Mary Elizabeth Rauktis
Biographic Data
| ID | 139725 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Mary Elizabeth Rauktis |
| GIVEN NAMES | Mary Elizabeth |
| FAMILY NAME | Rauktis |
| SIGNATURE | RAUKTIS M E |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Pittsburgh |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-0161-9337 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 23 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 61 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 23 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1995 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
A balancing act
Foster parents are perceived as important members of the child welfare team, but despite this recognition, there is little research on their experiences and perspectives using a rights framework. Yet this perspective is critical since the child welfare system is a setting where rights violations as well as conflicts occur. This study utilized focus groups with 19 foster parents to explore their perspectives and experiences of their rights within …
Keeping the Legacy Alive
A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring the Educational Experiences of Foster Youth and Foster Parents During Covid-19
Supporting Rights to Emotional Support Animals as an Accommodation
When the emotional support provided by a person’s animal helps to mitigate an aspect of a disability, that person has a right to have their animal, typically referred to as an emotional support animal (ESA), within their housing as a disability accommodation under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) in the United States. Health and mental health care professionals (henceforth referred to as “health-care professionals”) are considered a reliable source for…
Using a systems perspective to examine child protection systems and practice
The Maghreb (Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco (including Western Sahara), Tunisia) has high rates of child maltreatment and child abandonment, leading to high rates of child institutionalisation. This review aims to provide an estimate of the prevalence of children in institutions in the countries of the Maghreb and to compare and contrast the child protection systems in the region. Using a scoping review approach, we identified 45 relevant st…
Factor Structure and Predictors of Resilience Among Custodial Grandparents
Resilience plays a significant role in buffering the negative effects of parenting stress among custodial grandparents. Using a sample of 76 custodial grandparents, this study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties and factor structure of the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and to examine the predictors at individual level (demographic characteristics and stress management), interpersonal level (positive social support and nega…
A Social-Ecological Approach to Understanding Activity Engagement Patterns Among Older Chinese Immigrants
Few studies have focused on activity engagement among older immigrants. We aim to map the patterns of activity engagement and examine the associations with social-ecological factors in a sample of older Chinese immigrants. Participants were from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE). Four patterns of activity engagement were identified through latent class analysis: restricted, diverse, informal social, and community-based soc…
Early Adverse Childhood Experiences and Exclusionary Discipline Practices in Middle Childhood
Perceived stress and sleep quality among master’s students in social work
Poor sleep quality is prevalent in professional graduate school students due to academic- and work-related stress. In addition, it has been found that high levels of perceived stress, including lifetime traumatic stress, are significantly associated with poor sleep quality. This study surveyed 196 MSW students from a university in the United States. The study revealed that the majority of MSW students had poor sleep quality, which was significant…
Our Grandparents
Our Grandparents: A Global Album." Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print), pp. 1–2
Movie Review
Movie Review: Moana Musker, J. (November 23, 2016). Moana, Disney Productions." Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print), pp. 1–2
Immigration Experience and Cognitive Function Trajectories Among Older Chinese Immigrants
This study identifies a group of older Chinese immigrants who are especially vulnerable to cognitive impairment and indicates that the risk of cognitive decline appears to be elevated with lower levels of acculturation and unidentified racial discrimination. More research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms that link the life-course immigration experiences to cognitive health outcomes in later life
A principles-based approach to evaluating family engagement group strategies
Family engagement conferences are a commonly utilized strategy in child welfare to empower families to make decisions for the safety and well-being of their own children. However, there is mixed evidence about their effectiveness, in large part due to the lack of detail about what is actually occurring in those conferences. Using data from a Title IV-E waiver, the present study utilized a principles-focused evaluation approach to explore how well…
Preliminary Findings of a Ten-Item Scale to Assess the Commitment of Low-Income Owners to Their Companion Animals
While there is a substantive body of research on benefits conveyed via the human–animal bond (HAB), less is understood about disruptions to HAB and how to potentially prevent such. The construct of commitment can elucidate such scenarios and may also help inform related interventions; however, there are few empirical measures of commitment to a companion animal, and none specific to low-income owners. The Commitment to Pets measure was created to…
Human–Animal Interaction Knowledge is not Just for the “Animal People” in Social Work
Measuring the restrictiveness of Portuguese residential care for children and youth
Restriction of living environment refers to limits, rules, and structures in place in an out‐of‐home residential placement for children/youth. This article describes the process of revising a measure of out‐of‐home living restrictiveness to be culturally congruent for Portugal, providing preliminary data on validity and reliability, and discusses the feasibility of using this measure in Portugal. The findings suggest that the Portuguese language …
Their Pets Are Loved Members of Their Family
National estimates of household food security fail to take into \naccount the animals in the household, and studies conducted by animal welfare, veterinary, and pet product associations have not estimated the extent to which pets experience food insecurity. Yet the proliferation of dedicated pet food pantries and the addition of pet food to existing food banks suggest that many pet owners are challenged to keep food on the table and in the food b…
Motherhood in Liminal Spaces
Most of the extant social work research on biracial children and families has focused on the experiences of transracially adopted black or biracial children and their white parents or Afro-Caribbean/white children and their white mothers in the United Kingdom. This study adds to the body of knowledge by using focus group interviews analyzed through a feminist lens to understand the experiences of a diverse group of white women parenting their bio…
Family group decision making
Try to make it seem like we're regular kids”
Aren't they just black kids? Biracial children in the child welfare system
In the USA, African‐American children are overrepresented in the child welfare system. However, little is known about the child welfare system experiences of biracial children, who are predominately both White and African‐American. To better understand this population, data from public child welfare in a US county were used to examine biracial children in the child welfare system. Results showed significant racial differences between children in …
Innovation in child welfare
Negative social interactions, distress, and depression among those caring for a seriously and persistently mentally III relative
Investigated both positive and negative social interactions and their effect on mental health for 106 individuals caring for a seriously mentally ill family member. Results from mixed‐model (hierarchial and stepwise) multiple regression analyses in which caregiver age, socioeconomic status, caregiving demand, and severity of patient symptoms was controlled showed that negative social interaction accounted for a significant portion of variance in …
Try to make it seem like we're regular kids”
Negative social interactions, distress, and depression among those caring for a seriously and persistently mentally III relative
Investigated both positive and negative social interactions and their effect on mental health for 106 individuals caring for a seriously mentally ill family member. Results from mixed‐model (hierarchial and stepwise) multiple regression analyses in which caregiver age, socioeconomic status, caregiving demand, and severity of patient symptoms was controlled showed that negative social interaction accounted for a significant portion of variance in …
Motherhood in Liminal Spaces
Most of the extant social work research on biracial children and families has focused on the experiences of transracially adopted black or biracial children and their white parents or Afro-Caribbean/white children and their white mothers in the United Kingdom. This study adds to the body of knowledge by using focus group interviews analyzed through a feminist lens to understand the experiences of a diverse group of white women parenting their bio…
Innovation in child welfare
Their Pets Are Loved Members of Their Family
National estimates of household food security fail to take into \naccount the animals in the household, and studies conducted by animal welfare, veterinary, and pet product associations have not estimated the extent to which pets experience food insecurity. Yet the proliferation of dedicated pet food pantries and the addition of pet food to existing food banks suggest that many pet owners are challenged to keep food on the table and in the food b…
Family group decision making
Aren't they just black kids? Biracial children in the child welfare system
In the USA, African‐American children are overrepresented in the child welfare system. However, little is known about the child welfare system experiences of biracial children, who are predominately both White and African‐American. To better understand this population, data from public child welfare in a US county were used to examine biracial children in the child welfare system. Results showed significant racial differences between children in …
Early Adverse Childhood Experiences and Exclusionary Discipline Practices in Middle Childhood
Preliminary Findings of a Ten-Item Scale to Assess the Commitment of Low-Income Owners to Their Companion Animals
While there is a substantive body of research on benefits conveyed via the human–animal bond (HAB), less is understood about disruptions to HAB and how to potentially prevent such. The construct of commitment can elucidate such scenarios and may also help inform related interventions; however, there are few empirical measures of commitment to a companion animal, and none specific to low-income owners. The Commitment to Pets measure was created to…
Keeping the Legacy Alive
Factor Structure and Predictors of Resilience Among Custodial Grandparents
Resilience plays a significant role in buffering the negative effects of parenting stress among custodial grandparents. Using a sample of 76 custodial grandparents, this study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties and factor structure of the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and to examine the predictors at individual level (demographic characteristics and stress management), interpersonal level (positive social support and nega…
Immigration Experience and Cognitive Function Trajectories Among Older Chinese Immigrants
This study identifies a group of older Chinese immigrants who are especially vulnerable to cognitive impairment and indicates that the risk of cognitive decline appears to be elevated with lower levels of acculturation and unidentified racial discrimination. More research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms that link the life-course immigration experiences to cognitive health outcomes in later life
Negative social interactions, distress, and depression among those caring for a seriously and persistently mentally III relative
Investigated both positive and negative social interactions and their effect on mental health for 106 individuals caring for a seriously mentally ill family member. Results from mixed‐model (hierarchial and stepwise) multiple regression analyses in which caregiver age, socioeconomic status, caregiving demand, and severity of patient symptoms was controlled showed that negative social interaction accounted for a significant portion of variance in …
Aren't they just black kids? Biracial children in the child welfare system
In the USA, African‐American children are overrepresented in the child welfare system. However, little is known about the child welfare system experiences of biracial children, who are predominately both White and African‐American. To better understand this population, data from public child welfare in a US county were used to examine biracial children in the child welfare system. Results showed significant racial differences between children in …
Innovation in child welfare
Try to make it seem like we're regular kids”
Family group decision making
Motherhood in Liminal Spaces
Most of the extant social work research on biracial children and families has focused on the experiences of transracially adopted black or biracial children and their white parents or Afro-Caribbean/white children and their white mothers in the United Kingdom. This study adds to the body of knowledge by using focus group interviews analyzed through a feminist lens to understand the experiences of a diverse group of white women parenting their bio…
Their Pets Are Loved Members of Their Family
National estimates of household food security fail to take into \naccount the animals in the household, and studies conducted by animal welfare, veterinary, and pet product associations have not estimated the extent to which pets experience food insecurity. Yet the proliferation of dedicated pet food pantries and the addition of pet food to existing food banks suggest that many pet owners are challenged to keep food on the table and in the food b…
Measuring the restrictiveness of Portuguese residential care for children and youth
Restriction of living environment refers to limits, rules, and structures in place in an out‐of‐home residential placement for children/youth. This article describes the process of revising a measure of out‐of‐home living restrictiveness to be culturally congruent for Portugal, providing preliminary data on validity and reliability, and discusses the feasibility of using this measure in Portugal. The findings suggest that the Portuguese language …
Human–Animal Interaction Knowledge is not Just for the “Animal People” in Social Work
A principles-based approach to evaluating family engagement group strategies
Family engagement conferences are a commonly utilized strategy in child welfare to empower families to make decisions for the safety and well-being of their own children. However, there is mixed evidence about their effectiveness, in large part due to the lack of detail about what is actually occurring in those conferences. Using data from a Title IV-E waiver, the present study utilized a principles-focused evaluation approach to explore how well…
Preliminary Findings of a Ten-Item Scale to Assess the Commitment of Low-Income Owners to Their Companion Animals
While there is a substantive body of research on benefits conveyed via the human–animal bond (HAB), less is understood about disruptions to HAB and how to potentially prevent such. The construct of commitment can elucidate such scenarios and may also help inform related interventions; however, there are few empirical measures of commitment to a companion animal, and none specific to low-income owners. The Commitment to Pets measure was created to…
Perceived stress and sleep quality among master’s students in social work
Poor sleep quality is prevalent in professional graduate school students due to academic- and work-related stress. In addition, it has been found that high levels of perceived stress, including lifetime traumatic stress, are significantly associated with poor sleep quality. This study surveyed 196 MSW students from a university in the United States. The study revealed that the majority of MSW students had poor sleep quality, which was significant…
Our Grandparents
Our Grandparents: A Global Album." Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print), pp. 1–2
Movie Review
Movie Review: Moana Musker, J. (November 23, 2016). Moana, Disney Productions." Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print), pp. 1–2
Immigration Experience and Cognitive Function Trajectories Among Older Chinese Immigrants
This study identifies a group of older Chinese immigrants who are especially vulnerable to cognitive impairment and indicates that the risk of cognitive decline appears to be elevated with lower levels of acculturation and unidentified racial discrimination. More research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms that link the life-course immigration experiences to cognitive health outcomes in later life
A Social-Ecological Approach to Understanding Activity Engagement Patterns Among Older Chinese Immigrants
Few studies have focused on activity engagement among older immigrants. We aim to map the patterns of activity engagement and examine the associations with social-ecological factors in a sample of older Chinese immigrants. Participants were from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE). Four patterns of activity engagement were identified through latent class analysis: restricted, diverse, informal social, and community-based soc…
Early Adverse Childhood Experiences and Exclusionary Discipline Practices in Middle Childhood
A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring the Educational Experiences of Foster Youth and Foster Parents During Covid-19
Supporting Rights to Emotional Support Animals as an Accommodation
When the emotional support provided by a person’s animal helps to mitigate an aspect of a disability, that person has a right to have their animal, typically referred to as an emotional support animal (ESA), within their housing as a disability accommodation under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) in the United States. Health and mental health care professionals (henceforth referred to as “health-care professionals”) are considered a reliable source for…
Using a systems perspective to examine child protection systems and practice
The Maghreb (Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco (including Western Sahara), Tunisia) has high rates of child maltreatment and child abandonment, leading to high rates of child institutionalisation. This review aims to provide an estimate of the prevalence of children in institutions in the countries of the Maghreb and to compare and contrast the child protection systems in the region. Using a scoping review approach, we identified 45 relevant st…
Factor Structure and Predictors of Resilience Among Custodial Grandparents
Resilience plays a significant role in buffering the negative effects of parenting stress among custodial grandparents. Using a sample of 76 custodial grandparents, this study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties and factor structure of the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and to examine the predictors at individual level (demographic characteristics and stress management), interpersonal level (positive social support and nega…
A balancing act
Foster parents are perceived as important members of the child welfare team, but despite this recognition, there is little research on their experiences and perspectives using a rights framework. Yet this perspective is critical since the child welfare system is a setting where rights violations as well as conflicts occur. This study utilized focus groups with 19 foster parents to explore their perspectives and experiences of their rights within …
Keeping the Legacy Alive
Psychology (18 works) · Sociology (11 works) · Child Welfare and Adoption (9 works) · Developmental psychology (9 works) · Medicine (9 works) · Political science (8 works) · Psychiatry (7 works) · Geography (6 works) · Homelessness and Social Issues (6 works) · Social Psychology (6 works)