Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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Item What about the black child awaiting adoption?(1973-05-01) Young, William Louis,1949-Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe and analyze the problem of the black adoptable child, using information from professional articles and other sources, including studies of community efforts to cope with the problem, over twenty-year period. It is hoped that a summary of this information and proposed solutions will be useful to those interested in the welfare of black children without homes. Many believe that placing minority group children in homes should be approached as a special problem different and separate from the problem of other hard-to-place children. In the case of these hard-to-place children, the older, the handicapped, and the sibling group, agencies have discovered that homes can be found for them if sufficient initiative, determination, imagination and courage are extended on their behalf. Even with the extension of such efforts on behalf of black children most of the time these efforts prove fruitless. A major portion of these children are top adoptable, in that they are free from any physical or severe emotional problems, yet their chances for adoption are so slim that they are virtually unadoptable. Today may be: First, we have deeper understanding of children’s needs and the importance and extent of damage to their personalities when they are deprived of love and care of permanent homes and placed in institutions. Second, there is a definite lack of sufficient foster homes. A result of this concern is that some public and private agencies have become aware of the problem and are pressuring for a nationwide drive to provide for these children. It is felt that a study of this nature will not only be helpful but extremely useful to anyone interested in this area. Methods This study begins with a slight introduction giving a brief history to hard-to-place children, going back to the very beginning of adoptions and ending with the present situation. This introduction is followed by statistical based plight of the black child and some related literature from research studies and articles in this area. Alternative adoption programs such as subsidized adoption, quasi-adoption or permanent foster homes, interracial adoption and single-parents adoption are discussed with interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations concluding this study. The primary sources of data for this study consist of research evaluating and recording information from various books, articles and periodicals, pamphlets, child welfare league reprints, newspaper articles and the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Findings Having analyzed the collected data, the author has arrived at the following conclusions: 1. The problem of insufficient black adoptive homes for children awaiting placement does not stem from ignorance or apathy in the black community. Adoptions are familiar to the black community and those in a position to adopt do so. Many of these adoptions are arranged between the mother and adoptive families or through the services of a doctor, minster, or interested person. 2. Black applicants are not extremely fearful of the adoption agency or the background of the black children available through these placement agencies. 3. Reluctance of the black applicant to adopt is related to their economic situation. It is the stability of income and employment rather than the size of their income that influences adoption. Presently a majority of blacks have marginal incomes or have newly acquired a middle-class status. Though they are economically secure, psychologically they still contemplate their future as unstable. The addition of a child in this situation would threaten their future, as well as that of the child. 4. Withdrawals of black applicants could possibly be prevented if there were less formality and adherence to rigid procedures, allowing the development of early rapport between caseworker and applicant. 5. Agencies need a self-critical attitude in their polices, requirements, and procedures with reference to black applicants. 6. Development of uniformity among adoption agencies regarding treatment of black applicants would prevent distrust and confusion for prospective applicants. 7. Because of cultural differences between the white and black applicant, there should be differentiation in eligibility requirements. This is not a lowering of standards but a difference in dealing with two separate groups. 8. Cooperation is needed between states, such as an adoption resources exchange, so that no opportunity would be overlooked in placing the available black children. 9. Recruitment programs should explain the needs of the available black children, but with more emphasis on the satisfactions and rewards these children can give to those who adopt them. 10. No matter what device is used to recruit black adoptive families, a routine-coordinated program is necessary. An educational and interpretational program regarding the purpose and philosophy of adoption as well as the rationale for agency requirements and procedures should be a part of the agency’s recruitment of black adoptive families. 11. Two-parent self-sufficient adoptive homes may not be available for all the black children awaiting adoptive placement. This means that other alternatives need to be utilized for these children. 12. The alternative adoption programs, subsidized adoption, quasi-adoption, single-parents adoption, and interracial adoption are presently used infrequently in the United States. More study and experimentation is necessary before an all-out acceptance of any one of these alternative programs may be apparent. This may mean a change in the philosophy of adoption.Item A study of juveniles referred to the Potter County Juvenile Probation Department for Runaway, 1968 through 1972(1975-05-01) Watson, Larry Dan,1949-Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore the sociological implications of runaway children and their processing within the juvenile justice system. The study was an examination and comparison of demographic characteristic of children referred to the Potter County Juvenile Court as runaways. An examination was made of how the runaway child was processed before the enactment of the Texas Family Code to provide a source of comparison in evaluation the impact of the Family Code on the juvenile court in its processing of the runaway child. Methods The universe of the study was the total referrals to the Potter County Juvenile Probation Department during the period form 1968 through 1972. Out of this group, every juvenile who had been referred for running away was identified. Those who had home addresses outside Potter County were eliminated. It was this five year period of runaway cases, whose home addresses were in Potter County, that constituted the sample of the study. Information was gathered which included the child’s sex, race, age, residency of child, source of referral, offense, disposition and whether the disposition was official court action or administrative decision. This information was transferred to computer cards, and a computer was utilized in compiling the data. A composite of the annual reports of the Chief Probation Officer for the five year period being considered was prepared. Findings 1. During the five year period, runaway referrals steadily declined from 98 referrals in 1972. At the same time police statistics show a marked increase during the same period. The indication being that the runaway is being dealt with in setting other than the juvenile court. 