Purpose This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Thank You, Sorry, Love (TSL) program in improving family functioning and mental health among runaway and homeless youths (RHYs). Methods A quasi-experimental design was used with 24 RHYs (12 in the TSL group and 12 in the Treatment as Usual [TAU]). Both groups received 3 months of follow-up case management; the TSL group participated in a 10-week

Purpose: This study examined the measurement invariance of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS) across racial and gender groups among public child welfare workers. Method: Survey data from 2,004 participants were analyzed using a series of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to examine the measurement invariance of a 17-item scale assessing intrusion, avoidance, and arousal symptoms

Research synthesis plays a vital role in advancing knowledge, informing policy and practice, and shaping future research in social work. However, the proliferation of poorly designed and methodologically weak reviews threatens to dilute the evidence base, undermine decision-making, and slow progress. This paper calls for stronger adherence to high standards in research synthesis, emphasizing the need

Purpose: We examined the effect of race and ethnicity on first-time passage of the ASWB Clinical exam using a person-in-environment conceptual framework. Method: We conducted descriptive and regression analyses using the 2018–2022 Clinical exam data ( N = 88,678), merged with zip code-level income data from the US Census Bureau and institutional characteristics data from the US Department of Education

The study addresses community violence among Arab social workers in Israel. Data from 14 in-depth interviews were thematically analyzed. The findings reveal that participants encounter challenges in the personal, familial, as well as the professional spheres. They report collegial supportive coping mechanisms used by social workers after exposure to community violence. This study highlights the importance

Purpose: Socially assistive robots (SARs) have been associated with positive emotional support outcomes. This study further examines the types of support sought by older adults from SARs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A total of 188 participants were recruited, with 101 individuals in the Pre-Pandemic cohort and 87 in the During-Pandemic cohort. Usage data from SARs was collected

Objective: This study investigated the extent to which subjective norms, attitudes, knowledge, and behavioral control explained social workers’ intention to employ exposure and response prevention (ERP) in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder in the United States. Methods: Social workers ( N = 168) completed measures through Qualtrics. We hypothesized clinicians who endorsed greater behavioral control

Purpose: The study examined the psychometric properties of the Greek posttraumatic growth inventory (PTGI) among healthcare workers and general population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The Greek versions of the PTGI, the Brief COPE, and the Brief Resilience scale were administered to 2163 participants from the general population and 1837 healthcare workers. Results: The five-factor structure

In this study, adolescents’ excessive use of technology (EUT) and social media disorder (SMD) levels were examined using variables such as gender, age, academic achievement, mental illness, perceived social support, family belonging, school belonging, self-control, and social problem-solving skills, which are thought to predict technology use in adolescents. Two structural equation models were established

Education is a transformative process that extends beyond the acquisition of knowledge, fundamentally reshaping an individual’s relationship with themselves, others, and the world. In this context, open youth work serves as a vital socio-educational field of practice. Through life-world-oriented and subject-centered educational approaches, open youth work supports young people in developing their identity

The usage of substances among adolescents remains a prominent social concern, especially during COVID-19. In parallel, cyberbullying has emerged as another significant challenge, affecting the well-being and health of students as they spend more time online. We investigated the correlation between cyberbullying victimization and substance use in adolescents—and considered the potential mediating effect

Following a regrettable history of forced adoptions, Chile underwent a pivotal shift in its adoption policies and practices with the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), the Hague Adoption Convention (1993), and the enactment of Law 19.620 (1999). In the last decade, the country has embarked on an unprecedented reform of its child protection system. Aligned with global

Correcting children is a crucial component of their growth. In Ghana, there is limited research on corrective measures for children in domestic settings and from the perspectives of children and parents using nationally representative data. This study examined the prevalence and type of corrective measures for children, sex differentials in corrective measures, the perpetrators of corrective measures

The link between bullying and suicidal ideation in adolescents is well-entrenched in literature. Theoretical evidence suggests that coping strain and depression may mediate this association. The present study aims to determine whether coping strain and depression mediate the association between bullying and suicidal ideation in Pakistani adolescents. A total of 405 participants were approached via

Despite the potential for negative health consequences, scant recent literature has focused on sexual harassment among older adolescent populations. In assessing the prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of this persistent public health problem, we begin to address this gap in knowledge. As part of an ongoing longitudinal study, we administered the Sexual Experiences Questionnaire to 1,124 older adolescents

