This study compared the effects of race, socioeconomic status, and marital status on a family's relationship with their extended family. A purposive sample was obtained from families of elementary school children in New Orleans Public Schools. Sixty-eight families representing combinations of black, white, working, middle, single, and married families were interviewed in February and March of 1987 using a scale which elicited detailed information about contact and assistance An analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, and regression analysis were used to determine the effect of the predictor variables. Distance from the extended family was the variable that accounted for the appearance that black and working class families had more contact with their extended families than white and middle class families. When distance was controlled the difference in amount of contact was not statistically significant. Single families were not found to have higher rates of contact and assistance than their married counterparts / acase@tulane.edu

The purpose of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the relative effectiveness of two types of child-caring facilities, mediatory institutions and group homes, in order to establish a basis for determining the differential use of these programs in the continuum of care. A nonequivalent control group design was used to compare the effects of these two residential settings on the remediation of behavior control and socialization problems for sixty adolescents in nine group homes and five institutions in Louisiana. Goal Attainment Scaling was employed as the measurement of effectiveness It was hypothesized that group homes would be more effective than institutions in modifying behavior control problems while the converse would be true for socialization problems. Although subjects did demonstrate significant progress in goal attainment, no outcome differences were observed between groups. Several factors--disposition after termination, length of stay, and the reasons for placement and termination--did significantly affect treatment outcomes. The structural and functional equivalency of group homes and institutions contributed to the lack of outcome differences. Three factors--race, gender, and socioeconomic status--determined residents' placement regardless of other factors that would indicate that another type of facility was more appropriate / acase@tulane.edu

A study designed to understand if adolescents abusing substances affect family variables. Three groups of families, with approximately twenty-five families per group, were the subjects. One group was hospitalized adolescents abusing substances and their parents, a second group was hospitalized adolescents not abusing substances and their parents, and a third group was non-dysfunctional adolescents and their parents. The families were an available sample referred specifically for this study by therapists, educators, and youth workers. The interviews were conducted between April and December 1987. Each adolescent and parent were administered the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES III), the Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale, the Index of Self-Esteem, and a demographic questionnaire. Results showed that the two inpatient groups were very similar in the perceptions of adolescents and their parents on cohesion, adaptability, open communication, problems of communication, and self-esteem. Both inpatient groups significantly viewed their families as disengaged in cohesion. All three groups viewed adaptability as not significant. The two inpatient groups viewed significantly less open communication and significantly higher problems of communication than the non-dysfunctional group in their families. The two inpatient groups viewed significantly lower self-esteem than the non-dysfunctional groups did, among family members. The level of family dysfunction appeared to influence these family variables more than if an adolescent was abusing substances / acase@tulane.edu

Thesis (Master of Social Work)--University of Southern California.

The focus of this study was to develop an indigenous, relevant model of school social work for future practice in South Africa. This was accomplished by surveying policies governing school social work services, researching the nature and severity of problems experienced in schools, examining the scope of current school social work in addressing these problems/needs and finally producing a model on which future school social work practice could be based. The research methodology was chosen on the basis of progressing beyond the acquisition of knowledge, to application of this knowledge to the practice of school social work. The developmental research design as discussed by Thomas (1985a:488; 1985b:50) was viewed as serving the purposes of the study. In accord with this design, the study was divided into several phases - the analysis, development and evaluation phases. Two further phases are outlined by Thomas (1985a), viz. the diffusion and adoption phases, which would follow once the developed social technology has been further field tested and the results disseminated for adoption. During the analysis phase, current policies and school social work services in the various departments of education were examined. Problems in different schools in these department were also surveyed to gauge the effectiveness of services in dealing with these problems. Results revealed that current school social work practice and policies do not meet the needs of schools. During the development phase, a changed emphasis in service provision was advocated through the adoption of service methods to complement a casework focus. In this regard, community school, school change and social interaction functions were advocated. An ecological model, derived from ecological and systems theories, was recommended as offering scope for a changed emphasis to ensure that services were comprehensive and relevant. This emphasis focused on achieving a goodness of fit between the individual and the environment by intervening at different systemic levels, depending on where deficits or dysfunction existed. Thereby, intervention could be directed at micro, mezzo, exo or macro systemic levels. In a feasibility study, conducted during the analysis phase of the study, this model was found to be appropriate and practical for future use. If school social workers practise an ecological model, then their services would be cost effective since both a preventive and therapeutic bias would be accommodated. Children would also be assured of support services that prevent problems, that facilitate the role of the educator in comprehensive education and that intervene timeously in respect of problems and needs. Recommendations in respect of accommodating a changed focus of intervention included changes in policies to promote the use of the ecological model, the education and training of social workers in acquiring knowledge and skills congruent with the use of an ecological paradigm, training of educationists to include knowledge of the service to facilitate teamwork and referral, preliminary tasks to be undertaken prior to service provision, a unitary education department to serve all children equally irrespective of colour or creed, and research to be undertaken with education personnel as a joint endeavour to encourage the establishment of the service. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Durban-Westville, 1993.

