Date of Award

5-2021

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

McAllister, Carolyn

Abstract

Incarceration disrupts areas of a juvenile’s life on multiple levels, including personal, social, and educational. Incarceration can present many obstacles for youth who are in pursuit of furthering their education. This research project sought to assess if the five identified factors, including quality of precollege education, mentoring, reentry services, family supports, and socioeconomic status, played a role in adults, who were formerly incarcerated youth, pursuing higher levels of education. The study utilized an online survey to gather numerical data on the participant’s perception of how they believe these factors influenced them. A bivariate analysis was used to analyze if the identified factors had an influence on the pursuit of higher education for adults who were formerly incarcerated youth. A frequency analysis was completed to determine which of the five factors were perceived to be influential to participants. A bivariate analysis was completed to see if there were any relationships to key demographic variables and level of education. The factors deemed most influential were mentoring programs and family supports. The factors that were deemed least influential were reentry services and precollege education. The research findings have the potential to inform social work professionals of what specific programs and services formerly incarcerated populations can be referred to in order to support them on their educational journey.

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