[ { "id": 108662, "doi": "10.1300/J407v05n03_04", "year": 1989, "title": "Prediction and decision making in child welfare.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Use of computer-based statistical models to support decision making may reduce the subjectivity and uncertainty in this process to more acceptable levels. Multivariate procedures capture the collective experience of many workers by integrating information from a large number of variables and cases. Once a predictive model has been developed and validated, the profile of new cases can be compared to cases already on the data base. The probability of critical case events such as admission to care, occurrence of abuse, and placement breakdown can be identified. Such capabilities could also be incorporated into the development of computerized information systems. This would facilitate case planning and a more equitable and effective match between client needs and resource utilization. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 108670, "doi": "10.1300/J407v04n01_15", "year": 1989, "title": "First generation expert systems in social welfare.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Discusses problems involved in the development of expert systems in social welfare, examining the use of this technology in describing the decision-making rules used by child welfare workers. Issues involving the requirements for expert system shells, knowledge engineering (i.e., working with agencies to develop systems), and system verification are considered. Intellectual issues in the use of these systems are examined. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 108692, "doi": "10.1300/J407v04n03_04", "year": 1989, "title": "A micro-based decision support system for managing aggressive case management programs for treatment resistant clients.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Describes the computer system design; hardware configuration; database management system; software system standards; client process, paper flow, and file structure; and the role of the computer system in supporting the clinical decision process of an experimental, intensive, case management program to serve the chronically mentally ill residents of Denver, Colorado. While the system handles many administrative functions such as client billing, it also produces reports that address specifically the case management decisions that must be made. These relate to assignment of cases, distribution of resources, and disposition of nonresponsive clients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 108706, "doi": "10.1300/J407v05n01_03", "year": 1989, "title": "Computers and social diagnosis: The client's perspective.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Addresses ways in which computers will likely continue to influence social diagnosis within direct practice. A discussion of social diagnosis, defined as activities involved in clinical assessment, is followed by an overview of current and emerging uses of and issues about computers from the perspective of the client. Greater speed, ease, and client receptivity enhance the attractiveness and feasibility of computer assessment, as opposed to paper and pencil assessments, for both client and worker. It is noted that computer-based management and decision support systems are appearing in most human service settings. A computerized clinical assessment system is provided as an illustration followed by discussion of expected future directions and of the need for social workers to take an active and informed role in shaping these developments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 108719, "doi": "10.1300/J407v04n01_14", "year": 1989, "title": "Artificial intelligence: An aide in child protective service caseload control systems.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Discusses the development of tools to help structure and monitor the practice and management of child protective services, focusing on risk assessment, case decision making, workload control, and service unit definition. A management support system is described that addresses productivity, accountability, crisis control/aversion, financial control, and evaluation research. The use of an artificial intelligence processor to redefine a standardized set of tasks into service units is also discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 54150, "doi": "10.1177/104438949007100404", "year": 1990, "title": "EXPERT SYSTEMS AND THEIR POTENTIAL USES IN SOCIAL-WORK", "journal": "Families in Society", "abstract": null }, { "id": 108524, "doi": "10.1300/J407v07n03_01", "year": 1990, "title": "Partners in thinking and learning.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Views the role of computers as moving from tool to intellectual partner in learning and thinking. Computer-controlled video and artificial intelligence are reviewed, and the ability of computers to stimulate bonding and increase the personal efficacy of their users is discussed. Future technology development will include the ability to create complex simulations of human development and interaction to understand and predict outcomes ranging from therapeutic interventions to organizational management decisions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 108631, "doi": "10.1300/J407v06n04_03", "year": 1990, "title": "Computer assisted decision making.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Presents a decision-making framework for analyzing human service activities to show how information systems (ISs), decision support systems (DSSs), and expert systems (ESs) can aid in decision making. The tasks or decision structure of human service practitioners can be classified as structured (e.g., accounting), semi-structured (e.g., client interviews), or unstructured (e.g., treatment planning). Examples are presented of (1) a clinical and fiscal IS used by a residential children's program, (2) a DSS used in a home supportive services program, and (3) an ES that makes recommendations for placement of children in child welfare practice. Also addressed are ethical and legal questions concerning such computer systems as well as computer literacy in human services education and practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 108635, "doi": "10.1300/J407v06n04_02", "year": 1990, "title": "Expert systems: New tools for professional decision-making.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Describes expert systems technology (EST) and its application to human service practice. EST consists of computer programs that allow a user to ask a series of questions about a specific problem (e.g., cocaine abuse). The computer then processes the information and offers advice. EST comprises a subfield of artificial intelligence. One system having to do with psychological functioning is BLUE BOX, which advises physicians on selecting therapy for depressed patients. The pitfalls of EST involve their costliness, limited applications, and certain ethical issues. Advantages involve the support of professional decision making, use in training, and the description and codification of knowledge. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 108645, "doi": "10.1300/J407v06n01_16", "year": 1990, "title": "The Continuum of Care System: A decision support system in human services.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Describes a decision support system designed to assist social workers responsible for identifying and selecting alternative living arrangements for children unable to remain in their own families. The Continuum of Care System consists of 2 software packages called MATCH and PROFILE. MATCH produces a rank-ordered list of prospective placement alternatives by statistically comparing an individual child to groups of children previously admitted into different residential facilities. PROFILE summarizes the characteristics and problems of children at each of 72 facilities in the system. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 108648, "doi": "10.1300/J407v06n04_04", "year": 1990, "title": "Developing expert systems.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Provides an overview of the general procedure involved in developing expert systems (ESs), beginning with the selection of a suitable problem. Problems should be possible, justified, and appropriate for ES application. Actual development of the ES begins with formulating and representing the knowledge base. Then a programming tool is selected for use in developing the ES, and a working prototype is developed. After evaluation and reformulation, the full ES is completed. Finally, the performance of the ES is formally evaluated, final modifications are made, and the ES is put into everyday use. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 108651, "doi": "10.1300/J407v07n03_10", "year": 1990, "title": "Teaching students by having them emulate an expert system.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "An expert system for the computer, designed to demonstrate a procedure for research hypothesis formulation that students found difficult to master, became the stimulus and the prototype for developing a better way to teach this material. Ss simulated a computer by rigidly following explicit instructions. This enabled them to learn what had eluded them: the logical deduction of new hypotheses from a set of linkable propositions. Ss' success in this mechanical task became the basis for their understanding of the logic behind the procedure. They learned to break the task down into small, easily understood and executed steps. Earlier problems with the procedure may have been wrongly interpreted as problems in understanding rather than problems caused by insufficient procedural directions. (0 ref) (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 122064, "doi": null, "year": 1990, "title": "Social workers and salesworkers: Similarities and differences.", "journal": "Psychoanalytic Social Work", "abstract": "Uses the neurolinguistic programming (NLP) model of communication to discuss similarities between social workers and salespersons in the characteristics they need to complete their goals. Both occupations require the ability to influence others through \"joining with\" (establishing rapport) and then leading people in a new and positive direction. Differences between the 2 occupations in goals, responsibilities, and training are summarized. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 108627, "doi": "10.1300/J407v08n02_04", "year": 1991, "title": "Programmers, analysts, and human service workers: Cognitive styles and task implications for system design.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Individual differences have been identified as sources of variance in the design, success, and use of both management information and decision support systems. Research is summarized that suggests cognitive style and task requirements may complicate the design of management information and decision support systems for use in human services. A case study of the development of a research data base for surgeons provides the basis for discussing task implications of human service systems that are designed to support direct practitioners. Potential problems are identified and prescriptive measures are suggested. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 121957, "doi": null, "year": 1991, "title": "Ethical dilemmas in applying second-wave information technology to social work practice.", "journal": "Social Work", "abstract": "Examines ethical dilemmas posed by the use of 2nd-wave information technology in social work practice to encourage constructive adaptation to the coming technological change. The 2nd-wave is characterized by modern databases, decision-support systems, expert systems, electronic networks, and therapeutic applications that have a greater impact on direct practice. Seven ethical issues in quality of care are discussed. The 1st 3 (beneficence, equity of access to scarce resources, and promotion of the common good) concern ethical values and principles. The remaining 4 concern social practice: preservation of individualized care, maintenance of flexibility in treatment choices, links with community networks, and use of treatment time. Technological adaptation is not a deterministic process, and this discussion will help the profession to harness the new technologies to improve client care. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 367, "doi": null, "year": 1992, "title": "REORGANIZING THE EXPERIENCE OF SELF AND THE SPOUSE - AN INTEGRATED MODEL BASED ON NLP AND MEDITATION", "journal": "Indian Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "The paper attempts to develop a treatment model for marital couples in conflict. The focus is to train each couple to develop his/her capacity to experience the real self and differentiate it from the \"pseudo-self\" that tends to hectically get involved in blaming and feeling victimised. The three levels of self, i.e., the Mundane Self, the Intermediary Self and the Higher Self are differentiated Some techniques of meditation and neuro-linguistic programming are presented to facilitate re-organisation of the experience of self, which will eventually reduce interpersonal conflicts and promote self-growth" }, { "id": 402, "doi": "10.1080/10437797.1992.10778775", "year": 1992, "title": "TEACHING STUDENTS TO PERFORM ASSESSMENTS", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Education", "abstract": "In recent years, assessment methods and skills have been increasingly emphasized in the social work literature. Little information, however, has been provided about how to teach students assessment skills in a classroom setting. This article addresses that gap in the literature and presents an integrative shills assessment approach for teaching students to perform assessments. This approach is based on technical eclecticism and combines assessment methods and skills from three practice models: (1) psychosocial, (2) cognitive-behavioral, and (3) systems. Knowledge and skills about measurement, computerized assessment models and expert systems also are included in this approach to teaching assessment skills. The authors provide suggestions and tools for teaching assessment skills in a classroom, including an integrative skills assessment protocol and several techniques that may be used to teach students to gather assessment data. In teaching assessment skills, possible links may be developed with the field practicum and the classroom experience of students. In addition, the authors suggest that students benefit from the integrative shills approach. The approach is comprehensive, flexible, competency based, technological, and empirically based. However, shortcomings are that the approach is a clinical practice approach that excludes other forms of practice and that the integrative skills assessment approach does not help students develop skills for performing the rapid assessments frequently required for brief interventions." }, { "id": 479, "doi": null, "year": 1992, "title": "PSYCHOSOCIAL-ASPECTS OF END-STAGE RENAL-DISEASE - ISSUES OF OUR TIMES - HARDY,MA, KIERNAN,J, KUTSCHER,AH, CAHILL,L, BENVENISTY,AI", "journal": "Social Work in Health Care", "abstract": null }, { "id": 108622, "doi": "10.1300/J407v08n03_08", "year": 1992, "title": "A knowledge based system for assisting in differential diagnosis of chemically dependent/mentally ill patients.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Discusses the use of Knowledge Base 2.1, a computer program that administers a response-dependent, structured interview to evaluate the presence of psychiatric disorders within the chemical dependency treatment setting. The problems commonly encountered when conducting clinical interviews are summarized, as are problems in psychometric examinations and differentially diagnosing psychiatric disorders. Knowledge Base 2.1 uses combined computer techniques of rule-driven logic, pattern matching, and an original algorithm that accomplishes a real-time restandardization of the complete database. Knowledge Base 2.1 also functions as a research tool inasmuch as all patient responses to this structured interview are permanently stored in computer files for ongoing analysis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 107056, "doi": null, "year": 1993, "title": "Technology in People Services: Research, Theory, and Applications. Part One.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "This issue contains a collection of papers presented at the Human Service Information Technology Applications (HUSITA) 1991 International Conference, held in New Brunswick, New Jersey, June 26-30. The papers represent a significant emerging interdisciplinary field of research, theory, and computer applications in the human services. The conference covered topics of concern to professionals, leaders and activists in health/mental health, aging, disabilities/rehabilitation, substance abuse, family/children, community/neighborhood, instruction/education, government support for computerization, expert systems and their applications, administration and management, ethics and societal issues, and other relevant areas in the field of human services. The marriage of technology and human services is an innovative form of integrating social goals into technology development for the betterment of society. New technologies hold the immense promise for improving the quality of life. If this promise is to be fulfilled, it needs to be based on democratic principles, on economic and social justice, and be accessible to all populations so as to enhance and meet human needs, promote empowerment and public access, and stimulate the development of relevant and affordable applications. The papers cover activities carried out by practitioners in many countries, reflecting issues in human services from the government to the private sector. Many of the problems and solutions are international in scope, and some apply to small communities. The idea of thinking globally and acting locally is more accessible now with the growing expansion of electronic networks among countries, people, and organizations. (Introduction, edited.)" }, { "id": 108593, "doi": "10.1300/J407v09n03_16", "year": 1993, "title": "Expert system development in ill-structured domains: The application of artificial intelligence technology to diagnosis and assessment in the human services.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Examines the problems and promise of knowledge creation and representation in the human services. It is proposed that expertise found in welfare agencies can be exploited to develop expert system software. The contention of the paper is that the knowledge base of a system is never complete and that disciplines vary in terms of what constitutes acceptable levels of proof and measurement of certainty; that limitations intrinsic to an expert system are not limitations of design, but are limitations demonstrating conceptual and theoretical limits in the simulation of dynamic expertise; and that an acceptance of the limitations of knowledge acquisition and representation may paradoxically lead to the design of usable expert systems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 108595, "doi": "10.1300/J407v09n03_25", "year": 1993, "title": "Computer ethics: Moral philosophy or professional propaganda?", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "This paper, in clarifying the relation of \"computer ethics\" to issues of personal freedom, social control, and social inequality, seeks to provide human service workers and other professional computer specialists with a framework for identifying the social effects and moral dimensions of computerization. Perspectives and contexts prominent in the discussion of computer ethics are reviews of classical and contemporary ethical theory, social impact issues, workplace and professional ethics, artificial intelligence, and cultural issues. Overall, a problem exists in that the issues of ethical philosophy, social impact, and moral values are conflated in most studies of computer ethics. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 108599, "doi": "10.1300/J407v09n03_17", "year": 1993, "title": "Desktop expert systems: Applications for social services.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Expert systems can be used to develop knowledge based applications that automate policy manuals, provide tutorial support in training situations, provide support in decision making situations, etc. The low cost, extensive documentation, and short learning time allow agencies to develop applications unique to their needs or to allow individual employees to develop applications that help them with some aspects of their work. Contrary to the prevailing view, a client's dignity and worth need not be compromised with increased computer use. Instead, the quality of client service will likely increase. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 108602, "doi": "10.1300/J407v09n03_15", "year": 1993, "title": "From rules to prototypes: Adapting expert systems to the nature of expertise in clinical information processing.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Discusses the nature of memory-based expertise and questions the feasibility of capturing it through expert systems. Because effective expertise in clinical situations is based more on memory than on logic and analysis, training based on computerized case simulations is suggested as an alternative. The need for knowledge on the specific impact that interventions have on distinct subgroups of consumers is also discussed. Such knowledge can be used to guide training and assist consumers in making key decisions. Expert systems, for example, might mimic the expert's content, but the user is likely to lack the cognitive capability to use the system. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 108612, "doi": "10.1300/J407v10n01_08", "year": 1993, "title": "DTREE, the electronic DSM-III\u2014R.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Reviews the DTREE, a microcomputer-based implementation of the %DSM-III-R% decision tree for differential psychiatric diagnoses. It can be operated in either clinical or case mode. In clinical mode, the system operates as an expert system that assists in making diagnoses; in the case mode, it acts as an instructional tool. (0 ref) (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 126789, "doi": null, "year": 1993, "title": "Ethical Dilemmas in Social Work with the Application of Computer Technology", "journal": "Social Work-Maatskaplike Werk", "abstract": "A sketch of ethical guidelines for use by the social worker integrating the computer into a changing practice context, with a focus on issues of accountability, confidentiality, & autonomy vs paternalism. While the computer represents a resource for managing large amounts of information in clinical practice & in administration, it also demands a high level of ethical behavior in social work. After discussing professional dilemmas in social work practice involving ethical principles, the kinds of available social work software are surveyed, including the decision support system, client assessment system, computer-assisted practice evaluation program, & the ELIZA program. 21 References. Adapted from the source document." }, { "id": 25913, "doi": "10.1080/10437797.1994.10672235", "year": 1994, "title": "HYPERMEDIA COMPUTER-BASED EDUCATION IN SOCIAL-WORK EDUCATION", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Education", "abstract": "Hypermedia computer-based education (CBE) is an emerging information technology that makes possible user-directed, nonsequential exploration of, and interaction with, information presented through a variety of media including text, animation, graphics, sound, and video. This article describes hypermedia CBE and briefly reviews the research on its instructional efficacy. A synopsis of the theoretical foundation covers cognitive theory concepts of information networks and associative learning, web teaching principles, andragogical theory as it relates to social work education, and hypermedia CBE structure. Examples of current and potential applications in social work education demonstrate that hypermedia CBE can emulate the dynamic, iterative learning process of knowledge acquisition, knowledge testing, and content integration through practice simulation." }, { "id": 25973, "doi": null, "year": 1994, "title": "ASSOCIATIONS OF SOCIAL INTEGRATION VARIABLES WITH PRENATAL-CARE USE BY ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG-ADULTS", "journal": "Journal of Social Service Research", "abstract": "This study examines the degree to which social indicators such as rates of employment, divorce, death and population density are predictive of the timing and frequency of prenatal visits among adolescents and young adults. Predictive models are examined separately for urban versus rural women, and by age cohort: early, middle, late adolescents and young adults. Findings suggest that the timing of prenatal care is predominantly influenced by emotional and cognitive factors, whereas the frequency of visits is influenced by economic and logistical phenomena. These phenomena vary with age and urban and rural environments. Specifically, social conditions can have a disproportionate effect on prenatal care use by younger mothers." }, { "id": 33912, "doi": "10.1093/swr/18.4.239", "year": 1994, "title": "FITTING REGRESSION-MODELS TO RESEARCH QUESTIONS FOR ANALYZING CHANGE IN NONEXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH", "journal": "Social Work Research", "abstract": "This article discusses the problems associated with analyzing change in nonexperimental data. Three ordinary least squares regression models are presented and empirically tested to illustrate similarities and differences. Model one, based on raw difference change scores, applies best to studying change processes. Model two, based on outcome scares, applies best to assessing the consequences of change. Model three, based on residualized scores, applies best to developing predictive models or interpreting the amount of variance accounted for in the dependent variable. The discussion justifies these different applications and suggests the kinds of social work research questions that best fit with the different models of analysis." }, { "id": 34108, "doi": "10.1300/j147v18n04_04", "year": 1994, "title": "PRACTITIONERS AND THE CASE RECORD - PATTERNS OF USE", "journal": "Administration in Social Work", "abstract": "Case recording systems often are criticized for their incompatibility with practitioner requirements. In order to develop systems that truly assist practitioners, ii is first necessary to identify and understand how the case record is actually utilized. Along these lines, the case study reported here analyzes actual patterns of practitioner utilization of the case record. Carried out in a child development center, it employs a multifaceted approach incorporating knowledge acquisition, examination of practitioner work flow and the agency's treatment emphasis, case record analysis and non-participant observation. Nine patterns of practitioner usage were identified. The authors argue that practitioners employ these patterns to select data in a process of case explication, i.e., the creation of a menial image of the overall client situation in preparation for decision milking. The manual case file was found to be lacking in support for several of the usage patterns. Moreover, its static nature impedes improvement of its utilization for case explication." }, { "id": 34164, "doi": "10.1300/j079v19n01_07", "year": 1994, "title": "UNDERSTANDING AND REPRESENTING HUMAN-SERVICES KNOWLEDGE - THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING EXPERT-SYSTEMS", "journal": "Journal of Social Service Research", "abstract": "Expert systems-computerized decision consultants-offer potential for human service professionals to share expertise and reduce variability in decision making. The development of such systems is particularly important in the field of child protection because of high staff turnover and complex decision making requirements. This paper presents an m'ethod for knowledge acquisition in building a prototype expert system in child welfare. Patterns of decision making are traced and translated into computer-based rules. Solutions to research problems in developing expert systems are presented. Continued refinement of research practice in this area can lead to the development of usable expert systems for the social services." }, { "id": 84099, "doi": "10.1300/j067v09n01_04", "year": 1994, "title": "Teaching applications of expert systems", "journal": "Journal of Teaching in Social Work", "abstract": "Commercial expert systems development shells for desk-top computers offers social work educators and trainers a tool for developing computer based classroom and computer laboratory teaching applications. Expert systems can be used to develop knowledge based applications that provide tutorial support, give and score examinations, automate programmed leaming exercises, and teach decision making. Further, many shells are low in cost and have extensive documentation. They are easy to leam thereby allowing teachers to create applications unique to their course needs. \u00a9 1994 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved." }, { "id": 106736, "doi": null, "year": 1994, "title": "Soft computing for soft technologies: artificial neural networks and fuzzy set theory for human services.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "This article outlines the basic concepts of neural networks, gives information on the presently available hardware and software, and discusses the possible implications of this technology for the human services and service provision. (Journal abstract.)" }, { "id": 106738, "doi": null, "year": 1994, "title": "Reliability of an automated decision support system for behavioral treatment planning: preliminary results from the mental retardation-expert.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Automated decision support systems can provide inexperienced individuals with expert advice. But while a computer will always arrive at the same conclusion from a given set of data, human users bring individual variability to decision making. This study examined the reliability of the decision support component of an expert system, the Mental Retardation-Expert (MR-E), which assists clinicians who treat problem behaviors of individuals with mental retardation or developmental disabilities. Four clinicians independently used MR-E to obtain consultations on 31 separate cases abstracted from the published literature. (Journal abstract.)" }, { "id": 107052, "doi": null, "year": 1994, "title": "Using artificial intelligence to model juvenile recidivism patterns.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Risk management has had a major positive impact on increasing the effectiveness of probation supervision. However, while methods and procedures for designing and implementing such a system are well known, there is still a lack of utilization among many juvenile courts. Discriminant classification and neural network models were developed to decide the set of classification variables that would significantly differentiate recidivists from non-recidivists. These models correctly differentiated between recidivists and non-recidivists in 63 percent (discriminant) and 99 percent (neural network) of the cases respectively. (Journal abstract.)" }, { "id": 82771, "doi": "10.1300/j079v19n03_02", "year": 1995, "title": "Associations of social integration variables with prenatal care use by adolescents and young adults", "journal": "Journal of Social Service Research", "abstract": "This study examines the degree to which social indicators such as rates of employment, divorce, death and population density are predictive of the timing and frequency of prenatal visits among adolescents and young adults. Predictive models are examined separately for urban versus rural women, and by age cohort: early, middle, late adolescents and young adults. Findings suggest that the timing of prenatal care is predominantly influenced by emotional and cognitive factors, whereas he frequency of visits is influenced by economic and logistical phenomena. These phenomena vary with age and urban and rural environments. Specifically, social conditions can have a disproportionate effect on prenatal care use by younger mothers. \u00a9 1994 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC." }, { "id": 24464, "doi": "10.1080/10437797.1997.10778870", "year": 1997, "title": "What the practitioner knows versus what the client is told: Neglected dilemmas of informed consent in an account of single-system experimental designs", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Education", "abstract": "This article revisits the question, pursued in an interchange between Thomas (1978) and Gambrill and Earth (1980), on whether conflicts exist between service goals and research goals in the use of single-system experimental designs (SSDs) for practice evaluation. The authors approach the issue through an analysis of how informed consent is handled in one widely used textbook promoting the SSD model of practice evaluation. They argue that the text's suggestions for what to tell the client about reasons for using SSDs ignore knowledge acquisition goals emphasized elsewhere in the text, th us obscuring possible conflicts between the needs of the client and the requirements of SSD methodology. These failures of informed consent reveal largely neglected conflicts between practice and evaluation goals within the SSD model commonly taught to social work students." }, { "id": 32507, "doi": "10.1080/10437797.1997.10778886", "year": 1997, "title": "Effects of an educational unit about lesbian identity development and disclosure in a social work methods course", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Education", "abstract": "This article describes an investigation of the effects of a shortterm educational intervention on graduate social work students' attitudes toward lesbians and gay men, their knowledge about lesbian identity development and disclosure, and their anticipated professional behavior with lesbian clients. The author describes the importance of reducing homophobia among social work students and presents a theoretical framework for the educational intervention used in this study. Although knowledge acquisition significantly increased among students in both of the study's treatment groups relative to the comparison group, and although students from one treatment group showed significant improvement in their attitudes toward gay men relative to the comparison group, neither treatment group significantly improved in their attitudes toward lesbians or their anticipated professional behavior with lesbian clients relative to the comparison group." }, { "id": 32744, "doi": null, "year": 1997, "title": "Computer technology in clinical practice: A critical analysis", "journal": "Social Work & Social Sciences Review", "abstract": "Many new computer technologies are now available for use in clinical practice. This paper focuses on these technologies;particular emphasis is placed on the Expert System. The goal of the paper is to present a number of conceptual and ethical concerns that should be considered when using computers in clinical practice." }, { "id": 31934, "doi": "10.1093/swr/22.4.195", "year": 1998, "title": "The development and evaluation of a hybrid decision support system for clinical decision making: The case of discharge from the military", "journal": "Social Work Research", "abstract": "This article reports on the development, implementation, and evaluation of a decision support system (DSS), a hybrid of a statistical model (regression equation) and expert rules, to support this decision. The study focused on the decisions made by social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists serving as military mental health officers to recommend discharge from compulsory duty in the Israeli army because of mental or emotional difficulties. The process involved three consecutive steps: modeling decisions by statistical analysis of past and current decisions and by eliciting expert rules, developing a hybrid decision support system, and evaluating the DSS through empirical validation and a user survey. The validity of this hybrid DSS was established. The DSS was able to predict 86.5 percent of new decisions mode by mental health officers and 70 percent of past decisions. User acceptance, on the other hand, was low. This article discusses these findings and their implications for practice." }, { "id": 85109, "doi": null, "year": 1998, "title": "Expert system for utilization review of alcohol and drug abuse cases", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Expert system software was developed to assist in determining the appropriate treatment for substance abuse patients. The software applies criteria, called the Mental Health Review Criteria (MHRC\u00a9), which are widely used by utilization review professionals who make treatment decisions in managed health care plans. The expert system also collects a database of patient information, including the Paths that led to all treatment decisions. The expert system was evaluated by comparing its decisions with those of managed care nurse reviewers and with those of a panel of physicians who helped to develop the MHRC. A set of 70 cases were assessed by the expert system, the nurse reviewers, and the physician panel. The possible decision outcomes were approval of providers' requests for inpatient detoxification or referral for further consideration. The expert system and the nurse reviewers each agreed with the physician panel in about 85 percent of the cases. Both the expert system and the nurse reviewers were more likely to agree with the physician panel in the cases that they approved for inpatient treatment than in the cases that they referred for further consideration." }, { "id": 108517, "doi": "10.1300/J407v15n04_01", "year": 1998, "title": "Expert system for utilization review of alcohol and drug abuse cases.", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Expert system software was developed to assist in determining the appropriate treatment for substance abuse patients. The software applies criteria, called the Mental Health Review Criteria (MHRC), which are widely used by utilization review professionals who make treatment decisions in managed health care plans. The expert system also collects a database of patient information, including the paths that led to all treatment decisions. The expert system was evaluated by comparing its decisions on 70 cases with those of managed care nurse reviewers (NRs) and with those of a panel of physicians who helped to develop the MHRC. The possible decision outcomes were approval of providers' requests for inpatient detoxification or referral for further consideration. The expert system and the NRs each agreed with the physicians in about 85% of the cases. Both the expert system and the NRs were more likely to agree with the physicians in the cases that they approved for inpatient treatment than in those referred for further consideration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 85074, "doi": "10.1300/j017v16n04_05", "year": 1999, "title": "Spss neural connection 2.1", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Neural Connection 2.1 is an easy to use, Windows- based, neural network package. It offers a simplistic GUI (Graphical User Interface) and requires elementary use of a computer in its ability to construct complex neural networks. Evaluation Summary: Neural Connection provides a simplistic GUI that allows people who are first time users or long experienced constructors of neural networks to develop neural networks without having to construct programs or complex mathematics. The package comes with excellent user manuals that not only instruct in using the software but also provides insight into the actual developmental process of a neural network. A major drawback is the price of $799 for academics and $1,999 for retail. \u00a9 1999 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved." }, { "id": 85091, "doi": "10.1300/j017v16n02_02", "year": 1999, "title": "Using Case-Based Reasoning to Develop Computerized Guidance for Effective Practice", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Research on expertise suggests that several years of extensive practice should lead to the development of good insights into effective practice. This paper describes this research and what it suggests about ways to capture and utilize such expertise in a computerized training simulator. Case-based reasoning is looked at as a way to interpret this research and its utilization. The paper also summarizes a project that is collecting such experience-based insights in the child welfare field. Particular attention is directed at ways to validate the experiential insights collected." }, { "id": 85092, "doi": "10.1300/j017v16n02_05", "year": 1999, "title": "The Application of Artificial Neural Networks for Outcome Prediction in a Cohort of Severely Mentally 111 Outpatients", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Social workers and other mental health workers lack clinical decision support tools to predict which clients are at greatest risk of psychiatric rehospitalization. Artificial neural networks (ANNs), are computer decision support tools that make prediction and classification decisions based on accumulated experience and information contained in successfully solved cases (correct decisions). This study evaluates the use of ANNs in predicting rehospitalization of severely mentally ill outpatients. Eight Bayesian ANN models achieved correct prediction rates ranging from 75% to 93% for two prediction conditions. These results support the utility of Bayesian ANN models in the development of clinical decision support tools." }, { "id": 22857, "doi": "10.1177/104973150001000404", "year": 2000, "title": "Effects of interactive multimedia training on knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy of social work students", "journal": "Research on Social Work Practice", "abstract": "Objective: Building Family Foundations (BFF), an interactive multimedia (IM) training curriculum for child welfare workers, and its use with baccalaureate social work students is described. Students' attitudes reward technology and multimedia, instructional efficacy, and knowledge acquisition Ir ere examined. Method: Social work students viewed selected units from BFF and completed pretests and posttests using the BFF Competency Rating Scale (CRS), the Child Welfare Knowledge Assessment (CWKA), and the Technology Rating Scale, adapted for use with multimedia. To provide a control group, items from a unit the students did not view were included in the BFF CRS and the CWKA. Results: Significant differences between the pretest and posttest means were found. Users increased knowledge, developed a sense of competence in the subject area, and became more comfortable with the use of technology. Conclusion: The results indicate that IM is an effective means of providing baccalaureate social work education." }, { "id": 31114, "doi": "10.1086/514474", "year": 2000, "title": "Personal and social functioning: A pilot study", "journal": "Social Service Review", "abstract": "This article describes a nonexperimental study that seeks to determine the extent to which nine psychometrically sound measures of problems with social functioning account for seven different reliable and valid measures of problems with personal functioning. This study is based on a single predictive or explanatory model in which predictor variables are entered and tested in the same order through the use of hierarchical regression. The strong psychometric characteristics of the measures used make it possible to examine comprehensive predictive models, and this provides insight into the ways that the social environment affects personal adjustment." }, { "id": 30934, "doi": "10.1300/j079v28n02_01", "year": 2001, "title": "Predicting placement in foster care: A comparison of logistic regression and neural network analysis", "journal": "Journal of Social Service Research", "abstract": "In this paper we explore the use of neural network analysis (NNA) as an alternative to logistic regression to predict which children with a founded (indicated) child abuse/neglect report will be subsequently placed in foster care. The main advantages of NNA are that it is a nonparametric technique requiring no assumptions of normality that can readily accommodate both linear and nonlinear relationships and interactions without prior specification by the researcher. The two techniques were found to yield similar classification results for these data; however, NNA provides unique capabilities in analyzing and displaying interactions in predictor variables that may make it more useful for data mining. (C) 2001 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved." }, { "id": 83573, "doi": "10.1300/j160v01n02_07", "year": 2001, "title": "Addictions and the self:A Self-Enhance mentmodel for drug treatment in the crimi naljusticesystem", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions", "abstract": "This paper describes an experimental, strengths-based pro gram for the treat ment of sub stance abusing offend ersunder criminal jus tice su per vi sion in the United States Probation Department. The program is based upon new physiologicalevi dence that links ad die tions to the ex perience of hope, and consistent research that identifiesself-efficacy, futu rity and self-es teem as cru cialelements in recovery. Rooted in concepts taken from Jungian and Maslowian ideas of the Self, the program uses techniques gleaned from Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) and Ericksonian hyp nosis to provide a continuing sense of Self and the possibility of positive, self-actualizing fu tures. This article explores the theoretical back ground of the program, specific tools employed, program resuits and suggestions for further research. \u00a9 2001, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved." }, { "id": 85030, "doi": "10.1300/j017v17n04_01", "year": 2001, "title": "An assessment of the utilization of a computerized decision support system for youth probation officers", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "This article presents an assessment of a decision support system (DSS) to assist youth probation officers in selecting their recommendations to the courts. The evaluation employed mixed methods in a sequence of four stages: (1) Qualitative assessment of the impact of the DSS via interviews with senior administrators and analysis of documents; (2) Qualitative assessment of staff responses to the DSS, via focus groups and personal interviews; (3) Quantitative assessment of system utilization, via statistical analysis of data bases; and (4) Quantitative assessment of DSS utilization and its predictors, via administration of a battery of questionnaires to all youth probation officers throughout the country. Quantitative findings showed a low rate of utilization of the DSS by the youth probation officers and this is discussed and interpreted in light of the qualitative information stemming from the interviews. \u00a9 2000 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved." }, { "id": 98667, "doi": "10.1300/j041v13n01_10", "year": 2001, "title": "Sexual orientation bias experiences and service needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and two-spirited American Indians", "journal": "Journal of Gerontological Social Work", "abstract": "Employing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, this study examined: sexual orientation bias experiences among American Indians (AIs) who were gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, or two-spirited (GLBTT-S); service provider attitudes toward AI GLBTT-S; and service barriers and needs with respect to AI GLBTT-S at one AI community-based organization. Among the 14 AI GLBTT-S surveyed, the percentages reporting various bias-related experiences were comparable or greater to those reported for non-AI GLBTT-S in other studies (e.g., 36% had been physically assaulted because of their sexual orientation). The 22 service providers surveyed revealed generand comfort with AI GLBTT-S as well as understanding of AI GLBTTS terms. Data from 8 focus groups (7 with service providers and 1 with AI two-spirited men) yielded four main themes related to problems and barriers to service utilization for AI GLBTT-S (i.e., invisibility, discrimination, trauma, and identity) as well as ideas for community-based program planning with this population. \u00a9 2001 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved." }, { "id": 30422, "doi": "10.1093/swr/26.1.31", "year": 2002, "title": "Psychological and demographic predictors of attrition among batterers court ordered into treatment", "journal": "Social Work Research", "abstract": "The study investigated differences in demographic and psychological variables between treatment completers and dropouts among abusive men entering a court-mandated treatment program. An additional goal was to create a predictive model that would correctly identify men at greatest risk of dropping out of the program. The authors used a secondary analysis of 137 men randomly selected from a larger pool of 784 men. Analysis indicated that very few of the demographic and psychological variables differentiated between treatment completers and dropouts. However, a logistic regression model was developed that correctly predicted treatment completion for 75 percent of the sample. Implications of the findings for improving retention rates among men attending court-mandated batterer treatment programs are discussed." }, { "id": 30443, "doi": "10.1093/swr/26.1.19", "year": 2002, "title": "Using classification and regression trees (CART) to support worker decision making", "journal": "Social Work Research", "abstract": "Several approaches can be taken to predict case membership in the classes of a dependent variable. Classification and regression trees (CART) analysis has been cited repeatedly as a powerful nonparametric approach in fields where classification or prediction are of concern. To test CART's utility in a social work setting, the authors conducted a secondary analysis of data collected in a national study of child protective services screening practices to identify factors involved with worker decisions to investigate child maltreatment reports. The CART analysis revealed complex interaction effects previously unobserved in the logistic regression. Comparisons of CART with traditional statistical approaches and other tree-based programs are presented." }, { "id": 77156, "doi": "10.1300/j083v36n01_04", "year": 2002, "title": "Social Integration and Health Among Asian Indian Immigrants in the United States", "journal": "Journal of Gerontological Social Work", "abstract": "This research examines the relationship between social integration and health status (i.e., prevalence of chronic health conditions) among older first generation Asian Indian (AI) immigrants in the U.S. Data were collected through a telephone survey from 226 respondents (50 years and over) in the Southeastern U.S. The correlates of health status were determined using a Poisson regression analysis. The prevalence of major chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and hypertension in this sample was similar to those found in other studies of AI immigrants. Better health was associated with greater perceived support and having relatives nearby, whereas poorer health was associated with higher body mass index, longer residence in the U.S., being older, and being female. Implications for interventions designed to address the diversity within this immigrant community are discussed. \u00a9 2002 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved." }, { "id": 85021, "doi": "10.1300/j017v19v04_05", "year": 2002, "title": "Building a Model to Predict Caseworker and Supervisor Turnover Using a Neural Network and Logistic Regression", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Human service professionals are increasingly pressured to use sophisticated data analysis tools to support service decisions. However, the application of these tools often involves assumptions and nuances that are difficult for the practitioner to evaluate without specialized information. This article helps the practitioner evaluate two different quantitative methods, a logistic regression and a neural network. Both were used on the same data set to develop a model for predicting employee turnover in a regional child protective services agency. The different steps of building and enhancing the model were discussed. Ultimately, the neural network was able to predict turnover more accurately than a logistic regression by only 1%. The article provides advice to practitioners on comparing, evaluating, and interpreting logistic and neural network tools. \u00a9 2002 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved." }, { "id": 124270, "doi": null, "year": 2002, "title": "Evidence-based practice and decision analysis in social work: An implementation model.", "journal": "Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "This article on evidence-based practice and decision analysis develops an implementation model for social work. Thus far no detailed attempt has been made to formulate a systematic implementation framework for evidence-based practice in social work. The social and cultural, the professional and practice-based, and the educational and training contexts are highlighted. The emergence of evidence-based practice is placed within the context of risk society and the development of new expert systems that contribute to a radical re-shaping of social work practice. In the inevitable shift towards an actuarial practice, direct and therapeutic involvement with service users becomes less significant for social work. Following the work of L. Trinder (2000) two key approaches to evidence-based practice are discussed: the experimental and pragmatic perspectives. By drawing on the latter, a systems approach is developed via nine key related structures which constitute an implementation framework for evidence-based practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 29809, "doi": "10.1177/1049731503253364", "year": 2003, "title": "Reducing juvenile recidivism: Evaluating the wraparound services model", "journal": "Research on Social Work Practice", "abstract": "Objective: The purpose of this study was to (a) evaluate the relative effectiveness of wraparound services versus conventional services for juvenile delinquent youth and (b) create a predictive model that would assist the juvenile court system incorrectly identifying youth at greatest risk of reoffending. Method: The study employed a pretest/posttest, control group design, with 6, 12, and 18-month follow-up assessments, of 141 youth court-ordered into community-based treatment programs for delinquent youth. Results: Analysis indicated that few of the variables studied differentiated between wraparound services recipients and conventional service recipients. However a logistic regression model was developed that correctly predicted recidivism for 79% of the sample at the 6-month follow-up assessment (chi-square = 27.211, df = 6, p 0001) and 78% of the sample at the 18-month follow-up assessment (chi-square = 16.453, df = 8, p = .036). Conclusions: Implications of the findings for improving community-based juvenile diversion programs for delinquent youth were explored and discussed." }, { "id": 84955, "doi": "10.1300/j017v21n04_06", "year": 2003, "title": "Predicting Child Physical Abuse Recurrence: Comparison of a Neural Network to Logistic Regression", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "The present study explored the potential of an artificial neural network to improve prediction of recurrences of child physical abuse. Conducted on electronic data file compiled by the U.S. Air Force's central registry of child abuse reports, selected variables pertaining to all child physical abuse reports received from 1990-2000 (N = 5,612) were examined. Thirteen predictor variables and five interaction terms were identified for analysis. The neural network ultimately did not outperform an alternative method, binary logistic regression. \u00a9 2003 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved." }, { "id": 114710, "doi": "dc/9ce2c19ec0", "year": 2003, "title": "An Outcome Evaluation of Competency Based Training for Child Welfare", "journal": "Advances in Social Work", "abstract": "In response to the continuing need for competent child welfare professionals, a large mid-western university\u2019s College of Social Work collaborated with a public child welfare agency to design and implement a one year,Title IV-E-funded training opportunity for second-year MSW students. Student outcomes, including knowledge acquisition, attitudes about child welfare, and field of post-graduation employment, were evaluated using a quasi-experimental pre-post comparison group design (n=28).Results indicated that there were statistically significant differences between the two groups concerning attitudes about child welfare practice. However, although trainees\u2019 level of child welfare knowledge increased more than that of the comparison group, the difference did not reach statistical significance. Implications for practice and social work education are discussed." }, { "id": 21481, "doi": "10.1300/j147v28n01_08", "year": 2004, "title": "Assessing recent textbooks and casebooks in human service administration: Implications and future directions", "journal": "Administration in Social Work", "abstract": "Little attention has been given to assessing texts currently available to students of social work administration. This article evaluates twelve books in the field including descriptive findings related to audience, structure, definitions, managerial practice, and knowledge acquisition and skill development. The analysis utilizes an eleven-role framework to assess the relationship between the contents of the books and an empirical description of managerial work in the human services. The article concludes with a set of interpretations related to the balance between knowledge and skills, the degree to which theory informs practice, the use of empirical findings about practice, and the nature of learning strategies that include case-based and problem-centered learning. (C) 2004 by the Hawonh Press, Inc All rights reserved." }, { "id": 28819, "doi": "10.1093/sw/50.3.271", "year": 2005, "title": "The Americans with Disabilities Act: A decision tree for social services administrators", "journal": "Social Work", "abstract": "The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act has had a profound influence on social workers and social services administrators in virtually all work settings. Because of the multiple elements of the act, however, assessing the validity of claims can be a somewhat arduous and complicated task. This article provides a \"decision tree\" for administrators to assist with the evaluation of claims. This decision tree allows people who are considering the validity of an ADA claim to break the decision-making process into discrete steps that can be considered separately and sequentially. These steps include employee and disability status, employer knowledge of the disability, employee qualification for the job, the provision of accommodations, the adverse actions that may be included in a claim, valid employer rationales for adverse action, and the procedural elements required for a successful ADA claim. Issues that are important in each step are discussed." }, { "id": 28944, "doi": "10.1093/sw/50.2.131", "year": 2005, "title": "American Indian/Alaskan native grandparents raising grandchildren: Findings from the census 2000 supplementary survey", "journal": "Social Work", "abstract": "This article documents the prevalence and national profile of American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) grandparents who are raising their grandchildren, based on data from the American Community Survey/Census 2000 Supplementary Survey. In 2000 there were estimated to be nearly 53,000 AI/AN