Open Access Journals at IU Indianapolis
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The Development of Islamic Chaplaincy in the United States: An Interview with Dr. Jimmy Jones
No full textChaplaincy and Spiritual Care in the Twenty-First Century: An Introduction by Wendy Cadge and Shelly Rambo
No full textAn American Muslim Guide to the Art and Life of Preaching by Sohaib Sultan and revised by Martin Nguyen
No full textThe Association of Muslim Chaplains Annual Conference 2025: Re-Member, Reflect, and Reimagine
No full textComparing Social Work Program Specialization and Board Exam Pass Rates: Preparing Social Workers for Success
No full textA critical, yet contemporary, step towards establishing one’s identity as a social worker is through licensure. Professional licensure is a culminating result of education, practice experience, supervision, and a board exam. When evaluating board exam pass rates, we must consider the role that education has in preparing social workers for exam success. This study evaluates the relationship between MSW programs with an Advanced Generalist (AG) and/or Clinical and Direct Practice (CDP) specialization and 2022 board exam pass rates. Using data from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), 2022 exam pass rates were compared between a random sample of CSWE-accredited AG and CDP programs. Results indicate no significant difference in exam pass rates across social workers who complete an AG program and those who complete a CDP program. This applies to both the ASWB Masters Exam and the Clinical Exam. Study findings suggest that specialized programs based on a specific social work function may not be as impactful on exam preparation as might be assumed. Recommendations include re-merging micro- and macro-based social work education programming, streamlining exam options, and shifting educator discourse when discussing and promoting specializations
Social Closure in Social Work: The Racial Implications of Licensure Requirements
No full textThis study empirically examines the extent to which social work licensure has influenced the racial composition of the profession in the United States. through the lens of Max Weber’s theory of social closure. By leveraging the variation in the timing of state-level licensure implementation, it employs a quasi-experimental setting to assess the effects of licensing on minority representation in social work. The research analyzes Decennial Census data from 1930 to 2000 using a staggered difference-in-differences design to investigate the impact of licensure implementation on the proportion of non-white social workers at the county level. The findings suggest that social work licensure has contributed to exclusionary practices, limiting access for racial minorities. Specifically, the implementation of licensure is linked to a statistically significant decline in the proportion of non-white social workers, with an observed decrease of 2 percentage points, that increased to a 9-percentage point decrease over 40 years. These results suggest how licensure requirements may reinforce social closure within the social work profession, perpetuating racial inequities. This study underscores the pressing need to reconsider the licensure framework to foster inclusivity and equity within the field of social work
From Displacement to Empowerment: Challenges and Support System for Afghan Refugees Post 2021 in the United States
No full textThis research explores the multifaceted challenges faced by Afghan refugees resettled in the United States following the 2021 U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Drawing on recent studies, it examines barriers to integration across key domains: language, housing, employment, education, and cultural adaptation. Despite a relatively young and working-age population, Afghan refugees often encounter limited access to English instruction, inadequate translation services, and high rates of underemployment. Structural barriers such as unaffordable housing, poor transportation, and limited childcare options further hinder adjustment, particularly for women. Cultural misunderstandings, lack of ethnic enclaves, religious discrimination, employment barriers, anti-Muslim sentiment, restricted access to halal food, housing, and healthcare exacerbate social isolation. The paper highlights the compounding effects of trauma, legal uncertainty, and geographic placement on resettlement outcomes. While U.S. policy emphasizes rapid self-sufficiency, this approach often overlooks the lived realities of refugees. The findings underscore the need for long-term, culturally competent policies and support systems that address both structural and cultural dimensions of refugee integration.
Keywords: Afghan refugees, integration, language barriers, housing insecurity, U.S. refugee policy, cultural adaptation
 
Does Islam Have Its Own Tradition of Spiritual Care? The Twelve Principles of Spiritual Care in the Muhammadan Model
No full text
Evaluating the Role of Pretherapy Scans in Post-Thyroidectomy Thyroid Cancer Management: Predictive Value, Management Impact, and Efficacy
Get PDFBackground:Thyroid cancer management typically involves radioiodine ablation (RAI) therapy post-thyroidectomy to eliminate residual thyroid tissue and cancerous cells. Pretherapy imaging and dose selection are contentious subjects. This study evaluates the comparative effectiveness of different imaging modalities and doses.
Methods:This retrospective IRB approved study included 98 thyroid cancer cases of patients who underwent ablation therapy from January 2022 onwards. Data was collected through the electronic health record system. Imaging studies were evaluated by 2 separate readers. 39 cases were excluded for imaging congruency due to the absence of SPECT/CT. Cure rate analysis excluded 15 cases due to missing post-ablation Tg levels. The data was stratified into N1b (metastasis to cervical lymph nodes) and non-N1b cancer.
Results:Results indicate that pretherapy planar and SPECT/CT imaging findings were congruent in the non-detection of extrathyroidal disease. Both I-123 and I-131 isotopes demonstrated high congruence with post-planar scans, with I-123 showing 85.48% congruency and I-131 showing 82.86% congruency.
Cure rates varied only minimally by RAI dosage with the highest cure rates observed in the 33-56 mCi range (92.31%) and the lowest in the 110+ mCi range (81.82%). In N1b cases, the highest cure rate was 100% in the 33-56 mCi range, while non-N1b cases showed the highest cure rate of 94.12% in the 56-110 mCi range.
Conclusions:No advantage was found using SPECT/CT or I-123 for detecting extra-thyroidal diseases. Higher treatment doses beyond 110 mCi do not yield better outcomes.
Scientific/Clinical/Policy Impact and Implications:The study\u27s findings underscore important considerations regarding cost-effectiveness of imaging and appropriate dose section in thyroid cancer ablation management