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The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound societal impact with unprecedented impact on women's labor force participation, including among academic mothers. Yet, persistent gendered and racialized inequities in academia remain structurally unaddressed, including in social work. We believe that as social work educators we are well-positioned to develop an academic culture that helps us refocus on what matters most; redefine excellence in teaching, service, and research; and make academic practice more equitable. To this end, we convened a group of social work academic mothers, representing various identities at teaching and research-intensive institutions, to offer collective perspectives and recommendations for structural change within the social work academy to buffer the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and exacerbating racial and gendered disparities.

For social work educators, teaching social policy in the current political climate in the United States may seem daunting and energizing at the same time. Students are often acutely aware of the political and policy-related controversies raging in Washington, D.C. and local governments, and yet their position on these issues may be unexplored or conflicted. The social policy classroom can be a productive place to explore these conflicts, but instructors may be especially wary of undertaking these difficult conversations in the current hyperpartisan era. This article explores how to ground these conversations in social work's professional values, pedagogical theory, and educational best practices to help students build skill and confidence in developing their own well-informed assessments about policies and politics.

Transgender and nonbinary (TNB) individuals experience a variety of systemic barriers that impact their ability to access healthcare, often leading to negative health outcomes. Previous research has suggested that improving health literacy among marginalized communities may help reduce existing health disparities. Yet few studies have examined health literacy among TNB people and how health literacy and healthcare access may differ by urbanicity. Using the capabilities theoretical approach, the current study uses data from six focus groups (N =40) from metropolitan, urban, and rural areas in Colorado to examine geographic differences in health literacy and healthcare access. Findings show that geographic differences in accessing healthcare include transportation issues, having to travel far distances to access care, finding a TNB-affirming and competent provider, and needing to educate providers and staff. These differences were more prevalent among TNB people living in non-metropolitan areas. Additionally, our findings suggest that TNB individuals have high levels of health literacy due to having to self-educate and exist within a healthcare system that was designed for cisgender people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Using a social determinants of health framework, this study explores the relationships between social and environmental factors and parenting self-efficacy (PSE) among mothers of preterm infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Method: We analyzed data from a prospective cohort study of 187 mother–infant dyads admitted to four Colorado NICUs between June 2017 and December 2019. We used multivariable linear regression models to assess the independent associations between maternal and infant characteristics and PSE. Results: Our final multiple linear regression model predicting the efficacy score—including maternal race/ethnicity, age, insurance, employment status before giving birth, gestational age, depression, and having other children—was significant: F (12 , 160) = 3.17 , p =.0004 , adjusted R 2 =.131. Significant predictors of PSE were race/ethnicity (β = 3.3 , p =.022), having another child/children (β = 4.2 , p =.005), and depression (β = −4.2 , p =.004). Conclusions: Social workers and medical practitioners should consider social determinants of health—such as insurance type, household income, and employment—along with traditional clinical indicators when assessing families' infant care needs. Social workers, medical practitioners, and researchers should be mindful of how implicit bias may influence the allocation of care and parental supports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volunteer-based programs are increasingly designed as interventions to affect the volunteers and the beneficiaries of the volunteers' activities. To achieve the intended impacts for both, programs need to leverage the volunteers' engagement by meeting their expectations, retaining them, and maximizing their perceptions of benefits. Programmatic features that may increase volunteer engagement include supervision, flexibility, assistance, training, recognition, and stipend support. Using longitudinal data from a study of older adult volunteers in Experience Corps (N = 208), the present study tested the facilitative effects of these features on volunteer engagement. Regression results indicated that positive perceptions of supervision and assistance predicted exceeded expectations, whereas supervision, flexibility, and recognition predicted retention and benefits. Stipend receipt also predicted benefits. Results indicated that these facilitation measures are conceptually and empirically similar and have an overall positive impact on volunteer engagement outcomes when treated additively. In the context of the study's implications, findings suggest that volunteer management "basics" facilitate volunteer engagement among the sample of older adult volunteers, with implications for practice and future research.

