Women are the majority population in Texas that participate in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and public housing assistance programs. TANF focuses on mandatory work requirements with a time-limit on assistance and lack of education opportunities. This dissertation documents post-secondary education opportunities for Texas women…

This qualitative action research case study examined the high school to college transition experiences of 11 Latino/a parents of first-generation college students. Participants attended a two-day workshop series, the purpose of which was to provide parents with college knowledge information to better support their children when transitioning to…

A new mobile application (app) was developed by the Military REACH team. It delivered research-backed professional development content to practicing human and family service providers over the course of eight weeks. The app aimed to enhance their ability to provide services that meet the unique needs of Service member, Veteran, and military family…

Throughout the United States, approximately 2.7 million grandparents are the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) created a standard of practice and established policies to equip social workers to support grandparent caregivers. However, grandparents caring for children with autism spectrum…

Understanding the factors that lead to academic resilience and success despite daily challenges that first-generation Latinx students face is imperative to finding solutions and increasing advocacy efforts for the Latinx population. To understand the factors that increase academic resilience and success, it is important to understand the barriers…

The research study was conducted to analyze effect of an attendance support team in urban middle schools. The study utilized a six-month time window using students in three middle schools that accumulated five unexcused absences. The attendance support team was comprised of a school social worker, a family resource student support coordinator, a…

South Lee Middle School is a small, rural school with approximately 270 students located in north Mississippi. The central issue of concern at South Lee Middle School was low levels of student academic growth in mathematics according to state assessments. An informal preliminary analysis identified root causes of this concern as a lack of…

As the number of students on the autism spectrum rises, educational services and social support for this population continue to develop and expand. Parents of those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) receive information, guidance, and support as they work closely with K-12 teachers, therapists, medical professionals, and social service…

This exploratory study aims to answer questions related to highly recognized parent/family engagement programs and the ways in which they are organized, operated, and resourced; undertake innovative events and services; use and learn from assessment; and face challenges. Directors of 34 specifically selected highly recognized parent/family…

The purpose of this study was to examine the challenges that Hispanic parents in the autism spectrum disorder encounter with their child in the autism spectrum disorder, and how these difficulties impact their quality of life. This study is important because there is an increase in the number of adults in the spectrum who have not received the…

Having a child with special needs can be overwhelming, emotionally draining and extremely stressful for parents and their family members. Research identifies the support systems families need in order to have quality-of-life. The current study uses mixed methods to evaluate the degree to which parents and other primary caregivers in Arizona view…

In this dissertation, I examine how two major social programs in Kentucky--state-funded preK and Family Resource and Youth Service Centers--impact children's outcomes across the state, including racial, ethnic, and economic equity through elementary school. In each chapter, I will analyze how early childhood opportunities relate to outcomes…

This study sought to determine whether a book provision intervention delivered to low-income mothers participating in the Nurse-Family Partnership had an effect on family shared book reading patterns and family attitudes toward shared book reading. The 25 participants in this study were low-income, first-time mothers, aged 18-25 with infants,…

Little research has been devoted to the study of parent centers serving culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) families of children with disabilities. Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs), provide information and emotional supports to families from traditionally underserved communities. The traditionally underserved for the most part are…

Early childhood is often a time when parents of children with autism begin to learn about their child's diagnosis and the world of special education, a time of uncertainty and emotion. This narrative inquiry sought to give voice to parents of children with autism who have navigated public early childhood special education. The results were…