2. Females were more frequently referred for running away from home than males. There were 247 females (60 percent) referred during this period of time compared to 165 males (40 percent) that were referred. 3. The most frequently referred juvenile was the Caucasian female, followed by the Caucasian male. These two groups accounted for 371 of the total runaway referrals, leaving only 41 to all other categories. 4. Minority group males were the least often referred (2.1 percent) of all groups. 5. Fifteen year olds were the most frequently (29 percent) referred age group. 6. Children who ran away most often with both natural parents, however, those from one natural parent homes were referred nearly as frequently (546 from natural parent homes as compared with 506 from one natural parent homes). 7. Of the total group of runaway referrals, their next most common offense was for burglary. 8. Of the 178 juveniles placed on official probation during the five year period, 86, or slightly less than one-half of them had been referred at least once during that time for running away. 9. Of the 102 juveniles committed to the Texas Youth Council during the five year period, 54, or over one-half of them, had been referred at least once for running away. 10. The 412 juveniles studied accounted for 549 referrals other than runaway referrals. 11. Of the 33 girls committed to the Texas Youth Council, 24 had been referred at least once for runaway. 12. The 412 juveniles accounted for 686 runaway referrals. 13. During the five year period, the Potter County Juvenile Probation Department processed 686 runaway referrals in which the child was a resident of Potter County and 615 cases in which the child was a resident of another county or state.Item A study of variables from the Houston Alcoholism Rehabilitation Project relating to acceptance of alcoholics into a vocational rehabilitation program(1973-08-01) Stapler, Pat G.,1929-Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in specific demographic, social, and psychometric factors that existed between those diagnosed alcoholics who were not accepted and those who were accepted for vocational rehabilitation services. The findings of this study are directed toward use by the vocational rehabilitation counselors working in the field of alcoholism. This project was funded through a Social and Rehabilitation Service innovation grant beginning September 1, 1966 and ending June 30, 1969. Methods: The primary sources of data were obtained from 540 applicants during the rehabilitation period at the Houston Alcoholism Rehabilitation Project. A social history, general medical, psychiatric and vocation evaluation was recorded. A battery of psychological tests—the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Edwards Personal Preference Schedule, and the Peabody Verbal I.Q.—were administered. The secondary sources of information included studies of similar multidisciplinary projects, agency statistics, articles, books, reports, abstracts, journals, and records. The data were analyzed by relating main background, social history, intelligence and personality factors. Statistical techniques used were chi square, multiple correlation, and regression analysis. Forty-three variables were used in the study. Multiple correlation was used on 34 variables with a subsequent multiple regression to determine the significant variables. Nine of the forty-three variables tabulated by chi square significantly differentiated the accepted from the not accepted clients. Findings: 1. The data reveal that the results of this study were unique in that HARP referrals were comprised of a cross-section of individuals. Since no screening measures were used for control or experimental groups plus no restriction as to age, sex, socio-economic status and occupation levels, the HARProject was not entirely similar to any previous multidisciplinary research studies. 2. Significant differences existed in the baseline characteristics—age, educations and occupation. The accepted group tended to be from the middle age group 30 to 49 education was in the class intervals of 8-11, 12, and 13-15 years, and occupation was usually white collar or skilled worker. The not accepted tended, as a group, to be in the twenties or in the 60-69 age group, had less than an eighth grade education or had received a college degree, and was primarily an unskilled laborer or occasionally a professional. 3. Two social factors differentiated the accepted vocational rehabilitation client from the not accepted vocational rehabilitation client. The accepted client was more likely to have previously received group psychotherapy and/or individual psychotherapy, whole the not accepted client had not received individual psychotherapy and/or group psychotherapy. 4. The accepted applicants had higher verbal I.Q.’s, were more aggressive than the not accepted. However, the accepted applicant had less need to help others than the not accepted.Item Analysis of drinking behavior and its relationship to selected demographic variables among a group of incarcerated male felons(1976-08-01) Small, Hyman J.,1946-Purpose: The purpose of this study was to supplement existing research which has focused on the question of how alcohol is involved in criminality. In order to achieve its purpose, the study attempted to answer the following research questions: (1) Whit is the extent of alcohol use among a group of newly incarcerated male felons? (2) What is the incidence of various types of drinking behaviors found within this same population? (3) Are there any significant difference in drinking behavior when male felons are categorized by selected demographic variables of race, age, and education? (4) Are there any significant differences in drinking behavior when male felons are categorized by the offense for which they are presently incarcerated? Methods: The sample of this study came from the most recently incarcerated male offenders being sent to the Diagnostic Unit in the Texas department of Corrections. The data for this study was collected by utilizing a structured questionnaire which was given to all incoming inmates at the Diagnostic Unit during their Orientation program. A Chi Square analysis of data utilized in order to determine significant differences. Findings: 1. This study indicates that 94 percent of the inmate sample used alcoholic beverages. 