Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal最新文献

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 trends, Chile has also seen a rise in contested adoptions from care. These ongoing transformations present both significant challenges and critical opportunities to reorient child protection and adoption policies. This article examines the evolution, current dynamics, and future prospects of the Chilean adoption system across cultural, legal, institutional, and practical dimensions. We analyze the implications of these changes for adoption policies and practices, highlighting the urgent need for a child-centered approach.

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 (17 and 18) and conducted multilevel logistic regression analyses to examine the link between demographic, environmental, and health factors and sexual harassment. 20% of older adolescents reported being sexually harassed in the past year. Girls were twice as likely and bisexual/pansexual participants were three times as likely to experience harassment, relative to males and heterosexual participants, respectively. Sexual harassment was associated with multiple health problems (PTSD, anxiety, and depression) and frequency of alcohol use. It was inversely related to positive school peer climate. Findings underscore the health consequences of sexual harassment, especially for female and gender and sexual minority adolescents, who are at higher risk. Interventions focused on improving mental wellbeing should include sexual harassment prevention and vice versa. Given our finding that positive school climate is associated with less sexual harassment, school-based interventions should be employed to promote a harassment-free environment.

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 support their healthy use of technology. This study examined the perspectives of independent living workers (n = 58) on technology use by youth in substitute care, and the ways in which workers facilitate technology access and use among youth on their caseload. Participants completed an online survey focused on four areas including (1) workers’ role in how youth access and use devices, (2) reports of youth on their caseload experiencing harm online, (3) perceptions of social media use among youth in care, and (4) workers’ exposure to and desire for training and support related to assisting the youth on their caseload with their use of social media. Results indicate that independent living workers are well positioned to play an important role in supporting both agencies and youth in technology use. These results emphasize the importance of support mechanisms and training initiatives tailored to address the evolving landscape of technology use among youth in care, especially as they prepare for the transition to adulthood. By understanding and leveraging the perspectives of independent living workers, agencies can better equip youth with the necessary skills and safeguards to navigate the digital world effectively as they transition into adulthood.

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 purposive sampling (M ± SD age = 15.74 ± 1.22 years) from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Multi-dimensional Peer Victimization Scale (MPVS), Coping Strain Scale from PS Scales (PSS-40), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used to assess study variables. Bullying positively influenced suicidal ideation both directly and indirectly via coping strain and depression. Both variables were found to be serially mediated by coping strain and depression. The strain theory of suicide also posits important insights regarding the association of variables in adolescents, where bullying serially associated to coping strain first and then depression, which ultimately leads to suicidal ideation. These findings suggest that psychological interventions aimed at mitigating coping strain and depressive symptoms may be particularly effective in reducing suicidal ideation among individuals with a history of bullying victimization.

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 reasons for carrying out corrective measures, and children’s and parents’ opinions on corrective measures and their appropriateness. Secondary mixed-method data from the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection was used for this study. The quantitative data involved 5,024 children aged 8 to 17, while the qualitative data involved 10 focus group discussions and 50 key informant interviews. Respondents were from 48 districts selected from all regions of Ghana. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s chi-square were used to analyze the quantitative data, while the qualitative data were thematically analyzed. About 88% of children experienced corrective measures for their misbehavior at home in the last six months. Corporal punishment was the most common corrective measure used for children, and more mothers disciplined children than fathers. However, mothers disciplined children for minor misbehaviors, while fathers disciplined children for major misbehaviors. Generally, children and parents agreed on the need to discipline children for their misbehavior. However, children are of the view that the corrective measure should be non-violent. Corporal punishment was the most common discipline measure used for children. Parents should be educated to use non-violent corrective measures that do not endanger children when disciplining them.

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 predictors of SI among adolescents engaged in risky substance use can provide valuable information for customized treatment planning. The present study is a secondary analysis of data from a racially and ethnically diverse sample of 396 adolescents receiving outpatient substance use treatment services to identify predictors of SI. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted by entering variables sequentially in four blocks: (a) gender, (b) internalizing psychiatric symptoms, externalizing psychiatric symptoms, (c) drug abuse and dependence symptoms, alcohol abuse and dependence symptoms, and (d) negative parent relations, positive parent relations to determine the unique contribution of each block. This analysis revealed that internalizing psychiatric disorder symptoms, gender, and alcohol abuse and dependence symptoms were each significant predictors of mean SI scores. Overall, the results suggested that female clients entering substance abuse treatment may have higher levels of distress than male clients and require more careful screening. Additionally, tailored integrated treatment planning for clients with complex patterns of comorbid internalizing disorder symptoms and alcohol use disorder symptoms may lead to better overall treatment outcomes.

