Perspectives on Social Work: 2015
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10657/4371
This collection gathers content from two volumes of Perspectives on Social Work published in 2015.
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Item 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).Item 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, SamanthaThe 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.Item Afrocentricity Theory Revisited: An Alternative Framework for Assisting Black Youth(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2015) Lateef, HusainThe current paper explores Afrocentricity theory as an alternative non-western framework to guide social work practice with Black American youth. Very little research has been conducted in recent years concerning Afrocentricity, one of few non-western African theoretical frameworks employed by social work practitioners. This paper provides clarity on what is the theory of Afrocentricity, by providing an overview of the theory’s historical foundations and assumptions. This paper concludes with an application example of the use of Afrocentricity theory within a prevention program for Black youth.Item Social Workers’ Perceptions of Working with People who have HIV/AIDS(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2015) Prock, Kristen A.; Cummings, Cristy E.; DeNuccio, Alec; Hindes, Kailey L.; Hughes, Anne K.This article presents the results of a cross-sectional online survey sent to a national sample of licensed social workers to examine their attitudes toward individuals living with HIV/AIDS. The survey included the AIDS Attitude Scale (Froman, Owen & Daisy, 1992), the HIV Knowledge Questionnaire-18 (Carey & Schroder, 2002), and the Modern Homonegativity Scale (Morrison & Morrison, 2002). Factors related to education, training, and other personal characteristics are explored. In this sample, 45% of the social workers indicated that more education and training would be beneficial to them in their current position, and greater HIV knowledge was associated with more positive attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS. Additionally, 57% of those surveyed indicated knowing someone personally who has HIV/AIDS, and demonstrated overall higher scores on empathy, and lower scores on avoidance. Those social workers who had higher avoidance of people living with HIV/AIDS were also found to be higher in homonegativity. The findings of this study add to the body of knowledge regarding social work attitudes, and provide further insight into an area with little existing data. The authors propose further research to identify causes of attitudes, potential gender and cultural differences, and the impact of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics on social workers’ attitudes.Item Joining the Club: Reflections on Developing and Implementing a Social Work Doctoral Student Organization(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2015) Lanesskog, Deirdre; Paceley, Megan S.; Kang, Sung-wan; Lux, EmilyThis article describes the development of a social work doctoral student organization to enhance student experiences at a Midwestern school of social work. Doctoral student organizations are consistent with research that emphasizes the importance of environmental factors in doctoral program completion. Social supports are especially important among increasingly diverse social work doctoral students whose needs likely differ from those of their more homogenous predecessors. The authors describe the process of creating a student organization; identify the association’s mission and activities; offer a reflective assessment, and provide recommendations for students interested in developing these organizations at their own institutions. We suggest that doctoral student organizations are feasible, affordable, and may enhance communication, mentoring, and the sense of community among doctoral social work students.Item Book Review: Emanuel, Ezekiel J. (2015). Reinventing American health care: How the Affordable Care Act will improve our terribly complex, blatantly unjust, outrageously expensive, grossly inefficient, error prone system. New York: Public Affairs.(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2015) O'Neill, Elizabeth A.The United States is currently in a state of exploration in determining how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will shape the future of health care. In the book Reinventing American health care, Ezekiel Emanuel- brother of well-known Chicago Mayor, and former White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel- sought to provide a comprehensive “primer” (p. xii) on the American health care system. Emanuel is certainly a qualified author for such a primer; he earned an M.D. and Ph.D. in Political Philosophy, has experience as a National Institutes of Health researcher, and was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He is known as a supporter for universal health care coverage, and has written several books and articles advocating for health reform and universal health care coverage. His strong favorable opinion towards health care reform is similarly present in this book.Item EDITORIAL-A Social Worker’s Audacity to Have Hope(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2015) Glaude, MauryaEditorial for volume 11 of Perspectives on Social Work, by journal editor Maurya Glaude, MSW, LCSW.Item If You Give a Social Worker a Classroom: Reflections of a First-Time Social Work Educator(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2015) Helba, Sara JoThis article explores the reflections of a social worker during her first semester as a teaching assistant for an undergraduate social work course during her doctoral studies. It presents her narrative experience in adapting to the role of educator and integrating this role with her identity as a social worker. Specifically, it discusses purposefulness, balance of interests and concerns, dual role issues, self-awareness, and challenges in grading and ethics for a social worker turned educator by means of relating subjective experiences and reflections.Item Perspectives on Social Work Volume 11 (Spring 2015)(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2015) Cunningham, Miranda; Helba, Sara Jo; Mojica, NoeThis is the full-text volume of Perspectives on Social Work, vol. 11 (Fall 2015).Item Fathers are Caregivers Too: Shifting Focus on Research with Latino Men(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2015) Mojica, NoeThis article presents a description of the state of knowledge about Latino fathers’ coping with pediatric cancer and explains the need to shift the attention for research and practice with this group. In order to provide a fuller understanding of the fathers’ experience, those conducting research need to analyze constructions of masculinity and move away from stereotypical models about men and their caregiving. The author proposes decentering research from the Anglo- American dominant focus and being more inclusive of other perspectives. Paths for inquiry to promote culturally sensitive interventions and research recommendations are provided.Item (Why) Should Social Work Be Concerned About First-Generation College Students?(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2015) Cunningham, MirandaThis article presents an argument for attention to the experiences of first-generation college students in the context of social work. The needs of first-generation college students are explored as well as their strengths in connections to families and community. Attention to firstgeneration college students is important to social work for at least two reasons: because of who first-generation students are and because of the values held by social work as a profession. The social work values of social justice, the dignity and worth of each person, as well as the value of human relationships provide a framework for social work to consider the needs of firstgeneration college students.Item Editorial from Perspectives on Social Work Volume 11 (Spring 2015)(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2015) Glaude, MauryaEditorial for volume 11 of Perspectives on Social Work, by journal editor Maurya Glaude, LCSW