2. Over two-thirds of the sample could be classified as moderate to heavy drinkers. 3. There is no significant difference in drinking behaviors when male felons are categorized by certain demographic variables such as age, race, and education. 4. There is no significant difference in drinking behaviors when male felons are categorized by the offense for which they are presently incarcerated. Conclusions: A major conclusion of this study is that a significantly large percentage of incarcerated felons are users of alcoholic beverages; 96 percent answered affirmatively when asked if they used alcohol. In addition, it is concluded that alcohol plays a significant part in being involved in crimes for which men in prison are incarcerated. Finally, alcohol use among inmates is not significantly related to age, race, educational attainment or types of crimes for which they are incarcerated.Item Child abuse and social class(1976-05-01) Rhoden, James,1947-Purpose The objective of this study was to analyze eight selected social and personal variables and their relationship to child abuse in white collar and blue collar families. Prior studies of child abuse have usually focused on families of lower socioeconomic standings other than middle class. This is partly due to easier access to this information plus a greater amount of information already existing on lower socioeconomic families. Since it is information on child abuse of families in the middle class that is insufficient, class status determination will be limited to white collar and blue collar social status. The major hypothesis guiding this study was that no significant differences would exist between blue collar and white collar families with regard to these eight selected variables. Methods This study uses a survey questionnaire form to gather data. Analysis of the information consisted of separating respondents into categories of child abuse, blue collar, and white collar social status, and the eight selected variables for determining social class differences. Chi- square contingency tables were used to establish significant relationships between the eight personal and social variables relative to child abuse in blue collar and white collar families. Findings 1. This study indicates that there is a significant relationship between the variable of ethnic background and social class of abused children. 2. This study indicates that there is significant relationship between the variable of father’s discipline and social class of abused children. 3. This study indicates that there is significant relationship between the variable of a father’s drinking habits and social class of abused children. 4. This study indicates that there is a significant relationship between attempted suicide and social class of abused children. 5. This study indicates there is a significant relationship between the variable of running away from home and social class of abused children. 6. This study indicates there is a significant relationship between the variable of a mother’s drinking habits and attempted suicide and running away from home by her children. 7. This study indicates there is a significant relationship between a father’s drinking habits and a father’s discipline.Item A survey involving severity of criminal penalization involving child abuse in all fifty states(1976-05-01) Rayes, Alvin Allen,1950-Purpose: The objectives of this study were: (1) to contribute to the knowledge concerning the severity of criminal penalization involving child abuse throughout the United States; (2) to postulate and develop that the probabilities for receiving severe penalties for child abuse offenders are greater in certain regions of the United States than in others. Methods: The methods used in this study were: (1) the possible maximum penalty for each of the three child abuse offenses has been obtained from each state’s criminal code; (2) upon the completion of each state’s penalties for the offenses concerned, the measuring device of ranking, mean rank, and weighted rank is used for the purposes of assessing both state and regional penalty comparisons; (3) the Census Bureau has been used to depict the characteristics of population, ethnicity, mobility, education, and income throughout the United States, to illustrate possible diversity in characterizing child abuse legislation. Finding: 1. The study indicates that the maximum penalties embodied in the laws of the various states vary widely with reference to each of the behaviors under study. 2. For the offense of physical abuse, the East South Central Region maintained, overall, the greater severity of penalty, while the West North Central Region was the least severe. 3. Physical abuse, in correspondence with Census Bureau data, findings tend to illustrate only that there is a correlation of severity of penalty to that of educational attainment. 4. For the offense of incest, the greater severity of penalty is characterized by the East North Central Region, with the Middle Atlantic Region the least severe. 5. For the offense of incest, an inter-regional correlation in severity of penalty to that of the five Census Bureau subjects concentrated upon, appear generally inconsistent. 6. For the offense of abandonment, the West North Central Region possessed the more severe penalty and the West South Central Region was the least severe. 7. There appears, at least from an interstate perspective, a generally insufficiently demonstrated relation between Census Bureau data used and the rank in severity of criminal penalty for the offense of abandonment.Item A comparative study :two training programs for mentally retarded adults(1976-05-01) Pugh, Michael P.,1947-Purpose The purpose of this study was to conduct a descriptive comparison of two existing training facilities for mentally retarded adults. The two facilities are operating to provide the mentally retarded adult with the necessary work habits and social skills which will enable him to become a working, contributing member of his community. Harris County Center for the Retarded, Inc., which is located near downtown Houston, Texas, has chosen the sheltered workshop approach as its means of training the mentally retarded adult. Melwood Horticultural Training Center, Inc., which is located in a rural suburban area near Washington, D.C., trains its clients by the use of horticultural therapy. Methods A review of the literature concerning training programs for mentally retarded adults and specifically concerning the two types of approaches utilized by the agencies was conducted. The areas of interest, i.e., operation, financial aspects, and goals were identified and specific questions concerning each were developed. In order to obtain the necessary information, the operation of each agency was personally viewed and individual interviews were conducted with various personnel at each agency. Findings Even though obvious differences do exist between the two agencies in regard to the approach taken, i.e., geographic location and size of