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Using data from an online survey of 223 birth mothers who had relinquished an infant for adoption during the last 25 years, this analysis examines the influence of the length of time that has passed since relinquishment on birth mothers’ satisfaction with their decision to place their child for adoption. Time since relinquishment, age of the respondent, education level, and income had a significant inverse relationship with birth mothers’ satisfaction to place their child for adoption. Two variables were predictive of increased satisfaction with their decision: having current contact with the child and full-time employment. The findings underscore the importance of agencies and adoption professionals ensuring that birth mothers have access to ongoing postrelinquishment support services throughout the life course.

Unaccompanied homeless youth (< 25 years of age) are the group most likely to be underreported in annual point-in-time (PIT) counts of unsheltered individuals. This practice note reviews the process of a collaborative partnership between a university and community to conduct a successful youth PIT count outreach that more accurately reflected the number of homeless youth. In addition to almost doubling the number of unsheltered homeless youth who were identified between 2013 and 2014, several positive outcomes for students, providers, and faculty resulted through the project's efforts. These outcomes, including increased student exposure and interest in this vulnerable population, are reviewed.

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Bachelor-level social work students (n = 198) at a midsized Midwestern public university were sur veyed to evaluate their attitudes toward those with mental health concerns. Additionally, students were surveyed regarding their willingness to seek treatment for their own mental health needs. Results of the analyses suggest that the majority of students do not hold stigmatizing attitudes toward men tal illness. Students who believed mental health work is rewarding were less likely to be afraid or uncomfortable around people with mental illness. In addition, these students were more likely to report attitudes that acknowledge the capabilities of people with mental illness and were less con cerned with others knowing their own mental health status. Implications for social work education and directions for future research are discussed.

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Both rural and urban/suburban mental health practitioners are encouraged and sometimes required to use evidence-based practices (EBPs). However, little is known about the body of relevant empirical evidence available to inform effective implementation of EBPs in rural mental health practice. The purpose of this study was to conduct an exploratory systematic review of a sample of current literature describing the testing of psychosocial or behavioral health interventions conducted using a rural sample. A systematic examination of 53 peer-reviewed journals that were published during calendar year 2017 and included the term mental health or behavioral health in their titles was conducted. Selected journals were first systematically reviewed for articles reporting the testing of a psychosocial or behavioral health intervention. The researchers assessed a sample of 183 articles that were determined to report intervention research results and were subsequently assessed for the use of a rural sample. Fewer than 5% (8 of 183) of the included articles identified utilization of a rural population as all or part of the sample. Furthermore, within the 8 included articles, only 2 studies reported findings specific and generalizable to rural practice. The findings of the current study suggest a lack of rural-based mental health outcome research and an urbancentric perspective. The researchers highlight the need for empirical evidence assessing treatment and interventions that are tested and effective within rural community practice.