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This study examined the prevalence of citing inadequate housing as a removal reason at the state level by utilizing data from the Adoption and Foster Care Reporting and Analysis System (AFCARS) and investigated the relationship between inadequate housing and reunification outcomes. The results revealed heterogeneity in citing inadequate housing as a reason for removal at the state level. Moreover, when children are from families struggling with both inadequate housing and substance abuse, the likelihood of reunification is significantly lower. Therefore, it is critical to submit consistent and standardized data to AFCARS and provide wrap-around resources for these vulnerable families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children from housing unstable families have a high risk of reentering the child welfare system. However, to our knowledge, no studies have specifically explored qualitative factors related to child welfare reentry among housing unstable families focusing on their and their service providers' perspectives. This study was a qualitative follow-up on findings from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) designed to promote safe and timely reunification among housing unstable families. We explored the perspectives of seven housing-unstable caregivers whose children had reentered the foster care system, and 12 service providers regarding factors associated with foster-care reentry. Applying Maslow's hierarchy of needs and ecological systems theory, our findings revealed that individual level (e.g., domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health) and system level (e.g., service provider prejudice and bias) factors were associated with foster care reentry. We offer suggestions for implications for research, policy, and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses mixed methods and theory from cognitive anthropology to examine the cultural models of domestic violence among domestic violence agency workers, welfare workers, nurses, and a general population comparison group. Data collection and analysis uses quantitative and qualitative techniques, and the findings are integrated for interpretation. Findings reveal consensus among service providers on how controllable domestic violence factors are and whether they are most characteristic of victims or perpetrators, but diversity with regard to their understandings of the importance of the factors suggesting that occupational category alone is inadequate in predicting service providers' beliefs and subsequent delivery of services. The implications of the findings extend into the areas of domestic violence service delivery, cognitive anthropology, and mixed methods research. (Contains 4 notes, 4 tables, and 2 figures.)

This study employed a unique theoretical approach and a series of participant-based ethnographic interviewing techniques that are traditionally used in cognitive anthropology to examine and compare social work and anthropology students' cultural models of the causes of domestic violence. The study findings indicate that although social work students and anthropology students share understandings of a general model of domestic violence, social work students agree on distinctive elements of this model that anthropology students do not. These findings are important in better understanding the role social work education plays in developing social workers' understandings of the roots of domestic violence. (Contains 2 figures and 5 tables.)

Background and Objectives: Building on opportunity cost theory and an understanding of how gender impacts household labor decisions, this study examines how family net worth may be impacted by three variables (having a work-limiting health condition, caregiving inside the home, caregiving outside of the home) while controlling for demographic and employment-related variables for married and unmarried male and female caregivers. Research Design and Methods: This study uses a nationally representative sample of 5,173 older adults ages 51-60 from the 2016 round of 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79). Results: Findings from the weighted sample suggest having a limiting health condition is significantly and negatively related to total family net worth: people with a work limiting health condition experience a $55,000-$180,000 decline in total family net worth. Further, caregiving inside the home had a significant negative relationship with total family net worth for two subgroups: married males and unmarried females. Providing care to someone outside the home was significantly and positively related to total family net worth only for unmarried males. Discussion and Implications: Findings from this study reinforce the need for policies and programs to help employees manage their own health conditions and caregiving responsibilities for family members with financial preparedness for retirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates effects of drug-use initiation and conduct disorder (CD) among 1031 adolescents who participated in the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcomes Studies for Adolescents (DATOS-A). The mean age of first drug use was 12.7, 57% met DSM-III-R criteria for CD, and earlier initiators were more likely to have CD. (Contains 27 references and 4 tables.) (GCP)

U.S. public health statistics report dismal Black infant and maternal mortality rates. Prenatal care alone, while essential, does not reduce such disparities. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to explore Black women's experiences when a perinatal support professional (PSP) accompanies them to prenatal medical appointments. Design: This research used a phenomenological approach, using data from in-depth individual interviews to explore the essence of 25 Black women's experiences. Results: We identified three major themes from the data that together, show that PSPs served as communication bridges for their clients. Clients said their PSPs helped them to understand and feel seen and heard by their medical providers during their prenatal appointments. The third theme was the deep level of trust the clients developed for their PSPs which made the first two themes possible. PSPs' intervention resulted in reduced stress and uncertainty in medical interactions and increased women's trust in their providers' recommendations. Conclusions: Including a trusted, knowledgeable advocate like a PSP may be an important intervention in improving Black women's prenatal care experiences, reducing stress associated with medical interactions, and ultimately reducing pregnancy-related health disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most studies of parents in drug treatment have focused exclusively on mothers, and few studies have examined the effects of parents' level of involvement with their children on the parents' drug use and psychological functioning, either before or after treatment. This study examined mothers and fathers (n = 331) who were parents of children under the age of 18; participants were sampled from 19 drug treatment programs across four types of treatment modalities in Los Angeles County. A majority of each group (57% of 214 mothers and 51% of 117 fathers) were classified as being highly involved with their children. At the baseline assessment, higher parental involvement was related to lower levels of addiction severity, psychological severity, and symptoms of psychological distress, and to higher levels of self-esteem and perception of parenting skills. In general, fathers had higher levels of alcohol and drug-use severity than did mothers, but fathers who were more involved with their children showed lower levels of addiction severity than fathers who were less involved. Parental involvement at baseline was unrelated to drug use at the 12-month follow-up, although parents who were less involved with their children reported experiencing more stressors. Given the association of parental involvement with lower levels of addiction severity and psychological distress at baseline, treatment protocols should build upon the positive relationships of parents with their children, and seek to improve those of less-involved parents. Key Words: Gender; Parental involvement; Drug treatment, Psychological distress., INTRODUCTION Research on parental drug abuse has focused largely upon its effects on children, whereas little research has focused on the parents themselves. Specifically, little is known about how being [...]

Does quitting cigarette smoking help or hurt the polydrug user in treatment for drug use? Data were obtained from 407 polydrug users in 15 treatment centers in Los Angeles at baseline and one-year follow-up. Measures: Smoking status, reported drug use, urine test results, SF-36 scores, Hopkins SCL, ASI-alcohol use, -drug use, -psychiatric problems, and ad hoc employment-related problems. Results: Most respondents (95%) reported some lifetime smoking. Over one-year follow-up, 29% reported a change in smoking status. At follow-up, stable former smokers reported fewer psychiatric problems than stable current smokers. Change in smoking status was associated with reduced heroin use, but with increased psychiatric problems and employment-related problems. Stable former smokers consistently reported healthier outcomes than either stable regular smokers or status changers, as reflected in somatization, obsessive/compulsive behavior, depression, and anxiety scores. Conclusions: Long-term but not short-term abstinence from tobacco use in polydrug users undergoing treatment is associated with consistently more favorable health outcomes.

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