Digital inclusion is recognized as a “super social determinant of health” due to its impact on all other social determinants of health. Although it is well established that technology access and use play an important role in the transition to adulthood, less is known about the experiences of youth in substitute care who are participating in independent living services and how child welfare professionals

Purpose: to examine the validation of the Spanish version of the Human Rights Engagement in Social Work (CDHTS-25) Scale, and to develop an abbreviated version (CDHTS-8) that may be useful in research situations in which social work practitioners have little time due to work and bureaucratic overload and to include in large surveys or longitudinal designs. Method: An online survey was used to collect

Purpose: This article reports on a scoping review that synthesized literature over the last 15 years on the use of simulations in social work education and training with the aim of identifying trends and important considerations for teaching and learning. Method: This scoping review covering a total of 44 articles examined the characteristics of publications, the purposes for the use of simulations

Purpose: Social workers play a crucial role in assessing risks for harm to self and others, including firearm access. Given the growing concern of firearm violence, standardized assessment tools addressing firearm risks could improve social workers’ assessments. Method: This rapid review identifies and evaluates available clinical assessment tools that include items related to firearms. Result: After

The study joins the calls for the ‘authentication’ of social work interventions in ‘real-life contexts’, investigating the potential value of home visits as perceived by minority group social workers in Israel. Data were collected from in-depth semi-structured interviews with 15 Arab social workers employed by local authority welfare bureaus. Beyond the home visit’s universal potential, the interviews

Objectives: This study reviews the extent and determinants of racial disparities in licensing exam outcomes in regulated professions to contextualize the disparities in social work. Methods: It reviews the empirical literature of ten regulated professions, discussing individual, institutional, and community-level determinants of exam outcomes. Results: All 10 reviewed professions report significant

Supervision is crucial in social work for enhancing service delivery standards. In South Africa, deficiencies in supervision practices and ineffective implementation of the social development approach have negatively impacted service quality. This study investigated the relationship between supervision and the adoption of the social development approach within the Department of Social Development in

This study explored and compared conceptualizations of social work research across Anglophone and Latin American countries. Open-ended survey responses ( n = 46) from participants in three Anglophone countries and three Latin American countries were analyzed. Three themes emerged: (1) social work research seeks solutions or actions; (2) social work research integrates an ecological approach; and (3)

Purpose: While social work case management faces ongoing challenges with practice inefficiency, the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) presents an innovative solution. This systematic review examines how AI is applied in social work case management. Method: A comprehensive search was conducted across databases for studies published after 2000. Empirical studies on AI-assisted social work case

Purpose: The research aimed to explore the emotions and thoughts of earthquake victims, assess existential crises, and identify their coping resources. Methods: It involved seven sessions with separate groups of women, men, and adolescents, comprising 42 individuals aged 15–65. The Existential Anger, Psychological Well-being, and Life Purpose scales were used. Results: Results showed that life purpose

Objective: This study examines the effectiveness of character strength-based cognitive (SCBC) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in improving college freshmen's mental health and positive traits. Methods: Freshmen were randomly assigned to SCBC, CBT or a PC group. Interventions included a 90-min session and a 7-day self-guided task. Assessments occurred at five time points: Preintervention (T1)

Objectives: Drawing on the social science literature, this study aims to contextualize the racial disparities in social work licensing exam outcomes as educational inequality stemming from cumulative lifetime (dis)advantages. Method: It conducts descriptive analyses of the 2022 ASWB Clinical ( N = 25,088) and Masters ( N = 26,550) licensing examinees and tests three hypotheses to identify indicators

This article proposes establishing a new model for making civil legal proceedings accessible to persons with disabilities, combining therapeutic jurisprudence principles with the requirements of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The model suggests integration of a social worker to act as a coordinator for advising judges and prepare litigants using the ICCAP model: identification

Extremism is a global threat, and preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) is a worldwide challenge. As a soft-power approach, social work can play a crucial role in P/CVE. This study explores professional concepts and their impact on P/CVE regarding Islamism through eight semi-structured interviews with practitioners in Germany, analyzed using a reconstructive-documentary approach. Findings

This article is the result of the European Project Er (Key Action KA203) called ‘LEMA “Learning from the Margins” Social inclusion of highly marginalised young people urban settings’ (ref.: 2019-1-DK01-KA203-060285). The project analysed the situation of Young Migrants Formerly in State Care in Spain. The aim of the article is to analyse the employment situation experienced by professionals working

Professional socialisation is a complex and interactive process through which professional roles and skills are learned and internalised. In social work, this complexity is due to a changing professional landscape, contested discourses and differing organisational contexts. This article reports on an Australian study exploring the perceptions and experiences of early career social workers and supervisors

