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Public administration researchers have found that passive diversity leads to active diversity. However, whether this relationship holds in schools of social work is uncertain. Understanding this relationship in schools of social work can inform methods used by schools of social work to foster diversity and inclusion. Authors examined the relationship between passive and active diversity representation among 31 randomly selected school of social work websites. Quantitative content analysis revealed that the three most common passive diversity characteristics were (1) having tenure-track faculty of color, (2) images of diverse persons, and (3) faculty with diversity-focused research. The top three active diversity characteristics were (1) no GRE admissions requirement, (2) a woman dean/director, and (3) scholarship/fellowships opportunities. Least represented were student demographics and pronouns in faculty profiles. Most notable bivariate findings were the positive associations between a dean/director of color and tenured faculty of color and the relationship between faculty with diversity-focused research and tenured faculty of color. Greater representation of deans/directors of color in schools of social work is critical for the career advancement of faculty of color. To attract more faculty of color, schools of social work should use their websites to promote hiring opportunities for scholars conducting diversity-focused research. Future research exploring additional diversity characteristics on schools of social work websites and whether these characteristics translate to more inclusive environments is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In sub-Saharan Africa, research regarding young people's intimate partner violence (IPV) experiences is scarce. We provide national estimates of the prevalence, characteristics, and correlates of IPV among adolescents (aged 13–19; n = 1,182) and young adults (aged 20–24; n = 1,648) living in Uganda. We analyzed the Uganda Violence Against Children Survey data. Descriptive statistics were conducted using age-and-gender stratified samples. We also examined logistic regression models using age-stratified samples and testing gender as a potential moderator. Descriptive results indicated higher lifetime physical IPV rates among young adults (24.7%) compared to adolescents (12.3%). We found no significant difference comparing adolescents' (16.9%) and young adults' (14.6%) lifetime sexual IPV rates. There were notable age group and gender differences when examining specific sexual IPV types and first physical and sexual IPV episode characteristics. Significant IPV correlates across both age groups included being widowed, divorced, or separated (adolescents: aOR = 4.6, 95% CI: 1.6–13.5; young adults: aOR = 5.2, 95% CI: 2.5–10.8), being female (adolescents: aOR = 3.9, 95% CI: 2.2–6.8; young adults: aOR = 3.0, 95% CI: 2.1–4.4), witnessing parental IPV (adolescents: aOR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1–3.0; young adults: aOR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.2–2.6), and poorer mental health levels (adolescents: aOR = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.04–1.1; young adults: aOR = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.1–1.1). Gender moderated the relationship between age and IPV, but only among adolescents (aOR = 1.4, 95% CI:1.1–1.9). IPV programs that are developmentally tailored for Ugandan young people are needed. These programs should promote gender equality and consider gender intersectionality. Policy changes around child maltreatment and early marriage must simultaneously occur for program success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with poor HIV care linkage and retention, medication adherence, and viral suppression. However, limited knowledge exists regarding potential mechanisms linking IPV to these outcomes. We aimed to (a) identify the top barriers to accessing HIV care experienced by women living with HIV (WLHIV) who report a history of IPV and have suppressed viral load (VL) versus unsuppressed VL and (b) understand how these barriers influence VL, comparing WLHIV with a history of IPV to WLHIV without a history of IPV. Study data come from newly diagnosed WLHIV in rural Uganda participating in the standard-of-care control arm of a randomized trial (n = 152). Descriptive results ranking mean scores from highest to lowest showed that, among women with a history of IPV, irrespective of viral suppression status, paying for transportation to come to clinic, having to wait at the clinic for long periods of time, and finding a clinic within reasonable travel distance were the top three barriers to accessing HIV care. WLHIV with a history of IPV were significantly more likely to have unsuppressed VL versus suppressed VL if they reported higher levels of difficulty finding a clinic within reasonable travel distance (RRR = 1.7, 95% CI [1.1–2.7]), getting permission to take time off from work (RRR = 1.5, 95% CI [1.0–2.9]), and finding time to come to the clinic for an appointment (RRR = 1.6, 95% CI [1.0–2.6]). The same relationships were not present among WLHIV without a history of IPV, suggesting these barriers and their effect on VL may be uniquely related to IPV. Interventions should address IPV and HIV care continuum outcomes in tandem, targeting barriers to accessing HIV care likely associated with IPV. Additional research is necessary to better understand how IPV relates to HIV care barriers and VL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated 13 domestic violence (DV) and sexual assault agency directors' perspectives regarding Nigerian immigrants' experiences of violence, DV-related service needs, and best strategies for providing those needs. Directors across five U.S. states were surveyed. Descriptive analyses showed the most common DV types were controlling behavior and cultural/traditional. The most important DV support needs