International research has consistently identified that care-experienced young women are disproportionately likely to become mothers at an early age and benefit from the availability of comprehensive services and supports. This study addresses a paucity of prevalence data in the Australian context by identifying and describing the population of young mothers, aged 15–24, who spent time in out-of-home care (OOHC) in New South Wales between 2009 and 2019. It also makes a novel contribution to the literature by identifying placement patterns during and after first pregnancies. Main findings include that care-experienced young women are three times more likely to give birth than their peers in the majority population and report high rates of smoking during pregnancy and receipt of fewer than the recommended number of prenatal health care visits. The findings also indicate that pathways into motherhood from OOHC are often marked by instability and uncertainty, consisting of frequent perinatal placement changes and exits from OOHC during pregnancy. This indicates that targeted interventions are needed to promote placement stability and supported transitions from OOHC to enhance the health and well-being of care-experienced young mothers and their babies. Directions for future research include the identification of variables associated with perinatal placement stability, consistent healthcare usage, and smoking cessation.

Parental substance use disorder is a risk factor for child maltreatment and negative child behaviors. It is important to understand protective factors for families experiencing co-occurring parental substance use disorder and child maltreatment to develop strength-based interventions. The aim of this study was to (1) explore levels of protective factors for families with substance use disorder and (2) examine associations between family protective factors and child behaviors. Families (N = 124) were recruited from Ohio START, a child protection model for families affected by co-occurring child maltreatment and parental substance use disorders. Ohio START is a certified affiliate of the national START (Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams) model with a mission of reducing child maltreatment and increasing stability and self-sufficiency among families. A hierarchical linear regression model revealed that higher levels of family functioning (p =.029) and parenting knowledge (p <.001) were significantly associated with lower levels of child externalizing behaviors. Higher levels of family functioning (p =.012) and parenting knowledge (p <.001) were also associated with lower levels of internalizing behaviors. Findings indicate that psychosocial family-based interventions may be helpful in promoting positive behavioral health outcomes among children affected by parental substance use disorder and child maltreatment.

This study examines the ethical dilemmas that social workers confront when referring to privately owned therapeutic boarding schools, using Iowa’s Midwest Academy as a case study. It critically examines the conflict between parental preferences for residential treatment and the growing body of evidence advocating for less restrictive, community-based interventions as more effective for adolescents. The research uncovers diverse parental motivations for choosing residential programs, from seeking a fresh start to implementing behavioral control strategies. These motivations are set against a backdrop of mental health and educational systems prioritizing evidence-based, regulated care approaches. Profound ethical concerns arise with placements in unregulated Troubled Teen Industry (TTI) facilities, which lack licensing, accreditation, and qualified mental health professionals, thereby posing grave risks to youth’s welfare. The case of the Midwest Academy is utilized to illustrate the ethical breaches, including allegations of abuse, neglect, and substandard mental health care, highlighting the dangers of such placements. The discussion extends to the responsibilities of social workers in making ethical referrals, emphasizing adherence to national and international ethical codes. Advocating for a cautious, principle-driven referral process, the paper argues for prioritizing accredited, evidence-based services to protect young clients and uphold the integrity of the social work profession. It concludes with a call for a collaborative decision-making process in managing complex referral scenarios, contributing to the discourse on ethical practices in social work and emphasizing the need for continuous scrutiny of referral practices to privately owned therapeutic programs.

The majority of youth who experience foster care want to go to college. Unfortunately, few achieve their post-secondary goals. Many states have developed programs and policies to increase the level of support available to students who have experienced foster care (SEFC). However, most of these initiatives have not been evaluated. The present study examines two emergent strategies in Texas; a) an unfunded legislative mandate to appoint a liaison on every college/university campus to serve SEFC and, b) a grassroots movement to develop campus support programs for SEFC at particular institutions. We evaluate these programs and policies using a unique data set that merges historical data from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, academic records from the Texas Higher Education Board, and primary data collected from campus websites and liaison surveys. Our data from 2012–2021 revealed that retention rates for SEFC did not increase in association with the liaison legislation. However, our analysis from the 2020–2021 academic year revealed that students who attended four-year universities with a campus support program had significantly higher retention rates than students who attended comparable schools without these programs (41% higher). However, we did not find a benefit of campus support programs for students attending community colleges. We conclude that higher education support can improve retention rates of SEFC. However, success is not guaranteed, but rather is contingent on funding, execution, and context. We call for ongoing assessment of existing strategies in order to identify best practices for improving post-secondary outcomes of SEFC.