Homelessness is a multifaceted social problem that affects thousands of people every single day throughout the United States. In recent years, research has begun to look at the impact of social support on the lives of those that are homeless. To further explore this topic, this study examines the impact of social support on the length of time someone is homeless, in search of notable correlations. This study was completed using a quantitative research approach and a sample of 54 homeless individuals. Participants were recruited from two leading homeless service agencies in the City of Riverside and asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire composed of a demographic section, questions on their unique homeless situation, length of time homeless and current social support. Results of this study found that there is no significant difference between formal and informal forms of social support and the presence of any can be associated with experiencing fewer episodes of homelessness. Future research should continue to explore the intricacy of this social problem and conduct larger scale comprehensive studies that can provide a better insight into the impact of social support. Existing research and this study show that the availability of social support in the lives of those that are homeless can have positive outcomes in the improvement of their situation.

The purpose of this project was to create a research‑based sibling support group for 7 to 12 year‑old children who have a sibling with autism. Typically‑developing children (N = 3) and their parents attended a four‑week, once‑weekly sibling support group. The program focused on topics found to be the key issues of typically‑developing siblings who have a sibling with autism: discovering that others share similar family circumstances, learning about their sibling with autism’s special needs, discussing issues and problems children with siblings who have ASD typically face (and developing effective coping strategies to deal with these issues), and having an opportunity to express who they are as individuals. Pre‑and post‑ assessments showed that the group only slightly increased their knowledge about autism. Feedback from the children suggested that they especially enjoyed the opportunity to speak openly about their sibling with autism and having the opportunity to share activities and items that were important to them. The children reported that they did not enjoy having to complete worksheets related to information about autism spectrum disorder. Additionally, they did not understand the information that was presented about the programs and interventions that some children with ASD may use. Overall, the sibling support group provided an opportunity for children with a sibling with autism to share feelings and experiences about their sibling, including problems they face.

Patients receiving dialysis treatment experience immense changes in their health and well-being, therefore receiving adequate social support services is an integral aspect of their care plan. Thus, the purpose of this study was to gain an understanding about social support services offered by social workers to patients receiving dialysis care. Furthermore, this study sought to develop awareness about additional services need to assist social workers in providing social, emotional, and physical support to patients. This qualitative study used data from a non-probability snowball sample of 10 social workers that work with patients receiving dialysis care. Findings of this study are significant to social work practice as the analysis provided insight that may enhance current practices in dialysis centers. Furthermore, the qualitative analyses gathered through the one-on-one interviews led to the emergence of seven central themes. Themes anticipated by the researchers included the perception about the ability to provide social, emotional, and physical support, as well as to highlight the role of social workers in this healthcare setting. Additional themes identified during this study focused on reasons for patients lacking social support, the scarcity of resources, and recommendations corroborated with first-hand experiences in the field to better serve patients. Recommendations included increased focus on providing therapeutic services within dialysis, additional transportation options for patients, and greater availability of resources to meet the various needs of patients.

The auditing environment is in a period of innovation, and auditors need to maintain their financial reporting commitment to financial statement stakeholders. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional survey study was to examine the impact of auditors' perceptions of informal workplace learning contexts on the external auditing profession using a perceived organizational support lens. Organization support theory includes four aspects used to explore informal workplace learning: management support, peer support, supportive organizational culture, and access to work resources. These aspects were used to examine the impact of informal learning on auditors' engagement and performance. Multiple linear regression was used to examine data from a survey of 103 auditing professionals in Connecticut. Data showed that access to work resources, including time and technology, were significant in each model in relation to impact and its subcomponents engagement and performance. This indicated that auditors' access to the resources necessary to stay current has a positive impact in the auditing profession. This study fills the gap in the existing literature on the impact of informal learning on the auditing profession where there is continual change and informal learning is heavily relied upon to diffuse knowledge and skills in a highly knowledge-based environment. Better-qualified auditors can help businesses keep up with ever-changing societal expectations. The accounting profession is in a period of innovation that requires professionals of all levels to adapt to keep pace with the quickly changing globalized organization.

