Some theoretical considerations on confidential adoptions part III: The adopted child

In all cases of newborn adoption where placement is made directly into the permanent adoptive home, the adoptive parents become the psychological parents for that child. While adopted children do have separate psychological and genetic parents, the capacity for intimacy, identity, and a cohesive sense of self develops through the consistent empathic attachment between the adoptive parents and the child. We discuss the adopted child's psychological development through infancy, pre-oedipal, oedipal, latency, and adolescence and focus on the child's intrapsychic tasks at each developmental phase. We note how development is different for the adopted child and how this development would be diminished or enhanced by the direct or subtle indirect involvement in an open or confidential adoption. Open adoptions appear to have the risk of serious interference at each developmental phase. Confidential adoptions appear to provide the child with the psychological protection for the unfolding of development. There is a new trend in the field of child welfare toward openness in adoption, which purports to change traditional confidential adoptions. We discuss the crucial aspects of the intrapsychic difference for an adopted child experiencing an open or confidential adoption.And so they wrangled before the King... Kings II, Ch. VThis paper was presented to the National Committee for Adoption Convention, October, 1982; the First International Conference on Pediatric Social Work, August, 1982; and to the Child Care Association of Illinois Convention, April, 1982. All authors have the M.A. degree     

Don’t Worry,She’ll Say it: A Tribute to Florence Lieberman

This paper presents a tribute to Florence Lieberman, a significant leader in the field of Clinical Social Work, who has been and continues to be highly productive and vastly influential. Throughout her career Florence has published books and articles that result from her intense and accurate concerns about social work practice, and particularly about practice with children. Florences academic career includes 20 years at Hunter College School of Social Work in New York. As an influential member of the Hunter faculty, she has played an important role in shaping the impact of social work philosophy on psychotherapy practice. Starting with her Charter membership in the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), she has been influential in the development of the Federation of Societies for Clinical Social Work (Federation), the National Academy of Practice (NAP), and the International Committee on the Advancement of Private Practice (ICAPP). Leadership, empowerment, and adherence to Social Works mission are themes that Florence Lieberman has enacted throughout her stellar career. The author discusses his experience with her, which illustrate these essential characteristics.Presented at the International Committee on the Advancement of Private Practice (ICAPP) Meeting on June 9, 2004.     

The complexion connection: Ideal light skin as vehicle of adoption process discrimination vis-à-vis social work practitioners

As it pertains to the adoption process, social work practice is in fact not a color-blind profession. The incidence of skin color discrimination by practitioners who place children is a consequence of the somatic norm image rooted in the mulatto hypothesis. Subsequently, light-skinned children are idealized at the expense of their dark-skinned counterparts as both are objectified. Discrepancies relative to skin color in the adoption process are a formidable challenge to investigate, given the limited available social work literature. While skin color as a demographic category may exist in the peer-reviewed literature, it is conspicuously absent from the databases which archive such literature. What is more, skin color discrimination is a breach of the National Association of Social Workers code of ethics. The elimination of adoption process discrimination will require macrostrategies grounded in policy. Said strategies for ethical adoptions couched in macropolicy must be fashioned from an evidence-based practice model.     

Some theoretical considerations on confidential adoptions,part I: The birth mother

In all cases of newborn adoption where placement is made directly into the permanent adoptive home, the adoptive parents become the psychological parents for that child. While birth parents give the gift of birth, they do not experience the developmental process of being a parent because in reality they are emotionally unprepared for this responsibility. We discuss the clinical meaning of a voluntary termination of parental rights, the appropriate grieving of the real narcissistic loss of the baby, and the meaning of adoption for a birth parent.There is a new trend in the field of child welfare toward openness in adoption which purports to change traditional confidential adoptions. We discuss the crucial aspects of the intrapsychic difference for a birth parent experiencing an open or confidential adoption.This paper was presented to the National Committee for Adoption, Convention, October, 1982: the First International Conference on Pediatric Social Work, August, 1982 and to the Child Care Association of Illinois Convention, April, 1982. All authors have the M.A. degreeThis paper is the first of a four-part series to appear in this journal     

The Social Policy Context of the Norma Parker Addresses

Abstract

Little is currently known about the social policy history and activism of the Australian Association of Social Workers. This paper addresses that gap in knowledge by examining the social policy context and Australian Association of Social Workers policy activism identified in 20 Norma Parker Addresses from 1969 to 2012. A number of key themes are identified including a concern that social workers take a structural or social justice approach to policy debates, a belief that social workers should be more prominent in policy activism, challenges or barriers to social work activism, and a growing engagement with Indigenous issues. Further research on the detail and history of Australian Association of Social Workers policy activism beyond this exploratory study is recommended.     