the client population, the operation, financial aspects, and goals of each are essentially the same. Two significant differences were determined through this study. First, the client/staff ratio for Harris County Center for the Retarded, Inc. is 8.83:1 and for Melwood Horticultural Center, Inc. the ratio is 2.77:1. Second, the cost per day of training a client for Harris County Center for the Retarded, Inc. is $8.90 and for Melwood Horticultural Training Center, Inc., the cost is $15.87. In conclusion, it was determined that each agency provides the mentally retarded adult with the opportunity to become a working, contributing member of his community.Item A quasi-experimental design evaluating salient factors of successful and unsuccessful clients in a drug treatment program(1977-08-01) Maclean, Bruce Miller.Purpose The objective of this study was threefold: (1) to determine if certain personality characteristics, as defined by the MMPI, would distinguish successful drug addiction rehabilitates from those who were not successful; (2) to evaluate unsuccessful program applicants to determine what changes in personality characteristics occurred based on length of time in treatment, and; (3) to determine changes in personality characteristics of successful clients. Methods A quasi-experimental design was utilized. Two unsuccessful and one successful groups were selected and tested with MMPI up to three times over an eighteen month continuum based on time spent in treatment. Mean scores were determined for each of the groups on each of the thirteen scales and analyzed statistically with analysis of variance and the “t” test. Findings There were significant differences between successful and unsuccessful clients on scales F and 8 (Schizophrenia) on the pre-test comparisons with successful clients having lower mean elevations. Scales F and 6 (Paranoia) appeared to distinguish unsuccessful clients who spent at least six months in treatment from those who would be successful program graduates. Unsuccessful clients who spent at least six months in treatment achieved significant reductions on scales 1 (Hypochondriasis), 2 (Depression), and 6 (Paranoia) and a significant increase on scale 5 (Masculine-Feminine). Successful clients had statistically significant changes on 1 of 3 validity scales and 8 of 10 clinical MMPI scales evaluated.Item A study of drug abuse and cognitive style(1971-08-01) Grimsley, Billy Charles,1943-Purpose: The purpose of this study was twofold: first, to investigate the relationship between cognitive style and drug abuse; second, to determine if the MMPI would distinguish between persons who had drug abuse and those who had not. The primary concerns of this study were (1) the extent to which cognitive style would distinguish between incarcerated persons who had abused drugs and those who had not; (2) the relationship between cognitive style and the type of drugs an incarcerated person had used; (3) the relationship between scores on the MMPI and drug abuse; (4) the relationship between scores on the MMPI and the type of drugs a person had abused. Methods: The methods used to obtain data for this study were (1) randomly selecting one tenth of the inmate population of the Texas Department of Corrections; (2) administering the Rod-Frame Test to each subject that was available during the testing period; (3) collecting MMPI scores on each subject from the Texas department of Corrections’ files; (4) selecting from the original sample, each subject who had abused drugs and correlating various factors of drug abuse with the MMPI and cognitive style information. Findings: Interpretation of the data in this study suggests the following conclusions: 1. The inmate population of the Texas department of Correlations demonstrates a passive global perceptual style. 2. There was no significant difference between the perceptual styles of incarcerated persons who had abused drugs and those who had not. 3. Determining perceptual style was not an effective means of distinguishing the type of drugs an incarcerated person had abused. 4. There was no significant difference between scores on the MMPI and abuse of drugs by incarcerated persons. 5. The type of drugs an incarcerated person had abused was not indicated by scores on the MMPI.Item A comparative study of alcohol consumers and non-consumers at the time of the offense on adult felony probationers in Nueces County, Texas(1977-08-01) Gonzalez, George Edward,1947-Purpose: The purpose is two fold: to contribute to the broad realm of alcohol and crime-related research, by identifying any significant relationship between consumers of alcohol and non-consumers of alcohol at the time a felony offense was committed, and to compare the findings of this research to existing literature. Methods: the methods used in this study were: (1) the collection of data from the Nueces County Adult Probation Department’s intake questionnaire on felony probationer’s socioeconomic and demographic characteristics; (2) by dividing the study sample into two groups, consumers of alcohol at the time of offense, and non-consumers of alcohol at the time of offense; (3) comparing this information from the study sample between selected variables; (4) the two groups were analyzed by testing the ten selected variables with the phi-coefficient and chi-square; and (5) considering all results with a probability of one degree of freedom at the .05 level of significance. Results: 1. The study indicated that there were no significant differences between consumers and non-consumers of alcohol at the time of offense among the variables of age, employment, ethnicity, index crimes, martial status, military experience, occupational level, prior arrest, and sex. 2. There is a significant difference between consumers and non-consumers of alcohol at the time of offense on the variable of education.Item A study of selected demographic, social and psychological variables related to the vocational rehabilitation of alcoholics in Houston, Texas(1973-08-01) Collins, Monty Rue,1932-; Bennett, Walter HPurpose: The purpose of this study was to ascertain the relationship between selected demographic social and psychological variables and the vocational rehabilitation of alcoholics as defined by the Texas Rehabilitation Commission policy. Examination of selected relationships were considered to be of value in providing objective guidelines in differentiating among clients with their respective needs. It was also hoped that further research and study would result from this data. Methods: The primary sources of the datum for this study were obtained on Texas Rehabilitation Commission clients that were accepted into the Houston Alcoholism Rehabilitation project. This program was funded through a Social and Rehabilitation Service innovation Service innovation grant that began September 1, 1966 and was completed June 30, 1969. The Texas Rehabilitation Commission obtained this grant and the datum was taken from the case records of this Commission’s Houston office. Forty-three