<p> This mixed method study investigated what providers who work with school-age children identify as the continued needs among children of Minnesota National Guard service members who are currently or have been deployed since 9/11. Key informants with National Guard (n=8) and educational affiliations (n=8) participated in semi-structured interviews that helped inform survey content for school social workers (n=105) that completed online surveys. Results from this study demonstrate that needs among children of deployed service members are being addressed on many fronts. Yet in light of the transitions the families of these youth experience, they remain vulnerable and in need of school based support that makes use of relationship support at school and promotes their resilience. Results from this study also reveal that developing further supports&mdash;particularly through clinical, tertiary-level interventions&mdash;within school settings is an ongoing challenge to which school social workers are encouraged to respond. Future research would benefit from a study of clinical school social work interventions for children of deployed service members that are age-appropriate, multi-theoretical in nature, and address mental health needs within school settings.</p>

<p> The needs of homeless students are significant and varied. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act helps ensure homeless students can access a quality education. One of the key provisions is the requirement that all LEAs identify a liaison to be in charge of meeting the needs of homeless students. The purpose of this study was to understand the perceptions of district liaisons in regard to the needs of the homeless students they serve and the factors that facilitate and hinder their ability to meet these needs. The study was designed as a qualitative study relying primarily on interviews with 20 liaisons from a representative sample of districts in the state of Ohio. </p><p> The findings indicate that homeless students face a number of needs, including access to basic necessities like food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, and to social services including mental health services and drug treatment centers. Liaisons indicated that they played a less direct role in supporting students&rsquo; academic needs, instead relying on school-based staff members to support homeless students&rsquo; academic needs. </p><p> Liaisons identified a number of factors that facilitate and hinder their ability to meet the needs of their homeless students. The availability or lack of district resources like funding and personnel were especially important. In some districts, superintendents had prioritized hiring additional social or community workers. Liaisons indicated they relied a great deal on the support of these personnel. Further, the availability (or lack) of community-based service agencies greatly impacted liaisons&rsquo; work. </p><p> Finally, liaisons faced a number of competing demands that made their roles challenging. The vast majority of liaisons held another full-time role in the district, meaning they had limited time to devote to the role of liaison. Liaisons also indicated that navigating both community perceptions of homelessness (whether identified families were &ldquo;truly&rdquo; homeless or deserving of support) and the proper role of the school in the community were added challenges. </p><p> These findings suggest that additional personnel to help meet the needs of homeless students and greater coordination between schools and social service agencies would benefit both liaisons and the homeless students they serve. </p>

<p> Diagnosis of cancer found in a child impacts not only the child being diagnosed, but the siblings, parents, and family as a whole. The purpose of this thesis project was to write a grant in order to fund the development and implementation of a support group for parents who have children with cancer. In partnership with Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, the program would create a 6 week long support group that would provide parents with skills, resources, and interventions needed to parent a child diagnosed with cancer. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation was selected as a funder because of the foundation's dedication to promote the health, happiness and well-being of children. This grant reviews the challenges parents have as well as the positive impact this program could have on the parents and their children. Submission and funding of this grant were not requirements of successful completion of this project. </p>

<p> This project served to locate a potential funding source and write a grant to secure funding for a program that provides mental health and psychological treatments, resources and information, and ultimately empowers Latina domestic workers who have survived trauma within and outside their scope of work. The program will be implemented by an MSW with Promotora community leadership. The program consists of a trauma focused intervention group with culturally sensitive and empirically supported curriculum as well as crisis mobilization services for female Latina domestic workers in the city of Los Angeles. If funded, this program will enable social workers and others to be able to advocate successfully and be informed about Latina domestic workers who face specific challenges in their work, including physical and mental health concerns, safety issues, a lack of labor protections, and overall health. Submitting this proposal for funding was not required to successfully complete this project.</p>

