Janelle Nimer - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Janelle Nimer

One of the largest populations with whom social workers work are individuals with disabilities. D... more One of the largest populations with whom social workers work are individuals with disabilities. Due to the increase of children with disabilities, it is important to evaluate the programs in which the children participate. Camp Koinonia is a program at the University of Tennessee that works with children with multiple disabilities for one week a year. The purpose of this study was to conduct a program evaluation on Camp Koinonia in 2009 (n = 109). This study assessed age,(continuous variable, n = 109) gender (male, n = 61; female n = 48), category of disability (cognitive, n = 50; physical, n = 59) and type of disability (cerebral palsy, n = 17; down syndrome, n = 21; autism spectrum disorder, n = 18; and mental retardation, n = 22). This study compared the previously mentioned variables to physical, cognitive, and emotional outcomes as measured by an altered version of the Functional Assessment of Characteristics for Therapeutic Recreation, Revised (FACTR-R). The results of reliability analysis found that each subscale of physical (a = .71), cognitive (a = .80), and emotional (a = .83) outcomes of the FACTR-R were reliable. A multiple groups confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on the FACTR-R which found that this measurement tool was a good tool to use. The results of this study found that the children with physical disabilities had statistically significant improvements with their physical outcomes. Specifically, the children with cerebral palsy had statistically significant improvements in physical outcomes. There were also statistically significant improvements in children with autism spectrum disorders and emotional outcomes. A discussion of limitations and recommendations for future research is presented. vii Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction .

Preventing Child Abuse: A Meta-Analysis of Parent Training Programs

SAGE Publications, Inc. eBooks, Oct 17, 2014

Anthrozoos, Sep 1, 2007

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been practiced for many years and there is now increasing inter... more Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been practiced for many years and there is now increasing interest in demonstrating its efficacy through research. To date, no known quantitative review of AAT studies has been published; our study sought to fill this gap. We conducted a comprehensive search of articles reporting on AAT in which we reviewed 250 studies, 49 of which met our inclusion criteria and were submitted to meta-analytic procedures. Overall, AAT was associated with moderate effect sizes in improving outcomes in four areas: Autism-spectrum symptoms, medical difficulties, behavioral problems, and emotional well-being. Contrary to expectations, characteristics of participants and studies did not produce differential outcomes. AAT shows promise as an additive to established interventions and future research should investigate the conditions under which AAT can be most helpful.

Animal-Assisted Therapy

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been practiced for many years and there is now increasing inter... more Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been practiced for many years and there is now increasing interest in demonstrating its efficacy through re- search. To date, no known quantitative review of AAT studies has been pub- lished; our study sought to fill this gap. We conducted a comprehensive search of articles reporting on AAT in which we reviewed 250 studies, 49 of which met our inclusion criteria and were submitted to meta-analytic procedures. Overall, AAT was associated with moderate effect sizes in improving outcomes in four areas: Autism-spectrum symptoms, medical difficulties, behavioral problems, and emotional well-being. Contrary to expectations, characteristics of partici- pants and studies did not produce differential outcomes. AAT shows promise as an additive to established interventions and future research should investi- gate the conditions under which AAT can be most helpful.

One of the largest populations with whom social workers work are individuals with disabilities. D... more One of the largest populations with whom social workers work are individuals with disabilities. Due to the increase of children with disabilities, it is important to evaluate the programs in which the children participate. Camp Koinonia is a program at the University of Tennessee that works with children with multiple disabilities for one week a year. The purpose of this study was to conduct a program evaluation on Camp Koinonia in 2009 (n = 109). This study assessed age,(continuous variable, n = 109) gender (male, n = 61; female n = 48), category of disability (cognitive, n = 50; physical, n = 59) and type of disability (cerebral palsy, n = 17; down syndrome, n = 21; autism spectrum disorder, n = 18; and mental retardation, n = 22). This study compared the previously mentioned variables to physical, cognitive, and emotional outcomes as measured by an altered version of the Functional Assessment of Characteristics for Therapeutic Recreation, Revised (FACTR-R). The results of reliability analysis found that each subscale of physical (a = .71), cognitive (a = .80), and emotional (a = .83) outcomes of the FACTR-R were reliable. A multiple groups confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on the FACTR-R which found that this measurement tool was a good tool to use. The results of this study found that the children with physical disabilities had statistically significant improvements with their physical outcomes. Specifically, the children with cerebral palsy had statistically significant improvements in physical outcomes. There were also statistically significant improvements in children with autism spectrum disorders and emotional outcomes. A discussion of limitations and recommendations for future research is presented. vii Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction .

