The Experience of Intimate Partner Violence Among Pregnant Women Seeking Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

Introduction: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major health issue among those with substance use disorder. A history of partner violence is associated with increased health problems and less improvement in treatment. The perinatal period is a time of increased risk of IPV for women, as well as a key opportunity for opioid use disorder treatment intervention. The purpose of this study is to characterize the experience of partner violence and evaluate the typology of sequelae associated with it in a population of pregnant women seeking medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Methods: The population of interest in this study is pregnant or parenting women seeking treatment for opioid use disorder at MATER, a comprehensive addiction treatment center in Philadelphia, PA. The main data source used was the Biopsychosocial Document, a form completed by patients upon entry into the program. Data from 168 respondents were used to capture the frequency and character of intimate partner violence as well as related sequelae. Descriptive statistics including means and standard deviations for continuous data and count and percent frequencies for categorical data, will be used to describe the data. Results: Experience of IPV was very common among the study population, with 62.3% of participants reporting abuse as an adult. Among women who had experienced IPV, the types of abuse with the most frequency were physical (87.9%) and sexual (66.7%). The full spectrum of abuse including psychological, financial, and stalking was observed. Of note, even among those respondents who did not self-report IPV, rates of abuse subtypes were non-zero. This study will further analyze recent drug use, previous treatment attempts, sexual exploitation, and experience of childhood abuse and their associations to violence experienced as an adult. Conclusion: Opioid use disorder treatment programs are likely to engage women experiencing intimate partner violence, and treatment initiation represents an important area of potential intervention. Next steps should include qualitative interview-based research into this population’s experience of intimate partner violence to further elucidate best methods of support

Financial Counseling for Low- and Moderate-Income Employees: An Assessment of Engagement and Outcomes

Employee financial wellness programs (EFWPs) are gaining in popularity as a strategy to address workers\u27 financial challenges and goals beyond offering health and retirement benefits. Most workers say they are stressed about their finances1 and a third are less productive at work because of this stress.2 Although employers are increasingly interested in offering EFWPs, little research has been conducted concerning these workplace financial products and services

INDIGEGOGY: A Transformative Indigenous Educational Process

Social work training programs have not been able to keep step with the needs of Indigenous people since the advent of the profession. As former agents of government assimilation, social workers now find themselves in difficult positions where they are unable to help Indigenous people, despite their best intentions. Indigenous Social Work Education has become a necessary response to the growing needs of Indigenous people, and increasing social problems in Canada. Furthermore, Indigenous people who practice Indigenous social work have become vital to the survival of Indigenous people and their communities. The teaching and practice of Indigenized, social work education has become a strong presence in the reclamation of indigenous identity. A decolonized peda- gogy such as the one presented in the case study of the Aboriginal Field of Study (AFS) at Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) affirms indigenous ways of being, knowing, and doing and places control and ownership of helping practices firmly in the hands of Indigenous people. The case study outlines four critical elements of the AFS: Elder-in-Residence, Circle Pedagogy, Wholistic Evaluation and Culture Camp that are used to guide Master of Social Work (MSW) students on how to develop a Wholistic Healing Practice framework

The Transmission of Intergenerational Trauma: Conversations with Mental Health Professionals

Intergenerational trauma refers to the impact a traumatic experience has on subsequent generations that were not directly exposed to the original traumatic event. Existing research has shown that trauma affects subsequent generations biologically, culturally, and emotionally. The current study explored the question: To what extent, if any, does intergenerational trauma affect and transmit among African and Middle Eastern American subgroups living in Portland, Maine? This qualitative study utilized a phenomenological approach. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with staff employed at local agencies who work directly with African and Middle Eastern migrant families. We hypothesized that intergenerational trauma is being transmitted among African and Middle Eastern migrant families living in Portland, ME

Navigating LGBTQ+ and Disabled Intersections Online: Social Support and Identity Construction in the Age of Social Media

There is a lack of research about the lived experiences of self-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and otherwise-identified (LGBTQ+) young adults with disabilities who use the Internet to achieve particular social aims. Using open-ended survey questions, the researcher applied multidimensional and overlapping frameworks of intersectionality, feminist-disability theory, and social work to answer the following: What are the lived experiences of disabled, LGBTQ+ young adults who use social media for social support and identity construction? Using secondary data, fifteen (N=15) cases of LGBTQ+ disabled young adults aged 18 to 31 living in the United States were selected, and data was analyzed using a phenomenological thematic analysis. The research revealed salient themes, such as community/belonging, access to “others like me,” positive identity formation and protective mental health factors to name a few, each of which respectively facilitated or complicated participants’ motives to use social media platforms. Implications of v the research findings for social science scholars and suggestions for future research are discussed

Credit-Building Services for Employees: An Assessment of Engagement and Outcomes

Employee financial wellness programs (EFWPs) are gaining in popularity as a strategy to address workers\u27 financial challenges and goals beyond offering health and retirement benefits. Most workers say they are stressed about their finances1 and a third are less productive at work because of this stress.2 Although employers are increasingly interested in offering EFWPs, little research has been conducted concerning these workplace financial products and services

A Retrospective Study of Teen Pregnancy in West Virginia from 2003 -2008: A Descriptive Analysis

In 2006, West Virginia surpassed the national average birth rate for teens ages 15 to 19 years old. Through the use of the state wide Birth Score data, this article presents a retrospective examination of 8,094 teens who gave birth in West Virginia during the years of 2003-2008. Descriptive data on health issues such as prenatal care, infant birth weight and mortality, as well as demographic characteristics, such a racial background and Medicaid status are presented. Implications of these health issues are discussed along with special considerations for health providers who work within the Appalachian region