Teaching trauma content in higher education has become more common and is often considered essential for social work programs to prepare students for their future careers. However, teaching trauma content contains a risk of adverse consequences for students. This article outlines best practices for teaching trauma content based on the current literature. A model for teaching trauma content is outlined with responsibilities for universities and departments, instructors, and students delineated. Best practices for use by the instructor in the classroom are outlined, including materials to include in the syllabus, creating a safe classroom environment, psychoeducation, self-care, in-class techniques, the use of models and theories, empowerment and social justice actions, and ongoing assessment. Areas of future research are discussed.
Asian Americans have been stereotyped as a “model minority” throughout their history in the United States, which fuels the misperception that they are more prosperous and face fewer challenges than other racial/ethnic groups. However, this overlooks socioeconomic disparities within the population. This study examines disparities within the Chinese American population, the largest Asian ethnic group in the United States. Using data from The State of Chinese Americans 2022 survey, this study investigates health disadvantages and economic needs and disaggregates these results by demographic characteristics. Chi-square tests are conducted on disaggregated findings. Our findings reveal substantial health disadvantages and economic needs among Chinese Americans. Our disaggregated results indicate that Chinese Americans with limited English proficiency, low household incomes, low educational attainment, and those who reside in the Northeast, who were not U.S. citizens, and who were born in mainland China, had higher rates of health disadvantages and economic needs. The findings challenge model minority myths that portray Chinese Americans as a prosperous population without hardships. Policy and service implications are discussed to address health and economic disparities within the Chinese American and broader Asian American populations.
Concepts of worthiness, dependency and deservingness inform the narrative of poverty in the United States. As such, poverty is presented as an individual rather than systemic problem. This narrative informs social welfare policy and program design. This paper reviews a brief history of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, to exemplify how this ideology informs program design in America’s largest and most important anti-hunger program. Given these harmful ideological influences on policy and program design, it is proposed that a novel type of policy analysis should be used to address social welfare policies: a human rights approach to policy analysis. This policy analysis is informed by citizen participation and human dignity. Using a human rights approach to policy analysis will generate policy alternatives that honor values of justice and equity, yielding recommendations that may address the systemic roots of poverty.
In the context of widespread poverty and limited formal social protection coverage, informal social protection systems remain the primary source of risk management for many Nigerians. Despite their significance, governments often overlook these systems, particularly due to assumptions that they are ineffective against covariate risks. Drawing on qualitative data—including interviews and focus groups—and using the Social Risk Management framework, this paper examines how informal social protection mechanisms in Southeast Nigeria mitigate the impact of flooding, a recurring covariate risk. The findings highlight the adaptive capacity of these systems and call for their formal recognition in Nigeria’s social protection policy, along with strategies to integrate them with formal mechanisms.
This paper delves into the complex forces shaping the experiences of Muslims in contemporary society, focusing on the interplay between Neo-Orientalism, Islamophobia, and the quest for authenticity. The events of September 11, 2001, marked a pivotal shift in global discourse about Islam and Muslim identity. Neo-Orientalism, rooted in historical Orientalist perspectives, has evolved into a modern framework that sustains misleading narratives about Islam. Through essentialism and selective interpretation, Neo-Orientalist discourse influences media portrayals, political language, and public consciousness, perpetuating stereotypes and marginalizing Muslim communities. By engaging with Edward Said’s work on Orientalism, the paper traces the historical roots and contemporary manifestations of Neo-Orientalism, revealing its role in shaping perceptions of Muslims. The research also examines the rise of Islamophobia, an irrational fear and hostility towards Islam and Muslims, which intensified after the 9/11 attacks. Islamophobia, closely tied to Neo-Orientalist stereotypes, exacerbates the challenges faced by Muslims, perpetuating marginalization through media, political rhetoric, and systemic discrimination. In response to these distortions, the quest for authenticity emerges as a powerful counterforce. Muslims assert their agency by reclaiming their narratives and validating the diversity of their identities. This resistance is evident in educational initiatives, cultural expressions, and academic interventions that challenge fixed narratives and foster a more nuanced understanding of Islam. The interconnectedness of Islamophobia with broader systems of power and privilege underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges faced by Muslim communities. As we navigate the intersections of Neo-Orientalism, Islamophobia, and the pursuit of authenticity, the study calls for dismantling the systems that uphold prejudices and cultivating empathy, understanding, and a commitment to a more just and inclusive global perspective.
