Engineered ecologies of the Pearl River Delta

Meeting Theme: Space●Time / Place●DurationSession: People-Environment RelationshipsThe Pearl River Delta (PRD) region is one of the densest urban areas of the world with a complex hydrological system that blurs, stretches, and redefines the traditionally binary relationships between artificial and natural. Engineered processes such as land reclamation, dredging, and aquaculture have altered the natural cycles of erosion and sedimentation, salinity levels, and ultimately the ecological systems of the delta ...published_or_final_versio

FROM VIOLATION TO REVELATION: FINDING FAITH IN THE DEPTHS OF PRISON HELL

ABSTRACT FROM VIOLATION TO REVELATION: FINDING FAITH IN THE DEPTHS OF PRISON HELL Darcella Anita Patterson Sessomes, LCSW Ram Cnaan, Ph.D., Dissertation Chair As the violence in the United States grows, so does the potential for increased violence and misconduct inside its prisons. Religiosity and spirituality are two areas in which the social work profession is beginning to understand its value and in the rehabilitative and behavioral change process. This quantitative study explores two hypotheses: H1- inmates who participate in worship services and faith-based programs will have less disciplinary infractions than those who do not participate, and H2- inmates who participate in worship services and faith-based programs will have fewer times sent to administrative segregation or detention than those who do not participate. A secondary data analysis approach was achieved by examining the disciplinary infractions and the amount of times sent to administrative segregation and detention of a sample of 454 inmates. The analysis is presented in two parts: a preliminary and a primary analysis. Likeliness Ration Chi Squares of Omnibus Test, parametric values (i.e. mean, median) were calculated. Preliminary analyses consist of T-test, ANOVA, crosstabs, Chi-square test and Spearman’s correlation were utilized to test the relationship between each pair of variables. The primary analysis consists of negative binomial regression models. Findings from the both the preliminary and primary analyses indicate that although both hypotheses were not rejected, they received little support

Prevalence of extracranial cerebrovascular disease in Chinese patients with coronary artery disease

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From the Voices of Domestic Sex Trafficking Survivors: Experiences of Complex Trauma & Posttraumatic Growth

Human sex trafficking is an ongoing global rights violation formally recognized since 2000 through the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report, 2016). Using ecological and trauma-informed lenses, this qualitative, retrospective study used participant-centered methods to explore identity, sexuality, relationships, and factors that facilitate/ hindered community reintegration for 15 adult female survivors. Interview transcripts, Photovoice captioned images, and focus groups were analyzed using multi-level conceptual and thematic coding. Participants identified with all aspects of complex trauma, including: dissociation, self-perception/identity, relations with others and systems of meaning. Key themes included losing and regaining power, shame, and the dangers of re-exploitation and re-traumatization. Critical domains of posttraumatic growth included deep appreciation for life, finding personal strength, spiritual change, ability to see beauty and perceive deeply, and finding greater meaning in life experiences, particularly helping others. Participants highlighted relationship development as the primary source of healing and growth, emphasizing the value of peer-based support and survivor leadership. The findings of this study affirm the need for ecological and relational perspectives in care of survivors, and approaches using a trauma-informed, victim-centered lens. Findings affirm the value of understanding the nuances of complex trauma as well as celebrating the capacity for posttraumatic growth. Furthermore, while relationships are most significantly impacted from the trafficking experience, they are also considered the greatest instrument of healing, through offering long-term commitment and belief in the individual. Finally, findings suggest comprehensive recommendations directly from the voices of survivors for community members and service providers

Social Work Educators\u27 Perceptions of their Leadership and Management Competencies

Higher education, like many industries, is facing a staggering leadership gap as many educators plan to retire (Bailyn, 2014). As a result, social work education is called upon to respond to the need for emerging social workers to help fill the leadership positions as executive leadership retires en masse(Stewart, 2016). Leadership and management competencies are two separate and often competing skillsets. Managers plan and complete tasks related to an organization’s goals, while leaders inspire people and communicate a vision (Weinbach & Taylor, 2015; Wimpfheimer, 2004). Social work educators need both management and leadership skills to be prepared to face the gap internally, as well as through the delivery of education to social work students. The current situation is compounded by intersectionality. Relatively fewer members of historically marginalized groups are represented in executive leadership positions (Richardson & Loubier, 2008). The purpose of this study was to examine social work educators’ perceptions of their leadership and management competencies while considering social identity factors, including gender identity, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, ability, and work factors of education, mentorship, training experience, and years of experience.A review of the literature demonstrates the current state of social work, social work education, and leadership and management competency in these settings. An online survey was administered to assess social work educators’ perceptions of leadership and management competencies, their related practice experiences, and demographic and work factors. Empirical analysis explored social workers educators’ perceived leadership and management competencies. Because of the role power plays in leadership and among social work educators, feminist theory provided a lens for analysis and discussion. This study revealedstatistically significant findings that educators perceived their leadership competency to be higher than their management competency. Educators who were older demonstrated significantly higher levels of leadership and management competencies than younger respondents. White respondents also showed significantly higher levels of perceived management competency than respondents who identified as people of color. Finally, individuals with formal leadership and management training showed higher perceived competency scores

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Author name used in this publication: S. W. OrAuthor name used in this publication: H. L. W. Chan2001-2002 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Intervention Research for the Education and Empowerment of Families Experiencing Homelessness: Exploring Knowledge of Tenant Rights and Perceptions of Personal Empowerment

