<p> The purpose of this thesis was to develop a grant proposal to fund a support group for Asian Indian adults in the Orange County area of California. The goal of this group would be to increase decrease stigma about mental illness through the provision of mutual aid and psychoeducation. The Mental Health Association of Orange County was the host agency for this program. The funding agency selected was Kaiser Permanente Thrive in Orange County. </p><p> Based on the review of the literature, integrating concepts of collectivism, the Hindu religion, and explaining mental illness in the context of medical symptoms are all important components of the development of a culturally sensitive support group for Asian Indians. The program would encourage participants to share their experience with mental illnesses in the context of the Asian Indian culture. </p><p> The actual funding of this grant proposal was not necessary to complete the project.</p><p>

<p> The aim of the study was to examine discrimination in healthcare and psychological distress among non-immigrant and immigrant Latinos. The current study is quantitative study that utilized secondary data that was retrieved from the 2015 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). The total sample included 5,165 Latino adults, including 2,226 (43.1%) males and 2,939 (56.9%) females. The results revealed associations between gender and poverty level on psychological distress. There were associations found on needing help from someone to understand the doctor, unfair treatment when getting medical care, and English proficiency on psychological distress. There was no significant association between citizenship status and psychological distress. Research on Latinos and discrimination continues to be limited, thus more research could help to create programming for consumers and trainings for staff to reduce health disparities for Latinos.</p><p>

This research project aims to explore service user and mental health social workers’ (MHSW) perspectives and experiences of practice in the area of personality disorder. It seeks to answer three research questions: how service users and MHSWs understand personality disorder, how they understand MHSW practice and how practice in this area might be better informed. The study’s attention to the experiences and perspectives of both groups sets the research within the interpretivist paradigm and relies on a relativist ontology, subjectivist epistemology and inductive, qualitative methodology. The involvement of both groups means that this project makes an original contribution to MHSW research and practice. Constructivist grounded theory (CGT) has been used to generate a conceptual, theoretical analysis. The research was divided into two phases. Phase 1 involved ten semi-structured interviews with ten service users from a community service for people with personality disorder. This data was analysed before Phase 2 began, comprising twelve semi-structured interviews with twelve MHSWs from three regions of England. NVivo 7 was used to analyse the data in and across case. The analysis identified participants’ understanding of personality disorder, mental health social work practice and how this practice might be better informed. The analysis was supplemented by documentary analysis of policies relevant to personality disorder and MHSW. The findings suggest that traumatic experience impacts on the lens through which the person views self and others. Distress can be overwhelming, lead to extreme and unsafe behaviours, which reinforce disconnection from self and others. In supporting a relationship between personality disorder and traumatic experience, this study suggests the relevance of mental health social work (MHSW) to personality disorder. The findings suggest that more humane, empathic responses are required. Practice founded on understanding the impact of traumatic experience and the ways in which the individual might be trying to cope with their distress. The findings reveal the importance of MHSWs’ relational skills and interventions that offer practical support, encouragement and effective liaison with others. Through more caring, protective bonds and broad social supports MHSW might empower individuals’ response to traumatic experience. The findings raise implications for MHSW and mental health professionals more generally. The findings also indicate that practice would be better informed by greater knowledge and understanding of the person and the diagnosis; the provision of feedback to the person; modelling; greater transparency and consistency; support for the person’s social and family network, and more practical support. This project makes an original contribution to knowledge about personality disorder and to MHSW knowledge and practice in this area.

<p> The purpose of this project was to create program to identify funding sources, and write a grant to fund a support group for veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) at the Department of Veterans Affairs of, Long Beach. The literature allowed this write to find the main causes of PTSD in this case being exposed to combat, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBO), and the consequences to PTSD (substance abuse, commit suicide, experience family conflicts). This writer also found Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PET), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to be effective intervention in treating veterans with PTSD. The proposed program is aimed at providing psychoeducation to veterans and to help improve the lives of our service men and women who suffer from PTSD. The program includes group counseling, and individual counseling for veterans, family counseling. Providing the proper training will help social worker better assess and serve our veterans who return from combat with PTSD. Actual submission and/or funding of the grant were not required for the completion of this project.</p>

