Perspectives on Social Work

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Perspectives on Social Work is a publication of the doctoral students of the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston. The journal was founded in 2003 to provide an opportunity for the college's social work doctoral students to showcase their work. Since that time, the journal has expanded and now accepts submissions from social work doctoral students nationwide and internationally. See the journal's home page [link] for more information.

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Browsing Perspectives on Social Work by Author "Begun, Stephanie"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Investing in What Works: How Social Workers Can Influence Policy to Reduce Pregnancies among Homeless Youth
    (University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2014) Begun, Stephanie
    Numerous factors make homeless youth one of the most highly vulnerable youth populations. One such challenge is pregnancy, as homeless youth pregnancy rates are far higher than those of their housed peers. Policies such as the Personal Responsibility Education Program’s Innovative Strategies competitive grant mechanism, have been implemented to explore how evidence-based approaches may ameliorate pregnancy prevalence among various groups of high-risk youth. To date, however, no programs have been adopted to specifically target pregnancy reduction among homeless youth, a high-risk youth population that often displays unique causes and risks regarding pregnancy. This overview examines how social workers and other individuals involved in the policy-making process may work to further adapt and promote Innovative Strategies for use with homeless youth populations. In doing so, promising health and life outcomes could be afforded to one of the most vulnerable and underrepresented, while least visible youth populations.
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    MSW Students’ Understanding of Social Location: The Development of a Positionality Measure
    (University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2015) Peña, Stephanie Lechuga; Klawetter, Susanne; Begun, Stephanie; Brown, Samantha
    The current study presents findings from a pilot study of a positionality measure, developed to assess MSW students’ understanding of positionality encountered in field practice settings. Positionality refers to one’s social location and worldview, which influences how one responds to power differentials in various contexts. This construct is important for social work, as one’s own positionality impacts one’s approach when working with clients, during community engagement, and policy-making. As such, this study examined the utility of developing a positionality measure to assess how MSW students understand and respond to issues related to power, privilege, and oppression in field practice settings. The current study highlights the process of developing and piloting the positionality measure, and preliminary findings from the dissemination of the measure to a sample of MSW students (N = 103) engaged in field placements. Future opportunities for item refinement, including the further establishment of reliability and validity for the measure are discussed.
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    PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL WORK VOLUME 10 (SPRING 2014)
    (University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2014) Baldwin, Tamika C.; Vaughn, Janet N.; Cotton, Candace M.; Vakalahi, Halaevalu F. Ofahengaue; Begun, Stephanie; Brown, Samantha; Sayre, Molly Malany
    This is the full-text volume of Perspectives on Social Work, vol. 10 (Spring 2014).
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    PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL WORK VOLUME 11 (FALL 2015)
    (University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2015) Lanesskog, Deirdre; Paceley, Megan S.; Kang, Sung-wan; Lux, Emily; Prock, Kristen A.; Cummings, Cristy E.; DeNuccio, Alec; Hindes, Kailey L.; Hughes, Anne K.; Lateef, Husain; Peña, Stephanie Lechuga; Klawetter, Susanne; Begun, Stephanie; Brown, Stephanie; O'Neill, Elizabeth A.
    This is the full-text volume of Perspectives on Social Work, vol. 11 (Fall 2015).