Home, class information, about me, research, publications, vita, family pictures

Even though social workers have served in the armed forces since the 1940s, very little is written describing their experiences.  While deployed, I completed a qualitative phenomenological study on this unique  population.  

Project Summary

Topics addressed:

· Educational experiences which are most helpful to social workers while deployed

 

· Qualities that help social workers help others in a combat zone

 

· How military social workers deal with the ethical dilemma’s inherent with the contradictory roles of helper and warrior

 

· Personal issues including feelings about participating in the war, being away from home, and dealing with personal feelings are addressed

While preparing to Deploy, I put together a small qualitative project addressing the experiences of social workers deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

 

Twenty Air Force, Army and Navy social workers deployed during various stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom are surveyed using an open-ended measurement instrument that addresses topics including the jobs they performed, the social work skills they found most valuable, and the feelings they have about the war and their part in it. 

 

Answers were then analyzed using both a grounded theory method and a concept mapping method.  The resulting findings were compiled into 2 presentations and 2 subsequential manuscripts. 

 

 

Fields of Olive