In recent years, family support partners (FSPs) have been hired to work in the behavioral health care system for the state in which this study was conducted. FSPs are legacy caregivers, meaning they have raised a child with a mental health illness. At the time of this study, there was not a set criterion in the state to measure the effectiveness or benefits of FSPs working with families. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to determine whether a caregiver's level of empowerment, as measured by the Family Empowerment Scale (FES), was increased through working with an FSP. Social learning theory provided the framework for the study. Survey data were collected from 93 caregivers using the FES. Simultaneous multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine the predictive relationship between the caregiver's gender, age, ethnicity, length of time as a caregiver of a child or youth with a mental health illness, and length of time the caregiver worked with an FSP, and the level of caregiver empowerment on the family, service system, and community/political levels. On the family level, caregiver age and length of time the caregiver worked with an FSP were statistically significant predictors. On the service system level, length of time the caregiver worked with an FSP was a statistically significant predictor. On the community/political level, caregiver age, ethnicity, and length of time the caregiver worked with an FSP were statistically significant predictors. Length of time the caregiver worked with an FSP was the only variable shown to be statistically significant on all 3 levels. Findings may be used to support peer specialists in the state this study was conducted and other states, not only in the mental health field, but in additional fields as well.

Acute rehabilitation hospitals assist brain injury patients and families who face a life- changing event to achieve greater independence and quality of life. During the acute rehabilitation phase of recovery, care is focused on the patient; however, there is a nationwide movement to implement patient- and family-centered care because caregivers experience grief and uncertainty about how to care for their loved one during hospitalization and upon discharge. The purpose of this staff education project was to educate rehabilitation staff on how to identify and to meet the needs of family members of brain injury patients in an acute rehabilitation center in the western United States. The patient- and family-centered care theoretical framework and Knowles's theory of adult learning supported the development and implementation of the educational program. The project site stakeholders identified educational opportunities to assist staff to meet caregiver needs and improve outcomes. Thirty-two staff including registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, patient care technicians, and nurse managers, received education for the support of caregivers for patients with brain injuries. The program was evaluated using a 5-point Likert type questionnaire. After receiving the education all participants agreed or strongly agreed that content increased their knowledge, skills, and confidence in caring for family caregivers of brain injury patients. Implications of this project for social change include the potential to improve patient outcomes through caregiver knowledge and skills to provide care to patients with brain injury.

Research exploring the relationship between social supports and resilience among hospital-based nurses and teachers has offered little to illuminate how school nurses identify and access social support and the impact it may have on their ability to manage ongoing daily stressors or develop resilience. The social networks and social support model suggest that access to social support may underscore the development of effective coping. This study explored the relationship between social supports as measured by a self-report questionnaire, and resilience as measured by the Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). It was hypothesized that a positive correlation would exist between use of personal, professional, and community social support and school nurse resilience scores. Additional hypotheses were that resilience would be positively correlated with longevity, perception of funding, and professional school nurse association activity. A convenience sample of 145 certified school nurses employed in one northeastern state's public schools completed an online survey that included a behavioral questionnaire and the CD-RISC. t tests and correlations were employed to examine the relationship between the variables. Both collaboration with multidisciplinary team members within the school setting and identification of personal and professional social support were significantly correlated with school nurse resilience. Results may influence positive social change for the individual school nurse via an improved ability to cope with workplace stressors. The bidirectional nature of resilience suggests interaction with a resilient nurse may influence the broader school community with an impact on cost, attendance, and learning.