grandparent caregivers age 45 and older in the United States. Almost half of the caregiving grandparents had been raising a grandchild for five years or longer. The findings reveal a portrait of grandparents committed to raising their grandchildren despite the fact that many were living in extreme poverty, with ill health, and with limited resources and services. One-third of grandparent caregivers were living below the poverty line, and only one-quarter of these were receiving public assistance. Even when compared with their noncaregiving AI/AN peers, grandparents raising grandchildren were disproportionately female, poor, living with a functional disability, and living in overcrowded conditions. Implications for social work practice are presented and recommendations for policy and research are discussed." }, { "id": 29023, "doi": "10.1093/swr/29.1.21", "year": 2005, "title": "Thinking processes in social workers' use of a clinical decision support system: A qualitative study", "journal": "Social Work Research", "abstract": "The authors examined the thinking processes in the use of a decision support system (DSS) by social workers in a human services agency to determine whether they used the system to improve their case reasoning. Information was obtained from in-depth interviews with eight social workers who used a DSS in their work and from content analysis of \"narrative justifications\" appended to 1,074 decisions that differed from those recommended by the DSS. Findings show that the social workers used the DSS in a perfunctory manner in typical cases, but as an aid to thinking and reflection in atypical cases, in which they were uncertain of how to decide. On the whole, the social workers showed little interest in the DSSs recommendations, but reported that the process of entering data and answering the model's questions about the case were useful when the case was atypical. The authors suggest that computer support systems should be designed to help workers think through atypical cases." }, { "id": 29086, "doi": "10.1300/j147v29n04_02", "year": 2005, "title": "Social work and the new semantic information revolution", "journal": "Administration in Social Work", "abstract": "While Internet-based information technology (IT) has certainly affected the field of human services, observation suggests that the impact has been relatively less powerful than in other fields of endeavor. In other fields of endeavor, information technologies have been applied to whole-system transformations, involving process re-engineering, job and task restructuring, expert system support, customer management, and the emergence of matrix, network, and virtual organizational designs. Far fewer Of Such changes have occurred as a result of the introduction of IT into organizations dominated by professional social workers. In this essay we attempt to: (1) explain why the field of social work has been relatively immune to IT-supported transformations by outlining the organizational, administrative, policy, and technical barriers to such transformations in the social services domain; (2) identify the important emerging information technologies (agents, the Semantic Web, and machine learning) that could help to overcome the barriers to organizational transformation; (3) delineate the steps that social services organizations and professionals will need to take in order to capitalize on these emerging technologies." }, { "id": 20298, "doi": "10.1300/j067v26n03_12", "year": 2006, "title": "Data Mining for Web Site Evaluation: An Exploration of Site Usage by Graduate Social Work Students", "journal": "Journal of Teaching in Social Work", "abstract": "This paper evaluates the actual use of a course Website by graduate social work students. The study utilized data mining techniques to discover meaningful trends by using the data from server logs. The course Website was accessed 24,730 times by all 49 graduate students during a semester. The students utilized the course Website 23 hours a day, 7 days a week, day and night, evening hours, and weekends. The most popular area was the course documents area and the least popular was the student area. Study findings have implications for distance learning in higher education." }, { "id": 20388, "doi": "10.1300/j079v32n04_03", "year": 2006, "title": "Predicting recidivism following participation in a treatment program for batterers", "journal": "Journal of Social Service Research", "abstract": "This study examined recidivism rates for 197 batterers who participated in a state-sponsored domestic violence treatment program. The primary objective of the study was to identify factors associated with liost-intervention recidivism. Significant factors identified through bivariate analyses were analyzed through logistic regression for the purpose of developing predictive models. Bivariate analyses identified 10 factors associated with post-intervention recidivism. Of these factors, logistic regression identified four factors that were predictive of recidivism. These four factors-psychopathology (personality disorders), psychiatric history, substance abuse, and child abuse in family of origin were able to 'predict 84% of all outcomes and 97% and 28% of abstainers and reoffenders, respectively. The data suggest that batterer characteristics, particularly batterer pathology and substance abuse, are more influential determinants of recidivism than systemic and programmatic factors. These findings are discussed with respect to their implications for policy, practice, and future research." }, { "id": 28370, "doi": "10.1300/j079v32n04_07", "year": 2006, "title": "Examination of the child protective services decision-making context with implications for decision support system design", "journal": "Journal of Social Service Research", "abstract": "The general perception of Child Protective Services (CPS) decision making is that it is inconsistent and prone to error. As a result, risk assessment instruments were developed to enable investigators to make better decisions. The present Study uses a qualitative approach with an explicit theoretical framework pertinent to management information systems and decision support system design to examine the context in which investigators operate and make decisions. The resulting information can be used,to determine design requirements that would improve the experience of using a risk assessment instrument that serves as a decision support system (DSS) for CPS investigators." }, { "id": 76469, "doi": "10.1300/j394v03n03_05", "year": 2006, "title": "A Technology enhanced EBP model", "journal": "Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work", "abstract": "Evidence-based practices (EBP) is one of the more recent decision improvement processes that has captured the attention of many state governments and human service organizations at this time of critical service need. This article argues that EBP has indeed improved on the theoretical-based approaches of the past, but that there is a critical need to advance evidence collection and evaluation processes from the level of practitioner and supervisor to the level of the organization. The article presents an enhanced, technology-based EBP model and suggests its applicability to large human service environments. The model involves changing EBP's focus from an individual practitioner searching down relevant research for each case to an organization with tools that make data readily available so that workers can monitor their performance on well-researched, outcome-based, practice standards. The EBP model is illustrated by an interactive decision support system that was developed and tested in a statewide agency. This graphically-based decision support system allows staff to view how well they, their colleagues, and the agency meet federal standards on numerous indicators. By performing tasks that are metaphorically described as \"drilling down\" and \"slicing and dicing\" through agency data, staff can distill best practices that improve their performance. These best practices can be shared system- wide and can challenge and help refine the standards. The article concludes with implications of the enhanced EBP model for service delivery organizations. This enhanced EBP model is applicable to agencies struggling to use EBP concepts to get better performance with limited resources. Copyright \u00a9 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved." }, { "id": 127155, "doi": null, "year": 2006, "title": "An Online Course in Trauma for School Personnel World Wide: Collaboration, Challenges, and Opportunities", "journal": "Professional Development: The International Journal of Continuing Social Work Education", "abstract": "In this paper we present an innovative, interactive online course in childhood trauma for school personnel worldwide. We identify and discuss the academic and cultural challenges and opportunities encountered in a university, public and community agency collaboration. The goal of the project was threefold; 1) to educate social workers, teachers, school counselors, and administrators to respond to the needs of students (K-12) whose lives have been disrupted by traumatic events; 2) to create a classroom of geographically and ethnically diverse participants in which a collaborative global community could develop; and 3) to evaluate the academic value of the course as reflected in participants knowledge acquisition, adoption and diffusion, and satisfaction. Adapted from the source document." }, { "id": 18988, "doi": "10.1177/1049731507300285", "year": 2007, "title": "Predicting program completion among families enrolled in a child neglect preventive intervention", "journal": "Research on Social Work Practice", "abstract": "An exploratory analysis of self-report data gathered by the Family Connections program is used to build a predictive model of program completion. Method: The sample includes 136 families in a poor urban neighborhood who meet risk criteria for child neglect. Families are randomly assigned to receive 3- or 9-month interventions. Bivariate analyses compare families who did and did not complete services. Logistic regression analysis identifies service-completion predictors for 136 families for whom pre- and post-data are available. Results: More caregivers in the 3-month group complete services. Completers have more children and report a more positive alliance with their workers. Depressive symptoms, worker alliance, and treatment-group status predict service completion in the final model. Conclusions: Findings and implications for practice are discussed" }, { "id": 19241, "doi": "10.1080/02615470601118571", "year": 2007, "title": "Promoting Deep Learning: A Teaching, Learning and Assessment Endeavour", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "The need for social workers to develop expertise in critical reflection is now a dominant theme in the literature. How this expertise is achieved, however, remains under-explored in an environment increasingly focused on outcomes, evidence of performance and teachers' preoccupations with curriculum content and assessment. Students' understanding of critical reflection and how, if at all, their social work education assists in developing this capacity, continue to be under-represented. Applying a `deep-learning' framework, this article outlines an attempt to engage final year social work students in a teaching, learning and assessment exchange that promotes critical reflexivity. It presents the thinking behind the evolution of a unit focused on social work in public welfare and health settings. Using their final assessment exercise in which they are asked to review their learning, it then offers students' responses to that unit. In particular, the paper highlights the personalised practice visions offered by students as they seek to locate themselves, personally and professionally, before making the identitychallenging transition from student to qualified practitioner." }, { "id": 27692, "doi": "10.1300/j051v16n01_04", "year": 2007, "title": "Towards a Structural-Environmental Model of Risk for HIV and Problem Drinking in Latino Labor Migrants: The Case of Day Laborers", "journal": "Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work", "abstract": "The purpose of this article is to describe a researchable conceptual model of structural-environmental (SE) risk for HIV and problem drinking in Latino labor migrants (LLMs) in the United States, with an emphasis on day laborers. Implications for developing SE prevention interventions that target risky situations, embedded in stressful living and working conditions, and not simply risky behaviors are discussed. Presently, most HIV and alcohol-related research on LLMs in the U.S. has focused almost exclusively on assessing and modifying behavioral risk, which, while important, teaches us very little about the broader environmental context of risk in this unique population of Latinos. Literature is reviewed regarding what is known about risk for HIV and problem drinking, as well as contextual factors in LLMs in general and day laborers in particular, as a prelude to describing a SE risk model and basic research methods necessary for its exploration and development. Foundational SE risk frameworks in the HIV/AIDS literature are discussed as well as examples of SE prevention interventions that enhance environmental resources and activities and hence coping with risky situations at the individual level. (C) 2007 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved." }, { "id": 27716, "doi": "10.1080/02615470701456533", "year": 2007, "title": "Problem Based Learning in an MSW Programme: A Study of Learning Outcomes", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "This article reports research undertaken as part of the curriculum development of a Master of Social Work programme at the University of Hong Kong. It was decided to switch four out of five core subjects to a problem based method of teaching and learning. Two student self-assessment measures were used to track learning skills acquisition and professional knowledge acquisition. The Problem Based Skills Learning Inventory covered problem solving, interpersonal and group skills, self-directed learning skills, self-assessment and knowledge building. The Competence and Aptitude in Social Work Scale included knowledge, social awareness, communication skills, leadership and self-concept. Results indicated that for most students there were significant gains over the course of the academic year in most areas. Serendipitous findings throw light on the issue of students' response to pure and hybrid PBL methods and the acceptability of this more active approach to learning to Chinese students." }, { "id": 27747, "doi": "10.1177/1049731506293364", "year": 2007, "title": "Problem-based learning in social work: A study of student learning outcomes", "journal": "Research on Social Work Practice", "abstract": "This study evaluated the effects of problem-based learning (PBL) in social work education. The participants were 132 second-year social work students who took the core courses of Social Work Theory and Practice and Skills Laboratory in the PBL mode. A 40-item scale was used to measure the students' perceptions of their social work knowledge, skills, and values, Biggs's Study Process Questionnaire and Revised Study Process Questionnaire were employed to examine their learning approaches. The results indicated positive learning outcomes, with the most significant gains occurring in knowledge and lesser gains being made in skills and values. The findings suggest that students with deep learning motives and approaches reap the most benefit from PBL." }, { "id": 27805, "doi": "10.1177/1049731506293695", "year": 2007, "title": "Therapeutic components and differential treatment outcomes among clients of Israeli services for substance abusers", "journal": "Research on Social Work Practice", "abstract": "Objective: This study is the first in a comprehensive examination of therapeutic components and outcome of interventions in a public, nonresidential service for drug addicts in Jerusalem (SHALEM). Method: Data were gathered from 153 clients (35 women, 128 men; 35 Arabs, 118 Jews; median age = 39) using clinical data mining. Results: Metz who had been child victims of physical abuse (60%) showed less progress in treatment than men reporting no abuse. Arabs showed greater improvement in reducing violent acts. Only four therapeutic components were significant predictors of a client's treatment outcomes. Conclusion: Processing of trauma history must become a major therapeutic component, and differential treatment plans for women and men and different ethnic groups should be developed." }, { "id": 18583, "doi": "10.1177/0020872807083915", "year": 2008, "title": "The nature of practice wisdom in social work revisited", "journal": "International Social Work", "abstract": "Social work knowledge cannot be adequately articulated by the positivistic epistemology. It arises from the judgements rather than the techniques. Forms of knowledge acquisition and utilization must be reinvented so that there is a close and equal partnership among the profession, practitioners and students. This will enable social workers to discover, articulate and use their knowledge most effectively." }, { "id": 18785, "doi": "10.1080/08841230802179357", "year": 2008, "title": "Analogical Instruction in Statistics: Implications for Social Work Educators", "journal": "Journal of Teaching in Social Work", "abstract": "This paper examines the use of analogies in statistics instruction. Much has been written about the difficulty social work students have with statistics. To address this concern, Glisson and Fischer (1987) called for the use of analogies. Understanding of analogical problem solving has surged in the last few decades with the integration of psychology and artificial intelligence. However, the application of analogies has not been examined further in social work literature. This work uses cognitive science to discuss the five steps of analogical problem solving. Implications for statistics instruction in social work are discussed with examples. (C) 2008 by The Haworth Press. All rights reserved." }, { "id": 76429, "doi": "10.1080/15433710802084359", "year": 2008, "title": "Incorporating evidence-based practice into the macro practice curriculum", "journal": "Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work", "abstract": "Considerable attention has been directed in preparing social work students to understand the paradigm of evidence-based practice (EBP). The infusion of EBP through training, course instruction, and assignments has the potential to enhance EBP knowledge acquisition in the macro practice curriculum. This article examines an approach to integrating EBP into the curriculum through a training model that is linked with the practice, research, and practicum courses. A preliminary study based on student satisfaction ratings reveals that the approach was effective in helping students to acquire knowledge about the process of EBP and in using evidence to make practice decisions. \u00a9 2008 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved." }, { "id": 51460, "doi": "10.5175/jswe.2009.200600144", "year": 2009, "title": "POVERTY-AWARE SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Education", "abstract": "Despite the profound commitment of social work toward people living in poverty, the social work profession has failed to develop practice based on awareness of poverty. This article shows the ways in which poverty became a marginal issue in social work practice, reviews the literature on teaching poverty in international context, and then explicates the expected educational results and the main course and fieldwork contents. The proposed framework for poverty-aware social work education includes knowledge acquisition, structuring of professional values, skills development, and experiencing. A consideration of the ways in which this content may be integrated into the existing social work curriculum concludes this article." }, { "id": 51493, "doi": "10.1093/bjsw/bcm117", "year": 2009, "title": "Evidence-Based Practice in Social Work: Lessons from Judgment and Decision-Making Theory", "journal": "British Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "This paper introduces a critique of the experimentalist strand of the evidence-based practice movement in social work. It does so by drawing on the available body of knowledge that is found within the field of judgment and decision making. The nexus between experimentalist evidence-based practice and rational choice approaches to social work decision making is demonstrated. Subsequently, it argues that the properties of social work decision tasks are more likely to facilitate naturalistic than analytical decision making strategies. Recognition-primed decision making is introduced as a possible alternative to practice guidelines and decision aids. Finally, the consequences of embracing the principles of recognition-primed decision making are considered regarding social work practice, education and research." }, { "id": 51711, "doi": "10.1080/15524250903555585", "year": 2009, "title": "Can Personal Resources Make a Difference? An Exploratory Study of Chinese Cancer Patients in Palliative Care", "journal": "Journal of Social Work in End-Of-Life & Palliative Care", "abstract": "Objective: Social work's emphasis on the strengths and personal resources of clients can enrich our understanding of palliative care patients. In this study, availability of various personal resources to patients is examined. Also explored are differences in psychosocial outcome between patients with a particular personal resource and those without it. Methods: Clinical data mining was the research method. Clinical records of deceased palliative care patients in the years 2003-2005 were reviewed. Univariate and independent t-tests were used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 935 patients were included. \"Caregivers' support and acceptance'' was found to be the most common personal resource that patients possessed. Findings indicated that patients who experienced \"caregivers' support and acceptance'' and \"fullness in life'' showed significantly fewer psychosocial symptoms than patients who did not possess these personal resources on admission to palliative care, and in the final days before death. Conclusion: This study is the first step toward further development of social work research in palliative care. Findings revealed that experiencing a sense of fullness in life and receiving support from family members and caregivers may be perceived as essential personal resources that enhance the search for meaning in terminal illness. Helping professionals like social workers may facilitate patients' development of these personal resources, possibly resulting in better psychosocial status." }, { "id": 51712, "doi": "10.1080/00981380902765824", "year": 2009, "title": "Family Predictors of Psychosocial Outcomes Among Hong Kong Chinese Cancer Patients in Palliative Care: Living and Dying with the \"Support Paradox\"", "journal": "Social Work in Health Care", "abstract": "A good death is universally desired. For Chinese patients, the family is believed to play a key role in making this possible. This study aims at exploring the relationship of family-related factors and psychosocial outcomes among Hong Kong Chinese cancer patients in palliative care. Clinical data mining was adopted as the research method. Nurses collected data from clinical interviews with incoming palliative care patients. A total of 935 patients from three years of deceased patient records was included. Stepwise regression analysis demonstrated that \"caregivers' support and acceptance\" predicted fewer psychosocial symptoms of patients, whereas \"depressed family response to patient's illness\" and \"family anxiety\" predicted a greater number of psychosocial symptoms of patients upon their admission to palliative care. The findings suggested two possible pathways toward enhancing the psychosocial experience of dying patients, that is, the \"family support pathway\" and the \"familial-altruistic pathway.\" Further reflections on the findings may suggest that these patients may be situated in a \"support paradox,\" in which they desire family support but also worry about the burden that support places on family members. Implications for practice were discussed in the cultural context." }, { "id": 51867, "doi": "10.1080/15228830902749039", "year": 2009, "title": "Child Welfare Workers' Adoption of Decision Support Technology", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Child welfare workers must process complex information in deciding to refer clients to appropriate mental health services. Decision support systems have been demonstrated in other fields to be an important tool, yet little research has been done in child welfare. This study focused on the adoption of a specific decision support system into child welfare practice. Quantitative analysis was used to demonstrate the diffusion of innovation process among a sample of state child welfare workers, while qualitative analysis was used to explain the facilitators and barriers to decision support systems adoption. Results indicate that for decision support systems to be widely adopted in child welfare practice, they should be integrated into the referral system and include workers' knowledge and experiences with referral resources. For successful adoption, decision support systems need to respect the natural logic and flow of worker interaction as well as organizational constraints." }, { "id": 52015, "doi": "10.1080/00377310902832334", "year": 2009, "title": "Decision Making in Evidence-Based Practice: Science and Art", "journal": "Studies in Clinical Social Work: Transforming Practice, Education and Research", "abstract": "In this article the author reviews problems in the implementation of evidence-based practices (EBP) and concludes that these derive not only from numerous practical concerns, but also from fundamental epistemological issues. These include an antiquated understanding of the scientific method, involving types of naive inductivism and rationalism. The central argument of this article is that recent developments in the field of naturalistic decision making provide a critical framework for understanding the problems in the implementation of EBP, as well as possible avenues for their resolution. Developments that are reviewed include the use of heuristics, decision trees, case-based reasoning, as well as an example of a generalized model of expert decision making. Such models increasingly combine situational awareness with critical thinking and metacognitive capacities. They promise to more effectively focus the application of rational and empirical problem-solving methods, such as EBP, on the most complex problems." }, { "id": 52861, "doi": "10.1606/1044-3894.3895", "year": 2009, "title": "Comparison of American Indian/Alaskan Natives to Non-Indians in Out-of-Home Care", "journal": "Families in Society", "abstract": "Nationally representative child welfare data from October 1999 was utilized to compare American Indian/Alaskan Native (AYAN) children to non-Indian children placed into out-of-home care. In comparison to non-Indian children, AI/AN children came from poorer homes, were more frequently placed into congregate care, and were less frequently placed into kinship care. AI/AN caregivers have greater mental health and alcohol abuse service needs compared with non-Indian caregivers. Knowledge of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA) by child protective services (CPS) workers could increase cultural competence throughout the child welfare system. A CPS system more sensitized to cultural differences may reduce disproportionate child welfare outcomes that AYAN children experience." }, { "id": 99316, "doi": "10.1080/15426430802644198", "year": 2009, "title": "Spirituality: What we can teach and how we can teach it", "journal": "Administration in Social Work", "abstract": "In the new millennium, spirituality has been accepted as an integral part of social work practice, enabling a holistic and strength-based approach to individuals, groups, and communities. This acceptance has been encouraged by the current interest in both religious and spiritual issues. The rationale for such inclusion is grounded in a review of the historical relationship between spirituality and social work, in the ethical mandates that underlie both the NASW Code of Ethics and the Standards for Cultural Competence in Social Work, and in the evolving definitions of social work areas of practice as biopsychosociocultural-spiritual. Thus, it must be viewed as an essential component of social work education. Because of the nature of spirituality and spiritual experiences and the potential for wide divergence in views, definitions, experiences, and understanding, spirituality is especially challenging to teach. Research indicates that students also identify spirituality as an essential component of social work practice and that they often feel ill prepared and equipped to address spiritual issues in practice after completing their social work education. Models, resources, and literature in this field have been developed by many researchers, particularly as they relate to special populations or fields within social work; yet the challenges persist. Spirituality may be taught as a discrete course, generally as an elective, and suggestions for material to be included in such a course are offered in the areas of knowledge acquisition, skill development, and self-awareness. However, it is recognized that material on spirituality should be infused throughout the social work curriculum, primarily in core courses such as practice, diversity, human behavior in the social environment, research, policy, and ethics, and specific suggestions are offered to encourage such inclusion. To increase students' knowledge of the varieties of spiritual experiences of potential clients, a small random sample of the general population was interviewed regarding spiritual beliefs and experiences. Interviewees were asked to define spirituality, to share their experiences, and to suggest ways in which meaningful dialogue about spirituality might be encouraged in social work practice." }, { "id": 49786, "doi": "10.1080/00981389.2010.486994", "year": 2010, "title": "Clinical Data Mining: Integrating Practice and Research", "journal": "Social Work in Health Care", "abstract": null }, { "id": 49936, "doi": "10.1080/00981389.2010.494954", "year": 2010, "title": "Optimizing the Use of Video-Tapes of Clinical Sessions: The Data-Mining Approach for Scale Construction and Theory Building for Bereaved Persons in Hong Kong", "journal": "Social Work in Health Care", "abstract": "Video-taping clinical sessions is a common practice among social workers so that the tapes may be used for clinical supervision and reviewed with the individuals or families involved. They are usually underused for research purposes. This article reports on an innovative research method using such tapes as a basis for clinical data mining to explore the bereavement experience of Chinese people in Hong Kong. Using this data, a rich item pool, containing both negative and positive reactions, was generated to allow the development of a culturally relevant measurement tool of grief reactions. The data also facilitated theory building in the area of grief and bereavement. This study extended the use of video-tapes in clinical sessions for research purposes and helped to collect reliable and timely data in a non-intrusive way. It has also advanced the use of quantitative data in the clinical data-mining approach. The study encouraged collaboration between clinicians and researchers to develop knowledge and skills about their special target group of clients." }, { "id": 50482, "doi": "10.1080/08841233.2010.498747", "year": 2010, "title": "Challenging Perceptions of Academic Research as Bias Free: Promoting a Social Justice Framework in Social Work Research Methods Courses", "journal": "Journal of Teaching in Social Work", "abstract": "The required research courses in social work education are, perhaps, one of the more difficult content areas in which to infuse direct teaching and knowledge acquisition of multiculturalism. The study presented in this article examines the outcomes of systematically addressing social justice within a required master's level social work research methods course. The study tests the efficacy of a two-part teaching module that seeks to increase student abilities for critical consumption of academic research (n = 88) as it relates to the notion of bias neutrality. Results suggest that students decreased in their belief that academic research is necessarily bias free over the course of the class, and that students from marginalized groups showed a significantly larger decrease than did other students." }, { "id": 52813, "doi": "10.1606/1044.3894.3974", "year": 2010, "title": "Educational and Employment Achievements of American Indian/Alaska Native Alumni of Foster Care", "journal": "Families in Society", "abstract": "Little is known about the outcomes of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) alumni of foster care. As part of the Casey National Alumni Study, case record reviews documenting youth experiences before and during care were conducted for all youth served by Casey Family Programs between 1966 and 1998. Interviews assessing education, employment, and financial outcomes were conducted for 1,068 alumni, of whom 243 (23%) identified themselves as AI/AN. Few differences were observed between AI/AN and White alumni in demographics, risk factors, and foster care experiences. White alumni, however, had more positive outcomes on most education and employment outcomes. Focused research is needed to develop culturally appropriate practices and better understand the needs and outcomes of AI/AN youth in care and alumni of care." }, { "id": 47131, "doi": "10.1111/j.1365-2206.2010.00751.x", "year": 2011, "title": "The mental health status of Latino children in the public child welfare system: a look at the role of generation and origin", "journal": "Child & Family Social Work", "abstract": "As the number of Latino children in public child welfare continues to grow, it is necessary to understand how their mental health is faring. The paper examines emotional and behavioural needs among Latino children who had contact with the public child welfare system. The purpose of this longitudinal study was twofold: to examine the severity of emotional and behavioural problems, and to assess the predictive role of generation status and Latino origin. Latent growth models were completed using the National Survey on Children and Adolescent Well-Being. The predictive model for the externalizing CBCL scale revealed that generation status and Latino origin were significant predictors. At baseline, Puerto Rican children exhibited higher rates of externalizing problems compared with Mexican children. Over time children who were first/second generation tended to have lower scores compared with the third-plus generation children. Implications for practise are discussed." }, { "id": 47139, "doi": "10.1093/hsw/36.4.259", "year": 2011, "title": "Using Appreciative Inquiry to Facilitate Implementation of the Recovery Model in Mental Health Agencies", "journal": "Health & Social Work", "abstract": "This article describes an organizational development tool called appreciative inquiry ( AI) and its use in mental health to aid agencies implementing recovery model services. AI is a discursive tool with the power to shift dominant organizational cultures. Its philosophical underpinnings emphasize values consistent with recovery: community, empowerment, and positive focus. Recent research in the field of mental health demonstrates the salience of organizational cultural context in affecting new service adoption. This article explores how AI could be helpful in shifting an organization's culture to render it compatible with recovery through descriptions of two mental health centers' use of the tool. The experiences described indicate that AI, if used consistently, empowers staff. The article concludes with consideration of the implications of this empowerment for recovery model implementation and directions for future research." }, { "id": 47267, "doi": "10.5175/jswe.2011.201000022", "year": 2011, "title": "ASSESSING STUDENT PERCEPTION OF PRACTICE EVALUATION KNOWLEDGE IN INTRODUCTORY RESEARCH METHODS", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Education", "abstract": "The authors explored the use of the Practice Evaluation Knowledge Scale (PEKS) to assess student perception of acquisition and retention of practice evaluation knowledge from an undergraduate research methods class. The authors sampled 2 semesters of undergraduate social work students enrolled in an introductory research methods course. Thirty-four students completed PEKS prior to the course (T1) and at the conclusion of the course (T2). Finally, 25 students completed PEKS 2 semesters after course completion (T3). Significant differences with small to medium effect sizes were found between T1 and T2 scores and T1 and T3 scores. Findings indicate that the scale may be a useful tool in assessing perception of knowledge acquisition and retention within this population." }, { "id": 47397, "doi": "10.1177/1049731510391816", "year": 2011, "title": "Clinical Data Mining: Integrating Practice and Research", "journal": "Research on Social Work Practice", "abstract": null }, { "id": 47488, "doi": "10.1093/bjsw/bcr065", "year": 2011, "title": "What Are You Looking At? The Potential of Appreciative Inquiry as a Research Approach for Social Work", "journal": "British Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "Appreciative inquiry (Ai) is an under-used research method within social work yet has the potential to make a significant contribution to research practice and its consequences for service delivery. It offers a congruent philosophical approach to research at a time when a comprehensive reform programme is planned for the profession, employers and social work educators in England (Department of Health, 2010). Concerns about the quality of social work practice and a move towards reflexivity as a mark of professionalism raise questions about the utility for service improvement of investigations that overemphasise deficits and failures. The research presented here was predicated on defining, locating and promoting examples of good practice in supporting student practice learning. This paper begins with a review of the arguments for and against Ai as a robust methodology. A brief account of the research process and findings is followed by a critical analysis of the potential for research activity to influence a desired cultural shift through its process as well as outcome. The authors explore conditions in which Ai may make a distinctive contribution to social work knowledge and practice." }, { "id": 47541, "doi": "10.1007/s10615-010-0300-7", "year": 2011, "title": "EMDR and the Adaptive Information Processing Model: Integrative Treatment and Case Conceptualization", "journal": "Clinical Social Work Journal", "abstract": "EMDR is a comprehensive psychotherapy approach that is compatible with all contemporary theoretical orientations. Internationally recognized as a frontline trauma treatment, it is also applicable to a broad range of clinical issues. As a distinct form of psychotherapy, the treatment emphasis is placed on directly processing the neurophysiologically stored memories of events that set the foundation for pathology and health. The adaptive information processing model that governs EMDR practice invites the therapist to address the overall clinical picture that includes the past experiences that contribute to a client's current difficulties, the present events that trigger maladaptive responses, and to develop more adaptive neural networks of memory in order to enhance positive responses in the future. The clinical application of EMDR is elaborated through a description of the eight phases of treatment with a case example that illustrates the convergences with psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and systemic practice." }, { "id": 48398, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2011.639509", "year": 2011, "title": "An Exploratory Study of Health Professionals' Attitudes about Robotic Telepresence Technology", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "This article presents the results from a video-based evaluation study of a social robotic telepresence solution for elderly. The evaluated system is a mobile teleoperated robot called Giraff that allows care-givers to virtually enter a home and conduct a natural visit just as if they were physically there. The evaluation focuses on the perspectives from primary healthcare organizations and collects the feedback from different categories of health professionals. The evaluation included 150 participants and yielded unexpected results with respect to the acceptance of the Giraff system. In particular, greater exposure to technology did not necessarily increase acceptance and large variances occurred between the categories of health professionals. In addition to outlining the results, this study provides a number of indications with respect to increasing acceptance for technology for elderly." }, { "id": 48444, "doi": "10.1080/15332985.2011.575731", "year": 2011, "title": "When Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy Works and When It Doesn't: Clinical Data Mining on Good and Poor CBGT Outcomes for Depression and Anxiety Among Hong Kong Chinese", "journal": "Social Work in Mental Health", "abstract": "The present study is a review of 672 participants who joined a cognitive-behavioral group therapy program in the community. In addition to the overall positive outcome, the researcher goes further to investigate two negative outcomes of the program as well as their predictors. The absence of using individual counseling and social worker's scoring of low energy were identified as predictors of dropout. Some cognitive and interpersonal pretreatment symptoms are found to be poor treatment outcome. Implications to social work practice and research are discussed." }, { "id": 117068, "doi": "dc/2556b95936", "year": 2011, "title": "Knowledge-Production Processes in Practice Research \u2013 Outcomes and Critical Elements", "journal": "Social Work and Society", "abstract": "The welfare sector has seen considerable changes in its operational context. Welfare services respond to an increasing number of challenges as citizens are confronted with life\u2019s uncertainties and a variety of complex situations. At the same time the service-delivery system is facing problems of co-operation and the development of staff competence, as well as demands to improve service effectiveness and outcomes. In order to ensure optimal user outcomes in this complex, evolving environment it is necessary to enhance professional knowledge and skills, and to increase efforts to develop the services. Changes are also evident in the new emergent knowledge-production models. There has been a shift from knowledge acquisition and transmission to its construction and production. New actors have stepped in and the roles of researchers are subject to critical discussion. Research outcomes, in other words the usefulness of research with respect to practice development, is a topical agenda ite" }, { "id": 45658, "doi": "10.1093/hsw/hls013", "year": 2012, "title": "Reframing Diabetes in American Indian Communities: A Social Determinants of Health Perspective", "journal": "Health & Social Work", "abstract": "American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) experience some of the greatest health inequities of any group within the United States. AI/ANs are diagnosed with diabetes more than twice as often as non-Hispanic white Americans. Diabetes is a chronic preventable disease often associated with individual risk factors and behaviors that indicate what interventions are needed to prevent or manage the disease. Individual ameliorative strategies in diabetes prevention and management do not fully address the fundamental causes and complexity of diabetes in American Indian communities. Through the application of a social determinants of health paradigm, social work has the opportunity to reframe diabetes and begin to understand it as a product of and a response to unjust conditions and environments, rather than as a disease rooted solely in individual pathology and responsibility." }, { "id": 46004, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2012.743394", "year": 2012, "title": "Mark My Words: The Design of an Innovative Methodology to Detect and Analyze Interpersonal Health Conversations in Web and Social Media", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Internet technology in which social media play a central role offers new opportunities for health communication. The Center for Media & Health (CMH) in the Netherlands in collaboration with the University of Twente developed a methodology called Mark My Words (MMW) to detect and monitor interpersonal conversations on social media. The MMW methodology is based on the concept of \"markers\" and on data analysis via text mining techniques. MMW is applied in an innovative web-based entertainment-education series called SndBites. This article describes the design of this new research methodology and shares the methodological advantages and challenges." }, { "id": 46286, "doi": "10.1080/15313204.2012.673426", "year": 2012, "title": "Development, Testing, and Use of a Valid and Reliable Assessment Tool for Urban American Indian/Alaska Native Youth Programming Using Culturally Appropriate Methodologies", "journal": "Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work", "abstract": "This article documents how culturally appropriate research methods were used to develop and construct a valid and reliable assessment tool to measure program outcomes in an agency providing services to urban American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youths and families. The tool was developed to provide a psychometrically sound way to assess Native youths' progress toward culturally defined indicators of youth success. Assessment data collected are simultaneously used to evaluate the effectiveness of social services in ways that are meaningful to this AI/AN community, researchers, and potential funders. This research establishes a foundation and framework for creating assessment tools in other AI/AN-specific agencies." }, { "id": 46517, "doi": "10.1080/1533256x.2012.728107", "year": 2012, "title": "Computer-Tailored Intervention for Juvenile Offenders", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions", "abstract": "Studies assessing the efficacy of juvenile justice interventions show small effects on recidivism and other outcomes. This article describes the development of a prototype of a multimedia computer-tailored intervention (Rise Above Your Situation) that relies on an evidence-based model of behavior change, the transtheoretical model, and expert system technology to deliver assessments, feedback, printed reports, and counselor reports with intervention ideas. In a feasibility test involving 60 system-involved youths and their counselors, evaluations of the program were favorable: 91.7% of youths agreed that the program could help them make positive changes, and 86.7% agreed that the program could give their counselor helpful information about them." }, { "id": 46547, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2012.744244", "year": 2012, "title": "Social Navigation on the Internet: A Framework for the Analysis of Communication Processes", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "The term \"social navigation\" (SN) refers to media use patterns that are driven by the previous media activities of others. This phenomenon is widely encountered in social media environments, which allow users to easily leave and receive information. However, investigating the variety of SN actions, such as rating, forwarding, and even producing media items oneself, increases the prevalent challenges of empirical research on web content. The article reflects on these challenges and offers possible solutions via the example of a pilot study concerning online news based on a multi-method design with a particular emphasis on online content analysis. Special attention is devoted to the dynamics of online media and online news in particular, data reactivity during research, algorithmic content production, and the impact of relationship-related information." }, { "id": 46698, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2011.573547", "year": 2012, "title": "How Much Does the Distance in Distance Education Matter? Our Students Speak", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "Distance learning programs in social work education have been growing exponentially throughout the United States. This study interviewed Master of Social Work (MSW) students enrolled in two synchronous distance-learning courses that employed a blended pedagogy, and evaluates their insights about the learning experience. For these two courses, material was presented via video conferencing and supplemented with online media at two campuses at a large school of social work. In order to give students a voice about their experiences, data were collected using semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Common themes included: autonomy, emotional connectedness, technological challenges, and knowledge acquisition. Both the strengths and challenges related to distance learning are discussed." }, { "id": 46727, "doi": "10.1080/10522158.2012.640815", "year": 2012, "title": "Increasing Marital Satisfaction as a Resilience Factor Among Active Duty Members and Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)", "journal": "Journal of Family Social Work", "abstract": "Supportive relationships are protective against a number of prevalent health risks among military populations, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Increasing marital satisfaction and strengthening that relationship is an important avenue for maintaining health among returning service members and their families. The current study builds upon two earlier studies that were limited to National Guard personnel from one state. An exploratory survey was employed to identify variables that influenced marital satisfaction among Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans. Using regression analysis, the statistically significant predictive model included five variables. In addition to the identification of this predictive model, other variables found to be non-predictive are reported." }, { "id": 46972, "doi": "10.15270/48-2-93", "year": 2012, "title": "PROMOTING DEEP LEARNING THROUGH PERSONAL REFLECTIVE E-JOURNALING: A CASE STUDY", "journal": "Social Work-Maatskaplike Werk", "abstract": null }, { "id": 76311, "doi": "10.1080/15433714.2012.636322", "year": 2012, "title": "Using Agency-wide Dashboards for Data Monitoring and Data Mining: The Solano County Health and Social Services Department", "journal": "Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work", "abstract": "The Director needed accessible data on critical program areas in order to monitor changes presenting potential negative impacts. The Research, Evaluation and Planning division spearheaded the Dashboard featuring the seven program areas (Employment & Eligibility, Child Welfare Services, Mental Health, Public Health, Older Disabled Adult Services, Substance Abuse, and the Special Investigations Bureau), and three administrative units. Deputy Directors specified several key areas that their divisions were mandated to report or viewed as important for monitoring. The Dashboard enables Directors to communicate internally and externally about program results, strengths and growth areas, as well as track progress in relationship to strategic plan initiatives and intervene in areas needing improvement. Executive team members identify critical areas for improvement and the Assistant Director for Research and Evaluation implements corrective action through the Quality Assurance Committee. Agency lessons relate to the importance of automation, data interpretation, and team members' understanding of the indicators, related practice strategies, and contextual factors. \u00a9 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC." }, { "id": 76321, "doi": "10.1080/15433714.2012.636306", "year": 2012, "title": "Data Mining in Children and Family Services: The Contra Costa County Experience", "journal": "Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work", "abstract": "Despite access to a comprehensive administrative database that would allow for timely data retrieval and utilization, regular use of data to inform service provision remained infrequent at one children and family services agency. To address this issue, a research and evaluation manager was hired to facilitate regular data use and evidence-informed service provision. This led to a shift in agency culture that moved from viewing data collection as a burden and threat, to now valuing data as a powerful tool for improving programs and outcomes for children and families. This case study presents the experiences of this agency, describing the process by which the research and evaluation manager was hired, how data are now used by the agency, significant changes resulting from the agency's new data use practices, and perspectives of the evaluator and staff on data use and changes in agency culture. \u00a9 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC." }, { "id": 96492, "doi": "10.1177/0886109912452642", "year": 2012, "title": "American Indian Women and Sexual Assault: Challenges and New Opportunities", "journal": "Social Work", "abstract": "This article informs social workers about sexual violence against American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) women and the policy reforms in the 2010 Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA). It describes the unmet needs of AI/AN survivors, reviews the TLOA reforms on sexual assault in relation to social work and public health principles, discusses the complementary roles for social workers and public health practitioners in reform efforts, and offers guidance for professional participation that emphasizes tribal sovereignty, indigenous capacity, and cultural competence. \u00a9 2012 SAGE Publications." }, { "id": 43493, "doi": "10.1080/13691457.2012.691873", "year": 2013, "title": "Re-engineering the multiple choice question exam for social work", "journal": "European Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "The aim of this study is to devise a multiple choice question (MCQ) exam that provides students with opportunities to engage in a deep approach to learning. Multiple choice assessment is largely unused in social work degree courses in the UK because of associations with techniques such as guessing and rote learning, which do not correspond with deep approaches to learning. Strategies used to enhance opportunities for a deep approach to learning within the MCQ exam used in this study included certainty-based marking (CBM), enhancing the use of formative feedback and giving students responsibility for devising the MCQs. Results show that students use similar levels of deep learning when they completed a MCQ exam compared to those students who completed an essay exam. The deep learning approach for the MCQ exam was, however, less when compared to a different module that used an essay assignment. There is an increasing pressure on Higher Education to provide more robust assessment practices, and findings in this study suggest it may be time for social work tutors to reconsider the role of the MCQ format within the existing range of assessment tools." }, { "id": 44071, "doi": "10.1177/0020872811414037", "year": 2013, "title": "A pilot study on a knowledge-based case library to support suicide risk assessment", "journal": "International Social Work", "abstract": "This article describes the system development processes for an electronic case library, built to facilitate and support the suicide prevention service provided by a social service organization in Hong Kong. It is a knowledge management system in which both 'rule-based reasoning' (RBR) and 'case-based reasoning' (CBR) are adopted. Initial test results, potentials and limitations of this knowledge management approach are discussed." }, { "id": 44470, "doi": "10.1080/15332985.2013.784224", "year": 2013, "title": "Organizational Outcomes Following Traumatic Workplace Incidents: A Practice-Based Exploration of Impact of Incident Severity Level", "journal": "Social Work in Mental Health", "abstract": "Traumatic workplace events (critical incidents) occur with unfortunate regularity and with significant repercussions for affected organizations. Critical incident stress management (CISM) units, often a specialty component of employee assistance programs, provide consultation and support for workplace incidents. While CISM seeks to support both individual and organizational outcomes, trauma research oriented toward individual traumatic stress dominates the literature, mirroring practitioner training that tends to emphasize clinical over organizational practice. This research contributes to less-prevalent studies that explore organizational- level outcomes. Despite the facts that social workers play a central role in critical incident response and CISM units collect massive amounts of practice data, there are no published social work studies capitalizing on the potential of existing critical incident data. Employing the methodology of clinical data mining, this practice-based, exploratory research examines the propositions that incident severity level associates with several post-incident organizational outcomes. Several findings translate into considerations for evidence-informed CISM practice in the areas of intake assessment, organizational consultation, and incident response planning." }, { "id": 44496, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2012.696096", "year": 2013, "title": "Practice Learning in Private Care Homes for Older People-A Two-Way Resource", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "This paper reports on three evaluated projects of social work placements in private care homes for older people in Scotland. This was a new situation for each of the care homes. They were uncertain about the student role and this was initially challenging for the students. Reported outcomes of these placements include deep learning for the students who developed core social work skills and an understanding of ageism within a relationship-based model of social work. The care homes reported considerable benefit from the presence of the student in terms of raising overall standards of practice and enhancing the opportunities which they could offer to residents. An increase in interprofessional understanding was reported by all respondents and this had been a major factor in the motivation of care home managers in agreeing to participate in the projects. Planning, preparation and communication were cited as challenges in some of the studies. Because they are new and different in the UK, such developments must be supported and nurtured, and considering groups of such placements as projects to be managed holistically would work to the advantage of all stakeholders, especially the care home residents who gained so much from these projects." }, { "id": 44739, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2013.861784", "year": 2013, "title": "Survivor Feedback on a Safety Decision Aid Smartphone Application for College-Age Women in Abusive Relationships", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "College-age women are at high risk for dating violence and tend to seek services at rates lower than older adults. Young women are more likely to look to their peers or to technology as a forum for accessing safety resources. This study explores a prototype smart phone application (\"app\") that is a safety decision aid for female survivors of dating violence. The app is intended to assist young women to assess the danger in their abusive relationship, set priorities for safety, and develop a personalized safety plan. Through focus group sessions