Thesis (Psy D.)--Wheaton College Graduate School, Wheaton, IL, 2003. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 38-43).

<p> The purpose of this dissertation is to offer a greater understanding of the potential of genograms through my clinical work from a Bowen Family Systems lens. I account for how I processed and effectively blended metaphorical components, by examining six cases from my two-year journal entries, of bringing genograms to life in sessions. I also explain how I created a useful tool, the Metaphoric Generative Genogram, that can benefit other clinicians working with children and families in the foster care community.</p>

<p> Deemed the &ldquo;broad safety net approach,&rdquo; reformation of statutory law Pennsylvania Act 126 of 2012, increased the education and training requirements for mandated reporters with the intentions to increase the number of children identified as abused and neglected. The purpose of this quantitative correlation study is to examine data from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to determine if Act 126 of 2012 improved child safety outcomes. Child cognitive development theory, normative social conformity theory, and public outrage and public policy reform theory were used as the theoretical foundation of study. Participants included Pennsylvania Educators and Rereported Child Abuse referrals from years 2009 to 2016. Eight reporting years made up the sample size and was divided into two groups. All five research questions were answered by the results of the study. First, via two independent t-Test analysis, the researcher determined neither total PEG referrals nor substantiated PEG referrals were affected. Next, there was a significant main effect of Act 126 of 2012 on unsubstantiated PRAR referrals with an inverse correlation between educator-generated referrals and substantiation rates. Finally, a statistically significant main effect existed between Child age which projected Child Protective Services outcomes. In short, Pennsylvania educators reported more school-aged children than their younger and older counterparts which were correlated with educator-generated referral rates. However, the relationship was negative. Hence, Act 126 of 2012 was not sufficient and did not achieve the expected results. Educators produced high quantity low-quality referrals. These results are significant since both Children and Youth Services, and Pennsylvania lawmakers rely on educators as the front line of defense in child safety. The changes to Act 126 of 2012 were not sufficient to improve Child Protective Services outcomes for children. The implications of the study are severe due to a school-to-child protective services pipeline increasing child and family contact with Pennsylvania&rsquo;s Children and Youth Services without improved outcomes. Recommendations for future research include repeating the study using disaggregated data from the National Child Abuse use and Neglect Data Systems&rsquo; (NCANDS) Child-File level data held at the national archives, Cornell University, New York.</p><p>

The Corral de Piedra community is located in Chiquimula, Guatemala. The main agricultural activities are corn and bean production, small-scale gardens, and small animal production, such as poultry and pigs. The crop areas are predominantly located on lands with slopes between 12 and 55%, presenting low fertility conditions and poor moisture retention capabilities. In addition, local crop varieties have low productivity potentials and the winter season is characterized by poorly distributed and erratic periods of rain. The Benson Institute introduced a technology transfer model to increase and diversify agricultural production, while preserving current natural resources. An integral part of this model included educating the community on nutrition and health topics. The school was considered to be the most appropriate place to introduce training and education in agriculture among students and community leaders, thus contributing to community development.

The purpose of this study was to assess mental health counseling services provided by Florida public community colleges and universities. The researcher of this study designed the Counseling Center Questionnaire instrument. This instrument consisted of two different questionnaires, one for community colleges and the other for universities. The questionnaires were developed to ascertain information regarding mental health services provided by higher education institutions. The questionnaires yielded information pertaining to (a) which Florida community colleges and public universities were offering mental health counseling services to students, (b) the types of mental health counseling services provided, (c) the types of problems/issues students were reporting to counseling centers, and (d) the scope of mental health counseling services provided by Florida community colleges and universities. The findings indicated that only 5 of 20 Florida community colleges provided mental health services to students and all 7 universities who responded to the questionnaire provided such services to students. Community colleges provided fewer mental health services than did 4-year institutions. According to higher education counseling officials, students in all institutions experienced many of the same types of issues or problems including Anxiety, Depression, Bi-polar Disorders, Substance Abuse, Eating Disorders and Schizophrenia. Depression was the most frequently reported mental health issue among all students.

While previous research has explored the relationship between combat exposure and mental health disorders, the effects of mental health disorders on attrition rates of Service members, the discrepancy between mental health counseling services available and utilized by Service members, and barriers to seeking mental health counseling services, the majority of studies thus far have only been conducted with Service members and have been quantitative in nature. While researchers have begun to explore the experience of deployment on Service member spouses, little research has focused specifically on their service seeking behavior regarding accessing mental health services. This is unfortunate given that multiple studies have indicated the importance of including Service member's spouses in future research. This qualitative study included both Service members and spouses of Service member's in an attempt to capture their mental health counseling service seeking behaviors. Thematic analysis was employed to develop a model of mental health seeking behavior among Service members and their spouses. The resulting model is unique in that it attempts to account for the influence of multiple contextual and ecological factors. Limitations of the study, future research and clinical implications are also discussed. / Master of Science

No description available.

Patterns of articles published in the Journal of Mental Health Counseling (JMHC) from 1994 through 2009 were reviewed. Characteristics of authors (e.g., sex, employment setting, nation of domicile) and articles (e.g., topic, type, design, sample, sample size, participant type, statistical procedures and sophistication) are described and analyzed for trends over time.

The research examined mental health practitioners' attitudes towards, satisfaction with and use of suicide prevention contracting (SPC) techniques. Survey respondents comprised consultant psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, mental health nurses, psychologists, registered medical officers and social workers. A self-report questionnaire was mailed to 1347 potential respondents, together with three follow-up letters sent out at two-week intervals. There was a 31% response rate, producing 420 valid questionnaires. The results of the research re-confirm the historical trajectory of SPC, from its early beginnings as a relationship-based suicide-risk assessment technique to one that is used in contemporary practice by practitioners to meet a range of objectives. The research focused on three SPC techniques in operation in clinical practice: verbal no-suicide assurances, no-suicide agreements, and written no-suicide contracts. Analysis of the data suggests a number of important findings. The first of these is that practitioners perceive different utility among these three techniques. Secondly, the least experienced practitioners were significantly less likely to use no-suicide contracts, despite seeing more suicidality and having more formal training in the use of the technique. Thirdly, a practitioner's gender, and formal training were significant in the perception and application of SPC techniques. Finally, suicidal behaviours and completed suicide was a clinical outcome in some situations irrespective of the use and non-use of SPC. The findings of this research are used to provide an emerging conceptual framework and associated nomenclature that inform clinical decision-making in relation to SPC. In addition, a conceptual model is presented which demonstrates that the potential for injudicious use of SPC techniques is as much precipitated by individual factors as it is by broader environmental factors. Key words: no-suicide contracts, suicide prevention contracts, no-suicide agreements, no-suicide decisions, contingency contracting.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Alberta, 2010. / A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Medical Sciences - Pediatrics. Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on January 24, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.