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<p> This narrative study examines the impact the foster care system had on the high school completion of adult former foster youth in an urban school setting. In particular, the study explores the experiences and reflections from their perspectives on the systems (school, child welfare agency, and legal) that raised them. The participants reflected and shared their personal experiences to provide detailed and accurate accounts of being a student while in the child welfare system. Through interviews and document analysis, a story surfaces that demonstrates collective narratives about the reality of the challenges, obstacles, and determination behind each participant's journey to get through both the public school and the child welfare systems to become the adults they are.</p><p> Five major themes (Impact of Instability and Permanency within Placements and Schools, Lack of Trust and Reliability within Systems, Perceptions and Expectations, Collaboration and Accountability within Systems and Policies, and Self-Reflection on Survival as a Student in Foster Care, Attachment or Resilience) emerged from the participants' stories that led to whether they were able to complete their secondary schooling. Attachment and resilience theories were used as a guide for participants' self-reflections about their survival in foster care and assisted in linking to existing literature associated with this subgroup of students.</p>

<p> The purpose of this project was to develop a program that would deliver 3 years of mental health services to a charter school. The school selected for this project was Youth Opportunities High School (YOHS) in Watts, California. The program developed was Mental Health for Youth Opportunities (MHYO). MHYO was designed to provide one full-time, bilingual, master of social work (MSW) practitioner to YOHS for 3 years. The assigned practitioner will be responsible for individual therapy, group therapy, case management, and enrichment services. The actual submission and/or funding of this grant were not a requirement for the successful completion of this project.</p>

<p> The purpose of this project was to locate a potential funding source and write a grant to enable children with physical disabilities to become more included in their education and with their peers. An extensive literature review was performed to investigate the best way to meet these needs through the usage of assistive technology (AT) devices and how such technology can be implemented into an educational curriculum. </p><p> The Inclusion Through Assistive Technology (ITAT) program has the following goals: (1) train children and teachers on the usage of AT devises, (2) reduce children's emotional difficulties, and (3) increased the involvement of children and parents in the educational process. </p><p> The Children's Charity Fund was selected as the program's potential funder, due to its focus on the educational needs of the target population. The actual submission of the proposal was not a requirement of the thesis project. </p>

There is wide acknowledgment in higher education literature of the importance of the academic department in the administrative hierarchy of higher education institutions and of the leadership potential of the departmental chairperson to influence program quality.Two hundred and seventy chairpersons in departments that provide accredited baccalaureate social work programs were surveyed. This study (1) identified the structural characteristics of the institutions and the academic departments that house these accredited programs, and (2) identified demographic characteristics and the role difficulties, motivations, and professional development needs of faculty members serving as chairpersons.Completed two-part self-administered questionnaires were obtained from 158 (61%) practicing chairpersons; 74 (47%) employed in private institutions and 84 (53%) employed in public institutions.Most chairpersons viewed the position as a time-limited, challenging opportunity to influence the overall quality of their departmental programs. Less than a third of the respondents, however plan to seek another consecutive term in the position. Most chairpersons reported finding their work meaningful or rewarding. However, they also judged that position responsibilities were heavily dominated by the necessity to complete mandatory administrative tasks that were irrelevant to effective role performance. Respondents reported experiencing numerous role conflicts associated with excessive or incompatible role responsibilities, personnel conflicts, lack of position authority, and inadequate program resources.The majority of chairpersons viewed the position as one requiring specialized competencies different from those needed by regular faculty members. However, based on self-reports, data showed that most chairpersons learned to complete specific role tasks on their own or via informal means.Findings support the need to: (1) examine the effectiveness of traditional professional development offerings to chairpersons, (2) clarify position responsibilities, (3) strengthen the amount, type and quality of role support provided to chairpersons, and (4) enhance informal, self-directed opportunities for interest faculty members to acquire administrative experience prior to assuming the position. Findings also supported the need for formalized mentorship programs for new chairpersons supplemented by an increased use of collaborative training by experienced chairpersons. / Department of Educational Leadership

The study had four purposes: to identify and describe key characteristics of administrators of baccalaureate degree programs in social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; to determine the position of the administrator of baccalaureate degree programs in social work in the administrative structure; to determine the perceptions of administrators concerning administrative role behavior including a measurement of job satisfaction; and to determine the perceptions of administrators regarding selected administrative problems.Questionnaires were mailed to 184 social work program administrators in March, 1977. One hundred and fifty-one questionnaires were returned, representing 82.0 percent return and 148 were usable resulting in an 80.4 percent net return. Analysis of the data led to the following findings and conclusions:The mean age of all respondents was 45.2 years of age. Fifty-nine percent of the social work program administrators were male having a mean age of 41.2 years and 41 percent were female having a mean age of 48.3 years. Thirty-four percent of the social work program administrators held a doctorate and 66 percent had a master's degree as the highest earned degree. The majority, 37.2 percent, of social work program administrators were in the $16,000 to $19.999 salary range.The mean number of years of employment for social work program administrators at the present institution was 7.1 years. The mean number of years in the social work program administrator position was 4.5 years. Sixty-five percent of the social work program administrators were tenured.The majority, 64 percent,-of the social work programs were located in public institutions with 32.4 percent located under the administrative auspices of autonomous social work departments. The majority, 40 percent, of social work programs served 100 students or less.Fifty-two percent of the social work program administrators were appointed to the present administrative position from within the social work program. The majority, 71 social work programs reported the master's degree as not considered a terminal degree.The majority of social work program administrators reported the following administrative role behaviors as extremely important: program planning and curricular development, recruiting and selecting faculty, teaching students, advising students on academic matters, and interacting with administration on behalf of the social work program.The majority of social work program administrators were very satisfied with the following: nature off the work, opportunity to innovate, job security, and opportunity to work with students.Male social work program administrators were younger, held higher ranks and held higher degrees than female social work program administrators.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2007 / Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Social Work. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-101).

Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 27-28).

Dissertation (DPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-124).