FOLLOW THROUGH SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF KATIE A V. BONTA

This research proposal aims to explore how well Los Angeles County has followed through with the guidelines that Katie A. v Bonta has set. This paper will suggest ways to effectively carry out the research through a systematic literature review. Foster children are more likely to be diagnosed with mental health illnesses such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD. Katie, a young 4-year-old girl, went through 37 placements and received no mental health services. As a result, a class action lawsuit came about with Los Angeles County. Based on the lawsuit, policies were made to provide mental health services to foster youth. However, it is unclear if these policies have been effectively implemented. This project proposes that data should be extracted from the articles based on the interventions, characteristics of the participants, and the methodology. The data that will be utilized consists of existing peer reviewed research and grey literature. The potential contributions of potential findings to the social work profession. The proposed project will provide an additional tool for the Social Work profession to monitor if the implementation of the Katie A V Bonta guidelines has been adequate and effective

MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT OF STUDENT LOAN DEBT ON COLLEGE STUDENTS

This is a proposed study regarding student loan debt and mental health. This study would impact social work practice and education by understanding the mental health status of those continuing to pay off student loan debt. Student loan debt has become an enormous issue in the United States, with the average student carrying $37,000 in debt. Students are impacted financially and emotionally, and their overall well-being is compromised because higher education has become unaffordable for many without the assistance of student loans. Students need to understand the short and long-term implications of student loan debt, such as mental health issues and financial instability. Students should become aware of financial resources such as scholarships, financial counseling, and repayment/forgiveness programs to mitigate the implications of student loan debt. The target population of this study would have been current and graduated college students with at least one student loan debt. The study would have used surveys and interview guides to help understand the mental health implications that student loan debt proposes

Perception of Mental Health among Students in Higher Education

Mental health in higher education environments is a topic that has the need for exploration and discussion. Students with poor mental health face additional stressors and challenges in their academic and personal areas of life. It is critical for colleges and universities to address the topic of mental health and understand how it can affect students, as well as to be able to provide the proper support and services. By having more conversations about mental health on campus and providing easily accessible and inclusive resources for students, it can create a comfortable environment on campus for students to be able to voice their needs. The purpose of this proposed study is to explore the perceptions of mental health among students in higher education and how they mold their experiences on campus. This proposed quantitative study incorporates the use of a quantitative design through the use of a Qualtrics survey instrument. Students attending California universities would be emailed a survey using a random sampling method

COMPARISON ON FAMILY-BASED REHABILITATION AND INDIVIDUAL BASED: EFFECT ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

This proposed research aims to discover the success of sobriety with rehabilitation programs, specifically those that are family based as compared to individual based. This research will also investigate the measures taken within these rehabilitation programs to prevent generational substance abuse problems. Social workers will benefit from this research by discovering how these programs are successful and if any changes could be made to increase the success rates for those struggling with substance abuse. This research will also allow social workers to develop new strategies to assist in preventing generational substance abuse within families. This study will include interviewing individuals that have completed or partially completed a rehabilitation program that was family based and individuals that completed or partially completed a rehabilitation program that was individual based. The data will be interpreted from focus groups conducted via Zoom meetings

SKILLS AND STRENGTHS GAINED FROM BEING A FIRST-BORN DAUGHTER IN A LATINO HOUSEHOLD

This research proposal aims to analyze the perspective first-born daughters in Latino households experience throughout their lives and looks to fill a gap in the literature about what this population faces due to being in the eldest daughter position in the household. The existing literature revealed that first-born daughters in Latino households experience a significantly higher amount of stress due to the role they take on in their households. Some of the responsibilities placed on them included financial burden, caregiving responsibilities, and a general higher expectation compared to their younger siblings. To obtain more knowledge on this topic, an exploratory, qualitative study is proposed in order to interview participants. The interview will consist of demographic questions to ensure information is gathered from the correct population of interest. Then a series of questions will follow which seek to understand what first-born daughters experienced coming from that birth position in their household and how that has impacted their current living situation. Our expected findings for this proposal aim to answer if first-born daughters in Latino households gained strengths and skills from being in that birth position in their family. The findings from this proposed study would help to fill the gap in the literature regarding first-born daughters in Latino households and provide a strengths-based perspective to their responsibilities. For the purpose of this paper the terms “first-born” and “eldest” are used interchangeably