and individual interviews, 38 female college students in 4 states (Arizona, Maryland, Missouri, and Oregon) who self-identified as survivors of abusive relationships reviewed and provided feedback on the usefulness, understandability, appropriateness, and comprehensiveness of the app. The focus group sessions and interviews were transcribed and analyzed. Participants were positive about the potential of the app to provide personalized information about abusive dating relationships and appropriate resources in a private, safe, and nonjudgmental manner. Detailed feedback from survivors and recommendations for further development of the app are discussed." }, { "id": 44874, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2012.745846", "year": 2013, "title": "A Tale of Two Programmes: Developing Communities of Learning with Practice Partners in Social Work and Humanitarian Studies at Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory, Australia", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "Online engagement is difficult when teaching complex clinical reasoning skills which are central to developing professionalism in the health and welfare workforce. This paper explores how our team has engaged students in online discussion by introducing research projects brought by our practice partners to the mix of activities completed by students. At Charles Darwin University in the Northern Territory, Australia, the social work and humanitarian studies degree-level programmes are delivered in blended mode involving a combination of face-to-face and online learning. Within these modes of delivery students are presented with questions and activities drawn from our practice partners to bring 'real world relevance' to learning. Drawing from examples provided by the practice settings in which the students wish to work after they graduate, we have found that this relationship between the academy and practice agency effectively bridges the gap between the worlds of theory and practice for our students. In a community of learning model, students elect to work on local practice partners' projects throughout the semester. This mix of academia working in partnership with frontline social and humanitarian workers brings immediacy to the learning. Opportunities for 'deep learning' are facilitated by this partnership approach. The implications for using communities of learning models for engaging students from two professions in online activities are discussed." }, { "id": 45125, "doi": "10.1080/1536710x.2013.784561", "year": 2013, "title": "Psychosocial Recovery for Children Disabled in an Earthquake: School Social Work in Dujiangyan, China", "journal": "Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation", "abstract": "In the Sichuan earthquake on May 12, 2008, schools were hardest hit. The School Social Work service at the You Ai School of Dujiangyan became a major factor in assisting 140 children, disabled in the disaster, in their psychosocial recovery. This article aims to identify indicators of recovery for children from early primary to junior high. Content analysis is used instead of a lengthy psychological scale, as the latter might not be applicable for young children. Results show that disabled children are capable of recovery 3 years after the disaster. Effects of social work intervention and inclusive education have yet to be studied." }, { "id": 41387, "doi": "10.1093/sw/swu039", "year": 2014, "title": "A Psychiatric Medication Decision Support Guide for Social Work Practice with Pregnant and Postpartum Women", "journal": "Social Work", "abstract": "In their work in human services organizations and community agencies across service sectors, social workers encounter pregnant and postpartum women experiencing mental health challenges. This article offers an evidence-informed Decision Support Guide designed for use by social workers working with pregnant and postpartum women who are struggling with complicated decisions about psychiatric medication use. The guide is built on contemporary notions of health literacy and shared decision making and is informed by three areas: (1) research into the lived experiences of pregnant and postpartum women and health care providers around psychiatric medication decision making, (2) a critical review of existing decision aids, and (3) feedback on the strategy from social work practitioners who work with pregnant and postpartum women. Emphasizing the relational nature of social work in supporting effective health-related decision making, the guide relies on maintaining a collaborative practice milieu and using a decision aid that engages clients in discussions about mental health during and around the time of pregnancy. The guide offers social workers a practice tool to support responsive and compassionate care by embracing their roles in problem solving and decision making, providing emotional and psychosocial support, and making appropriate referrals to prescribers." }, { "id": 42295, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2012.739599", "year": 2014, "title": "The Role of the Government in Addressing Social Issues in India: The Perceptions of Indian Undergraduate and Graduate Social Work Students", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "Using a convenience sample of 318 undergraduate and graduate social work students (193 women and 125 men) from a public university in India, this study examined the differences between Indian social work students' perceptions toward the role of government in addressing social issues in India. Using Predictive Analytics Software (PASW) 18, several statistical procedures were conducted to analyze the relationship between social work students' demographic variables and their perceptions of the government's role in addressing social issues in India. The results indicated that older social work students were more likely to perceive that the government should ensure equal opportunities for citizens. Female social work students were more likely to perceive that the government should ensure housing for citizens. BSW students were more likely to perceive that the government should ensure employment of citizens. Macro social work students were more likely to perceive that the government should ensure equal opportunities, housing, food, employment, and health insurance for citizens. The findings of this study may help social work educational administrators and faculty in India to develop a curriculum that provides social work students with the opportunity to critically examine the complex relationship between age, gender, marital status, number of children, socioeconomic status, educational status, area of concentration, and the role of the government in addressing social issues. Doing so will prepare social work students and professionals to think and engage in a manner that will allow them to challenge and advocate for a change to the status quo." }, { "id": 42360, "doi": "10.1080/00981389.2014.944252", "year": 2014, "title": "Contemporary Health-Related Decision Aids: Tools for Social Work Practice", "journal": "Social Work in Health Care", "abstract": "The escalating complexity in health-related decisions that people face have important implications for social work interventions. This article explores the nature of these implications within the context of decisional conflict, shared decision making, and the use of decision aids. In addition, the authors present the findings of a content analysis of 29 contemporary health-related decision aids. Emergent categories from this analysis are presented as a resource for social workers as they encounter, adapt, and create decision aids in their work to help address the health-related needs of their clients." }, { "id": 42552, "doi": "10.1093/bjsw/bcs091", "year": 2014, "title": "Complexity and Integrated Working in Children's Services", "journal": "British Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "Complexity is a recurring theme for integrated working in children's services. Models of integration have often taken a functional approach, seeing expert systems as vehicles for an evidence-based response to multiple problems. However, such approaches also seem to be associated with an increasingly technocratic culture in children's services, which may be restricting professional expertise when it is needed the most. This paper explores professional and theoretical perspectives on complexity, building a comprehensive account of the challenges to professional assessment and intervention presented by families with complex needs. Issues round risk management, volatility, uncertainty and conflict are examined in relation to a broad range of literature including complexity theory and group dynamics. Finally, the implications for integrated working are discussed in relation to the difficulties of managing complexity in a way that remains responsive to the needs of vulnerable children." }, { "id": 42687, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2014.919114", "year": 2014, "title": "Towards a Comprehensive Typology of Knowledge for Social Work and Alcohol", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "This article presents a theoretical model of knowledge acquisition by social workers with regards to alcohol, which formed the propositional element of a recently awarded doctoral thesis submission. It begins by briefly contextualising the relationship between alcohol and social work, the profession's response to the increasing sense of alcohol-related issues in workloads and calls for more effective intervention responses. In considering how this is often reflected in demands for social workers to receive more education about alcohol, it critically examines existing considerations of possible typologies of knowledge for social work, before encapsulating them within a model focusing on alcohol. The model suggests that any such typology is likely to be composed of multiple sources, including both codified and non-codified elements. It concludes by considerations of some of the implications for research approaches that could be used to gain a better understanding of these knowledge frameworks. In doing so it proposes that it is through these alternative considerations that more holistic understandings of social work knowledge will be established. Discussion of the implications of working within more inclusive knowledge frameworks, for social work education, policy, practice and research, are contained throughout the article." }, { "id": 42875, "doi": "10.1080/08841233.2013.863264", "year": 2014, "title": "Revisiting the Pink Triangle Exercise: An Exploration of Experiential Learning in Graduate Social Work Education", "journal": "Journal of Teaching in Social Work", "abstract": "The pink triangle exercise is an example of an experiential learning exercise that creates cognitive dissonance and deep learning of unrealized internalized biases among social work students. Students wear a button with a pink triangle on it for 1 day and write a reflection paper. The exercise increases self-awareness, cultural competence, and the understanding of abstract concepts. An analysis of reflection papers over three annual courses revealed consistent themes, which were presented back to students. The thematic analyses, an application of the process of experiential learning, and the implications this exercise and type of learning are presented." }, { "id": 43109, "doi": "10.1080/10437797.2014.917897", "year": 2014, "title": "An Outcome Evaluation of a Problem-Based Learning Approach With MSW Students", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Education", "abstract": "In this article, we report the findings from a study exploring the effects of a problem-based learning (PBL) approach to teaching and learning on learning outcomes for master's of social work (MSW) students. Students who participated in a PBL pilot project were compared with students who did not participate in 5 outcome areas: social work knowledge, values, and skills; confidence in practice skills; confidence in learning skills; motivation to engage in deep learning and use deep-learning strategies; and satisfaction with their MSW education. PBL and non-PBL approaches were equally effective in helping students learn social work skills, knowledge, and values and in developing learning skills; the non-PBL group reported a significant shift to a more situational approach to their learning." }, { "id": 43127, "doi": "10.1080/10911359.2014.875340", "year": 2014, "title": "Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention as Standard Practice: Working with the American Indian/Native Alaskan Populations", "journal": "Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment", "abstract": "Alcohol use and the resulting problems associated with high-risk drinking in the American Indian/Native Alaskan (AI/NA) population are well-documented, as alcohol misuse has taken an incredible toll on many AI/NA communities. Presently, both overall health issues and alcohol use occur disproportionately within this population. This article provides an updated overview of the impact of alcohol use in the United States and within AI/NA communities specifically. It also provides recommendations for an alcohol-related screening and brief intervention instrument that social workers can begin using in their practice and can be utilized within the AI/NA community." }, { "id": 43145, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2014.967905", "year": 2014, "title": "Intimate Partner Violence: Modifying an Internet-Based Safety Decision Aid to a New Zealand Context", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Women experiencing intimate partner violence face complex decisions in navigating their safety. In a feasibility study, we examined the suitability of an intimate partner violence interactive online decision aid developed in the United States for its application in New Zealand, particularly with regard to cultural appropriateness. We conducted focus group sessions with women who experienced partner violence and focus group sessions with service providers. Women completed the U.S. online decision aid tool and provided feedback on the safety decision criteria, content, and design. Considering the findings from the focus group sessions the decision aid was modified. We reflect on the process of balancing women's stories with technical limitations and constraints of a replication study." }, { "id": 43152, "doi": "10.1080/00377317.2014.924251", "year": 2014, "title": "Trauma's Neurobiological Toll: Implications for Clinical Work With Children", "journal": "Studies in Clinical Social Work: Transforming Practice, Education and Research", "abstract": "Traumatic stress in childhood exacts a particularly high developmental toll. When traumatic experiences start early, continue chronically, and/or occur in conjunction with inadequate caretaking, neurobiological consequences intensify. Implicated brain regions include those mediating stress reactions, emotional arousal and regulation, attention, inhibition, impulse control, and various types of memory. To address those issues psychotherapeutically, treatment must comprehensively target underdeveloped or damaged neural networks. This article reviews current knowledge of the neurobiological and developmental affronts caused by traumatic stress during childhood and examines the various treatments and treatment implications for psychotherapeutic work with children." }, { "id": 93801, "doi": "10.1007/s10560-014-0337-5", "year": 2014, "title": "Managing Risk: Self-Regulation Among Homeless Youth", "journal": "Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal", "abstract": "While homeless youth are characterized by their risky behaviours we know little about how they conceptualize and manage risk in their everyday lives. This article will flesh out one aspect of a doctoral study that explored homeless youth's conceptualizations of risk, by unearthing their self-regulation practices. Deploying an ethnographic lens, 18 youth were followed over a 1-4 year period to capture their risk perception and practices as they unfolded. The findings question the relevancy of the prominence of expert discourses in theories of risk. The study's empirical findings run counter to the thesis that expert systems predominate in practices of self-regulation. In contrast, practices of self-regulation were not so much in response to expert discourses or social norms but were balanced by personal experience, intuition, and situated knowledges. Results provide valuable insights into the interplay of lay and expert knowledges in the construction of risk among an identified risky and at-risk group. Lessons can also be drawn for clinical practice and the relevancy of the expert role that social workers play in the lives of homeless youth." }, { "id": 114966, "doi": "dc/2b53c3e6cb", "year": 2014, "title": "The Effectiveness of Writing Across the Curriculum in a Baccalaureate Social Work Program: Students\u2019 Perceptions", "journal": "Advances in Social Work", "abstract": "Effective social work practice requires strong writing and communication skills; however, social work students often experience difficulties performing academically at expected levels. This article presents findings from a student survey that was collected for two years to assess perceptions of the effectiveness of Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) strategies on writing skills and social work knowledge acquisition in an introductory social work class that is taught every semester at a school of social work located in southeastern Florida. Students reported that WAC strategies substantially improved their abilities to write in the discipline and learn course content. Based on our findings, it is recommended that schools of social work infuse WAC throughout their curriculum, a process that requires cross curricular collaboration, intra-departmental support, and faculty commitment to course development and implementation." }, { "id": 39448, "doi": "10.1080/10437797.2015.1072404", "year": 2015, "title": "NCWWI Tribal Traineeship Programs: Promoting Diversity in the Child Welfare Workforce", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Education", "abstract": "Twelve universities and one American Indian (AI) tribal college were selected for the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute's 5-year stipend traineeship program. These tribal traineeships were designed to provide social work child welfare education for tribal and nontribal students. Twenty-two AI students and 58 nontribal students completed a bachelor or master's of social work degree. The students' field placements were in tribal agencies or public agencies that served a segment of the AI population. These programs were enhanced through the use of valuable relationships (i.e., partnerships, mentorships, allies), and cultural competence was a key aspect of the students' education. The students' education was enriched with a specific child welfare curriculum, cultural teachings, tribal traineeship collaborations, and tribal community events." }, { "id": 39449, "doi": "10.1177/1049731515592955", "year": 2015, "title": "Practice Evaluation Strategies Among Clinical Social Workers: New Directions in Practice Research", "journal": "Research on Social Work Practice", "abstract": "Objectives: Practice evaluation strategies range in style from the formal-analytic tools of single-subject designs, rapid assessment instruments, algorithmic steps in evidence-based practice, and computer software applications, to the informal-interactive tools of clinical supervision, consultation with colleagues, use of client feedback, and clinical experience. The purpose of this study was to provide practice researchers in social work with a more complete understanding of how and why social workers evaluate their practice the way they do. Methods: Questions about practice evaluation strategies were posed to 12 licensed clinical social workers in a 3-hour focus group. Findings: Drawing on advances in the cognitive and social neurosciences, the study identified among clinical social workers an informal-interactive tool preference that displays itself as a cognitively necessary, sufficient, and stand-alone preference that required neither the supplementation nor balance of formal-analytic tools. Conclusions: New directions in social work practice research are required and delineated." }, { "id": 39770, "doi": "10.1177/0020872813503856", "year": 2015, "title": "Outcomes-based education and deep learning in first year social work in South Africa: Two case examples", "journal": "International Social Work", "abstract": "South African social work education changed from norm-based to outcomes-based education soon after the first democratic government came into power in 1994 and a new Bachelor of Social Work has been in existence since 2007. The article argues in support of deep learning principles and presents narrative constructions from two differently advantaged departments of social work, illustrating how lecturers and students there have adapted to outcomes-based education. Conclusions indicate that statutory requirements and institutional pressures militate against the development of deep learning. The urgency to incorporate transformative learning in meeting professional standards is placed in the international context." }, { "id": 39779, "doi": "10.1177/1049731514536475", "year": 2015, "title": "Building a Bridge or Digging a Pipeline? Clinical Data Mining in Evidence-Informed Knowledge Building", "journal": "Research on Social Work Practice", "abstract": "Challenging the bridge metaphor theme of this conference, this article contends that current practice-research integration strategies are more like research-to-practice pipelines. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the potential of clinical data-mining studies conducted by practitioners, practitioner-oriented PhD students, and methodologically pluralist researchers to promoting a truly collaborative, two-way traffic in evidence-informed knowledge building." }, { "id": 39832, "doi": "10.1177/1049731514543666", "year": 2015, "title": "Evidence-Based Practice Empowers Practitioners: A Response to Epstein", "journal": "Research on Social Work Practice", "abstract": "Epstein makes a strong argument for the value of clinical data mining (CDM), although he minimizes some of the potential limitations in that methodology, such as attrition. Epstein's portrayal of evidence-based practice (EBP) as practitioner-bashing and treasuring intervention manuals overlooks the emphasis in the EBP process on the need for practitioners to use their clinical expertise and judgment in deciding whether and how to implement research supported interventions. His portrayal of EBP as cherishing randomized clinical trials to the point of demeaning all other forms of research also is a misrepresentation of the EBP process and a straw man argument. Although CDM is one way to try to bridge the research-practice gap, arguing that it is perhaps the only or best way to do so overstates the case. Instead of bashing practitioners, as Epstein implies, EBP empowers them." }, { "id": 39908, "doi": "10.1007/s10615-014-0510-5", "year": 2015, "title": "Relational Dimensions of Virtual Social Work Education: Mentoring Faculty in a Web-Based Learning Environment", "journal": "Clinical Social Work Journal", "abstract": "The increasing use of cyber technologies in graduate social work education mirrors the exponential growth of virtual educational strategies in education across fields. The social work emphasis on person-in-environment has led to intense questioning within the field regarding the impact of the virtual environment on teacher-student interactions and relationships in professional knowledge acquisition and development of practice skills. While some theorizing of faculty-student relationships in online education exists in the literature, there has as yet been little integration of a dynamic relational perspective, nor much attention to effects of the virtual environment on those who teach. This article discusses relational dimensions of teaching in a virtual environment in the context of an extensive virtual MSW program that is hybrid in design, and national and international in scope. An innovative program to provide instructional support and mentoring to faculty was created, combining pedagogical and clinical perspectives and techniques to meet the challenges of the new educational paradigm." }, { "id": 39962, "doi": "10.1080/07347332.2015.1019661", "year": 2015, "title": "Racial Differences in Depressive Symptoms and Self-Rated Health Among Breast Cancer Survivors on Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy", "journal": "Journal of Psychosocial Oncology", "abstract": "The goal of this survey-based study was to examine whether aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy was associated with depressive symptoms and self-rated health among Black and White breast cancer survivors (N = 761). Results showed that among Black, but not White, breast cancer survivors current AI therapy was associated with a significant increase in the odds of both depressive symptoms (OR 3.59; 95% CI 1.01, 13.00) and poorer self-rated health (OR 3.16; 95% CI 1.06, 9.46). Presence of pain was significantly associated with increased odds of both outcomes among both groups. The findings underscore the importance of addressing not only physical but mental health among breast cancer survivors on AIs, especially those of Black race." }, { "id": 40004, "doi": "10.1111/cfs.12071", "year": 2015, "title": "Integrating the teaching, learning and assessment of communication with children within the qualifying social work curriculum", "journal": "Child & Family Social Work", "abstract": "Qualifying social work education must provide students with a variety of experiential, personalized, participatory, didactic and critically reflective learning opportunities across both the taught curriculum and in practice placements if deep learning of the capabilities needed for effective communication with children and young people is to be ensured. At present, programmes in England are not consistent in the curriculum structures, content and pedagogical approaches they are employing to teach and assess this topic. This paper discusses first how current proposals for the reform of qualifying education in England do not address the ambiguities and discretion in regulatory guidance, which have meant that the place and relevance of this topic within the curriculum remain uncertain and contested. It then draws on a model of the sequencing of students' learning and development in qualifying training, developed through the author's recent empirical research, to present an integrated and coherent approach to the teaching, learning and assessment of this topic. It is proposed that this strategy will enable students to develop the generic, child-focused' and applied child-specialist' capabilities they need for the knowing', being' and doing' of effective communication with children." }, { "id": 40351, "doi": "10.1080/00981389.2014.971213", "year": 2015, "title": "Addressing the Spiritual Needs of American Indians: Predictors of Satisfaction", "journal": "Social Work in Health Care", "abstract": "Spirituality is instrumental to health and wellness in many American Indian (AI) cultures. Although the Joint Commission requires spiritual assessments to identify and address clients' spiritual needs during hospitalization, little is known about the operationalization of this process for American Indians (AIs). To address this gap in the literature, the present study employed a national sample of AIs (N = 1,281) to identify predictors of satisfaction with the manner in which their spiritual needs were addressed. The results suggest the discharge process, physicians, room quality, and nurses play important roles in satisfactorily addressing AIs' spiritual needs. Of these, the discharge process had the largest effect on satisfaction, underscoring the salience of social workers in addressing the spiritual needs of hospitalized AIs." }, { "id": 40509, "doi": "10.1080/1536710x.2015.1068259", "year": 2015, "title": "Understanding the Challenges to Providing Disabilities Services and Rehabilitation in Rural Alaska: Where Do We Go From Here?", "journal": "Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation", "abstract": "American Indians / Alaska Natives (AI / AN) suffer from some of the highest rates of health and mental health-related disabilities. Despite high rates of disabilities experienced among this population, services available to treat the disabilities are extremely limited, especially within the rural Alaska context. Additionally, limited research exists regarding the perceived barriers to receiving disability services, the importance of treating disabilities within one's own community, and individual and community-level strengths that exist to help cope with the lack of services. This article attempts to bring awareness to these issues, as well as propose tangible solutions to help mitigate the barriers." }, { "id": 40574, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2015.1039687", "year": 2015, "title": "Assessing the Effect of an Electronic Decision Support System on Children's Mental Health Service Outcomes", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "This study examined the effect of clinician adoption on an agency built Electronic Discussion Support System on the reduction of youth risk factors. This exploratory study is the first of its kind to assess an agency-built Electronic Decision Support Systems (EDSS) within a children's mental health program to see how it is utilized in a treatment as usual climate. The results showed a significant difference between the reduction-in-risk rating for two of the domains of the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale (Parental Capability and Environment). Yet findings showed that only a few staff utilized the EDSS regularly. Based on the findings, it appears there was a break down in the implementation process. Although the agency had the best of intentions by building the Dashboard, without proper emphasis on implementation their goal was never fully actualized." }, { "id": 40828, "doi": "10.1093/bjsw/bct109", "year": 2015, "title": "Becoming Effective Communicators with Children: Developing Practitioner Capability through Social Work Education", "journal": "British Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "Social workers employed within statutory settings in countries such as the UK are subject to legal and policy requirements to communicate directly and effectively with children and young people. Qualifying social work education is expected to prepare students so that they can practice competently. However, in England at least, practice and education are both falling short. While active attention is now being given to ways of facilitating improvements in practice, almost nothing is known about how qualifying courses might best promote student learning. This paper reports some of the findings from a UK-based empirical study into factors and processes which support students in developing the self-efficacy and 'applied understanding' they need to undertake effective direct work with children. A superficial focus on the 'doing' of communication (techniques and skills) appears to be inadequate: courses must additionally provide a range of experiential, participatory, didactic and critically reflective learning opportunities which can enable deep learning of the underpinning knowledges, ethical commitments and personal qualities also needed. A model is presented of an integrated and coherent learning sequence which could be used by programmes to ensure students develop the necessary generic, child-centred and 'applied child-specialist' capabilities in communication with children." }, { "id": 41096, "doi": "10.1080/1536710x.2015.1068255", "year": 2015, "title": "Toward a Culturally Informed Rehabilitation Treatment Model for American Indian/Alaska Native Veterans", "journal": "Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation", "abstract": "American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) have a long tradition of military service, allying with Western forces in North America since the 1700s. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that AI/AN veterans experience higher rates of overall disability and service-related disability than veterans of other races and ethnicities. It is not clear, however, that AI/AN veterans with disabilities are receiving effective, culturally informed rehabilitation services. This article examines the incidence of disability among contemporary AI/AN veterans, considers barriers to effective treatment, and points out model programs tailored to the particular needs of this population, with attention to the historical and cultural context of AI/AN military service." }, { "id": 37465, "doi": "10.1080/00981389.2016.1207746", "year": 2016, "title": "Psychosocial service needs of pediatric transport accident survivors: Using clinical data-mining to establish demographic and service usage characteristics", "journal": "Social Work in Health Care", "abstract": "The objectives in this article are the exploration of demographic and service usage data gained through clinical data mining audit and suggesting recommendations for social work service delivery model and future research. The method is clinical data-mining audit of 100 sequentially sampled cases gathering quantitative demographic and service usage data. Descriptive analysis of file audit data raised interesting trends with potential to inform service delivery and usage; the key areas of the results included patient demographics, family involvement and impact, and child safety and risk issues. Transport accidents involving children often include other family members. Care planning must take into account psychosocial issues including patient and family emotional responses, availability of primary carers, and other practical needs that may impact on recovery and discharge planning. This study provides evidence to plan for further research and development of more integrated models of care." }, { "id": 37546, "doi": "10.1080/00981389.2016.1186133", "year": 2016, "title": "Job satisfaction and turnover intent among hospital social workers in the United States", "journal": "Social Work in Health Care", "abstract": "Feelings of job satisfaction and turnover intentions among social workers affect work quality for both social workers and the people for whom they provide services. Existing literature on job satisfaction among hospital social workers is limited, and is overly focused on issues of compensation. There is job satisfaction research with hospital nurses available for comparison. Other informative social work research on job satisfaction and turnover exists in mental health and generally, across settings. Research on turnover intent in social work is primarily from child welfare settings and may not generalize. The literature notes gaps and contradictions about predictors of job satisfaction and turnover intent. Using a large national dataset of hospital social workers, this research clarifies and fills gaps regarding hospital social workers, and explores how Herzberg's theory of work can clarify the difference between sources of job dissatisfaction and job satisfaction. Findings include hospital social workers reporting high job satisfaction and that demographics do not contribute to the predictive models. The findings do support centralized social work departments and variety in the job functions of hospital social workers, and are consistent with the theoretical framework." }, { "id": 37639, "doi": "10.1093/bjsw/bcv028", "year": 2016, "title": "A Minority Report for Social Work? The Predictive Risk Model (PRM) and the Tuituia Assessment Framework in addressing the needs of New Zealand's Vulnerable Children", "journal": "British Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "This article examines the viability of the Risk Predictor Model (RPM) and its counterpart the actuarial risk assessment (ARA) tool in the form of the Tuituia Assessment Framework to address child vulnerability in New Zealand. In doing so, it suggests that these types of risk-assessment tools fail to address issues of contingency and complexity at the heart of the relationship-based nature of social work practice. Such developments have considerable implications for the capacity to enhance critical reflexive practice skills, whilst the introduction of these risk tools is occurring at a time when the reflexive space is being eroded as a result of the increased regulation of practice and supervision. It is further asserted that the primary aim of such instruments is not so much to detect risk, but rather to foster professional conformity with these managerialist risk-management systems so prevalent in contemporary Western societies." }, { "id": 37685, "doi": "10.1086/686538", "year": 2016, "title": "Cognitive Enhancement Therapy Improves Resting-State Functional Connectivity in Early Course Schizophrenia", "journal": "Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research", "abstract": "Objective: Cognitive remediation is emerging as an effective psychosocial intervention for addressing untreated cognitive and functional impairments in persons with schizophrenia, and might achieve its benefits through neuroplastic changes in brain connectivity. This study seeks to examine the effects of cognitive enhancement therapy (CET) on fronto-temporal brain connectivity in a randomized controlled trial with individuals in the early course of schizophrenia. Method: Stabilized, early course outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (N = 41) were randomly assigned to CET (n = 25) or an active enriched supportive therapy (EST) control (n = 16) and treated for 2 years. Functional MRI data were collected annually, and pseudo resting-state functional connectivity analysis was used to examine differential changes in fronto-temporal connectivity between those treated with CET compared with EST. Results: Individuals receiving CET evidenced significantly less functional connectivity loss between the restingstate network and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex as well as significantly increased connectivity with the right insular cortex compared to EST (all corrected p < .01). These neural networks are involved in emotion processing and problem-solving. Increased connectivity with the right insula significantly mediated CET effects on improved emotion perception (z' = -1.96, p =.021), and increased connectivity with the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex mediated CET-related improvements in emotion regulation (z' = -1.71, p = .052). Conclusions: These findings provide preliminary evidence that CET, a psychosocial cognitive remediation intervention, may enhance connectivity between frontal and temporal brain regions implicated in problem-solving and emotion processing in service of cognitive enhancement in schizophrenia." }, { "id": 37692, "doi": "10.1093/bjsw/bcv031", "year": 2016, "title": "Predictive Risk Modelling to Prevent Child Maltreatment and Other Adverse Outcomes for Service Users: Inside the 'Black Box' of Machine Learning", "journal": "British Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "Recent developments in digital technology have facilitated the recording and retrieval of administrative data from multiple sources about children and their families. Combined with new ways to mine such data using algorithms which can 'learn', it has been claimed that it is possible to develop tools that can predict which individual children within a population are most likely to be maltreated. The proposed benefit is that interventions can then be targeted to the most vulnerable children and their families to prevent maltreatment from occurring. As expertise in predictive modelling increases, the approach may also be applied in other areas of social work to predict and prevent adverse outcomes for vulnerable service users. In this article, a glimpse inside the 'black box' of predictive tools is provided to demonstrate how their development for use in social work may not be straightforward, given the nature of the data recorded about service users and service activity. The development of predictive risk modelling (PRM) in New Zealand is focused on as an example as it may be the first such tool to be applied as part of ongoing reforms to child protection services." }, { "id": 37739, "doi": "10.1080/01488376.2015.1112871", "year": 2016, "title": "Factors Associated with Employee Stress in Psychiatric Rehabilitation: Identifying Vulnerability and Resilience", "journal": "Journal of Social Service Research", "abstract": "Use of sick days related to mental stress and burnout is a growing problem in Germany. Since stress is related to work demands, there is a substantial need for suitable workplace health promotion programs. This study identifies several organizational and personal stress predictors and presents a predictive model for workers in the field of psychiatric rehabilitation. A cross-sectional design was utilized to collect the self-ratings of employees (n = 243) who typically work with patients. Univariate analyses show, overall, above average stress scores, below average scores in occupational self-efficacy, and a much higher proportion of a gratification crisis (that is, insufficient reward for work performance) compared to other people employed in health care. A multivariate model for predicting the heightened stress indicates the supposed pathogenetic and salutogenetic main effects for organizational variables, such as gratification crisis, and personal variables, such as occupational self-efficacy as well as an interaction of both types of variables. High occupational self-efficacy can attenuate the effect of an existing gratification crisis. Workplace health promotion programs in this field should address organizational and personal variables, in particular occupational self-efficacy and gratification crisis. Future research should focus on interaction effects based on a person-environment-interaction model." }, { "id": 37787, "doi": "10.1111/cfs.12122", "year": 2016, "title": "How professionals talk about complex cases: a critical discourse analysis", "journal": "Child & Family Social Work", "abstract": "This paper reports on a qualitative study of child protection in the UK. The research involved children's practitioners from a range of agencies, including social care, education, health and youth offending, who were asked about working together on complex child protection cases. The aim was to explore how participants talked about complexity in these cases, in order to deconstruct influential perspectives on interprofessional working. Interview transcripts were analysed using critical discourse analysis, a qualitative method that examines patterns of language use in relation to social structures of power and control. The findings identified three overall perspectives: clinical, expert system and relation-centred approaches, which practitioners combined in various ways. These perspectives have a bearing on how the team around the child' is conceptualized in discourse about child protection. The paper links these findings to the assumptions of predictability and control currently embedded in policy and practice guidance, and explores their implications for social workers and other children's practitioners." }, { "id": 37953, "doi": "10.1080/13691457.2015.1024615", "year": 2016, "title": "Teaching and learning: an exchange of knowledge in the university among students, service users, and professors", "journal": "European Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "The education system's responsibility for social workers to be is a central argument in the academic arena. The purpose of the article is to present an innovative perspective about social work education promoted for several years in the Catholic University in Milan. The education experience with students, social workers to be, gave life to a particular workshop Social Work Orientation' characterized by different and innovative activities. The experience presented focuses on relational principles such as empowerment, peer facilitation, involvement of service users, and facilitation, following the idea that teaching and learning could be a simultaneous process. Revealing is the experience of service users as professors', a meeting day in the university between students and service users, a sharing of life stories and relationships. The future social workers learn from the service users, accustoming themselves to considering the service users as people able to cope with their life situations even before enrichment with all the professional tools. The feedback collected about this experience (from students, service users, and professors) shows that the possibility to experiment from the beginning in this approach facilitates the students to become social workers oriented to empowerment and relational processes. L'articolo presenta un'esperienza innovativa e relazionale di formazione universitaria per futuri assistenti sociali. Il corso Laboratorio di Orientamento al servizio sociale' nasce nell'esperienza dell'Universita Cattolica e si colloca all'interno di un particolare approccio al lavoro sociale, quello offerto dalla Metodologia relazionale di rete. Il senso generale di questo laboratorio e quello, come lo dice la stessa denominazione, di accompagnare gli studenti affinche si possano responsabilmente orientare nel percorso che permettera loro di diventare assistenti sociali adeguatamente preparati. La peculiare strutturazione del corso offre agli studenti, riuniti in gruppi e facilitati dalla presenza di un giovane tutor assistente sociale, la possibilita di sperimentare e sperimentarsi in attivita ad alta interazione e bassa strutturazione, e che prevedono in piU momenti il coinvolgimento in aula di utenti e famigliari esperti nel fronteggiare situazioni di vita complesse. Nell'articolo verranno descritte nel dettaglio la strutturazione e le caratteristiche del corso, con riferimento ai principi che sorreggono questa idea non convenzionale di formazione" }, { "id": 38290, "doi": "10.1080/08841233.2016.1125731", "year": 2016, "title": "Data Mining for Social Work Students: Teaching Practice-Based Research in Conjunction with a Field Work Placement", "journal": "Journal of Teaching in Social Work", "abstract": "Although research studies are important for social work students, the students rarely like research classes or see their value. At the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, one group of BSW students was encouraged to carry out the required research in their field work setting, the Hadassah University Medical Center. Students used data mining, that is, the analysis of existing data, to answer their research questions. As a preliminary step, the instructor and interested social workers selected a number of projects that were important to the department. After consulting with the instructor, the hospital's social work research coordinator and social workers in the hospital, the students selected 7 projects. By using data mining, students had access to the data relevant to their projects. Research tasks included coding and analyzing data and then interpreting findings. At the end of the course, they presented their findings in a clinical conference and prepared written reports for the seminar instructor and the social work department." }, { "id": 38535, "doi": "10.1080/08841233.2016.1125231", "year": 2016, "title": "Teaching Data Analysis to the Data-Averse: A Framework for Educators", "journal": "Journal of Teaching in Social Work", "abstract": "It remains a dilemma for social work educators to teach research so that it can be embraced by students as an integral part of social work practice. This article reports on an initiative to design a research course focused on the integration of research with practice. Drawing on developments in data mining and techniques in secondary data analysis, participating social work students gained experience in conducting analyses of existing data. The article presents the rationale for the nature of this teaching model and discusses both the challenges and benefits experienced by students, faculty, and agency-based staff. Access to agency practice data and workforce development, to parallel and support undergraduate competence, is recommended." }, { "id": 39144, "doi": "10.1080/13691457.2015.1085367", "year": 2016, "title": "International migrations and care provisions for elderly people left behind. The cases of the Republic of Moldova and Romania", "journal": "European Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "International migrations are posing numerous challenges to care systems in both sending and receiving countries. Based on a multi-method research conducted between 2011 and 2013, this article looks at how the care provisions for elderly people are rearranged in two Eastern European countries affected by the care drain phenomenon (the Republic of Moldova and Romania). The author charts and compares how transnational families, but also the other facets of the care diamond, such as the public sector, the market and the not-for-profit sector, provide care to elderly people left to cope at home alone because their close relatives have migrated. The main findings of the article are that transnational families are the principal welfare provider for elderly people left behind, while there is a serious delay in the adoption of specific policies for the elderly. Le migrazioni internazionali stanno ponendo diverse sfide ai sistemi di cura dei paesi sia di origine sia di destinazione. L'articolo, basandosi su una ricerca multi-metodo condotta tra il 2011 e il 2013, illustra come si riorganizza la cura delle persone anziane in due paesi dell'Europa orientale interessati dal fenomeno del care drain (la Repubblica di Moldavia e la Romania). L'autrice descrive e compara come le famiglie transnazionali, ma anche gli altri attori del diamante della cura, quali il settore pubblico, il mercato e il settore non-profit, forniscono assistenza alle persone anziane rimaste sole nel paese di origine a cause dell'emigrazione dei loro parenti piU stretti. In sintesi i principali risultati dell'articolo evidenziano che le famiglie transnazionali sono le principali fornitrici di welfare per le persone anziane rimaste nel paese di origine, mentre si registra un serio ritardo nell'adozione di politiche sociali specifiche a favore degli anziani." }, { "id": 107791, "doi": "10.18084/1084-7219.21.1.33", "year": 2016, "title": "Exploring vicarious learning: A study of undergraduate social work teaching assistants.", "journal": "The Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work", "abstract": "Teaching has often been cited as a mechanism to deepen and enhance knowledge acquisition. Teaching assistants, being simultaneously students and teachers, are in a unique position to facilitate their own learning. To date, there is a lack of research related to the vicarious learning process that results from teaching social work theory and clinical practices. This article presents the results of an exploratory study describing the reactions and perceived practice skill attainment of advanced undergraduate and graduate social work students who functioned as teaching assistants. Data were collected through surveys administered to the teaching assistants and include quantitative and qualitative results. Findings indicate that respondents valued the teaching experience because it enhanced clinical social work skill development and reinforced previously acquired knowledge related to the practice of social work. Implications for social work teaching are explored for social work undergraduate and graduate programs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 35278, "doi": "10.1093/swr/svx009", "year": 2017, "title": "Comparison of Neurocognition and Social Cognition between Schizoaffective Disorder, Mood Disorders, and Schizophrenia", "journal": "Social Work Research", "abstract": "The relationship between schizoaffective disorder (SA), schizophrenia (SZ), and mood disorders (MD) is not well understood. Evaluating and comparing cognitive impairment in these disorders can help clarify how these disorders are related. The study's 47 participants with SZ, 94 with SA, and 39 with MD were evaluated with the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia Consensus Cognitive Battery. Multivariate analysis of covariance and three Hotelling's T2 tests were used to compare cognition between participants with SZ, SA, and MD. A data mining classification tree determined the order of importance for all the significant predictors. Power analyses confirmed there was adequate statistical power. Results indicated that there was no difference between the performance of participants with SA and MD in all cognitive domains tested. Second, participants with SZ had worse performance than those with SA and MD in the cognitive domains of processing speed, working memory, visual learning, reasoning and problem solving, and social cognition, after controlling for gender, age, years of education, and substance use disorder. Finally, social cognition was the most important variable to distinguish SZ from the other two diagnoses, indicating that SA is more cognitively similar to MD than to SZ." }, { "id": 35872, "doi": "10.1093/hsw/hlw055", "year": 2017, "title": "A Comparison of Risk and Protective Factors Related to Depressive Symptoms among American Indian and Caucasian Older Adults", "journal": "Health & Social Work", "abstract": "Despite efforts to reduce health disparities, many American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations, including older adults, experience elevated levels of depression and associated suicide. Although adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and social support are well-documented risk and protective factors for depression in the general population, little is known about AI/AN populations, especially older adults. The purpose of this study was to examine factors related to depression among a sample of AI older adults in the Midwest. Data were collected using a self-administered survey completed by 479 AI and Caucasian respondents over the age of 50. The survey included standardized measures such as the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form, ACE Questionnaire, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Hierarchical multivariate regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the main hypotheses of the study. Results indicate that two dimensions of ACEs (childhood neglect and household dysfunction) were positively associated with depressive symptoms; social support was negatively associated with depressive symptoms. Perceived health and living alone were also significant predictors of depressive symptoms. ACEs may play a significant role in depression among AI/AN populations across the life course and into old age. Social support offers a promising mechanism to bolster resilience among AI/AN older adults." }, { "id": 36077, "doi": "10.1080/15313204.2017.1315626", "year": 2017, "title": "American Indian Grand-Families: Trauma and Services", "journal": "Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work", "abstract": "Since the United States Census Bureau began collecting data regarding grandparents raising their grandchildren, the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population has had the highest proportion of families led by grandparents as the primary care-givers of their grandchildren. Despite this, research into AI/AN grand-families is limited. To begin to fill this gap, this qualitative study of 49 AI/AN grandparents raising grand-families (GFs) was conducted in an urban area with one of the highest AI/AN populations in the United States. Results indicated that loss and trauma within the middle generation is a central theme for GF formation. Such GFs also reported using a variety of services spanning state, tribal, and urban AI/AN programs, with educational support as a primary need articulated for their grandchildren. Surprisingly, enculturation was not mentioned as a primary driver of GF formulation. The study suggests a need for further exploration of the needs of urban-based AI/AN GFs, and that service providers must be aware of such issues when working with AI/AN GFs." }, { "id": 36140, "doi": "10.1177/0020872814554855", "year": 2017, "title": "Focus on stability: A cohort of young children in statutory care in Aotearoa New Zealand", "journal": "International Social Work", "abstract": "This article reports on a sample of young New Zealand children under two years of age entering care in 2005 (n = 228) and follows their progress over a five-year period. The study, the first of its kind in New Zealand, used a clinical data mining method to focus particularly on issues of stability, continuity and permanency. In these areas the research findings were generally positive for this cohort of children. Most children had only one or two caregivers. Almost all were ethnically matched with their caregivers in both kinship and foster care, and permanency, or a stable, permanent living situation, was achieved for the majority of the children." }, { "id": 36314, "doi": "10.1080/13691457.2016.1185698", "year": 2017, "title": "Social work and the politics of \"austerity': Ireland and Italy", "journal": "European Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "No detailed analyses have been undertaken comparing and contrasting how social work is responding to the problems generated by the imposition of so-called austerity' measures in Europe. Comprised of three sections, the discussion is focused on Ireland and Italy. This comparative exploration locates social work within encompassing frameworks related to the changing population, political economy and welfare regime in each of these jurisdictions. Aspects of contemporary social work within Ireland and Italy are charted and the possibilities for confronting neoliberal austerity' are analysed. The article seeks to prompt and encourage comparative reflection within Europe in relation to how the social work imagination can be imbued with a new radicalism in the first quarter of the twenty-first century. Non ci sono studi dettagliati dedicati a analizzare e discutere come il servizio sociale stia rispondendo ai problemi provocati dall'imposizione delle misure della cosiddetta austerita' in Europa. Composto di tre parti l'articolo si focalizza su Irlanda e Italia. Questa esplorazione comparativa colloca il servizio sociale all'interno di alcune cornici generali legate ai cambiamenti socio demografici, alla politica economica e ai regimi di welfare in vigore in questi paesi. Vengono delineate le principali caratteristiche del servizio sociale contemporaneo in Irlanda e in Italia e si analizzano le possibilita di far fronte e contrastare all'austerita neoliberista. L'articolo cerca di promuovere e incoraggiare una riflessione comparativa europea in merito a come l'immagine del servizio sociale del primo quarto del ventunesimo secolo possa essere permeata di un nuovo radicalismo." }, { "id": 36444, "doi": "10.1080/10911359.2017.1319778", "year": 2017, "title": "Gender differences in the experience of violence, discrimination, and stress hormone in African Americans: Implications for public health", "journal": "Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment", "abstract": "Violence is more prevalent in African American communities than in other American communities. This has impacts not only on criminal justice interventions but also on the physical and mental health of these communities including their risk for acquiring life-threatening diseases. While many studies have focused on the effects of violence on African American males, we sought to understand the relative gender effects that violence has on African American females. This is of particular interest given the wide array of scientific literature suggesting maternal health has inter-generational health effects. Understanding gender differences associated with exposure to violence, depression, and immune function is an important step in understanding how young women perceive and internalize societal violence directed toward and around them. We analyzed a cohort of 557 young African