Anthrozoös, 2007

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been practiced for many years and there is now increasing inter... more Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been practiced for many years and there is now increasing interest in demonstrating its efficacy through research. To date, no known quantitative review of AAT studies has been published; our study sought to fill this gap. We conducted a comprehensive search of articles reporting on AAT in which we reviewed 250 studies, 49 of which met our inclusion criteria and were submitted to meta-analytic procedures. Overall, AAT was associated with moderate effect sizes in improving outcomes in four areas: Autism-spectrum symptoms, medical difficulties, behavioral problems, and emotional well-being. Contrary to expectations, characteristics of participants and studies did not produce differential outcomes. AAT shows promise as an additive to established interventions and future research should investigate the conditions under which AAT can be most helpful.

Preventing Child Abuse: A Meta-Analysis of Parent Training Programs

Research on Social Work Practice, 2006

Objective: A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the ability of parent training programs to r... more Objective: A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the ability of parent training programs to reduce parents’ risk of abusing a child. Method: A total of 23 studies were submitted to a meta-analysis. Outcomes of interest included parents’ attitudes toward abuse, emotional adjustment, child-rearing skills, and actual abuse. Conclusions: Immediately following treatment and prior to moderator analyses, effect sizes for all outcomes were in the moderate range (d = 0.45-0.60). Moderator analyses suggest inclusion of home visitors and conducting parent training in both a home and office setting significantly enhanced the effectiveness. In addition, inclusion of a behavioral component and delivering some of the parent training in an individual setting, as opposed to group only, enhanced outcomes significantly.

One of the largest populations with whom social workers work are individuals with disabilities. D... more One of the largest populations with whom social workers work are individuals with disabilities. Due to the increase of children with disabilities, it is important to evaluate the programs in which the children participate. Camp Koinonia is a program at the University of Tennessee that works with children with multiple disabilities for one week a year. The purpose of this study was to conduct a program evaluation on Camp Koinonia in 2009 (n = 109). This study assessed age,(continuous variable, n = 109) gender (male, n = 61; female n = 48), category of disability (cognitive, n = 50; physical, n = 59) and type of disability (cerebral palsy, n = 17; down syndrome, n = 21; autism spectrum disorder, n = 18; and mental retardation, n = 22). This study compared the previously mentioned variables to physical, cognitive, and emotional outcomes as measured by an altered version of the Functional Assessment of Characteristics for Therapeutic Recreation, Revised (FACTR-R). The results of reliability analysis found that each subscale of physical (a = .71), cognitive (a = .80), and emotional (a = .83) outcomes of the FACTR-R were reliable. A multiple groups confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on the FACTR-R which found that this measurement tool was a good tool to use. The results of this study found that the children with physical disabilities had statistically significant improvements with their physical outcomes. Specifically, the children with cerebral palsy had statistically significant improvements in physical outcomes. There were also statistically significant improvements in children with autism spectrum disorders and emotional outcomes. A discussion of limitations and recommendations for future research is presented. vii Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction .

Preventing Child Abuse: A Meta-Analysis of Parent Training Programs

SAGE Publications, Inc. eBooks, Oct 17, 2014

Anthrozoos, Sep 1, 2007

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been practiced for many years and there is now increasing inter... more Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been practiced for many years and there is now increasing interest in demonstrating its efficacy through research. To date, no known quantitative review of AAT studies has been published; our study sought to fill this gap. We conducted a comprehensive search of articles reporting on AAT in which we reviewed 250 studies, 49 of which met our inclusion criteria and were submitted to meta-analytic procedures. Overall, AAT was associated with moderate effect sizes in improving outcomes in four areas: Autism-spectrum symptoms, medical difficulties, behavioral problems, and emotional well-being. Contrary to expectations, characteristics of participants and studies did not produce differential outcomes. AAT shows promise as an additive to established interventions and future research should investigate the conditions under which AAT can be most helpful.

