FACULTY AND STUDENT PRESENTATIONS Society for Social Work and Research 25th Annual Conference Social Work Science for Social Change
January 19–22, 2021 | Virtual Conference | http://bit.ly/3a7OsVu
University of Georgia School of Social Work Faculty and PhD Student Presentations | 1
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Wednesday, January 20
21 Community Mental Health Moderator: Orion Mowbray, PhD, University of Georgia 30 Child Exposure to Domestic Violence Moderator: Rachel Fusco, PhD, University of Georgia 50 The Relationship between Affordable Housing and Neighborhood Child Maltreatment Rates: A Geospatial Analysis Tenesha Littleton, PhD ‘20, University of Georgia Housing insecurity precipitated by economic hardship often contributes to families being investigated for child maltreatment which suggests a lack of affordable housing options within neighborhoods. Furthermore, a growing body of research has established a link between concentrated disadvantage (i.e., poverty, unemployment) at the neighborhood level and higher rates of child maltreatment however, little is known about how access to affordable housing within neighborhoods is associated with child maltreatment rates. The nation’s two largest affordable housing programs are the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. These programs are designed to increase the nation’s stock of affordable housing however, these properties are often located in disadvantaged neighborhoods potentially limiting their benefits to families. The research questions framing this study were: (1) What is the spatial relationship between neighborhood housing burden and child maltreatment rates? (2) What is the spatial relationship between the availability of federal housing programs and neighborhood child maltreatment rates?
53 Help-Seeking Preferences and Correlates of Recommending Help-Seeking Among South Asian Immigrants Abha Rai, PhD, Loyola University Chicago; Yoon Joon Choi, PhD, University of Georgia; Orion Mowbray, PhD, University of Georgia; Jennifer Elkins, PhD, University of Georgia Domestic violence is a serious problem among South Asian immigrants in the U.S., yet empirical evidence on the preference of help-seeking in cases of domestic violence (DV) among South Asians (SA) immigrants in the U.S. is limited. In addition, it is unknown whether SA immigrants recommend help-seeking resources to their family/friends who experience DV or tell family/friends to keep DV to themselves. This gap has led to limited knowledge on how to involve SA community-members in dialogue and interventions aimed at tackling DV in the SA community. Therefore, the goal of this study was to examine: 1) the
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preferences for DV help-seeking resources; 2) whether SAs recommend help-seeking resources to DV victims, and 3) the correlates of recommending help-seeking among SA men and women.
80 Positive Youth Development and Collective Efficacy: Protective Factors for Youth Exposed to Community Violence Caroline Sharkey, MSW, University of Georgia; Rebecca Matthew, PhD, University of Georgia; Jennifer Elkins, PhD, University of Georgia Literature posits supportive environments are associated with increased protective factors that promote youth selfefficacy and are crucial to mitigate the risks of poverty, racism, and community violence that contribute to adverse childhood experiences and subsequent risks (e.g., gang affiliation). Yet, little research explores multi-systemic protective factors that when concurrently mobilized potentially increase community collective efficacy, social cohesion, and individual self-efficacy foundational to positive youth development (PYD). Drawing from McCall’s (2005) analytic framework of intercategorical complexity, this study evaluated two primary aspects of collective efficacy, positive adults supports and community resources, and their relationships with risky behaviors and attitudes towards antisocial behaviors associated with risk of gang affiliation. This study highlights the importance of collaborative youth research as pivotal to understand how community cohesion promotes PYD and mitigates gang affiliation risks.
81 Opportunities for Institutional Social Change Moderator: Allison Dunnigan, PhD, University of Georgia State Indian Child Welfare Statutes and Entry of American Indian/Alaskan Native Children into Foster Care Allison Dunnigan, PhD, University of Georgia; Claudette Grinnell-Davis, PhD, University of Oklahoma; Lily E. DeFrank, University of Oklahoma As recently as the 1970s, one third of all American Indian/Alaskan Native children were in foster care, with many adopted by non-Native families. To ameliorate this injustice, the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA: Pub.L. 95-608) was passed to preserve families of American Indian and Alaskan Native tribal citizens. Threats to the constitutionality of ICWA led states to legislate state ICWA statutes (SICWAs), confirming a commitment to Indian family preservation through tribal and state government collaboration. No examination of the effectiveness of these state statutes on system entry, however, has been undertaken. This study examines whether states with
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ICWA statutes admit fewer American Indian/Alaskan Native children into foster care, and what factors covary to shape system entry.