variables examined were: Six demographic characteristics, eleven social factors, ten personality factors from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, fifteen personality factors from the Edwards Personal Preference Scheduoe, and the verbal I.Q. as measured by the Peabody Verbal I.Q. Test. Secondary sources of information included books, articles, previous research, journals, and agency records. The data were analyzed by relating the 43 variables to indices of rehabilitation outcome between alcoholic clients that were rehabilitated and alcohol clients that were not rehabilitated as defined by Texas Rehabilitation Commission policy. Statistical techniques included chi square, multiple correlation and regression analysis. Findings: Only a few of the large number of diagnostic factors analyzed were found to be related to the clients’ vocational rehabilitation. Furthermore, the majority of these were demographic characteristics, i.e., age, marital status, education, occupation, and primary source of support. Only two variables from the questionnaire of social factors were significantly related to rehabilitation and that was previous group psychotherapy and spouse participation in the project. Of the teats, only the Peabody Verbal I.Q. was related to a statistically significant degree with rehabilitation. None of the numerous categories of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and the Edward Personal Preference Scale were found to be statistically significant. From the data the following conclusions were drawn: 1. A comparison of the results of this study with data from five other similar studies and a review of the literature indicated that the Houston Alcoholism Rehabilitation Project and this study are unique. 2. Demographic and social factors rather than personality factors appear to have the greatest influence on successful rehabilitation of alcoholic clients. 3. Comparison of diagnosed rehabilitated and not rehabilitated clients in HARP revealed that: The rehabilitated client tended to fall more in the middle age interval of 35 to 54 years of age, have at least nine years of education and no more than three years of college, more likely to have finished high school, have a high verbal I.Q., still married, be self supporting and receive more help from family and friends, have more savings or no support at all, more likely to have previously received group therapy, and believed that his spouse would participate in a rehabilitation program. Conversely, the not rehabilitated client is: younger, less likely to have finished high school, yet more likely to have complete college or attended graduate school, have a lower verbal I.Q., not married, is a blue collar or service worker, not self supporting, has not previously received group psychotherapy, does not believe that his spouse would participate in a rehabilitation program. 4. Rehabilitated clients in HARP were more socially stable in terms of both past and present role performance than the not rehabilitated clients.Item A study of child abuse in Corpus Christi, Texas(1976-05-01) Brown, Elsa Cisneros,1931-Purpose The objectives of this study were to bring the problem of child abuse into focus in this particular city and to determine if there were significant differences in the abusive parent profile between Anglo-American and Mexican-American cultures and their influences on child abuse. Methods The methods used in this study were the collection of data on abused children from Domestic Relations Court and Child Protective Services records, Public Health agencies, local hospitals, local physicians, by questionnaire, and personal involvement as a registered nurse. Findings The study indicates that the incidence of child abuse in Corpus Christi has drastically increased since 1972. The study also reveals that the reports of child abuse come from families in the lower socioeconomic level with more frequency than those in the middle and upper level of society. The study suggests that there are no significant differences in the incidence of child abuse among the Mexican-American and the Anglo-American families. The study also suggests that the problem of child abuse needs the services of many professional disciplines in order to receive comprehensive and adequate care.Item The effectiveness of using volunteers with pre-delinquent children in reducing introduction into the juvenile justice system in Tarrant County(1976-12-01) Berning, Sheila S.; Young, Jeanne PPurpose: The major purpose of this study was to compare a population of youths, referred to Youth Service Bureau in Tarrant County as pre-delinquents, serviced by volunteers to those serviced by professionals. The intent of this comparison was to determine the baseline characteristics which differentiate these two youth populations. Secondly, the purpose of this study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of volunteers in working with pre-delinquent youths in reducing introduction into the Juvenile Justice System in Tarrant County as compared to the professional workers’ effectiveness with the same type of youth. Methods: The comparative method was used in this study. The data were collected by administration of a brief schedule to a randomly selected population of forty-three adolescents. In addition, a brie schedule was given to the professional and volunteer workers participating in the study. The statistical test used to compute the results was a standard chi-square and standard percentages. Findings: The research questions which this study investigated were as follows: 1. What were the differences, if any, between the baseline characteristics of the youth population served by the professional and volunteer workers? 2. What, if any, change of behavior occurred while working with the client? 3. Could the volunteer worker at Youth Services Bureau be as effective in keeping the client out of the Juvenile Justice System as the professional worker at the Youth Services Bureau? A basic assumption was made that the records of the youth agency were as accurate as possible because a standardized face sheet for intake had been developed by the agency. The author also assumed that the workers, both professional and volunteer, were knowledgeable about current youth laws pertaining to child and parental rights. Some other assumptions were that an adult assigned to the youth will effect positive change in his or her behavior and that intensive involvement with the child is necessary to effect positive change. The final assumption was that positive change in behavior will result in keeping the child out of the Juvenile Justice System. The review of the literature was intended only to serve as a historical perspective of the use of volunteers and to present a brief review of how the Youth Service Bureau came into existence. Also presented is the rationale behind using volunteers in working with troubled youth. This study concluded that all acknowledged hypotheses were accepted except those in the areas of ethnic origin, frequency of contacts, and types of contact. These hypotheses were found to have significant differences and were rejected. Two of the hypotheses could not be accepted ore rejected because the data gathered were found to be unreliable. Overall, it was concluded that the volunteer was as effective as the professional worker in working and helping deter the older juvenile from entering the Juvenile Justice System. The researcher also found that no conclusions could be obtained about behavioral changed of the individual juvenile with respect to the above.Item The planters and their slaves: attitudes toward Negro slaves in colonial South Carolina and Jamaica(1974-08-01) White, Benton R.