Summary: Social workers are uniquely qualified to administer intergenerational programs, which offer a long-standing and promising way to improve the lives of children, youth, older adults, and communities. Existing reviews of intergenerational programming include a relatively limited time period and do not include agency and community outcomes. This scoping review was conducted with two primary objectives: (1) to synthesize a more comprehensive understanding of intergenerational program outcomes, organized by program type, and (2) to clarify gaps related to agency and community-level outcomes. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, we searched 18 databases for articles published between 1981 − 2019. Quantitative, qualitative, and gray literature were included that focused on formal, non-familial intergenerational programs and incorporated clear research methods. A two-cycle coding process identified six program types, five participant outcome domains, three agency-level outcomes, and four community-level outcomes. Findings: 217 articles met inclusion criteria after a first (title/abstract) and second (full-text) review. Quality appraisal of the articles found the studies to have "fair" quality overall, with a limited number of randomized controlled trials or sustained outcomes greater than six months. Approximately 12% of studies identified agency or community outcomes. Findings indicate strong psycho-social outcomes for older adults and increased inclusivity, capacity, and engagement at agency and community levels. Applications: Future program development and research efforts should address best practices for the implementation and scalability of intergenerational programs to enhance capacity and age-inclusivity at agency and community levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young adult caregivers (YACs) of older adults are an often-overlooked subset of the caregiver population, though they make up more than a quarter of all caregivers. Because of their stage in life and their economic and work status, YACs (ages 21 to 40) are likely to face different caregiving challenges than other age cohorts of caregivers. Using the life course perspective and role conflict theory as foundational frameworks, this article compares the resources and strains of YACs with those of their middle-age caregiver (MAC) (ages 41 to 60) and older adult caregiver (OAC) (ages 61 and older) counterparts. Authors used data from a cross-sectional pilot study of caregivers recruited across one western state through community agencies. Through multivariate regression analysis, findings indicated that YACs reported more financial strain than MACs and OACs, despite being more likely to be employed. In contrast, YACs reported greater positive feelings toward caregiving than both MACs and OACs. These findings remained while controlling for employment status, education, and hours per week spent caregiving. Although YACs may find great value in caregiving, they may also be in more financially precarious situations. The article concludes with recommendations for caregiver support programs to reach YACs in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although gains have been made in premature birth rates among racial and ethnic minority and low socioeconomic status populations, tremendous disparities still exist in both prematurity rates and health outcomes for preterm infants. Parental involvement is known to improve health outcomes for preterm babies. However, a gap in evidence exists around whether parental involvement can help ameliorate the disparities in both short- and long-term outcomes for their preterm children. Families more likely to experience preterm birth are also less likely to have access to paid leave and thus experience significant systemic barriers to involvement, especially when their newborns are hospitalized. This article describes the research gap in this area and explores pathways by which social workers may ameliorate disparities in preterm birth outcomes through practice, policy, and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volunteer-based programs are increasingly designed as interventions to affect the volunteers and the beneficiaries of the volunteers' activities. To achieve the intended impacts for both, programs need to leverage the volunteers' engagement by meeting their expectations, retaining them, and maximizing their perceptions of benefits. Programmatic features that may increase volunteer engagement include supervision, flexibility, assistance, training, recognition, and stipend support. Using longitudinal data from a study of older adult volunteers in Experience Corps (N=208), the present study tested the facilitative effects of these features on volunteer engagement. Regression results indicated that positive perceptions of supervision and assistance predicted exceeded expectations, whereas supervision, flexibility, and recognition predicted retention and benefits. Stipend receipt also predicted benefits. Results indicated that these facilitation measures are conceptually and empirically similar and have an overall positive impact on volunteer engagement outcomes when treated additively. In the context of the study's implications, findings suggest that volunteer management "basics" facilitate volunteer engagement among the sample of older adult volunteers, with implications for practice and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospitals and perinatal organizations recognize the importance of family engagement in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) defines family engagement as "A set of behaviors by patients, family members, and health professionals and a set of organizational policies and procedures that foster both the inclusion of patients and family members as active members of the health care team and collaborative partnerships with providers and provider organizations." In-unit barriers and facilitators to enhance family engagement are well studied; however, less is known specifically about maternal engagement's influence in the NICU on the health of infants and mothers, particularly within U.S. social and healthcare contexts. In this integrative review, we examine the relationship between maternal engagement in the NICU and preterm infant and maternal health outcomes within the U.S. Results from the 33 articles that met inclusion criteria indicate that maternal engagement in the NICU is associated with infant outcomes, maternal health-behavior outcomes, maternal mental health outcomes, maternal-child bonding outcomes, and breastfeeding outcomes. Skin-to-skin holding is the most studied maternal engagement activity in the U.S. preterm NICU population. Further research is needed to understand what types of engagement are most salient, how they should be measured, and which immediate outcomes are the best predictors of long-term health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing faculty interested in aging may help social work meet the needs of our growing aging population. However, doctoral students need a variety of supports to complete PhDs and become gerontological social work faculty. This study explored one program's role in supporting the development of social work doctoral students to faculty in gerontology. An e-mail invitation was sent to all former participants (2010-2016 cohorts) of the Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGE SW) Pre-Dissertation Fellows Program (PDFP). The 38-question online survey consisted of Likert-type scales, multiple answers, and one open-ended question per section about the program's impacts on their academic career development in teaching, research, mentoring, and support. Forty-five respondents, representing all six cohorts, completed the survey. More than half reported that the PDFP contributed to their ability to publish their research (64.4%, n = 29), grow their professional network (86.7%, n = 39, and teach (55.5%, n = 25). Doctoral programs provided different experiences than the PDFP, including mentoring, methodological training, professional development, networking, and peer support. Results suggest the PDFP provides content recipients value that supplements instruction received in their institutions. The program's ability to connect students to each other and to national leaders enhances their career development and socialization into academic roles.