American adults aged 18-25years old from the Washington, DC area. We use sociological, epidemiological, mental health, computational biology, and quantitative genetics approaches to build a predictive portrait of the effects of violence on African American health. This study demonstrates that African American males and females experience different constellations of societal violence, that African American women report greater perception of racial and gender bias, and that cortisol, an indicator of stress response, is correlated to perceived discrimination. This work contributes to current understandings of how violence contributes to negative health outcomes and lays the foundation for a predictive model for sociological, health, and behavior risk that young African Americans encounter." }, { "id": 36670, "doi": "10.1080/08841233.2017.1316342", "year": 2017, "title": "What Are We Teaching in Diversity and Social Justice Courses? A Qualitative Content Analysis of MSW Syllabi", "journal": "Journal of Teaching in Social Work", "abstract": "Diversity and social justice are central to social work and related curricular content is mandated by accreditation standards. However, research regarding diversity and social justice courses remains limited. This study aimed to better understand how these courses are conceptualized through a qualitative content analysis of course descriptions and objectives from 27 MSW course syllabi. Findings were organized into themes related to knowledge, skills, and values-based content areas. Emergent themes highlighted that these courses center knowledge acquisition, are linked to professional socialization, and have self-awareness as a primary goal. Implications for social work education are discussed." }, { "id": 36898, "doi": "10.1080/10437797.2016.1266977", "year": 2017, "title": "Research Knowledge Assessment: A Study of MSW Students' Acquisition and Retention of Research Knowledge", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Education", "abstract": "In response to the need for meaningful data about student learning in research courses, we developed and implemented the Research Knowledge Assessment instrument to measure MSW student acquisition, application, and retention of research knowledge over a 3-year period across the research curriculum. Initial findings indicated that students entered the foundation research methods course with little research knowledge, gained some knowledge during the course but not at an acceptable level, and lost 22% of the gain by the beginning of the concentration research course. The greatest knowledge acquisition was in sampling and the least in theory and question development. Knowledge acquisition was associated with not having a BSW and not having adjunct faculty as a research instructor." }, { "id": 36998, "doi": "10.1080/10437797.2016.1198292", "year": 2017, "title": "Teaching NoteTeaching Student Interviewing Competencies Through Second Life", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Education", "abstract": "A prototype standardized client was created and programmed to respond to students in the 3D virtual world of Second Life. This automaton, called a chatbot, was repeatedly interviewed by beginning MSW students in a practice course as a learning exercise. Initial results were positive and suggest the use of simulated clients in virtual worlds as learning objects is worth further development and evaluation." }, { "id": 37006, "doi": "10.1177/1468017316637229", "year": 2017, "title": "Independent social work practices with adults in England: An appreciative inquiry of a pilot programme", "journal": "Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "Social Work Practice Pilots with adults was a government initiative in England (2011-2014) that created seven social work practices independent from local authorities/government. The stated aims were to reduce bureaucracy, promote professional discretion and expertise, and reduce the size of the public sector. The Social Work Practice Pilots were social work-led and comprised between five and 100 social workers and/or other professionals/non-professionals. This article describes how the methodology of appreciative inquiry was used to investigate how the Social Work Practice Pilots in England were developing as independent practices. Information was obtained through two, two-day site visits at each Social Work Practice Pilot, and two shared learning workshops with representatives from the Social Work Practice Pilots. Findings Social Work Practice Pilots were found to be developing in accord with the following four key aims of the pilots: (1) spend more time with clients (service users), (2) a more responsive service, (3) more control over the day-to-day management, and (4) think creatively about resource use. Social Work Practice Pilots reported a reduction in bureaucracy and an ability to create flexible practices that more appropriately met the needs of the communities. Applications The findings provide an initial indication of how social work practice could develop independently of local authorities and suggest possible benefits to staff and clients. The study demonstrated how the AI approach to research and consultancy can serve as a participative learning process when exploring social work practice. The strengths and limitations of the approach are discussed." }, { "id": 37109, "doi": "10.1080/15332985.2017.1279584", "year": 2017, "title": "Physical health decision making and decision aid preferences of individuals with severe mental illness", "journal": "Social Work in Mental Health", "abstract": "Individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) often suffer from comorbid physical health conditions that reduce quality of life and longevity. The integrated care movement has improved access to primary care services, but system change does not necessarily impact health behaviors. In an effort to better understand health behaviors of persons with SMI in integrated care, we explored physical health decision making and decision aid preferences. We conducted three focus groups, including two consumer groups and one mental health staff group. Data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach, employing independent coding, thematic analysis, and meaning-making processes. Data suggest that overall, the consumer groups preferred a shared decision making process, with the doctor making the final treatment decision. Staff indicated that decision making depended on a consumer's functioning level. Consumers liked the idea of using a decision aid, and reported preferring the computerized aid. Staff felt that decision aids were dependent on consumer level of functioning. Consumers generally view primary care doctors as experts, but like the idea of using decision aids to assist in making medical decisions. Staff feel that consumers may need help in both decision making and decision aid use in primary care." }, { "id": 88810, "doi": "10.1093/cs/cdx021", "year": 2017, "title": "Fearful and Distracted in School: Predicting Bullying among Youths", "journal": "Children & Schools", "abstract": "Bullying and aggression in schools can have a traumatic and lasting effect on the well-being of children and youths. Using data from the 2013 National Crime Victimization Survey's School Crime Supplement, this study uses a chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID) decision tree and logistic regression models to identify factors that increase bullying in schools. Being distracted and fear of being attacked were among the top statistically significant variables, when using both methodologies. Avoiding online activities and knowing someone who brought a gun to school were top predictors using logistic regression. Being involved in a fight and seeing hate-related words or symbols were additional influential predictors in a CHAID decision tree model. Identifying factors that increase likelihood for bullying in schools assists practitioners in implementing programs and policies to improve school climate and reduce youth bullying." }, { "id": 34589, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2017.1416511", "year": 2018, "title": "Machine Learning for Drug Overdose Surveillance", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "We describe two recently proposed machine learning approaches for discovering emerging trends in fatal accidental drug overdoses. The Gaussian Process Subset Scan (Herlands, McFowland, Wilson, & Neill, 2017) enables early detection of emerging patterns in spatio-temporal data, accounting for both the complex, correlated nature of the data and the fact that detecting subtle patterns requires integration of information across multiple spatial areas and multiple time steps. We apply this approach to 17 years of county-aggregated data for monthly opioid overdose deaths in the New York City metropolitan area, showing clear advantages in the utility of discovered patterns as compared to typical anomaly detection approaches. To detect and characterize emerging overdose patterns that differentially affect a subpopulation of the data, including geographic, demographic, and behavioral patterns (e.g., which combinations of drugs are involved), we apply the Multidimensional Tensor Scan (Neill, 2017) to 8 years of caselevel overdose data from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. We discover previously unidentified overdose patterns which reveal unusual demographic clusters, show impacts of drug legislation, and demonstrate potential for early detection and targeted intervention. These approaches to early detection of overdose patterns can inform prevention and response efforts, as well as understanding the effects of policy changes." }, { "id": 34718, "doi": "10.1080/00981389.2018.1455789", "year": 2018, "title": "Breast cancer literacy and health beliefs related to breast cancer screening among American Indian women", "journal": "Social Work in Health Care", "abstract": "The purpose of this article is to examine the health beliefs and literacy about breast cancer and their relationship with breast cancer screening among American Indian (AI) women. Using the Health Belief Model (HBM) and hierarchical logistic regression with data from a sample of 286 AI female adults residing in the Northern Plains, we found that greater awareness of breast cancer screening was linked to breast cancer screening practices. However, perceived barriers, one of the HBM constructs, prevented such screening practices. This study suggested that culturally relevant HBM factors should be targeted when developing culturally sensitive breast cancer prevention efforts." }, { "id": 34763, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2017.1416514", "year": 2018, "title": "Food for Thought: Analyzing Public Opinion on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "This project explores public opinion on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in news and social media outlets, and tracks elected representatives' voting records on issues relating to SNAP and food insecurity. We used machine learning, sentiment analysis, and text mining to analyze national and state level coverage of SNAP in order to gauge perceptions of the program over time across these outlets. Results indicate that the majority of news coverage has negative sentiment, more partisan news outlets have more extreme sentiment, and that clustering of negative reporting on SNAP occurs in the Midwest. Our final results and tools will be displayed in an online application that the ACFB Advocacy team can use to inform their communication to relevant stakeholders." }, { "id": 34792, "doi": "10.1080/13691457.2017.1320980", "year": 2018, "title": "Learning from mistakes in social work", "journal": "European Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "A growing number of cases of professional errors in the realm of health and social services appear on media and raise significant public debate. This article focuses on mistakes in social work and looks at how their negative impacts might be reduced through the lens and framework of reflective practice. Using conclusions from the most relevant literature on this topic and some of the outcomes of recent research, the author describes errors in social work in terms of causes (e.g. lack of time and training, etc.) and results (e.g. damaged relationship with users, failure of action plans, burnout, etc.). Learning occurs when social workers conduct an in-depth reflection, alone or together with colleagues. Since human beings will always err, paradoxically reflection on mistakes (with the consequent drop in the harm produced) and not the reduction of their number is the most powerful factor to improve the quality of health and social services. The culture of blame and punishment is one of the main obstacles to an effective social work animated by the genuine culture of responsibility and ethically driven by the overriding interest of service users. SINTESIUn numero crescente di casi di errori professionali nel campo dei servizi sociali e sanitari appare nei media suscitando un notevole dibattito pubblico. Questo articolo si focalizza sugli errori nel servizio sociale e considera come il loro impatto negativo potrebbe essere ridotto attraverso la pratica riflessiva. Utilizzando le piU rilevanti conclusioni della letteratura su questo argomento e alcuni dei risultati di una recente ricerca, l'autore descrive gli errori nel servizio sociale in termini di cause (ad esempio, mancanza di tempo e di formazione, ecc.) ed effetti (ad esempio, relazioni danneggiate con gli utenti, fallimento del piano d'azione, burnout, ecc.). Vi e apprendimento quando gli assistenti sociali riflettono in profondita, da soli o insieme ai colleghi. Poiche gli esseri umani commetteranno sempre degli errori, la riflessione su questi ultimi (con la conseguente diminuzione del danno prodotto) e non la riduzione del loro numero e paradossalmente il fattore piU potente per migliorare la qualita dei servizi sociali e sanitari. La cultura della colpa e uno dei principali ostacoli ad un servizio sociale efficace animato dalla vera cultura della responsabilita e guidato eticamente dal superiore interesse degli utenti dei servizi." }, { "id": 34891, "doi": "10.1080/19371918.2018.1462287", "year": 2018, "title": "Sovereignty and social justice: how the concepts affect federal American Indian policy and American Indian health", "journal": "Social Work in Public Health", "abstract": "The health disparities that are prevalent among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities are connected to the ideology of sovereignty and often ignored in social work and public health literature. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the health outcomes of American Indians from the time of contact with European settlers to the present through the ideology of sovereignty and federal government AI health policy. The foundation for the health outcomes of AIs and the governmental policies affecting them lie in the ideology of tribal sovereignty. This ideology has greatly impacted how the government views and treats AIs and consequently, how it has impacted their health. From the earliest treaties between European settlers and AIs, this legal relationship has been and remains a perplexing issue. With the examination of tribal sovereignty comes the realization that colonization and governmental polices have greatly contributed to the many social and health problems that AIs suffer from today. Understanding that the health disparities that exist among AI/AN populations cannot only be attributed to individual behavior and choice but is driven by societal, economic and political factors may be used to inform social work education, practice, and research." }, { "id": 34936, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2018.1449709", "year": 2018, "title": "Friendsourcing Peer Support for Alzheimer's Caregivers Using Facebook Social Media", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "This research piloted an e-health intervention that used social media to friendsource peer support for Alzheimer's disease (AD) caregivers. Friendsourcing is a variant of crowdsourcing. Crowdsourcing recruits online participants who share a characteristic that makes their volunteerism meaningful when they join to achieve an outcome. Friendsourcing recruits online participants who share membership in a social network that makes their volunteerism meaningful when they join to achieve an outcome. This article introduces our friendsourcing intervention research and examines the effects on the psychological well-being of AD caregivers. After a 6-week intervention, caregivers were found to have significantly decreased burden (Z = -2.01, p < .05) and perceived stress (Z = -2.95, p < .01). Emotional and informational support scores were significantly increased (Z = -2.32, p < .05). Qualitative data analysis of the intervention identified positive effects in new caregiving knowledge acquisition and application and reduced stress in the acceptance of the caregiving role. Joining social networks in support groups through friendsourcing was feasible for AD caregivers who were familiar with social media, and can provide another means of guiding the development of their personal support networks." }, { "id": 69506, "doi": "10.1093/swr/svy025", "year": 2018, "title": "\"Water Is Life\": Using Photovoice to Document American Indian Perspectives on Water and Health", "journal": "Social Work Research", "abstract": "In this study, tribal members from an American Indian (AI) community in the midwestern United States used photovoice, a community-based participatory method, to document their perceptions and beliefs about water and health on their reservation. The study infused photovoice's seminal theoretical influences within an environmental justice framework to explore the impact of environmental changes in water on human health and well-being. Study participants included two men and nine women who self-identified as tribal members and either worked or lived (or both) on their tribe's reservation. During the photovoice project, participants took photographs and engaged in face-to-face interviews using the SHOWeD technique to reflect on the images they had captured. An In Vivo coding method was used to code the data using participants' own words, followed by a thematic analysis to contextualize the codes within the cultural realities of the tribal community. Study findings detail how water is fundamental to the lives of the AI study participants and expose the scope of health concerns they have related to water circumstances on their reservation. The article concludes with a discussion about the use of photovoice with AI communities and implications of using the method for social work practice and research." }, { "id": 69514, "doi": "10.1086/701439", "year": 2018, "title": "Piloting the Use of Artificial Intelligence to Enhance HIV Prevention Interventions for Youth Experiencing Homelessness", "journal": "Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research", "abstract": "Objective: Youth experiencing homelessness are at risk for HIV and need interventions to prevent risky sex behaviors. We tested the feasibility of using artificial intelligence (AI) to select peer change agents (PCAs) to deliver HIV prevention messages among youth experiencing homelessness. Method: We used a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design. In the AI condition (n = 62), 11 PCAs were selected via AI algorithm; in the popularity comparison (n = 55), 11 PCAs were selected 6 months later based on maximum degree centrality (most ties to others in the network). All PCAs were trained to promote HIV testing and condom use among their peers. Participants were clients at a drop-in center in Los Angeles, CA. HIV testing and condom use were assessed via a self-administered, computer-based survey at baseline (n = 117), 1 month (n = 86, 74%), and 3 months (n = 70, 60%). Results: At 3 months, rates of HIV testing increased among participants in the AI condition relative to the comparison group (18.8% vs. 8.1%), as did condom use during anal sex (12.1% vs. 3.3%) and vaginal sex (29.2% vs. 23.7%). Conclusions: AI-enhanced PCA intervention is a feasible method for engaging youth experiencing homelessness in HIV prevention." }, { "id": 69544, "doi": "10.1080/19371918.2018.1546252", "year": 2018, "title": "The Role of Social Worker in Promoting Immigrants' Integration", "journal": "Social Work in Public Health", "abstract": "The dramatic increase in migration in Italy represents a challenge for social workers involved in the integration services. The current study explores the Italian social work practice with immigrants within different working contexts through qualitative data consisting in interviews with social workers. The data were analyzed through T-LAB, a software for content analysis and text mining. Results showed that social workers suitably address immigrants' needs, approaching and understanding different cultures. We may conclude that social workers promote integration and individual empowerment, building a \"relational bridge\" between cultural diversities, immigrants' heritage, and the mainstream culture. Particularly, social workers have to meet and answer the essential needs of newcomers because the route to integration passes through the practical sphere of welfare provisions." }, { "id": 69643, "doi": "10.1177/1468017317743137", "year": 2018, "title": "Predicting recidivism among youth offenders: Augmenting professional judgement with machine learning algorithms", "journal": "Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "The Summary Offender rehabilitation seeks to minimise recidivism. Using their experience and actuarial-type risk assessment tools, probation officers in Singapore make recommendations on the sentencing outcomes so as to achieve this objective. However, it is difficult for them to maximise the utility of the large amounts of data collected, which could be resolved by using predictive modelling informed by statistical learning methods. Findings Data of youth offenders (N = 3744) referred to the Probation Service, Ministry of Social and Family Development for rehabilitation were used to create a random forests model to predict recidivism. No assumptions were made on how individual predictor values within the risk assessment tool and other administrative data on an individual's socio-economic status such as level of education attained and dwelling type collected in line with organisational requirements influenced the outcome. Sixty per cent of the data was used to develop the model, which was then tested against the remaining 40%. With a classification accuracy of approximately 65%, and an Area under the Curve value of 0.69, it outperformed existing models analysing aggregated data using conventional statistical methods. Application This article identifies how analysis of administrative data at the discrete level using statistical learning methods is more accurate in predicting recidivism than using conventional statistical methods. This provides an opportunity to direct intervention efforts at individuals who are more likely to reoffend." }, { "id": 69839, "doi": "10.1093/hsw/hly015", "year": 2018, "title": "Prayer and Faith: Spiritual Coping among American Indian Women Cancer Survivors", "journal": "Health & Social Work", "abstract": "Although cancer disparities among American Indian (AI) women are alarming, research on spiritual coping among this population is virtually nonexistent. This is particularly problematic, given the importance of medical practitioners' discussing the topic with cancer patients, along with the centrality of spirituality to many AI patients. The purpose of this article was to explore AI women cancer survivors' spiritual coping with their experiences. Using a community-based participatory research approach, this qualitative descriptive study included a sample of 43 AI women cancer survivors (n = 14 breast cancer, n = 14 cervical cancer, and n = 15 colon and other types of cancer). Qualitative content analysis revealed that most participants (76 percent, n = 32) cited prayer as an important part of their cancer recovery and coping strategies. Many participants expressed how prayer and spirituality connected them to family, to faith communities, and to others. In addition to prayer, over a third (36 percent, n = 15) of participants emphasized faith as a recovery and coping strategy. Results indicate that most women drew great comfort, strength, hope, and relief from their spiritual and faith traditions, indicating that religious and spiritual practices may be an important protective factor against the strain of the cancer experience." }, { "id": 70185, "doi": "10.1086/696129", "year": 2018, "title": "Predicting Movement of Homeless Young Adults: Artificial Neural Networks and Generalized Linear Models", "journal": "Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research", "abstract": "Objective: Previous research has indicated high rates of intercity movement among homeless young adults (HYAs) for a variety of prosocial (e.g., avoiding domestic violence and seeking new employment opportunities) and antisocial (e.g., following drug supplies and avoiding law enforcement) reasons. The complicated mixture of individual circumstances associated with transience has made it difficult to predict features of transience, such as distance traveled and move frequency. Method: This study describes a method to build an artificial neural network (ANN) that predicts distance traveled and compares the results of that ANN to a generalized linear regression. Results: The ANN more accurately predicts distance traveled than does the linear statistical model and advances the development of approaches to predict complicated human phenomena. Conclusions: Accurately predicting features of transience among HYAs is important in tailoring effective interventions aimed at minimizing travel for negative reasons and making travel for positive reasons safer." }, { "id": 70348, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2017.1416512", "year": 2018, "title": "Themis-ml: A Fairness-Aware Machine Learning Interface for End-To-End Discrimination Discovery and Mitigation", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "As more industries integrate machine learning into socially sensitive decision processes like hiring, loan-approval, and parole-granting, we are at risk of perpetuating historical and contemporary socioeconomic disparities. This is a critical problem because on the one hand, organizations who use but do not understand the discriminatory potential of such systems will facilitate the widening of social disparities under the assumption that algorithms are categorically objective. On the other hand, the responsible use of machine learning can help us measure, understand, and mitigate the implicit historical biases in socially sensitive data by expressing implicit decision-making mental models in terms of explicit statistical models. In this article we specify, implement, and evaluate a \"fairness-aware\" machine learning interface called themis-ml, which is intended for use by individual data scientists and engineers, academic research teams, or larger product teams who use machine learning in production systems." }, { "id": 70407, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2017.1416513", "year": 2018, "title": "Can Machine Learning Create an Advocate for Foster Youth?", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Statistics are bleak for youth aging out of the United States foster care system. They are often left with few resources, are likely to experience homelessness, and are at increased risk of incarceration and exploitation. The Think of Us platform is a service for foster youth and their advocates to create personalized goals and access curated content specific to aging out of the foster care system. In this article, we propose the use of a machine learning algorithm within the Think of Us platform to better serve youth transitioning to life outside of foster care. The algorithm collects and collates publicly available figures and data to inform caseworkers and other mentors chosen by the youth on how to best assist foster youth. It can then provide valuable resources for the youth and their advocates targeted directly toward their specific needs. Finally, we examine machine learning as a support system and aid for caseworkers to buttress and protect vulnerable young adults during their transition to adulthood." }, { "id": 70753, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2017.1418703", "year": 2018, "title": "Applications of Machine Learning Methods to Predict Readmission and Length-of-Stay for Homeless Families: The Case of Win Shelters in New York City", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "New York City faces the challenge of an ever-increasing homeless population with almost 60,000 people currently living in city shelters. In 2015, approximately 25% of families stayed longer than nine months in a shelter, and 17% of families with children that exited a homeless shelter returned to the shelter system within 30 days of leaving. This suggests that \"long-term\" shelter residents and those that re-enter shelters contribute significantly to the rise of the homeless population living in city shelters and indicate systemic challenges to finding adequate permanent housing. This article focuses on our preliminary work with Win (Women-in-Need) shelters to understand the factors that predict readmission and length-of-stay of homeless families. We create a unified, comprehensive database of the homeless population being served by Win shelters, accounting for more than 6,000 homeless families. We apply logistic regression models and an unsupervised clustering algorithm to identify predictors of re-entry and long-term length-of-stay. Citizenship, age, medical conditions, employment, and history of foster care or shelter stays as a child are found to be significant predictors. The results of the K-means clustering identify three primary groups, consistent with previous typologies characterized by transitionally homeless, episodically homeless, and chronically homeless." }, { "id": 70763, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2017.1417953", "year": 2018, "title": "Measuring the Unmeasurable-A Study of Domestic Violence Risk Prediction and Management", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "The prevention of domestic violence (DV) have aroused serious concerns in Taiwan because of the disparity between the increasing amount of reported DV cases that doubled over the past decade and the scarcity of social workers. However, most common collaborations for DV prevention, between academic researchers and advocacy groups or governments outsourcing, often fail to produce effective prevention strategies. Hence, Data for Social Good Initiative (D4SG) worked with Taipei City Government to improve the efficiency of DV prevention and risk management on two levels-project collaboration level and data level. On the project collaboration level, we adopted a platform strategy and utilize public-private partnership (PPP) to connect and empower change agents across data silos from pilot runs to actual project execution. On the data level, we helped social workers differentiate the risk level of new cases by building a repeat victimization risk prediction model using random forest method with the 2015 data from Taipei City government's DV database. The accuracy and F1-measure of our model were 96.3% and 62.8%. This projects' PPP approach and quantification method successfully improved DV prevention process. These methodologies have also been applied to other work fields including firework prediction, emergency healthcare management as a paradigm." }, { "id": 70859, "doi": "10.1080/01488376.2018.1477699", "year": 2018, "title": "A Predictive Model for Financial Literacy among the Educated Youth in Kerala, India", "journal": "Journal of Social Service Research", "abstract": "The economic importance of financial literacy among individuals necessitates policy intervention. Estimation of financial literacy is a prerequisite for strategies to improve financial literacy. This paper, using data collected from the educated young adults in Kerala, the most literate state in India, builds a predictive model for financial literacy employing logistic regression. The study reveals the low level of financial literacy in the state. The model points to the significance of gender, age, religion, discipline of study, occupation, and personal income as determinants of financial literacy. The findings have implications for policies aimed at improving the financial literacy of young adults in India." }, { "id": 70944, "doi": "10.1080/00981389.2018.1474837", "year": 2018, "title": "Healthcare barriers and supports for American Indian women with cancer", "journal": "Social Work in Health Care", "abstract": "Although American Indian (AI) women continue to experience cancer at higher rates and have not seen the same decline in cancer prevalence as the general U.S. population, little research examines how interactions with health care providers may influence and exacerbate these health disparities. The purpose of the study was to understand the experiences of AI women who receive cancer treatment, which is integral for eradication of AI cancer disparities among women. A qualitative descriptive methodology was used with a sample of 43 AI women with breast, cervical, colon, and other types of cancer from the Northern Plains region of South Dakota. Interviews were conducted from June 2014 to February 2015. Qualitative content analysis revealed that women experienced: (a) health concerns being ignored or overlooked; (b) lack of consistent and qualified providers; (c) inadequate healthcare infrastructure; (d) sub-optimal patient-healthcare provider relationships; (e) positive experiences with healthcare providers; and (f) pressure and misinformation about treatment. Results indicate the types of support AI women may need when accessing healthcare. Culturally informed trainings for healthcare professionals may be needed to provide high-quality and sensitive care for AI women who have cancer, and to support those providers already providing proper care." }, { "id": 86602, "doi": "10.25159/2415-5829/3599", "year": 2018, "title": "Applying the process of appreciative inquiry in community development", "journal": "Southern African Journal of Social Work and Social Development", "abstract": "Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is an unconventional method in bringing about change to organisations and communities, and needs to be understood in terms of its principles, perspective and implementation. AI has been implemented in various contexts such as organisational development, education and health. However, more evidence on its application and outcomes in community development is needed. AI, which complies with most of the principles of participatory action research, was used as a research design in this study conducted in Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa. The researchers in collaboration with community members used the 4-D cycle and various tools and activities of AI in a community project. The study yielded positive results about the application and relevance of the AI in community development. There were valuable lessons learnt about the 4-D model in community development. The study adds value regarding the application of AI as a community development model in the South African context." }, { "id": 96312, "doi": "10.1177/0886109918762570", "year": 2018, "title": "Engaging in Indigenous CBPR Within Academia: A Critical Narrative", "journal": "Social Work", "abstract": "Historical accounts of research conducted in American Indian (AI) communities have shown that research activities have not always been in the best interest of tribes. In some instances, research conducted with tribes has been harmful and resulted in unnecessary trauma and distress. In response to past wrongdoings, many researchers now seek to engage tribal communities in research that is collaborative, respectful, and reciprocal. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is one such \u201cepistemological orientation\u201d that has the potential to address the \u201coppressive, exploitive legacy of research done on Indigenous people.\u201d This article details the author\u2019s experience of engaging in CBPR during their dissertation study of the significance of water and its relationship to AI health and well-being. The author reflects on their firsthand account of developing and implementing the study in partnership with a local tribe. Particular attention is given to the processes of CBPR through an illustrative case example that took place on an AI reservation located in the Midwestern United States. The case example is informed by \u201ccounter storytelling\u201d and is critically reviewed using the principle tenants of CBPR. The article concludes with implications for doctoral education and research with AI communities." }, { "id": 67780, "doi": "10.1080/19371918.2019.1635948", "year": 2019, "title": "Predicting HCV Incidence in Latinos with High-Risk Substance Use: A Data Science Approach", "journal": "Social Work in Public Health", "abstract": "Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the U.S. has tripled in the prior five years, and injecting drug use is the primary risk for HCV, with up to 90% of older and former people who inject drugs (PWIDs) testing positive. Laboratory testing of HCV for any PWIDs is the gold standard, however many PWIDs lack access to health treatment or services. Identifying risks of HCV via a data science approach would aid community health workers (CHW) to rapidly link those most at risk of infection with treatment. This study employed a data-science approach to determine the strongest risk factors of HCV in a sample of Mexican-Americans WIDs n = 221 (96 negative/125 positive). Data included 238 demographic and psychosocial predictors. A Random Forest machine learning algorithm demonstrated significant prediction improvement over baseline no information rate comparison. Strongest risks for positive HCV included sharing drug-use equipment and younger age at first heroin use; receiving drug-education during incarceration was protective. A ROC curve fit to the prediction yielded an area under the curve of 0.77. Predictive variables of HCV in the present analysis can be obtained via screening by CHW. Identification of patients most at risk of HCV within community settings can maximize treatment utilization." }, { "id": 67898, "doi": "10.1080/07347332.2018.1525467", "year": 2019, "title": "American Indian women cancer survivors' coping with depressive symptoms", "journal": "Journal of Psychosocial Oncology", "abstract": "Objective: Depressive symptoms have been identified as a primary predictor of quality of life among cancer patients. Depression and cancer are co-occurring and disproportionately elevated for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women. The purpose of this article is to examine American Indian (AI) women cancer survivors' coping mechanisms for depressive symptoms. Research approach: The methodology included a qualitative descriptive approach with conventional content analysis to examine the coping strategies of AI women cancer survivors associated with depressive symptoms. The interview guide was semi-structured and developed in collaboration with a community advisory board (CAB). Data-derived qualitative analysis was used to generate codes inductively from the data. Participants: A sample of 43 AI women cancer survivors (n = 14 cervical cancer, n = 14 breast cancer, and n = 15 other cancers) from the Northern Plains region, in the state of South Dakota were interviewed. Data were collected from June 2014 to February 2015. Methodological approach: Qualitative content analysis was used for data analysis, which allowed themes to emerge inductively from the data. Analysis revealed 430 preliminary codes. After de-briefing, validation, and discussion among coauthors, these were then sorted into 67 codes. Member checks with all available participants were conducted to minimize misinterpretation. Findings: A total of 26 participants (62%) indicated they had feelings of depression since their cancer diagnosis. Women coped with depressive feelings by (a) participating in faith traditions; (b) seeking creative and positive outlets; (c) martialing family and social support; and (d) keeping busy with other life activities. Interpretation: AI women experienced depressive symptoms following a cancer diagnosis and used a variety of positive coping mechanisms to create personal meaning." }, { "id": 68030, "doi": "10.1177/1468017318762450", "year": 2019, "title": "Predictors of secondary traumatic stress among social workers: Supervision, income, and caseload size", "journal": "Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "In the past 20 years, research suggests that social workers and counselors are at risk of developing secondary traumatic stress from working with traumatized client populations. However, only a few studies have examined specific risk and protective factors that may buffer the social worker from developing secondary trauma symptoms. This article reports the results from a cross-sectional survey-based study of clinical social workers in which a predictive model of secondary traumatic stress was sought. In order to obtain an optimally predictive subset of variables from a larger set of candidate variables, this study employed a rigorous variable selection procedure using criteria-based methods for arriving at a final model predicting secondary trauma. Findings The results suggest that the ratings of the supervisory relationship, salary, caseload size, and personal anxiety may be salient factors that impact the development of secondary trauma among clinical social workers. Specifically, positive ratings of supervision and higher income level were found to predict a substantial decrease in the degree to which a social worker possessed secondary trauma symptoms. Applications Secondary trauma threatens clinician health, client quality of services, and contributes to increased financial burdens to nonprofit agencies due to burnout and employee turnover. At an organizational level, administrators and policymakers can address these problems by providing higher salaries, encouraging reasonable client caseloads, and ensuring that social workers have access to skilled clinical supervisors. At an individual level, personal self-care to reduce daily anxiety may be important to protect clinical social workers from developing secondary trauma symptoms." }, { "id": 68250, "doi": "10.1093/hsw/hlz005", "year": 2019, "title": "Childhood Sexual Abuse and Depression among American Indians in Adulthood", "journal": "Health & Social Work", "abstract": "The present study investigated distal and proximal factors associated with depression among a sample of 479 American Indian (AI) adults in the Midwest. Distal factors included histories of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and other childhood adversities. Proximal factors included levels of health self-efficacy and treatment for alcohol problems. The study also examined the moderating effect of treatment for alcohol problems on the relationship between CSA and depression. In model 1, results indicate that CSA was positively related to depression after controlling for demographic and background variables. In model 2, childhood adversities and treatment for alcohol problems were associated with increased depression in AI adults; CSA became nonsignificant. As a protective factor, level of health self-efficacy was negatively associated with depression. In model 3, treatment for alcohol problems magnified the effect of CSA on depression. These findings suggest that early traumatic experiences may have persistent, harmful effects on depression among AIs; one mechanism exacerbating the impact of CSA on depression is treatment for alcohol problems. Targeted interventions are needed to mitigate the long-term negative health effects of childhood trauma in this population and to strengthen proximal protective factors, such as health self-efficacy." }, { "id": 69096, "doi": "10.1080/10522158.2018.1558429", "year": 2019, "title": "Family characteristics as predictors of intensity in family services", "journal": "Journal of Family Social Work", "abstract": "This article investigates factors influencing the number of hours families are involved with family services and uses these factors to develop a predictive model. This research began with focus groups involving family service workers who identified three key domains influencing service intensity: worker/family relationship, family motivation, and family characteristics. The family characteristics domain is the focus of this article. Influencing factors within this domain are examined through analysis of database information from 258 families who had previously accessed family services through a community services organization. Key predictors identified include the gender of main consumer, family size, and presence of issues such as family violence and physical illness. These findings are used to develop a model to predict intervention intensity for families accessing family services. The ability to estimate service intensity provides data to effectively develop innovative programs and enable better balancing of staff workloads and resources. Additionally, the capability to predict intensity helps allocate families to appropriate workers and programs." }, { "id": 69203, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2018.1509952", "year": 2019, "title": "Creation and evaluation of a maternal mental health course", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) engender significant and increasing personal, social, developmental, and economic burdens to women, children, families, and global public health. In the US, a Master of Social Work (MSW) elective course, Introduction to Maternal Mental Health, was created to prepare future social workers to better understand, detect, intervene, and advocate with women struggling with perinatal mental health concerns. A pilot study used pre-post-surveys (N = 10) and a focus group to examine students' knowledge acquisition, course satisfaction, and perceived self-efficacy. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed a statistically significant difference between pre- and post-survey course content knowledge scores. Positive focus group feedback and survey outcomes suggest that students benefitted from the course in terms of increased learning and professional efficacy in maternal mental health; however, the study should be replicated using a larger sample and comparison group. The course outline provided may be used to develop a similar course or to infuse maternal mental health content into existing courses. The paper concludes with implications and recommendations for social work educators." }, { "id": 69336, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2019.1614513", "year": 2019, "title": "Challenges in Using Big Data to Develop Decision Support Systems for Social Work in Germany", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Nowadays, big data analytics are increasingly replacing human decision-making processes in practice fields. In the welfare context, however, they are still being explored only marginally. The following theoretical discussion draws on the example of the MAEWIN project to explore the challenges of using big data when developing decision support systems in the context of social work. The project reveals some similarities with the well-known challenges of big data research (e.g., with regard to data protection, bias, and handling probabilities). However, it also has to face further challenges such as the different knowledge approaches within social work." }, { "id": 69403, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2019.1587334", "year": 2019, "title": "Past, Present, and Future: Editorial on Virtual Reality Applications to Human Services", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "\"Virtual Reality\" interventions in human services may include 360 degrees video, augmented reality, mixed reality, and fully immersive 3-dimensional virtual reality simulations. A variety of applications have been evaluated in various fields of study, including medicine, social work, psychology, and human performance training. Currently, the state of research of VR interventions in human services has primarily focused on efficacy and effectiveness research, with few studies evaluating \"scaling up\" or implementation of VR interventions in larger populations. Unfortunately, the state of efficacy and effectiveness studies of VR interventions still remains weak with some applications due to smaller sample sizes, lack of randomized control trials, and a gap in reporting key intervention qualities, dosage, and outcomes. With new developments in combining artificial intelligence with VR, realism and the potential for human interaction with computer generated simulations may boost presence and immersion within these applications. This editorial provides an overview of the state of virtual reality applications in human service provision, potential gaps to be addressed by research in the future, and the development of AI based interactive sequences that may boost use presence." }, { "id": 88042, "doi": "10.18060/22608", "year": 2019, "title": "Safety for American Indian Women: An Indigenous-Focused Policy Analysis of Violence Against Women Act-Title IX", "journal": "Advances in Social Work", "abstract": "American Indian/Native American (AI/NA) women are disproportionately affected by intimate partner violence (IPV). The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) of 2013 included new provisions under the Title IX Safety for Indian Women. This act created funding for the implementation of modern criminal justice structures allowing tribal governments to prosecute non-Indian perpetrators. Although this piece of legislation is meant to address the high prevalence of gender-based violence perpetrated against AI/NA women, it has not been analyzed using indigenous or feminist perspectives. A policy analysis model was developed, incorporating indigenous values, feminist perspectives, tribal critical race theory, and social construction and historical contexts to examine Title IX's goals, social values, and outcomes from an indigenous perspective. The analysis reveals the intentions of Title IX to promote indigenous values of empowerment and interdependence but fails to account for the historical marginalization of AI/NA people and the tendency of AI/NA women to distrust law enforcement. Although Title IX did create cultural change and enhance acknowledgment of IPV improvements are needed to make a more indigenous-focused, feminist-based policy. These suggestions include providing access to culturally sensitive law enforcement approaches for AI/NA women, accounting for historical factors, and creating a standardized pathway for prosecution, which incorporates feedback from tribal members." }, { "id": 100382, "doi": "10.7916/cswr.v11i1.1932", "year": 2019, "title": "Suicide and Soul Wound: Stress, Coping, and Culture in the American Indian and Alaska Native Youth Context", "journal": "Columbia Social Work Review", "abstract": "Suicide, the second leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI) youth ages 15 to 24, raises a criti- cal issue for social work research and practice. This paper ar- gues that AI youth suicide is a contemporary manifestation of \u0093\u201csoul wound\u0094\u201d and expands the definition of soul wound to in- clude present stressors and coping mechanisms for youth that are characterized by a legacy of colonization and cultural oppres- sion. While AI youth come from diverse communities, this paper will demonstrate the importance of examining youth suicide as part of the overall AI experience in the United States. Using an indigenist stress process model framework, it will subsequently examine four forms of stressors informed by the marginalization of the AI population: psychological strains of historical trauma, environmental stressors, quotidian stressors arising from socio- economic factors, and adversity from personal and relational role conflicts. AI youth mediate these stressors through coping mecha- nisms around social support and collective mastery. This paper will conclude with a call to develop an anti-oppressive, culturally relevant social work practice that supports meaningful identity development and collective efficacy." }, { "id": 109134, "doi": "10.1332/204986019x15491042559718", "year": 2019, "title": "Technicist education: paving the way for the rise of the social work robots?", "journal": "Critical and Radical Social Work", "abstract": "This article seeks to explicate one form of technical rationality (ie the technological development of robotics) in social work education and practice. As advances in robotics evolve, questions are raised about the role of technicist education in reducing social work practice to a set of tasks that are repeatable, formulaic and linear (ie tasks that robots are capable of performing). We conduct a critical synthesis of the literature to explore how these parallel processes potentially create a seamless transition for social robots to replace the human social work workforce. Our analysis suggests that social workers need to reclaim a broader understanding of social work education and practice if we intend to retain human social work practitioners into the future. We argue that this is vital because critical social work practitioners are more capable than robots of meeting the espoused social justice values of social work." }, { "id": 110366, "doi": "10.1142/S0219246219000044", "year": 2019, "title": "THE ETHICS AND POLITICS OF HUMAN SERVICE TECHNOLOGY: THE CASE OF PREDICTIVE RISK MODELING IN NEW ZEALAND'S CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM", "journal": "Hong Kong Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "This article reviews the political and ethical dimensions of technology applications in social work by focusing on a descriptive case study. The case study is of an initiative undertaken by the New Zealand government between 2011 and 2015 to develop an algorithm that would allow child protection services to predict future child maltreatment at the point of birth and to pre-empt it before it occurs. The paper explores the new threats to human rights and social justice associated with the rise of algorithmic governance and explores the sources of algorithmic injustice. It also outlines some of the key ethical issues and political challenges associated with algorithmic governance." }, { "id": 116001, "doi": "dc/3ca1ac77c3", "year": 2019, "title": "A Theoretical Review of the Literature: Domestic Violence in Muslim Communities in the United States", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Education and Practice", "abstract": "Social workers are often tasked to engage with families where domestic violence is occurring. This challenging task can be exacerbated by factors such as cultural and religious influences. As a means to increase the understanding of these important factors, an extensive literature review of current material on Islam, Muslims and domestic violence was conducted. This literature was divided into several themes to include: Islam and Muslims; Islam, marriage and family; Islam and domestic violence; special circumstances of Muslim victims of domestic violence; why Muslim women stay; the September 11th impact on domestic violence in Muslim families in the US; and services available to these families. Implications include increased knowledge acquisition and cultural awareness as well as a call for more knowledge regarding the relationship between the intersections of factors such as Islam, culture, immigration and socioeconomic status, and the competent assessment of service needs and success" }, { "id": 52395, "doi": "10.1177/1044389419853113", "year": 2020, "title": "Spiritual Well-Being, Social Support, and Depression Among American Indian Women Cancer Survivors: The Mediating Effect of Perceived Quality of Life", "journal": "Families in Society", "abstract": "This study aims to examine the mediating effect of quality of life on associations between both spiritual well-being and social support and depression among American Indian (AI) women cancer survivors. We collected cross-sectional data from AI women in the Midwest who were cancer survivors (n = 73) with a self-administered survey. We employed a series of linear regression to examine the mediation model. We found spiritual well-being and social support were negatively associated with depression. These results indicate the importance of spiritual well-being and social support as protective and resilient factors in reducing the risk of depression. Moreover, these associations were fully mediated by the women's self-perception of their quality of life. Considering cultural-specific resilience, our findings would be useful for the design, adjustment, and implementation of future psychotherapeutic protocols for AI cancer survivors." }, { "id": 64874, "doi": "10.1080/01488376.2020.1817834", "year": 2020, "title": "Reasons for Social Work Referrals in an Urban Safety-Net Population: A Natural Language Processing and Market Basket Analysis Approach", "journal": "Journal of Social Service Research", "abstract": "Background Encouraged by multiple federal policies, healthcare organizations are assuming greater responsibility for patients' social needs. This study describes the individual and co-occurring social needs that lead to a referral to social workers in primary care. Methods In a secondary data analysis of a longitudinal cohort, we used natural language processing (NLP) to categorize reasons for social work referral documented in electronic health records referral orders (n = 9,473) from a federally qualified health center (2011-2016) in the United States, using a literature-derived classification scheme. We used market basket analysis (MBA) to identify co-occurring social needs. Results The most frequent needs leading to a social work referral were financial (25%), pregnancy (25%), behavioral health (16%), and family/social support (9%) needs. The most frequently co-occurring needs are pregnancy with language limitation (support = 0.07; confidence = 0.78); behavioral health with family/social support (support = 0.03; confidence = 0.28); and financial with behavioral health (support = 0.025; confidence = 0.14). Conclusion The diversity of reasons for social work referrals signifies the complexities of social needs among patients and the potential role for social workers in addressing these needs. A clearer understanding of patients' social needs helps inform social work staffing decisions and the development of effective intervention packages to address patients' social needs." }, { "id": 64971, "doi": "10.1080/0312407x.2020.1778050", "year": 2020, "title": "Elder Abuse Identification by an Australian Health Service: A Five-Year, Social-Work Audit", "journal": "Australian Social Work", "abstract": "For hospitals and other health-care services, identifying older people experiencing abuse remains a challenge. Social workers at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) used a clinical data mining approach to retrospectively audit electronic medical records containing 466 episodes of care over a five-year period where elder abuse was identified based on a system of alerts. The findings highlight key characteristics of the vulnerable older persons, the perpetrators, their social contexts, and interventions undertaken, clarifying a range of vulnerability and risk factors in the sample. Half were aged 80 years and over; two thirds lived with the person of concern; two thirds were from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and a third had cognitive impairment. A high proportion were assessed as being at moderate to high levels of risk, requiring urgent to prompt intervention. Audit findings strengthened knowledge and led to improvements in elder abuse responses by social workers, which included policy development, training, risk management and safety planning processes, resourcing, and research initiatives. This paper describes