(Benton Ray),1949-; Olm, Lee EThe purpose of this thesis has been to study attitudes held toward Negro slaves in the British colonies of South Carolina and Jamaica. Slave populations greatly exceeded the number of whites in each colony and broadly similar views on race and slavery seem to have emerged. It is the prime purpose of this study to attempt a comparative analysis of attitudes towards slavery and slaves in these two colonies before the American Revolution. The study focuses on the opinions of slaveholding planters in an effort to ascertain an answer to three question: what were the dominant or fundamental attitudes whites held toward blacks, how were these attitudes similar or different between the respective colonies, and how did these views affect the history of each colony?Item A study of political attitudes in a rural Texas County(1972-05-01) Wall, Carylon Earl.Purposes: The purposes of this investigation were to determine the following: (1) the political opinions of a selected, rural population from Central Texas on the attitudes of political involvement, issue familiarity, economic liberalism, internationalism, civil liberties, and party affiliations; (2) the political values of the nation's population on each of these six, attitudinal factors; and (3) any significant differences that might exist between the attitudes of the two populations. Methods: The methods used to obtain the data for this study were: (1) a survey questionnaire administered to fifty individuals randomly selected from two voting precincts in Mills County, Texas; and (2) data obtained from similar questionnaires used in voting studies done on a national level. The statistical techniques used in this investigation were: (1) Buchanan's Percentage Differences to determine if any significant attitudinal differences existed between the Texas sample and the national electorate; and (2) chi-square significance tests and lambda measures of association to quantify the relation-ship between the survey data and the three independent variables. Findings: 1. Rural voters were more willing to become involved in the affairs of politics than the national sample. A greater eagerness to participate in campaign activities was the distinguishing feature between the opinions of the two populations on the attitude of political Involvement. 2. There was no significant difference between the ranking of the two samples on the issue familiarity index. Both groups had a high familiarity with the contemporary political issues confronting the nation. 3. The rankings of the rural sample on the economic liberalism index were very similar to the rankings of the general public. A large majority of the respondents in both populations were classified as economic moderates. 4. Agrarians were inclined to be more isolationist in their foreign policy attitudes than the general public. Foreign aid and military involvement abroad were the two items receiving the most isolationist sentiment from the rural electorate. 5. No definite conclusions were reached on the fifth attitude since the national voting studies have, as of yet, failed to develop any statistical device to measure this attitude. Based on the limited findings of other voting studies, the rural population is probably more authoritarian in its views toward government than the general public. 6. The selected population was more inclined to identify with the Democratic Party than the general population. The Star and Center City voters were also more willing to vote a split-ticket than the national sample.Item Intergovernmental relations involved in the development of new towns in Texas(1975-05-01) Redd, Janet Katherine Ball,1951-Purpose: The purpose of this research is to explore the intergovernmental relations that are involved in the development of two new towns in Texas, namely, The Woodlands in Montgomery County and the Houston Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area, and Flower Mound New Town in Denton County and the Dallas-Fort Worth Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area. Methods: Relationships between governmental units and new towns were first separated into vertical (federal and state governments) and horizontal (those governments that are creations of the state) relationships. Information about these relationships was gathered from newspapers and personal letters. The major source of information was provided by personal interviews with local officials and new town representatives. These interactions are then categorized according to political relationship type: routine policymaking, mutual accommodation, innovative conflict, and disintegrative conflict. Findings: 1. The intergovernmental relations that involve the new towns of The Woodlands and Flower Mound New Town are mainly routine administrative ones. 2. Horizontal relations make up the largest percentage of routine policymaking relationships, while vertical relations provide the majority of mutual accommodation, innovative conflict, and disintegrative conflict relationships. 3. There is little coordination among the programs that involve new towns. 4. Most governmental units involved with the new towns are completely unimpressed with the new town phenomena. 5. The new towns have found it difficult to be innovative. 6. New towns in Texas have found it necessary to create special districts to meet their needs. 7. The Department of Housing and Urban Development is not entirely committed to the new town program.Item A factorial analysis of families and familial problematic areas based on socioeconomic status(1970-07-01) Price, Jeanette M.,1946-; Friel, Charles M; Dorothy D. Hayes, James D. McLeodPurpose: The purpose of this study were to analyze parents who had been classified across income levels, and the problematic areas they verbalized during child-custody investigations at the time of their divorce. It was hypothesized that the higher the family was located on a stratified socioeconomic scale, the more internalized and ideational versus physical and environmental their family problems would become. Methods: Data were recorded from cases found at the Dallas County Juvenile Department. All information was analyzed across the socioeconomic levels--0-$5,000, $5,001-$10,000, $10,001-$20,000, and $20,001 and over gross income per year—to provide a comparative analysis of descriptive factors as well as of familial problematic areas. Findings: 1. Parents tended to be older when they married and separated as income rose, with the length of their marriage generally increasing. Those involved in their first marriage at the time of the custody suit decreased with a rise in income. 