Social work training in Asian countries

The welfare of working mothers is a subject which has captured the attention many organizations and professional people who have examined the implications from their own particular points of view. For example, among Australian studies, Scott (1962) examined the personality development of pre-school children of working mothers, Bryson, et al. (1965), considered the effects on family life, and Nurcombe (1971) made a general assessment of some aspects of the welfare of infants and children under three years of age whose mothers are in full-time employment. The Women's Bureau of the Commonwealth Department of Labour and National Service has published booklets on various related topics under the general heading of “Women in the Workforce” and statements on policies related to the day care of children have been prepared by such bodies as the Australian Pre-school Association, the Australian Council of Social Service, the Queensland Creche and Kindergarten Association, the Victorian Council of Social Service and the Social Planning and Action Committee of the Australian Association of Social Workers.     

Social workers' views of parents of emotionally disturbed children: Replicating a US study

Abstract

This article reports the results of a survey of Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) members in relation to their views of parents of emotionally disturbed children. The survey involved a random sample of AASW members. It replicates a US study of members of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) conducted by Johnson, Renaud, Schmidt and Stanek (1998). The study was conducted in order to see if there was any similarity in the views of United States (US) and Australian social workers in regard to their view of these parents. The data from the Australian sample using the US Providers' Beliefs About Parents (PBAP) instrument did not support the conclusions of the study in the US. This result emphasises the importance of replication studies when transferring measurement instruments from one country to another.     

Secondary traumatic stress and self-care inextricably linked

ABSTRACT

Increasingly trauma scholars are exploring the susceptibility of mental health providers to secondary trauma reactions. The current study explores the relationship between clinical social work practice with trauma-exposed clients and secondary traumatic stress among social workers. The intent of this study is to identify the role various factors play in the development of secondary trauma (also known as compassion fatigue). A simple random sample of National Association of Social Workers members were asked to participate. Participants completed an online survey that explored their exposure and responses to secondary traumatic stress. The online survey consisted of standardized measures including the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale and The Coping Strategies Inventory which assesses secondary trauma and self-care strategies, respectively (Bober, Regehr, & Zhou, 2006; Bride, Robinson, Yegidis, & Figley, 2003). The magnitude of work (the extent and intensity of time working with trauma-exposed clients) is assessed by a non-standardized measure which consists of clinical caseloads composition questions. Job satisfaction is measured by items taken from the National Association of Social Workers’ workplace questionnaire (Whitaker & Arrington, 2008). 161 social workers completed the online survey. It required approximately 35 minutes to complete. This project empirically demonstrated that high-magnitude social work practice (providing therapeutic intervention to trauma survivors, i.e. military service members and veterans) is associated with higher levels of secondary trauma. There is also empirical evidence that self-care strategies can mitigate the impact of the secondary trauma. Educational and workforce implications for study findings are discussed.     

Has the Time Come to Reevaluate Evaluation? or,Who Will Be Accountable for Accountability?

Evaluation with Power: A New Approach to Organizational Effectiveness, Empowerment, and Excellence, by Sandra Trice Gray and Associates. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1998. 178 pp., $28.95 cloth (vinyl). Measuring the Performance of Human Services Programs, by Lawrence L. Martin and Peter M. Kettner. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage, 1996. 138 pp., $44.50 cloth, $21.95 paper. Miles to Go: A Personal History of Social Policy, by Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1996. 256 pp., $22.95 cloth, $14.95 paper. Outcomes Measurement in the Human Services: Cross-Cutting Issues and Methods, edited by Edward J. Mullen and Jennifer L. Magnabosco. Washington, D.C.: National Association of Social Workers, 1997. 337 pp., $29.55 for members of the National Association of Social Workers, $36.95 for nonmembers, paper. The Best of Intentions: The Triumphs and Failures of the Great Society Under Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon, by Irwin Unger. New York: Doubleday, 1996. Out of print.     

Building spiritual sensitivity through an online spirituality course

ABSTRACT

The National Association of Social Workers and Council on Social Work Education define cultural competence and acknowledge the role of spirituality within cultural experiences. Both describe cultural competence as a linear experience that begins with awareness and sensitivity, leading to competence. Understanding the role of spiritual sensitivity in building spiritual competence is essential in social work practice where spirituality informs both assessment and intervention. This qualitative study examines the experiences of 37 undergraduate students in an online spirituality course. Results reveal the emergence of spiritual sensitivity indicated by an awareness of spiritual diversity and need for spiritual competence.     

Teaching Note―Conceptualization of a Contemporary Social Work Ethics Course

This article outlines the conceptualization of a contemporary social work course for the foundation level of a midwestern U.S. master’s of social work program. The conceptualization uses problem-based and applied learning and reflective thinking with attention to the developmental level of students. A brief review of factors to be considered in teaching social work ethics is included. Student learning beyond the National Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics is described as well as the use of an ethical decision-making model.     

Principles of Survey Analysis

Abstract

The National Association of Social Workers developed a methodology for conducting systematic content analysis of social work jobs and the curriculum of a social work program. Although the methodology was created so employers could respond to the declassification phenomenon, potentially it is quite valuable as a curriculum development tool in social work education. A social work program in New Zealand illustrates the usefulness of this approach in curriculum development.     

Is the ACSW examination valid?

