{"title":"Leveraging Legal Determinants of Health for Evidence-Based Care Among People Identifying as LGBTQ.","authors":"Jean E Balestrery","doi":"10.1080/26408066.2025.2524044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/26408066.2025.2524044","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73742,"journal":{"name":"Journal of evidence-based social work (2019)","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144499755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stephanie H Ratliff, Aaron R Brown, Natalie D Pope
{"title":"Prevalence of Substance Use Management Practices in Domestic Violence Shelters in Kentucky.","authors":"Stephanie H Ratliff, Aaron R Brown, Natalie D Pope","doi":"10.1080/26408066.2025.2524042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/26408066.2025.2524042","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Intimate partner violence is a pervasive issue in the United States, and survivors frequently experience co-occurring problems such as substance use disorders. Domestic violence shelters play a crucial role in providing safety and support. However, little is known about the extent to which shelters implement substance use management practices. This study examined the utilization of substance use management practices (SUMPs) across Kentucky's domestic violence shelters.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In July 2020, an online survey was conducted with executive directors from all 15 agencies operating domestic violence shelters in Kentucky. SUMPs were examined and compared between shelters in rural and urban locations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most directors reported routine use of substance use screening tools by their domestic violence programs. Overall, programs implemented a medium level of SUMPs and policies aligned with harm reduction. Urban shelters tended to implement more SUMPs and be more aligned with harm reduction compared to shelters in rural locations.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Most participating domestic violence shelters included routinely screen for substance use and implement SUMPs aligned with harm reduction. However, a quarter of programs do not routinely screen for substance use. Some programs, especially those in rural areas, are lacking in their implementation of SUMPs. Shelter staff should inform survivors of available resources, communicate substance-related practices and policies to community partners who may need to refer survivors to shelter, and use emerging evidence to leverage support for funding and resources for survivors. Future participatory research that includes survivor and front-line staff perspectives is needed to drive practice and policy change.</p>","PeriodicalId":73742,"journal":{"name":"Journal of evidence-based social work (2019)","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144499756","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sonia García-Aguña, Daniel Fernández-Roses, Lorena Patricia Gallardo-Peralta, Esteban Sánchez-Moreno
{"title":"Social Relations and Digital Inclusion: Barriers, Facilitators and Impact on the Interactions Among Older Adults in Spain.","authors":"Sonia García-Aguña, Daniel Fernández-Roses, Lorena Patricia Gallardo-Peralta, Esteban Sánchez-Moreno","doi":"10.1080/26408066.2025.2521518","DOIUrl":"10.1080/26408066.2025.2521518","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Accelerated demographic aging, alongside the digital transformation and ongoing development of information and communication technologies (ICTs), presents both challenges and opportunities for the digital inclusion of older adults.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This qualitative study, conducted in the Community of Madrid, examines the experiences of men and women aged over 65 years in terms of ICT use, focusing on digital skills, intrinsic and extrinsic barriers, and the impact of ageism on their technological literacy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings indicate that although there are benefits to digital connectivity, significant obstacles remain, such as ageism, a lack of sustained community support and inaccessibility in key digital environments.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The results align with the two main theories that underpin the article; however, the primary phenomenon that serves as the central focus following an in-depth analysis is ageism, including in its self-inflicted form.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results highlight the urgent need for policies and interventions that promote digital literacy. The evidence shows that digital inclusion for older adults becomes achievable when tailored training is provided.</p>","PeriodicalId":73742,"journal":{"name":"Journal of evidence-based social work (2019)","volume":" ","pages":"1-18"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144337306","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Student Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence: Challenges, Opportunities, and Societal Implications.","authors":"Ishita Kapur, Caroline N Sharkey, Cheng Ren","doi":"10.1080/26408066.2025.2517073","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/26408066.2025.2517073","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Artificial intelligence (AI) presents unique advancements in technology that involve both challenges and opportunities. However, student perspectives regarding the multifaceted impact of AI are less known in the current literature. To address this gap, the current study was undertaken to explore social work students' perceptions and concerns associated with AI technologies.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We conducted structured interviews with students (<i>n</i> = 15) in social work programs. We developed an interview guide with a list of questions to ask students, and no prior knowledge of AI was required by the students.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach that resulted in five themes: 1) Increased efficiency, 2) Ethical considerations, 3) Risk concerns, 4) Psychological impacts, and 5) Societal impacts.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The social work discipline needs to augment efforts into research on the utility of AI in social services delivery and social work education. There is also a need to explore students' perspectives on the use of AI technologies and the potential ways in which these technologies can be used by educators and social work professionals to increase efficiency in social services while mitigating identified risks, ethical concerns, and psychosocial impacts. Recommendations are made regarding digital literacy, enhanced student learning, ethics, and accreditation standards.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study highlights the need to gain an understanding of how AI technologies influence human perception and provides recommendations for better integration of AI in social work educational curricula and ways to promote AI among students, given its ethical implications and practical application.</p>","PeriodicalId":73742,"journal":{"name":"Journal of evidence-based social work (2019)","volume":" ","pages":"1-27"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144267995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Micki Washburn, Paul Ziemba, Elizabeth Eng, Leslie Cantu, Jake Ziemba