<p> Natural disasters and catastrophic events have devastated hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide. While governmental and disaster relief agencies attempt to respond as quickly as possible, individuals can be cut off from resources and services for extended periods, increasing stress and health complications. Individuals with mental illnesses are even more vulnerable in the aftermath of a disaster when they are cut off from vital medications and therapeutic services. Disaster preparedness promotes resilience and empowers individuals to take personal responsibility for their safety. The purpose of this project was to identify potential funding sources and write a grant proposal that funds the development and implementation of disaster preparedness classes for individuals living in the community with mental illnesses. Actual submission and/or funding of this grant was not a requirement for the successful completion of this project.</p>

<p>The purpose of this psychoeducational curriculum is for Latino caregivers to enhance their awareness in the Mental Health field, as advocate for their family members. Educating caregivers on how to access services, and overcome stigma, language barriers, and cultural insensitivity also to enhance quality services. The curriculum specifically addresses outreach. The curriculum will expand caregivers? understanding the symptoms of mental illness including diagnosis, and the importance of self-care to prevent burnout. It will include activities that will promote group discussions, and concepts for learning enhancement. Additionally, handouts will be provided with resources for support services for caregivers. A facilitators? guide is also included to assist with the implementation of the curriculum.

<p> The purpose of this project was to locate a potential funding source and write a grant to support funding for the Emergency Response Team (ERT) program. The ERT will use solution-based practices within the Mendocino County Health and Human Services Agency to support family stabilization. An ERT would enable children and families to access multidisciplinary team services, including mental health and alcohol/drug services, immediately after a referral to Child Protective Services. This approach will allow families to address their needs for stabilization and ensure streamlined support, thus reducing the potential for children to be removed from the home or shorten the duration of the removal. Ultimately, this approach will ensure families access to appropriate levels of mental health and alcohol or drug service supports to enhance the well being of children, families, and the community. The actual submission and/or funding of this grant were not a requirement for the successful completion of this project.</p>

<p> This study was designed to explore how the experience of past parental alienation and current estrangement from adult child(ren) affected aging alienated parents particularly in the domains of depression and life satisfaction. This study also explored the link between past parental alienation and late-life estrangement from adult child(ren). The sample of 65 participants responded to an online survey after responding to a recruitment flyer posted on Craig's List. </p><p> The results showed mild to moderate levels of depression and moderate dissatisfaction with life among the study participants. Higher levels of parental alienation were significantly associated with higher levels of depression and greater dissatisfaction with life. Participants also overwhelmingly reported that past parental alienation had contributed to their current estrangement from their adult child(ren). </p><p> Further research is needed on the impact of parental alienation on the well-being of aging parents.</p>

<p> Since age has been identified as a leading risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) and as the U.S. population ages, ADRD has become a community concern. Latinos face greater risk due to systemic psychosocial stressors such as limited community-based supportive services, lack of trained bilingual health care professionals, and low quality of treatment and preventative care. The purpose of this project was to develop a dementia program targeting the underserved Latino community of Orange County, California, identify potential funding sources, and develop a grant proposal on behalf of the Orange County Vital Brain Aging Program at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. The proposed program will increase awareness on ADRD while decreasing barriers in health care utilization through community-based education and psychosocial and cognitive assessments. The actual submission and/or funding of this grant were not requirements for the successful completion of this project.</p>

<p> Citizenship/immigration status, high poverty rates and gender specific issues, present a significant problem, when addressing the mental health needs of Latino adolescents. This study utilized data from the 2009 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). The independent variables for the study were citizenship/immigration status, socioeconomic status, and gender. The dependent variable was mental health. To examine the relationship between the independent and dependent variables, a frequency and regression analysis was performed. The results of the study indicate that citizenship/immigration status and gender are significant predictors of mental health among Latino adolescents. The results of the study suggest that social workers, community leaders, community members, and mental health providers, should explore selecting effective interventions with optimal outcomes for the mental health of this population.</p>