2. Average number of children in the custody suit varied between two and three, being slightly less for parents in the highest income group. Ages of children involved tended to rise as income rose. 3. Parents’ educational level rose with a rise in income with parents in the last two income groups tending to have similar higher educational background. 4. Communal effort in employment was noted most in the two middle income groups. The lowest income group followed the highest income group in “Fathers only” being employed. More fathers held positions requiring higher education as income rose with the exception of the highest income group wherein 71 per cent of the fathers could not be classified. 5. Mothers tended to rise in occupational level and in being unemployed as income rose with those in the second income group scoring the lowest percentage of housewives and highest of laborers. Although the hypothesis was not sustained to a significant statistical degree, the following trends were found: 1. Child-centered problems, Sexual difficulties, and Parental strife were the three main areas of complaints for fathers with the order of importance varying with income level. Fathers in the third income group included Emotional instability in their chief complaints. More mothers reported Child-centered problems, Financial difficulties, Parental strife, and Sexual difficulties in all groups with the order of importance varying with income. Emotional instability was a major complaint in the highest income group. 2. Percentages of parents giving similar complaints varied across income levels. The percentage of fathers versus mothers within an income level giving the complaints was often discrepant. 3. Both parents’ complaints in the combined allegation groups showed a split between the two lower and two higher income levels: Child-centered problems were reported most frequently in all groups, and Parental strife and Sexual difficulties exchanged second and third place between the groups. Financial difficulties scored in fourth place in the two lower groups with Emotional instability holding that position in the two higher groups. 4. The third income group scored significantly in excepting to the hypothesis such that, although the hypothesis tended to be supported, it could not be unconditionally accepted. 5. Children were the major focal point of discussion in the child-custody cases studied. More specific and less general information was needed in some areas of parental background as well as in the areas of parental and familial problems.Item A descriptive study of seventy-five adult protective service cases receiving services from the Texas Department of Public Welfare in the Houston, Texas area 1972-1973(1975-05-01) Leisner, Carl W.,1941-"Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to analyze some of the existing data on the non-institutionalized adults receiving protective services, within the Houston city limits, by the Texas Department of Public Welfare. Since the State Welfare Department has been providing adult services, along with adult protective services, for approximately sixteen months, there has been no accurate data gathering system maintained. The number of protective service cases have not been counted, possibly because of their small ratio when compared to the total non-protective adult services being provided to those financially eligible. The sample with which this thesis deals is, therefore, an incidental and not a random sample. Due to the newness of the adult protective services program on a statewide scale, data obtained at this time will contribute to knowledge about program effectiveness as well as to providing input to further development and/or expansion. Methods: The research data from this study were obtained from reading all case records which I was able to identify as an adult protective service case. The case records read were both active and inactive, maintained by the Texas Department of Public Welfare in Houston, which were open within a sixteen month period beginning January, 1972 and ending April, 1973. The case records were read with a case reading schedule which contained thirty-eight sections. An agency informational face sheet, Department of Public Welfare Form 211, was available in all case records which were read for this study. Information not available on the Department of Public Welfare Form 211 was obtained through reading case recordings written by the caseworker providing services. In some instances it was necessary to interview the actual caseworker to obtain needed information. A total of 120 hours was spent on selecting, finding, and reading case records for this study. Due to the confidentiality of the case records, permission had to be obtained from State Welfare Commissioner Raymond Vowell prior to actual reading of the cases. Findings: 1. The recipient was most often a 75 to 84 year old white widowed female who lived alone in a house which she owned. 2. At the time of referral the primary source of income was an Old Age Assistance check and the average monthly income from all sources averaged $95.00. 3.The recipient had to pay an average housing cost of $29.78 per month for housing which was rarely located in a government housing project. The house most often had less than three rooms including a bath and kitchen and had only one bedroom. 4.If the persons receiving protective services lived with a relative it was most often a son. 5. The majority of the recipients were unable to leave the residence without assistance, but did have a telephone available in a majority of the cases. 6. The persons receiving protective services tended to refer themselves and were found to be cooperative toward agency assistance. 7. The majority of the recipients had never received prior protective services from the agency. 8. Based on narrative recording, a majority of the cases were not contacted by a caseworker until the following day after referral. 9. The majority of the persons who received protective services were found to be unable to provide self care. The major area of needed service was social which included developing a plan of need with the client and assisting to achieve these goals through agency or community resources. The plan of need included arranging for medical, including psychiatric, services which would safeguard and improve the circumstances of the client. Some of the social service needs included assistance in finding social care arrangements, assisting with guardianship, assisting in nursing home placement, and counseling. 10. The protective service recipient was referred to other community resources the majority of the time for assistance not available through the agency. 