Browsing by Author "Brown, James R."

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    Bullying Prevention in Schools: The Need for a Multiple Stakeholder Approach
    (IUPUI, 2020-07-30) Karikari, Isaac; Brown, James R.; Ashirifi, Gifty Dede; Storms, James; School of Social Work
    Since bullying is an ecological and systemic phenomenon that occurs in multiple contexts with multiple actors, it makes sense to consider the perceptions of multiple stakeholders and their relationships with one another and in relation to bullying prevention in schools. Using a non-probability, purposive sample, this study examined the perspectives of 45 school stakeholders, namely, principals, school social workers, bus drivers, and parents from an urban school district in the Midwest. The study unveils some of the implicit and explicit challenges associated with bullying prevention efforts. For example, bullying can be quite nebulous because people tend to look at the issue through the prism of their own experiences and positions, limiting their understanding of other stakeholders. Some stakeholders’ perspectives may be muted when bullying behaviors are discussed or reported. Overall, the findings support the use of multi-stakeholder approaches in developing a more holistic view of bullying. Recommendations include avoiding the reification of the views and voices of a select few and having a more open system of dialogue among stakeholders to create inclusion when addressing bullying.
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    Connection to mental health care upon community reentry for detained youth: a qualitative study
    (Springer Nature, 2014-02-05) Aalsma, Matthew C.; Brown, James R.; Holloway, Evan D.; Ott, Mary A.; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Background: Although detained youth evidence increased rates of mental illness, relatively few adolescents utilize mental health care upon release from detention. Thus, the goal of this study is to understand the process of mental health care engagement upon community reentry for mentally-ill detained youth. Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 19 youth and caregiver dyads (39 participants) recruited from four Midwest counties affiliated with a state-wide mental health screening project. Previously detained youth (ages 11-17), who had elevated scores on a validated mental health screening measure, and a caregiver were interviewed 30 days post release. A critical realist perspective was used to identify themes on the detention and reentry experiences that impacted youth mental health care acquisition. Results: Youth perceived detention as a crisis event and having detention-based mental health care increased their motivation to seek mental health care at reentry. Caregivers described receiving very little information regarding their child during detention and felt "out of the loop," which resulted in mental health care utilization difficulty. Upon community reentry, long wait periods between detention release and initial contact with court or probation officers were associated with decreased motivation for youth to seek care. However, systemic coordination between the family, court and mental health system facilitated mental health care connection. Conclusions: Utilizing mental health care services can be a daunting process, particularly for youth upon community reentry from detention. The current study illustrates that individual, family-specific and systemic issues interact to facilitate or impair mental health care utilization. As such, in order to aid youth in accessing mental health care at detention release, systemic coordination efforts are necessary. The systematic coordination among caregivers, youth, and individuals within the justice system are needed to reduce barriers given that utilization of mental health care is a complex process.
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    Creating a Digital School Safety Service: A Pathway from Traditional Analog to Digital Practice
    (NASW Press, 2023) Brown, James R.; Keesler, John M.; School of Social Work
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    Domestic violence and empowerment : a national study of scheduled caste women in India
    (2017-03-17) Khandare, Lalit P.; Adamek, Margaret E.; Bansod, Dhananjay W.; Brown, James R.; Brown, Kevin D.; Reza, Hasan
    Domestic violence (DV) in India is one of the most alarming issues that is experienced by over one-third (36.6%) of non-Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (non SC/ST) women and nearly half (48%) of Scheduled Caste (SC) women (ages 15-49). DV and women’s empowerment are historically interlinked. The patriarchy embedded within social-cultural norms along with economic capability deprivation takes away the freedom of SC women to enjoy bodily safety in public and private spaces. Despite Constitutional measures, SC women continue to face violence-induced capability deprivation due to discrimination at three levels: caste, class, and gender. DV against SC women is an understudied area; there are scarcely any studies on DV in this population using national data. This research used data from the National Family Health Survey-III 2005-2006 (N = 12,069-SC women and N = 45,390- non-SC/ST women). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to examine DV trends amongst SC and non-SC/ST women. Contrary to the study’s hypothesis, having better empowerment (household-autonomy, healthcare decision-making, sexual-autonomy) increased the likelihood of women experiencing DV. However, the hypothesis relating to economic empowerment and autonomy was supported showing a reduced likelihood of DV. SC women were empowered when they had the capability to earn wages; however, they had no instrumental freedom to spend their own earnings. Similarly, empowerment indicators were shown to impact the likelihood of justifying the violence shaping women’s gender norms and attitudes. When compared with non-SC/ST, SC women who have economic and healthcare autonomy had lower odds of justifying DV. Exposure to DV in childhood, early marriage, and husbands’ alcohol abuse significantly enhanced the likelihood of DV. Across most of the indicators, the intensity of DV amongst SC women was relatively higher than non-SC/ST women. The findings emphasize the need for social work practice and policy to focus not only on empowering women in terms on economic and material well-being through ownership, but also assessing if this ownership have instrumental value in practice without the threat of DV. Future research can enhance understanding of DV by examining social exclusion, socio-cultural patriarchy, and the intersectionality of caste, class, gender, and other individualist and community factors.