This study used the conceptual lens of familisation and defamilisation to examine how different social safety net policy instruments shape low-income family processes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 welfare recipients in Shanghai and Taipei. The study reveals unique patterns under non-Western and low-income contexts. Means-tested cash transfers inadvertently reinforced familisation

Adolescents with substance use disorders (SUDs) are at higher risk for negative outcomes including suicidal ideation (SI). This is due in part to high rates of comorbid psychiatric disorders among adolescents diagnosed with a SUD. Among adolescents, SI is a sign of psychological distress that may interfere with substance use treatment engagement and completion. Identification of factors that are significant

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 16-session multicomponent intervention to improve the cognitive abilities of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) through the promotion of healthy lifestyle, cognitive skills, tai chi, and mindfulness exercises delivered by a social worker 6 months after the intervention. Method: This study was a 6-month follow-up of a pilot

Purpose: This study aims to systematically review and summarize the empirical evidence on the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral and Adlerian play therapy for children aged 3–12 years. Methods: In this context, experimental studies examining the efficacy of play therapies published in peer-reviewed journals in the English language in EBSCOhost, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science

Opening a private practice is a significant milestone for Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), offering the opportunity to provide personalized care while navigating the complexities of business ownership. This guide offers a beginning roadmap for LCSWs considering this transition, addressing key areas such as legal and regulatory requirements, business planning, and the physical or virtual setup

Moral distress among South African child protection social workers (CPSWs) remains unexplored despite familiarity with the concept. A qualitative analysis of interviews with 20 CPSWs in two South African provinces interpreted their reports of workplace risk through a moral distress lens. Thematic analysis identified that internal and external constraints are contributing to experiences of moral distress

Social work practice has become increasingly concerned with decolonization and anti-oppressive approaches. Both terms can be ambiguous and practice examples are often difficult to identify. This article describes the Jamaican Diaspora movement and its use of transnational communities to broker power and resist the status quo, serving as examples of decolonial and anti-oppressive orientations. The authors

The study aims to examine the perspectives of healthcare workers in the emergency departments of private hospitals in Türkiye regarding the social work needs in these units. Twenty emergency department specialists participated in this qualitative research. The data were obtained by conducting in-depth interviews using a semi-structured interview form. In the analyses made with MAXQDA, 3 themes, and

Purpose: This systematic review synthesizes empirical evidence on the health and financial outcomes of Medical–Financial Partnerships to inform policy and practice. Method: We followed the Methodological Expectations of Campbell Collaboration Intervention Reviews to conduct this review. We searched 10 electronic databases through September 2023 to locate randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental

This special issue highlights the necessity of rigorous methodologies, transparency, and innovation in social work research. Emphasizing causal inference, the contributions in this volume address replication challenges, design complexities, and data transparency. Key advancements and recommendations we put forth include study preregistration, data sharing, and novel methodologies such as advanced mixed

This study examined the relationship between the impact of weight on quality of life (QoL), emotional appetite, and psychological well-being. The study included 124 individuals with obesity with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30 kg/m2, 129 individuals with overweight with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 kg/m2, and 123 normal-weight individuals with a BMI less than 25 kg/m2 who applied to certain nutrition

Purpose: Despite the already extensive scientific literature on dog-assisted interventions, there is still a need to compile further reviews. In this regard, it should be noted that some of the existing reviews no longer reflect the current state of knowledge. The review presented here takes into account the current state of the literature on this topic. Methods: The present systematic literature search

BACKGROUND Domestic and family violence (DFV) is a major public health issue mainly affecting women and children. Health services are an important site in the identification and initial response to DFV. Social Workers often lead the psychosocial response to DFV. This study aimed to explore the experiences of internal referrers to a hospital-based social work led DFV Service. METHODS Qualitative study

This qualitative study used in-depth interviews with 23 pediatric emergency room social workers to explore the interplay of the primary trauma experienced by children and families and the secondary trauma experienced by social workers. The analysis used a grounded theory approach and developed a conceptual model of the cycle of primary and secondary trauma, whereby child and family trauma can lead

Purpose: This pilot study examined the preliminary effectiveness of the Empowered Young Parents Program (EYPP) for child welfare and/or legal system involved pregnant, expectant, or parenting youth (PPY) in promoting health outcomes. Method: A one-group pretest–posttest ( N = 25) design was used to evaluate changes in the participants. Results: At posttest participants reported lower perceived stress