Family homelessness emerged as a social issue in the United States in the 1980s and has since established itself as a pervasive social problem. The issue of family homelessness is complex and multifaceted with multiple social, political, and economic contributing factors. Historically, society at large has been apt to attribute homelessness to individual faults and deficits, but the fact that family homelessness has only emerged and persisted as a notable social problem in recent decades hints at political and economic mechanisms at work that serve to complicate and perpetuate the problem. Tenant eviction is one such mechanism that appears to be a major contributing factor to housing instability and episodic family homelessness. Eviction has recently come under scrutiny by sociologists, economists, and attorneys at law but has received little, if any, attention from the field of social work. As social workers are mandated by their code of ethics to aid and empower vulnerable, poor, and oppressed populations, the potential role that insufficient knowledge of tenant rights and eviction play in compounding and exacerbating family homelessness demands investigation by the social work profession. This study explores the potential of intervention with homeless families to provide information on tenant rights and responsibilities. The intervention is based in critical and empowerment theories and designed with the intention of raising critical consciousness among families experiencing homelessness. Findings from the study indicate that the intervention shows promise as a vehicle for empowering homeless families with knowledge and skills for successful tenancy. The social work field is encouraged to pursue further intervention research as a venue for empowering homeless families to effectively address their own needs

AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF GRADUATE SOCIAL WORK PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY METHODS UTILIZED IN TEACHING STUDENTS CULTURALLY COMPETENT PRACTICE

Abstract Jack B. Lewis, Jr. Joretha Bourjolly, MSW, PhD. Background: The NASW Code of Ethics charges social workers to be ethically responsible by providing culturally competent practice. The CSWE EPAS addresses teaching culturally competent social work practice in graduate education by requiring the inclusion of diversity content in the social work curriculum. Methods: This research examined the methods utilized by graduate social work programs to teach culturally competent practice to students utilizing diversity content. Data was collected through the analysis of interview transcripts with 12 study participants and the content analysis of 75 course syllabi submitted by the study participants. Analysis: The following concepts derived from the Cultural Competence Practice (CCP) model (Lum, 2011; Fong, 2001): 1. Cultural Awareness, 2. Cultural Values, 3. Knowledge Acquisition, and 4. Skill Development and, 5. Inductive Learning were utilized to guide the content analysis of the interview transcripts and seventy-five course syllabi. Any additional codes that emerged during analysis were also noted and discussed. Results: The study findings reflected that the graduate social work programs in the study sample taught cultural competent social work practice to students through varying combinations of three methods: a. Courses; b. Field Education and c. Non-Course Related Strategies e.g., student organizations, events, and/or community service projects. This limited exploratory study indicates CSWE accredited graduate social work programs utilize various methods to teach culturally competent practice to students. Clinical implications, limitations and further research are discussed

Bridging the Gap Between Adult Children and Their Aging Parents: Developing and Assessing a Life Review Education Program

Bridging the Gap Between Adult Children and Their Aging Parents: Developing and Assessing a Life Review Education Program Abstract Background: The parent-child relationship is one of the most influential and integral relationships in the life of both members of the dyad. Studies show that the parent-child relationship continues to maintain a place of great importance throughout the life course. In the steadily aging population of the United States, the value of the parent-child relationship is often minimized or overlooked by shifting the focus from a role of parent/child to patient/caregiver. Purpose: The purpose of this mixed-methods exploratory study was to design and implement a Life Review Education (LRE) intervention to: (a) increase understanding; and, (b) facilitate communication within the aging adult/adult child dyad, thereby generating knowledge on the emotional and psychological aspect of the relationship. Methods: The study used a pre-post test design. Ten adult children of aging parents participated in “Bridging the Gap,” a pilot psychoeducational group that implemented Life Review Education through a structured, 75-minute, manualized intervention. The intervention group took place in a physical therapy center in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Measures: The study assessed subjects’ understanding of life review using the Life Review Understanding Questionnaire (L-RUQ) and the impact of life review education on their communication via the Family Problem Solving Communication Scale (FPSC). The study employed qualitative interviews to gain a more in-depth understanding of the program’s effect on participants. Results: Findings supported the positive impact of the intervention on the adult child’s understanding of life review as well as the positive benefits of a psychoeducational group format. Scores on the FSPC scale did not indicate a statistically significant change in communication within the dyad. The impact of this program on family communication is in need of further examination. Conclusion: This exploratory study serves to integrate the concepts of life review, aging adult/adult child dyads, and psychoeducation and lays the groundwork for future exploration and implementation of life review education

Small Nonprofit Collaboration

A growing and current body of literature discuss collaborative best practices, pitfalls, funder pressures, and present case studies. Missing from this literature is the representative voices of small nonprofits and their views regarding collaborative activities designed to reduce fixed costs, reach more clients, maximize fundraising, and manage external environments. Small nonprofits have been encouraged to consider collaboration to leverage their resources and viability. Many rural nonprofit organizations can be classified as small nonprofits. These organizations respond to local needs with people deeply invested in their communities. In this study, representatives of small nonprofit organizations were surveyed to learn whether collaboration differs in small nonprofit organizations from findings in the literature about nonprofit organizations of all sizes. The information gained from this research can be used by leaders of rural nonprofit programs to guide their understanding of successful collaboration and barriers for small nonprofits