Digital Commons Network^™

Program Planning On Social Determinants Of Health For Rural Nebraska, Athena H. Ramos, Maria H. Cantu Hines

Capstone Experience

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are non-health factors that impact health in both direct and indirect ways. Research into SDOH and their effects has been extensive in recent years and has been further documented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the wealth of the literature on the SDOH, awareness of these important factors is not prevalent among community residents. Rural communities are as subject to the impact of SDOH just as their urban counterparts and experience additional complexities related to geography and topography.

This capstone project aims to raise awareness, provide education, and assist with tools and resources, to empower rural …

Impact Of Coalition Building To Promote Maternal Infant Health Equity In The District Of Columbia, Maryland, And Virginia, Sydney J. Turner

Capstone Experience

The health of women and babies is critical to creating a healthy world. Stratified data shows the overwhelming rates at which Blacks are affected more than Whites. Literature has shown that leveraging partnerships and community engagement are critical components of decision-making and can positively impact the health of communities. Through a direct observational study, the Community Coalition Action Theory was used to analyze the current structure of the March of Dimes Maternal Infant Healthy Equity Coalition. The study aimed to identify strengths and gaps and subsequently provide recommendations to advance the coalition work and promote maternal and infant health equity …

Training Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (Sane) And Patient Advocates To Improve Utilization Of The Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission (Acvcc) Program For Sexual Assault Victims, Erica Starling

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Sexual assault is a nationwide problem that often goes unreported. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), every 68 seconds an American is sexually assaulted. One out of every six women has been a victim of sexual assault in their lifetime. Sexual violence has long-term effects on victims including post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideations and/or attempted suicide, substance use disorder, work and/or family life struggles, unplanned pregnancy, and/or sexually transmitted infections (STI).

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to improve the utilization of the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission Program (ACVCC) for victims …

Using Community-Based Participatory Research To Tailor A Diabetes Education Program To An At-Risk Black Church Congregation In The Mid-Atlantic, Samantha A. Mielke

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Prediabetes and diabetes continue to have a high disease burden in the United States (Lin et al., 2018). Many individuals are unaware of their glucose state or the impact impaired glucose can have on their quality adjusted life years and cost of living. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has underscored the importance of decreasing the incidence of diabetes and has resources available. Still, many communities, particularly minority populations, can benefit from tailoring programs to their specific populations, where typical approaches may not be as beneficial (Joo & Liu, 2020). Additionally, Black American (BA) congregations often have …

Community Health Worker Program - Substance Use Disorder In Pregnancy, Alicia Claire Kletter Dnp

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background Substance use disorder (SUD) in pregnancy is a concern for mother, baby and community. Healthcare policies are increasingly calling for diversification of the workforce to meet healthcare needs. Community health workers (CHWs) are understood from the literature to be effective at bridging the gap between patient and healthcare provider, especially for vulnerable populations. Local Problem California’s Central Valley is majority Latinx and faces challenges from poverty, lack of medical resources, unemployment and SUD at rates which are higher than other communities. Combine SUD with pregnancy and the need for robust social connections, psychological support, and physical healthcare become even …

The Community Health Worker: Improving Prenatal Health In Rural And Minority Populations, Deirdre A. Martinez

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

The United States continues to have an unacceptably high rate of preventable deaths among pregnant and new mothers—the highest rate among developed countries. Pregnancy outcomes are especially poor in minority, rural, and medically-underserved populations, with lack of access to healthcare being identified as a primary factor in poor pregnancy outcomes and pregnancy-related deaths. It is imperative that action be taken to reverse this disturbing trend. Introduction of the Community Health Worker (CHW) into the multidisciplinary healthcare team is a solution that results in increased access to healthcare, along with many other positive health outcomes, and is one way in which …

The Use Of Appreciative Inquiry In Identifying Pueblo Core Values, Kristyn N. Yepa

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

This study used appreciative inquiry to identify core values or concepts essential to the Jemez Pueblo community to inform an evaluation framework used by community strength-based programs in Jemez Pueblo. Key informant interviews and a focus group were conducted in Jemez Pueblo with key program staff and tribal leaders. The audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed using inductive reasoning to identify core values. In addition, grounded theory was used to develop a conceptual model from the themes generated from the analysis. The PICOT question was, "Can the Appreciative Inquiry method help uncover core values of a Pueblo community?"