The Journey of American Indian and Alaskan Native Youth through Foster Care: The Effect of State Icwa Statutes Claudette Grinnell-Davis, PhD, University of Oklahoma; Allison Dunnigan, PhD, University of Georgia; Lily E. DeFrank, University of Oklahoma In 1978, the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA: Pub.L. 95608) was passed as an initial attempt to ameliorate the damage caused by decades of systemic removal of as many as 40% of American Indian and Alaskan Native children from their homes to placements with non-Native families by prioritizing family preservation of American Indian and Alaskan Native tribal families. As a means of demonstrating partnership to these ideals, some states have legislated state ICWA statutes (SICWAs), committing to the protection of Indian children through tribal and state government collaboration. It is widely believed that such statutes not only reflect the spirit of ICWA but also result in its end goals, which is to preserve Native families together and, if removal is necessary, to keep family connection and/or tribal connection as a central goal. No examination of the effectiveness of SICWAs on the various implementation components of ICWA with American Indian and Alaskan Native foster youth, however, has been undertaken to date. This study examines whether there are differences in the number of children between SICWA and non-SICWA states in various aspects of child entry, case practice, and exit from foster care.
84 The Effects of Disability Status and Neighborhood Environment on Adverse Childhood Experiences among Young Adults Esther Son, PhD, MSW, College of Staten Island, The City University of New York; Hyunji Lee, College of Staten Island, The City University of New York; Hyunkag Cho, PhD, Michigan State University; Yoon Joon Choi, PhD, University of Georgia; Jisuk Seon, PhD, Washington University in Saint Louis Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are early traumatic events that can impact a person’s health and well-being, as well as future violence victimization. A growing body of research indicated that ACEs are a critical public health issue. Previous studies reported that individuals with disabilities are at a higher risk for various forms of ACEs, compared with individuals without disabilities. Little research has addressed the impact of disability and community context on ACEs among young adults, and even less is known if, and how, neighborhood environment affects the relationship between disability status and ACEs. The purpose of this study is to examine the direct and
indirect pathways between disability status, neighborhood environment during childhood, and ACEs among young adults. Our study tested the following hypotheses: (1) Disability status would exhibit a direct effect on ACEs; (2) Disability status would exhibit an indirect effect through neighborhood environment, which in turn, would be associated with ACEs; (3) Neighborhood environment would exhibit a direct effect on ACEs.
91 The Time Is Now: Training Social Work Students as Immigrant Allies Tatiana Villarreal-Otalora, LCSW, University of Georgia; Jane McPherson, PhD, MPH, LCSW, University of Georgia Many of the 44 million immigrants now living in the US —especially those who are undocumented—are vulnerable to exploitation, discrimination, and poverty. This vulnerability has only deepened in recent years with the rise in anti-immigrant policy, rhetoric, and violence; increased workplace raids; and expedited deportations. To prepare social workers to work effectively and ethically with immigrants at this complex historical moment, the authors developed and piloted the Preparing Social Work Students as Immigrant Allies (PSWSIA) training.
125 Scoping Study on Culturally Responsive Intimate Partner Violence Interventions for Immigrant Communities Nibedita Shrestha, M.Phil, University of Texas at Arlington; Abha Rai, PhD, Loyola University Chicago; Kristen Ravi, MSW, University of Texas at Arlington; Luis Alvarez-Hernandez, MSW, LCSW, The University of Georgia Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive problem with adverse physical and mental health effects. While both men and women can experience IPV, women are at a higher risk of experiencing violence. The risk of IPV is magnified for immigrant women because many cultures have strict gender roles and display higher levels of IPV tolerance. Although studies have explored mainstream interventions for IPV victims in the US, there is a lack of research on culturally responsive IPV interventions that support immigrant communities. This paper helps fill the gap by reviewing and synthesizing empirical studies on culturally responsive IPV interventions for immigrant communities.