{"title":"A Preliminary Evaluation of Virtual Reality Mindfulness Tool for Veterans with Pain and Anxiety.","authors":"Micki Washburn, Paul Ziemba, Elizabeth Eng, Leslie Cantu, Jake Ziemba","doi":"10.1080/26408066.2025.2511953","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/26408066.2025.2511953","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Veterans often face a unique combination of physical and mental health challenges resulting from their military service. Often, these health concerns require different approaches to care, resulting in gaps service and increased overall stress levels; however, mindfulness-based strategies have demonstrated potential for simultaneously addressing multiple physical and mental health concerns, such as chronic pain, anxiety and stress.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This work presents the results of a collaboration with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) assessing the preliminary acceptability and usability of a newly developed virtual reality-based mindfulness tool, <i>DawnVR</i><sup><i>TM</i></sup>.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results indicate that the <i>DawnVR</i><sup><i>TM</i></sup> software had high levels of preliminary acceptability and usability. Moreover, the majority of users reported a decrease in their anxiety, pain and overall stress levels after one session of use.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These data lend support for the acceptability, ease of use and provide initial effectiveness data on the use of <i>DawnVR</i><sup><i>TM</i></sup> to assist in decreasing physical pain and anxiety in a sample of military service Veterans. Adding VR-based approaches to routine treatment has the potential to improve Veterans' overall experiences with care and may provide an option to improve Veterans self-management of their symptoms of pain and anxiety.</p>","PeriodicalId":73742,"journal":{"name":"Journal of evidence-based social work (2019)","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144175515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Understanding Posttraumatic Growth in Conflict-Affected Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Scoping Review.","authors":"Irfan Fayaz, Pulkit Khanna","doi":"10.1080/26408066.2025.2510277","DOIUrl":"10.1080/26408066.2025.2510277","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports that armed conflicts burden children, comprising nearly half of the population in most war and conflict regions. Despite experiencing trauma from exposure to armed conflict, some children experience positive psychological change as well. The study aims to systematically review existing literature to explore the factors that promote posttraumatic growth in children and adolescents exposed to armed conflict.</p><p><strong>Material and method: </strong>This systematic scoping review followed five consecutive steps specified in the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Exploring six databases, PubMed, Science Direct, ProQuest, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science, we identified and assessed 51 articles, of which seven satisfied the inclusion criteria.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The review findings suggest that the mean prevalence of posttraumatic growth in children and adolescents exposed to armed conflict ranges from 2.50 to 81.84 as per the posttraumatic growth inventory total scores (using the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory), with possible scores ranging from 0 to 105. Demographic factors and posttraumatic stress, religious and cultural practices, and social support were suggested to be associated with posttraumatic growth.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Overall, varied degrees of growth were found to be a recurring phenomenon among survivors of armed conflict. The study found that sociocultural context was one of the crucial factors associated with posttraumatic growth.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We dive into the potential implications for practical applications, policy development, and the direction of future endeavors.</p>","PeriodicalId":73742,"journal":{"name":"Journal of evidence-based social work (2019)","volume":" ","pages":"1-21"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144164051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sadananda Reddy, Aarti Jagannathan, Thomas M Kishore, Pascal Philippe Rudin
{"title":"Unlocking Academic Success: Mechanisms of Supported Education Programs for Persons with Severe Mental Disorders - A Realist Review.","authors":"Sadananda Reddy, Aarti Jagannathan, Thomas M Kishore, Pascal Philippe Rudin","doi":"10.1080/26408066.2025.2506792","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/26408066.2025.2506792","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Supported Education Programs (SEPs) are innovative initiatives to empower persons with Severe Mental Disorders (SMDs) to successfully reintegrate into the educational system. The purpose of this study is to determine how, for whom, why, and in what circumstances SEPs help in academic reintegration of persons with SMDs.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Realist synthesis was conducted in keeping with the six steps of Realist and Meta narrative Evidence Synthesis Evolving Standards (RAMESES) guidelines by using four databases (PubMed, ProQuest, EBSCO host, OVID). The analysis focused on building an explanatory framework of what works, for whom, in what context, and how in SEPs for people with SMDs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>SEPs were comprehensive and focused on participants' academic and psychosocial aspects. Mechanisms that worked for the success of SEPs were integrated approaches, bridge programs, augmenting cognitive remediation, psychosocial interventions as part of SEPs, and collaboration with education, health, employment, and rehabilitation - integration of classroom teaching and internship, availability and accessibility of a multidisciplinary team, availability of funding.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>SEPs are an essential intervention under the ambit of psychosocial rehabilitation for persons with SMDs. This review provides compelling evidence of mechanisms for the effectiveness of SEPs in addressing the multifaceted needs of individuals with SMDs. By fostering academic success, vocational stability, and psychosocial well-being.