. Grounded theory analysis was used to identify themes across interviews. The findings can inform development of new joint degree programs in social work and law, as well as guide improvement of recruitment and retention practices for existing programs.

Social Work Faculty Interest in Aging: Impact of Education, Knowledge, Comfort, and Experience

As the need for gerontological social workers increases, it is important to assess faculty interest in strengthening and bolstering this area in the classroom and curriculum. This study sought to compare training and experience of social work faculty that identified aging as a teaching or research interest with faculty who did not, and to identify predictors of aging interest among faculty. A national sample of social work faculty members was recruited, and a total of 609 individuals participated in the study. The findings reveal that faculty with an interest in aging differed from nonaging faculty in the areas of knowledge of older adults, personal and paid experience, and graduate and continuing education. In addition, predictors of interest in aging included taking a graduate course, continuing education units, having paid and volunteer experience, level of knowledge of older adults, and comfort level of covering content on aging in the classroom. The connection between social work faculty and student interest in aging are discussed as implications for further social work research and education.

Preparing social workers as reporters of suspected child maltreatment

Social workers are an important source of reports to child protective services in the United States (US). However, it is unclear what role social work education plays in preparing social workers for this responsibility. The current study explores how undergraduate and graduate social work programs in the US prepare students as reporters. This study found that while almost all programs that participated in this study provide students with some content related to their role as reporters of child maltreatment, there are varying ways such content is provided, and many avenues for improvement. International implications are highlighted.

Social Work Faculty's Knowledge of Aging: Results from a National Sample

Social work students have reported in previous studies that they receive insufficient coursework and training to work effectively with older adults. A critical factor in these deficiencies may be the level of knowledge of social work faculty. This study sought to assess social work facultys knowledge of aging using the Knowledge of Aging for Social Workers (KASW) quiz. Using systematic random sampling, schools of social work in the United States were selected, and individual faculty members were invited by e-mail to participate in an online survey. Results show that social work facultys (N = 609) knowledge about aging was found to be either less or comparable to other study populations. Knowledge levels were related to having an interest in policy, educational level, teaching aging courses on a regular basis, and confidence level in covering aging content. This study is the first to investigate social work faculty knowledge about aging and older adults. It may offer insight as to faculty competencies, which can have direct implications for student learning and interest in gerontology.