The written examination required for membership in the National Association of Social Workers' Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW) purports to be a valid indicator of generalist social work knowledge. We tested this contention by administering a practice ACSW examination, published in the official NASW study guide for the test, to 62 M.S.W. students in their first year of study. This practice test is stated to be equivalent in terms of content and difficulty to the actual examination. We blanked out thequestion content for each of 40 practice test items and requested the students to choose the correct answer from the among the four provided. Probability suggests that the average score should be no better than chance, or about 25% correct (one out of four). In actuality our sample of first year students scored, on average, 40.5% correct, which is statistically significantly higher than chance. These results call into question the content validity of the ACSW examination.     

Grief Resolution of Birthmothers in Confidential,Time-Limited Mediated,Ongoing Mediated,and Fully Disclosed Adoptions

Abstract

This study examines grief resolution issues for 75 birthmothers who placed infants for adoption four to twelve years ago in confidential, time-limited mediated, ongoing mediated, or fully disclosed adoptions. Interview data from sets of birthmothers and adoptive families were analyzed. Birthmothers in each of the four adoption arrangements exhibited the continuum of grief resolution, from “very poor” to nearly “very good” resolution. However, birthmothers in fully disclosed adoptions had significantly better grief resolution than those with confidential and time-limited mediated adoptions, and those in ongoing mediated had better grief resolution than those with time-limited mediated adoptions. Implications of these findings for pre-placement planning as well as pre- and post-adoption services are discussed.     

An Analysis of Leadership Within the Social Work Profession

This article presents the results of a study investigating how individuals currently in leadership positions within the Council on Social Work Education and the National Association of Social Workers perceive social work leadership. A random sample of 75 deans and directors and 75 executive directors and presidents were selected to participate in a telephone survey employing an eight-item, open-ended questionnaire. The findings define leadership within the social work profession and describe social work leadership as different from other professions. The participants identified essential skills for social work leaders and articulated a mission for social work leadership in the 21st century.     

Promoting Election-Related Policy Practice Among Social Work Students

Political involvement is an integral component of the social work profession, yet there is no explicit reference to social work participation in election-related activities in either the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics or the Council on Social Work Education Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. Social work education may offer an opportune time to shape crucial patterns of future electoral participation among social workers. This study examines BSW, MSW, and PhD student electoral involvement during the 2012 presidential election and ways social work program administrators across the country encouraged students to acquire skills and experience in election-related policy practice during the election season. Findings indicate that the extent of opportunities offered to students varied widely across programs as well as across types of electoral activities.     

“Mapping Social Justice”: Integrating Policy Practice Across the Curriculum

ABSTRACT

The National Association of Social Workers and the Council on Social Work Education identify social justice as a guiding principle of the social work profession, yet there is little consensus in the field of what the term actually means and how it can be achieved. Master of Social Work programs are likewise struggling with how to educate students on social justice and prepare them to engage in macro-level advocacy after graduating. This article examines how one student-led social justice initiative at a school of social work is seeking to increase student engagement in macro-level social justice work through the use of targeted advocacy alerts. This article explores the project’s development, implementation, first-year feedback, and modifications made to provide other MSW programs a blueprint to adopt their own version of the project. Findings suggest that the targeted alert model may be successful in engaging clinical MSW students in social justice advocacy.     

Adolescent development and adolescent pregnancy among late age African-American female adolescents

Prematurely constituted families are a problem of considerable magnitude in inner city communities. Research was conducted to compare and contrast a random sample (N36) of pregnant and nonpregnant late age low income African-American adolescent females' perceptions about their transition to adulthood. Findings suggest that adolescent pregnancy, although problematic, may be a solution to developmental concerns for some Black females and serves as a rite of passage to adulthood. Thematic categories of mate selection, opportunity mobility, and care protection represented psychological-attitudinal variables where the two groups differed significantly. Nonpregnant females were more frequently invested in behaviors that reflected social mobility goals than pregnant females.This article is a revised version of a paper presented at the 3rd Statewide Social Work Symposium, The Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, Marlborough, Mass, 4/22/94.     

Multiculturalism in Social Work Ethics

The authors analyze the treatment of multiculturalism in the 1999 National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, arguing that it presents multiculturalism as a knowledge base and area in which social workers should demonstrate competence rather than as a guiding principle of virtuous practice. They criticize the ramifications of this application, and propose three arguments for repositioning multiculturalism in the Code as a principle of ethical practice rather than a specific knowledge area.     

Social Work Field Instructors’ Views and Implementation of Evidence-Based Practice

This article presents the results of a cross-sectional study of social work field instructors’ views of and implementation of the evidence-based practice (EBP) process and compares their responses with non-field instructors. A total of 688 National Association of Social Workers/Texas members (107 of which were field instructors) anonymously responded to an online administration of the Evidence-Based Practice Process Assessment Scale–Short. The results suggest generally positive attitudes among field instructors and high levels of familiarity but lower levels of perceived feasibility and engagement in the EBP process. In addition, field instructors and non-field instructors did not differ significantly across the 4 subscales or overall orientation toward the EBP process. Implications and future steps for social work education are discussed.