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>SEPs would be delivered through an individualized case management approach. Tailored to each client's specific context and needs, mechanisms must be implemented to facilitate academic reintegration under contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":73742,"journal":{"name":"Journal of evidence-based social work (2019)","volume":" ","pages":"1-24"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144152910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Social Work and Sexual Minorities: The Health and Psychosocial Realities of Queer Men in Nigeria and Its Implication for Social Work Practice.","authors":"Prince Chiagozie Ekoh, Ellis Onyedikachi George","doi":"10.1080/26408066.2025.2463381","DOIUrl":"10.1080/26408066.2025.2463381","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Nigeria is a nation characterized by diverse cultures, religions, and policies that often foster discrimination, oppression, and violence against sexual minorities. This hostile environment can significantly impact social work practices involving these groups. Consequently, this study aimed to investigate the health and psychosocial realities of queer men in Nigeria and their implications for social work practice.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative phenomenological approach was adopted for the study. Data were collected from 28 participants, including 16 queer men and 12 social workers, and analyzed thematically.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings revealed experiences of discrimination and insecurity, which contribute to both physical and psychological health issues. Additionally, the study highlighted a lack of understanding and acceptance among social workers regarding practices involving sexual minorities in Nigeria.</p><p><strong>Discourse: </strong>The results highlight how queer individuals may experience limited access to healthcare and receive limited support from social workers in advancing their healthcare needs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>It is recommended that social work education incorporate discussions around working with sexual minorities, as a better understanding of this population will enhance acceptance, improve practice, and encourage advocacy for reform in discriminatory policies and practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":73742,"journal":{"name":"Journal of evidence-based social work (2019)","volume":" ","pages":"408-425"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143366952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Addressing Intervention Fit When Developing Services for Adolescents Leaving Care - An Empirical Assessment of Measurement Invariance and Latent Mean Differences in Theoretically Defined Mediators.","authors":"Matilda Karlsson","doi":"10.1080/26408066.2025.2463376","DOIUrl":"10.1080/26408066.2025.2463376","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>A good fit between program theory and the needs of the target population is essential to the success of an intervention. Still, empirical investigation of fit is a rare activity in theoretical frameworks for intervention development. The study objective was to inform the development of relevant support for youth transitioning from out-of-home care (OHC) in Sweden in light of intervention fit. Self-efficacy, mental health, resilience, and self-determination have been identified as potentially important malleable mediators that can be targeted by independent living services (ILS). This study aimed to establish the extent to which measurement instruments used to capture these mediators measure similarly across youth that belong to a potential target population for ILS and those who do not.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A cross-sectional survey design was used to compare youth with and without experience of OHC on the four study outcomes using a multi-group measurement invariance analysis and latent mean comparison.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All scales demonstrated scalar invariance or partial scalar invariance. Contrary to initial hypothesis, no differences in latent means were found.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Four potential interpretations of the results were discussed. Conclusion: The study identified a potential discrepancy between theoretical assumptions and empirical characteristics relevant to development of ILS for youth with experience of OHC in Sweden. Moreover, it highlighted the importance of exploring theoretical core mediators empirically in the target population in the process of intervention development and evaluation.</p>","PeriodicalId":73742,"journal":{"name":"Journal of evidence-based social work (2019)","volume":" ","pages":"371-393"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143375091","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Arif Ullah, Md Shakhawat Hossain, Soriya Zahan Emo
{"title":"Key Challenges Experienced by Bangladeshi Human Trafficking Survivors During Social Reintegration: Insights from Survivors, Experts, and Social Workers.","authors":"Arif Ullah, Md Shakhawat Hossain, Soriya Zahan Emo","doi":"10.1080/26408066.2025.2456760","DOIUrl":"10.1080/26408066.2025.2456760","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Human trafficking survivors' successful social reintegration is of paramount importance. However, survivors found it difficult to build their lives in Bangladesh upon return. The specific challenges encountered by Bangladeshi trafficking survivors remain underexplored, particularly regarding individual, socio-cultural, and systematic factors. We aim to investigate the obstacles survivors encounter during social reintegration by examining survivors' experiences, and subjective perspectives of experts and social workers who provide life-skill and vocational training to survivors.</p><p><strong>Materials and method: </strong>This qualitative study intends to gather in-depth insights by conducting 40 semi-structured interviews with the key stakeholders, including survivors, experts, and service providers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After thematically analyzing the qualitative data, the study denotes that survivors encountered several challenges to social reintegration, including social stigmatization, victim blaming, family rejection, limited access to essential support services, economic hardship, health issues, and difficulties in relationships. Notably, social reintegration is more challenging for female survivors than for male survivors in Bangladesh due to the widespread misconceptions about sex work and trafficking.</p><p><strong>Discussion and conclusion: </strong>Our findings contribute to the literature by offering new insights regarding previously underexplored challenges to social reintegration, highlighting significant gender differences in social stigmatization and systematic barriers like the scarcity of essential support services. Finally, the article puts forward actionable implications for social workers and policymakers in developing targeted interventions to foster survivors' successful social reintegration in Bangladesh, ultimately contributing to achieving the UN SDGs, especially Goals 1 (No Poverty), 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 5 (Gender Equality), and 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).</p>","PeriodicalId":73742,"journal":{"name":"Journal of evidence-based social work (2019)","volume":" ","pages":"334-356"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143017712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}