how social workers engaged in data collection and analysis to inform their practice within a health-care setting and contributed to service evaluation and improvements.IMPLICATIONS This paper demonstrates how social workers can conceptualise and engage in research to better understand a social problem: in this case, it was responding to elder abuse, within a hospital setting. This paper highlights how social workers can use evidence from practitioner-driven research to inform practice and improve service outcomes for those they work with." }, { "id": 65130, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2020.1807926", "year": 2020, "title": "Telebehavioral practice basics for social worker educators and clinicians responding to COVID-19", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "Social Work's Grand Challenge to Harness Technology for Social Good calls for educators to reevaluate their role and its significance for the future of social work. Information and communication technology (ICT)-mediated practice methods like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, gamification, and big data, among others, represent a new arena for social work practice. However, educators have been mostly inactive in developing curricula that support student knowledge, training, and decision-making on the adoption of technology for practice. In the United States, the Council on Social Work Education Futures Task Force highlighted this inaction as a matter of critical uncertainty for the field's future. In contrast, this paper describes how a school of social work rapidly deployed a free, CE training program on the basics of telebehavioral health practice to the social work community to aid their response to COVID-19. The rapid deployment of that training has been distilled as 'lessons learned' for those wanting to join in efforts to address the field's critical uncertainty regarding the adoption of technology. Information is presented about the reach of this training and includes feedback from participants. Additionally, the authors discuss whether COVID-19 can influence social work's future rate of technology adoption." }, { "id": 65181, "doi": "10.1093/hsw/hlaa018", "year": 2020, "title": "Tribal Leadership and Care Services: \"Overcoming These Divisions That Keep Us Apart\"", "journal": "Health & Social Work", "abstract": "American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Peoples are among groups continuing to experience health disparities. Eliminating health disparities, a national priority in the United States, requires addressing structural forces, also known as structural determinants of health. This case study examines linkages between health disparities, structural forces, and colonial trauma relevant to care services and AN Peoples in Alaska. It centers on an Inupiaq Elder with leadership experience in AN tribal care services. Guided by a conceptual lens based on division-unification processes, this study yields the following findings as represented by five in vivo themes: severing of relationship, aftereffects of colonization, striking alliances, overcoming these divisions that keep people apart, and growing together in relationship. Colonial legacies continue to linger and have a multidimensional impact on AI/AN communities, including tribal care services. Healing from colonial trauma requires collective effort among AI/AN Peoples and people from the wider community. Practice implications emphasize trauma-informed approaches to promote reconciliation and a larger collective commitment to reconciliation in a global reality of increasing interdependence." }, { "id": 65232, "doi": "10.1080/10705422.2020.1798833", "year": 2020, "title": "American Indian women cancer survivors' experiences of community support in a context of historical oppression", "journal": "Journal of Community Practice", "abstract": "This qualitative descriptive study examined the gap in knowledge on American Indian (AI) women cancer survivors' perceptions of and experiences of AI community support. The sample included 43 AI women cancer survivors in the Northern Plains region. In total, 21% (n= 9) of participants perceived support from their AI community; 69% (n= 29) expressed some unmet needs; close to half of participants (43%,n= 18) indicated an absence of support. Historical oppression may have undermined the ability of communities to provide support to cancer survivors. Further investment in community infrastructure is warranted to reverse centuries of historical oppression." }, { "id": 65318, "doi": "10.1080/01634372.2020.1789256", "year": 2020, "title": "Adapting 'Sunshine,' A Socially Assistive Chat Robot for Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study", "journal": "Journal of Gerontological Social Work", "abstract": "The COVID-19 pandemic challenges us to think outside of the box to respond to this unprecedented global crisis. In this letter, we propose a pilot study to use a socially assistive robot to help meet social needs for older adults with cognitive impairment residing in long-term care facilities." }, { "id": 65455, "doi": "10.1093/bjsw/bcaa007", "year": 2020, "title": "The Family Relationships of Older Australians at Risk of Homelessness", "journal": "British Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "This article explores the links between older people's homelessness and family relationships and aims to inform social work practice frameworks. Whilst breakdown in family relationships is widely recognised as linked to being at risk of homelessness, there is less understanding of the interplay of family, both positive and negative, with older people's homelessness. Drawing on a study incorporating data mining of service records, this article aims to provide clarity on supportive and troubled family relationships and their links to housing crises as experienced by older Australians. The findings highlight a number of domains for social work practice including undertaking skilled assessments to understand the strengths and constraints experienced by families. Assessments will then inform intervention to support and provide resources to some families to prevent their older family members' homelessness and to intervene in both a preventative and empowering way to address elder abuse. The implications for policy, in particular, the need for sectors of housing, aged care and health to intersect, are discussed." }, { "id": 66060, "doi": "10.1080/01634372.2020.1744058", "year": 2020, "title": "Denial of Alcohol Treatment Need among Baby Boomers across Time: Implications for Social Work", "journal": "Journal of Gerontological Social Work", "abstract": "As baby boomers continue to enter older adulthood in the coming decades, research suggests that this cohort is expected to exhibit changes in alcohol usage and treatment need patterns compared to previous older-adult cohorts. The literature suggests that unmet alcohol treatment need may be related to denial of treatment need among baby boomers who possess a diagnosable alcohol-use disorder (AUD). Therefore, this study explores potential risk and protective factors predicting alcohol-use among baby boomers who d\\eny treatment need at two time periods. Data was obtained from the National Survey of Drug and Health (NSDUH). Variable selection procedures were performed at each time period, resulting in two predictive models for baby boomers who denied alcohol treatment need when treatment was indicated by a concurrent diagnosable alcohol-use disorder. The primary findings suggest that generalized, nonspecific alcohol treatment may be ineffective for treating AUD baby boomers who deny alcohol treatment need. Rather, as baby boomers continue to enter older adulthood, individualized specialty treatments may be needed in order to provide effective alcohol treatment for this unprecedentedly large birth cohort." }, { "id": 66203, "doi": "10.1093/bjsw/bcz157", "year": 2020, "title": "The Development of Algorithmically Based Decision-Making Systems in Children's Protective Services: Is Administrative Data Good Enough?", "journal": "British Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "Big data techniques are being used in children's protective services to develop algorithmically based decision support systems (DSSs) to identify the most vulnerable children and introduce early and preventive services. These techniques use administrative data from multiple public agencies but are most reliant on data from children's protective services. Using key principles from representation theory, and drawing from the author's research, data from children's protective services are considered in terms of the extent to which they represent and can be interpreted to provide a faithful representation of the phenomenon of child maltreatment. The aim is to address the question of whether children's protective services data are good enough to develop accurate and practically useful DSS." }, { "id": 66557, "doi": "10.1080/26408066.2019.1650316", "year": 2020, "title": "Andersen's Behavioral Model to Identify Correlates of Breast Cancer Screening Behaviors among Indigenous Women", "journal": "Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work", "abstract": "This study examined predictive models of utilization of mammograms among Indigenous women adapting Andersen's behavioral model. Using a sample of 285 Indigenous women residing in South Dakota, nested logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess predisposing (age and marital status), need (personal and family cancer history), and enabling factors (education, monthly household income, mammogram screening awareness, breast cancer knowledge, self-rated health, and cultural practice to breast cancer screening). Results indicated that only 55.5% of participants reported having had a breast cancer screening within the past 2 years. After controlling for predisposing and need factors, higher education, greater awareness of mammogram, and higher utilization of traditional Native American approaches were significant predictors of mammogram uptake. The results provide important implications for intervention strategies aimed at improving breast cancer screening and service use among Indigenous women." }, { "id": 66581, "doi": "10.1080/26408066.2019.1626786", "year": 2020, "title": "American Indian Social Work Students: Factors that Influence Success in Graduate School", "journal": "Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work", "abstract": "Introduction: Many barriers exist for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) students pursuing advanced degrees. The Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis has a higher than average graduation rate for AI/AN students. The purpose of this article is to understand the lived experiences of AI/AN students at the Brown School and how the experiences influence graduation rates. Methods: This study collected data from Brown School alumni who were associated with the Buder Center between 1991 and 2013; nine interviews were analyzed. Results: Six themes were identified: 1) AI/AN student cohort, 2) social work skill development, 3) service to AI/AN communities and people, 4) success as balance, 5) cultural identity, and 6) resiliency. Discussion: Institutional supports were described by participants as factors that affected their success in the program; these combined with student characteristics, beliefs and attitudes influenced the high rate of AI/AN student graduates at the Brown School." }, { "id": 66614, "doi": "10.1080/08841233.2020.1813234", "year": 2020, "title": "A Call to Action on Artificial Intelligence and Social Work Education: Lessons Learned from A Simulation Project Using Natural Language Processing", "journal": "Journal of Teaching in Social Work", "abstract": "In discussing a university-industry partnership on the development of an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based simulation platform, this conceptual paper explores the use of Natural Language Processing (NLP) as a pedagogical innovation in social work. Critically reflecting upon this ongoing project, we discuss the current promises and limitations of NLP for social work education. The Community of Inquiry (Col) framework theoretically informs \"lessons learned\" from this case study and provides a call to action for social work educators to play a greater role in developing and researching pedagogies supported by currently evolving AI technologies." }, { "id": 66803, "doi": "10.1093/bjsw/bcz021", "year": 2020, "title": "Social Workers' Propensity to Endorse Recovery-oriented Service Provision: A Randomised Factorial Design", "journal": "British Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "Providers inconsistently provide recovery-oriented services to adults with serious mental illness despite US federal mandate. An online randomised factorial survey was used to identify and evaluate predictors of social workers' degree of endorsement of recovery-oriented service provision. Respondents (N = 107) each rated scale items indicating support for recovery-oriented services for four client vignettes (n = 398) and completed standardised measures of recovery knowledge and expectations. The final predictive model was significant (p < 0.0001), accounting for 61 per cent of the variance of the degree of endorsement of recovery-oriented services. Recovery knowledge explains the largest portion of the variance, followed by psychotic symptoms. The finding that client characteristics predict endorsement of recovery-oriented services suggests a fundamental misunderstanding of recovery. Recommendations include training and supervision to enhance application of recovery-oriented principles to service provision." }, { "id": 66966, "doi": "10.1080/10911359.2019.1676360", "year": 2020, "title": "Understanding crime and demographic influence on non-motorized trips: Macro-level analysis", "journal": "Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment", "abstract": "Interest and emphasis on non-motorized modes of transportation have been increasing in the recent years. A better understanding of factors affecting non-motorized commuting trips would enable stakeholders in non-motorized transportation to come up with relevant and cost-effective strategies to promote it. This study aims to improve the understanding on the association between non-motorized commuting trips, crime, and related demographics. Moreover, this study demonstrates an innovative approach for using yearly crime dataset (Chicago) in conjunction with the American Community Survey (ACS) dataset. ACS dataset contains data pertaining to non-motorized commuting trips and important socioeconomic characteristics. An unsupervised data mining technique called Self-Organizing Map (SOM) was used to find association between different factors as it does not require any prior assumptions. The findings show that areas with lower income households are associated with high pedestrian and bicycle commuting. A negative association between crime and non-motorized commuting was also identified. The results also show that areas with larger youth populations are likely to have high non-motorized commuting trips. This study provides insights into the ongoing state-of-the-art study designs and analysis methods associated with non-motorized travel mode." }, { "id": 84883, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2019.1616350", "year": 2020, "title": "A computational social science perspective on qualitative data exploration: Using topic models for the descriptive analysis of social media data*", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Comparing and contrasting qualitative and quantitative methods for social media data exploration, this article describes and demonstrates the topic modeling approach for the descriptive analysis of large unstructured text data. Using a sample of tweets with the #WhyIStayed and #WhyILeft hashtags (n = 3,068), a Twitter conversation describing the reasons individuals left or stayed in abusive relationships, a traditional thematic analysis was used to qualitatively code the tweets. The same tweet sample was subject to a series of quantitative topic models. Results suggest topic modeling as a comparable approach to first-round qualitative analysis, with key differences: topic modeling and traditional thematic analysis are both inductive and phenomenon-oriented, but topic modeling results in a lexical semantic analysis, in contrast to the compositional semantic analysis offered by the qualitative approach. An evaluation of topics and codes using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) software further supports these findings. We argue topic modeling is a useful method for the descriptive analysis of unstructured social media data sets, and is best used as part of a mixed-method strategy, with topic model results guiding deeper qualitative analysis. Implications for human service intervention development and evaluation are discussed." }, { "id": 114689, "doi": "dc/d8add546af", "year": 2020, "title": "Safety for American Indian Women", "journal": "Advances in Social Work", "abstract": "American Indian/Native American (AI/NA) women are disproportionately affected by intimate partner violence (IPV). The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) of 2013 included new provisions under the Title IX Safety for Indian Women. This act created funding for the implementation of modern criminal justice structures allowing tribal governments to prosecute non-Indian perpetrators. Although this piece of legislation is meant to address the high prevalence of gender-based violence perpetrated against AI/NA women, it has not been analyzed using indigenous or feminist perspectives. A policy analysis model was developed, incorporating indigenous values, feminist perspectives, tribal critical race theory, and social construction and historical contexts to examine Title IX's goals, social values, and outcomes from an indigenous perspective. The analysis reveals the intentions of Title IX to promote indigenous values of empowerment and interdependence but fails to account for the h" }, { "id": 61646, "doi": "10.1093/bjsw/bcaa182", "year": 2021, "title": "Predictive risk modelling and the mistaken equation of socio-economic disadvantage with risk of maltreatment", "journal": "British Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "In England, the involvement of the state in private family life has significantly changed since 1989, and is about to undergo yet further transformation with the adoption of predictive risk modelling. Its implementation by at least eight local authorities and promotion by the central government operates an ontological and methodological revolution in child protection policies and practice. This article particularly discusses the conceptual and empirical limits to their use. It makes the case that the data fed to risk models, and the institutional structures through which they are run, limit the understanding of maltreatment. Based on misleading evidence, risk models are set to mistakenly equate socio-economic disadvantage with risks, thus threatening to automatise the discrimination and alienation of the poorest sections of the population." }, { "id": 61676, "doi": "10.1086/712734", "year": 2021, "title": "Automated Identification of Domestic Violence in Written Child Welfare Records: Leveraging Text Mining and Machine Learning to Enhance Social Work Research and Evaluation", "journal": "Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research", "abstract": "Objective: Child welfare agencies often lack information about the front-end service needs of the families they serve. Thus, the current study tests the feasibility of text mining and machine learning procedures for identifying problems related to domestic violence documented in child welfare investigation summaries. Method: We labeled child welfare investigation summaries (N = 1,402) for the presence or absence of an active domestic violence service need. Labeled documents were then used to develop text mining and machine learning models and test their accuracy and reliability. Results: Machine learning models achieved greater than 90% accuracy when compared with human coders. Fleiss kappa estimates of coding reliability between the top-performing model and human reviewers exceeded .80, indicating that our model could support human reviewers to complete this coding task. Conclusion: Results provide strong evidence that text mining and machine learning procedures can be a cost-effective solution for extracting meaningful insights from text data. Although unsuitable for case-level predictive analytics, insights derived from these procedures can be particularly useful for investigating the prevalence, temporal trends, and geographic distribution of domestic violence-related needs in the child welfare system. These methods could substantially enhance the use of text data in social work research and evaluation." }, { "id": 62078, "doi": "10.1093/bjsw/bcaa082", "year": 2021, "title": "Transformative Learning in Field Education: Students Bridging the Theory/Practice Gap", "journal": "British Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "In a four-year, four cohort study utilising a series of six focus groups, forty Masters of Social Work students preparing to graduate defined their personal and professional experiences of transformation in their respective social work field education settings. Using an inductive thematic analysis, students highlighted four key themes in their transformative learning (TL) process: (i) defining the nature of disorienting dilemmas in field education; (ii) critical self-reflection, coping and moving through disorienting dilemmas; (iii) identifying the transformative outcomes in a field context; and (iv) facilitative factors to TL in field education. The findings illuminate the essential role of the field supervisor in creating 'relationship'. The field supervisor/student relationship is the conduit to students' deep learning, critical reflection, identity shifts and empathy supporting the student's navigation through their disorientating moments towards transformative and meaningful outcomes. This study extends our understanding of the role of TL theory within experiential learning contexts and the feasibility of its use in the social work field education experience." }, { "id": 62333, "doi": "10.1080/19371918.2021.1965935", "year": 2021, "title": "The Creators' Game: A Conduit for Youth Development, Community Engagement, and American Indian Cultural Connections", "journal": "Social Work in Public Health", "abstract": "The Nebraska Panhandle Creators' Game event (CG) was a grassroots-driven community engagement project for the Nebraska Panhandle region, a largely rural region with a vibrant American Indian (AI) population. The CG event explored the role social workers can play in leveraging a youth sport (lacrosse) as a convening platform for public health messaging and to embrace the fundamental fact that the AI people live with an intimate connection to their community, the land, and their people. This connection is pivotal for self-directed change in communities that actively comingle with American Indian people. A feasibility study was done to explore respondents' perceptions of the impact of the event on youth development, community engagement, and cultural connections. The pilot data collected for this project supports the literature on participatory research as a key to engaging AI communities. Data trends are provided, and the implications of these findings are discussed." }, { "id": 62520, "doi": "10.1080/19371918.2021.1954127", "year": 2021, "title": "New media platform's understanding of Chinese social workers' anti-epidemic actions: an analysis of network public opinion based on COVID-19", "journal": "Social Work in Public Health", "abstract": "Research on social public opinion of new media is currently an important interdisciplinary topic in the international academic community. Under the background of COVID-19, the major public health event of in China, this research took social workers as the research object who worked during the period of epidemic prevention and control. It referred to the international research on public opinion and selected 63 related hotly discussed articles and public comments on the WeChat public platform, the new Chinese Internet media. Moreover, the research conducted text mining on related public opinion with the 5 W communication model from public opinion evolution, text content, communication media, audiences, and public opinion influence, and used grounded theory building a development model of the generation of network public opinion. It also put forward the development needs of social work in the aspects of community resilience, social work practice, lack of public health social workers, and big data warning, etc., and pointed out that social work lacks its proper structural status in China's public health system and emergency management system." }, { "id": 62606, "doi": "10.1093/sw/swab028", "year": 2021, "title": "Social Work and Artificial Intelligence: Into the Matrix", "journal": "Social Work", "abstract": null }, { "id": 63761, "doi": "10.1080/10911359.2020.1829239", "year": 2021, "title": "Emotions in leader's crisis communication: Twitter sentiment analysis during COVID-19 outbreak", "journal": "Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment", "abstract": "Adoption of social media by political leaders for information dissemination, campaigns, and elections has been proliferating since 2008 and in 2020, 23% growth in Twitter users is observed. Past studies revealed, content and tone as the vital elements of social media communication. Therefore, current study aimed to explore on how leaders portray emotions in communication on Twitter, particularly amid crisis like COVID-19 when establishing trust is crucial for smooth dissemination of knowledge to public. Total 12128 tweets were mined from official Twitter handles of 29 Indian political leaders, from the day of COVID-19 pandemic declaration to Indian Lockdown 2.0. For analysis, NRC-based sentiment analysis of NLP is employed using R Software. Results exhibit that amongst Anger, Anticipation, Disgust, Fear, Joy, Sadness, Surprise, Trust, Negative, Positive; positive and trust are the most common emotion found whenever the authorities issued or communicated the new guidelines. Insights from results will be helpful for leaders to improve communication on virtual world considering emotions." }, { "id": 64048, "doi": "10.1080/15313204.2020.1770648", "year": 2021, "title": "\"Togetherness:\" the role of intergenerational and cultural engagement in urban American Indian and Alaskan Native youth suicide prevention", "journal": "Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work", "abstract": "In a collaborative study with an Urban Indian Health Organization (UIHO) and a University, we conducted six talking circles over three years with American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) elders, adults, and youth to examine perceptions of suicide and suicide prevention strategies within their community. Results of a thematic analysis indicated that normalization of suicide, stigma, and historical trauma were barriers to suicide prevention. Consistent themes of elders, adults, and youth over all three years reflected the need for intergenerational engagement and cultural connectedness as suicide prevention strategies. Implications for culturally-grounded social work practice with AI/ANs are presented." }, { "id": 64151, "doi": "10.1080/15313204.2020.1770655", "year": 2021, "title": "The development and testing of a multi-level, multi-component pilot intervention to reduce sexual and reproductive health disparities in a tribal community", "journal": "Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work", "abstract": "This manuscript presents the results from a multi- level, multi-component pilot intervention designed to reduce sexual and reproductive health (SRH) among American Indian (AI) youth living on a reservation in the Northwestern United States. Our theoretical framework included community based participatory research (CBPR) and Ecological Systems Theory (EST). The pilot intervention was a school-based curriculum for youth and parents and a cultural mentoring program. Mixed methods were used including a pre/post test design and focus groups. Quantitative data was analyzed using McNemar's chi-square and a random effects model. Qualitative data was analyzed with grounded theory and content analysis. Parents reported increased communication about SRH topics with their children. Youth reported increased condom use self-efficacy, increased condom use, and positive agreement with attitudes toward pregnancy. Our results also suggest increased communication about SRH topics in parent dyads and the need for increased communication with elders. Future research is needed to test the efficacy of multi-level, multi-component tribally driven SRH interventions for AI youth and their families that integrate contemporary SRH issues with traditional values and beliefs." }, { "id": 64157, "doi": "10.15270/52-2-946", "year": 2021, "title": "SOCIAL WORK 4.0? THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION: A SOUTH AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE", "journal": "Social Work-Maatskaplike Werk", "abstract": "The First and Second Industrial Revolutions created significant disruptions in the social life and economic activities of human societies globally. Traditionally, social work practice has had a strong \"face-to-face\" foundation. Emerging technologies in the Third and Fourth Industrial Revolutions such as computers, mobile technologies, big data, internet of things, artificial intelligence and virtual reality are now creating a potential disruption in the traditional practice of social work. The emergence of e-social work and social work informatics broadens the scope of practice of social work in the 21st century. This article will examine the implications for social work education." }, { "id": 64233, "doi": "10.1080/19371918.2020.1856750", "year": 2021, "title": "Role of the Health System in Combating Covid-19: Cross-Section Analysis and Artificial Neural Network Simulation for 124 Country Cases", "journal": "Social Work in Public Health", "abstract": "In the fight against Covid-19, developed countries and developing countries diverge in success. This drew attention to the discussion of how different health systems and different levels of health spending are effective in combating Covid-19. In this study, the role of the health system in the fight against Covid-19 is discussed. In this context, the number of hospital beds, the number of doctors, life expectancy at 60, universal health service and the share of health expenditures in GDP were used as health indicators. In the study, firstly 2020 data was estimated by using the Artificial Neural Networks simulation method and this year was used in the analysis. The model, with the data of 124 countries, was estimated using the cross-sectional OLS regression method. The estimation results show that the number of hospital beds, number of doctors and life expectancy at the age of 60 have statistically significant and positive effects on the ratio of Covid-19 recovered/cases. Universal health service and share of health expenditures in GDP are not significant statistically on the cases and recovered. Hospital bed capacity is the most effective variable on the recovered/case ratio." }, { "id": 65126, "doi": "10.1177/1468017320948333", "year": 2021, "title": "Social work and technology: Text mining three decades of scholarly literature (1985-2018)", "journal": "Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "While the scholarly literature is abound with discussions of technology and its proliferation in different social work domains, evidence about what types of technologies are being used in various social work practice domains remains limited. The present study aimed to identify the larger trends in how technology has permeated the profession. The study sample comprised of 892 articles from a journal known for its contribution in publishing research on technology use in human services. Two methods were used-topic modeling and human-assisted analyses. Topic modeling was performed using MALLET, a machine learning tool which employs latent Dirichlet allocation over a fixed vocabulary for the corpus of text. Human-assisted analyses were performed using QDA Miner and MS-Excel to assist in the manual analyses. Findings In all, 29 topics in social work and 27 topics in technology domains were obtained. Social work education and mental health and clinical social work appeared as two of the top five social work domains in both topic modeling and human-assisted analyses. Management information system, communication technology, generic technology usage, and education technology were the top common topics in both types of analyses. Applications The present study findings have two applications. First, the descriptive analysis of technology adoption across diverse social work areas of research provides the first concrete evidence of how technology has been spread throughout social work. Second, the patterns of technology adoption across social work practice fields indicate some fields have limited research regarding technology." }, { "id": 65140, "doi": "10.1080/26408066.2020.1799648", "year": 2021, "title": "American Indian Alcohol Use from a Sex-Specific Wellness Approach: Exploring Its Associated Physical, Behavioral, and Mental Risk and Protective Factors", "journal": "Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work", "abstract": "Purpose: The top causes of death for American Indians (AIs), including heart and liver disease, are associated with alcohol use. Using the culturally based Framework of Historical Oppression, Resilience, and Transcendence (FHORT), the purpose of this article was to examine AI alcohol use from a sex-specific wellness approach, exploring its associated physical, behavioral, and mental risk and protective factors. Method: Data were drawn from a cross-sectional survey with 479 AI adults in South Dakota. We employed a series of multiple hierarchical regression analyses to assess the associations of demographic (sex, age, marital status, income, and educational attainment), physical (Body Mass Index and cardiovascular risk), behavioral (smoking and health self-efficacy) and mental (depressive symptoms) factors with alcohol use. Results: Results indicated that surveyed males tended to drink three times that of females, and depressive symptoms were associated with higher levels of alcohol use. Discussion: This study highlights the need to examine AI alcohol use with sex in mind." }, { "id": 66112, "doi": "10.1080/0312407x.2020.1717561", "year": 2021, "title": "Social Work End-of-Life Care Interventions for Patients and their Families in Hospital", "journal": "Australian Social Work", "abstract": "As the majority of Australians receive end-of-life care in hospitals, there is a need to examine the quality of social work interventions for dying patients and their families. Clinical data mining of 347 deceased patient's files revealed different approaches to end-of-life interventions across one health network. Data demonstrate that although social workers are invaluable in providing emotional and practical assistance, greater awareness and education around evidence-based psychosocial bereavement risk and support may improve family support. Further development of theoretical and practical knowledge examining the interface between physical aspects of end-of-life care and social work intervention is warranted." }, { "id": 67102, "doi": "10.1177/1468017319883556", "year": 2021, "title": "Social work interventions with survivors of acts of political violence", "journal": "Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "Social workers and students in a large teaching hospital explored the characteristics of psychosocial interventions during acts of political violence. The associations between hospital length of stay, Acute Stress Reaction, and the characteristics of the implemented psychosocial interventions were also examined. One hundred and forty patients (61.4% males) treated during the so-called stabbing intifada/uprising in the years 2014-2015 in Israel in one large hospital were included. Data collection was based on clinical data mining. Findings The most frequent patient interventions were trauma-focused, while the most frequent family interventions were needs assessment and support-system building. Most of the interventions with the family (but not with the patient) were associated with longer hospital stays. Greater severity of Acute Stress Reaction was associated with greater use of trauma-focused interventions with the patient (but not with the family). Applications The findings suggest that social workers hold implicit trauma-focused intervention theories that should be written up in order to develop practice-based intervention models in the context of political violence." }, { "id": 94411, "doi": "10.1007/s10560-020-00733-w", "year": 2021, "title": "Using Machine Learning in Burnout Prediction: A Survey", "journal": "Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal", "abstract": "Accurate prediction provides a number of important benefits for research and decision-making. Occupational burnout is intertwined with individual, cultural, and social factors, the resolution of which requires methods that can deal with large amounts of data. The application of such methods capable of dealing with large datasets is a relatively novel research area in social science. For this purpose, this article presents insights into machine learning methods, mainly related to prediction tasks. A brief review of these techniques in burnout domain was applied. It is shown that the choice of a method depends on the presence of certain dependent variables. This paper also presents a comparison between novel and traditional approaches, which shows that the appropriateness of a technique depends on the aim of the research. The theoretical and practical implications of using machine learning methods in this context is also presented in the paper. It is found that a gap in the study of burnout exists which requires the attention of social work researchers. Through machine learning techniques, new theoretical models of burnout can be created. These algorithms can also provide new approaches to create data-driven interventions. Burnout monitoring systems supported by machine-learning algorithms can also be used in recruitment processes and to supervise employees. Applying machine learning methods in reducing burnout can also provide socio-economic benefits such as help to reduce employee turnover and improve general working conditions." }, { "id": 99541, "doi": null, "year": 2021, "title": "Using Big Data to Manage Social Inclusion Programs", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Practice", "abstract": "Technological developments based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and empirical science in all areas of society are opening new opportunities for social work and social inclusion programs. AI relies on Big Data management systems, which in turn provide opportunities for descriptive inference and preventative measures, as well as data-informed decision making. This article outlines the characteristics of Big Data and describes the process of designing a tool for diagnosing social exclusion, the SiSo scale. The tool consists of a scale that uses 25 variables to assess situations of social difficulty on the inclusion-exclusion spectrum. It is currently being used in the social services department of one of Spain\u2019s seventeen Autonomous Regions. The SiSo scale has the potential to advance the design of a Big Data system for social inclusion programs, provided we ensure the quality of the data. To this end, this study analyzes the suitability of the SiSo tool for measuring situations of social difficulty by conducting a Categorical Principal Components Analysis (CATPCA) and a Linear Principal Component Analysis. The findings of the study confirm the tool\u2019s suitability and value for measuring levels of risk for social exclusion, as well as the feasibility of implementing a system based on data generated by social inclusion pro-grams. This article also highlights the opportunity that Big Data provides to generate knowledge by and for social work." }, { "id": 120293, "doi": "oai:scholarworks.wmich.edu:jssw-4556", "year": 2021, "title": "Using Big Data to Manage Social Inclusion Programs", "journal": "The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare", "abstract": "Technological developments based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and empirical science in all areas of society are opening new opportunities for social work and social inclusion programs. AI relies on Big Data management systems, which in turn provide opportunities for descriptive inference and preventative measures, as well as data-informed decision making.This article outlines the characteristics of Big Data and describes the process of designing a tool for diagnosing social exclusion, the SiSo scale. The tool consists of a scale that uses 25 variables to assess situations of social difficulty on the inclusion-exclusion spectrum. It is currently being used in the social services department of one of Spain\u2019s seventeen Autonomous Regions. The SiSo scale has the potential to advance the design of a Big Data system for social inclusion programs, provided we ensure the quality of the data. To this end, this study analyzes the suitability of the SiSo tool for measuring situations of social difficulty by conducting a Categorical Principal Components Analysis (CATPCA) and a Linear Principal Component Analysis.The findings of the study confirm the tool\u2019s suitability and value for measuring levels of risk for social exclusion, as well as the feasibility of implementing a system based on data generated by social inclusion programs. This article also highlights the opportunity that Big Data provides to generate knowledge by and for social work." }, { "id": 59200, "doi": "10.1093/sw/swac050", "year": 2022, "title": "On the Frontlines: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Social Workers' Well-Being", "journal": "Social Work", "abstract": "The crisis created by the spread of COVID-19 brought increasing needs and referrals to social welfare services in many countries. However, at the same time, social services suffered from staff cutbacks and service closures, resulting in significant workload increases to address the hardships associated with the pandemic. This article investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Israeli social workers' well-being, using a mixed-methods design with a sample of 2,542 licensed social workers. Findings show that over 70 percent of social workers suffered from at least one health problem related to their work. Path analysis findings indicated that social workers who experienced greater service restrictions reported a greater decrease in job satisfaction and experienced higher levels of stress and work-related problems. Machine learning emotion-detection analysis revealed that the pandemic affected their lives, causing feelings of fear, frustration, and sadness. This article demonstrates how social workers whose work was characterized by greater service restrictions were less satisfied with their jobs, more stressed, and experienced greater job-related health problems, and concludes with a discussion of the implications for social work practice in times of crisis." }, { "id": 59832, "doi": "10.1080/17525098.2022.2099600", "year": 2022, "title": "Investigating outcomes of social care programmes using creative study designs for service excellence", "journal": "China Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "In this paper, the author has reviewed four pieces of practice research that aim to investigate the outcome of social care programmes. Special attention is given to the process where the concerns of social work practitioners and stakeholders, including academic supervisors, agency administrators, funders and policy makers involved in the dialogues. In addition to the requirement of rigour in study design, priority is given to the significance of the contribution to practice knowledge through adequately interpreting and disseminating research findings through dialogues. Based on the mapping of individual practitioner-researcher, exemplars of randomised controlled trial and clinical data mining in social care programme evaluation are selected to illustrate how they respond to the research questions in a specific practice setting." }, { "id": 60224, "doi": "10.1080/26408066.2022.2094743", "year": 2022, "title": "Social Work and the Acute Psychosocial Care of Families in Pediatric Resuscitation Settings: A Single-Site Clinical-Data Mining Study", "journal": "Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work", "abstract": "Purpose: Family attendance in pediatric resuscitation situations is currently accepted practice within modern emergency departments. The support of these families has become a key area of practice for emergency department social workers. However, there is limited evidence to guide acute psychosocial care of families who find themselves in these situations. Method: This practice-based research project used a clinical data-mining methodology. Descriptive and inferential analyses of the demographic characteristics and documented psychosocial care needs of 1123 families whose child were cared for in a major pediatric hospital resuscitation area was undertaken, with particular focus on available social work referral and intervention data. Results: Results included family demographic, psychosocial care need and the social work role information. We identify factors impacting on family care needs, social work intervention and service pathways for this population. Conclusion: A skill set for social work clinicians working in pediatric emergency resuscitation settings is proposed." }, { "id": 60395, "doi": "10.1086/715211", "year": 2022, "title": "Getting to the Root of the Problem: A Decision-Tree Analysis for Suicide Risk Among Young People Experiencing Homelessness", "journal": "Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research", "abstract": "Objective: Although many suicide risk factors have been identified, there is limited guidance about their relative importance and the combinations of factors that heighten risk among young people experiencing homelessness (YEH). We sought to use decision-tree (DT) analyses to better understand and predict suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among YEH. Method: Using survey and social network methods, we gathered information about 940 YEH and their relationships. We then used a machine learning approach to construct classification and regression tree models to predict suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Results: Thirteen variables were important correlates in the DT models; this included prominent individual risk factors (e.g., trauma, depression), but more than half were social network factors (e.g., hard drug use). For suicidal ideation, the model had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) value of 0.79, with accuracy of 68%, sensitivity of 48%, and specificity of 73%. For suicide attempt, the model had an AUC value of 0.86, with accuracy of 71%, sensitivity of 68%, and specificity of 72%. Conclusions: Effective suicide prevention programming should target the syndemic that threatens YEH (i.e., co-occurrence of trauma, depression, substance use, and violence), including social norms in their environments. With refinement, our decision trees may be useful for suicide risk screening and guiding targeted intervention." }, { "id": 61151, "doi": "10.1093/bjsw/bcac025", "year": 2022, "title": "Unfolding Social Work Research to Address the COVID-19 Impact: A Text Mining literature Analysis", "journal": "British Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "This article aims to contribute to understanding the main social impacts of the pandemic caused by COVID-19 by highlighting the present and future challenges of social intervention and proposing a research agenda for social workers. Based on main indicators collected from international reports, we categorise the terms associated and analyse 284 Scopus articles that address social work issues in face of the COVID-19 through a text mining literature analysis. By applying topic modelling, we are able to identify relations within the body of knowledge between the main indicators. The results enable to highlight the current trends of research, contributing to leverage knowledge in social work in face of a complex and uncertain society. We find that most articles are focused on professional practice, as well as areas such as health, education and employment. In contrast, we argue that issues related to women or migrants have been less explored. These aspects could bring new perspectives in future research within the pandemic context. The consequences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic brought new perspectives to social work intervention and research. International reports from key organisations, such as United Nations, point to a range of effects and socio-economic challenges in this context, which specifically affected vulnerable groups. Thus, this article aims to contribute to understanding the main social impacts of the pandemic, the present and future challenges of social intervention, as well as a research agenda for social workers. Based on main indicators collected from international reports, we categorise the terms associated and analyse 284 Scopus articles that address social work issues in facing COVID-19 through a text mining literature analysis. The results highlight the most addressed dimensions of research are health, education and employment. These also focus on how social work practice dealt with the social impact from COVID-19. In contrast, we realise that issues related to specific groups like women or migrants, are less explored. In this framework, social work research must contribute to public policies, to prevent, minimise and respond to the social urgent needs of groups particularly affected by COVID-19." }, { "id": 61153, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2022.2042461", "year": 2022, "title": "Predictive risk modeling to identify homeless clients at risk for prioritizing services using routinely collected data", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "For most homelessness service providers, the number of clients who are eligible for long-term housing outstrips the availability. This study uses a cohort of housing assessments taken from a mid-size county in the US and machine learning methods to train a Predictive Risk Model (PRM) that identifies clients who would experience multiple adversities in the future. The PRM outperforms the Vulnerability Index-Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT) in flagging clients at the greatest risk of adversities. The proposed method can be readily used by any Continuum of Care (CoC) that holds electronic housing assessments and service records." }, { "id": 61199, "doi": "10.1080/15332985.2022.2032534", "year": 2022, "title": "The hope & wellness screening toolkit: developing a community based suicide and substance use screening program for American Indians and Alaska Natives", "journal": "Social Work in Mental Health", "abstract": "Suicide is a leading cause of death in the U.S. In American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) urban communities and rural reservation communities, youth experience high rates of suicidal ideation, attempts, and deaths. An urban AI organization partnered with a university to respond to this crisis with SAMHSA funds that supported the development and implementation of youth suicide prevention and intervention programming through screening, identification, and treatment of youth. They engaged the community in developing suicide prevention and intervention programming, and designed and tested procedures for implementing community-based suicide screenings, which led to the creation of the Hope & Wellness Screening Toolkit." }, { "id": 61204, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2022.2036301", "year": 2022, "title": "Text-Mining Open-Ended Survey Responses Using Structural Topic Modeling: A Practical Demonstration to Understand Parents' Coping Methods During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Singapore", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Open-ended survey questions crucially contribute to researchers' understandings of respondents' experiences. However, analyzing open-ended responses using human coders is labor-intensive. Structural topic modeling (STM) is a text mining method that discover topics from textual data. We demonstrate the use of STM to analyze open-ended survey responses to understand how parents coped during the COVID-19 lock-down in Singapore. We administered online surveys to 199 parents in Singapore during the COVID-19 lock-down. To show a STM analysis, we demonstrated a workflow that includes steps in data preprocessing, model estimation, model selection, and model interpretation. An 18-topic model best fit the data based on model diagnostics and researchers' expertise. Prevalent coping methods described by respondents include \"Spousal Support,\" \"Routines/Schedules,\" and \"Managing Expectations.\" Topic prevalence for some topics varied with respondents' levels of parenting stress and whether parents were fathers or mothers. STM offers an efficient, valid, and replicable way to analyze textual data such as open-ended survey responses and case notes that can complement researchers' knowledge and skills. STM can be used as part of a multistage research process or to support other analyses such as clarifying quantitative findings and identifying preliminary themes from qualitative data. