Possible PhD Dissertations

 Abstract: A Holistic Inquiry into the American Foster Care System

This master's thesis presents a comprehensive investigation into the American foster care system, conducted through a private, non-government-funded, and unbiased study. By surveying a diverse sample of 1,000 past foster children, 500 foster parents, 500 biological parents, 500 adoptive parents, 500 prisoners, 100 child sex offenders,  500 child welfare workers, 50 family court judges, 50 legislative members, 50 congress elected members, 100 police officers, and 50 state governors, supplemented by extensive research into government statistics, this study addresses critical questions related to child welfare policies and practices, racial disparities, and the long-term outcomes of children in the foster care system. 

Employing a multidisciplinary approach, the study utilizes quantitative and qualitative methods to gain a profound understanding of the factors influencing the lives of foster children, families, workers, and the government. 

The outcomes aim to provide invaluable insights for informing policy changes and enhancing the child welfare system. The government research will be from King County, Washington, for a base system context.

The study unfolds across various domains with unbiased surveys for:

Past Foster Children

Prisoners with Foster Care Backgrounds

Foster Parents

Biological Parents

Child Welfare Workers

Family Judges

Legislature Persons

Elected Congress officials

Police Officers

Governors

with supporting PRRs from King County Government Impact:

To read more about our surveys:  go to "blog" on this site.  https://websites.godaddy.com/en-US/editor/be484f64-818b-4c09-ad8f-402047036ba8/b3dd3476-9ed0-4e8c-a310-03191f72aaae/

 Mother filicide-suicide

This dissertation investigates the profound and troubling phenomenon of maternal filicide-suicide, wherein mothers, overwhelmed by severe psychological distress, commit the dual acts of killing their children and subsequently taking their own lives. Employing an interdisciplinary approach that integrates psychology, criminology, and social work, this research seeks to unravel the intricate psychological, sociocultural, and systemic factors contributing to these tragic occurrences. The study utilizes a mixed-methods design, combining quantitative analysis of case data with qualitative interviews of survivors and mental health professionals to identify prevalent risk factors, emerging patterns, and effective preventive strategies.

A central hypothesis of this research is that maternal filicide-suicide cases are disproportionately committed by women employed in the "helping professions," such as social work or healthcare, who are also engaged with Child Protective Services (CPS) or facing the potential removal of their children. The study will examine how professional stressors and systemic pressures intersect with mental health challenges to precipitate these events.

The findings are expected to reveal significant gaps in current early intervention and support systems, underscoring the need for more comprehensive screening, targeted interventions, and robust support mechanisms for at-risk families. By enhancing the understanding of this phenomenon, the research aims to inform policy development and practice improvements, ultimately working towards the prevention of such tragedies and the provision of better support for vulnerable mothers and their children.