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WHAT IS THE READINESS OF SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS TO WORK WITH AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS?
ABSTRACT
The focus of this research proposal is to assess the readiness of social work graduate students to work with Autistic individuals. The study was conducted in partnership with an undisclosed Southern California university. The study was conducted from a positivist perspective and used the social model of disability theory as a theoretical orientation. Researchers surveyed 64 MSW students utilizing a Qualtrics survey, specifically designed for this study. The results in this study indicate that most of the social work students who participated in this study possess a satisfactory understanding and knowledge of ASD. Although the results showed that over 75% of participants have not received any type of ASD training, most participants reported feeling moderately capable and moderately effective in working with ASD individuals. The results showed that regardless of exposure to ASD training, MSW students feel capable of using the skills learned in their MSW program to help and support ASD individuals. This study can provide insight to MSW students on their skills and capabilities to work with Autistic individuals. Additionally, researchers suggest implications in areas such as the social work field, research, policy, education, and workplace that can potentially benefit the professional development of graduate MSW students to be better equipped to work with ASD individuals and other minority groups facing systemic oppression
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES AND THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES TRANSITIONING FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
This qualitative study explores the transition of students with learning disabilities (LDs) from high school to junior college, focusing on self-advocacy, self-determination, and the impact of transition services. Conducted with students aged 18 to 23 in Riverside, California, through semi-structured interviews, it employs hermeneutic interpretative phenomenological analysis to merge participants\u27 experiences with social justice theories. The research underscores the need for educational strategies that are inclusive and adaptive, catering to the unique challenges of students with LDs. Key themes found are Awareness and Application of Self-Advocacy and Self-Determination, the Role of High School Transition Services in College Preparedness, Guidance and Skill Development, Managing College Life, and Advice for Teachers and Students. These themes emphasize the critical role of transition programs and personalized guidance in fostering essential skills among students. The findings call for systemic reforms in education to ensure equitable support and opportunities for students with LDs, highlighting the importance of ongoing research and development in special education
“WE TAKE CRISES AND WE MAKE THEM WORK”: PLATICAS AND TESTIMONIOS OF UNDOCUMENTED LATINA/O/X COLLEGE STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN CRITICAL RACE FEMINISTA PRAXIS
Undocumented Latinx college students have experienced and continue to experience challenges to earn their American dream (Pentón, Herrera & Obregón, 2018). Their aspirations and resiliency are facing one of the biggest challenges yet with the rhetoric and actions of the Trump Administration. These actions may have major implications on their journey through higher education and society. In California alone there are approximately 38,000 undocumented college students who could be in jeopardy of their future, and the implications of the current presidency’s actions could have enormous impacts on their lives (Gonzáles, 2009). By wanting to rescind Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), President Trump places the faith and lives of undocumented Latinx college students on the hands of Congress. Students who were hoping to be able to use their degrees with the work permit given by DACA, may not be able to do so anymore if there is no immigration reform that will enable them to work with the same opportunities as their resident and citizen counterparts, and use their degree to contribute professionally to this society. There are three objectives of the study: To find out and learn from the experiences of undocumented Latinx college students. To understand how the experiences of undocumented Latinx college students navigate higher education, the current rhetoric, their aspirations and persistency to achieve their professional goals, and to provide a different perspective on educational attainment through a CRT lens of undocumented students
EXAMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Background: Due to the increased distribution of synthetic opioids, mortality rates, overdose rates, and addiction related to the consumption of illicit fentanyl have drastically increased over the past years. Although medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the first-line intervention for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), less is known about the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for treating this disorder. Objective: This study aimed to systematically review the literature on psychosocial interventions for treating OUD. Methods: A search was conducted on OneSearch using the keywords “opioid treatment” or “Fentanyl treatment” combined with “psychosocial interventions” or “cognitive behavioral therapy,” or “contingency management” for English articles published between 2013 and 2024. Results: Five studies comprising randomized control trials (RCT), observational, and qualitative studies were identified. Based on a preliminary analysis of the studies, it appears that individuals with a history of OUD may benefit from a combination of psychosocial interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and MAT. Conclusion: Treatment options for individuals with OUD should be expanded beyond MAT to include other forms of psychosocial interventions
FACTORS THAT IMPACT FOSTER YOUTHS’ HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
This study examines the factors that influence foster youth high school graduation rates. Over 50% of foster youth do not graduate high school and even fewer enroll in higher education. The study analyzes social workers’ belief about foster youth high school graduation. Social workers have direct contact with and influence on foster youth, so understanding the extent to which there, beliefs and actions factor into foster youth graduation rates seems important.
This study utilized a quantitative, online survey designed by the researcher to collect exploratory data. The researcher posted invitations to participate in the study on social media sites used by social workers. All participants worked with foster youth ages 16-21 years old. This study was conducted over a three month time period and a total of 56 participants completed the survey via Qualtrics online survey software.
This study hypothesized a positive correlation between social worker belief and values around education and the volume of educational services social workers offered to foster youth. The survey data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical package for the social sciences. The researcher reported frequencies of participants responses to survey questions and assessed correlations between the independent variable, social worker beliefs around education, and the dependent variable, provision of education supports to foster youth. The results of the correlation analysis did not support the hypothesis. There did not appear to be a correlation on what a social worker offered and if their youth graduated high school and enrolled into higher education. There were limitations to this study. The participants self-reported and the sample size was small. The sample was also narrow in that the social worker participants only served youth ages 16-21 years old.