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15228835.2022.2036301 ." }, { "id": 62015, "doi": "10.1080/10437797.2021.1963892", "year": 2022, "title": "Effects of Worked Examples and External Scripts on Fallacy Recognition Skills: A Randomized Controlled Trial", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Education", "abstract": "To provide clients with the best possible treatment, social workers require fallacy recognition skills. Ideally, these skills are already acquired during university education. We conducted an experimental study with a 2 x 2 factorial design (and an additional baseline condition) with worked examples (with/without) and external scripts (with/without) as scaffolds to support social work students' (N=130) fallacy recognition skills during case-based reasoning on the exchange of fallacious arguments of social workers in the context of a web-based learning environment. Students significantly improved their fallacy recognition skills over time. During treatment, worked examples and external scripts yielded positive effects when presented in isolation, but not when combined. However, the effects of the two scaffolds could not be maintained in the posttest. Further systematic research is needed to identify principles for an effective design of additional instructional guidance." }, { "id": 62037, "doi": "10.1080/26408066.2021.1982435", "year": 2022, "title": "Interpersonal Associations and Completing a Substance Use Day Treatment Program", "journal": "Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work", "abstract": "Purpose: Social influence can be important to people's substance use recovery. It functions in professional substance use treatment programs and in the 12-step approach to recovery. Method: The study reported here employed clinical data mining methodology to study the role of interpersonal associations inside and outside of substance use treatment in predicting clients' treatment success. Results: In this study, the interpersonal associations available in treatment predicted greater odds of completing a day treatment program. Two interpersonal associations outside of treatment had an effect on successful program completion, but only one was in the hypothesized direction. Discussion: Social learning theory and 12-Step philosophy offer a lens for viewing the role interpersonal associations might play in a client's recovery process." }, { "id": 62200, "doi": "10.1080/10911359.2021.1973642", "year": 2022, "title": "COVID-19 vaccine willingness and hesitancy among residents in Qatar: a quantitative analysis based on machine learning", "journal": "Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment", "abstract": "The spread of the COVID-19 virus has brought forward a global pandemic that has halted many businesses and placed restrictions on daily activities. Vaccination of residents is crucial for a small country like Qatar to contain the spread of the virus. This study will aim to investigate and report the general outlook of Qatari residents toward the vaccine, the points of hesitancies, and how the contact tracing application (Ehteraz) can play a role in promoting vaccination. A questionnaire survey was given, and respondents answered a series of background questions and questions related to vaccine hesitancy and the effectiveness of the Ehteraz application. A broad search strategy was used to identify the main contributors to willingness and hesitancy with the COVID-19 vaccination. Regression models and test-train machine learning techniques were used for analysis. The results showed that dominance analysis was effective in highlighting the main barriers and promoters in taking the vaccine and that respondent's characteristics can be used to predict vaccination attitude." }, { "id": 62346, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2021.1972502", "year": 2022, "title": "Predicting Chronic Homelessness: The Importance of Comparing Algorithms using Client Histories", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "This paper investigates how to best compare algorithms for predicting chronic homelessness for the purpose of identifying good candidates for housing programs. Predictive methods can rapidly refer potentially chronic shelter users to housing but also sometimes incorrectly identify individuals who will not become chronic (false positives). We use shelter access histories to demonstrate that these false positives are often still good candidates for housing. Using this approach, we compare a simple threshold method for predicting chronic homelessness to the more complex logistic regression and neural network algorithms. While traditional binary classification performance metrics show that the machine learning algorithms perform better than the threshold technique, an examination of the shelter access histories of the cohorts identified by the three algorithms show that they select groups with very similar characteristics. This has important implications for resource constrained not-for-profit organizations since the threshold technique can be implemented using much simpler information technology infrastructure than the machine learning algorithms." }, { "id": 62497, "doi": "10.1093/bjsw/bcab168", "year": 2022, "title": "Problematising Artificial Intelligence in Social Work Education: Challenges, Issues and Possibilities", "journal": "British Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "Artificial intelligence (AI) is the fourth industrial revolution, and in higher education it will fundamentally transform the work of academics and higher education administrators. AI will also have several implications for students, including a reconsideration of what sorts of skills and knowledge should be taught and developed in the academy to prepare students for digital working lives. As social work educators, we have begun to wonder what the implications of AI in the academy will have for social work education. For educators, there are implications for pedagogy that go well beyond the introduction of new digital tools that merely integrate into existing teaching models and practices. This is because AI will not simply add to existing teaching modes and practices, but will fundamentally transform teaching and learning. Drawing on recent literature and research into in AI and higher education, this article explores possible future implications for social work education. We identify the transformative and disruptive potential of AI in higher education, and consider how this intersects with the ethical and relational side of social work as a profession. Implications for social work education are canvassed Artificial intelligence (AI) is the fourth industrial revolution, and in higher education it will fundamentally transform the work of academics and higher education administrators. AI will mean a reconsideration of what sorts of skills and knowledge should be taught and developed in the academy to prepare students for digital working lives. The impact of AI in higher education will fundamentally transform teaching and learning, which will also have implications for social work practice. We identify the transformative and disruptive potential of AI in higher education, and consider how this intersects with the ethical and relational side of social work as a profession." }, { "id": 62778, "doi": "10.1080/01634372.2021.1939219", "year": 2022, "title": "Risk Factors Affecting Mental Health During The Early Stages Of The Covid-19 Pandemic In High-Risk 50+ Population In The Czech Republic", "journal": "Journal of Gerontological Social Work", "abstract": "This study deals with key factors affecting mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results are based on the longitudinal representative 50+ population-based multi-country panel study Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) in which representative samples of individuals in European countries plus Israel were collected. The goal is to turn the challenges of aging into opportunities as well as provide valid and reliable data for evidence-based policies. A total of 2,631 participants were interviewed by telephone in the Czech Republic during the initial stages of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. After a descriptive analysis showed that participants complied well with most preventative and protective COVID-19 measures, subsequent modeling using logistic regression analysis and a decision tree algorithm identified key determinants that have contributed to an understanding of variation in declared feelings of depression. We found that nervousness, previously unexperienced trouble with sleep, and self-rated health status before the COVID-19 outbreak and gender remained significant predictors of depression, from which statistically significant different categories concerning the percentage of depression could be formed. These identified potential risk factors should be considered in planning further supportive strategies for high-risk 50+ population." }, { "id": 63119, "doi": "10.1111/ijsw.12474", "year": 2022, "title": "Practising professionalism in activation", "journal": "International Journal of Social Welfare", "abstract": "The professional nature and professionalisation of the street-level delivery of activation policies have received increasing attention in academic debate. The study reported in this article contributes to this debate in two ways. The first way is to elaborate a multidimensional conceptualisation of practising professionalism in activation work, distinguishing eight dimensions: knowledge acquisition, knowledge sharing, knowledge use, innovation, accountability, client-centred practice, collaboration and methodical work. The second way is to have developed and test a questionnaire for studying professional practice in activation work. Two models were compared in the study. The first model hypothesised that professional practice is a construct capturing all eight dimensions. The second model hypothesised that the eight dimensions reflect a knowledge-oriented and a service-oriented aspect of professional practice. The models were tested using data from a survey among Dutch activation workers. Both provided acceptable fits with our data. What model researchers consider most appropriate will depend on the focus of their research. Key Practitioner Message center dot This article helps practitioners in discussing and developing the professionalisation of the frontline delivery of activation policies." }, { "id": 63953, "doi": "10.1093/bjsw/bcaa237", "year": 2022, "title": "Depression Prediction amongst Chinese Older Adults with Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Performance Comparison between Decision Tree Model and Logistic Regression Analysis", "journal": "British Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "Data analyses using artificial intelligence (AI) have not gained popularity in social work as much as other disciplines. To demonstrate its use, this study focused on Chinese older adults with neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) to (i) develop a prediction model using decision tree model to identify factors associated with depression and (ii) compare the prediction performance of decision tree model with that of logistic regression analysis. Decision tree model processing involved four stages: data collection, data preparation, model development, and result evaluation. An algorithm named Classification and Regression Trees (CARTs) was utilised to grow the decision tree by Python 3.7.1. The performance evaluation was based on accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and Goodness index (G). Seven factors grew the decision tree, including Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Health status, Activity of Daily Living (ADL), Gender, Self-rated health change and Age. When compared to logistic regression, the decision tree model had a much better performance in depression prediction. Researchers, practitioners and policymakers need to focus on ways to decrease the vulnerability of depression in Chinese older adults with NDs. Also, the decision tree model can be applied as a referral to other physical or mental diseases prediction and analysis." }, { "id": 64297, "doi": "10.1177/1468017320978917", "year": 2022, "title": "Barriers to knowledge acquisition and utilisation in child welfare decisions: A qualitative study", "journal": "Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "Permanency decisions in child welfare are recognised as being challenging. Nevertheless, society and the profession expect that professional judgements should be of the highest quality, consistent, reliable, fully justified and informed by evidence of what works, particularly where decisions are potentially life-changing. However, barriers to knowledge acquisition and utilisation exist, preventing practitioners from gaining the full range of knowledge they require, leading to permanency decisions being interventionist and protectionist in orientation (author, 2020). Think-aloud protocols and semi-structured interviews, in conjunction with a vignette, were used with social workers (N = 17) in statutory services to explore barriers to knowledge acquisition and utilisation in permanency decisions for children in state care. Findings The main barriers to knowledge use were (1) misunderstanding or misuse of theory, (2) limitations in training and learning and (3) organisational issues. Applications By developing a real-world understanding of the barriers and listening to the views of the professionals themselves, we can begin to realistically inform policy and practice, with the aim of decreasing the barriers to knowledge acquisition and utilisation in permanency decision-making. If we appreciate the barriers to knowledge acquisition and utilisation in permanency decision-making more fully, then perhaps we can reduce them, thereby facilitating more fully informed decisions that best serve the individual needs of children and their families." }, { "id": 64713, "doi": "10.1080/10437797.2020.1817821", "year": 2022, "title": "#SocialWorkEducation: A Computational Analysis of Social Work Programs on Twitter", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Education", "abstract": "Computational social science methods provide a better understanding of how social work education programs use Twitter. Data mining and sentiment analysis of 2,509 tweets were conducted using the Information, Community, and Action conceptual framework. Programs primarily tweet content related to the theme of Information and the tone of the tweets are mainly positive. Statistics such as the number of followers, number of tweets, types of hashtags (#) used, and when tweets are shared during the day are also provided to illustrate how programs use Twitter. A composite score was also developed to highlight the top 10 social work programs on Twitter. Implications for social work education are given along with suggestions for programs in developing a social media strategy." }, { "id": 65146, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2020.1805427", "year": 2022, "title": "Social work education and the recognition of rights in the digital tech age: implications for professional identity", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "The use of digital technology by law enforcement apparatuses raises important social justice implications for existing race- and economic-based disparities in the U.S. criminal justice system. The purpose of the present survey research study is to describe and ascertain statistically significant differences and non-differences between, and predictors of, U.S. social work students regarding their attitudes toward, and intersectional knowledge of, law enforcement, privacy rights, and digital technology. With Human Subjects approval, in Fall 2019, the authors administered a 66-item survey across 150 institutions of higher education in the United States with both a Council on Social Work Education-accredited undergraduate and graduate social work program, including collaboratives, using a stratified, random sampling method (N = 430). Results include that students who do not challenge bigotry on social media are approximately two times more likely to: Endorse law enforcement's use of technology to assist in the apprehension of persons who merely stand accused of committing a crime; and, lack awareness that facial recognition programs result in false positives for people of color (who are overrepresented in the U.S. criminal justice system). Based on these findings, the authors discuss implications for social work education, making recommendations accordingly." }, { "id": 82318, "doi": "10.1097/or9.0000000000000073", "year": 2022, "title": "Social robots in pediatric oncology: Opinions of health care providers", "journal": "Journal of Psychosocial Oncology", "abstract": "Background: We aimed to describe the opinions of health care providers in pediatric oncology regarding social robots and to examine differences in their opinions based on their background characteristics. Methods: Health care providers working in pediatric oncology care were approached globally to participate online in a cross-sectional questionnaire study with multiple choice and open-ended questions. Open-ended questions were coded and collapsed into categories by two researchers independently. Frequencies were used to describe the answers. Differences in opinions were studied using logistic regression analyses. Results: Health care providers' (n=286) first thoughts about social robots were mostly positive (81.0%). They saw value in social robots (83.6%), mostly during hospitalization or procedures and when used for distraction. They were willing to use one (67.8%), but also expected difficulties (67.1%), mainly concerning technical errors. Psychosocial staff members less often saw value in social robots, more often expected difficulties and were less willing to use a social robot than other health care providers (Ps<.05). No other differences were found. Conclusions: Social robots may be a promising addition to pediatric oncology care, since health care providers were generally positive about this innovation. However, psychosocial staff members seemed more reluctant. Important potential barriers were defined that should be addressed upon implementation." }, { "id": 100432, "doi": "10.52214/cswr.v20i1.9643", "year": 2022, "title": "Resist, Regulate, Reimagine, and Reinforce: How Social Workers can Advocate for Digital Inclusion", "journal": "Columbia Social Work Review", "abstract": "\r\n\r\n\r\nAlgorithms have become more complex, creating artificial intelligence (AI) with the hope it will match human decision making. They are now being used behind-the-scenes in areas such as healthcare, housing and employment, and criminal justice. These computer formulas were created by a privileged set of individuals who often prioritized profitand growth over privacy and protection. This has led to gross injustices that have prevented marginalized communities from receiving care, finding jobs, or gaining freedom. Social workers must be able to digitally advocate for their clients. Resisting these technologies, regulating them through legislation, reimagining the role one can play, and reinforcing what is already experienced in day-to-day interactions with AI are all ways social workers can be involved in creating a world that is digitally inclusive.\r\n\r\n\r\n" }, { "id": 52202, "doi": "10.1177/10443894231200811", "year": 2023, "title": "Social Work Research in the Age of Artificial Intelligence", "journal": "Families in Society", "abstract": null }, { "id": 57658, "doi": "10.1093/sw/swad044", "year": 2023, "title": "The End of the World as We Know It? ChatGPT and Social Work", "journal": "Social Work", "abstract": null }, { "id": 57949, "doi": "10.1080/0312407x.2023.2247833", "year": 2023, "title": "Artificial Intelligence and Implications for the Australian Social Work Journal", "journal": "Australian Social Work", "abstract": null }, { "id": 58431, "doi": "10.1080/17525098.2023.2176901", "year": 2023, "title": "Developing a natural language-based AI-chatbot for social work training: an illustrative case study", "journal": "China Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "A chatbot is a computer program designed to simulate conversation with human users. In social services, many chatbots are retrieval based: they analyse users' intents and retrieve preset answers based on decision tree logic. A major limitation of these earlier chatbots was that their conversations were rigid, unnatural, and sounded like a multiple-choice questionnaire. Recent achievements in large-scale generative pretrained transformers (LGPTs) (e.g. GPT-3, Yuan 1.0) have offered new possibilities for chatbot development. Such technology provides a high-quality natural language experience, requires much less resource input than earlier chatbot technologies, and is much more accessible to the public. However, the use of LGPT-based cfhatbots in social work, particularly in a Chinese context, is uncommon or even absent. Using an illustrative case study, this article illustrates the initial development of an LGPT- based chatbot to support social work training in a Chinese context and discusses the possibilities for further development." }, { "id": 58512, "doi": "10.1080/26408066.2023.2202668", "year": 2023, "title": "Comparing Naturalistic Mental Health Expressions on Student Loan Debts Using Reddit and Twitter", "journal": "Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work", "abstract": "Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to identify patterns in users' naturalistic expressions on student loans on two social media platforms. The secondary objective was to examine how these patterns, sentiments, and emotions associated with student loans differ in user posts indicating mental illness.Material and Method: Data for this study were collected from Reddit and Twitter (2009-2020, n = 85,664) using certain key terms of student loans along with first-person pronouns as a triangulating measure of posts by individuals. Unsupervised and supervised machine learning models were used to analyze the text data.Results: Results suggested 50 topics in reddit finance and 40 each in reddit mental health communities and Twitter. Statistically significant associations were found between mental illness statuses and sentiments and emotions. Posts expressing mental illness showed more negative sentiments and were more likely to express sadness and fear.Discussion and Conclusion: Patterns in social media discussions indicate both academic and non-academic consequences of having student debt, including users' desire to know more about their debts. Interventions should address the skill and information gaps between what is desired by the borrowers and what is offered to them in understanding and managing their debts. Cognitive burden created by student debts manifest itself on social media and can be used as an important marker to develop a nuanced understanding of people's expressions on a variety of socioeconomic issues. Higher volumes of negative sentiments and emotions of sadness, fear, and anger warrant immediate attention of policymakers and practitioners to reduce the cognitive burden of student debts." }, { "id": 58523, "doi": "10.1080/10437797.2023.2189878", "year": 2023, "title": "AI Creates the Message: Integrating AI Language Learning Models into Social Work Education and Practice", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Education", "abstract": null }, { "id": 58636, "doi": "10.1177/10497315231166125", "year": 2023, "title": "Time to Move Beyond the ASWB Licensing Exams: Can Generative Artificial Intelligence Offer a Way Forward for Social Work?", "journal": "Research on Social Work Practice", "abstract": "Social work scholars have long questioned the validity and utility of the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) licensing exams. Data released in 2022 revealed severe disparities in pass rates based on race, age, and language, exacerbating these concerns. In this paper, we explore the potential of generative artificial intelligence (AI) such as ChatGPT to address core problems of the ASWB exams, including the use of a multiple-choice format that does not reflect real-world social work practice. To assess its social work reasoning, we used ChatGPT to answer ASWB-developed practice questions for the Bachelors, Masters, and Clinical exams. ChatGPT scored 76%, 80%, and 64%, respectively, and identified additional validity challenges. Based on this performance, we provide a proof-of-concept for how generative AI might move us toward a more valid and equitable exam. While we strongly support licensure requirements, state regulators and legislators should temporarily suspend the use of the ASWB exams for this purpose." }, { "id": 58671, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2022.2163452", "year": 2023, "title": "Detecting Intensity of Anxiety in Language of Student Veterans with Social Anxiety Using Text Analysis", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Approximately one-third of the veteran population suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, a mental illness that is often co-morbid with social anxiety disorder. Student veterans are especially vulnerable as they struggle to adapt to a new, less structured lifestyle with few peers who understand their difficulties. To support mental health experts in the treatment of social anxiety disorder, this study utilized machine learning to detect anxiety in text transcribed from interviews with patients and applied topic modeling to highlight common stress factors for student veterans. We approach our anxiety detection task by exploring both deep learning and traditional machine learning strategies such as transformers, transfer learning, and support vector classifiers. Our models provide a tool to support psychologists and social workers in treating social anxiety. The results detailed in this paper could also have broader impacts in fields such as pedagogy and public health.(1)" }, { "id": 58737, "doi": "10.1080/26408066.2023.2185561", "year": 2023, "title": "Determinants of Life Satisfaction and Quality of Life Among American Indian Women Cancer Survivors: The Role of Psychosocial Resources", "journal": "Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work", "abstract": "PurposeThis study assessed the relationship of spirituality, social support, and sense of mastery to life satisfaction and quality of life to identify viable psychosocial coping resources among American Indian (AI) women cancer survivors.MethodWe conducted a cross-sectional survey of 73 AI women cancer survivors residing in South Dakota. A series of multivariate hierarchical regression analyses was conducted.ResultsFindings indicated that lower self-rated physical health was consistently associated with lower levels of life satisfaction and quality of life. Spirituality was found to be the most influential predictor for life satisfaction, while social support and sense of mastery were two significant predictors for quality of life.DiscussionOur data underscored the importance of spirituality, social support, and sense of mastery to the well-being of AI women cancer survivors and as effective coping strategies to mitigate life stressors. Implications of this evidence for the design of cancer preventions and interventions are discussed." }, { "id": 58740, "doi": "10.1080/13691457.2023.2185875", "year": 2023, "title": "Automated decision-making, discretion and public values: a case study of two municipalities and their case management of social assistance", "journal": "European Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "Our aim is to increase knowledge about discretion and automated decision-making (ADM) in social work based on an approach that brings forward the role of humans and technologies and the resulting public values. This approach is applied to a case study of two Swedish municipalities and their social assistance case management. Our research questions are twofold: (1) How do humans and technologies appear in decisions about social assistance? and (2) How do they influence digital discretion and the resulting public values? A case management process with human actors (caseworkers and clients) and non-human actors (case management systems, e-applications, robotic process automation and algorithms) is used, influencing the digital discretion of caseworkers and the resulting ethical, democratic and professional values. Digital discretion is not dichotomous but, rather, related to a repertoire of technologies, their design and their use in a routine that ADM is a part of. The interaction with clients may be considered an important rationale for ADM itself. There is a necessary difference in weight between public values related to more straightforward (an 'improved' process enabling professional values) and complicating factors (distrust between caseworkers and the unwanted use of information technology)." }, { "id": 59054, "doi": "10.1111/cfs.12995", "year": 2023, "title": "Parenting through the lenses of risk and othering: Constructions of parental cannabis use in child protection court proceedings", "journal": "Child & Family Social Work", "abstract": "The construction of parents' cannabis use in the context of child protection has far-reaching implications for how their parenting is perceived and assessed and for the decisions made regarding their children's lives. Yet little is known about the meanings various stakeholders in child protection processes attribute to parents' cannabis use. This paper aims to explore constructions of parents' cannabis use in child protection court proceedings and position them within a political and social context. A qualitative data mining method was used to examine 32 Family Court judgements in care proceedings that involved parents using cannabis in England and Wales. The analysis of the judgements revealed that most portrayed parents' cannabis use as a negative, deviant and harmful activity. Three constructions of cannabis use were identified: cannabis use as a risk to children, cannabis use as proof of parents' deficits, and cannabis use as (responsible) self-medication. The discussion considers the findings in light of two social and political processes that underpin child protection policy and practice: the adoption of a risk perspective and the manifestation of othering processes. Implications for policy and practice highlight the importance of developing a critical framework for responding to parental cannabis use." }, { "id": 59208, "doi": "10.1093/bjsw/bcac239", "year": 2023, "title": "Can a licenced community worker qualify as a professional social worker?-Evidence from China", "journal": "British Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "China has long suffered from a critical shortage of qualified social workers. To compensate for the inadequacy of formally educated social workers, a number of workers employed in the community neighbourhood committee were granted a social work licence and became registered social workers when they passed licence examinations regardless of whether they had a social work degree. Nevertheless, they are often criticised for a lack of professional competence-they are just registered social workers rather than professional social workers. This study identifies whether licenced community workers have a higher level of professional competence than non-licenced community workers in urban China. Based on a sample of 4,013 participants and the extended regression model, the findings show that the licence promotes the professional competence of community workers, but such promotion is achieved through professional knowledge acquisition rather than professional skills acquisition. Licenced community workers probably perceive stronger professional competence through professional knowledge acquisition, but their professional skills might be inadequate. The findings suggest several implications for the social work licence system. The Chinese government is encouraging workers employed in community neighbourhood committees to become professional social workers by passing licence examinations and holding a licence to enlarge the pool of the social worker workforce, even though they are not formally educated. This quantitative study found that although community workers who have passed licence examinations and been granted a social work licence show stronger professional competence, they just perceive stronger professional competence through professional knowledge acquisition, rather than their professional skills. Therefore, they are simply registered social workers, not qualified professional social workers. For policy-makers, community workers should be empowered to have the right to have a say in the social work profession based on their practical experience; national professional competence standards for licenced social workers, including both professional knowledge and professional skills, should be established; alternative forms of assessment should be established based on clients' evaluations, practical experience and peer review; only community workers who both pass written tests (professional knowledge) and interviews (professional skills) can be granted social work licences; and licenced community workers should be required to attend skill-based training annually." }, { "id": 60005, "doi": "10.1080/10911359.2022.2106003", "year": 2023, "title": "Do people intend to use AI Voice Assistants? An empirical study in Vietnam", "journal": "Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment", "abstract": "Today, the gradual popularization of artificial intelligence (AI) application technology such as Voice Assistants is making our daily life more convenient and time-saving. However, why do people choose to use Voice assistants to help them with daily tasks? Not many studies have focused on such an exciting issue. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the factors influencing users' intentions to use Voice Assistant. Specifically, this study explored the impact of smartphone voice assistants with anthropomorphic design on the use intention among users. This study collected a sample of 645 smartphone users and attempted to examine the relationships among the constructs. We used path analysis to test all the hypotheses. Besides, an independent sample t-test was used to determine whether or not there were significant differences among the groups (types of Voice Assistants, Frequent and infrequent use, and gender) of the users. The results showed that both voice cues and message interactivity positively influence the social presence and perceived expertise, which affect the use intention of voice assistants. This study confirmed that highly anthropomorphic voice assistants increase voice assistant use intention among users." }, { "id": 60419, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2022.2075337", "year": 2023, "title": "Integrating relational knowing and structured learning in social work placements - a framework for learning in practice", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "Professional placements are integral to social work education and provide formative but variable learning opportunities for students. As social work programs expand and requirements for placements increase, settings where a social worker may not be employed are increasingly utilized, risking further variability of student experience. This paper reports on qualitative responses to two open-ended questions in a cross-sectional survey conducted with social work students from four universities on the island of Ireland. Questions included (1) what students found most helpful in assisting their learning, and (2) what would have improved their learning during placement. A six-step approach to thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data from 427 responses to question one, and 355 responses to question two. Four key pillars of practice learning were identified: enabling relationship(s); 'real world' practice opportunities; structured teaching and learning; and academic-practice alignment. Drawing on these findings, the paper presents a framework for integrated learning which promotes students' capacity for active inquiry in practice. Linked processes of relational knowing and structured teaching and learning emerged as integral to knowledge acquisition and professional development on placement. Findings re-established the significance of the supervisory relationship and relationship-based learning." }, { "id": 60751, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2022.2057942", "year": 2023, "title": "Social work education for the digital age: insight from information science", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "This article presents an information science perspective on Social Work (SW) education based on the results of a comparative policy content evaluation (PCE) of accreditation documents in Canada and the U.S. It investigates to what extent information and technology education (ITE) is integral to the accreditation documents that guide the SW curriculum in both countries. Empirical results are presented in the context of current advances in information science, technology, and artificial intelligence affecting the practice of SW, social justice, and social change. With accreditation documents viewed as stage-setters for SW programs, it is proposed that technology- and information-driven change may not be reflected in the SW curriculum design in an adequate or timely fashion but is seen as a bonus, not essential knowledge. The article suggests some ways to revise the current accreditation documents and positions information science as a potential partner that can contribute to SW education." }, { "id": 61829, "doi": "10.1080/1533256x.2021.1988492", "year": 2023, "title": "Legal involvement and substance use treatment engagement and outcomes", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions", "abstract": "Legally mandated substance use treatment is prevalent but controversial and further research aimed at understanding this relationship is important for developing and informing social policy, social work practice, and education. This study used clinical data mining to examine the relationship between a client's legal involvement, treatment engagement, and treatment completion. By using structural equation modeling, this study found that legal involvement did not have an effect on clients' engagement in treatment or on completing treatment, while engagement was shown to have an effect on whether the client completed treatment." }, { "id": 62472, "doi": "10.1080/13691457.2021.1954890", "year": 2023, "title": "Teaching disability using problem-based learning in the international context: utility for social work", "journal": "European Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "Through their anti-oppressive professional practice and commitment to social justice and human rights, social workers can ensure people with disability exercise voice and agency and claim full citizenship in society. Yet, international research shows that 'disability' is often inadequately included in social work education, and that students may not graduate with the skills and knowledge needed to engage appropriately with people with disability. This article evaluates the effectiveness of using a short five-day hybrid course that integrated problem-based learning (PBL) and traditional teaching methods to deliver disability content to 42 German social work students. A qualitative SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) method was utilised. Written responses from students were collected and thematically analysed. The analysis indicated that the PBL format was well-liked by students, many of whom showed evidence of increased self-directed and deep learning, better communication skills, and synthesis of theory and practice. Importantly, students were able to internationally contextualise and challenge discourses that perpetrated stigma and discrimination, positioning them as effective advocates for people with disability. The social justice focus of social work justifies the inclusion of the critical examination of the lived experience of people with disability in social work curriculum. The research findings suggest that PBL short courses can provide an effective and flexible means of delivering disability content in social work education." }, { "id": 73934, "doi": "10.1086/726021", "year": 2023, "title": "Recommendations for Social Work Researchers and Journal Editors on the Use of Generative AI and Large Language Models", "journal": "Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research", "abstract": "Generative artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) are poised to significantly impact social work research. These technologies can produce high-quality written materials and support qualitative and quantitative data analysis with simple, plain-language prompts from users. However, they also introduce challenges, such as potential bias, data privacy concerns, and generation of misinformation. In this paper, we use a disruptive\u2013disrupting framework to discuss the dual nature of generative AI and LLMs and offer recommendations for social work researchers and journal editors that include guidance around data collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination. Researchers must use great caution when deploying generative AI technologies, meticulously examining, verifying, and taking accountability for the text and analyses produced by these instruments. Likewise, journal editors will need to implement quality control procedures and ethical standards to guide and evaluate the use of these technologies in social work research. We consider the recommendations offered here as a point of departure for disciplinary conversations about the role of generative AI and LLMs in social work research." }, { "id": 73936, "doi": "10.1086/726042", "year": 2023, "title": "ChatGPT for Social Work Science: Ethical Challenges and Opportunities", "journal": "Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research", "abstract": "In this invited paper, we describe the potential use of ChatGPT in social work science, exploring opportunities and ethical challenges related to the deployment of large language models (LLM), specifically ChatGPT, for social work science. We offer several preliminary recommendations for the ethical use of ChatGPT in social work science and call on the profession\u2019s governing organizations to develop a comprehensive ethical framework for the use of LLMs such as ChatGPT in social work research." }, { "id": 74994, "doi": "10.1177/00208728231199801", "year": 2023, "title": "AI and social work", "journal": "International Social Work", "abstract": null }, { "id": 82270, "doi": "10.1097/or9.0000000000000116", "year": 2023, "title": "Erratum:(Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice (2023) 5:S1 DOI: 10.1097/OR9.0000000000000111)", "journal": "Journal of Psychosocial Oncology", "abstract": "In the IPOS 2023 Abstract Booklet, Volume 5, Issue S1, the symposia abstracts S43.1, S43.2, S43.3 on Page 51 contained an error. The list of authors was incorrectly listed as: S43.1. Therapy-induced cardiotoxicity in the elderly breast cancer patients and the exploration of state-of-the-art management strategies Anastasia Constantinidou1,2, Alexia Alexandraki2 and Elisavet Papageorgiou2 1University of Cyprus (UCY) 2Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre (BoCOC) S43.2. A multidisciplinary prospective study to investigate the association between psycho-social, behavioural, and clinical variables and the onset of cancer treatment side effects Gaia Giulia Angela Sacco1, Ketti Mazzocco1,2, Margherita Zenoni1, Chiara Casini1,2, Georgia Karanasiou3,4, Davide Mauri3, Marina Zacharia5, Domen Ribnikar7, Andri Papakonstantinou7, Efrosini Kampouroglou8, Costanza Conti9, Carlo Cipolla1, Daniela Cardinale1, Giuseppe Curigliano1,2, Gabriella Pravettoni1,2 1European Institute of Oncology \u2013 IEO, IRCCS, Italy, 2Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, Italy, 3University of Ioannina, UOI, Greece, 4Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, FORTH, Greece, 5Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre, BOCOC, Greece, 6Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, IOL, Slovenia, 7Breast Center Karolinska University Hospital, KSBC, Sweden, 8National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, NKUA, Greece, 9Istituto di Management Sanitario, IMS Italy S43.3. Using AI models to predict quality of life changes in breast cancer patients Kostas Tsiouris, Grigorios Kalliatakis, Georgios Manikis, Konstantinos Marias, Georgia Karanasiou Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, FORTH, Greece The full list of authors is: S43.1. Therapy-induced cardiotoxicity in the elderly breast cancer patients and the exploration of state-of-the-art management strategies Anastasia Constantinidou1,2, Alexia Alexandraki2, Dorothea Tsekoura3, Foteini Matsiakou3,4, Petros Nikolopoulos5 and Elisavet Papageorgiou2 1University of Cyprus (UCY) 2Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre (BoCOC) 32nd Surgical Clinic, Aretaieio Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, NKUA, Greece 4Oncological Department, Hippokrateio Hospital, Athens Greece 52nd Department of Cardiology, Attiko Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, NKUA, Greece S43.2. A multidisciplinary prospective study to investigate the association between psycho-social, behavioural, and clinical variables and the onset of cancer treatment side effects Gaia Giulia Angela Sacco1, Ketti Mazzocco1,2, Margherita Zenoni1, Chiara Casini1,2, Athanasios Triantafyllou12,13, Georgia Karanasiou3,4, Davide Mauri3, Marina Zacharia5, Kalliopi Keramida10,11, Domen Ribnikar7, Andri Papakonstantinou7, Efrosini Kampouroglou8, Costanza Conti9, Papagiannis Georgios12, Carlo Cipolla1, Daniela Cardinale1, Giuseppe Curigliano1,2, Gabriella Pravettoni1,2 1European Institute of Oncology \u2013 IEO, IRCCS, Italy 2Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, Italy,3 University of Ioannina, UOI, Greece 4 Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, FORTH, Greece 5 Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre, BOCOC, Greece 6 Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, IOL, Slovenia 7 Breast Center Karolinska University Hospital, KSBC, Sweden 8 National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, NKUA, Greece 9 Istituto di Management Sanitario, IMS Italy 102nd Department of Cardiology, Attikon University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, NKUA, Greece 11Cardiology Department, General Anti-Cancer, Oncological Hospital, Agios Savvas, Athens, Greece 12Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Physiotherapy, University of the Peloponnese, 23100 Sparta, Greece 13Laboratory of Neuromuscular and Cardiovascular Study of Motion, Physiotherapy Department, Faculty of Health and Care Science, University of West Attica, 12243 Egaleo, Greece S43.3. Using AI models to predict quality of life changes in breast cancer patients Kostas Tsiouris1 , Grigorios Kalliatakis1 , Georgios Manikis1 , Panagiota Economopoulou2 , Theodoros Panoskaltsis3 , Vasiliki Themelidi4 , Konstantinos Marias1 , Georgia Karanasiou1 1 Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, FORTH, Greece 2 Section of Medical Oncology, Second Propaedeutic Department of Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, NKUA, Greece 3 Gynaecological Oncology Unit, 2nd Academic Dept OB/GYN, Aretaieio Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, NKUA, Greece 4 2nd Surgical Clinic, Aretaieio Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, NKUA, Greece." }, { "id": 82710, "doi": "10.1080/01488376.2023.2236131", "year": 2023, "title": "Limited Benefits of Technological Advances in Human Service Organizations: Going beyond the Hype Using Sociotechnical Knowledge Management System", "journal": "Journal of Social Service Research", "abstract": "This study investigates the issue of underwhelming effectiveness in Information Communication Technology (ICT) by employing a sociotechnical knowledge management system (KMS) framework. The conceptual model highlights the combined contributions of the Technical KMS representing ICT, and the Sociocultural KMS in facilitating the syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic processes of Knowledge Integration, ultimately enhancing Organizational Effectiveness. This cross-sectional survey explores the role of ICT in supporting practitioners within human services organizations as they navigate the complexities of addressing their clients\u2019 diverse needs. The study involves a sample of 1,708 frontline caseworkers who participated in the 2022 Survey of Employee Engagement (SEE). Results demonstrate that both Technological KMS and Sociocultural KMS contribute to enhancing Organizational Effectiveness through improved Knowledge Integration. While caseworkers are more satisfied with Technological KMS, Sociocultural KMS yields greater benefits. Additional analyses comparing the 2008 and current survey data reveal ongoing underwhelming effectiveness despite technological advancements. These findings highlight the importance of integrating advanced technology and business processes, advocating for a paradigm shift toward a knowledge-based and sociotechnical perspective. The potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is discussed, contingent on addressing ethical concerns, cybersecurity, and privacy. Future research should explore the sociotechnical KMS applications and examine their impact on organizational effectiveness." }, { "id": 98020, "doi": "10.1177/19367244221142565", "year": 2023, "title": "Racial Health Disparities and Black Heterogeneity in COVID-19: A Case Study of Miami Gardens", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Education", "abstract": "The COVID-19 pandemic is a critical public health concern that has disproportionately affected the Black community in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine the risk and protective factors faced by residents in the City of Miami Gardens during the COVID-19 pandemic, with emphases placed on racial health disparities and Black heterogeneity. Using convenience and snowball sampling, quantitative and qualitative data for this study were collected via an anonymous online questionnaire using QuestionPro. Survey links were distributed by e-mail invitations with assistance from city officials to the residents of this predominantly Black city in Florida (n = 83). Descriptive statistics and relevant qualitative responses are presented. Furthermore, a machine learning (ML) approach was used to select the most critical variables that characterized the two racial groups (Black versus non-Black participants) based on four ML feature selectors. Study findings offered important and interesting insights. Specifically, despite the greater prevalence of adopting measures to protect themselves and others from COVID-19, Black participants were more susceptible to activities that increased their COVID-19 risk levels. In addition, their rate of infection, particularly among the Afro-Caribbean ethnic group, was reported to be higher, indicating the need to further investigate the underlying conditions and root causes (including vaccine hesitancy and refusal) that contribute to their greater health disparities." }, { "id": 98032, "doi": "10.1177/19367244221133481", "year": 2023, "title": "Post-High School Outcomes of Adolescents with Learning Disabilities: Using Annual State Administrative Data and Predictive Analytics", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Education", "abstract": "This study involved the analyses of extant data from two U.S. states of post-school outcomes (PSO) for students with a specific learning disability (SLD) one year after they had exited high school. The purpose of this study was to fill two gaps in the literature. The first gap was to understand what happened to these exiters in the first year after high school related to employment and further education or training at a state level. The second gap was to demonstrate the necessity of local and state education professionals to use PSO data, which is collected annually, by applying predictive analytics (PA) to support their decision making. The data analyses produced two main findings. One, the strongest predictors of PSO were students graduating from high school and their high school classroom placement. Two, PA was reasonably accurate in predicting PSO and demonstrated robust capabilities for reliable use on an annual basis to support policies, programs, and practices. Limitations of this study related to the data and number of predictors. The study concludes with implications of administrative state data use and PA for state and local education professionals and for researchers." }, { "id": 100436, "doi": "10.52214/cswr.v21i1.11205", "year": 2023, "title": "Digital Exclusion, Gender Oppression, and How Social Workers can Advocate for Digital Feminism in China", "journal": "Columbia Social Work Review", "abstract": "For the past decade, the pace of China\u2019s digital and technological development has been rapidly increasing. While this growth creates economic opportunities, it has negative impacts for Chinese women who are marginalized at the intersections of gender, class, and geographic location. This paper adopts an intersectional feminist lens to examine how Chinese women experience digital exclusion and gender oppression in the digital era. To do so, it discusses (1) existing technologies that reflect and perpetuate gender stereotypes through gendered technology design, (2) digital spaces and media censorship that disenfranchise women, and (3) AI surveillance and unfair labor practices that oppress women.This paper calls for social work practices in digital feminism at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels, specifically in promoting gender equality in training and design, leading feminist initiatives, and promoting digital accessibility and data protection." }, { "id": 102043, "doi": "10.55521/10-020-210", "year": 2023, "title": "Forum: Incorporating the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models into Publication Standards: A Call for Editorial Policy Based on Social Work Values", "journal": "International Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics", "abstract": "The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) in research and scholarly writing has challenged editorial policy, with varying tolerance about the extent to which this technology should be allowed. Journals need to re-examine their standards to ensure transparency and accountability with regard to the use of AI and LLMs in the preparation of manuscripts and the scientific investigation upon which these articles are based. Social workers are ideally suited to assume leadership roles in the formulation of editorial policies given their core commitment to integrity and making certain that technology use is consistent with their comprehensive ethical code." }, { "id": 109684, "doi": "10.7202/1108984ar", "year": 2023, "title": "KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES OF BACCALAUREATE SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS ABOUT INTERPROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION IN CANADA", "journal": "Canadian Social Work Review", "abstract": "Although interprofessional collaboration is a common expectation in social work employment, interprofessional education has not been a robust feature of baccalaureate social work preparation in Canada. There is also a dearth of research on the topic. These gaps are problematic because social workers with baccalaureate degrees are often employed in interprofessional teams in various health care settings in Canada. To address this gap in knowledge, this mixed methods study explores attitudes toward interprofessional collaboration of social work students in a Canadian undergraduate university. Also, the study evaluates the students\u2019 knowledge acquisition of interprofessional competencies after a single interprofessional education event. Findings indicate a positive change in students\u2019 attitudes and enhanced knowledge of the interprofessional care competencies. The study contributes to the limited body of research on interprofessional education of baccalaureate-level social work students in Canada. It also shows the power of a single interprofessional experiential event in benefiting professional education of future social work professionals." }, { "id": 618, "doi": "10.1093/hsw/hlae040", "year": 2024, "title": "From Hull-House Maps and Papers to Geographic Information System (GIS) Applications: A Systematic Review for Utilization of GIS in a Social Work Grand Challenge of Closing the Health Gap", "journal": "Health & Social Work", "abstract": "Dynamic tools and advanced techniques, including Geographic Information System (GIS), have been developed to help close the health gap, a social work grand challenge. Unfortunately, these tools are underutilized in the field of social work. To address this gap, a systematic review of 53 studies was conducted, revealing the use of GIS methodologies such as spatial analysis, data visualization, spatiotemporal analysis, and spatial proximity analysis. Using these GIS methodologies, studies aimed to address a wide range of issues including health risk factors, environmental impacts on mental health, health disparities, and access to services. Five key themes emerged: environmental impact on health, GIS and community-based participatory research, risk factors and determinants of health, health disparities, and access to health and social services. GIS applications can help map health disparities, identify underserved areas for targeted interventions, analyze the impact of environmental factors on health, and facilitate community engagement through visual data representation. Future research should focus on exploring advanced GIS methodologies, such as predictive modeling and machine learning, to enhance healthcare disparity analysis and optimize resource allocation. Integrating advanced methodologies will deepen understanding of health disparities and improve prediction accuracy for timely interventions in underserved areas." }, { "id": 697, "doi": "10.1086/723609", "year": 2024, "title": "Social Work Research Using Electronic Health Records and Criminal Justice Data: Recommendations and Lessons Learned", "journal": "Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research", "abstract": "Electronic health records (EHRs) are rich with psychosocial information and can be used as secondary data for social work research. This methodological report describes the process of a randomized controlled trial on interventions to address domestic violence crimes using information from EHRs as secondary data matched with criminal justice data to examine the effectiveness of the interventions. We illustrate the process, highlight the advantages and limitations of this method, and provide lessons for applying this method to other studies. Our recommendations include the following: (a) have an in-depth understanding of the study, (b) be aware of changes, (c) establish a timeline and gain access early in the process, (d) determine what data should be extracted, (e) consider access and privacy issues, (f) determine how EHRs should be stored, (g) develop a mechanism to track coding, (h) create a variable \"roadmap\" in the codebook, (i) have one point person, (j) have at least two coders to enhance reliability, and (k) consider using artificial intelligence. Understanding the strengths and challenges of using EHRs as secondary data can help researchers to make more effective use of those technologies. Such efforts can enhance the ease and quality of EHR implementation in social work research." }, { "id": 895, "doi": "10.1080/13691457.2024.2421879", "year": 2024, "title": "Configuring social assistance: conceptualizations and implications of the adoption of robotic process automation in the Swedish personal social services", "journal": "European Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "Many European countries' public organisations have turned to digital automation as a strategy to enhance the efficiency of their service delivery. One example of this is the use of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in the provision of Social Assistance (SA) in Sweden. Swedish SA is a means-tested subsidy intended as a last resort for the economically most vulnerable persons, and caseworkers exercise a high degree of discretion when deciding on clients' eligibility for the benefit. Based on semi-structured interviews with stakeholders at the national and local levels, this study explores how these actors conceptualise and rationalise the adoption of RPA in the SA context and discusses how this relates to the mutual configuration of RPA and SA. The results show that RPA is framed as a simple technology to alleviate caseworkers' administrative workload so that they can instead focus on supporting clients towards self-sufficiency. However, local actors describe RPA adoption as a challenging process with modest outcomes. As such, the study suggests that stakeholders' simplified conceptualisation of RPA allows them to shift responsibility for its practical adoption to local PSS organisations, which ultimately pushes the PSS organisations towards configuring their SA casework processes around the limited capabilities of the technology. Offentliga organisationer i m & aring;nga europeiska l & auml;nder betraktar digital automatisering som en & ouml;vergripande strategi f & ouml;r att & ouml;ka effektiviteten i sin leverans av service och tj & auml;nster till allm & auml;nheten. Ett exempel p & aring; detta & auml;r anv & auml;ndningen av Robotic Process Automation (RPA) i handl & auml;ggningen av ekonomiskt bist & aring;nd i Sverige. Ekonomiskt bist & aring;nd & auml;r en behovspr & ouml;vat bidrag, avsett som en sista utv & auml;g f & ouml;r de ekonomiskt mest utsatta, och handl & auml;ggare inom ekonomiskt bist & aring;nd & aring;tnjuter en h & ouml;g grad av handlingsutrymme n & auml;r de beslutar om klienters r & auml;tt till bidraget. Baserat p & aring; semistrukturerade intervjuer med akt & ouml;rer p & aring; nationell och lokal niv & aring;, unders & ouml;ker f & ouml;religgande studie hur dessa akt & ouml;rer konceptualiserar och rationaliserar anv & auml;ndningen av RPA i kontexten ekonomiskt bist & aring;nd, och diskuterar hur detta relaterar till en & ouml;msesidig konfigurering av RPA och ekonomiskt bist & aring;nd. Resultaten visar att RPA konceptualiseras som en enkel teknisk l & ouml;sning som ska att avhj & auml;lpa handl & auml;ggarnas administrativa arbetsb & ouml;rda, f & ouml;r att ist & auml;llet kunna fokusera p & aring; att st & ouml;dja klienter mot sj & auml;lvf & ouml;rs & ouml;rjning. De kommunala akt & ouml;rerna beskriver emellertid integreringen av RPA i den praktiska organisatoriska kontexten som en utmanande process med blygsamma resultat. Studien visar hur den f & ouml;renklade konceptualiseringen av RPA m & ouml;jligg & ouml;r att ansvaret f & ouml;r dess integrering f & ouml;rskjuts till den lokala niv & aring;n, d & auml;r man i slut & auml;ndan drivs att konfigurera & auml;rendehanteringen kring teknikens begr & auml;nsade kapacitet." }, { "id": 954, "doi": "10.1177/08861099241293416", "year": 2024, "title": "The Experience of Birth Professionals Who Witness Obstetric Violence During Childbirth", "journal": "Affilia-Feminist Inquiry in Social Work", "abstract": "Research The experience of obstetric violence is well documented. However, the impact on and experience of doulas and midwives who witness OV deserves more attention. The research questions that guided this study were: What types of harm are doulas and midwives witnessing, what factors influence their decision to intervene, and what impact does this experience have on their professional career and well-being?Methods This exploratory study used semi-structured qualitative interviews to understand how doulas and midwives navigate the experience of witnessing OV. The data analysis included reflexive thematic analysis. Feminist standpoint theory was employed to center the lived experiences of women and other individuals from marginalized groups in the research and in the knowledge acquisition process.Key contributions This study found that independent birth professionals like doulas and midwives are struggling with how to navigate their roles in the obstetric system. They find creative ways to advocate yet are often met with mistreatment themselves. This work is a call to action to the field of social work to engage in issues related to perinatal health and reproductive justice." }, { "id": 986, "doi": "10.1080/08841233.2024.2408299", "year": 2024, "title": "Navigating the Dilemma: Use of ChatGPT in Social Work Education", "journal": "Journal of Teaching in Social Work", "abstract": "Artificial intelligence has evolved since its inception in the 1950s, resulting in the creation of large language models that are trained on extensive data sets to understand and generate content, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, which launched in November 2022. Modern technology that is easy to access and free to use, like ChatGPT, is changing the educational landscape as it is an example of a large language model - an artificial intelligence network - that can process and generate text that reads as though it were written by a person. Using a survey and semi-structured interviews, this exploratory mixed-method study examined social work educators' experiences of addressing students' use of ChatGPT and found that although they are uncomfortable with addressing ChatGPT use with their students, they believe it is necessary to communicate its ethical use to them. Results also suggested that while using ChatGPT as a learning tool is valid, it can be overused. ChatGPT use gives students a false sense of having mastered academic material, and institutional guidelines are needed to address concerns regarding academic integrity and plagiarism. Moreover, instructors should address students' use of ChatGPT with their institutions and take intentional steps to ethically and creatively integrate artificial intelligence models into the social work curriculum." }, { "id": 52131, "doi": "10.1177/10443894241254128", "year": 2024, "title": "Hey Mama, We Hear You: An Analysis of Online Parenting Support Conversations on Reddit", "journal": "Families in Society", "abstract": "The transition to motherhood brings many challenges as women simultaneously adjust to several changes. Understanding the common