Turnover Within the Child Welfare System

This Capstone identifies a mandatory training that would be provided to child welfare workers within their first year of employment up to their 3rd year of employment

Bridging the Gap: Developing Trauma Informed Training for Correctional Staff to Support Successful Reintegration and Reduce Recidivism

In the United States, the incarceration rate is reported to have increased by 700%, with the incarceration rate reportedly being sevenfold higher than in any other developed Western country (Ferguson et al., 2016). Incarceration disproportionately affects people of color living in low-income and poverty-stricken communities. There is a higher prevalence of mental illness taking place in prisons versus non-incarcerated settings; incarcerated individuals are not receiving adequate mental health services, leading to recidivism. People of color with substance use disorder and mental illness are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, with 16 percent of men and 31 percent of women in jails and prisons having a mental illness, compared to 5 percent of the general population (Cloud et al., 2014). As we examine the causes and consequences of rising recidivism rates, we aim to increase awareness of inadequate mental health services in both community and carceral settings. To reduce recidivism, increase access and utilization of mental health services, and increase successful reintegration into society for released inmates, we have developed a pilot intervention aimed at engaging the correctional staff in prisons and jails. The long-term goal of this pilot program is to create a holistic support program that trains correctional staff in empathetic and trauma-informed approaches to engage incarcerated individuals to bridge a connection between prison and communities, resulting in a reduction in recidivism rates. This program will shift the prison culture starting with the staff in these facilities

Linguistic Neglect in Child Welfare System

Child Welfare addresses different kinds of abuse, but linguistic neglect is not one of the abuses. Linguistic neglect harms many Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, and Deafplus children as they lack access to learn language, even ASL, Black American Sign Language, Indigenous Sign Language, ProTactile, and other country sign language. Many parents (high percentage of hearing parents) don’t know what to do or how to deal with the consequences like overwhelmed emotions and in addition, they receive misinformation from audiologist and medical, and/or culture/barrier system. The linguistic neglect policy needs to be added into the Child Welfare System because it is considered as linguistic neglect can be abusive and have long-term impacts on Deaf children’s overall well-being. Language deprivation in the Deaf community shows increased risk in mental health, attachment style, social skill, cognitive development, and identity

No Lost Causes: Bringing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trauma Informed Care into Prisons

The United States incarceration rate has become a significant public health crisis, with marginalized communities disproportionately impacted and mental health challenges exacerbated within correctional facilities. With approximately 2.2 million individuals incarcerated annually in the U.S. and 5.4 million under correctional supervision, the financial and human costs are immense. Mental illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance use disorders are prevalent, especially among women, and far exceed rates seen in the general population. Despite the urgent need for mental health support, many correctional facilities continue to rely on punitive measures rather than trauma-informed care (TIC), perpetuating untreated mental health issues. This proposed pilot program in Washington State aims to provide group CBT therapy for inmates and mandatory TIC training for prison staff, focusing on enhancing coping skills, reducing maladaptive behaviors, and fostering a rehabilitative, supportive environment. The program\u27s success will be measured through improvements in inmate mental health using the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and Personality Belief Questionnaire (PBQ), as well as by evaluating prison staff attitudes using the Attitudes Regarding Trauma Informed Care (ARTIC) scale. The goal is to create a safer, more supportive environment for incarcerated individuals and prison staff, ultimately improving their mental health outcomes and facilitating successful reentry into society and a reduction in recidivism rates

Housing Ready Initiative: Vital Records for Vital Placements

The Housing Ready Initiative (HRI) addresses a critical barrier for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness: the lack of essential vital records required for housing applications. This project focuses on reducing delays in housing placements by providing housing providers with the necessary tools and training to collect, store, and manage vital documentation such as birth certificates and government-issued IDs. The intervention involves training workshops for housing providers in Thurston County, where they learn how to proactively collect vital records from individuals experiencing homelessness. A secure document storage system will be implemented in partnership with local agencies, and outreach efforts will ensure individuals have access to the necessary documentation. By streamlining the document collection process, the Housing Ready Initiative aims to reduce housing placement delays by up to 30%. The initiative is expected to improve access to stable housing for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, with particular benefits for marginalized populations, such as LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, and those with criminal histories. This intervention provides a sustainable, scalable model for addressing homelessness in Thurston County, with potential for expansion to other regions

Black Children Matter

Racial disproportionality is defined as a condition that exists when the proportion of one group in the child welfare population is proportionately larger (overrepresented) or smaller (underrepresented) than the proportion of the same group in the general child population (Detlaff & Boyd, 2020). Being Black is part of my identity and something I take pride in. It is no secret that historically Black people have experienced disproportionality, assimilation, and racism. As I have grown through my social work journey, I have realized my passion is children and preparing them to lead the future generations. All children deserve the right to safety, well-being, and permanency. Throughout history, racism against Black people has been prevalent at every level. In child welfare, Black children are disproportionately represented