The results of this study suggest that other factors, besides social workers’ beliefs and values around education may impact foster youth graduation. The survey also noted that social workers do not always have the ability to prioritize education over other services. More research will also need to be conducted on what direct services the schools are providing for foster youth
MANDATED REPORTERS’ KNOWLEDGE AND REPORTING OF CHILD ABUSE
Individuals working with children should have the ability to identify and report child abuse based off their knowledge as a mandated reporter. The purpose of this study is to assess the knowledge of individuals working with children on their ability to identify and report child abuse. The literature suggests that some mandated reporters lack adequate training and display little knowledge of what to do in a situation where a child shows signs of abuse. This study incorporates the Systems Theory Approach and the Psychosocial Development Theory.
This study uses a cross-sectional quantitative research design using an online questionnaire designed by the researcher and administered using Qualtrics survey software. Fifty participants completed the 28-question survey. All participants answered true to the statement that mandated reporters are individuals who are responsible to report known or suspected abuse or neglect relating to children. Results suggest that participants are aware of their obligations to report child abuse, and yet, only a portion of participants indicated their intention to report suspected abuse. The study’s results are discussed and are compared to the literature on mandated reporting. In addition, implications for social work research and practice are explored
AUTOMATED BRAIN TUMOR CLASSIFIER WITH DEEP LEARNING
Brain Tumors are abnormal growth of cells within the brain that can be categorized as benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Accurate and timely classification of brain tumors is crucial for effective treatment planning and patient care. Medical imaging techniques like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provide detailed visualizations of brain structures, aiding in diagnosis and tumor classification[8].
In this project, we propose a brain tumor classifier applying deep learning methodologies to automatically classify brain tumor images without any manual intervention. The classifier uses deep learning architectures to extract and classify brain MRI images. Specifically, a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is trained on a diverse dataset of brain tumor images. The CNN learns intricate patterns and features within the images, enabling it to classify various tumor types. Transfer learning, utilizing pre-trained models such as Visual Geometry Group (VGG) and EfficientNet (B3), enhances the CNN model\u27s ability to generalize across different datasets. Additionally, a traditional neural network Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) is applied to classify brain MRI images.
The performance of the VGG, EfficientNet, and MLP models are evaluated and compared. The metrics of accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score are used to evaluate the efficacy of each model in brain tumor classification. This project contributes to the advancement of automated brain tumors tumor diagnosis, potentially improving patient outcomes through more efficient diagnosis strategies
MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT HELP SEEKING ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS AMONG LATINX COMMUNITY
This study focused on determining if there were differences between Latinx subgroups regarding their help seeking attitudes and behaviors for mental health services. It also identifies if the COVID-19 pandemic had any effect on the mental health help-seeking attitudes and behaviors. The study sample was gathered utilizing fliers on campus at CSUSB and via social media, and utilized a survey distributed via Qualtrics. There were 3 Latinx subgroups represented in the study, which were: Mexican, Salvadoran and Biracial/Other. This study did not find any differences between the Latinx subgroups and their attitudes or behaviors towards mental health help seeking. Participants did not report that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on their mental health help seeking attitudes and behaviors, however, there was an increase in their perceived need for mental health services due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Words with God
As a studio artist using multiple media, I investigate subjectivity of the female body as depicted within the context of evangelical doctrines and traditions. I explore misogyny and the absence of bodily autonomy in the bible, which designates women as property to be owned, purchased, and sold. Some overlapping themes include religious trauma, domestication, submission, and virginity. The intertwining of topics allows me to share my lived experience, and ignite conversation into certain religious doctrines that simultaneously live among cultural and political lines.
Emphasizing ‘holy’ scripture, my art varies through domestic materiality and includes crocheted textiles, oil paintings, installation with mixed media, and texture abstract expressions. With distinct intention to create a reflectively somber atmosphere, the media and disciplines are reduced in the color palette, methodically chosen to focus attention to conceptual quietness, solitude, and discomfort. The processes and techniques of making are vital to each piece, and produce additional layers of purpose, interest, and intent
THE EFFECT OF GENDER BELIEFS ON SELF-DETERMINED MOTIVATION AS MEASURED BY ORGANIZATIONAL CITIZENSHIP BEHAVIORS AND WORKPLACE DEVIANT BEHAVIORS
Employees are gauged by their motivation to complete their required job responsibilities, as losses in motivation can result in losses to organizations. Understanding motivation is necessary to achieving beneficial organizational outcomes such as organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) while reducing detrimental employee outcomes such as workplace deviant behaviors (WDBs). To this end, the present study analyzes motivation not through a dichotomy of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, but through a spectrum of self-determination for its relationship to employee behaviors. Gender is a potential moderator that can have important moderating effects between motivation and subsequent outcomes in the workplace. The purpose of this study was to examine how contemporary self-ascribed gender beliefs related to employee motivation and the subsequent beneficial and detrimental outcomes that employees can experience within the context of the workplace. A self-report survey was administered to and collected from 221 participants. A reliability analysis was performed and found good internal reliability for all items within each measure. Two hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the extent to which gender beliefs moderate the relationship between self-determined motivation and either OCBs or WDBs. Results support hypothesis 1, that SMD level predicts OCBs. However, no other hypotheses were supported. The lack of findings creates opportunities for future research to speculate as to whether there were flaws in the methodology, theory, or other aspects of the present study. Future research should also consider exploring the effect of gender beliefs on self-determined motivation in relation to other workplace outcomes such as workplace productivity and turnover intentions. Such research may yield more significant findings and establish a more complete understanding of the relationship between motivation, gender beliefs, and the workplace