While a growing body of evidence suggests health-related behaviors, such as problem and pathological gambling, are affected by multiple levels of influence, gambling studies using an ecological approach have not been documented. This dissertation work, that contains three studies, contributes to fill such research gap by examining gamblers' behaviors in formal treatment programs using an ecological approach. In study 1, the influences of the environmental and individual level factors on the treatment completion is examined. Previous studies have shown that treatment completion has a positive impact on the recovery path from gambling problems. In study 2 and study 3, interpersonal communication between gamblers and their social support networks is explored. More specifically, these two studies focus on understanding of the disclosure of gambling problems using the Integrated Model of Health Disclosure Decision-making. These two studies are significant because this may be the first attempt in gambling studies to explore disclosure of gambling problems. Disclosure may be a necessary step to ameliorate the negative consequences of gambling by creating or reinforcing gamblers' social support network. Each of these studies uses a distinctive dataset and methodology. Study 1 uses the Iowa Gambling Treatment Outcome system data from 2005 to 2011 from the Iowa Department of Public Health. Study 2 uses the 2011 Iowa Gambling Attitude and Experiences survey data, which included questions designed specifically for gambling disclosure. Study 3 is based on qualitative data (interviews) collected from gamblers who disclosed their gambling problems within their social support network. Results from study 1 based on a generalized linear mixed model suggest that self-reported past behavior of either reducing or quitting gambling behavior has a significant effect on treatment plan completion. Also, gamblers admitted to large treatment agencies that served mostly in urban areas are less likely to complete the treatment plan compared to gamblers admitted in any other type of agencies in urban or rural areas. In study 2, path analysis was performed to examine the disclosure of gambling problems within gamblers' social support network. Severity of gambling was the only significant predictor of disclosure. Study 3 found that the factors that affected disclosure are confrontation, gambling losses, stigma, trust, non-judgmental receivers, and close and long relationship. Outcomes expectations and past experience were also important in disclosure. Disclosures did not have substantial consequences for the size and strength of ties in their social support group, suggesting disclosures did not harm or strengthen relationships. Study 2 and study 3 both suggest that as gambling addiction become more severe, signs of gambling problems could be more visible to the members of social support groups. This may lead to disclosure of gambling problems through confrontations initiated by a friend or family member.

The implementation of schoolwide positive behavioral support (SWPBS) programs is becoming increasingly common in schools across the nation. Although a primary assumption of SWPBS is that schoolwide administration of positive supports to students who meet behavioral expectations will result in fewer behavior problems, surprisingly few studies have investigated the effects of various positive reinforcement rates (RR) on office discipline referral rates (ODR). This study investigated the relationship between RRs and ODRs among schools (N = 44) implementing SWPBS programs with high fidelity. Results revealed no significant differences in RRs or ODRs between Title I and non-Title I schools but did reveal a significant difference in the ratio of RRs to ODRs between the top and bottom ODR quartile schools. Overall, RRs were slightly associated with a decrease in ODRs. Results also suggested schools did not appropriately respond to schoolwide RR and ODR data. The present status of SWPBS data collection and utilization procedures is presented and practical implications are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate child support orders made after legislative adoption of child support guidelines by comparing them to child support orders made prior to uniform guideline adoption to determine if child support orders had increased, decreased, or remained the same; to determine if child support orders were adequately covering the cost of raising children; to determine if child support guidelines had resulted in similar treatment of comparable cases; to determine if judges/hearing officers were deviating from the guidelines; and to determine the reasons for deviation. There was no statistically significant difference found between the mean child support order made under the legislative guidelines and the mean child support order made prior to standardized guideline adoption. When the mean child support order made under the uniform guidelines was compared to the 1990 poverty standard, no statistically significant difference was found. However, the mean child support order under the legislative guidelines was found to be significantly less than both the 1990 USDA estimate of the cost of rearing children and Espenshade's (1984) updated estimate of expenditures on children. No significant difference was found between the rate of compliance/noncompliance with the guidelines by judicial district. However, a statistically significant difference was found to exist between counties. Results indicate that there is still a great deal of variation in the amount of child support being ordered under standardized child support guidelines.