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Implementing Community Health Workers To Improve The Management Of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases In Children, Julia L. Newell

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Childhood obesity, asthma, and untreated mental health conditions are three examples of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNDs) that pose a host of negative consequences later in life. Minority children from low-income families, especially those with environmental disadvantages, face additional risk factors for the development of these diseases. Community health workers (CHWs) are in a unique position to help address these negative health externalities by being attuned with the linguistic, cultural, and socioemotional needs of members of their communities. Research has demonstrated success in CHW-led interventions curtailing the negative impacts associated with these diseases in low-income, minority communities.

Methods: A literature …

Community Health Worker Program: Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases In Children, Julia L. Newell

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity, asthma, and untreated mental health conditions, are three examples of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNDs) that pose a host of negative consequences later in life. Community health workers (CHWs) are in a unique position to address these negative health externalities by leveraging linguistic, cultural, and socioemotional connectedness within their communities.

Local Problem: Minority children in the Central Valley of California, face additional risk factors for the development of CNDs. CHWs working in this area require enhanced training on CNDs to improve their practice.

Methods: In partnership with Save the Children (STC), the University of San Francisco (USF) …

Using Machine Learning To Analyze Children’S Drawings As Indicators Of Mental Well-Being, Nicholas R. Lawrie

Master's Theses

Human figure drawings are a well-studied diagnostic tool for emotional distress in children. Cleft lip/palate is one of the most common birth defects in the world, and has been shown to negatively impact emotional well-being in childhood which can have negative economic consequences in adulthood. Utilizing a dataset of human figure drawings from children in India and survey data on mental health, this paper will assess the impact of corrective surgery on mental health outcomes, as well as assess the validity of the drawing emotional indicators themselves. The results indicate that while the emotional indicators may not be valid in …

Preventing Self-Harm Among Adolescent Victims Of Adverse Child Experiences Integrated Review, Irene Tsimba Zenga, Trinette Radasta, Julie Maxworthy

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

Background: Evidence shows a clear connection between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and mental health disorders in adolescence. If not treated, adolescent victims of ACEs could develop maladaptive behaviors such as self-mutilation and suicidal ideation. The standard therapies to treat this population are psychotropic medications or cognitive behavior therapy.

Search Methodology: Ten studies from a literature search on CINAHL, PubMed, APA PsychInfo, and Joanna Briggs databases were selected, appraised, and reviewed.

Integrated Review: Studies were grouped into six types: (a) screening for ACEs, (b) usual care and alternative therapies, (c) ineffectiveness of usual care, (d) comprehensive treatment that included trauma-informed therapy, …

Scholarly Manuscript: Deficiencies In Memory And Effective Education Of De-Escalation Techniques In Mental Health Settings, Balraj Bajwa

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

Objective: To appraise and evaluate evidence recognizing the lack of effective staff education on de-escalation techniques, the impact that this creates on nursing practice, and staff perceptions on de-escalation methods and techniques in acute care inpatient and/or outpatient mental health settings.

Methods: Three databases were searched (CINAHL, PubMed, and PsycINFO) to identify articles/reviews which focused on de-escalation techniques and training. Additionally, five journals were also reviewed to help with the search process. Specific inclusion criteria were used to streamline the search process and to help identify articles/reviews which were primarily focused on the desired objective. Five different articles …

Rural Young Adult Health: Drivers And Barriers To Accessing Care, Maggie Thompson

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

Adolescents and young adults are developmentally inclined to seek autonomy and take risks. This propensity for risk and challenging boundaries is essential for personal identity formation and belief systems development. During the transition to adulthood, adolescents and young adults often place a high value on peer group acceptance and adhering to perceived social norms. As a result, adolescents and young adults are more likely to engage in pleasure-seeking behaviors despite the associated risks.

The potential for harm often grows in young adulthood, as newfound freedoms present more significant opportunities to engage in risk-taking behaviors. Despite some enduring controversy, age-specific, preventative …

The Importance Of Nutrition Education As A Recovery Component For Individuals With Severe Mental Illnesses, Emily Martinez

Master's Projects and Capstones

In efforts to challenge the Western medicine’s determination of nutrition as a holistic approach, this paper represents the intent for mental health facilities in California to improve or implement nutrition education curriculum by enhancing interprofessional teams with dietitians as an important component of recovery for severe mental illness patients. There is concrete evidence proving that individuals who are in facilities recovering from mental illnesses have benefited from optimal nutrition consumption. Nutrition education has become a component among the toolbox of recovery options, but unfortunately it is not encouraged enough. Pharmaceutical companies advertise drug therapy as the most effective way to …

Program Evaluation: Bring Change To Mind High School Club, Rachel Goldberg

Master's Projects and Capstones

Introduction. Mental illness (MI) stigma is common and causes adverse consequences such as reduced self-esteem and discrimination in housing and employment. Bring Change to Mind (BC2M), a national non-profit organization, strives to reduce this stigma through their high school club program. The evaluation goals were to assess the program’s operations and measure club members’ and advisors’ attitudes and perceptions around mental health (MH) and MI.

Methods. Qualtrics surveys were used to gather information from general club members (GCMs) (N=645), club advisors (N=97), and graduating seniors (N=57). BC2M staff held 52 small group discussions with club leaders. Data analysis was conducted …

The Associations Of Area-Level Crime Rates And Self-Reported Crime Exposure With Adolescent Behavioral Health, Erin Grinshteyn, Haiyong Xu, Brigitte Manteuffel, Susan L. Ettner

Nursing and Health Professions Faculty Research and Publications

The effects of witnessing and experiencing crime have seldom been disaggregated. Little research has assessed the effect of multiple exposures to crime. We assess independent contributions of self-reported crime and area-level crime to adolescent behavioral health outcomes. Cross sectional data on 5519 adolescents from the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and their Families Program was linked to FBI crime rate data to assess associations of mutually exclusive categories of self-reported crime exposure and area-level crime rates with mental health and substance abuse. Self-reported crime exposure was significantly associated with poorer behavioral health. Violent victimization had the largest association …

Trauma Informed Practices For Oakland Unite Service Providers, Maereg D. Haile

Master's Projects and Capstones

Oakland, California - a home to almost 400,000 residents - is the top five most violent cities of the nation. There are lots of factors that greatly contribute to violence including: Poverty, housing/homelessness, unemployment, food insecurity, educational attainment, substance abuse. These factors feed to greater healthy disparities and increased trauma in low-income communities – specifically in east and west Oakland. Measure Y, now called Oakland Unite, is the current violence prevention effort that is set for reauthorization in November 2014. In order for these efforts to continue, Oakland Unite has started looking at comprehensive violence prevention initiatives that includes mental …