11. The majority of the clients referred to a community resource were placed in a temporary foster or nursing home. 12. Services determined or needed by the caseworker and/or recipient were met by the agency in the majority of the cases. 13. The recipient's residence at the close of services which averaged 73.6 days from referral to close of services, was most often in the same home they lived in at the time of referral. 14. In the majority of the cases the recipients were not declared incompetent. 15. One of every 15 recipients died during the course of services. An explanation of such a high rate of death is possibly attributed to the age and illness of recipients who had come to the agency's attention."Item Father-deserted and father-incapacitated public welfare families in Beaumont, Texas(1975-05-01) Husband, Armon,1940-Primary Purpose: The primary purpose of this thesis is to compare father- deserted public welfare families with father-incapacitated public welfare families on thirty-one characteristics representing five broad categories, in order to determine what differences exist be- tween the two types of families. These characteristics were derived from a review of the literature and from the experiences of the author. The five categories include: 1. behavioral reactions of the family members arising from imbalanced family structure (one-parent families); 2. the father's self-image as it is affected by changes in his status and role necessitated by his illness or by his absence from the family; 3. various changes in the father's role functioning as perceived by the wife and children; 4. various employment characteristics of family members 5. various demographic characteristics of the family. Methodology: The case illustrations were selected from the records of those cases which have been personally handled by the author. Twenty cases were selected at random, but only eleven of them fit the criteria of father-desertion or father-incapacity. The sample data used in the statistical analysis was drawn from the records of five-hundred cases in which social service workers had been active between January 1, 1971 and January 1, 1972. Only those cases which involved parental deprivation based upon desertion and physical or mental incapacity were selected. From a total of 500 cases, father-deserted cases represented 20.8 per cent of the total caseload and father-incapacitated cases comprised 23.1 per cent of the caseload. For that reason, it was decided that 52 father-deserted cases would be compared with 58 father-incapacitated cases. Numbers from 1 to 500 were assigned to the total caseload and then a table of random numbers was utilized in drawing the sample from the total population. The data was then gathered directly from the case records and tabulated according to the characteristics to determine the significance of the difference between father-deserted and father-incapacitated public welfare families. Findings: 1. Significantly more mothers were employed in families with incapacitated fathers than in those families where the father had deserted. 2. Significantly more of the mothers from father-incapacitated families had maintained a reasonably stable work history than did those from families where the father had deserted. No other significant differences were found.Item A progressive approach to controlling welfare fraud :a description and analysis of the Texas Department of Public Welfare Investigation Division(1975-12-01) Grantham, Susan,1951-Purpose The objectives of this study were: (1) to ascertain the meaning of fraud and theft in the context of recipients of unwarranted welfare benefits; (2) to present a philosophy of deterrence; (3) to review the legal history of the Texas Welfare Department; (4) to provide an overview of the catalytic growth of welfare services and spending; (5) to review the development of control systems; (6) to present an overview of the Investigation Division and an analysis of its effect as a control system; (7) to analyze welfare policies for areas contributing to fraud; and (8) to advance proposals. Methods The methods used in this study were: (1) a review of the literature regarding the topic; (2) an organized compilation of that material; (3) a statistical analysis of the investigative results; and (4) an analysis of major welfare program policies. Findings 1. Fraud exists when there is an intent to obtain assistance, services or treatment from the Welfare Department by means of a willfully false statement or representation. Theft is an intent to deprive the owner of property or service or exercising control over the property or service unlawfully. 2. Deterrence is difficult to measure due to its success being based on acts (crimes) not committed due to fear of potential punishment. The Investigation Division theorizes that punishment of individuals obtaining welfare fraudulently will prevent others from committing the same crime. More negative punitive measures would further reinforce the deterrent effect. 3. The Texas Department of Public Welfare was created in 1939 in order to unify the various assistance programs and their related funding, and function as a liaison between the localities of Texas and the Federal Government. 4. The largest monthly increase in welfare rolls on the national level in more than three years occurred in January, 1975. In fiscal year 1974 the expenditures of the Texas Welfare Department totaled $869,013,800 in eight main categories (areas of service) as compared to an annual budget of thirty million dollars for four major programs in 1941. 5. Control systems were initiated in 1963 by HEW(Health Education and Welfare) with the development of Quality control to monitor state validity of welfare cases. Recoupment is the term applied to the process of obtaining repayment to the Welfare Department for overpayments to recipients. Fraud and recovery was a means of processing fraudulent welfare cases which involved a complicated referral system. 6. The Investigation Division of the Texas Welfare Department was developed in order to re-establish and protect the integrity of the Welfare Department and restore the confidence of taxpayers in government administration of welfare spending. During the initial nine months of operation, sustained fraud cases totaled over 1.7 million dollars in funds obtained illegally. 7. The liberalization of policies for determining eligibility for the AFDC and Food Stamp programs have contributed to the incidence of welfare fraud cases. 8. Four approaches of dealing with welfare fraud were proposed: (a) Other H.E.W. agencies should undertake similar investigative activities that would function as controlling methods against abuse of welfare benefits; (b) The classification of welfare fraud as a misdemeanor needs to be reclassified to theft. This would increase the deterrent effect by utilizing sterner punitive measures; (c) Investigative units should be established on the application level. Such would serve as a preventative against individuals initially obtaining welfare illegally.