Examining Spiritual Ecograms in Child Welfare Settings with Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Limb, Gordon E.; Hodge, David R.; Suggs, Amber; Higgins, Rachel

doi:10.1007/s10560-021-00767-8

Published: 14 May 2021

Examining Spiritual Ecograms in Child Welfare Settings with Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal (2021)Cite this article

212 Accesses
1 Altmetric
Metrics details

Abstract

Recently, there has been an increasing interest in including spiritual assessments in child welfare settings with families and children. Studies suggest that most social workers and practitioners would benefit from more training on how to include their client's spiritual strengths into their practice, especially when dealing with specific cultural subgroups, such as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Therefore, the focus of this study was how to assess spirituality in child welfare settings with families and children who are members of the Church using a spiritual ecogram assessment tool. Evaluation of this spiritual assessment tool was facilitated through a survey of 100 practitioners who were members of the Church or experienced in working with members. In general, the practitioners perceived the spiritual ecogram as appropriate and consistent with the beliefs and culture of the Church, although numerous suggestions for improvement were offered.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

Brenan, M. (2018). Religion considered important to 72% of Americans. Retrieved January 5, 2021, from https://news.gallup.com/poll/245651/religion-considered-important-americans.aspx
Butts, C. M., & Gutierrez, D. (2018). Expanding intake assessment to incorporate spirituality using five functional tasks. Counseling and Values, 63(2), 147–163. https://doi.org/10.1002/cvj.12085
Article Google Scholar
Canda, E. R., Furman, L. D., & Canda, H. (2020). Spiritual diversity in social work practice: The heart of helping. Oxford University Press.
Google Scholar
Chaudhary, A. K., & Israel, G. D. (2016). Influence of importance statements and box size on response rate and response quality of open-ended questions in web/mail mixed-mode surveys. Journal of Rural Social Sciences, 31(3), 140–159
Google Scholar
Cook, C. C. H. (2014). Suicide and religion. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 204(4), 254–255. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.113.136069
Article PubMed Google Scholar
Denscombe, M. (2008). The length of responses to open-ended questions: A comparison of online and paper questionnaires in terms of a mode effect. Social Science Computer Review, 26(3), 359–368. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439307309671
Article Google Scholar
de Rada, V. D., & Domínguez-Álvarez, J. A. (2014). Response quality of self-administered questionnaires: A comparison between paper and web questionnaires. Social Science Computer Review, 32(2), 256–269. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439313508516
Article Google Scholar
Deseret News. (2007). Church Almanac. Author.
DiLorenzo, P., Johnson, R., & Bussey, M. (2001). The role of spirituality in the recovery process. Child Welfare: Journal of Policy, Practice, and Program, 80(2), 257–273
Google Scholar
Dimmick, A., Swift, J. K., & Trusty, W. T. (2020). Latter-day saint clients’ preferences for a religious match with a psychotherapist. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 7(2), 134–143. https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000211
Article Google Scholar
Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (2017). Discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Routledge.
Book Google Scholar
Haugan, G. (2015). The FACIT-sp spiritual well-being scale: An investigation of the dimensionality, reliability and construct validity in a cognitively intact nursing home population. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 29(1), 152–164. https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12123
Article PubMed Google Scholar
Hodge, D. R. (2000). Spiritual ecomaps: A new diagrammatic tool for assessing marital and family spirituality. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 26(2), 217–228. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2000.tb00291.x
Article PubMed Google Scholar
Hodge, D. R. (2001). Spiritual genograms: A generational approach to assessing spirituality. Families in Society: the Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 82(1), 35–48. https://doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.220
Article Google Scholar
Hodge, D. R. (2005). Spiritual ecograms: A new assessment instrument for identifying clients’ strengths in space and across time. Families in Society, 86(2), 287–296. https://doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.2467
Article Google Scholar
Hodge, D. R. (2020). Administering spiritual assessments with refugees: An overview of conceptually distinct assessment options. Journal of Refugee Studies, 33(3), 479–499. https://doi.org/10.1093/jrs/fey054
Article Google Scholar
Hodge, D. R., & Gillespie, D. (2003). Phrase completions: An alternative to likert scales. Social Work Research, 27(1), 45–54
Article Google Scholar
Hunt, J. (2014). Bio-psycho-social-spiritual assessment? teaching the skill of spiritual assessment. Social Work & Christianity, 41(4), 373–384
Google Scholar
Johnson, B. D., Bormann, J. E., & Glaser, D. (2015). Validation of the functional assessment of chronic illness Therapy-Spiritual well-being scale in veterans with PTSD. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 2(1), 25–35. https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000052
Article Google Scholar
Kolb, S. M. (2012). Grounded theory and the constant comparative method: Valid research strategies for educators. Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies, 3(1), 83–86
Google Scholar
Lalayants, M., Oyo, A., & Prince, J. D. (2020). Religiosity and outcomes among child welfare-involved youth. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 37(3), 251–261. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-019-00645-4