<p> Community mental health centers are actively pursuing evidence-based practices to help serve adolescents with serious emotional disturbances (Painter, 2012) and maintain adolescents in their homes who are at-risk for placement in residential care facilities (Copp, Bordnick, Traylor, &amp; Thyer, 2007). Family preservation programs attempt to improve family functioning and dissuade future out-of-home placement (Diamond &amp; Morris, 2011). The purpose of this study is to understand the relationship between the characteristics and outcomes of at-risk adolescents through secondary data. This study used a theoretical approach of the social learning theory developed by Albert Bandura (1973). The overall research question was as follows: Is there a significant difference between age, gender, and the length of treatment among adolescents in family preservation services? The study sampled 79 completed records of adolescents, age 1117, who received family preservation services in a Southeastern state over a five-year period and discharged from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2014. The quantitative research design was intended to examine the relationship between age, gender, length of treatment, and treatment outcomes of at-risk adolescents using archived data from the Child Behavior Checklist and the Global Assessment Functioning. The results of this study were shared with the administrators of the community mental health center. Excerpts of the written report of this study were discussed in detail with the administrators. This study has demonstrated that the participants of family preservation services experience significant differences in treatment outcomes of length of treatment, but not in age and gender. Implications for service delivery, especially successful completion of services, were discussed. Recommendations for future research are suggested at the conclusion of this study.</p>

<p> The purpose of this project was to develop a program to assist parents and caregivers of youth experiencing schizophrenia to address the needs and challenges of this population. The function of this grant proposal was to target a funding resource in order to implement a psychoeducational support group at The Guidance Center in Long Beach. The presence of schizophrenia symptoms in youth can create additional challenges to parenting and thus has a recognizable impact on families. The goal of this proposed program is to provide social support, education, coping skills, and decrease the stress of parents and caregivers of youth with schizophrenia to ultimately improve the lives of impacted youth and their families. The California Wellness Foundation was identified as a potential funder for this proposed program. The actual submission and/or funding of this grant proposal were not a requirement for the successful completion of this project.</p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to explore how caregivers of patients with dementia are physically and mentally affected by their increase in responsibilities. The purpose of this project was to locate a potential funding source and write a grant to obtain funding for a caregiver support group for the Calabasas, CA community and its surrounding areas.</p><p> Caregiver intervention programs have been identified as a critical area of research by the Alzheimer's Association. Silverado Senior Living is a national organization that serves patients with dementia. The program consists of two support groups offering structure and flexibility through cognitive behavioral practices and a continuous feedback.</p><p> If funded and implemented, this program would add value to the body of research that exists for caregivers and drive awareness and change to current policy. In addition, Silverado would better serve its community and act as a model program for other Silverado locations.</p><p> The actual submission and/or funding of this grant was not a requirement for the successful completion of the project.</p>

<p> The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of individuals who self-identified as trans gender or gender variant on gender identity and mental health care. The study sought to uncover the effectiveness and preparedness of mental health professionals in addressing issues of gender identity, through participants' experiences.</p><p> Fifteen individuals who identified variously on the transgender spectrum participated in the study. Results suggest that mental health professionals are generally unprepared and inexperienced in addressing transgender issues. Participants pointed to trans gender support groups and LGBT organizations as the most helpful services. Implications show the need for mental health professionals to seek out education on the trans gender community, and to assist clients in exploring alternative identities that transcend the gender binary. Additional research that focuses on mental health disparities among the trans gender population is also an implication emerging from this study. </p>

<p> The purpose of this project was to design a career development program for individuals with serious mental illness to explore career interests and further develop their vocational identities. This program will act as an enhancement to MHA's The Village Integrated Services' existing supported employment program. MHA's The Village Integrated Services, the hosting agency of this project, is located in Los Angeles County, California.</p><p> After conducting a review of the literature, the grant writer designed a focused career development service enhancement, the Career Development Project. After researching funding sources, the Weingart Foundation was determined to be the most applicable match for the funding of the project based upon an alignment of the goals of the funder with the purpose of the project and the mission of The Village Integrated Services.</p><p> Actual submission and funding of the grant were not required for the successful completion of this project.</p>

<p> The purpose of this thesis was to present a policy analysis of the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of2008. Particular emphasis was placed on the legislation's protections for people with mental illness. Specifically, this project used David Gil's analytic framework to assess the strengths and limitations of the policy and its impact on social work clients and society as a whole The analysis demonstrates that there have been many positive changes since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and more are expected under the ADAAA. However, the analysis also suggests that there remain many issues and unintended consequences concerning people with mental disability, including access problems for minorities. By revealing these issues that must be dealt with, this analysis clearly indicates the importance of commitment to social justice and cultural competence in social work practice. The recommendations for future research are discussed.</p>