Laura M. Hopson

At-Risk Students’ Perceptions of Traditional Schools and a Solution-Focused Public Alternative School

Recent trends in education have drawn attention to students at risk of school failure and dropout in the United States. Alternative schools are one method for preventing the severe and long-lasting consequences of underachievement and dropout. Few research studies have sought the opinions and perceptions of the at-risk students who attend alternative schools through qualitative research methods. This study used qualitative interviews to explore at-risk students’ perspectives about their current alternative school and their former traditional schools. Results indicate that traditional schools are lacking the personal relationships with teachers, schoolwide focus on maturity and responsibility, understanding about social issues, and positive peer relationships that alternative schools often provide. This article offers guidelines to help schools and educators to better support at-risk students.

The Sanctuary Model: Theoretical Framework

This article provides a theoretical framework for the Sanctuary Model®. The Sanctuary Model is a trauma-informed organizational change intervention developed by Sandra Bloom and colleagues in the early 1980s. Based on the concept of therapeutic communities, the model is designed to facilitate the development of organizational cultures that counteract the wounds suffered by the victims of traumatic experience and extended exposure to adversity. Details of the Sanctuary Model logic model are presented.

A Dialogue Regarding Cultural Adaptation of Interventions

Lori K. Holleran Steiker, PhD, is Associate Professor, School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austiti. Felipe Gotizález Castro, PhD, is Professor, Psychology Departmetit, Arizona State University. Karol Kumpfer, PhD, is Professor of Health Promotion and Education, The University of Utah, PI and Program Developer of the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) in the United States and countries in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Fiavio Francisco Marsiglia, PhD, is Professor and Director of the Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Consortium (SIRC) School of Social Work, Arizona State University. Stephanie Coard, PhD, is Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Laura M. Hopson, PhD, is Assistant Professor, University at Albany School of Social Welfare. Address correspondence to: Lori K. Hollerati Steiker, School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, 1925 San Jacinto Boulevard, Austin, TX 78712, USA (E-mail: lorikay@mail.utexas.edu).

Intervening with African-Americans: Culturally Specific Practice Considerations

Social work interventions are best applied when tailored to meet the specific needs of the target population. Practice perspectives that foster resilience by integrating core African-American values serve to decrease psychosocial risks and promote positive coping and adaptation. This article describes models of risk and resilience and the Africentric perspective. The discussion then integrates these concepts to highlight the importance of Africentric approaches for promoting resilience. In addition to placing risk and resilience at the forefront, the Africentric perspective is explored as a framework for developing new practice interventions that promote resilience. These perspectives are integrated in proposing engagement, assessment, and intervention strategies that employ the Africentric perspective. A case example illustrates the application of strategies that are informed by this integrated perspective. Implications for practice and research are discussed.

Dissonance-Based Interventions for Substance Using Alternative High School Youth

This article describes an innovative new intervention tailored to older youth who are already abusing drugs, but who are not diagnostically ready for treatment. The basic tenet of this intervention is to utilise adolescents engaged in drug use as ‘experts’ in the prevention curriculum adaptation activity. This activity then serves as a mechanism for their dissonance-based change. This process is designed to intervene with drug abusing youth prior to their development of substance dependence. The community-based design grew from a United States federally funded NIDA project (National Institute of Drug Abuse Mentored Research Scientist Award) which found that the youth who conduct programme adaptations were effectively engaged, animatedly discussing the payoffs and downsides of drug and alcohol abuse. It is maintained through this research that dissonance between their role of ‘Preventionist’ and their own substance abuse behaviours lead to shifts in attitudes and behaviours. Dissonance-based interventions have been successfully utilised for positive behavioural change with a variety of disorders, but have not yet been implemented with substance abusing youth. Findings of pilot research are shared along with implications for future research and interventions.

Health promotion for women with human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was twofold: first, to modify Stuifbergen’s health promotion intervention initially developed for women with multiple sclerosis for use among women with human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and to evaluate the feasibility of the newly modified health promotion intervention named “Put Health Into Living” (PHIL). The pilot study was completed in two phases. Data sources: In phase I, data were derived from a literature review, a focus group of women with HIV/AIDS (n= 7), a panel of experts who reviewed the intervention for content, and three female community workers who evaluated the intervention for the context of living with HIV/AIDS, cultural relevancy, and literacy. During phase II, a pretest/posttest one‐group design was used to determine the feasibility of the study methods, content, and format of the health promotion intervention among 10 women with HIV/AIDS. Conclusions: The pilot study demonstrated the importance of a health promotion intervention for a vulnerable population. Participants verbalized the benefits of attending a health promotion program to gain knowledge and skills to promote their health. One woman said, “I have been positive for 20 years now and no one has talked to me just about my overall health.” Participants indicated the PHIL intervention offered a supportive group environment, an overall health focus, and an acceptable format. Implications for practice: Health promotion is a desirable goal for persons living with a chronic disease, and the PHIL intervention has the potential to benefit persons living with HIV/AIDS if subsequent evidence is found in further testing of the intervention.

Chapter 12. Families Caring for Persons with HIV/AIDS

SUMMARY The extent to which family members are willing and able to assist with daily activities and provide emotional support can greatly affect the quality of life for persons with chronic illness. In the case of HIV/AIDS, the burdens of symptom management and medication are amplified by social stigma. This chapter provides a summary of the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual issues associated with HIV/AIDS along with approaches to assessment and treatment.

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Emotional Health: A Longitudinal Study of Immigrants’ Adolescent Children

First, discrimination was conceptualized as a major source of stress for immigrants’ adolescent children. Next, such children’s emotional health (indicated by measures of self-esteem and depression) was examined for possible associations with discrimination, psychosocial supports, and social structure; additionally, race/ethnicity’s possible moderating role in such associations was evaluated. Data from the first 2 waves of the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (1991–2006) were employed, focusing on 3 groups: Asians, Hispanics, and Whites. Linear regression analyses were used to weigh how discrimination, psychosocial supports, and social structure measured at Wave 1 and Wave 2 related to self-esteem and depression measured at Wave 2. Asians exhibited the highest level of depression and were most likely to perceive discrimination; Asians’ self-esteem was also low, compared to other groups’. Discrimination and psychosocial supports appeared to operate differentially in explaining the 3 groups’ emotional health.

The Effectiveness of Electronic Approaches to Substance Abuse Prevention for Adolescents

Systematic reviews of computer- and Web-based treatment approaches indicate that these interventions are effective in addressing abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other substances. However, there are few studies evaluating the effectiveness of electronic approaches to substance abuse prevention. This review of the literature synthesizes the current research on interventions that use electronic media, including CD-ROM, video, and Internet modalities, for substance abuse prevention. Overall, the studies indicate that electronic-based and enhanced interventions are effective in preventing or reducing risk for substance use. We discuss trends in the current literature, research limitations, and implications for practice.

A Qualitative Study of Black Women’s Experiences in Drug Abuse and Mental Health Services:

Little is known about black women’s perceptions of service barriers in mental health and substance treatment. This article reports the findings of a qualitative study that explored the perceptions of 29 black women who received treatment in a small urban Northeastern city. Findings of the focus group data revealed participants’ experiences of services as discussed through the themes of bias and stigma; incompatible perspectives of wellness versus illness between consumer and provider; consumer mistrust; and holistic wellness. Participants endorsed counseling as a treatment strategy but were adverse to the use of medication. Practice and research implications are discussed.