The current study aimed to observe whether the language barrier functions as a moderator in the association between social support and mental health via the mediation of resilience among Korean immigrants in the United States amid COVID-19. We compiled primary data using an online survey (e.g., emails, Social Network Service) collected from May 24, 2020, to June 14, 2020. By employing the purposive sampling method, we generated a sample of 790 Korean immigrants (both U.S.-born and foreign-born). Structural equation modeling was employed using a moderated mediation model to examine associations among the variables. We found a mediating effect of resilience on the association between social support and psychological distress among the participants. We also found that the mediating effect of resilience was moderated by language barriers in daily life. Although the study does not explicitly investigate how individuals’ resilience is built, the findings imply that social support and working to reduce language barriers are important factors in building a high level of resilience in Korean immigrants and ultimately improving their mental health during and after the pandemic.
Despite much research documenting the health patterning of U.S. Asians compared to other ethnoracial groups, fewer studies have interrogated social factors contributing to heterogeneity in mental health among U.S. Asians. The present study draws insights from the fundamental cause perspective and intersectionality to examine, first, the association between English proficiency and mental health among U.S. Asian adults, and second, the degree to which gender and ethnicity factor into associations. This study uses nationally representative data from the National Latino and Asian American Study to regress three commonly used indicators of mental health—psychological distress, self-rated mental health, and 12-month anxiety disorder—on English proficiency for Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese, and other Asian/Pacific Islander men and women (n = 2,065). Results identified English proficiency’s association with lower distress and better perceived health, and Chinese women generally experienced poorer mental health than other groups. Gender and ethnicity moderated relationships between language proficiency and mental health, such that English proficient Chinese men and women and Vietnamese men were more likely to perceive better mental health than their non-proficient counterparts. English proficiency particularly benefited Filipino and other Asian/Pacific Islander men such that each experienced lower psychological distress and odds of anxiety disorder, respectively. This study affirms the importance of examining within-group heterogeneity and investigating social determinants of health, including language proficiency, that are fundamental to the health status of ethnoracially marginalized groups.
The Community Action Program was a central component of the War on Poverty, establishing Community Action Agencies (CAAs) in the United States beginning in the 1960’s. CAAs emphasized “maximum feasible participation” from low-income citizens, but that inclusive aim was always in tension with a more top-down model of service provision. This article contributes to the literature on poverty governance by offering a qualitative analysis of the mission statements of CAAs across the nation, testing the degree to which they frame poverty in collective and participatory terms. I document that most missions feature individualistic and expert- focused elements, consistent with the approaches taken in other sites of the contemporary poverty governance landscape. I also find that some continue to emphasize more collective and participatory approaches. Those missions, though less common, demonstrate that some CAAs continue to resonate with elements evident at the founding of the Community Action Program. With presence in almost every county of the United States, CAAs hold the potential to expand prevailing frameworks for thinking about and addressing poverty as a social structure.
Decisions on compensation vary according to the insured person’s access to relevant resources. Socioeconomic inequalities also affect, and manifest themselves in, the communication between primarily insurers and applicants, which in turn plays an important part in obtaining approval when applying for life insurance benefits. This article examines administration of the insurance for occupational disorders, focusing on power relations made visible in the communication. Through a qualitative text analysis, a random sample of personal files (n=139) was examined. In the communication process, unequal power relations are reflected and reproduced. Findings show gaps and contradictions regarding how the insured person is addressed, what kinds of explanations are valued, and what information is requested and how. We argue that lack of communication between the insurance case administrator, the treating physician, and the insured person contributes in making the process dependent on the insured person’s access to capital in terms of, for example, education, knowledge of the insurance system, and a relevant social network.