themes, social support, and conversations that take place within online peer groups is critical in our technologically driven society. The study utilizes both machine learning and qualitative approaches to analyze 796 threads related to support written by Reddit users. Common themes found related to pressure on baby care/visitation during COVID-19, child care, child health/development, self-identity/self-esteem, and challenges related to the prenatal/postpartum period. In addition, mothers sought both emotional and informational support across all subreddits. These results suggest that online peer groups in which mothers can disclose events, challenges, and emotions may help reduce feelings of isolation and enable the exchange of support between new mothers." }, { "id": 52192, "doi": "10.1177/10443894231193779", "year": 2024, "title": "Experiences and Service Utilization of American Indian/Alaskan Native Kinship Caregivers in Kinship Navigator Programs Across Washington State", "journal": "Families in Society", "abstract": "Kinship caregiving, especially the phenomenon of grandparents providing sole care for their grandchildren, occurs at a higher rate in American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) communities than in any other demographic group. In 2017, the State of Washington allocated resources to seven tribes to build and implement culturally relevant kinship navigation programs. Survey results (N = 70) of AI/AN kinship caregivers in the state indicate that caregiver needs, service access, and utilization look different in tribal communities as compared with research conducted in nontribal communities. Specifically, AI/AN caregivers are more likely to report challenges with obtaining housing, transportation, and working with their kinship children's school than nontribal caregivers. Focus groups with tribal kinship navigators (N = 9) from five of these seven programs describe the greatest challenges they've experienced with program implementation including program eligibility, what kinship caregivers most often ask for assistance with, what system-level disparities that exist between tribal and nontribal kinship navigator programs and provide suggestions for program improvement." }, { "id": 55659, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2024.2409182", "year": 2024, "title": "Teaching social work students about evidence-based practice using peer-led learning and assessed conversations", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "While the assessment of students on social work placement has attracted a sizable body of research and commentary, on-campus assessments have attracted less attention. With advances in artificial intelligence and the rise of essay-mills, the rigor of assessment by assignment submission is threatened. Acknowledging the need for educators to review assessment in-line with these contemporary challenges and importance of developing skills for practice, this paper presents an evaluation of implementing assessed conversations in a compulsory evidence-based practice module for Bachelor of Social Work students. Replacing group presentations, students agreed with the introduction of assessed conversations to foster authentic collaboration with peers; while assuring students they would receive formative feedback on their performance before being formally assessed. Sixty students took part in nine focus groups offering feedback on their experience of assessed conversations. Students suggested this was a more challenging form of assessment, however, growth and development was reported. Students described a depth of knowledge achieved and greater confidence in evidence-based practice then they had envisaged possible. Findings suggested three possible factors in successfully implementing assessed conversations: Extensive peer support, formative assessed conversations, and learning by doing. Options for the continuation of research on assessed conversations are discussed." }, { "id": 55719, "doi": "10.1177/10497315241280686", "year": 2024, "title": "Moving Beyond ChatGPT: Local Large Language Models (LLMs) and the Secure Analysis of Confidential Unstructured Text Data in Social Work Research", "journal": "Research on Social Work Practice", "abstract": "Purpose: Large language models (LLMs) have demonstrated remarkable abilities in natural language tasks. However, their use in social work research is limited by confidentiality and security concerns when processing sensitive data. This study addresses these challenges by evaluating the performance of local LLMs (LocalLLMs) in classifying and extracting substance-related problems from unstructured child welfare investigation summaries. LocalLLMs allow researchers to analyze data on their own computers without transmitting information to external servers for processing. Methods: Four state-of-the-art LocalLLMs-Mistral-7b, Mixtral-8 x 7b, LLama3-8b, and Llama3-70b-were tested using zero-shot prompting on 2,956 manually coded summaries. Results: The LocalLLMs achieved exceptional results comparable to human experts in classification and extraction, demonstrating their potential to unlock valuable insights from confidential, unstructured child welfare data. Conclusions: This study highlights the feasibility of using LocalLLMs to efficiently analyze large amounts of textual data while addressing the confidentiality issues associated with proprietary LLMs." }, { "id": 55815, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2024.2402982", "year": 2024, "title": "Implementing Algorithmic Decision-Making Tools in Child Welfare Systems: Practitioner Perspectives on Use and Usefulness", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Decisions to screen child maltreatment reports are often inaccurate and inconsistent, which has prompted jurisdictions to develop algorithmic decision-making tools to supplement workers' judgments. However, the effectiveness of such innovations relies on successful adoption and consistent use by frontline users. Prior research has examined barriers to the adoption of decision-making tools in child welfare settings, but few studies have explored the implementation of algorithmic tools. This study described the use of such tools in practice and examined factors that influenced practitioners' attitudes and behaviors as they integrated the tools into their work. A qualitative case study informed by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR 2.0) was conducted regarding two county agencies implementing algorithmic tools for child welfare screening decisions. Data collection included document reviews, interviews with child welfare practitioners and leaders, and focus groups with child welfare and technology professionals. Participants disclosed key individual and contextual factors that impacted their perceptions of tool usefulness, including implementation processes, tool complexity, policy landscapes, internal communication structures, and staff role differences. Consideration of these factors must be incorporated into the future development and implementation of data-driven interventions to maximize their capacity to improve human services professionals' decision-making." }, { "id": 55854, "doi": "10.1086/731613", "year": 2024, "title": "Using Artificial Intelligence to Support Scientometric Analysis of Scholarly Literature: A Case Example of Research on Mainland China's Left-Behind Children", "journal": "Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research", "abstract": "The rapid growth of scholarly literature poses significant challenges in effectively organizing, managing, and synthesizing research. This issue is particularly pronounced when the relevant literature is dispersed across numerous journals and languages. In this methodological article, we demonstrate how artificial intelligence (AI) technologies can support research designs that aim to comprehensively understand a specific area of study through scientometric and topical analysis. As a working example, we focus on the case of left-behind children (LBC) in mainland China. Our approach revealed significant growth and dispersion in LBC research, indicating a need for more integrated studies to address various aspects of LBC experiences. The findings also demonstrate that using AI technologies offers significant opportunities for managing a large and highly distributed body of research." }, { "id": 55927, "doi": "10.1177/00208728241265015", "year": 2024, "title": "Perceived effects of digitalization on social work in Finland: A network analysis approach", "journal": "International Social Work", "abstract": "Drawing on a socio-technical approach, we examined Finnish social welfare professionals' (n = 990) perceptions of the effects of digitalization on their work and how these are associated with factors related to work and client information system usage using mixed graphical modelling. Overall, perceptions were predominantly positive. Digitally replaced services were most common in the non-public sector. Higher client information system ratings were associated with perceptions of more active client roles, supportive decision support systems and faster service processes. The relationship between various factors and perceived effects of digitalization appears complex and should be considered during the digital transformation of social work." }, { "id": 55970, "doi": "10.1111/cfs.13218", "year": 2024, "title": "Designing, Developing and Examining the Effectiveness of a Machine Learning-Based Mobile Recommendation System for Parents' Digital Parenting Skills", "journal": "Child & Family Social Work", "abstract": "It is of paramount importance that children are equipped with the requisite digital parenting skills to protect them from the risks and threats that they may encounter in the digital environment while also enabling them to seize the opportunities that the digital realm presents. Mobile recommendation systems (MRS) represent a significant intervention for the development of digital parenting competencies among adults. Nevertheless, there is no evidence in the literature of any attempt to develop the system. The objective of this study is to examine the process of developing an MRS for parents' digital parenting skills and to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed system through a pilot study. The study employed the developmental research Type 1 model. The study was structured in three stages: the design of the MRS, the development of the recommendation system (RS) and the pilot study. In order to facilitate the development of the MRS, three distinct working groups were established. The research yielded several key findings. Primarily, it established the theoretical foundation of the MRS, delineated the design principles to be considered in system design and elucidated their application in the system. Additionally, it identified the essential components and functions that should be incorporated into the system. In light of the expert opinions on compliance with andragogical principles, it was observed that the consideration of environmental factors emerged as a prominent theme. It was observed that the experts assigned the highest suitability scores to fault tolerance, low physical effort and an instructional environment in the system design. The system was found to be effective in terms of redundancy, sound and picture quality for all content titles and multimedia principles. The findings of this study indicate that the MRS may be an effective tool for fostering digital parenting skills. However, further research is necessary to develop age-appropriate measures and to assess the long-term impact of the system." }, { "id": 56195, "doi": "10.1093/bjsw/bcae111", "year": 2024, "title": "Disaster Preparedness in Social Work: Enhancing Policy in Australian Human Service Organisations", "journal": "British Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "This article reports on a small study that aimed to enhance disaster preparedness policy in Australian human service organisations. Adopting a transformative ecosocial lens, the researchers collaborated with emergency services as part of action research (AR) to co-design a series of workshops. The objectives of the workshops were to progressively develop disaster preparedness policy relating to risk assessment, service continuity and recovery plans. Semi-structured interviews with eight participants from human service organisations were undertaken post-workshop to explore their experiences and the impacts of workshops on organisational policy. Qualitative data were examined using thematic analysis. Five key themes emerged from the data. The themes were knowledge acquisition, the interrelationship between policy and practice, inter- and intra-professional relationships, organisational challenges and marginalisation. Whilst results indicated that workshops provided participants with opportunities to enhance disaster preparedness policy, participants described ongoing challenges inhibiting their progress within an organisational context. Implications for social work highlight the interrelationship between policy and practice and underscore the value of the profession's multidimensional approach to practice. The need to disrupt the influence of the neoliberal discourse within the organisational context is critical for enhancing disaster preparedness and for mitigating the inequitable impacts of disasters on marginalised groups. The article reports on a small qualitative study that aimed to enhance disaster preparedness policy in Australian human service organisations. Adopting an action research approach, a series of workshops were established to progressively develop disaster preparedness policy relating to risk assessment, service continuity and recovery plans. Following interviews with eight participants from organisations, five key themes emerged from a thematic analysis of the data. These themes were knowledge acquisition about disaster preparedness, interrelationship between policy and practice, inter- and intra-professional relationships, organisational challenges and marginalisation. Implications for social work highlight the interrelationship between policy and practice and underscore the profession's multidimensional approach to practice. The need to disrupt the influence of the neoliberal discourse within the organisational context is critical for enhancing disaster preparedness and for mitigating the inequitable impacts of disasters on diverse groups." }, { "id": 56329, "doi": "10.1093/hsw/hlae014", "year": 2024, "title": "Ethnic Density as a Key Factor to Narrow Health Disparities: A Case of American Indians and Alaska Natives", "journal": "Health & Social Work", "abstract": "Out of all the racial groups in the United States, people who identify as American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) have disproportionately worse health as a result of living in poverty. The preponderance of research connects poor health with a socioeconomic perspective, which might create prejudice against AI/AN. As already known, AI/AN's high rates of obesity, diabetes, and stroke in comparison with that of other ethnic groups are mainly derived from their impoverished economic conditions that have forced them to consume the food distributed by the U.S. government. When minority health is discussed generally, the ethnic density perspective explains a minority population's positive health despite low socioeconomic status. This perspective helps researchers and practitioners understand the connections of psychological and social factors with physical health and demonstrates positive health effects on minority groups. Despite the high correlation between ethnic density and health having been validated, little to no research has explored AI/AN's health from this perspective. Using 13,064 electronic health records, this research tests the relationship between AI/AN density and health outcomes. This article introduces an innovative analytical strategy (i.e., a data mining technique), which is ideal for discovering frequently appearing health outcomes in a group. The finding reveals positive relationships between health outcomes and AI/AN density." }, { "id": 56409, "doi": "10.1080/10437797.2024.2340931", "year": 2024, "title": "Introducing Generative Artificial Intelligence Into the MSW Curriculum: A Proposal for the 2029 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Education", "abstract": "The most recent Council on Social Work Education's Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) demands that social workers develop competence in the ethical and professional deployment of technology. Arguably, artificial intelligence has become a critical element in the technological landscape, most recently with the advent of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). Beginning in late 2022, there has been an explosion of interest in GenAI, along with a massive and ongoing rollout of GenAI tools for personal and professional use, such as ChatGPT. While GenAI will undoubtedly affect social work practice, scholars and ethicists have raised crucial concerns about GenAI, its potential abuses, and misuses, making it critical that social workers are trained in the proper usage of these technologies. Accordingly, we call here for a 10th competency to be added to the 2029 EPAS: Competency Ten: Social Workers demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and understanding to responsibly and effectively use Generative Artificial Intelligence tools. The current article discusses the recent developments in GenAI and offers social work educators guidance for including GenAI content in social work curricula to meet this proposed standard." }, { "id": 56548, "doi": "10.1080/01488376.2024.2354528", "year": 2024, "title": "COVID-19 Research Trends in Social Work: LDA Topic Modeling Analysis in South Korea", "journal": "Journal of Social Service Research", "abstract": "This study utilizes LDA topic modeling to examine research trends related to COVID-19 within the field of social work, analyzing these trends through peer-reviewed articles from the Korea Citation Index database. Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling, a statistical method for discovering abstract topics within a collection of documents, is applied to categorize and summarize the thematic concentration of the literature. Five themes have emerged: healthcare service and digitalized methods, exploring mental health status, qualitative approaches to social service program responses to COVID-19, evaluation of care services, and public service and program responses to COVID-19. Key findings reveal that the Korean social work academia focused on digital-based non-face-to-face services, evaluating the adequacy of public social services, and analyzing mental health and caregiving services during the pandemic. These findings indicate a reassessment of social work practices in response to the pandemic, underscoring the need to explore the challenges and opportunities presented by varied national responses. Additionally, the application of Python and machine learning in this research has shown significant benefits for social work studies, enabling a deeper analysis of complex, big data and facilitating more informed decision-making." }, { "id": 56566, "doi": "10.1080/01488376.2024.2354930", "year": 2024, "title": "In the Echoes of Tomorrow: The Intersection of Social Work and Artificial Intelligence Through the Eyes of Turkish Students", "journal": "Journal of Social Service Research", "abstract": "This study aimed to examine social work students' perspectives on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on social work. This research was prepared with a qualitative design to explore the reflections of social work students in T & uuml;rkiye and twelve focus groups were conducted. The data were analyzed using MAXQDA, and two main themes were created: opportunities and challenges. The opportunities include innovation, transformative dimensions, and work optimization, while challenges consist of competency for professional practice, ethical issues, and labor sub-themes. The results indicate that students think that AI will increase efficiency in terms of gaining speed and time, reducing bureaucracy, performing risk analysis, and reducing costs. In the research findings, students point out that AI may lead to ethical violations in terms of privacy concerns, the possibility of data misuse, etc. Students emphasize the risk of increased unemployment with the integration of AI into social work. Future research could investigate the long-term impact of integrating AI into social work practice, examining its evolving effect on client outcomes and professional roles." }, { "id": 56644, "doi": "10.1080/01634372.2024.2339992", "year": 2024, "title": "Can Socially Assistive Robots Be Accepted by Older People Living Alone in the Community?: Empirical Findings from a Social Work Project in China", "journal": "Journal of Gerontological Social Work", "abstract": "A pilot study was undertaken between March 2019 and September 2021, loaning socially assistive robots (SARs) for a 7-day trial to older people living alone in China. Quantitative assessments of participants' acceptance of technology and loneliness were conducted before and after the intervention, supplemented with qualitative interviews. Unexpectedly, participants' intention to use SARs decreased significantly, largely due to emotional anxiety. Meanwhile, participants' level of loneliness remained unchanged. Follow-up interviews revealed anxious emotion, hesitant attitudes, unreal social presence, usability difficulties as contributing factors. The study provides social workers with valuable insights into introducing SARs into community care of older people." }, { "id": 56721, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2024.2343694", "year": 2024, "title": "AyudaMujer: A Mobile Application for the Treatment of Violence Against Women in Peru", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Violence against women in Peru is a problem that has a high incidence and is increasing, despite the policies undertaken by past governments and the creation of the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations in 1996, causing that one in two women have been abused at some point in their lives. However, the treatment of abused women is still insufficient even though there are more Women's Emergency Centers (WEC) each year, where victims can ask for professional support and treatment quickly and effectively. The chatbot provides an alternative to eliminate the distance between the abused woman and the WEC; therefore, a mobile application called AyudaMujer is proposed that includes a chatbot, news, a map of nearby WECs, and the connection with specialists for the treatment of violence against women. The chatbot identifies, automatically and through a natural dialogue, the type of violence and its level of risk. Additionally, it assigns a specialist to provide personalized professional treatment. The testing of AyudaMujer with 20 abused women from Lima, Peru, shows that the risk of violence is reduced by an average of 19.43% after three weeks of use. The results show that this tool can contribute to the treatment of abused women." }, { "id": 56753, "doi": "10.1080/01634372.2024.2339982", "year": 2024, "title": "Late Life Cognitive Function Trajectory Among the Chinese Oldest-Old Population-A Machine Learning Approach", "journal": "Journal of Gerontological Social Work", "abstract": "Informed by the biopsychosocial framework, our study uses the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) dataset to examine cognitive function trajectories among the oldest-old (80+). Employing K-means clustering, we identified two latent groups: High Stability (HS) and Low Stability (LS). The HS group maintained satisfactory cognitive function, while the LS group exhibited consistently low function. Lasso regression revealed predictive factors, including socioeconomic status, biological conditions, mental health, lifestyle, psychological, and behavioral factors. This data-driven approach sheds light on cognitive aging patterns and informs policies for healthy aging. Our study pioneers non-parametric machine learning methods in this context." }, { "id": 56820, "doi": "10.1177/10497315241243310", "year": 2024, "title": "Beyond Plagiarism: ChatGPT as the Vanguard of Technological Revolution in Research and Citation", "journal": "Research on Social Work Practice", "abstract": "In the landscape of academic research and citation practices, the emergence of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence language model developed by OpenAI, represents a transformative leap forward. This paper delves into the multifaceted role of ChatGPT in revolutionizing scholarly endeavors beyond mere plagiarism detection. We explore how ChatGPT facilitates research collaboration, streamlines literature reviews, and assists in proper citation practices. By harnessing ChatGPT's contextual understanding and vast knowledge repository, social work researchers can unlock new avenues of creativity and efficiency in knowledge acquisition and dissemination. Moreover, this paper discusses the ethical considerations surrounding the integration of AI in academia and underscores the need for guidelines and education to ensure responsible usage. Ultimately, ChatGPT stands at the forefront of a technological revolution, empowering social work researchers to push the boundaries of knowledge acquisition and dissemination in unprecedented ways." }, { "id": 56875, "doi": "10.1080/07347332.2024.2335170", "year": 2024, "title": "Social robotics as an adjuvant during the hospitalization process in pediatric oncology patients", "journal": "Journal of Psychosocial Oncology", "abstract": "ObjectiveTo describe the experience of implementing social robotics as an adjuvant during the hospitalization process in pediatric oncology patients.MethodsBefore and after cohort study, applying an intervention with the Lego Mindstorms EV3 kit in patients between 8 and 17 years old that are hospitalized with a cancer diagnosis. We excluded patients from the intensive care unit or when their treating physician recommended so. The intervention consisted of a three-phase workshop: an open architecture story, building a car robot using the Lego Mindstorm EV3 kit, and cooperative playing activities such as races and passing obstacles.ResultsThirteen patients received the intervention with robotic lego. The median age was 15 years (IQR = 3), and 84.6% of the population (n = 11) were male. We found significant improvement in the language (topic management p = .011 and communicative intention p = .034). Other characteristics improved, but not significantly (self-care activities index, catching). No adverse events occurred during the intervention.ConclusionsThe results of this pilot study suggest that implementing social robotics during hospitalization in children with cancer is a therapeutic adjuvant and safe intervention that promotes better communication, self-care, and a physical activity improvement. For future studies, the impact of this intervention could be measured in hospitalized pediatric cancer patients." }, { "id": 57097, "doi": "10.1080/19371918.2024.2318372", "year": 2024, "title": "Pandemics, Income Inequality, and Refugees: The Case of COVID-19", "journal": "Social Work in Public Health", "abstract": "Refugees are more vulnerable to COVID-19 due to factors such as low standard of living, accommodation in crowded households, difficulty in receiving health care due to high treatment costs in some countries, and inability to access public health and social services. The increasing income inequalities, anxiety about providing minimum living conditions, and fear of being unemployed compel refugees to continue their jobs, and this affects the number of cases and case-related deaths. The aim of the study is to analyze the impact of refugees and income inequality on COVID-19 cases and deaths in 95 countries for the year 2021 using Poisson regression, Negative Binomial Regression, and Machine Learning methods. According to the estimation results, refugees and income inequalities increase both COVID-19 cases and deaths. On the other hand, the impact of income inequality on COVID-19 cases and deaths is stronger than on refugees." }, { "id": 57104, "doi": "10.1080/19371918.2024.2316869", "year": 2024, "title": "Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance: The Role of Trust and the Influence of Social Media", "journal": "Social Work in Public Health", "abstract": "The study discusses the predictors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Romania. We implemented a national survey using an online panel (N = 1006), representative for the online population of Romania aged 18 or higher, conducted on 13-26 October, 2020, by the national pollster QUESTIA. Results show a predictive model of people's willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine, in which trust in the actors and institutions involved in the management of the crisis is the strongest predictor, followed by the belief in toxic or misleading narratives about vaccines and the COVID-19 pandemic, and media consumption patterns. Education is a moderator of the relationship between trust and the willingness to vaccinate. Implications for professionals in the social work fields, as well as for policy-makers are discussed. Results could be used as a starting point for developing recommendations for evidence-based health communication in the context of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign." }, { "id": 57126, "doi": "10.1080/00981389.2024.2316700", "year": 2024, "title": "Predictive analytics and early intervention in healthcare social work: a scoping review", "journal": "Social Work in Health Care", "abstract": "This scoping review investigates the untapped potential of predictive analytics in healthcare social work, specifically targeting early intervention frameworks. Despite the escalating attention predictive analytics has garnered across multiple disciplines, its tailored application in social work remains notably sparse. This study endeavors to fill this lacuna by meticulously reviewing the extant literature and delineating the prospective advantages and inherent constraints of integrating predictive analytics into healthcare social work. The outcomes of this inquiry enrich the prevailing dialogue on the utility of predictive analytics in healthcare, offering indispensable perspectives for practitioners and policymakers in the social work domain." }, { "id": 57295, "doi": "10.1080/01488376.2024.2305146", "year": 2024, "title": "Cultural Entrepreneurship and Rural Revitalization: Mapping China's Development Strategy", "journal": "Journal of Social Service Research", "abstract": "Cultural entrepreneurship is the cornerstone of sustainable development in rural China, especially within the realm of cultural industries. This study aims to investigate the pivotal role of cultural industries in China's rural revitalization and the influence of entrepreneurship on sustainable enterprise development. Using a quantitative approach, the study gathered data from 171 entrepreneurs in China, employing SPSS for analysis. In the first week of March 2023, the survey was carried out throughout China. The research focuses on exploring the impact of rural revitalization strategies on fostering entrepreneurship within cultural industries. Experimenting with an enhanced BP-L-M algorithm, the finding reveals its high accuracy when compared to traditional BP neural networks. The novelty of this study provides valuable insights into the unique challenges and an opportunity faced by rural entrepreneurs in the cultural sector and provides practical recommendations for implementing rural revitalization for entrepreneurship in cultural industries. By emphasizing the significance of entrepreneurship in rural areas and its potential to alleviate poverty and boost economic growth through cultural industries, this research underscores the transformative power of cultural initiatives in shaping the nation's economic landscape." }, { "id": 57351, "doi": "10.1080/26408066.2023.2299019", "year": 2024, "title": "Student loan debt and mental health: a comprehensive review of scholarly literature from 1900 to 2019", "journal": "Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work", "abstract": "PurposeThe review had two purposes. The first was to examine the nature and extent of published literature on student loan and the second was to systematically review the literature on student loans and mental health.Materials and MethodsData from academic databases (1900-2019) were analyzed using two methods. First, topic modeling (a text-mining tool that utilized Bayesian statistics to extract hidden patterns in large volumes of texts) was used to understand the topical coverage in peer-reviewed abstracts (n = 988) on student debt. Second, using PRISMA guidelines, 46 manuscripts were systematically reviewed to synthesize literature linking student debt and mental health.ResultsA model with 10 topics was selected for parsimony and more accurate clustered representation of the patterns. Certain topics have received less attention, including mental health and wellbeing. In the systematic review, themes derived were categorized into two life trajectories: before and during repayment. Whereas stress, anxiety, and depression dominated the literature, the review demonstrated that the consequences of student loans extend beyond mental health and negatively affect a person's wellbeing. Self-efficacy emerged as a potential solution.Discussion and ConclusionAcross countries and samples, the results are uniform and show that student loan burdens certain vulnerable groups more. Findings indicate diversity in mental health measures has resulted into a lack of a unified theoretical framework. Better scales and consensus on commonly used terms will strengthen the literature. Some areas, such as impact of student loans on graduate students or consumers repaying their loans, warrant attention in future research." }, { "id": 57894, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2023.2266467", "year": 2024, "title": "The Social Work Online Team Training (SWOTT) toolkit: embedding team-based peer learning in continuous professional development", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "Continuous professional development (CPD) underpins safe, effective practice by ensuring that social workers acquire and sustain up-to-date knowledge and skills. Additionally, CPD is critical to theoretically rooted, evidence-informed decision-making and intervention. Despite the reported benefits, there are many barriers such as high caseloads and the time required to participate. This paper presents the findings from a proof-of-concept study which piloted a new model for CPD: the Social Work Online Team Training (SWOTT) toolkit. Each themed toolkit incorporates research evidence and/or new theoretical frameworks and is built upon a team-based, peer learning approach. Toolkits have two components: an online module and peer group supervision using a complex case study. The pilot and evaluation integrated two data collection workstreams: a pre-intervention survey and a post-intervention survey; and interviews. Participants reported that the CPD was relevant, accessible, enabling them to refresh knowledge of core theory and acquire new theoretical and evidence-informed knowledge. The toolkit design facilitated deep learning as participants used the online training to critically discuss the complex case study using peer reflection. Overall, findings demonstrated the value of shared learning experiences through the combined modes of learning (online/in-person) resulting in evidence-informed CPD with real-world relevance to practice contexts." }, { "id": 57914, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2023.2266461", "year": 2024, "title": "Use of case studies in social work assessments - ChatGPT's kryptonite?", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "The launch of ChatGPT sent ripples across higher education, particularly in attempts to detect its use by students using it to complete assignments. This paper reflects on the past semester of 'life with ChatGPT', starting with a narrative of current practices in assessment writing at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, before embarking on a test of the response generated by ChatGPT in answering a case study-based exam question. Taken together with the author's experiences grading assignments that had been at least partially generated by artificial intelligence (AI) but not known at that time, it is surmised that case studies tend not to lend themselves well to having good-quality responses being generated by AI tools such as ChatGPT, at this current stage of their development. However, implications for assessment writing involving case studies include the need for sufficient details, both essential and peripheral, so that students have to 'separate the wheat from the chaff', and decipher how best to apply the concepts being examined based on the unique circumstances of the case scenario. At this point in time, the use of complex, detailed, and well-written case studies in assessment questions appears to be ChatGPT's kryptonite and could ensure authentic assessments." }, { "id": 58027, "doi": "10.1111/ijsw.12633", "year": 2024, "title": "Automating social assistance: Exploring the use of robotic process automation in the Swedish personal social services", "journal": "International Journal of Social Welfare", "abstract": "Many European countries employ Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in the administration of public benefits. However, there is limited understanding of how RPA is applied at the client level. This article investigates the utilization and impact of RPA use on social assistance (SA) distribution in Sweden, drawing on a sample of 800 SA applications in four Swedish municipalities. The results show that RPA use correlates with applicants' country of birth, age and duration of SA receipt. Additionally, RPA implementation coincides with less generous decisions, disproportionately affecting financially vulnerable groups. Rather than a correlation between generosity and the technology itself, the results suggest a conflict between the reorganisation of SA administration during RPA implementation and the principle of individualized judgments inherent in SA casework. Hence, public organisations are encouraged to ensure that their adoption of RPA neither exacerbates unequal access to services nor compromises professional discretion in favour of efficiency-driven measures." }, { "id": 58626, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2023.2195425", "year": 2024, "title": "Algorithmic decision-making in social work practice and pedagogy: confronting the competency/critique dilemma", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "The world is experiencing an accelerating digital transformation. One aspect of this is the implementation of algorithmic decision-making, often supported by Artificial Intelligence. Algorithmic systems have the potential to change the meaning of critical elements of the engagement between social workers and people who need support. At the same time, social workers are increasingly being required by their agencies to integrate such abstracting technologies and techniques evermore comprehensively into their professional practice. This integration also creates tensions for training future social workers. It requires on the one hand directly responding to an old but intensifying tension between training students technically, and, on the other, providing the pedagogical tools for finding some critical distance from those same technologies and techniques. The article works through this tension of technique/critique, and a second associated tension between deploying technologies of mediated engagement and being present 'in the room' (presence/mediation). The consequences of how both tensions are handled, we suggest, are being intensified through the technologization of service-delivery. The article suggests ways of approaching a technical-critical pedagogy that responds to this complexity by being practice-embedded and theoretically engaged." }, { "id": 58639, "doi": "10.1080/13691457.2023.2191162", "year": 2024, "title": "Swedish civil society mobilises in response to refugees' 'bare life'", "journal": "European Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "In 2015, Sweden welcomed asylum-seekers from the mass exodus in what became known as the 'European refugee crisis.' However, as Swedish public perceptions of refugees shifted from sympathy to fear, the government enacted policy changes that eroded unaccompanied minor refugees' (UMRs) rights. After witnessing refugees' 'bare life' by seeing them denied politicised citizens' rights, Sweden's civil society mobilised to assist these vulnerable young people. This paper focuses on what causes citizens to mobilise into humanitarian actors. We interviewed nineteen members of a helping network called Vi Star Inte Ut (We Can't Stand It), investigating their reasons for mobilising. Using sentiment analysis, we identified 'high points' or salient experiences by evaluating participants' sentiments and linguistic cues, with many centreing on witnessing bare life. Some participants were activated through individual experiences, while policies or events, like mass deportations, moved others. Many participants had varied cumulative experiences, but most high points occurred in response to the enactment of unjust policies, with many ultimately distrusting their government. Crucially, knowledge of citizen mobilisation is essential in the wake of new migration flows, coupled with the routine inadequacies demonstrated by Western governments in response to such crises." }, { "id": 58909, "doi": "10.1111/ijsw.12586", "year": 2024, "title": "The rise of artificial intelligence, the fall of human wellbeing?", "journal": "International Journal of Social Welfare", "abstract": "Concerns exist regarding the impact on our lives of the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Using a large dataset of 137 countries over the period 2005-2018 from multiple sources, we estimate the causal effect of AI on individual-level subjective wellbeing. Our identification strategy is inferred from the gravity framework and uses merely the variation in exogenous drivers of a country's AI development. We find a significant negative effect of AI on an individual's wellbeing, in terms of current levels or expectations of future wellbeing. The results are robust to alternative measures of AI, identification strategies, and sampling. Moreover, we find evidence of significant heterogeneity in the impact of AI on individual wellbeing. Further, this dampening effect on individual wellbeing resulting from the use of AI is more prominent among young people, men, high-income groups, high-skilled groups, and manufacturing workers." }, { "id": 59043, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2022.2156496", "year": 2024, "title": "A blended immersion course: advancing practice for social work students working with military members, veterans, and their families", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "This paper presents a specialization blended immersion course in social work with military, veterans, and their families that includes a 3-unit elective course for Master of Social Work (MSW) students incorporating a virtual (i.e. synchronous) class component and an eight-day visit to the Washington DC area. Data collection from over 60 students over a four-year period was collected, and mixed methods analysis indicated success in knowledge acquisition related to social work practice and policy with military and veteran communities. This study supports other research findings on the usefulness of immersion experiences in acclimating students to different cultures, in this case, military culture. Additionally, as today's digital education platform evolves in light of COVID-19 more students are engaged in online education. As such, this paper describes a framework for combining methods of instruction, such as blended and immersive experiences, that can be useful for social work education and in advancing practice in working with these populations." }, { "id": 60312, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2022.2088728", "year": 2024, "title": "Reflective journaling: An effective pedagogical tool to enhance undergraduate social work student experiences when learning research", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "Social work students are required to develop competency in research and evaluation prior to graduation. However, anxiety and fear about taking research courses can inhibit learning and are well documented in the literature. Much effort has been made to develop pedagogical methods to reduce student disdain for these courses in order to enhance engagement and facilitate knowledge acquisition. This empirical study found that journaling, when incorporated as a non-graded component of a research course, positively impacted attitudes of undergraduate social work students. The most salient benefit, according to students, was the ability to receive and provide ongoing instructor feedback in a less intimidating manner. Empirical data showed reductions in student anxiety and perceptions about research's difficulty, as well as enhanced appreciation for the usefulness of research, between the onset and completion of the research course. Challenges with incorporating journaling as a pedagogical tool are discussed from a faculty member's perspective." }, { "id": 60690, "doi": "10.1080/13691457.2022.2063806", "year": 2024, "title": "Decision support and algorithmic support: the construction of algorithms and professional discretion in social work", "journal": "European Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "The promise of artificial intelligence and algorithms to make bureaucratic processes more efficient and minimise 'subjective' judgement and, hence, professional discretion in case management has recently resulted in the development and implementation of different kinds of algorithms in social work. In this paper, we analyse the ideas, developments and use of three 'decision-support'-algorithms, developed for Danish municipalities within social work with vulnerable children and families. These algorithms are meant as support of professionals in their decision-making in respect of referrals. Building on recent studies on the effects of digitalisation on frontline work and professional discretion, we analyse the intentions, designs, and workings of decision-support algorithms in social work, specifically in casework with vulnerable children and families. We analyse what is meant by professionals in need of 'decision support' and how these algorithms reconfigure ideas about professional discretion. Through the analysis, we find that the algorithms are intended to support decisions by standardising casework, objectivising basis for decision, and by eliminating bias. Furthermore, we document the close relationship between the intentions of algorithms and the conception of professional discretion." }, { "id": 71533, "doi": "10.1007/s10560-023-00931-2", "year": 2024, "title": "A Systematic Review of Sophisticated Predictive and Prescriptive Analytics in Child Welfare: Accuracy, Equity, and Bias", "journal": "Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal", "abstract": "Child welfare agencies increasingly use machine learning models to predict outcomes and inform decisions. These tools are intended to increase accuracy and fairness but can also amplify bias. This systematic review explores how researchers addressed ethics, equity, bias, and model performance in their design and evaluation of predictive and prescriptive algorithms in child welfare. We searched EBSCO databases, Google Scholar, and reference lists for journal articles, conference papers, dissertations, and book chapters published between January 2010 and March 2020. Sources must have reported on the use of algorithms to predict child welfare-related outcomes and either suggested prescriptive responses, or applied their models to decision-making contexts. We calculated descriptive statistics and conducted Mann-Whitney U tests, and Spearman\u2019s rank correlations to summarize and synthesize findings. Of 15 articles, fewer than half considered ethics, equity, or bias or engaged participatory design principles as part of model development/evaluation. Only one-third involved cross-disciplinary teams. Model performance was positively associated with number of algorithms tested and sample size. No other statistical tests were significant. Interest in algorithmic decision-making in child welfare is growing, yet there remains no gold standard for ameliorating bias, inequity, and other ethics concerns. Our review demonstrates that these efforts are not being reported consistently in the literature and that a uniform reporting protocol may be needed to guide research. In the meantime, computer scientists might collaborate with content experts and stakeholders to ensure they account for the practical implications of using algorithms in child welfare settings." }, { "id": 71701, "doi": "10.1007/s10560-023-00922-3", "year": 2024, "title": "A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring the Educational Experiences of Foster Youth and Foster Parents During COVID-19", "journal": "Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal", "abstract": "The COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken to decrease the spread impacted youth in foster care and foster parents in a myriad of ways. One critical yet unexplored area is how educational changes during the first 2 years of the pandemic impacted this specific group of youth in foster care and foster parents. This exploratory study used three methods: (1) A scoping review of the prior research on pandemics/climate events and school closures and the research from early 2020; (2) individual interviews and focus groups with foster parents and teachers; and (3) an online survey of 88 foster parents. We endeavored to include findings at each stage of the process. Research from prior epidemics and school closures and predictive models predicted learning losses which were verified by the findings in the survey and interviews. Foster parents reported that the youth in foster care had great difficulty concentrating with on-line delivery and the absence or greatly limited access to mental health services compounded the challenges. Even as children returned to classrooms, the behavior of children, youth resulted in suspensions and expulsions likely increasing learning losses. The discussion identifies some approaches to addressing COVID-19 learning gaps and the mental health needs of this vulnerable group of children and youth." }, { "id": 72043, "doi": "10.1177/10497315231188305", "year": 2024, "title": "Construct-Irrelevant Variance on the ASWB Clinical Social Work Licensing Exam: A Replication of Prior Validity Concerns", "journal": "Research on Social Work Practice", "abstract": "Purpose: This study sought to replicate a previous investigation of construct-irrelevant variance on the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) clinical licensing exam completed by Albright and Thyer over a decade ago. Method: The performance of ChatGPT was assessed on a modified version of 50 newly developed clinical exam questions currently distributed by the ASWB, where only the four multiple-choice options for each item were presented without the question. Results: ChatGPT achieved an average accuracy rate of 73.3% across three rounds of testing, providing strong evidence of construct-irrelevant variance. Discussion: These results raise concerns about the construct validity of the clinical exam and emphasize the need for reassessment of its structure and content to ensure fairness and accuracy. Based on the findings, state legislators and regulators are encouraged to temporarily discontinue the use of the ASWB exam in the clinical licensure process until its validity flaws are resolved." }, { "id": 72135, "doi": "10.1080/2156857x.2024.2440720", "year": 2024, "title": "Reducing administration? Examining the alignment of robotic process automation and social assistance in Swedish Personal Social Services", "journal": "Nordic Social Work Research", "abstract": "In line with the global trend towards digitalization, digital automation has become a politically endorsed strategy to enhance efficiency and transparency in public service delivery. One such example is the adoption of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in the context of social assistance (SA) in Sweden. While SA is a municipally organized means-tested subsidy for the most financially vulnerable, RPA functions as highly structured software executing administrative tasks based on predetermined rules. Employing a sociomaterial perspective, this article analyses group interviews conducted in four Swedish municipalities, to explore if and how RPA adoption configures the dynamics of SA casework administration and practice. Findings suggest that RPA adoption does not inherently lead to expected all-encompassing enhancements of faster and fairer eligibility determinations as well as a more client-centric approach in SA casework. Instead, the instrumentalist approach of leveraging digital tools to achieve specific outcomes, combined with the task delineation required by RPA, appears incongruent with the nature of SA casework practice. As caseworkers attest to organizational adjustments and a more instrumental approach towards clients\u2019 situations alongside RPA adoption, this study underscores the inadequacy of the rationalist notion of segmenting SA casework in order to achieve efficiency in casework that, by law, should be based on individual judgements by professional caseworkers." }, { "id": 72304, "doi": "10.31265/jcsw.v19i1.619", "year": 2024, "title": "Ethical considerations in research when building predictive risk modelling in child and family welfare", "journal": "Journal of Comparative Social Work", "abstract": "This article presents and discusses ethical issues and implications in research when building a pre-dictive risk model for potential use in Danish child and family welfare. The idea is to build a pre-dictive risk model in order to study whether such a model can be valuable to child and family wel-fare services in the assessment of risk \u2013 aimed specifically at the decision-making process regard-ing notifications. Based on a framework developed especially for this field, we present and discuss ethical consider-ations, reflections and actions in relation to four main ethical principles: non-maleficence, auton-omy, justice and explicability. We hope that our reflections on these ethical challenges can inspire research \u2013 and potentially also the field of practice when taking a deep dive into the difficult field of digitalization in social work." }, { "id": 72311, "doi": "10.1007/s41134-024-00326-y", "year": 2024, "title": "Considering a Unified Model of Artificial Intelligence Enhanced Social Work: A Systematic Review", "journal": "Journal of Human Rights and Social Work", "abstract": "Social work, as a human rights\u2013based profession, is globally recognized as a profession committed to enhancing human well-being and helping meet the basic needs of all people, with a particular focus on those who are marginalized vulnerable, oppressed, or living in poverty. Artificial intelligence (AI), a sub-discipline of computer science, focuses on developing computers with decision-making capacity. The impacts of these two disciplines on each other and the ecosystems that social work is most concerned with have considerable unrealized potential. This systematic review aims to map the research landscape of social work AI scholarship. The authors analyzed the contents of 67 articles and used a qualitative analytic approach to code the literature, exploring how social work researchers investigate AI. We identified themes consistent with Staub-Bernasconi\u2019s triple mandate,\u00a0covering profession level, social agency (organizations), and clients. The literature has a striking gap or lack of empirical research about AI implementations or using AI strategies as a research method. We present the emergent themes (possibilities and risks) from the analysis as well as recommendations for future social work researchers. We propose an integrated model of Artificial Intelligence Enhanced Social Work (or \u201cArtificial Social Work\u201d), which proposes a marriage of social work practice and artificial intelligence tools. This model is based on our findings and informed by the triple mandate and the human rights framework." }, { "id": 72657, "doi": "10.1093/bjsw/bcad192", "year": 2024, "title": "'Seen' through Records: Parents' Access to Children's Social Care Records in an Age of Increasing Datafication", "journal": "British Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "General Data Protection Regulations state that parents may submit a Subject Access Request (SAR) to see personal records held about them. In this article, we draw on interviews with parents who have made an SAR in order to view their children's social care records. Their experiences reveal the significant barriers of time, energy and bureaucracy that they faced in accessing their children's records. The parents felt that they were 'seen' through their records, reported inaccuracies in information about them and relayed the devastating impact that false allegations of maltreatment continued to have in their lives. Datafication becomes an integral part of the unequal power dynamic between parents and professionals, further shifting the balance towards professionals, damaging fragile trust and engagement. Crucially, there are ethical questions raised for the social work profession about the accessibility and accountability of local authority processes when parents seek justice and reparation for harm. Given the importance of records in decision making about intervention in families lives and increasing datafication of public services working with families through electronic systems including predictive analytics, our indicative findings point to the need for further investigation." }, { "id": 72710, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2023.2257724", "year": 2024, "title": "Using [un]popular culture in social work education: the only way is Essex and Katie Price: what Harvey did next?", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "Traditional social work education in the UK has been successful in terms of widening participation, although there are some threats to this. Within the post 92 university sector in particular, social work students come from a diverse range of backgrounds. Some of these students will not have had positive experiences of formative education or would have been subject to state discrimination and hostility. We report on the use of pedagogical approaches which aim to support social work students to feel a sense of security and belonging within the higher education environment, develop safe ways to engage in critical self reflection, helps students engage with often nebulous, and complex theoretical concepts, and most importantly, serve to challenge the exclusionary culture of higher education, which at times can make students feel unworthy. We address these issues by using [un]popular culture in our teaching practices. Two UK TV programs in particular, TOWIE and Katie Price: What Harvey did Next, offer a wealth of pedagogical material and opportunities for deep learning. Using recognizable figures from popular culture, gives social work students permission to explore matters and theory relevant to social work, not least class, taste, gender and disability." }, { "id": 72798, "doi": "10.1080/2156857x.2023.2218385", "year": 2024, "title": "Saving time for activation or relationships? The legitimation and performance of automated decision-making for time efficiency in two street-level bureaucracies serving poor and unemployed clients", "journal": "Nordic Social Work Research", "abstract": "In the last decade, digitalized automated decision-making (ADM) has been implemented in many Swedish municipal social services to achieve values such as legal security, client empowerment