Friday, January 22
282 Trauma in Children and Youth Moderator: Jennifer Elkins, PhD, University of Georgia
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Friday, January 22 (continued)
286 How Do Changes in Social Networks Impact the Substance Use Behaviors of Young Men Who Have Sex with Men? Jeremy Gibbs, PhD, University of Georgia Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) report significantly higher rates of binge drinking behaviors and marijuana use compared to their heterosexual peers. Previous research indicates that the substance use behaviors of YMSM are significantly impacted by different characteristics of their social network. However, these relationships have been investigated in cross-sectional surveys and not examined longitudinally. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to understand how changes in characteristics of an individual’s social network may impact current substance use behaviors in a probability sample of YMSM.
e P O S TER PRESENTATIO NS Dialogue in r/Changemyview: A Discourse Analysis of Online Data Author: Katherine Gower, MSW, PhD Candidate (ABD) Dialogic interventions offer opportunities for individuals with opposing views to come together and communicate in a constructive manner about sociopolitical issues upon which they might disagree. This is crucial for a society that has become increasingly divided and polarized. However, these interventions have generally been designed for face-to-face (FTF) situations, and nowadays, an increasing number of political conversations are happening online. Online contexts tend to produce types of communication that differ qualitatively and substantively from faceto-face conversations. The current study sought to examine how dialogue can unfold in the context of an online space designed to promote civil discussion: r/ ChangeMyView (CMV). CMV is a subreddit designed to facilitate conversations among individuals who disagree on controversial topics, including religion, politics, and social issues, among many others. The discussion I focused on for this study was titled “CMV: Government regulations are necessary to protect the environment.”
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Domestic Violence Perceptions and Its Correlates among South Asian Immigrants Authors: Abha Rai, PhD ’20; Y. J. Choi, PhD, Associate Professor; Orion Mowbray, PhD, Associate Professor; Jennifer Elkins, PhD, Associate Professor Domestic violence (DV) is a significant health and safety concern, which disproportionately impacts South Asian immigrants in the U.S. Despite the high prevalence of DV, little is known about its perceptions among South Asians. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of DV and its correlates among South Asian men and women in the U.S.
Examining Time to Completion among Participants in Day Reporting Centers Authors: Mariam Fatehi, MSW, PhD Student; Orion Mowbray, PhD, Associate Professor; Michael Robinson, PhD, Associate Professor; Ed Risler, PhD, Professor Emeritus; Jeffrey Skinner, MSSW; Lindsey Disney, PhD ‘19 Day Reporting Centers (DRCs) are a non-residential alternative to incarceration in the United States, intended to reduce recidivism and lower incarceration rates among participants with a history of substance use through intensive community supervision. DRCs programming typically consists of three phases. The first phase is approximately four to eight weeks of intensive programing directed to substance use prevention, conflict management and moral reasoning. While there is existing research on overall DRC effectiveness, there remains a gap in our knowledge concerning factors associated with completing the first, and arguably most intensive phase of DRC programming.
Exploring the Role of Snapchat Use in Predicting Alcohol Consumption among College Students Authors: Jay O’Shields, MSW, PhD Student; Adrienne Baldwin-White, PhD, Assistant Professor Social norms theory suggests that if a college student believes binge drinking is a norm among the majority of their peers, they will be at increased risk for binge drinking themselves. The way in which college student’s norms around drinking are established has fundamentally changed due to the increased use of social media platforms where students are exposed to advertisements that glorify alcohol consumption or observe their peers drinking alcohol. Thus, social media may be a distinct contributor to college binge drinking. e present study investigated the relationship between social media platform and alcohol consumption among college students so as to provide new insights on how to better target interventions for this population.
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Factors Associated with Physical and Mental Health Outcomes among Female Trafficking Survivors: A Hierarchical Regression Model Authors: Elyssa Schroeder, MSW, PhD Student; David Okech, PhD, Associate Professor Research on the long-term effects of human trafficking (HT) on survivors is rapidly growing; however, gaps exist in understanding how social services address or improve their long-term physical and mental health needs. Conceptual and qualitative studies have linked services with better physical and mental health outcomes. This study adds to the existing literature by examining the relationship between HT survivors’ experiences in an aftercare program, their socio-demographic variables, and their longterm physical and mental health. We present data from participants who exited services several years on to identify if the services had long-term positive impacts.
Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences in the Manifestation of Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and Perpetration among College Students: Gendered Perspective Authors: Mariam Fatehi, MSW, PhD Student; Y. Joon Choi, PhD, Associate Professor; Hyungak Cho; Soonok An, PhD ‘15; Ga-Young Choi; Seunghye Hong In the U.S., over 20% college students report experiencing
intimate partner violence (IPV) by a current partner. While experiencing child maltreatment or witnessing parental domestic violence are associated with an increased risk of experiencing intimate partner violence in adulthood, existing research seldom includes other types of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) nor questions whether gender differences distinguish between the influence of direct and indirect ACEs on IPV victimization and perpetration for college students. To address these gaps, we examined (1) what types of ACEs are salient risk factors for IPV victimization and perpetration among college students, (2) to what extent gender alters these outcomes among college students. who were involved in dating relationships?
Longitudinal Trends in Suicide among Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Hispanic Individuals Authors: Luis R. Alvarez-Hernandez, MSW, PhD Candidate (ABD); Orion Mowbray, PhD, Associate Professor Due to multiple minority stressors, persons who are Hispanic and lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB), can experience an increased risk of suicide. In the United States, the rates of suicide among Hispanic individuals have increased consistently over the past 20 years. Additionally, suicide occurs at a higher rate for LGB youth compared to heterosexual youth. Suicide among LGB Hispanic individuals is influenced by their experiences with mental
health, substance use, and treatment. In this study, we examine suicide rates among LGB Hispanic individuals and its association with sociodemographics and clinical characteristics associated with mental health and substance use.
Mortality by Suicide Compared to Other Manners of Violent Deaths among Recently Released Persons Author: Oluwayomi Paseda, MSW, PhD Student Recently released persons are at a higher risk of suicide than the general population. Recently released men are 8 times and women are 36 times more likely to die by suicide within 1 year after release with risks increasing within the first 28 days of release. This study explores demographic factor characteristics and behavioral health variables associated with odds of mortality by suicide amongst persons recently released from a correctional facility.
Not the Chicken Factory: The Underemployment Experiences of CollegeEducated Iraqi Refugees Authors: Lindsey Disney, PhD ‘19; Jane McPherson, PhD, Assistant Professor; Ziad Jamal Underemployment (i.e. a skilled worker in a low skill job) has a negative impact on life satisfaction, and collegeeducated refugees often experience underemployment in the countries where they are resettled. In 2016, 28% of Iraqi refugees resettled in the U.S. held at least a Bachelor’s degree. The context of post-2003 war in Iraq – where high social, educational, and/or occupational status made Iraqi professionals and their families vulnerable to abduction and violence– was the catalyzing reason why many Iraqi professionals became refugees. As they have made new lives in the United States, many of these highly-educated professionals found themselves unable to use their hardearned professional degrees and skills in this country.
Peer Support Provision and Job Satisfaction among Certified Peer Specialists Authors: Orion Mowbray, PhD, Associate Professor; Rosalyn Denise Campbell, PhD, Associate Professor; Lindsey Disney, PhD ‘19; Megan Lee, PhD Candidate (ABD); Mariam Fatehi, PhD Student; Anna Scheyett, PhD, Professor Mental health services encompass a range of available supports and interventions, provided by an increasingly larger number of qualified professionals. Examining types of service provision and job satisfaction and who among mental health service providers are most at risk for high/ low satisfaction represents an important dimension in ensuring the delivery of quality care for those who are
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vulnerable. One particular group within the mental health service delivery sector that has historically been overlooked are Certified Peer Specialists (CPS). CPS are individuals who have struggled with mental illness and/or substance use problems, have been successful in their recovery, and have gone through training to help others who are currently experiencing similar situations. Given the emergence of CPS in the delivery of mental health services in the United States, additional information is needed about CPS, including the types of support they most frequently provide, the satisfaction they have for their job, and whether there are any sociodemographic traits associated with service provision and job satisfaction.
Psychometric Properties of Human Rights Lens in Social Work Scale in a Sample of Gerontological Social Workers in South Korea Authors: Minhong Lee, PhD ‘06; Jane McPherson, PhD, Assistant Professor Human rights have been a central South Korean social work competency since 1973 when they were included in the Code of Ethics. Few studies, however, have assessed the impact of human rights on Korean social work practice, and no reliable or validated scales previously existed to support such research. This study addresses that gap by translating and adapting the Human Rights Lens in Social Work (HRLSW; McPherson, Siebert, & Siebert, 2017) scale, which measures social workers’ tendency to see individual and social problems as human rights violations.