were informational, informal, and legal. Formal support from DV agencies, support groups, and law enforcement was rated the most helpful strategies. Participants wanted to learn more about Nigerian immigrants' DV experiences. Findings highlight implications for the development of Nigerian-specific DV services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an effort to further understand the impact of domestic violence (DV) on infant and toddlers' development, this research utilized data from the second cohort of National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW II) to examine the relationship between maternal DV and infant and toddlers' emotional regulation, and determine whether mothers' receipt of DV services mediated this relationship. The sample was limited to children aged 0 to 3 years and included (a) infants less than 1 year old (n = 603), (b) infants 1 to less than 2 years old (n = 310), and (c) toddlers 2 to 3 years old (n = 268). Infant/toddlers' emotional regulation was measured using mothers' response on the How My Infant/Toddler/Child Usually Acts questionnaire. In addition, data were collected to assess whether (a) active DV was present during the time of the Child Protective Services (CPS) investigation and (b) mothers received DV services during the past year. Study research questions were examined using a series of multiple regression analyses. Mediation was tested based on Baron and Kenny's recommended model for establishing mediation. The mediational model was not found to be significant; however, a positive relationship existed between maternal DV and emotional regulation among infants aged less than 1 year old (β = 1.61, p =.039). There were no statistically significant relationships between DV and emotional regulation in the other age groups. These findings highlight the need to provide CPS-involved families victimized by DV with services that focus on preventing poor infant emotional regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize the effects of interagency and cross-system collaboration aimed to improve child welfare-involved children and family outcomes related to safety, permanency, and well-being. We conducted a comprehensive search to identify studies that evaluated interagency/cross-system child welfare collaborations, resulting in 11 studies selected for inclusion. The analysis included narrative and meta-analysis approaches. All selected studies focused on substance use; our search criteria did not identify any interagency collaborations related to other co-occurring conditions, such as domestic violence and mental health. Results from both narrative and meta-analyses revealed family drug treatment court (FDTC) collaboration intervention was positively associated with the entry (OR = 2.935, 95% CI [1.498, 5.753]) and completion (OR = 2.074, 95% CI [1.263, 3.406]) of substance use services. Additionally, FDTC (OR = 2.401, 95% CI [1.751, 3.292]) and recovery coaches (OR = 1.522, 95% CI [1.166, 1.987]) were positively associated with likelihood of reunification. Narrative and meta-analysis results related to the relationship between FDTC and days to reunification were less positive across studies (g = 0.470, 95% CI [0.247, 0.694]). Thus suggesting, although FDTC may positively influence the likelihood that children are reunified with their families in the future, this intervention may have less influence on how quickly families achieve the reunification process. We found positive client outcomes regardless if there existed a lower (co-ordination) or higher (integration) level of collaboration, demonstrating positive collaboration outcomes may occur using limited child welfare resources. This systematic review can benefit child welfare practitioners, policymakers, and families in selecting the most appropriate and effective interagency/cross-system substance use services. We discuss recommendations for future research. Highlights • Caregivers in family drug treatment court (FDTC) are nearly three times more likely to enter substance use treatment. • Caregivers participating in FDTC collaboration intervention are two times more likely to complete substance use treatment. • FDTC and recovery coach interventions increase the likelihood of reunification for families with substance use problems. • Positive collaboration outcomes related to permanency and well-being may occur using limited child welfare resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This practice note presents findings from a statewide survey of domestic violence and sexual assault agency directors (n = 80; 77% response rate), regarding their opinions about the outcome information that should be collected from victims during evaluations of five commonly provided services: legal advocacy, medical advocacy, group services, individual counseling, and shelter. The findings showed that four information types were repeatedly ranked among the most important to collect to understand whether services helped victims including victims’ satisfaction with services, victims’ progress toward meeting their goals, changes in the extent of violence and/or trauma that victims experienced, and changes in victims’ knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many children involved with the child welfare system witness parental domestic violence. The association between children's domestic violence exposure and child welfare involvement may be influenced by certain socio-cultural factors; however, minimal research has examined this relationship. The current study compares domestic violence experiences and case outcomes among Latinas who are legal immigrants ( n = 39), unauthorized immigrants ( n = 77), naturalized citizens ( n = 30), and US-born citizen mothers ( n = 383) reported for child maltreatment. This analysis used data from the second round of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being. Mothers were asked about whether they experienced domestic violence during the past year. In addition, data were