Beyond the Mirror: Building Body Trust & Media Literacy

The prevalence of eating disorders (EDs) has increased drastically over the past decade, with social media playing a significant role in their development and ongoing perpetuation. This grant proposal not only examines the rising rates of EDs and the underlying factors contributing to their increase, but also highlights the disparities experienced by different communities and identities. Interviews with individuals who have lived experience with EDs, along with a review of current interventions and resources, were conducted to identify the most necessary intervention. The review reveals significant gaps in existing resources, which are primarily based outside the U.S., often costly, lacking in comprehensiveness and gender inclusivity, and focused more on prevention than on providing support for individuals currently struggling with EDs. Clearly, there is a need for an accessible, inclusive intervention that addresses the multiple factors that contribute to negative body image and disordered eating. My proposed intervention, Beyond the Mirror: Building Body Trust and Media Literacy, is a free online program designed for individuals with EDs or body dissatisfaction of all genders, identities, shapes, and sizes. Beyond the Mirror will offer interactive learning modules on Body Trust and media literacy, as well as an optional peer support group. Beyond the Mirror is built on the Body Trust framework and the Developmental Theory of Embodiment (DTE), guiding the program\u27s approach to challenge harmful societal narratives surrounding weight, health, and beauty. Ultimately, this program will empower individuals to cultivate a healthier relationship with their bodies, while also equipping them with the tools to navigate social media in a way that fosters self-acceptance and resilience against unrealistic beauty standards

Psychiatric Hospitals and the Criminal Justice System need a data tracking system to help collect and record consistent client information across the two settings, thereby improving mental health outcomes and reducing recidivism for individuals.

Policy reform, increased funding for mental health services, and advancements in record management and digitalization can significantly enhance interventions to address “the vicious circle of institutional transfer of individuals from the Criminal justice system to psychiatric hospitals has long-term negative impacts on the well-being of the individual.” Each of these can be leveraged in diverse ways. Some programs divert individuals with mental health issues away from incarceration and into treatment, reduce the criminalization of mental health conditions, enforce timelines for competency restoration, and promote collaboration between criminal justice, healthcare, and community-based services. Reforms target disparities in treatment access to ensure marginalized populations (e.g., racial minorities and low-income groups) receive equitable care, as seen in the Trueblood Settlement and Senate Bill 5440. So, my Intervention in terms of policy reforms is to have policy reform for mental health through the expansion of preventive care policies and legal protections for individuals with mental health to reduce stigma and discrimination against individuals with mental illness. As for increased funding for mental health, since it can expand the availability of mental health services, such as more forensic beds, outpatient competency restoration programs, crisis stabilization, technologically innovative programs (e.g., telepsychiatry in correctional settings) as we sow it during the height of covid-19, longitudinal research that will ensure interventions remain evidence-based, investments in supportive housing, case management, and community-based mental health services reduce reliance on incarceration as a default response. In this light, my intervention will be sustainable and equitable distribution of funds across urban and rural settings and financial support for smaller, community-based organizations often closest to underserved populations. Finally, in the area of record management and digitalization, which is the main intervention idea I am considering for my project, this digitalized record system is the case for insurance and private healthcare systems. This will ensure that health information is accessible across systems, facilitating seamless transitions from incarceration to community care; it helps integrate criminal justice, healthcare, and social services data, enabling better coordination and accountability; it tracks individual outcomes, treatment, and medication history, helping identify gaps in services, and reduce errors and streamline processes, such as competency evaluations and treatment referrals. So, my intended intervention will be privacy protection to safeguard individuals\u27 sensitive health data to prevent misuse or discrimination. Interoperability systems that will be compatible across agencies and jurisdictions with equitable access to support underfunded organizations to be effective

Promoting Mental Health Awareness: Reducing Stigma and Supporting Children\u27s Wellbeing

“A typical U.S. student spends 8,884 hours over nine years to complete primary and lower secondary education. That’s nearly 1,300 hours – more than a full school year – more than the average for other countries in the report” (Sparks, 2019, para. 4). As we know, children spend a significant amount of time in schools. With this, there needs to be a focus on incorporating mental health support through an evidence based curriculum that supports families, students, and staff members. For the purpose of this capstone, we have designed an intervention that describes an educational curriculum that targets mental health among school-aged children and aims to reduce stigma around mental health and promote awareness. Individual units were developed for students, families, and school staff, addressing similar and different aspects depending upon which population is being targeted The program will include the hiring of two facilitators, and these facilitators will teach the course over a span of 10 weeks. The facilitators will present at a school assembly where they will give a brief overview of the curriculum and talk about the importance of having an open conversation about mental health in schools. For students, participation in the curriculum will be optional and interest based. The curriculum will be taught in small-group settings with one-on-one sessions being offered on an as-needed basis depending on the level of support needed. A licensed social worker will be hired to provide these one-on-one sessions

Breaking Isolation: Social Support And “Know Your Rights” for Immigrant Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence – A Grant Proposal

Immigrant survivors face added barriers to accessing formal support systems for intimate partner violence (IPV) due to immigration-related issues. Abusers will use control tactics such as threatening to report their victim to immigration, to take the children, and to destroy their victim’s passport. One of the consequences of these threats on immigrant survivors is increased social isolation, thereby preventing survivors from seeking help and accessing formal sources of support. Immigrant and refugee survivors of IPV need culturally relevant social support outside of their families that helps reduce social isolation, enhance knowledge of their rights, and empower them to access formal IPV-related resources and services. We request $35,000 out of a budget of$87,085 to implement a culturally relevant support group that will address the impacts of isolation in immigrant survivors with activities that foster social connections and increase knowledge of survivor and immigrant rights and IPV-related resources and services. Funding will be used to hire a licensed social worker to lead the facilitation of the support group and offer case management, to hire a peer co-facilitator to assist with the support group, to purchase equipment and materials for activities, and to provide client assistance