and time efficiency. The paper aims to understand how ADM policy is legitimized and performed through time efficiency, by a comparison of ADM policy in two Swedish municipalities\u2019 social assistance agencies. It builds on 17 interviews with managers and professionals in two Swedish municipalities\u2019 social assistance units. Findings show ADM is legitimized through arguments of activation and relationships, and performed by handling more applications or increasing time spent with clients, rather than being perceived as increasing the quality of social assistance services. This highlights the significance of organizational goals regarding how street-level bureaucrats perform tasks within their discretionary powers." }, { "id": 72831, "doi": "10.1080/2156857x.2022.2062040", "year": 2024, "title": "Value positions in the implementation of automated decision-making in social assistance", "journal": "Nordic Social Work Research", "abstract": "Automated decision-making (ADM) has been introduced into the public sector in many countries, including for decisions made regarding the provision of economic support to people in need. This article analyses the value positions (the \u2018desired intentions\u2019) for using ADM to determine such decisions in four Swedish municipalities. The value positions related to efficiency of the application process, its result and the improved service that ensues, including more time for helping people to become self-supporting. The core issue of helping people in need and the mundanisation of activities when discussed as \u2018services\u2019 is of paramount importance. Meanwhile, the value position of professionalism relates to providing well-designed technology to preserve the quality of decisions. The results also showed differences between municipalities regarding aspects of professionalism that influence the (digital and otherwise) discretion of caseworkers: user participation in design, length of experiences and so on. Divergences between instances of value positions were detected, such as the need to increase the use of information and communications technology as a part of service values, whereas a lack of trust in citizens may exist among caseworkers. Through the framework of value positions, this article contributes to the discourse on the use of theory in social work research." }, { "id": 79311, "doi": "10.1080/10911359.2023.2249962", "year": 2024, "title": "Exploring the public sentiment of local community on major infrastructure development: Evidence from media news and Twitter data", "journal": "Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment", "abstract": "This study analyzes public sentiment on news sites and Twitter concerning the development of the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road (JTTS). Applying a lexicon-based approach to calculate sentiment scores, this study found a predominance of positive sentiments in news articles and tweets regarding the JTTS development. Employing multinomial logit estimation to examine the determining factors, this study however found no specific relationship between JTTS segment completion and public sentiment on news sites or Twitter. Nonetheless, the association changed and became noticeable on Twitter after controlling the effects of socioeconomic characteristics on sentiment scores. The development status of the JTTS segment influenced public sentiment considerably. This study highlights the potential of social media to facilitate public engagement and inform government decision making. Furthermore, it offers a comprehensive analysis of public sentiment regarding toll road infrastructure development by incorporating multiple stakeholders, including government agencies, business actors, community organizations (via news articles), and local communities (via Twitter data), and highlights various interests, concerns, and conflicts surrounding toll road projects. The investigation of socioeconomic and demographic factors in relation to public sentiment further contributes to our understanding of the underlying influences and dynamics that shape opinions on toll-road infrastructure through sentiment analysis and quantitative methods." }, { "id": 82230, "doi": "10.1097/or9.0000000000000142", "year": 2024, "title": "The human side of cancer care in Japan: barriers and challenges", "journal": "Journal of Psychosocial Oncology", "abstract": "Among the core concepts of psycho-oncology, \u201caddressing the human aspects of cancer\u201d is one of the most important. In particular, the enhancement of physicians\u2019 empathic communication is welcomed in Japan. In 2006, the enactment of the Cancer Control Act in Japan promoted psychosocial and palliative care to anyone. Thus, the designated cancer hospitals adopted a palliative care team, including a psycho-oncologist, as well as a communication skills training program practicing empathic communication. The Cancer Registry data have suggested regional disparities in suicides among patients with cancer in Japan, suggesting fragile regions of psycho-oncology. How can we deliver empathic communication to patients across the country, and how far will technological innovation, including AI, produce innovative support? Although constant efforts are needed to move closer to solutions, the human side of cancer must not be changed; however, clinical practice must continue to change over time." }, { "id": 102024, "doi": "10.55521/10-021-102", "year": 2024, "title": "Editorial: A Follow-up on Artificial Intelligence", "journal": "International Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics", "abstract": null }, { "id": 102029, "doi": "10.55521/10-021-112", "year": 2024, "title": "Forum: The Limitations of Large Language Models and Emerging Correctives to Support Social Work Scholarship: Selecting the Right Tool for the Task", "journal": "International Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics", "abstract": null }, { "id": 517, "doi": "10.1080/08841233.2024.2433795", "year": 2025, "title": "AIgiarism: Computer Generated Text, Plagiarism, and How to Address it in Teaching", "journal": "Journal of Teaching in Social Work", "abstract": "The rise of AI generated texts offers promise but creates new challenges for social work teaching. A recent survey found that 89% of higher education students used AI on their homework. AI generated text may be difficult to distinguish from a student's own work, yet are being submitted as the student's own work. This poses new challenges to definitions of plagiarism in education and in professional publication, as well for policies addressing this issue. Identifying AI generated text is difficult and requires critical thinking. While some software options claim effectiveness, recent tests show their results are mixed. Recommendations are offered for assignment development and policy changes to address this new concern in social work education and in publications." }, { "id": 879, "doi": "10.1177/08861099241295959", "year": 2025, "title": "What are we even here for? AI, Critical Feminism, and Social Work Scholarship", "journal": "Affilia-Feminist Inquiry in Social Work", "abstract": null }, { "id": 908, "doi": "10.1080/02650533.2024.2420314", "year": 2025, "title": "Our journey with an AI assistant offering narrative therapy on WhatsApp", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Practice", "abstract": "This study examines the integration of AI chatbots into social work, with a focus on democratising AI for use in Narrative Therapy (NT). As AI becomes more accessible, social work encounters new opportunities to utilise these tools in practice, but also faces significant challenges. The study explores the feasibility of using customisable GPT platforms to develop an AI chatbot for NT sessions and assesses its performance. An autoethnographic case study was conducted using a chatbot configured with the OpenAI Assistant API to perform NT on WhatsApp. Findings suggest that while practitioners can configure the chatbot to guide users through NT stages and adapt to interactions, there are still limitations, such as the need for basic coding and technical knowledge for deployment and enhancement. The study highlights both the potential and the challenges of AI in social work, advocating for enhanced training, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the cautious development of AI-assisted practices." }, { "id": 54561, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2025.2508510", "year": 2025, "title": "A learning tool or hazard? Concerns related to AI misuse in social work courses", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "Artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT, have had a sudden emergence over the past few years that have sparked several discussions in higher education. However, educators appear to be conflicted on the impacts AI will have on learning. Given that social workers have an ethical commitment to the profession, it is essential for social work educators to understand the limitations of AI when it is misused. Using a sample of nine AI generated papers that were submitted by undergraduate students in social work courses (N = 9), a qualitative content analysis was conducted to uncover the limitations when AI is misused to complete assignments. The results revealed four themes: misinterpretations, reference/citation issues, plagiarism, and lack of source variability. Implications for ethical social work practice in relation to these findings and AI misuse are discussed. Suggestions for how social work educators can address these ethical concerns are also provided." }, { "id": 54668, "doi": "10.1177/00208728251336944", "year": 2025, "title": "Balancing data privacy and social good: A framework for the AI generation of social and human services", "journal": "International Social Work", "abstract": "This brief note examines the dual impact of Internet-enabled technologies in public services to expand access to services while exposing gaps in data privacy protections in the United States. Both the opportunities and risks these technologies present for vulnerable populations are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the lack of a robust national data privacy law and the fragmented legal and ethical landscape that nonprofits providing social good must navigate. Recommendations are included to aid social service organizations in the creation of online data privacy practices." }, { "id": 54677, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2025.2501963", "year": 2025, "title": "Using Machine Learning Technology to Measure Changes in Emotional State During Parenting Helpline Calls", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Emotional support helplines are a longstanding strategy for supporting parents, but few studies have measured how much these programs work to address negative feelings in parents. Drawing on a sample of 281 helpline calls from parents to the California Parent and Youth Helpline (R), the authors analyzed changes in emotions expressed through language, while parents spoke to a counselor. The authors used a sequential explanatory mixed methods design. They worked with a Natural Language Inference (NLI) model, BART, to measure and quantitatively display changes in feelings parents express. They found that 85% of the parents made more positive statements as the call proceeded. The authors tested BART by measuring its rate of agreement with qualitative coding by the authors and against a codex constructed by service users. The authors discuss the implications of this study for addressing parental isolation and how the research methods could be adopted by other helplines." }, { "id": 54688, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2025.2500827", "year": 2025, "title": "The Therapist in the Machine: Confronting AI's Challenge to Clinical Social Work", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": null }, { "id": 54711, "doi": "10.1080/0312407x.2025.2488345", "year": 2025, "title": "Artificial Intelligence in Social Work: An EPIC Model for Practice", "journal": "Australian Social Work", "abstract": "As artificial intelligence (AI) permeates the workplace environments of social workers, there is a need to understand the risks and benefits posed to the mission and values of the profession. This article examines the influence of artificial intelligence on the profession, including opportunities to advance socially just outcomes and challenges that risk ethical practice. A comprehensive review of literature was conducted to examine existing research on the intersection of AI and social work. Drawing on insights from this review, an EPIC model for integrating artificial intelligence into the profession is presented, consisting of four components: (E) ethics and justice; (P) policy development and advocacy; (I) intersectoral collaboration; and (C) community engagement and empowerment. The author contends that augmenting the benefits of artificial intelligence in social work requires a proactive and ethical approach towards a more secure, safe, transparent, and socially just future.IMPLICATIONSA structured, ethical approach to integrating AI emphasises the importance of addressing biases and promoting justice.Advocating a dual human-technology approach supports social work methods and enhances effective decision making and efficiency.The inclusion of AI guidelines in professional standards will ensure its ethical application for empowering marginalised communities." }, { "id": 54745, "doi": "10.1080/15381501.2025.2488774", "year": 2025, "title": "Harnessing artificial intelligence to revolutionize HIV self-testing and broader infectious disease diagnostics", "journal": "Journal of HIV-AIDS & Social Services", "abstract": "Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming HIV self-testing (HIVST) by enhancing diagnostic accuracy, improving posttest support, and streamlining linkage to care. AI-powered computer vision algorithms have achieved 100% sensitivity in HIVST result interpretation, which has significantly minimized the risk of human errors. AI-enabled systems facilitate real-time result retrieval and automated follow-ups. It also ensures timely linkage to prevention and treatment services. Also, AI-driven multiplex diagnostics empower program managers to simultaneously detect HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B/C. It offers a cost-effective and efficient approach to infectious disease testing. However, barriers like false-positive results, gaps in digital literacy , privacy concerns, and equitable access to AI-based self-testing persist. Though AI holds transformative potential for HIVST and infectious disease diagnostics, its implementation requires careful consideration of ethical, logistical, and technological challenges. Future research should focus on refining AI-driven diagnostic algorithms, expanding AI accessibility in low-literacy populations, enhancing privacy safeguards, and integrating AI-assisted self-testing into national health care infrastructures." }, { "id": 54783, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2025.2483354", "year": 2025, "title": "Challenges of using artificial intelligence in social work education", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "The difficulties of using artificial intelligence (AI) in social work education at Palestinian institutions are covered in the study. The authors discuss the numerous advantages that artificial intelligence can provide, they touch on the moral concerns raised about using AI in social work education, and the paper concludes by outlining suggested future steps to advance AI's use in social work education. The paper used a case study approach with a qualitative research methodology to investigate the difficulties of using AI in social work education. In-depth interviews with 12 instructors who work in social work departments at four Palestinian colleges were used to provide complexity and depth, the interviews used a structured style with open-ended questions. Using the MAXQDA 2020 application, inductive thematic latent content analysis was used to examine the data. The results showed that the most important challenges of using AI in social work education in Palestinian universities are the lack of experience and skills necessary to use AI, and the weak capabilities of universities in providing computer laboratories, the study revealed the proposed future steps to enhance the use of AI in social work education in Palestinian universities from the perspective of teachers." }, { "id": 54788, "doi": "10.1080/01488376.2025.2494142", "year": 2025, "title": "Predictors of Self-Rated Health by Considering Socio-Economic and Regional Differences in Turkey", "journal": "Journal of Social Service Research", "abstract": "Self-rated health (SRH) is a generic measure of health influenced by socioeconomic status and regional disparities. Recognizing the underlying factors of SRH is critically important to better serve the community's needs and improve health and social services research. However, few studies identify the predictors of SRH by considering rural-urban dynamics from a developing country perspective by using a multistep machine learning (ML) analysis strategy. This study fills this void, by examining predictors of SRH using socioeconomic, poverty dynamics, and rural-urban differences. Data came from a cross-sectional national Income and Living Conditions Survey (ILCS) by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) for the year 2020. Totally, 25,706 households were surveyed by TurkStat, and information was gathered by face-to-face interviews with individuals. A multidimensional ML analysis strategy is applied, and study findings show that chronic disease is the most important predictor of SRH. Our findings suggest that health and social services professionals should consider regional differences and the dynamics of chronic diseases to better understand the factors behind SRH. Future studies will incorporate the quality of care and accessibility dynamics of care to predict SRH. This will be helpful to better design, deliver, utilize, and evaluate health and social services." }, { "id": 54830, "doi": "10.1177/10497315251331847", "year": 2025, "title": "Impact of Socially Assistive Robots on Geriatric Depression: A Comparative Study of Pre- and During-Pandemic Cohorts", "journal": "Research on Social Work Practice", "abstract": "Purpose: Socially assistive robots (SARs) have been associated with positive emotional support outcomes. This study further examines the types of support sought by older adults from SARs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A total of 188 participants were recruited, with 101 individuals in the Pre-Pandemic cohort and 87 in the During-Pandemic cohort. Usage data from SARs was collected over 240 days through web-monitoring systems, and face-to-face interviews were conducted. Results: Before the pandemic, content delivery by SARs was the predominant form of engagement. During the pandemic, older adults increasingly sought interactive emotional support from SARs. While both cohorts demonstrated a significant reduction in depressive symptoms, Pre-Pandemic represented larger reduction with a mean decrease of 7.14 points. Discussion: The findings highlight the potential of well-designed SARs to provide emotional support and mitigate depressive symptoms. Further research is recommended to optimize SAR functionalities for diverse emotional and social needs." }, { "id": 54835, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2025.2491344", "year": 2025, "title": "Predictive Insights into Digital Competencies: A Data-Driven Approach to Inclusion", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Despite their significant demographic presence, accounting for nearly 16% of the global population, persons with disabilities (PWDs) remain underrepresented in research on their inclusion in digital society, revealing a significant gap in scientific understanding compared to the general population. To address this gap, this study proposes an innovative approach to empowering PWDs by developing predictive models that anticipate PWDs' digital competence perceptions based on socio-demographic and contextual factors. The study was conducted on a sample of 250 PWDs in Serbia using a validated instrument based on the Digital Competence Framework (DigComp). Standard multiple regression was used to estimate the models for each DigComp competence area. The results show that three variables are statistically significant in all five DigComp areas: age, health conditions (walking impairments) and employment status (employed). The prediction of PWDs' digital competence is also influenced by gender and education level, which were found to be statistically significant predictors in four DigComp competence areas. The development of predictive models that assess PWDs' digital competence perceptions based on socio-demographic profiles enables personalized support and promotes digital inclusion through emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). The limitations of the study lie in the sample size, method of data collection and reliance on self-assessment." }, { "id": 54907, "doi": "10.1111/ijsw.70002", "year": 2025, "title": "Mixed payment methods and health cost control in China: A machine learning analysis of policy big data", "journal": "International Journal of Social Welfare", "abstract": "Escalating health costs have incentivized many countries to adopt mixed payment systems. This study investigates how different prospective payment methods-including global budgets, capitation, per diem, single disease payment, diagnosis-related groups, and diagnosis intervention packet-interact to affect health costs in China. Using a novel health policy database, we applied supervised machine learning techniques to gauge prefectural efforts in implementing these payment methods. By matching these policy data with nationally representative survey data, we examined the interaction effects of global budgets and other payment methods on individual health spending and access. The results suggest that well-coordinated combinations of global budgets and other payment methods significantly decreased individual health spending and improved access, whereas poorly coordinated payment methods produced the opposite effects. This study introduces an innovative machine learning approach for analyzing geographic policy variations, offering a deeper understanding of the complex interplay among mixed payment methods." }, { "id": 54999, "doi": "10.1177/10497315251329531", "year": 2025, "title": "Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Case Management in Social Work Services: A Systematic Review", "journal": "Research on Social Work Practice", "abstract": "Purpose: While social work case management faces ongoing challenges with practice inefficiency, the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) presents an innovative solution. This systematic review examines how AI is applied in social work case management. Method: A comprehensive search was conducted across databases for studies published after 2000. Empirical studies on AI-assisted social work case management were included in the review. Results: From 11,022 identified studies, eight met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. The results indicated that the most commonly used AI techniques were machine learning and natural language processing. They were utilized in decision-making procedures, client identification, intervention classification, risk prevention, and service monitoring. Seven studies demonstrated effective outcomes. Discussion: Though AI applications in social work case management remain in the early development stages, this review reveals growing interest and promising potential benefits. These findings contribute to advancing AI-assisted social work case management on a global scale." }, { "id": 55003, "doi": "10.1080/02650533.2025.2480092", "year": 2025, "title": "Social workers' evaluation of ChatGPT for solving ethical dilemmas within the limits of confidentiality", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Practice", "abstract": "This study examined how social workers evaluate the use of ChatGPT in solving ethical dilemmas related to confidentiality in social work. The study employed qualitative document analysis based on a phenomenological approach, analysing assignments of 70 master's degree students in social work. Participants compared their own solutions to ethical dilemmas with those proposed by ChatGPT. The analysis revealed three main issues: disparities in analysing complex professional dilemmas, differences in reference to ethical codes and laws, and disparities in emotional aspects and empathy. Study participants perceived their responses as more comprehensive, legally based, and empathetic compared to ChatGPT's solutions, which were perceived as superficial and lacking emotional understanding. While ChatGPT offers potential as a supportive tool, it cannot replace social workers' ethical judgement and empathy. Recommendations include developing AI training workshops and examining AI tools for ethical training while maintaining the profession's human element." }, { "id": 55011, "doi": "10.1080/26408066.2025.2480396", "year": 2025, "title": "The Touch of Artificial Intelligence in Social Work: Analysis of Social Investigation Reports in Child Welfare with ChatGPT", "journal": "Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work", "abstract": "Purpose: This research aimed to examine the responses given by ChatGPT to seven social investigation reports prepared in the field of children regarding deficiencies, risk factors and protective factors, social work intervention plan and institution suggestions in Turkiye. Materials and methods: Anonymized reports were accessed via web pages on Google and content analysis was conducted using qualitative research methods. The data obtained were analyzed by using the MAXQDA22 program with thematic analysis method and three main themes were created. Results: In the first theme, social investigation reports are comprehensively evaluated by ChatGPT, deficiencies in both form and content are identified and improvement suggestions are presented. Risk factors and protective factors as the second theme are divided into sub-themes as individual characteristics and experience, family, social environment, health, education, housing, economic and social situation. In the last theme, it is observed that the objectives are established before the social work intervention plan and the institutions providing services are suggested by taking into account different practice areas. Conclusion: Future studies could investigate the effects of the use of AI in social work practice on social work experts." }, { "id": 55064, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2025.2479475", "year": 2025, "title": "\"I Don't Understand It, but Okay\": An Empirical Study of Mental Health Practitioners' Readiness to Use Large Language Models", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "Large Language Models (LLMs) offer possibilities for changing the mental health services landscape. Given the fast moving nature of digital developments, there are a paucity of policy and practice recommendations for practicing professionals in the field. This qualitative study used demonstrations of the LLM ChatGPT and a case vignette of a patient describing preference for an LLM over a human therapist to elicit the perceptions and thoughts of therapists perspectives on LLMs and their possibilities for enhancing the work of mental health treatment. A total of 21 first interviews and 8 follow-up interviews with mental health professionals. The team used a narrative approach to analyze the interview data, identifying three broad themes: knowledge about LLMs, beliefs about LLMs and emotional responses to LLMs. These findings can inform user perceptions and practical applications for mental health practitioners and offer the field a reflection on how therapists are viewing these technologies." }, { "id": 55135, "doi": "10.1080/10911359.2025.2472852", "year": 2025, "title": "Predicting nursing students' behavioral intentions to use AI: The interplay of ethical awareness, digital literacy, moral sensitivity, attitude, self-efficacy, anxiety, and social influence", "journal": "Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment", "abstract": "Integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into nursing practice has the potential to transform healthcare delivery. However, understanding the factors influencing nursing students' readiness to adopt AI is essential for effective implementation. This study aimed to explore the behavioral intentions of nursing students to use AI by examining the interplay of ethical awareness, digital literacy, moral sensitivity, attitudes, self-efficacy, anxiety, and social influence. A descriptive cross-sectional methodological design was used to recruit 460 nursing students from two governmental universities in Jordan. Data were collected using validated self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to evaluate the interrelationships among the variables. Findings revealed that positive attitudes (beta = 0.43, p < .001), digital literacy (beta = 0.40, p < .001), self-efficacy (beta = 0.36, p < .001), and AI ethical awareness (beta = 0.31, p < .001) were significant predictors of behavioral intention to use AI. Participation in AI workshops and social support also positively influenced intentions, while negative attitudes (beta = -0.29, p < .001) and anxiety (beta = -0.15, p < .001) served as barriers. Together, these factors accounted for 47% of the variance in behavioral intention (R-2 = 0.47). In this scope, educational institutions should prioritize AI-focused training and ethics curricula, while healthcare policymakers should develop robust guidelines and invest in educational resources to prepare a workforce equipped for AI-integrated healthcare." }, { "id": 55143, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2025.2474492", "year": 2025, "title": "Social work and social media: a national replication study of use, attitudes, and knowledge among US Students", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "The extensive adoption of social media (ie digital information and communications technology; artificial intelligence; machine learning; large language models) has implications for the social work profession's standards and educational policy. The purposes of this study were to describe US social work students' use, attitudes, and knowledge regarding social media and to compare these findings with a Fall 2019 national study. In Spring 2023, the authors sampled 160 universities with social work programs for the purpose of distributing a 56-item Qualtrics survey. Findings included: The concern over others' social media use versus self-use remains inverted; decreased agreement that data protection is important despite endorsing it as a civil/human rights issue; decreased endorsement of law enforcement's use of social media to assist in the apprehension of persons accused of committing a crime; decreased knowledge of racial bias in facial recognition technology; decreased confidence in the ability to identify disinformation; decreased endorsement that disinformation is a problem on social media; decreased knowledge that social media impact democratic processes; decreased knowledge of Net Neutrality; and, continued endorsement that social media belongs in the social work curriculum. The authors made recommendations for professional standards and educational policy, and government regulatory policy." }, { "id": 55170, "doi": "10.1086/735187", "year": 2025, "title": "Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy for Social Work: Implications for Core Competencies", "journal": "Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research", "abstract": "Artificial intelligence (AI) is fundamentally reshaping society, offering new opportunities while potentially intensifying socioeconomic inequalities. For social workers working with marginalized populations, understanding AI's societal impact is crucial, even if they do not directly engage with AI tools. This invited paper explores how AI literacy-the knowledge and skills to understand, use, and critically evaluate AI systems-can enhance social workers' ability to support communities navigating AI-driven changes. We review AI's impacts and applications in social work, explore their implications for the profession, and discuss their effects on social work core competencies. Specifically, we discuss how each of the social work competencies should evolve in response to AI-driven societal changes to better prepare social workers to support affected communities. By embedding AI literacy into core competencies, social workers can better address emerging challenges and promote equity in an AI-influenced society." }, { "id": 55180, "doi": "10.1086/733509", "year": 2025, "title": "Development of Machine-Learning-Based and Deep-Learning-Based Models for Predicting Korean Adolescents' Overweight and Obesity", "journal": "Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research", "abstract": "Objectives: Overweight and obesity in adolescents are a leading health concern worldwide, including in South Korea. This study aims to develop predictive models for overweight and obesity in Korean adolescents using 11 machine learning and deep learning techniques: logistic regression, ridge, LASSO, elastic net, decision tree, bagging, random forest, AdaBoost, XGBoost, support vector machine, and fully connected layer models. Methods: We used 43,268 records (Grades 7-12) from the 16th Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey. The survey data included 71 factors that may influence overweight and obesity among adolescents, encompassing sociodemographic characteristics; dietary habits; physical and psychological health; behavioral problems; and family, peer, and school factors. Results: The machine learning and deep learning algorithms displayed significantly superior performance in predicting overweight and obesity among Korean adolescents when compared to logistic regression. XGBoost was particularly effective: accuracy 0.8403, recall 0.6351, precision 0.6497, F1 0.6423, and area under the curve 0.8982. Conclusion: The machine learning and deep learning models developed in this study to predict overweight and obesity in Korean adolescents hold potential for use in practical applications in social work settings." }, { "id": 55186, "doi": "10.1086/735286", "year": 2025, "title": "Introducing a New JSSWR Specialty Series on Artificial Intelligence and Social Work", "journal": "Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research", "abstract": null }, { "id": 55192, "doi": "10.1080/26408066.2025.2470903", "year": 2025, "title": "Artificial Intelligence Algorithms, Bias, and Innovation: Implications for Social Work", "journal": "Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work", "abstract": "PurposeArtificial Intelligence (AI) technologies are rapidly expanding across diverse contexts. As the reach of AI continues to grow, there is a need to examine student perspectives on the increasing prevalence of AI and AI-based practice approaches in social work.Materials and methodsIn this qualitative study, we conducted structured interviews with 15 students in bachelors and masters social work programs. We developed an interview guide with a list of questions to ask students and no prior knowledge of AI was required by the students. The study was framed based on an interpretive phenomenological analysis approach.ResultsThrough thematic analysis, five key themes were developed, including 1) Risks associated with AI, 2) Ethical Concerns in AI and Technology Use, 3) Bias and Fairness in AI, 4) Applications and Possibilities of AI in Social Work, and 5) Training and Awareness of AI in Social Work.DiscussionSocial workers can help disadvantaged clients by ensuring access to the various AI technologies and facilitating social welfare interventions created using these technologies. There is a need to address the gap in the existing literature about the use of AI in social work practice and education. Social work researchers can explore and conduct future studies that utilize mixed methods methodologies that can evaluate the use of AI in social work domains.ConclusionThis study highlights the need to increase awareness of AI in social work education and practice settings given the potential of these technologies to aid various aspects of social work practice." }, { "id": 55239, "doi": "10.1080/15332985.2025.2468277", "year": 2025, "title": "Text-based psychotherapy: analyzing opportunities and challenges beyond the session", "journal": "Social Work in Mental Health", "abstract": "Text messaging has become integral to global communication and is increasingly utilized in mental health care, especially post-COVID-19. As an accessible, cost-effective intervention, it enhances care continuity, reinforces therapeutic goals, and supports crisis management. Meta-analyses and studies highlight its benefits for conditions like depression and anxiety, improving treatment adherence, emotional regulation, and engagement. While AI chatbots and VR tools introduce innovation, text messaging remains foundational. This article reviews its efficacy, explores risks and benefits, and provides case examples, emphasizing its integration into mental health care and offering insights for future research and practice." }, { "id": 55261, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2025.2470150", "year": 2025, "title": "Artificial Intelligence in Providing Psychosocial Support in Natural Hazards: A Semi-Systematic Literature Review", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "In an era of increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters, the need for effective disaster support is critical. AI technologies offer a transformative approach to disaster support. This study explores the innovative use of AI technologies in providing psychosocial support in natural disasters. Employing a semi-systematic literature analysis, a four-step process was used to evaluate and select 18 relevant articles based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. These articles were analyzed for their focus on AI's role in disaster support, including the types of AI used, phases of disaster management, and implementation challenges. The research highlights AI's application via social media platforms and other tools, identifies the types of AI used in disaster support, and discusses challenges in implementation. The findings suggest incorporating AI-based training and tools into the curriculum for social workers and mental health professionals. At the policy level, this research underscores the need for governments and disaster response agencies to integrate AI-driven psychosocial support systems into their disaster management strategies. In practice, implementing AI-powered psychosocial support can significantly enhance the capacity of relief organizations to provide timely and targeted assistance, ultimately improving the mental well-being and resilience of disaster-affected communities." }, { "id": 55304, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2025.2460156", "year": 2025, "title": "Interactive AI Technology for Dementia Caregivers: Needs and Implementation Evidence", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "The increasing prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) places growing strains on family caregivers. This study employs a mixed-method approach to investigate the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in supporting ADRD caregivers, guided by a conceptual framework of caregiver needs, AI capabilities, implementation factors, and outcomes. We analyzed qualitative data from interviews with Mexican American caregivers (n = 24) and focus groups with rural dementia caregivers (n = 31), alongside a systematic review of 20 studies on interactive AI in dementia care. Our analyses of qualitative data findings revealed a demand for interactive agile AI solutions emphasizing emotional and social support. The systematic review highlighted diverse AI applications, their benefits, and challenges such as tech literacy and cultural considerations. By combining these methods, we provided a comprehensive view of caregiver needs and AI technology's current state and identified gaps between requirements and existing solutions. The study underscores the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and caregiver engagement in AI design, advocating for innovative, culturally sensitive approaches to support diverse caregiver groups." }, { "id": 55462, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2025.2457045", "year": 2025, "title": "Human Services Organizations and the Responsible Integration of AI: Considering Ethics and Contextualizing Risk(s)", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "This paper examines the responsible integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in human services organizations (HSOs), proposing a nuanced framework for evaluating AI applications across multiple dimensions of risk. The authors argue that ethical concerns about AI deployment-including professional judgment displacement, environmental impact, model bias, and data laborer exploitation-vary significantly based on implementation context and specific use cases. They challenge the binary view of AI adoption, demonstrating how different applications present varying levels of risk that can often be effectively managed through careful implementation strategies. The paper highlights promising solutions, such as local large language models, that can facilitate responsible AI integration while addressing common ethical concerns. The authors propose a dimensional risk assessment approach that considers factors like data sensitivity, professional oversight requirements, and potential impact on client wellbeing. They conclude by outlining a path forward that emphasizes empirical evaluation, starting with lower-risk applications and building evidence-based understanding through careful experimentation. This approach enables organizations to maintain high ethical standards while thoughtfully exploring how AI might enhance their capacity to serve clients and communities effectively." }, { "id": 55469, "doi": "10.1080/02615479.2024.2445740", "year": 2025, "title": "The role of digital libraries and emerging technologies in enhancing social work education: a comprehensive analysis", "journal": "Social Work Education", "abstract": "Digital libraries refer to online repositories of academic resources, including books, journals, research papers, and multimedia, which provide unrestricted, virtual access to knowledge resources for educational and research purposes. The integration of digital libraries and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) is transforming social work education by enhancing access to information, fostering interdisciplinary learning, and promoting evidence-based practice. This paper explores the essential role of these tools in preparing social work students for the complexities of contemporary practice. While digital libraries expand access to critical resources, AI and VR offer personalized and immersive learning experiences that bridge the gap between theory and practice. The paper also addresses ethical considerations surrounding AI, such as issues of bias, privacy, and dependency, along with the need to contextualize these technologies globally. By examining the challenges and opportunities presented by digital libraries and emerging technologies, this analysis highlights their potential to shape a more inclusive, accessible, and effective approach to social work education." }, { "id": 55492, "doi": "10.1080/10437797.2024.2411172", "year": 2025, "title": "AI-Enhanced Social Work: Developing and Evaluating Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) Support Systems", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Education", "abstract": "This article introduces the application of retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) technology, aiming to enhance decision making and client support through artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced tools. RAG addresses the critical challenge of ensuring accuracy and reliability in AI-generated content by integrating generative AI with domain-specific knowledge bases. Through a case study, we explore the development and assessment of a RAG-powered tool designed to improve faculty advising, highlighting the importance of collaboration between social workers and technologists. The adaptability of RAG to various social work challenges is discussed alongside considerations for the maintenance of the knowledge base. Our work underscores the potential of RAG to revolutionize social work practices by providing accurate and reliable information to serve individuals and communities better." }, { "id": 55493, "doi": "10.1177/10497315241313071", "year": 2025, "title": "Comparative Efficacy of AI LLMs in Clinical Social Work: ChatGPT-4, Gemini, Copilot", "journal": "Research on Social Work Practice", "abstract": "Purpose This study examines the comparative efficacy of three AI large language models (LLMs)-ChatGPT-4, Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot-in clinical social work.Method By presenting scenarios of varying complexities, the study assessed their performance using the Ate & scedil;man Readability Index and a Likert-type accuracy scale.Results Results showed that Gemini had the highest accuracy, while Microsoft Copilot excelled in readability. Significant differences were found in accuracy scores (p = .003), although readability differences were not statistically significant (p = .054). No correlation was found between case complexity and either accuracy or readability.Discussion Despite the differences, none of the models fully met all accuracy standards, indicating areas for further improvement. The findings suggest that while LLMs offer promise in social work, they require refinement to better meet the field's needs." }, { "id": 55571, "doi": "10.1080/10437797.2024.2411170", "year": 2025, "title": "Social Work Educators Innovating With Generative AI: An Exploratory Study", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Education", "abstract": "Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining traction across various fields, yet its adoption within social work remains limited. This study explores the use of ChatGPT by social work educators to enhance teaching, research, and service activities. Six educators documented their use of ChatGPT in fall 2023 to explore AI integration in academia with a qualitative content analysis and quantitative assessments of usage frequency and perceived usefulness. The findings indicated that ChatGPT was considered useful in 85% of interactions, with the majority using ChatGPT for teaching support. Ethical and practical challenges are discussed, noting that AI tools like ChatGPT augment rather than replace human expertise. Social work academics are encouraged to reflect on AI use to enhance their work." }, { "id": 55681, "doi": "10.1111/ijsw.12699", "year": 2025, "title": "Distinguishing characteristics of out-of-school adolescents in South Korea: A machine learning approach", "journal": "International Journal of Social Welfare", "abstract": "Recently in South Korea the increasing prevalence of school dropouts and the declining age at which students leave school have drawn renewed attention to this issue. In line with preventive efforts and recognizing early signs of leaving school, the current study aims to identify a set of variables that are most important for understanding the experience of school dropout among South Korean adolescents. Data from two independent panel studies collected by the National Youth Policy Institute in South Korea were merged and analyzed in this study: Korean Children and Youth Panel Study (N = 1646, age = 15.90, girls = 50.73%) and Dropout Youth Panel Study (N = 609, age = 16.84, girls = 56.16%). We applied machine learning algorithms to classify the experience of school dropout using two analytic methods: random forest and decision tree. A total of 36 features from personal, family, school, peer, and community domains were used in the analyses. Specifically, adolescent behavioral characteristics (truancy, smoking, drinking, media use), family structure, teacher relationship, group bullying victimization, and collective efficacy, were consistently identified as significant features of school dropout in random forest and decision tree models. Such information, which highlights a broad spectrum of important factors within adolescents' ecological systems, may provide a scientific knowledge base for school-level prevention efforts. By identifying these features, social workers and educators may develop early warning systems against school dropouts and accurately screen adolescents with high risk." }, { "id": 56071, "doi": "10.1177/10497315241266830", "year": 2025, "title": "Moving Forward: Reply to Feldman", "journal": "Research on Social Work Practice", "abstract": "The paper replies to three issues that Fedlman raises in his assessment research since the 1991 National Institute of Mental Health Social Work Task Force Report. Three topics are addressed, the need to expand and better prepare the social work research workforce, the profession's current research infrastructure, and improving research- to-practice research translation. Ideas for workforce growth include attracting more students with articulation of social work's social justice and research missions, increasing doctoral education rigor, and peer review of doctoral education programs as a tool for program improvement. The Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education has contributed to research education progress with its program standards, but not all programs meet these standards. Research to practice can be aided by the creation of AI-based tools. The profession needs better data on research productivity and infrastructure in research-intensive schools in order to raise needed resources for research." }, { "id": 56139, "doi": "10.1080/13691457.2024.2377782", "year": 2025, "title": "Advocacy and legal aid for homeless people. Challenges and insights from a study of voluntary organisation in Italy", "journal": "European Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "The connection between homelessness, social exclusion, and the deprivation of fundamental rights has been extensively studied. The intricate interplay of laws, policies, regulations, institutions, and service practices forms a complex network of mutually reinforcing factors, that can pose a significant challenge to the homeless. This article presents the findings of a qualitative study focused on the Italian nonprofit organisation called 'Street Lawyers' (SL) which provides legal assistance and advocacy for homeless people. Due to social exclusion, homeless experience daily violations in exercising their rights and encounter many obstacles within the welfare system. The aim of the research was to investigate how SL's mission is implemented, what needs are met and the complexity of their interventions. The findings demonstrate how, despite the organisation's legal mandate, SL face various difficulties and needs that emphasise the hardships experienced by the homeless people. These issues extend beyond the legal sphere and offer insightful perspectives on the trajectories and support system of the homeless. By revealing the obstacles homeless people face in claiming and enjoying their rights, the article shows the potential of this legal aid practice, particularly when it goes beyond a formal legalistic approach and embraces a socio-political interpretation of rights. La correlazione tra homelessness, esclusione sociale, mancato accesso ai diritti fondamentali & egrave; stata ampiamente indagata. L'intricata interazione di leggi, politiche, regolamenti, prassi all'interno dei servizi e delle organizzazioni forma una complessa rete di fattori che si rafforzano reciprocamente e che rappresentano una sfida significativa per le persone senza dimora. L'articolo presenta i risultati di uno studio qualitativo che ha indagato il caso di un'associazione di volontariato, l'Associazione 'Avvocato di strada', impegnata in azioni di advocacy e di assistenza legale gratuita per le persone senza dimora. Anche a causa dell'esclusione sociale vissuta, le persone senza dimora subiscono quotidianamente violazioni nell'esercizio dei propri diritti e incontrano molti ostacoli all'interno dei percorsi di aiuto. L'obiettivo della ricerca & egrave; stato quello di indagare come viene attuata la mission dell'associazione, quali bisogni incontra e la complessit & agrave; di questo intervento. I risultati dimostrano come, nonostante il mandato legale dell'associazione, i volontari si trovino ad affrontare molteplici problemi e bisogni eterogenei che sottolineano le difficolt & agrave; vissute dalle persone senza dimora. Questi bisogni vanno oltre la sfera legale e offrono prospettive preziose sulle traiettorie e sul sistema di aiuti rivolto alle persone homeless. Rivelando gli ostacoli che queste incontrano nel rivendicare e godere dei propri diritti, l'articolo mostra il potenziale dello strumento della tutela legale in questo contesto, in particolare quando va oltre un approccio legalistico formale e abbraccia un'interpretazione socio-politica dei diritti." }, { "id": 56142, "doi": "10.1080/13691457.2024.2377786", "year": 2025, "title": "Confronting and managing ethical dilemmas in social work using ChatGPT", "journal": "European Journal of Social Work", "abstract": "Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly proving to be capable of assisting humans in complex decision-making processes. ChatGPT has become a crucial tool for assessing mental health and emotional awareness and helping to predict outcomes. Social workers' use of ChatGPT in navigating ethical dilemmas remains relatively unexplored. In this study, ChatGPT is compared to the Israeli Ethics Committee's responses to assess its utility in aiding social workers' ethical decisions. We translated questions previously sent to the Israeli Ethics Committee and posed them to ChatGPT-4 twice, one month apart. A significant improvement was observed in ChatGPT's second round of responses, which were more comprehensive and emphasised ethical dilemma complexity. ChatGPT consistently highlighted conflicting obligations and professional boundaries, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of ethical issues. The Ethics Committee's responses provided clearer, more actionable guidance, and was more concerned with legal issues. ChatGPT's tendency to address a variety of considerations ensures its potential to enhance ethical decision-making awareness and its value as a tool for social workers but it is not yet capable of independently resolving ethical dilemmas. ChatGPT's promising progress in supporting ethical decision-making in social work has led to discussions regarding the ethical implications of AI implementation within therapeutic professions." }, { "id": 57683, "doi": "10.1080/1533256x.2023.2275063", "year": 2025, "title": "Strengths and weaknesses: clinician assessment effect on substance use treatment engagement and discharge", "journal": "Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions", "abstract": "Substance use treatment is aimed at improving the well-being of the receiving clients. Given the clinician-client interactions inherent in treatment, understanding clinician influence on treatment outcomes is important. Utilizing clinical data mining, we used existing data from the clinical files of 444 clients who received substance use day treatment. Using multinomial logistic regression and linear regression, we examined whether and which client strengths and weaknesses perceived and recorded by clinicians during a client's assessment predict client engagement and treatment completion. The results showed that willingness to seek treatment and outside support increased the likelihood of completing treatment, while financial support decreased it. We also found that clinician perceptions of a client's inability to benefit from treatment predicted low levels of engagement in treatment. We then discuss implications for social work of this study." }, { "id": 100452, "doi": "10.52214/cswr.v23i1.13268", "year": 2025, "title": "Artificial Intelligence-Driven Rent Pricing Tools & the Housing Crisis", "journal": "Columbia Social Work Review", "abstract": "This policy brief explores the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in rent pricing tools that corporate landlords and property management companies use for rental housing, and its consequences for the housing market. Across the United States, landlords have become increasingly reliant on AI-driven rent pricing tools to raise rents and boost theirprofits. This technology, which uses both sensitive proprietary data and publicly available information, is reducing housing accessibility, often driving tenants from their homes. As AI becomes increasingly pervasive in our everyday lives, it is essential that we interrogate its uses, especially in those that have as many collateral consequences as housing. We offer an overview of rent regulation history, the underlying AI technology, and existing policy, and make our own policy recommendations." }, { "id": 107128, "doi": "10.1080/29933021.2025.2504907", "year": 2025, "title": "Impact of shooting at an lgbtq+ nightclub on cadets\u2019 feelings of belonging and safety.", "journal": "Sexual and Gender Diversity in Social Services", "abstract": "This study explores the psychological and emotional impacts of the 2022 Club Q mass shooting on LGBTQ+ cadets at a U.S. military service academy. Employing a convergent mixed methods design, we conducted a survey (N = 13) combining quantitative scales with open-ended qualitative questions to assess emotional responses, perceptions of safety, and resilience. Descriptive data from the qualitative scales revealed elevated psychological distress and diminished feelings of safety, due to cadets living within close proximity to the event. Thematic analysis of qualitative responses identified three key themes: heightened fear and unsafety, intensified trauma due to proximity, and the critical role of social support in fostering resilience. AI-assisted auditing supported the validity of emergent themes, demonstrating innovative application of large language models in qualitative research. Findings underscore the compounded vulnerabilities of LGBTQ+ service academy cadets and highlight urgent policy gaps that need addressing to better support systems and mental health services for all cadets. We call for inclusive research practices and culturally responsive services to better support minoritized populations within military settings. This study contributes to a growing body of literature on collective trauma and resilience among LGBTQ+ communities impacted by hate-based violence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)" }, { "id": 107133, "doi": "10.1080/15228835.2025.2502831", "year": 2025, "title": "Imagining the future beyond the crystal ball: Artificial human services here we come?", "journal": "Journal of Technology in Human Services", "abstract": "This special issue is focused on the topic of artificial intelligence in the field of human services. In addition to the importance and transformative potential of AI, the editorial presents in detail the areas of application, which range from case management, mental health, client support to administrative support and education. The special issue itself features three articles on AI technology in dementia care, AI in psychosocial support during natural disasters and LLM in mental health. The editorial also highlights important challenges related to data management, ethics, human rights and the need for an inclusive, human-centered design. The recommendations and future directions for further research emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical standards and stakeholder engagement, human-centered AI and data management to ensure responsible and effective integration and implementation of AI into human services. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)" } ]