collected to assess if (a) domestic violence was the primary abuse type reported and, if so, (b) the maltreatment allegation was substantiated. Results show that naturalized citizens, legal residents, and unauthorized immigrants did not differ from US-born citizens in self-reports of domestic violence; approximately 33% of mothers reported experiences of domestic violence within the past year. Yet, unauthorized immigrants were 3.76 times more likely than US-born citizens to have cases with allegations of domestic violence as the primary abuse type. Despite higher rates of alleged domestic violence, unauthorized citizens were not more likely than US-born citizens to have these cases substantiated for domestic violence ( F (2.26, 153.99) = 0.709, p = .510). Findings highlight that domestic violence is not accurately accounted for in families with unauthorized immigrant mothers. We recommend child welfare workers are trained to properly assess and fulfill the needs of immigrant families, particularly as it relates to domestic violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: There is emerging evidence to suggest that children who come to the attention of child protective authorities are more likely to experience out-of-home placement if their families are affected by domestic violence than other reasons for investigation. To develop a better understanding of child welfare-involved families that are exposed to domestic violence, this article provides a comprehensive review of research examining the effects of domestic violence on the likelihood of out-of-home placement and family reunification. A search of the literature resulted in 16 articles that met the study's criteria. Data suggested that domestic violence may be negatively related to out-of-home placement depending on the sample type, and marginally related to family reunification. Recommendations and implications related to future research are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Black women scholars have and continue to make significant contributions to the social work profession; however, their experiences within the profession are mostly absent in the literature. In general, Black women face numerous challenges within schools of social work. Black women scholars endure a compound form of anti-Blackness in higher education known as gendered anti-Blackness due to their multiple marginalized statuses associated with race and gender. This study examined the phenomenon of gendered anti-Blackness as experienced in academia by a diverse group of Black and mixed Black faculty and PhD students. We intentionally utilized a new methodology, Black Feminist Polyethnography, to provide an affirming and communal space for us to dialogically reflect on our collective experiences of gendered anti-Blackness in predominantly white schools of social work. Our findings uncovered six Black woman-centered proverbs that symbolize the ways we collectively thrive as scholars despite gendered anti-Blackness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unique service needs exist for expectant or parenting youth with foster care histories (EPY) and their families. Informed by Critical Ecological Systems Theory (CEST), this exploratory qualitative study presents findings from an inductive content analysis of in‐depth interviews and focus groups with EPY and service providers. The study included nine in‐depth face‐to‐face interviews with service providers (n = 5) and EPY (n = 4) as well as five focus groups with service providers (n = 23) and three with EPY (n = 7) to identify the characteristics of service providers, agencies and systems that may act as barriers to service utilization among EPY with a foster care history (n = 10) or juvenile justice history (n = 1). Service provider characteristics included negative attitudes towards EPY and/or those with child welfare experiences. Agency characteristics included a lack of workforce diversity, employee turnover, lack of training about diverse communities, restrictive enrolment processes and eligibility requirements, lack of childcare and transportation and limited accessibility of services. System characteristics included a lack of up‐to‐date information about existing services, territorialism, funding sources that do not prioritize interagency collaboration and a lack of communication/coordination among agencies. Implications include hiring and retaining a diverse workforce, providing training about diverse communities and implicit biases concerning young parents, developing navigation services specifically for EPY and developing processes for sharing data and communicating across systems that interact with EPY. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expectant or parenting youth (EPY) with foster care histories are often in need of a range of services yet experience barriers to accessing and utilizing those services. This exploratory qualitative study was informed by ecological systems theory and utilized interviews and focus groups with EPY (n = 11) and service providers (n = 28) to identify factors that facilitate service utilization for EPY. We found characteristics at the service provider, agency, and system levels that act as facilitators. Service provider characteristics that facilitate service use include empathy and trustworthiness, supportive navigation, and youth-centeredness. Agency facilitators included representative diversity and inclusivity, trauma-informed training and practice, and availability of tangible supports. System facilitators included having a variety of service providers, systems integration, and co-location. Findings provide a more nuanced understanding of the facilitators that contribute to EPY's service utilization. Future research is warranted to examine how these youth- and provider-identified drivers of service use influence health, mental health, parenting, education, relationships, employment, and housing outcomes for EPY. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]