Article Google Scholar
Lietz, C. A., & Hodge, D. R. (2011). Spirituality and child welfare reunification: A narrative analysis of successful outcomes. Child & Family Social Work, 16(4), 380–390. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2206.2010.00752.x
Article Google Scholar
Limb, G., & Hodge, D. R. (2011). Utilizing spiritual ecograms with Native American families and children to promote cultural competence in family therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 37(1), 81–94
Article Google Scholar
Linder, E. W. (2012). Yearbook of American and Canadian churches. National Council of Churches USA.
Google Scholar
Loser, R. W., Klein, S. R., Hill, E. J., & Dollahite, D. C. (2008). Religion and the daily lives of LDS families: An ecological perspective. Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 37(1), 52–70. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077727X08322809
Article Google Scholar
Lyon, S. J. (2013). Psychotherapy and the Mormon faith. Journal of Religion and Health, 52(2), 622–630. https://doi.org/10.10007/s10943-013-9677-2
Article PubMed Google Scholar
Madsen, S. R. (2016). Latter-day saint women and leadership: The influence of their religious worldview. Journal of Leadership Education, 15(2), 58–73. https://doi.org/10.12806/v15/i2/t1
Article Google Scholar
National Association of Social Workers. (2015). Standards and indicators for cultural competence in social work practice. Retrieved January 5, 2021, from https://www.socialworkers.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=7dVckZAYUmk%3d&portalid=0
Oxhandler, H. K. (2017). Social work field instructors’ integration of religion and spirituality in clinical practice. Journal of Social Work Education, 53(3), 449–465. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2016.1269706
Article Google Scholar
Oxhandler, H. K., & Giardina, T. D. (2017). Social workers’ perceived barriers to and sources of support for integrating clients’ religion and spirituality in practice. Social Work, 62(4), 323–332. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swx036
Article PubMed Google Scholar
Palinkas, L. A., Horwitz, S. M., Green, C. A., Wisdom, J. P., Duan, N., & Hoagwood, K. (2015). Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis in mixed method implementation research. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 42(5), 533–544. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-013-0528-y
Article PubMed Google Scholar
Pew Research Center. (2018). When Americans say they believe in God, what do they mean? Retrieved January 5, 2021, from https://www.pewforum.org/2018/04/25/when-americans-say-they-believe-in-god-what-do-they-mean/
Richards, P. S., & Bergin, A. E. (2014). Handbook of psychotherapy and religious diversity. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/14371-000
Book Google Scholar
Rittase, M., Kirkland, E., Dudas, D. M., & Patel, A. V. (2020). Survey item response rates by survey modality, language, and sociodemographic factors in a large U.S. cohort. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 29(4), 724–730. https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.epi-19-0757
Article Google Scholar
Stewart, M. (2014). Spiritual assessment: A patient-centered approach to oncology social work practice. Social Work in Health Care, 53, 59–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/00981389.2013.834033
Article PubMed Google Scholar
Ulrich, W., Richards, P. S., Hansen, K. L., & Bergin, A. E. (2014). Psychotherapy with latter-day saints. In P. S. Richards & A. E. Bergin (Eds.), Handbook of psychotherapy and religious diversity. (2nd ed., pp. 179–205). American Psychological Association.
Chapter Google Scholar
Vasegh, S., & Ardestani, S. M. S. (2018). Suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts in a sample of Iranian students: Prevalence and some new risk and protective factors. Journal of Muslim Mental Health, 12(2), 13–27. https://doi.org/10.3998/jmmh.10381607.0012.202
Article Google Scholar
Walton, E., Limb, G. E., & Hodge, D. R. (2011). Developing cultural competence with latter-day saint clients: A strengths-based perspective. Families in Society: Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 92(1), 50–54. https://doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.4056
Article Google Scholar
Weaver, S. J. (2018). “Mormon” is out: Church releases statement on how to refer to the organization. Retrieved January 5, 2021, from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/mormon-is-out-church-releases-statement-on-how-to-refer-to-the-organization?lang=eng
Willow, R. A., & Tobin, D. J. (2009). Assessment of the use of spiritual genograms in counselor education. Counseling and Values, 53(3), 214–223. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-007X.2009.tb00127.x
Article Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

School of Social Work, Brigham Young University, 2190A JFSB, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
Gordon E. Limb, Amber Suggs & Rachel Higgins
School of Social Work, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
David R. Hodge

Authors

Gordon E. Limb
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar
David R. Hodge
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar
Amber Suggs
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar
Rachel Higgins
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gordon E. Limb.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

We have no known conflict of interest to disclose.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Limb, G.E., Hodge, D.R., Suggs, A. et al. Examining Spiritual Ecograms in Child Welfare Settings with Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Child Adolesc Soc Work J (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-021-00767-8

Download citation

Accepted: 05 May 2021
Published: 14 May 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-021-00767-8

Keywords

Spiritual assessment
Spirituality
Ecogram
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints