Award Date

5-15-2026

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Department

Social Work

First Committee Member

An-Pyng Sun

Second Committee Member

Garrett Pace

Third Committee Member

Ivet Aldaba

Fourth Committee Member

Julian Kilker

Number of Pages

73

Abstract

Family social problems such as child maltreatment and domestic violence continue to impact vulnerable populations, despite societal progress. Evidence of negative results due to these factors is found not only in vulnerable populations in the United States but also throughout the world. These issues are often interconnected and cyclical, with substance abuse both contributing to and resulting from familial trauma. Addressing such issues requires interdisciplinary interventions and socioecological models that consider the broader environments influencing an individual's well-being.

One such environment is the non-denominational Christian church. While churches have traditionally offered community support, the professionalization of social work, including licensure and formal training requirements, may create barriers to collaboration. These standards, though necessary for ethical and effective practice, might unintentionally exclude capable community partners from contributing meaningfully to social interventions.

This study investigates the perception of current and future partnerships between social work institutions and non-denominational churches in addressing substance-related family crises. Through a qualitative research approach, this study aims to uncover the potential of faith-based organizations in social support roles. Both the barriers and facilitators in this regard will be explored, in the hope of proposing pathways for more inclusive collaboration between the two systems.

Keywords

Child Maltreatment; Collaboration; Family Social Problems; Non-Denominational; Substance Use

Disciplines

Family, Life Course, and Society | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Work

File Format

PDF

File Size

802 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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