Animal-Assisted Therapy

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been practiced for many years and there is now increasing inter... more Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been practiced for many years and there is now increasing interest in demonstrating its efficacy through re- search. To date, no known quantitative review of AAT studies has been pub- lished; our study sought to fill this gap. We conducted a comprehensive search of articles reporting on AAT in which we reviewed 250 studies, 49 of which met our inclusion criteria and were submitted to meta-analytic procedures. Overall, AAT was associated with moderate effect sizes in improving outcomes in four areas: Autism-spectrum symptoms, medical difficulties, behavioral problems, and emotional well-being. Contrary to expectations, characteristics of partici- pants and studies did not produce differential outcomes. AAT shows promise as an additive to established interventions and future research should investi- gate the conditions under which AAT can be most helpful.

One of the largest populations with whom social workers work are individuals with disabilities. D... more One of the largest populations with whom social workers work are individuals with disabilities. Due to the increase of children with disabilities, it is important to evaluate the programs in which the children participate. Camp Koinonia is a program at the University of Tennessee that works with children with multiple disabilities for one week a year. The purpose of this study was to conduct a program evaluation on Camp Koinonia in 2009 (n = 109). This study assessed age,(continuous variable, n = 109) gender (male, n = 61; female n = 48), category of disability (cognitive, n = 50; physical, n = 59) and type of disability (cerebral palsy, n = 17; down syndrome, n = 21; autism spectrum disorder, n = 18; and mental retardation, n = 22). This study compared the previously mentioned variables to physical, cognitive, and emotional outcomes as measured by an altered version of the Functional Assessment of Characteristics for Therapeutic Recreation, Revised (FACTR-R). The results of reliability analysis found that each subscale of physical (a = .71), cognitive (a = .80), and emotional (a = .83) outcomes of the FACTR-R were reliable. A multiple groups confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on the FACTR-R which found that this measurement tool was a good tool to use. The results of this study found that the children with physical disabilities had statistically significant improvements with their physical outcomes. Specifically, the children with cerebral palsy had statistically significant improvements in physical outcomes. There were also statistically significant improvements in children with autism spectrum disorders and emotional outcomes. A discussion of limitations and recommendations for future research is presented. vii Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction .

Anthrozoös, 2007

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been practiced for many years and there is now increasing inter... more Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been practiced for many years and there is now increasing interest in demonstrating its efficacy through research. To date, no known quantitative review of AAT studies has been published; our study sought to fill this gap. We conducted a comprehensive search of articles reporting on AAT in which we reviewed 250 studies, 49 of which met our inclusion criteria and were submitted to meta-analytic procedures. Overall, AAT was associated with moderate effect sizes in improving outcomes in four areas: Autism-spectrum symptoms, medical difficulties, behavioral problems, and emotional well-being. Contrary to expectations, characteristics of participants and studies did not produce differential outcomes. AAT shows promise as an additive to established interventions and future research should investigate the conditions under which AAT can be most helpful.

Preventing Child Abuse: A Meta-Analysis of Parent Training Programs

Research on Social Work Practice, 2006

Objective: A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the ability of parent training programs to r... more Objective: A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the ability of parent training programs to reduce parents’ risk of abusing a child. Method: A total of 23 studies were submitted to a meta-analysis. Outcomes of interest included parents’ attitudes toward abuse, emotional adjustment, child-rearing skills, and actual abuse. Conclusions: Immediately following treatment and prior to moderator analyses, effect sizes for all outcomes were in the moderate range (d = 0.45-0.60). Moderator analyses suggest inclusion of home visitors and conducting parent training in both a home and office setting significantly enhanced the effectiveness. In addition, inclusion of a behavioral component and delivering some of the parent training in an individual setting, as opposed to group only, enhanced outcomes significantly.