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This study examined the relationship between child abuse and neglect identification training and the reporting of suspected cases of abuse and neglect by school social workers/visiting teachers and attendance workers in a twenty-two county area in middle Georgia. The State of Georgia's Department of Family and Children Services identifies the area as Region V. A 25-item questionnaire was distributed to the respondents to determine whether a positive relationship existed between training in child maltreatment identification and the number of reports made by respondents to Child Protective Services. The study examined three consecutive yearly time periods. Using the Pearson ‘r’ correlation, it was determined that a significant positive correlation existed for two of the three years under study (1985-86 and 1986-87 school years). Results from the 1987-88 school year did not reflect a significant relationship; however, an analysis of all three school years combined reflected significant results. Recommendations by the researcher for systematized training for school social workers/visiting teachers are made.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of Anger Control Training on African-American males, who exhibit aggressive behaviors in an elementary school setting. It was hypothesed that the students participating in anger management group training would decrease aggressive behaviors. The single system AB research design was used to examine the effectiveness of Anger Control Training as an intervention on each child. The results of the study indicated that for each child a different change took place. For two (2) boys there was a decrease in aggression, two (2) other boys aggression levels increased and one (1) remained the same. The study was conducted over a fourteen (14) week period in which the baseline, intervention and a follow up phase took place.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of self-esteem to teen pregnancy. The Hudson’s self-esteem scale was administered to 13 female students at St. Luke’s Area Ill Learning Center. These students were either pregnant or were teen parents. The findings were that 38.5 percent of the students have high self-esteem, 46.1 percent have moderate self-esteem and 15.4 percent have low self-esteem.

The overall objective of this correlational descriptive study was to explore the effects of depression and adaptation among elderly widows and widowers. A total of thirty-four male and female elderly persons participated in this study. Simple descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The findings of this study accepted the hypothesis that there is no significant statistical difference between elderly widows and widowers and the effects of depression and adaptation.

The purpose of this comparative study was to determine whether the levels of depression, self-esteem, family relations, peer relations, and attitudes toward mother and father are the same in adoptees and non-adoptees. The level of difficulty in these areas was measured through the use of six scales from the Clinical Measurement Package. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 40 participants, 20 adoptees and 20 non-adoptees. It was hypothesized that there would be no difference between adoptees and non-adoptees in their scores on the six scales utilized. This research found that when there was significant difference in the two groups it was the non-adoptees who presented a greater severity or magnitude of problem in the areas tested. This study was an attempt to provide a clear understanding of the inherent stresses adoptees and adoptive families face as well as compare their satisfaction with self, others, family, and parents with non-adoptees.

The purpose of this study was to determine the degree to which social skills training was effective in reducing anxiety in male mental health clients diagnosed with schizophrenia. This study is important because it attempts to fill the current literature gap regarding treatment interventions for males diagnosed with schizophrenia. The study consisted of fifty adult male patients (N=50) between the ages of 18-55 with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. To test the effectiveness of social skills training, the participants were systematically random selected and placed in one of two groups. Group one (the control group) consisted of twenty-five males diagnosed with schizophrenia. Group two (the experimental group) consisted of twenty-five males diagnosed with schizophrenia. The experimental group received the treatment intervention of social skills training while the participants from the control group received nothing. Anxiety was measured through specific behaviors and direct behavior observation was used to collect information on the behaviors. Results of the T-test analysis revealed that there were statistically significant differences between the experimental and control group at posttest phase. Those in the experimental group showed more significant reduction on anxiety than the controls, indicating that social skills training was effective in reducing anxiety. Implications for future research and social work practice also are discussed.

The objective of this study is to explore the extent to which hospital social workers engage in advocacy activities, and the degree to which they feel supported by their departments to advocate on behalf of clients. To obtain this objective, the following areas on hospital social workers will be addressed: (a) work experience, (b) time spent on social work functions and (c) the degree to which encouragement is provided by the department for advocacy. An anonymous questionnaire was administered to twenty six social workers from the Atlanta VA Medical Center located in Decatur, Georgia.

The purpose of this study was to examine the Criminal Justice System as it relates to the child victim. The study describes the sexually molested child in the preliminary stage of criminal court. As well as the physically abused child in the same level of court. In addition, the study identifies the Child Abuse/Sexual Assault Project of the Victim-Witness Assistance Program located in the City of Atlanta Municipal Court. The study sites examples and randomly selected case studies which describe the process and various issues which may evolve when children are required to participate in the judicial process. In addition, the study identifies the Victim-Witness Assistance programs child abuse sexual assault project as an instrument designed to empower child victims by advocating for their rights and various allowances for the child victim/witness who must appear in a criminal court hearing. The study found that the child victim has much to contend with. Children are not equally equipped to handle the intricacies of the legal system. The study also addresses the systems response to the advocate, which allows the advocate to assess the appropriateness of diversion (or social work intervention) in lieu of prosecution. The study revealed that a number of cases were successfully diverted. Lastly, the Child Abuse Sexual Assault Project allowed social work intervention in almost 100% of the child abuse/sexual assault cases which were heard in the City of Atlanta Municipal Court in the year 1992.

The purpose of this study was to explore and examine the degree of adolescent disclosure to other adolescents of the same-sex, and to explore the notion that suggest that females are more disclosing in their same-sex relationship that males. In addition, this study assessed whether self-concept may be associated with self disclosure. The results of this study indicated that there were no significant differences in the degree of male and female disclosure to their same-sex friends. There were no significant difference in the self concept of males and females.