The intent of this theoretical analysis is to demonstrate that gerontologists have been distorting the central notions found within activity theory and disengagement theory. We show that disengagement and activity are not individual constructs but rather part of a single conceptual framework that follows an evolutionary pattern within the individual’s life course. Individually, activity theory and disengagement theory are static. However, combining their central concepts into a unified whole, the theoretical framework becomes dynamic and more useful to practicing social workers and researchers. The commonalities or bonds between the two theories include: (a) shared concepts; (b) theoretical propositions; (c) intellectual history; (d) causal relationships; (e) preconsciousness; and (f) locus of control. A single theory emerges.
Social justice is recognized as one of the core values of social work. In pursuit of this, social workers are expected to engage in policy practice. However, surveys of MSW programs and practicing social workers suggest that studying and engaging in policy practice is not a widespread occurrence. One barrier to policy practice seems to be that social workers in clinical practice lack the knowledge and self-efficacy to engage effectively in it. In order to promote engagement in policy practice, a literature search of outcome studies related to promoting policy practice among social workers was attempted, which revealed no citations. Subsequently, a literature search of outcome studies related to promoting policy practice among social work students was conducted. A total of 19 quantitative outcome studies were located, and the relevant results are presented and discussed. The designs were of weak internal validity, and relatively few in number, given the importance ascribed to policy practice by the social work profession. Suggestions are provided to promote the design and conduct of further empirical studies intended to evaluate approaches to teaching policy practice to social work students.
This study examines how emerging African American women cope with race-based traumatic stress (RBTS) and the role of sociodemographic factors in shaping their coping behaviors. Data were collected from a purposive sample of 152 African American emerging adult female college students aged 18-29 in St. Louis, Missouri. Using descriptive statistics, univariate analyses, and multiple linear regression, the study investigated RBTS symptom severity and its relationship with coping strategies while controlling for age, income, and employment. Key findings revealed that low self-esteem significantly predicted substance use coping, avoidance was linked to behavioral disengagement, and income was negatively associated with restraint coping, suggesting financial stability may reduce the reliance on self-regulatory strategies. These results underscore the complex interplay between RBTS symptoms, coping mechanisms, and socioeconomic variables. The study highlights the critical need for culturally responsive mental health interventions that address both individual and systemic factors to promote adaptive coping among African American women. Future research should explore these dynamics longitudinally to understand coping strategies' evolution and inform targeted interventions.
This article employs a series of experiments and theories from microbiology and sociology for the advocacy of a "sociology of microbes." The authors argue that sociology should start to take microbes seriously, in a way that is currently not the case, since there is evidence to support that microbes are significant actors in any society. The authors looked at effects of microbes on social relations, how microbes are related to ethnicity and race, and microbes in justice.
Dating back to the 17th century, there is a legacy of poor and working-class white and Black people coming together, across lines of race, in resistance to the wealthy elite and racist status quo. Such historical examples of multiracial struggle can serve as a model for today’s organizers in the fight to end racism and build a powerful movement for economic and racial justice. This theoretical manuscript uses transformative organizing theory as a framework for analyzing and learning from a historical multiracial struggle in order to inform today’s racial justice movement, particularly for white antiracist organizers.