Professional networks are important for the success of doctoral students and early career faculty members, yet there is little research about what types of experiences help emerging scholars develop these networks. Social network analysis may be an ideal method for studying the effectiveness of training programs in nurturing network development among emerging scholars. We describe one application of this method, which was used to examine the professional networks formed through participation in the Association of Gerontological Education in Social Work (AGESW)'s Pre-Dissertation Fellowship Program (PDFP). Alumni ( n = 12) from the first three cohorts of the program (2010-2012) reported meeting an average of 20 scholars ( SD  = 13.2) through AGESW, which led to potential professional interactions and collaborations on conference presentations and manuscripts. Although challenges with missing data limited the conclusions that can be drawn, we find that this method holds promise for helping to identify key factors that facilitate professional network development in pre-dissertation training programs such as the PDFP.

Good mentoring is a key variable for determining success in completing a doctoral program. The Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW) provides leadership in the areas of gerontological social work education, research, and policy. In 2010, AGESW began offering the Pre-Dissertation Fellows Program (PDFP) to enhance social work doctoral students' professional development and skillset for academia. The purpose of this study was to examine student participants' perceptions of the PDFP in its role to providing mentorship and training for an academic position that encompasses research, teaching and professional service. This qualitative study examined eight cohorts (2010-2018) of the AGESW PDFP (N = 85). Participants identified a number of aspects of professional development gained, gratitude for the training, an appreciation for candid advice received, and areas of professional development they felt they were lacking within their doctoral training. Implications for doctoral education, doctoral mentorship programs, and the AGESW pre-dissertation program are discussed. Further, programs such as AGESW pre-dissertation fellowship program can serve as a model for other doctoral training initiatives to prepare students to work in academia.