The Effects of Compassion Fatigue Among ChildWelfare Workers

Background: Research has shown that compassion fatigue (CF) is a state of physical and emotional exhaustion in which workers empathize with their clients\u27 suffering. CF has been found to impact child welfare workers, leading to high turnover rates, multiple placement changes for foster children and youth, and burnout. The knowledge gap is that limited research has been conducted to examine the effects of CF among child welfare workers. Objective: This systematic review proposes synthesizing the literature on compassion fatigue among child welfare workers\u27 overall well-being. Methods: The following database was used: One Search, Google Scholar, and PubMed. The keywords include (“compassion fatigue or “secondary traumatic stress”), mental health, burnout, and social workers. For inclusion in this systematic review, we systematically reviewed published English articles from 2014 to 2024

The Impact of Maternal Problematic Drinking On Daughter\u27s Mental Health: A Systematic Review

Background: Parental alcohol use is a widespread issue and is known to have negative impacts on children\u27s mental health. However, research on parent-child dyads concerning parental problematic alcohol use and child mental health outcomes has much less research. Objective: This systematic review aims to examine recent literature on the impact of mothers’ problematic drinking on daughter(s) mental health. Methods: The following databases were used: EBSCOhost Academic Search Premier, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. The keywords included “mother”, “AUD”, “maternal AUD”, “impact on daughters”, “female COA”, “female ACOA”, “mothers with an AUD”, “problematic drinking”, “maternal alcoholic”, “impact on relationships”, “impact on mental health” and “substance use”. We searched for articles with multiple filters, including peer-reviewed articles, articles written in English, articles published between 2013 to 2024, and articles in full text. Keywords: Maternal problematic drinking, offspring, mental healt

A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE EFFECTS OF DEPRESSION ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN HISPANIC COLLEGE STUDENTS

This research project proposal looked at the impact of depression on the academic achievement of Hispanic college students in the United States. Depression is a significant mental health disorder, as it affects emerging adults, particularly college students trying to find their way and understand the academic and social challenges that come along with attending college. Research in the past has established a strong relationship between depression and a decrease in academic performance. However, there have been a limited amount of studies addressing this correlation between mental health and academic performance among Hispanic college students, a growing demographic within higher education. Common stressors experienced by the Hispanic college student population such as cultural expectations, perceived discrimination, racial bias, and socioeconomic challenges, can lead to depressive symptoms being exacerbated thus negatively affecting academic success. This research project proposal would aim to fill gaps in the existing literature by exploring deeper into how depression affects Hispanic students’ academic success while taking into consideration the intersectional identities and cultural influences of Hispanic college students. This research project\u27s findings could help highlight the need for culturally competent mental health interventions and resources that could help create a more inclusive and supportive education environment for Hispanic college students

Unintended Consequences: How Direct Cash Payments to Families Experiencing Poverty Lowered Child Poverty Rates in the United States

Child poverty has adverse effects for the children who experience it and it has long term social and economic consequences into adulthood. This policy analysis looks at the policy choices America has made in addressing child poverty and what effects, if any, those policies have had. After reviewing traditional in-kind policy options for addressing child poverty, this article focuses on the decreases in the child poverty rate that occurred with the passage of pandemic era legislation that provided direct cash assistance to all Americans. Because the assistance programs only happened in two consecutive years and were terminated at the end of the pandemic, the effects were measurable and impactful in addressing the child poverty rate. There will also be a qualitative survey of families with children who experienced poverty and how the direct cash payments affected the outcomes for their children

EVALUATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FOSTER YOUTH INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAMS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Foster youth transitioning into adulthood often confront a myriad of challenges stemming from limited social capital and unstable support systems. The transition out of foster care, particularly for Transitional Age Youth (TAY), is fraught with barriers including disconnection from familial ties, inadequate knowledge regarding higher education, financial instability, unemployment, and housing insecurity. In 2021, approximately 4,920 foster children aged out of the system, facing the option to participate in extended care programs designed to facilitate their transition into independent living. Despite these programs, many youths struggle to achieve self-sufficiency. Key legislation, including the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, and the Chafee Foster Care Independence Act, which established frameworks for support services tailored to the needs of TAY. The theoretical frameworks guiding this research include trauma-informed and ecological systems theories, highlighting the need for a nuanced understanding of the trauma experienced by foster youth and the influence of various environmental systems on their development. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Independent Living Programs (ILPs) in California, identifying strengths and weaknesses within these services and their impact on the transition to independent living for former foster youth. Additionally, this research seeks to contribute valuable insights that could inform policy and practice, ultimately enhancing support for this vulnerable population