Substance Use Related Mortality among Recently Released Persons Authors: Oluwayomi Paseda, MSW, PhD Student; Orion Mowbray, PhD, Associate Professor Published literature indicates that recent release from a correctional facility is a contributing factor for drugrelated fatalities, with a higher risk of occurrence within two weeks of release. With the prevalence of drug-related mortality among this population, the purpose of this study is to analyze associations between behavioral health variables and demographics on the likelihood of substancerelated mortality among persons recently released from a correctional facility.
The Effect of Childhood Community Factors on Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration and Victimization among College-Aged Students Authors: Y. Joon Choi, PhD, Associate Professor; Hyesu Yeo, MSW, PhD Student; Jungeun Lee; Hyunkag Cho; Esther Son; Sung Hyun Yun, PhD ‘07 In the U.S., more than 10 million individuals are physically abused annually by an intimate partner. Especially, young
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adults between the ages of 18-24 are at the highest risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and victimization, underscoring the importance of understanding factors shaping IPV among young adults. Risk factors embedded in individuals and partners have been widely explored. However, much less is known whether community contexts, such as social cohesion, poverty, and safety during childhood contribute to IPV during young adulthood and whether this relationship differs for males and females. Such scientific knowledge can provide valuable implications for interventions taking consideration of macro contexts. To address these critical gaps, the current study aims to 1) determine the effect of community social cohesion on IPV perpetration and victimization, beyond individual and community-level covariates; 2) assess the moderating effect of social cohesion between community poverty and IPV perpetration and victimization; and 3) examine potential gender differences on 1) and 2).
The Effect of Social Support on Health Literacy among Korean American Immigrant Women Authors: Y. Joon Choi, PhD; Associate Professor; Hee Yun Lee; Young Ji Yoon; Julianne Blackburn, MSW/ MPH ‘20 Asian Americans face many barriers to accessing healthcare and have higher rates of many diseases than other racial/ ethnic groups. Korean Americans (KAs), in particular, have higher cancer, Hepatitis B, and depression rates of all Asian ethnic subgroups. However, KA immigrant women’s utilization of health care services, including cancer screening, is low. Lower levels of health literacy have been found to account for low rates of health care services, contributing to health disparity for this population. This study utilized Andersen’s Behavioral Model to bridge gaps of knowledge by investigating: (1) current levels of health literacy among KA immigrant women and (2) factors associated with health literacy among KA immigrant women.
The Role of Spanish-Speaking Media in Intimate Partner Violence Help-Seeking during the COVID-19 Pandemic Authors: Luis R. Alvarez-Hernandez, PhD Candidate (ABD); Iris Cardenas; Allison Bloom The Latinx population is at a higher risk of experiencing the adverse consequences of intimate partner violence (IPV). These disparities have been intensified during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The media has been pivotal in providing safety measures during COVID-19. However, its role in delivering information to those experiencing IPV, particularly in the Spanish-speaking community, is unknown. Since social distancing and stay home orders created additional barriers to disclose IPV and obtain help, it is critical to explore the role of the media. The purpose of this study is to explore the messages about IPV help-seeking in Spanish-speaking media in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Utilizing a Socially Assistive Robot to Increase Access to Cognitive Training Resources Authors: George Mois, PhD Candidate (ABD); Bailey A. Collette; Lisa M. Renzi-Hammond; Kerstin G. Emerson; Sarah Schultz; Amber Datta; Claire Anderson; Laura Boccanfuso; Aditi Ramachandran; Paul Gibson; Jenay M. Beer, PhD, Assistant Professor Accessibility to cognitive health resources can greatly impact older adults ability to age successfully and maintain a high quality of life. Age-related dementias affect more than five million older adults in the United States and 46.8 million globally. Cognitive training interventions, such as learning an instrument, have been identified across the literature as effective strategies toward increasing cognitive reserve, neural plasticity, and reducing risk of dementia. However, due to various barriers to access (e.g., cost, transportation, instructor availability), older adults can have a difficult time in being able to engage in cognitive training. However, new emerging technologies, such as Socially Assistive Robots (SARs), present a unique opportunity towards increasing access and providing older adults with the ability to engage in cognitive training via robot-led customizable piano lessons.
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