Hispanic people in Alabama face many barriers to accessing support for their children with intellectual and developmental disabilities including lack of language access, racism and bias, limited economic resources, limited community support networks, and immigration status. In July 2020, a state-level funding agency solicited proposals that support marginalized communities. A team, comprised of two faculty and a family navigator from a regional autism network, proposed a program and were selected for funding. The project supported Hispanic families during COVID-19 via Zoom, providing information and training from professionals on topics of interest to Hispanic families. Depending on the topic area and team member expertise, team members provided training or recruited qualified professionals to conduct trainings. The grant funded language access in Spanish and with collaboration from another community organization, in Korean. The present program description covers the first year of grant implementation and provides a roadmap for using grant funding to bring educational opportunities to Hispanic parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Peer support is an evidence-based intervention in behavioral health. It advances social work values and ethics, the human rights principle of participation, and has the potential to validate experiences of oppression and injustice. Despite significant recent attention in behavioral health practice and research, peer support is more nascent in other areas of practice. This research note explores the evolution of peer support in the field of behavioral health in the United States. It is offered to aid and encourage peer support integration in more nascent settings (e.g., youth homelessness).
This study examined the effect of the welfare regime on welfare attitudes and the moderating effect on the relationship between individual-level factors and welfare attitudes. Integrating the conditional self-interest perspective with Esping-Andersen’s typology of three welfare regimes, this study hypothesized that institutional differences among the three welfare regimes would moderate the impacts of individual-level factors on welfare attitudes. To test the hypothesis, we analyzed data from the World Values Survey of 5,485 citizens from three countries: the United States, Germany, and Sweden. Results showed that welfare regimes have a significant impact on citizens’ attitudes toward welfare. The study also found that the impact of citizens’ characteristics on welfare attitudes varied across the three welfare regimes. This study found that in the liberal welfare regime, welfare attitudes are stratified by socioeconomic class and political ideology, while in the conservative welfare regime, they are highly convergent. We discussed future research directions based on our findings.
This study examined the association between after-school settings and cognitive outcomes among elementary school children with different household incomes. Based on Bloom’s model of learning theory, we hypothesized that after-school programs (ASPs) would be more positively associated than informal settings with the cognitive outcomes of children from lower-income households. We used the 5th wave (9 years old) of the U.S. Fragile Family and Child Wellbeing Study. With a sample size of 1,674, we employed ordinary least square regression analysis to examine the association between after- school arrangements and children’s verbal, symbolic learning, and math skills. Our analysis found that, in contrast to our hypothesis, children in adult care showed a more positive association with verbal and math skills than children in ASPs in lower- and middle-income households. Additionally, children in parental and non-adult care reported higher math skills than children in ASPs in higher-income households. Our study highlights the need to construct well-designed program components for low-income families. School social workers and educators must also work to provide high-quality ASPs for children in poor communities.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced researchers to adopt digital technology for data collection, but this shift did not meet the needs of undocumented immigrants. Issues like digital illiteracy, language barriers, and technological constraints hindered effective virtual data collection. Drawing from the authors’ experiences, this note highlights key challenges such as participants’ limited digital skills, trust-building difficulties, and frequent interview rescheduling. To address these, a collaboration with a trusted community organization was essential to advocate for favorable policies and bridge the digital divide. While the pandemic itself may no longer be a primary concern, the methodologies and strategies developed offer valuable lessons for current research.
This pilot study was designed to assess the association of post-secondary education savings with improvement in outcomes associated with status attainment for 77 low-income Marshallese households. Given that little is known about specific status attainment measures for Marshallese households, this study provides an important glimpse into the strengths and needs of this population as well as the associations between CDA Program participation and status attainment outcomes. Our findings indicate that the CDA program positively influences self-efficacy and social support among participants. These results suggest that such programs can significantly impact the well-being and future orientation of low-income, diverse populations.This pilot study was designed to assess the association of post-secondary education savings with improvement in outcomes associated with status attainment for 77 low-income Marshallese households. Given that little is known about specific status attainment measures for Marshallese households, this study provides an important glimpse into the strengths and needs of this population as well as the associations between CDA Program participation and status attainment outcomes. Our findings indicate that the CDA program positively influences self-efficacy and social support among participants. These results suggest that such programs can significantly impact the well-being and future orientation of low-income, diverse populations.