Thesis (Master of Social Work)--University of Southern California.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1992.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1990.

Information has been sparse on the hospice psychosocial support offered through the American hospice system. This study examined the hospice psychosocial services that are available and utilized within the United States. In addition, the characteristics of patients and families who utilized these services were comprehensively assessed. Data from the 2007 National Home and Hospice Care Survey (NHHCS) was analyzed in this cross-sectional study (National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS], 2007). Hierarchical linear regression, hierarchal logistic regressions as well as chi-square test of independence were used to analyze the data. It was hypothesized that for profit hospice ownership status would predict less availability and utilization of psychosocial services when agency size, chain status, and patient total activity of daily needs are controlled. Ownership status was a significant predictor of medical social service availability where for profit agencies were more likely to have this service available. Conversely, hospice patients at for profit agencies were less likely to utilize medical social services as well as bereavement services. Overall, patient and caregiver utilization rates of psychosocial services were low with the exception of medical social services, bereavement services, spiritual care services, & safety training services. The majority of individuals that used these services were married, White, non-Hispanic, 74-75 year old cancer patients with no cognitive impairment. Most were Medicare recipients with advanced directives in place and had 4 ADL needs. Routine home care patients with an average care continuum of about 2-2 ½ months accounted for most of those who used these services. The majority of these patients lived in a private residence with family members and had spousal caregivers. These results suggest that the psychosocial services that are being provided have an overall low utilization rate despite availability regardless of ownership type. Further, psychosocial services are disproportionately underutilized by racial and ethnic minorities. In addition, these results highlight the disparity that exists between racial groups that are admitted under hospice care. Further interdisciplinary research needs to be conducted in order to address this disparity in order to determine alternative forms of care that are specifically tailored to a diverse patient population.

Bibliography: leaves 108-117. / Literature research has indicated that school social work is a relatively new branch of general social work. The role of the school social worker is the main focus of literature in this field. The school social worker's role is continually changing and adapting as society and school systems change The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the perceptions of the pupils, parents and teachers with regard to the school social worker's role within a particular school setting. The current awareness of the social worker's role and function, is examined in as far as it affects the effective use of the social work service. A literature survey was undertaken, after which a close-ended questionnaire was constructed and administered to all pupils and all teachers, and a close-ended questionnaire mailed to all parents of the particular school. A descriptive analysis of the findings reveals that clarification is needed amongst pupils, teachers and parents in terms of the purpose, function and roles of the school social worker, and of the methods of social work employed. A disparity is reflected with regard to the issue of confidentiality, where the findings indicated that pupils are more concerned with confidentiality issues than the parents and teachers. The main recommendations made are with regard to compiling a booklet clarifying the roles and functions of the mental health professionals in the school. A policy with regard to confidentiality is recommended.