Utilizing Community Health Workers To Support Latinx Women With Substance Use Disorder During Pregnancy, Alicia Claire Kletter

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

Community health workers in the Latinx community, sometimes called promotores de salud, are employed in a variety of medical settings to help increase access to health promoting services such as awareness, education, and screening. Given their deep understanding of the culture and community in which they work, community health workers in Latinx communities are increasingly included in the healthcare team for their cultural sensitivity and versatility with hard- to-reach populations, including the support of pregnant women and children. An integrative review of the literature seeks to understand if community health workers can improve outcomes for pregnant women who also suffer …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Restorative Justice Rehabilitative Services Available In Northeast Tennessee For Mothers Diagnosed With Substance Use Disorder, Claire Roberson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) has plagued families of rural Appalachia for many years, perpetuating involvement in the criminal justice system as well as generational trauma for people diagnosed with SUD and their children. This points to the necessity of a trauma-informed, restorative-justice based framework for rehabilitative services to most effectively heal families, address trauma, and re-integrate people diagnosed with SUD into society. A restorative justice-based program would provide health care services for addiction and any comorbid mental health disorders as well as teach parents how to properly provide for themselves and their families, manage finances, obtain employment, and further education. …

Exploration Of The Role Of Neighborhood Residential Segregation By Race And Ethnicity In Obesity Risk Among School-Aged, Melissa L. Fair

Theses and Dissertations

Youth obesity prevalence remains high, despite decades of intervention. Grounded in the social ecological model, neighborhoods and schools are important settings in addressing the complex systems that influence obesity. Contributing to disparities, by race/ethnicity, Black and Hispanic youth are more likely to live in segregated neighborhoods and attend segregated schools, which are also more likely to have high rates of poverty and are less likely to have high quality nutrition and built environments. Leveraging data from local school district (district and state department of education) and national datasets (ACS, Childhood Opportunity Index 2.0), this study examined the associations between school …

Facilitators To Becoming And Remaining Open Defecation Free In Uganda: Implications For Community-Led Total Sanitation Programming, Danette Lee Cagnet

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Poor sanitation behaviors, including open defecation, present risks for diarrhea, which is credited with 600,000 deaths a year in children under age five. Although CLTS is a solution to ending open defecation, more than half of the investment in producing open defecation free (ODF) communities is lost during the maintenance phase. The purpose of this qualitative, case study was to understand stakeholder perceptions of the facilitators and hindrances to becoming ODF certified and maintaining ODF status and sanitary behaviors in a small village community located in Uganda, East Africa. The researcher held individual interviews and in-person focus group discussions to …

Addressing Challenges Related To Community Reintegration Following A Traumatic Brain Injury, Alexia Rose Gallagher

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: Addressing Challenges Related to Community Reintegration Following a Traumatic Brain Injury

Introduction: The purpose of this scholarly project was to create a guide of resources and tools available in and around Bismarck, North Dakota that individuals after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can utilize to assist in their successful return to their community. The Rancho Los Amigos Scale was utilized to effectively guide which resources and supports were needed based on the functional level the individual is currently presenting at. The Person Environment Occupational (PEO) Model theoretical framework was utilized to guide the creation and implementation of this community …

Cultural Resistance In The African Diaspora: A Historical And Contemporary Analysis Of Land-Based Community Care, Toluwani Roberts

CMC Senior Theses

“Cultural Resistance in the African Diaspora: A Historical and Contemporary Analysis of Land-Based Community Care” explores the use of land for the self-liberation and sustenance of African and African descendant peoples. It argues that collective cultivation of land is key to the development of African-derived cultures and forms the foundation of resistance against Western-capitalist cultural domination. Maroon societies, also known as runaway communities, of the 16th to 19th centuries are one of the earliest examples of land-based resistance in slave colonies that have contributed to the development of what we now call the African Diaspora. Maroon Societies: Rebel Slave Communities …