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    How Previously Detained Youths Perceive “Mental Health” and “Counseling”
    (Elsevier, 2019-07) Brown, James R.; Holloway, Evan D.; Maurer, Erica; Bruno, David G.; Ashirifi, Gifty D.; Aalsma, Matthew C.; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    This study explored previously detained youths' perceptions of the term “mental health” and related stigma. The study also examined how the youth see and compare “mental health” to “counseling” services. Qualitative interviews were conducted with an ethnically diverse, purposeful sample of 19 youth aged 11–17 who scored high on the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument (MAYSI-2) for mental health disorders. Our findings suggest that participants often found it difficult to disclose that they were receiving mental health services to non-primary friends. Overall, there were negative and inaccurate perceptions of mental health. Furthermore, this terminology was not easily understood and was associated with mental health stigma. Given this negative association with “mental health,” our results suggest that this term could represent, in and of itself, a significant barrier to accessing treatment that requires further investigation. These findings should prompt researchers, policy makers, and mental health professionals to evaluate alternative names or descriptions of mental health services to reduce both internal and external stigma.
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    Integration into Mainstream Society and the use of Public Assistance: A Study First Generation Somali Refugees in a Midwestern City
    (ICPK, 2023) Akakpo, Tohoro F.; Brown, James R.; Karikari, Isaac; Ashirifi, Gifty Dede; School of Social Work
    First generation Somali refugees in the United Stated States could experience both language and cultural barriers along with conflicting identity could hinder economic independence. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the correlation between cultural orientation of first-generation Somali refugees and the utilization of public assistance. Using purposive sampling method, data were collected from individuals who self-identified as first-generation Somali refugees (N=166). A quantitative data analysis method using SmartPLS3.0 to predict the need of public assistance on level on integration into host culture. The Somali identity (63.0 %) and American identity (57.0%) were explained by the full model. The study summary revealed that the percentage first generation Somali refugees who integrated into mainstream society was lower than those who did not in seeking public assistance. We suggested facilitation of full integration of the first-generation Somali refugees could reduce dependence on public assistance.
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    Participants’ Perspectives of a Worksite Wellness Program Using an Outcome-Based Contingency Approach
    (Indiana University School of Social Work, 2017-12) Bruno, David Gerard; Brown, James R.; Holloway, Evan D.; School of Social Work
    Worksite wellness programs in the U.S. are increasingly common. Social workers in healthcare and administration should familiarize themselves with the various wellness programs and the impact they have on workers and organizations. This study examined a worksite wellness outcome-based contingency approach (WWOCA). This approach bases individual employee health insurance discounts on each participant achieving biometric goals. A mixed-method explanatory approach was used. Quantitative health measures of participants (n = 397) and six focus group discussions (n = 45) were conducted using a convenience sample. Results indicate that over half of the participants met their work-based health goals (i.e., body measurements at the average or excellent rankings) with increases from 56% in year one to 87% in year two and 90% by year three. However, focus group participants expressed a high sense of failure in relation to health goal attainment, frustration with loss of the financial incentive, and stress and anxiety linked to negative feedback about their body measurements. These results suggest that many participants’ self-worth was negatively impacted when participants had difficulty conforming to worksite wellness standards. Social workers in healthcare and administration will need to advocate for worksite wellness programs that promote human dignity and avoid discriminating based on employee health status.
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    Secondary Traumatic Stress: Pervasiveness and Contributing Factors in School Personnel
    (2022-11) Klemme, Paige M.; Pierce, Barbara; Turman, Jack E.; Fukui, Sadaaki; Brown, James R.
    The study aim is to identify pervasiveness and factors leading to secondary traumatic stress (STS) in school personnel to increase awareness of the need for support and help for school personnel who are affected by STS. School personnel is defined in this study as all personnel employed by schools and includes, teachers, administrators, staff, resource officers, custodians, lunch aids, bus drivers, nurses, social workers, etc. School personnel work together to support students and ensure that they learn not only educational material, but also social and emotional skills. They also provide a sense of safety for students. School personnel are tasked with providing seven hours of daily support to their students; however, lack of supports, constant stressors, and exposure to secondhand accounts of trauma, put school personnel at risk for STS. This dissertation includes a review of STS in school personnel, theory used to inform and understand STS, a systematic review of STS in school personnel, a cross-sectional study of STS in school personnel from a Midwestern County, and integration of findings including practical implications and need for future research.